Breast Cancer Now Forum

Beryl I echo you there. No sore throat or thrush and no infections. Good luck Friday and hope bone scan goes ok. Have read your posts with interest as you are so much more ahead in your treatment. Take care. Dani XX ... View more

Hi Raechi I gave genetics form to complete as I have requested one seeing as my grandmother on my father's died of ovarian cancer many years ago. I have a first cousin who lives in US who was diagnosed with breast cancer however she had lumpectomy and radiation to treat it. She's in her fifties and has been cancer free for five years. Hope your meeting goes well and keep us posted with your decision. Thinking of you ladies. XX ... View more

Angelhearts and Raechi, My heart goes out to you both and hope very much that the situation improves with all you have both been through.. I consider myself very lucky when I read about your experiences with TAX. The main side effects have been in keeping with what my ONC said I may experience. Mainly joint ache, flu like symptoms, sore mouth but not sore throat, tingling finger tips, sore soles of feet, rash on face and finally fatigue. All these symptoms I have managed but the most distressing was sore mouth. I need to research peripheral neuropathy as my ONC hasn't mentioned it. In comparison to what some of the ladies have been through mine have been tame. I have researched hair loss on TAX and am alarmed to find that in rare cases and I stress rare that hair does not return with a small percentage of women having permanent hair loss. I tried the cold cap on 2 occasions whilst on FEC and kept my hair apart from thinning on top and because of this decided not to bother with cold cap. Whilst on FEC i lost most of my body hair, on legs, underarms and pubic hair, all gone and still no regrowth. On TAX I have found eyebrows have thinned and so have eye lashes however my hair seems to be growing with 1/2 an inch growth all over but the top of my head can still feel smooth patches. I imagine on my 2nd TAX this Friday I will lose the growth again. I've to have surgery around 4-6 weeks after chemo so that's another bridge I'll cross when I get to it. I send out heart felt love and blessings to all you courageous and lovely ladies and hope the sunshine is lifting your spirits. Danigirl. XX peripheral neuropathy ... View more

Morning all, Just a quick hello to say what a change it makes to having this continental weather.. Am wishing you all the best especially ones who are having treatment today and that side effects are diminished. My sore mouth is virtually better after having lidocaine prescribed, tasted awful but it helped. Have come out in a rash on my cheeks and the doctor has prescribed antihistamines to reduce it. She said it's one of the reactions to Taxol... Was shocked when I found out that I'd gone from 8.5 stones to 9 since February so not happy about that! Feel that I have been eating more than I should. My daughter who has sat A level exams these last 2 weeks has been very stressed so have decided to treat her to a dress she wants for her friend's 18th. I'll be seeing oncologist next Friday 25th and have prepared a list of questions. I do know that I will be having ultrasound to see how much tumour has shrunk but I can actually say I've tried to feel it and appears to have vanished! I do know that regardless of how much the lump has shrunk I will still have to have the next 2 Taxol... Next one being 1st June which happens to be the weekend of the Jubilee. As I'll be on steroids I'll be high as a kite but unable to drink my favourite alcoholic drink Prosecco. Hugs to all. Danigirl XX ... View more

Morning Ladies Had an ok sleep but mouth still not 100%. May have to call doc. Bettie - I know Stourbridge very well as my ex husband shared a house back in the 80s with a couple of his good pals! I think it was a place in Lye. How are you feeling?? Twinky - Music is always on the agenda in our household as my son Josh played violin to grade 8 and also plays piano but prefers his electric guitar. My daughter Grace has an amazing voice and won the national music competition sponsored by the Rotary Club of England. Hope you're not having too many horrid SE's. Like you I see my ONC every 2 weeks a week before the next treatment. Carabel - My mouth still the same even with the Diflam. May have to call doc. Sorry you had bad time with cannula. When do you get result of scan? Hope you had good night's sleep and feel well today. Beryl - take it easy and let the Tax truck go as quickly as it came. To all of the other strong and lovely ladies hope you are all feeling well and have lots of good things to look forward to this week end. Lots of love Dani XX ... View more

Hello ladies, Get alerts for new posts so thought I'd sneak a peek! Joan, I'm having neoadjuvent chemo which means I have MX after last treatment.. Well actually it will be 4-6 weeks after last Tax.. Trying not to think ahead as it!s enough just to deal with aspects of chemo. I've been told by my surgeon I will have immediate delayed recon which means I have an expander fitted at the same time as I have MX. Then a course of radiotherapy and eventually a final reconstruction and have opted for DIEP. I have no dates but this is what the MDT have planned. Have also been told I will be on Tamoxifen for 5 years. I live in Solihull and am under Heart of England Trust, so far have no qualms with their efficiency or treatment and hope it remains that way. All of us are treading the same path but in different order and stages. Sending you and all the ladies an extra special virtual hug and hope you are all feeling well under the circumstances. With love Dani XX ... View more

