Breast Cancer Now Forum

Evening ladies, Well I have had a hard weekend. Bloody tax has got the better of me and I have been in bed all weekend with what seems like every side effect. Headache, back and neck pain, sore throat, vile disgusting taste in my mouth, tiredness, stomach cramps. I feel very down and not spent any time with my girls. Please can someone tell me when I should start to feel back to normal again?? It's been very quiet on here the weekend I'm hoping that's because everyone is feeling good and been out and about Katie x ... View more

Morning all, so far so good. Just woke up with a slight pain in my lower back. I am guessing things might hit me today or tomorrow as off the steroids now. Or maybe not (fingers crossed!) Bertha, I so sympathise with the kids. Its so hard to know the right thing to do. I told my 5 yr old on wendesday I was going to work (when I was going for chemo) and she was going out with my inlaws for the day. She answered me, no your not mummy, I know your having more medicine today???!!!!!!! I have no idea how she knew that, she must have heard me on the phone I guess. She also asked me when I will have long curly hair again and I said very soon. I guess honesty is the best policy but we are just trying to protect them as much as we can. Have good day everyone - hows everyone else feeling? Lorna - is this one better than last time for you? Sandy - hows the hair hanging on? xx ... View more

evening ladies, has first tax today - feeling strangely fine tonight as would normally be out of it well alee[ by now on the first night after FEC and feeling so sick!! except i have a strange tingling/itching in my face??? makes sense what you all say about chemo then masectomy, i guess all oncolgists work differently. Anyone got tremedol painkillers to take on tax? xx ... View more

Thanks so much bertha, had appt with onc today and she said i should feel fine at first its day 4-9 i will feel the worst - does that sound about right? wish your cold better hope it goes away and desent delay anyhing. I didnt catch anything - turns out my nephew had hayfever - told u i was a paranoid wreck!! Lorna fab news, so pleased for you. Just wondering - were u and sandytoes offered a masectonmy before chemo? Why u waiting till after chemo? is it becasue you may be able to get away with just having a lumpectomy due to shrinkage and not necessarily need a masectomy? I was just told i was having a masectomy to get rid of the cancer and them chemo/radio as a precaution to zap any straying cancer cells that may still be there. me and hubby just had a lovely night out for our anniversary today - 7 years - heres to the next 50 yrs!! good luck to everyone else having treatment this week. love katie xx ... View more

Morning all, just logging on from centre parks. Having a great weekend, but wanted advice, we are sharing a villa with my brother and sister in law and my nephew is 4 and overnight has developed a cold. My daughter is sharing a room with him. We leave tomorrow but does anyone think we should leave tonight?? I have become so paranoid and would be so upset if I got ill and treatment delayed on weds, or would it be delayed if I had just a cold??? Been using dettol wipes like a nutcase!! My baby girl started walking yesterday so not been very relaxing weekend as got to have eyes at the back of my head!!! I am off for a facial this afternoon, I asked the BC nurse and she said it was fine but has wrote a letter to the therapist explaining what she can and can't do! Not worn my wig once here as I don't know anyone and it has been so nice. Bertha so pleased u had a good hols, I have my first tax weds, bit scared as it's the unknown! I have to start taking steroids tomorrow, is that the same for everyone? Does that mean I'll be up all night Tom night? Some of u mentioned numbness in fingers and toes, do u think that will effect me holding the baby? Sandy love the new pic, where was that? Hope everyone else is ok and welcome to The new Lady, we all support each other so a good place to be through such a horrid time. Lots of love Katie x ... View more

Hi everyone, I know exactly how most of you are feeling and think maybe its all really sinked in now. I find that I am fine in the day and put on my wig and make up and get on with my normal life pre cancer. Maybe I can put on a front because I have to for the kids. Its the nights that it gets to me when I am in bed and close my eyes and horrible thoughts keep entering my head. I am trying so so hard to keep positive and I do believe in positive thinking and all that but how am I meant to stop these thoughts?? I end up crying myself to sleep most nights recently. Maybe its because I have hardly cried and I know I cant infront of the kids so in bed is my release. Getupstandup - so pleased you had a nice holiday Pam - great news about shinkage - congrats. Slendabenda - how was the BBQ? Well done for going. I find when people ask me how I am, that are not close to me, I just say "I am fine thanks" and the conversation stops there - I think most people dont know what to say. Lorna- so sorry you have seemed to had every side effect - things can only get better from here. Lindylou - I never got a sore neck from the port I had fitted but I havnt had tax yet so it might be from that. Sandy - I actually have got bald patces now on the top of my head -side and back are fine? I dont know whether to carry on with cold cap or not. Linstar - tell us about your drunken night!! Lots of love to everyone Katie xx ... View more

