Breast Cancer Now Forum

Hi Cathie, Great that you've joined this forum;I'm sure you find loads of support on here. I think there is a thread for those staring Chemo in December..have you had a look at that? Reading your post and Mandymid's echoes exactly how I felt in March when my Chemo started. I worried about every little thing: my Picc line being sore, how sick would I feel? Should I try to work? Should I try the cold cap? Why was my hair falling out anyway and would it all be gone before I had time to get a wig? What was my temperature doing? etc etc . You name it, I worried about it! HOWEVER, now I have finished treatment I look back, and know that while those worries felt very real at the time, they all sorted themselves out and probably were not worth all the time I spent stressing over them. You are bound to feel anxious, because you are facing a horrible unknown, but looking back I think the best advice I was given was to take one step at a time, to deal with things as they come along and that the waiting is the worst thing. Once the treatment is started, hopefully you will find it's easier to cope with than you thought. The side effects vary hugely person to person, and remember,people usually post on here when they have a concern or bad side effects so don't assume they will all happen to you. It is really important to discuss any that do happen with your Chemo team, because there are lots of ways they can help. Wishing you lots of luck for next week. ... View more

Best of Luck for next week Weepixie, hope it goes well. x ... View more

Hi Aroma, I have tears in my eyes as I read this....what fantastic news!!! I join the others in wishing you a fantastic Christmas a wonderful, happy future and a BIG celebration!! XX ... View more

Thanks Jayne, and well done on working through chemo...my brain was just full of fog!! xx ... View more

No, three months doesn't seem like a long time at all....what did you decide to do? I have been off since March, having had WLE, chemo and rads. My job is quite stressful and needs good concentration and communication and to be honest, I still don't feel up to it mentally. My memory isn't great and I sometimes struggle to find the right word for things! The thing is, I feel well physically, apart from getting tired easily, so am starting to feel like a bit of a fraud. I can't decide whether to get one more sick note from my GP or stop being such a wuss and just get on with it. Anyone else been in this situation, and what did you do? X ... View more

Hi Meerkat, Just read your post and I wanted to to send you a hug and "virtual" support. XX ... View more

Hi Ruthu, First of all, you are NOT moaning. I think its been said many times on this forum, that cancer is not a competitiion. Everyone reats differently to diagnosis/treatment/emotions, and what you are feeling, is what you are feeling and that is just how it is. Surgery and Radiotherapy are horrid and are bound to have affected you,not to mention the Tamoxifen. It's only four months since July and I think this is no time at all, so am not suprised you have tearful moments and have not 'snapped out of it'. Anyone who thinks you should be fully recovered emotionally, clearly does not know what they are talking about!! Teaching is an extremely stressful job. Is it possible you can go back on a phased return? Again, some people do return to work with no problems, (I think that is the exception though), but it rather depends on the type of job. You are responsible for other peope's well being and when you return, pupils and colleagues will probably not reduce their demands on you..they will forget you've been off and why. Once you are back you will be expected to be 'well' so please do not rush back until you feel really ready. Can you talk to the friends who seem to be avoiding you? Maybe they feel they do not want to keep asking how you are, because you do might not want to be reminded of it all the time? Explain you still need their support. I found people reacted in very different and often suprising ways. Most were, and continue to be, brilliant but a few never phoned. When I phoned them though they were always pleased to hear from me. I think sometimes they were just scared/didn't want to upset me,or were just plain thoughtless!! Surround yourself with loving people and try not to stress about the others. Look after yourself. Do not be too hard on yourself or let others pressurise you. Cancer is a huge thing and it is not suprising it is not over on the day of your last hospital appointment. XX ... View more

Hi Faye, Wonderful news, what a relief.. so pleased for you and your family. All best wishes, XX ... View more

Hi Faye, Just to wish you all the best for this afternoon, will be thinking of you. XX ... View more

Thanks Tommyticklemouse, I checked the BCC Tamoxifen booklet and it does indeed say downy facial hair can be a side effect of this lovely drug. Sue: I finished chemo in July and yes, I have noticed some hair does seem to be over enthusiastic..though unfortunately this enthusiasm hasn't really extended to my head as much as I would like! Threads on one or two others BC forums say it does go away on it's own as Zeppa found, so hopefully this will be the case whether it's due to chemo or tamoxifen. x ... View more

Hi Faye and Sandra51, Just to say hope you are both coping OK, and good luck with the biopsies tomorrow Sandra, XX ... View more

Hi Kathryn, Interesting about your neck and arm problems..I've now got a frozen shoulder on my 'good' side, which is really annoying as I'd hoped to have two working arms by now! Hope you improve soon. I might try some mouthwash - I suspect my whole digestive tract is still a bit messed up by the chemo as I have had a few mild tummy upsets. Yes, that book is good. I liked the convalescence bit too, I think the victorians had the right idea - I prescribe us all a nice break by the seaside! Whilst 'getting back to normal' helps alot, I do think we also need to recognise that our bodies and minds have been through a heck of a lot, and that it does take time to recover. I'm taking things slowly, enjoying feeling well, (but tired) and taking pleasure in small things, like a lovely walk in the sunshine yesterday with the beautiful autumn colours. X ... View more