Beryl thanks for your reply. Like you I don't want to think too much about side effects of all the treatments but to just tackle them as and when. I also have a sister in US (New Jersey) she feels a little helpless in not being here for me but she calls me every day and always sends me treats. We're not twins but we look uncannily similar and we think the same. I know about the tingling but it's subsided thank goodness! Just wish the sore mouth would go! Have a good rest and take care. XX ... View more

Hello ladies Just a quick check in to say virtual hello, also in reply to Sox. I will check with my ONC next Friday regarding scans although I am awaiting appointment for ultrasound to see how much tumour has shrunk. Beryl, is Armidex equivalent/similar to Tamoxifen? Hope you're feeling well and last Tax has been kind to you. Aching limbs gone. Acidity gone. Horrid char grill feeling in my mouth still here! Also have discomfort in soles of feet when walking! Hope all the lovely ladies here are keeping strong. Love Danigirl XX ... View more

Hello lovely ladies, Again I must apologise for not making reference to individuals but I have read all posts and am thinking of you all. Had my lenograstim injection yesterday evening and seems that it has given me a teeny weeny boost but nothing special. Have been taking lansoprazole for acidity as my digestive system seems to be attacked first! Last night was particularly awful as I had to take another even though the label says 1 each day... If I turn green and look like an alien then will cross that bridge.. Oh wait I already am green and look like some being from Star Trek Enterprise so nothing new there. Told my OH that I have craving for Italian Minestrone alla Genoevese..big hint...but alas he's a busy man and said that if I was feeling up to it to get the ingredients and cook it. Hmm... maybe I should go back to bed.. I've read many of your posts and realise that majority of you ladies have had MX already so feel I'm not quite as far as I would like to be... But hey, one day at a time. I wanted to say thank you to Beryl for posting and keeping us up to speed with her progress and that it as helped immensely reading her thoughts. Also good luck to WSocks with scans today and tomorrow. Again to all of you strong, lovely ladies keep healthy and keep posting. Lots of love Dani XX ... View more

Hello lovely ladies Still have chargrill mouth and aching limbs. I know it's to be expected but still cones as a shock. Temperature seems stable but feel exhausted. Read somewhere that Tax can hit you like a truck... It's pretty much a good description. Have my first lenograstyn injection today which OH will administer. Taking each day as it comes.. Am thinking about you all and apologies if I don't make reference to you individually.. Sending good vibes across the Internet. We're all strong and we will come out the other side even more so. Take care and love to all. Dani xx ... View more

Hello ladies, Just to let you know that my SE's are minimal after first Taxol last friday. Although no nausea i do have aching muscles and joints which ONC did say to expect. My mouth feels like charflamed grill but have been sucking on crushed iced pineapple which has been comforting. Also have Diflam mouth wash given to me by chemo nurse. It seems we are all going through different experiences but am thinking of you all and hope the journey gets smoother. To those who are having a difficult time I send love and hope that you are having lots if TLC. Best wishes Dani xx ... View more

Hello Beryl thank you for welcoming on here...we're all in the same boat and our journey a tough one. Since the site has been updated I'm finding it quite slow and not so user friendly, However this doesn't deter me from reading posts and seeing how all are doing. I have my first Tax on Friday and thank you for your reassurance. I think i read on here somewhere that it's best to concentrate on the present than to worry about what's ahead in the future and that's the only way I can come to terms with the tough period of my life. The good news is that my lump has shrunk to nothing but have already come to terms with the eventual MX which will be some time after chemo. Since starting this journey I have put on 5lbs which doesn't seem much but for someone petite it shows especially around tummy area. I have no idea whether I should dieting or whether I should stop eating those biscuits that I have suddenly developed a taste for! I send all good wishes to all you lovely ladies and say keep strong and keep fighting. Daniela XX ... View more

Hello Beryl thank you for welcoming on here...we're all in the same boat and our journey a tough one. Since the site has been updated I'm finding it quite slow and not so user friendly, However this doesn't deter me from reading posts and seeing how all are doing. I have my first Tax on Friday and thank you for your reassurance. I think i read on here somewhere that it's best to concentrate on the present than to worry about what's ahead in the future and that's the only way I can come to terms with the tough period of my life. The good news is that my lump has shrunk to nothing but have already come to terms with the eventual MX which will be some time after chemo. Since starting this journey I have put on 5lbs which doesn't seem much but for someone petite it shows especially around tummy area. I have no idea whether I should dieting or whether I should stop eating those biscuits that I have suddenly developed a taste for! I send all good wishes to all you lovely ladies and say keep strong and keep fighting. Daniela XX ... View more