Hi ladies, I am now back in the land of the living after my FEC 3 last wednesday! Now its goodbye FEC and hello TAX! Had a tough time after this one with tiredness but nothing too bad. The port was great for chemo and so glad I had it fitted. I put the cream on an hour before and didnt feel a thing. My veins would never have held out and I still cant fully straighten my arm after the last chemo. I have continued with the cold cap but my hair is so very thin on top but still quite thick around the sides. Hated every second of wearing it this time. Lorna - I really do hope you are starting to feel better, feel so bad that you have suffered so much. Does the joint pain start after you come off the steroids? So glad you mentioned sweats -I woke up every night last week dripping wet! Bertha - have a fab holiday - we are off to centreparks next week after cancelling florida (not quite the same but hope to get there in december!)Feel so guilty as neglected the kids this week and feel like all my husband kept saying was "mummys got another headache" so got a lot of making up to do now. i hope everyone else is doing ok, i am hopefully going to enjoy the next couple of weeks now starting with a look good feel good on wednesday. I am off now to watch the news as the looting going on is a bit close to home for me!! katie xx ... View more

Good Luck to you all starting this week. Its definately not as bad as you think. I am due to have 3rd chemo tomorrow and my veins gave up after the last session and my arm is so sore since then and I still cant stretch it out. So my advice would be to definately get the port fitted before you start to avoid any unnecessary pain. I have to say that my vein pain was the worst side effect so far, everything else is manageable and most side effects seem to have a pill to counteract them. I cried a lot from the time of my diagnosis, waiting for scan results and after my masectomy - but now i have started chemo i feel a bit more in control and not as weepy (although obviosuly have my moments!)its all completely NORMAL. Thinking of you all and Podlepatch hope you got a goods night sleep. Lots of love Katie x ... View more

Thanks for all your messages, I went back to hospital today and they were pleased how port had healed and said I had "oozing" skin!! Whatever that means! Still sore and can't imagine chemo going in port and it not hurting but I got cream to put on an hour before to numb it. Finding it so hot wearing a wig in this weather! Pam, my onc also wouldn't let me go abroad - she said too many germs on the planes to risk going away?? I am very jel of all u going on holiday. Seems a lot of us have chemo this week so good luck ladies and let SE be minimal. Katie x ... View more

Morning all, hope everyone is ok. Lorna are u feeling better today? Sue how u feeling after fec 3? Ive got fec 3 on Wednesday but I am worried this will be delayed as I had power port fitted on Friday. I am still in a lot of pain though. I have steri strips and a bandage over the port and the stitches and lots of blood and weeping coming through, is this normal? Feeling very upset this weekend as this is meant to be my "good" week and it's been spent in hospital and in bed. Please tell me when pain will ease up and I will be able to cuddle my baby?? Xx ... View more

Hi kellie, I have has 2 fec and worn the cold cap and I do still have a full head of hair (I had long curly hat I got cut into a bob before chemo) I do have some patches and I find because I am only washing it once a week my hair gets matted badly. I still wear a wig as my hair looks a frizzy mess but if I have this at the end of my 6 treatments I would be very happy. Totally agree with sandy toes comments about not looking like a cancer patient. Interesting comments about tax as my onc told me I don't have to wear cold cap for tax although i can do to be sure!!??? She said my hair should start to grow back then. Anyway good luck hon and let us know how u get on Katie x ... View more

Great news julie with the shrinkage and a 18 mile bike ride???? What an achievement u deserve a medal. Well done xx ... View more

Definitely need something to look forward to. I also due to finish December after rads so booked Florida. That's all I think about after each treatment, another step closer to our dream holiday. Went out with friends last night, had too much wine and baby up at 6 and I have hangover help!!!! Having port fitted on Friday - will I be ok to be out and about as normal on the weekend anyone?? Xx ... View more

Morning all, hope everyone that had treatment this week are feeling ok. I am 8 days post fec 2 and def feeling back to normal now. Had my baby girls 1st birthday yesterday so been a busy week for us!! My onc told me that neulasta jab is £1036 per injection! But agree about false economy as must cost nhs more in antibiotics and admitting patients??? Sandy toes know what you mean about my hair as had such a huge loss last week after 2nd fec and does seem to have slowed down now. My arm where the Needle goes has been so sore and achy since treatment I actually can't wait to get the port fitted now. Bertha hope the tinitus stop after a couple of days, are u looking forward to school holidays!!!?? Have a good day everyone Katie xx ... View more

