Breast Cancer Now Forum

Suprised you're not allowed to use any deodrant.  When I had my RT 10 years ago we were allowed to use crystal deodorant .  Still use it now.  Didnt stop cancer coming back though (was one of the reasons I carried on using it as was told some deodrant can cause cancers )   Also aloe vera was recommended at the time but I didnt use it. Think I just used some simple cream.   I went on holiday to a very hot country 2 weeks after my RT finished.  Oncologist said it was ok.  Just be careful re the sun which I was.  The holiday had been booked before my diagnosis of BC and couldnt cancel it.  I remember insurance cost an arm and leg tho 😮    ... View more

Hi everyone.   Been good news week for me so far.  I had 2 scares checked out.  One was post menopausal bleeding.  Had ultrasound scan and was recalled to have hysterscopy on Monday, but consultant is happy there is nothing untowards 🙂     Secondly had check up today for new lump I found near my recon scar.  Had ultrasound scan for that today and its been decided the lump is just fat necrosis.   ... View more

Also had some problem with post menopausal bleeding.  Had a ultrasound scan last week and now they phoned me and said there is some thickening on lining of womb and want to do a hysterscopy on Monday.  One thing after another.  And I thought I was at the end of treatment when I finished my chemo. Cancer, the gift that keeps on giving.   Hopefully will all turn out to be nothing.  But best to be checked out.   ... View more

Im the same drummerwidow.  I saw plastic surgeon last week about phase 2 from my reconstruction last year, and pointed out a lump I have near my masectomy/reconstruction scar, and he said I just need to massage it more.   I thought about it when I got home and contacted my bcn and now got an appt to see my breast cancer surgeon next Wednesday. Im not taking chances.  I want it biopsied just to make sure.  My diagnosis last year was only because I queried a tiny lump on my lumpectomy scar from previous cancer 10 years ago.  GP, etc thought it was just scar tissue but referred me to breast cancer unit at my insistence and glad I did as it turn out to be triple negative cancer.   ... View more

Lol SA14.  Perhaps I am mistaking coal tar smell for "farm like" aka as very faint manure smell for the jamaican oil.  Not too bothered re the cold cap now.  Small problem compared to what others have had.   ... View more

Got some of the jamaican oil from ebay.  Says dark oil on the bottle but it is clear stuff that comes out the bottle.  Also got a slight "farm like" smell.  Hope its not a forgery.  Also got some waterman shampoo and conditioner which I see has been recommended in places.   I did cold cap but it didnt really work well for me.  I am also hearing impaired and hated wearing the cold cap as couldnt wear my hearing aids at the same time and felt very cut off and struggled to understand what the staff were saying to me.    Wish I hadnt bothered with it now.  Oh well. So anyway, last week got hubby to shave my head as had bald patches and the rest of the hair just looked so horrible and I looked like a witch with blond hair which was still falling out even after I finished chemo. So he used the 1 inch setting so Im probably at the same level as if I had lost my hair in the beginning and I can see what I thought were still bald patches have very fine white hair which are nearly an inch I think.  Should all match eventually I guess. Just wearing scarves as dont like the wig.  Too hot and itchy.   ... View more

Well done to your hubby DiKat.  Also envious with your covering of hair.  Still waiting for mine to start growing.   ... View more

Wow super impressed with you hair growth Dikat.  Think my chemo finished 2 days after you and still no sign of hair growth.  Do you go out like that or still wear your wig?  I just wear scarves as couldnt get on with the wig.   ... View more

2 weeks since my last chemo and I still get breathless when walking on the flat.  Have to stop every now and then when walking the dog.  But as soon as I stop the breathlessness goes.  Really strange. Got a CT scan, in a weeks time, to check up on a lung nodule that I have.  Onc doesnt seem that worried about it and says they are common. Then will see onc 3 weeks after that for result and to discuss whats next.  No RT for me as had it in that same area 10 years ago.   And no hormone tabs as Im Triple negative.   ... View more

Hope everythings ok and you are back home as soon as possible.  Huggsss. x ... View more

I had a very bad bout of bronchitis round about 2011.  It was just after hubby had given up smoking and I reckon it was the passive smoker in me that bought about the bronchitis as never had it before and I read somewhere that when people give up smoking (or passive smoking in my case) the lungs then expel all the crap from the years of smoking/passive smoking.  I did have antibiotics though.  But I put the nodule down to that.   Only other thing I can think of is that I had radio therapy when diagnosed with BC first time round, back in 2009.  Maybe that caused a nodule. But I do know they are very common and most are not troublesome and they only keeping an eye on it just incase.  xx ... View more

Phew got my last chemo out the way.  They tested my blood again as neuts were 1.09 and red cells were HB9 . All I was told when they bought the chemo bag round was my bloods are in the range but didnt know the numbers.  I like to know these things.  They wanted to check my neuts hadnt gone under 1.   Anyway, back home now.  Guess side effects will kick in from Sunday as per usual but hope they are not as bad as before as just had 80%.   Got CT scan in 3 weeks to check a nodule in one of my lungs but oncologist doesnt seem too bothered about it and says its common to have them. Then will see him 3 weeks after the CT scan for result .   ... View more

