Breast Cancer Now Forum

Hi Clare. I had a reconstruction with explander implant at the end of August this year after having a mastectomy in April 2004. Not incredibly painful afterwards more sore and achey. Only one night in hospital and I'm now fully inflated. Its one of the best things I done in my life and I wish I had done it sooner. Take care, Lou ... View more

Mine changed first because my onc decided to change 6 CMF to 3 Taxotere and 3 CMF, as that is considered more effective, then changed back to 6 CMF beause I was allergic to Taxotere and cannot have it after all. ... View more

I too have my last dose of TAX tomorrow so will be thinking of you! I have also had my dose reduced due to the side effects - I was told by my onc that this was normal and would not lessen the effectiveness. I am on my 12th lot of chemo tomorrow and cannot wait for it to be over. Lets just keep everything crossed for a good outcome. Hope today went ok for you and the steroids don't stop you sleeping! ... View more

I am on Taxotere and have just started getting a tingling sensation in my feet, plus some soreness and redness by my big and little toes, My feet look swollen which is not a nice sight as they are quite wide anyway - I am worried I will end up with feet like Fred Flintstones by the weekend and I am supposed to be going to a 'do', just my luck!! Hopefully this will wear off pretty soon, I have just had my second Taxotere and as the side effects were nowhere near as awful as the first lot I thought I had got off lightly. Oh well, mustn't grumble! Tracy xx ... View more

Hi Ladies Thanks for all your wonderful comments, its incredible when you receive responses that there are so many of us going through this at the same time - there are even people having Chemo the same day as me !!!! what is that all about - there's that irony again ( Caroline). You tend to go along in your own little bubble with your friends and family thinking you are the only one that this is happening to - think I need to get out more. Anyway on a happier note off to Benidorm tomorrow morning for a few days away before the dreaded chemo starts, don't think I'll be packing the bikini. Thanks for all your tips and think I better stock up with ginger biscuits and spicy soups hopefully might shed a few pounds there has to be some benefit to Flubber surely. For all you ladies who have had mastecomy how are you coping with your bras and prosthesis, mine seems to develop a life of his own during the day and usually is making a bid for escape by tea time - think I must be doing something wrong. I am still wearing the foam one as I still have quite a large fluid build up and swelling - any tips ? at the moment I actually look like I have one normal size breast and one 12 year olds !! Not attractive. Note to Anne - I have having the same combination as you but 4 x FEC and 4 x Tax, just lucky I suppose. Note to caroline - what a wonderful thought to think we will emerge next summer more beautiful than ever, I'll hold you to that one , I'd like to be 6 ft tall, weigh about 9 stone, long blonde hair and a fantastic figure, oh and about 10 years younger - see what you can do for me please , only joking, it is a lovely sentiment and it made me smile, thank you xxxxx Note to Louisa - what a comment from your 16 year old but they are right, they are only drugs, how bad can they be ??? Have a good day ladies and I'll catch up with you all soon, think I better pack my laptop to go to Benidorm, don't wanna miss anything LOL Jackie xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx ... View more

Hi Before I forget have you seen the thread 'Insensitive or what?' it is so funny and worth a look. Glad your weekend went well - the rest will no doubt do you the world of good - how brave of you to start Xmas shopping - but with two wee ones I guess you have no choice but to be on top of things - Santa has to come regardless! How are you feeling now after your first FEC? Had my onc. appointment today and it went really well I start next Tuesday and it is 6 FEC - I asked why no tax and they said because their was only one node involved - still trying to get my head round this - all the research seems to say combination of both is better and I think I will talk to her again to put my mind at ease. Got my prescription for a wig today - did you get a wig with a different style or colour to your norm or both? I was wondering if you get fitted before or after hair loss but you already have your wig so that answers my question. I still feel emotional at times - OH is away for two weeks so I think I just miss his emotional support and the children have been back at school this week. Plus my daughter and me are not as we were before - it is hard to explain but I think she feels left out and angry about it all - she wanted to come to my first chemo but I don't know how brave I will be and I don't want to put her in that position so I asked if she would keep me company for the second one - we have always had a really close relationship so this is really hard and I don't for one moment know how she must be feeling. I hope if/when hair loss happens it is not too traumatic - sorry I should know what to say but I can't imagine how it will feel but my thoughts are with you. It will be really good to see how all the other girls starting chemo are getting on - I have said it before but this site is a great help. Take care and I hope you are feeling well. Love Lenise XXX ... View more

I had chemo at Guildford too. The nurses are very nice, but the hanging around is awful. SOmetimes I would wait for six hours for my chemo. And the parking is dreadful. Is your oncologist Stephen Houston? Deirdre ... View more

Well, the results are in (some of them anyway) !. Been prescribed Tamoxifen and referred for radiotherapy so I've joined your gang again. Fortunately the surgeon wasn't happy with the aesthetic shape of my breast around the scar and says it can be 'tweaked' (sounds vaguely painful put like that!) As I'm prone to exposing my bosom on the beach I may well consider his suggestion. Repeat appointment in January to check progress. Hope everything is going well with you Maddyx x xx ... View more

Hi Anne, I'm in the SE as well, 8 yr old and 5 yr old girls and 15 month boy. I start chemo next weds - oh my god...not looking forward to it but just want to kill all those nasties. Did you try the cold cap? Do you have anyone at home to help? I think getting the first one out the way will be a big milestone. Is it a bit like morning sickness when you are really tired and the sight of food makes you really nauseas and sick? What anti sickness tablet did you have? Anyway, enough questions. Soooo please you have been able to enjoy some of the nice weather and hope you have a good rest. Speak soon, A. ... View more

Couldn't do it ... perhaps moderator can help? ... View more

Hello Sweetheart & Maisey, Sweetheart, - sorry couldn't get back to you before you're op., really hope every thing went ok, and that you are home now. I was in the hospital just overnight, op, night stay then home.My follow up result are good, full clearance of cancer cells, taking tamoxifen now and waiting to hear when I start my radiotherapy. I was so lucking that my tumour was caught in it's early stages. When will you hear about you're results? How are you feeling now and coping with everything? I find the breast care nurses are brill, very caring and understanding of the emotions that literally go around and around. Maisey- Good luck with tomorrow, we will be thinking about you and prayers are for you, when you feel able to, let us know how you are. Speak soon, chins up Nanna ... View more

Hi Andrea Your treatment plan will depend on the path results to a large degree, as well as your age, whether there is metastysis, whether you are HER2 positive, etc. One of the chemo cocktails, known by the acronym CMF, has less side effects than others. Treatment lasted longer than the heavier drugs (6 months, 2 weeks on, 3 weeks off), but the equivalent amount of chemo drugs to the heavier ones. While my hair thinned somewhat, I did not lose it & hadn't realised this, so went & bought an expensive real hair wig for nothing. Tried it a few times, but found it very hot, which did not help my hot flushes! Chemo is preceded by an anti-nausea drip & I was also given anti nausea tablets to take home. Don't wait for nausea to hit you, just take the tabs! Also, if you find that you still get nausea, tell your onc, because it is possible to change the drugs for something that works better for you. Chemo was followed by lucky inclusion in cliinical trial, so had Herceptin for 2 years more or less for free. There will be sad & bad days, but they always pass & one is just so grateful for feeling better that the bad days are quickly forgotten. Have faith & go well. ... View more