Morning all, I had a lovely day yesterday at daughters party. I drank lots of water and accepted lots of help from wonderful friends. Every bone ached me in my body afterwards and got stomach cramps all night from this constipation and been up since 4am prob from steroids? Hoping to sleep better tonight. I washed my hair yesterday 48hrs after cold cap and reckon I lost half of it. It's now one big mass that I can't comb through and think the time has come to shave it off. Just can't quite pluck up the courage yet. Thanks for advise on the port, I think I will got for it for next chemo. Hope everyone is doing ok- everyone keeps saying to me 2 down like I'm nearly there but I feel like screaming at them saying I don't feel like I am anywhere near the finish line yet Have a god weekend everyone despite the rain Love Katie xx ... View more

Hi ladies I am just coming in from June thread as had my 2nd fec yesterday. I can only reiterate what everyone else has said and that its honestly not as bad as you think. So many anti sickness drugs available now but I would recommend emend - seems to be the most expensive and in some hospitals if you don't ask fro it you don't get it! For all you mummies out there I have 2 daughters, one is 5 tomorrow and my baby is 1 on Tuesday. I was so so worried about the impact this would have on them and the hardest part so far was not being able to hold my baby for 2 weeks after my mastectomy. I have told my eldest I have to have some strong medicine and may make my hair fall out but i have used the cold cap and so far and still got a head of hair (albeit very thin) but I had my hair cut short before first chemo and my daughter told me how lucky I was that I could have short hair and long hair (as I brought 2 longer wigs similar to my old hair!) kids are so resilient and take everything in their stride and keep me going. Good luck to everyone this week Xx ... View more

Morning all, I had fec 2 yesterday, after a terrible night sleep (maybe from steroids?) I feel ok this morning only a little nauseous. I had a problem with my veins yesterday and they really hurt bad during chemo. Nurses discussed with me about port fitted which I am so scared about as know a lot of you have been in pain from this and don't want another op although they said they could do it under sedation? Any advice pls? Also found the cold cap so painful this time due to hair thinning and so re scalp. But i did it and will see when i was the conditioner off tomorrow how much falls out. So 2 down now and a third Way through!! Lorna so sorry no shrinkage I was thinking of you yesterday. Big day for me tomorrow as my daughters 5th birthday and having her a party after school. Got lots of help as party was originally at home but don't want all kiddies germs in the house so was advised to book a hall. I must be mad but booked this before I was diagnosed 8 weeks ago. Can't believe what we all have been through in such a small time. Anyway off to inject myself now such an exciting life we now lead! Bertha - hope you can have chemo this week. Love Katie x ... View more

Evening Ladies, Had a tough few days as my hair has started to fall out, despite the cold cap and I have to admit I am really struggling with this. Oh well Take That at Wembley def cheered me up last night - I felt like a teenager again!! I am really unsure whether to use the cold cap again on wenesday for my 2nd FEC as if its coming out anyway and I am wearing a wig now - whats the point?? Also would be interested to know about insurance as we were booked to go to Florida over christmas that i havnt cancelled yet as I am hoping we will still be able to go as should be finished everything by beginning of December - yey!!!!!!!!! Sandytoes is Lifemel honey same as Manuka Honey as I am taking that when I remember but not quite sure what its for!!! Got loads of vitmains from the health shop - why should i not be taking these? Julie hope you feel better real soon. Lorna - I am also in on wednesday so will be thinking of you. anyone else in this week? Love Katie x ... View more

Sandy toes - just don't think about it and just quickly put the needle in it's mind over matter, good luck and just think it will be over in a second. Xx ... View more

Evening ladies, Julie, Sandytoes and anyone else this week hope chemo was ok and SE minimal. Marie - sorry to hear you suffered after 2nd FEC - hope you can enjoy next 2 week of feeling 'normal' So reassuring to hear your hair is still hanging on 9 days after FEC 2 - fingers crossed! Rexi - how was chesington? We also had inset day and went to the seaside and had a lovely day. I am 14 days post FEC 1 - wore my wig today for the first time as my hair needs a wash but I am too scared to wash it!! anyway my daughter told me i looked beautiful which is good enough for me as I know how honest kids are! Did bring a tear to my eye (which dosent take a lot these days!!!) TFITHURSDAY - I am also going to wembly on sat night - my hubby suprised me with tickets- I am so excited! Next FEC for me is next wednesday - awful timing as I have both my daughters 5th and 1st bithdays that weekend but I am praying I will be ok. sending big hugs to everyone katie x ... View more