Looking great there DiKat.  🙂      Good luck for your last chemo and with dietician maryKamille.     I've got my last chemo tomorrow.  Wont be ringing the bell as they dont have one lol Hubby said I looked so white today. Hope my bloods are ok.  I've been eating iron tabs like they are smarties lol.   Chemo will be reduced by 20% this time because of previous side effects, so hoping that is correct and wont get bad side effects.   Still got slight numbness in fingers and up to yesterday was breathless when walking on the flat, was ok today though when I took the dog out for short walkies. Maybe the iron tabs are working at last.  Blood was HB9 last chemo, but they said ok to have chemo.  WBC were ok last time but only had 5 jabs after last chemo. Previously had 7 jabs.  Anyway, all will be revealed tomorrow lol.   ... View more

Hi all .  I am day 14 post 2nd T and tastebuds are still a bit iffy.   Think I have lost all lower eye lashes (hard to tell as Im fair anyway) and my eyes keep watering.  Anyone else get this and anyone know of anything to help.   Huggss all  ... View more

Hi Kitkat.  Luckily today I am no longer so breathless when walking a short distance.  Like you I now put it down to low HB. Ive been taking iron tablets this last week or so and think at last I am back to "normal".   When I had my T 10 days ago, the nurse did say my HB was a bit low but nothing to worry about and she took more blood and said would run it through their machine to see if any changes.  Unfortuately, their testing machine was broken, so she couldnt do the test.  Ah well.  Feeling ok now.   ... View more

Hmmm just googled a pix of that.  Looks lovely    Tastebuds still AWOL for me too DiKat.  Only thing ok for me still is lindt chocolate.   Not good for me. But everyone says just eat that if that is all you fancy.  Worried I will gain too much weight as already overweight.  I fancy healthy foods like eggs, wholemeal toast, but when I come to eat them they taste disgusting.     Just come back from seeing Onc.  Last dose of T is going to be reduced due to the side effects Im getting.   Mentioned to her about the breathlessness Im getting and she listened to my chest, checked SAT levels, said last blood test was ok (hb slightly low but not worrying), so she doesnt seem to bothered by my breathlessness. Anyone else get breathless, just walking a short while on a flat area. Doesnt seem right to me. Will be having CT scan in 6 weeks to check a lung nodule that was detected when I was first diagnosed with BC has not grown.  Hoping that is not what is causing the breathlessness.   Perhaps I should have pushed sooner for the CT scan.  Then will see onc again after the CT scan to get results and to discuss what happens next if anything. Cant have RT as had it 9 years ago in same spot and cant have it twice.   ... View more

Noticed lower lashes had thinned a lot after T1 and eyebrows are much thinner after T2.  But I didnt really have much to begin with lol.   Taste buds still bad 8 days post T2.  Got some pineapple as I read it helps cut through all that and resets the taste buds.  But nope.  Pineapple tastes horrible to me now.  Had some plain porridge yesterday made with whole milk.  It tasted like I was eating pure salt.  Was disgusting.  Vomitted a few hours later.    Only thing that seems to help at the moment is chocolate lol.  But I cant live off that.  Or can I  😄    ... View more

Had my 2nd T last Thursday.  Feel so weak today.  Im sure it wasnt this bad 3 weeks ago after 1st T.  Also got numb tongue.  Some foods are tasting not good. Normally love an apple but not tasting good today.  Back to the carbs and jacket potatoes I guess lol  Finger nails feeling a bit strange too.  Got dark nail varnish on them, so hopefully wont go brown and fall off. 😮    Got 6 jabs to do this time.  Last time it was 7.  They didnt put when to start them.  Im guessing its today.   ... View more

Had my 5th chemo yesterday.  Was told my red blood cells bit low and probably why I have been breathless when going for short walks.  Will have to try to find foods high in iron that are not meat, as totally gone of meat at the moment.  Been living off jacket potatoes lol. Only thing I really fancy.   Other than that, no problems.  Bit high on the steroids like some others have said.  Got about 2 hours sleep and got up extra early and plodded around the house doing bits of housework.  Still dont feel tired.   Was half way through my treatment yesterday, and realised they hadnt put the cold cap on.  Oh well just have to wait and see if my remaining hair falls out now.  Was getting very thin on top and had to wear a hat when going out anyway.  Past caring about hair now.  Just want all this finnished.   Been out for short walk with the dog.  Bit breathless and some minor back ache.     Huggs to everyone xx  ... View more

Hi there is a more busy December thread at https://forum.breastcancercare.org.uk/t5/Chemotherapy-monthly-threads/Anyone-starting-Chemo-in-December-2018/td-p/1255726/page/21 You will get more answers there. Hope this helps.   ... View more