Hello sisterhood, Just wanted to say best of luck to you all. Started my journey with dx in Feb after finding lump middle of Jan. So not so happy new year. I have Grade 2B DCIS and IDC tumour 4.5 cm. Had 3 x FEC, ONC appointment tomorrow and start Taxotere Friday 11th. Tried cold cap twice but hair thinned from top of head so decided not to bother with it and had hair clipped off. Eyebrows thinned too but eyelashes hanging on. Cold cap was ok but too time consuming. I am having neoadjuvent chemo and will have MX around 4-6 weeks after my last chemo cycle. Then immediate delayed recon, rads then eventually final recon with DIEP. This journey is a tough one but we women are strong and after having 2 cesareans I'm sure I can get through the coming months. Best wishes Dani ... View more

We are all sensitive and someone only has to look at us in the wrong way and we get defensive. Nobody can relate to us and what we go through unless they've walked a mile in our shoes! I quote a phrase from Lance Armstrong's book "I'm gonna kick this cancer in the butt and gonna win this fight". That my dear is positive thinking so don't be too hard on those who don't "understand" or even know what we must be going through when they say things like keep positive... Negative thinking kills. Kills your soul, kills your sense of humour. The fight continues. ... View more

Hello all, I start my first chemo on Friday 9th and will be trying the cold cap. My oncologist has told me that there would be no reason for me not to try it so if a woman of medicine says it's fine I'm fine with it too. I joined Breast Friends and have met some lovely ladies who have been/going through the same journey and feel I've joined a sisterhood. One of the ladies I've met sells some beautiful head scarves, very colourful and I will be choosing a few just in case. I also have a wig voucher to use and have enlisted one of my sisters to come and choose one with me next week. The same lady that sells head scarves has told me about the benefits of pure Aloe Vera and how she took a capful of it each day whilst undergoing chemo. She said that the SEs were alleviated and helped her get through the whole process. I've bought a massive bottle and drinking it already!! I have my pre-appointment on Wednesday and am disappointed my partner is in Cambridge the same day for work reasons, have been very tearful as he's been to every appointment so far. I have DCIS Grade 2 ER+ and HER2-. CT scan also confirmed the cancer hadn't spread to the rest of my body as i have 1 lymph node that is affected. Tomorrow I will be going to my Cancer Support Center for a complementary therapy as I've been told that this is very beneficial in keeping the mind positive for the journey ahead. Take care and best wishes to all. ... View more

Thank you Lulu. It's a worrying time and the fact I haven't started chemotherapy yet is weighing on my mind. I'm in the hands of the MDT. You've been helpful in your information and thank you. Best wishes Dani ... View more

Lulu My surgeon has not mentioned the words invasive ductal cancer. He advised neo adjuvant chemotherapy to reduce the lump, I thought it was 5 cm but it's only 4cm my partner informs me. There are calcifications in the breast tissue and 1 lymph node affected. I will be having a CT scan tomorrow and will ask the breast care nurse for information when I'm there. Peace and Light x ... View more

Hello Rachel Thank you for your encouraging words. I have opted for DIEP but have to get through 6 sessions of chemotherapy first. I've read everything there is to read about DCIS, chemotherapy, radiotherapy and my head is full of all there is to know about side effects and benefits. There is no history in my family of Breast Cancer so has been a total shock to me, my family and friends. It's good to hear of all the positive stories I have read on this forum and everyone's journey is different. I am at the beginning of my journey and have the support and encouragement from all my loved ones especially my partner who has been a mountain of strength to me. He has been to all of the initial appointments and consultations, anything I have missed he has picked up on. Without him I'm not sure if I would be quite as strong as I am... Peace and light to you. XX ... View more

Hello, I was diagnosed on 10th February with DCIS and calcifications. Like most of the women on here I found a lump just above my aerola in my left breast. After the mammagram came the shock of hearing "radiologist feels that the lump is suspicious" plus calcifications. The lump is 5cm and after having a biopsy on the main lymph node which looked enlarged on the ultrasound was found to be affected too. So far I have seen an oncologist, a plastic surgeon and the surgeon who will be performing the mx. I've been advised to have chemo first as my surgeon would like to shrink the lump as much as possible so that he can save the skin around the aerola. As I type this I can't help feeling how matter of fact I have become of my situation and people are incredulous to how strong I am being. I have no intention of this blip in my life get in the way of living. Like everyone I am scared but prepared for everything that will come my way in the next months or so. I have a CT scan scheduled for next Tuesday and am praying results will be all fine. I am reading a book by Barbara Stone called Initiation to Cancer, Surviving the Fire. She is an inspiration and I would highly recommend this book to anyone who is newly diagnosed. I wish everyone here peace and light. ... View more