Hi, I finished chemo in July, but still have a really dry, furry mouth. My GP said it 'may' go with time and that the radiotherapy probably didn't help, but I was wondering if anyone has had this, and if they have any helpful tips. Thanks and I hope everyone is keeping well, XX ... View more

Hi Faye, Yes, I did have a lump. It felt firm, I'd say more like a dried pea than a carrot though!! I don't know whether a cyst would feel more squidgey or not, my GP thought mine was most likely a cyst but fortunately referred me urgently anyway. It seems to me, the only way you can tell for sure what it may be is mammogram, ultrasound and if necessary biopsy, so perhaps you should try not to think too much about how it feels, as you can drive yourself mad doing this, with no resolution. If the doctors could tell by feeling it, you would not have to have the other tests. I know it's a worrying time and each day feels like a week but the appointment will soon come round. The chances are it will not be cancer and you can heave a huge sigh of relief. If the news is not so good, your team will look after you..you kind of get swept up in the treatment and before you know it you are out the other end! My treatment finished four weeks ago, (apart from five years Tamoxifen), but in January I was in exactly your position and I would say the worry before diagnosis is the worst bit. Take care of yourself and remember to try not to google...I've scared myself silly by not following this advice! XX ... View more

Hi Gail65, I finished chemo in July and sympathise with your sore mouth/teeth. I had exactly the same...it felt as though all my teeth were aching and my jaw also ached and felt 'tight'. I mentioned this to my Onc and she seemed to find it most unusual and suggested it was due to tension. It did subside towards the end of about cycle four..I saw an oesteopath which I think helped. However, I then got hideous oral thrush, so do look after your mouth. Someone also mentioned tingly scalp..I found this to be one of the most annoying side effects, simply because no one could suggest anything to help and I had no idea it would hurt when my hair fell out! I would say my head was actually painful for about half of each cycle. To start with, I could hardly bear to touch my scalp, then it was more of a sharp 'pins and needles' feeling..it drove me mad! However, the symptoms do go away and now they are a distant memory,(except a persistent dry mouth). Hang in there..I know it seems an age at the time, but you will get through it. Good luck to everyone, XX ... View more

Hi Faye, Yes, please, please take your husband with you when you get the results. I was so glad my husband was there, not least because he listened to, (and remembered..amazing!) all the information I was given but was too upset to take in. Also, drove me home afterwards. I was not given any information whilst the mammogram and ultrasound were being done. I didn't ask, but suspect they would have been non-commital, because breaking bad news, (if that is the case), needs to be done very carefully and when all the facts are assembled. Agree with Flori35 about telling your parents. Everyone will want to offer support and the more people loving and helping you the better. Take Care, X ... View more

Hi Faye, The procedures at the Breast Clinic may be different in different areas, but when I went I had an examination by a consultant, (confirming a lump was there), then a mammogram, an ultrasound and something called a fine needle aspiration, (FNA). This is when they insert a needle into the lump to draw off some cells which are then examinined to see if they are cancerous. In my case, all the results came through on the same day. I waited an hour or so after the FNA and was then told. I would think that if there is ANY suspicion at all, they would do an FNA or other biopsy rather than just rely on mammogram or ultrasound. I'm afraid I don't know anything about genetic testing, but I hope the above is helpful. Thinking of you, and very much hoping it all turns out to be fine, (which 80-90% of lumps do). XX ... View more

Hi, I had 30 rads and finished 3 weeks ago. I was advised only to use aqueous cream or E45 cream. When I asked about Aloe Vera I was told they could not actually recommend it but that lots of women used it and found it helpful. I stuck to aqueous cream. I did get sore from about treatment 15, and had to use a gel called Activ Heal, where the skin was splitting, however now my skin just looks a bit red and feels fine. I was told to continue with the creams for a few weeks. I don't think it can do any harm to use the cream before treatment starts as it will make sure the skin is in good condition. Good luck to you all when you start treatment. I think most people would agree that compared to Chemo rads are a walk in the park, but, watch out for the tiredness as is does seem to creep up on you! Catseye. ... View more

Hello, I've been reading this forum since my diagnosis in January, and have found it really helpful and supportive. I have just plucked up the courage to join in! I had a WLE and reconstruction, then 6 x FEC and have just finished 30 Rads and started 5 years of Tamoxifen. Like Kathryn, I feel a bit 'abandoned' and am getting fed up of everyone saying "all done, back to normal now". However, apart from feeling very tired, (I was told this would peak two weeks after rads finished), I do feel well and now realise how ill I felt during treatment! My hair is growing back, (I gave up on the cold cap after two FEC - was getting sick of hoovering up hair, or eating it when it was falling in my food), but I am a long way off booking a hairdressers appointment and not ready to go out without my wig. Eyebrows and lashes are good though. I am not enjoying the hot flushes but am experimenting with reducing caffeine and (sadly), wine. My thoughts are now turning to when to return to work, a scarey prospect, but I feel I need to get a holiday in first! Spacehopper: I read it is not advisable to colour your hair for at least 6 months as it could still be weak, but that natural products, (henna or vegetable based colour), may be OK. This was in the BCC booklet, "Breast Cancer and Hair Loss", and in a booklet from the charity "My New Hair". Best Wishes to everyone, Cat ... View more