Breast Cancer Now Forum

Chelle hav sent you a PM re Facebook.  Thx xx  ... View more

Hi ladies, I am not on Facebook but am happy to join to be able to keep in touch with you all. Chelle, please can you remind me what I need to do? Thanks. Xxx  ... View more

Vicki, have sent you a PM re cold cap. Am away on a short break so will post again in next few days. Love to all. Xxx ... View more

Hi Lols just to let you know I have replied to your pm. X ... View more

Hi Lols. I bought 2 bottles of Evonail on line. Have used about half a bottle so far applying Evonail once per day. My nails are the best they have ever been, strong and quite long. Am hoping they stay this way! Xx ... View more

Hello Jewels Having a quiet weekend, spent yesterday afternoon with my sister which was lovely just chatting away about anything other than BC.She also brought me a bag full of comedy DVDs which is what I prefer to watch at the mo as they help lift my mood. Am feeling a bit more energetic now (day 11) and enjoyed a 3 mile walk this morning as well as doing the neglected housework. Fiona, glad that you enjoyed your family lunch and drinks with your friends. Cress, great that you are enjoying your break away with your best friend, as you said it is just what you need especially the laughter. Sandra, great that you are having fun with your family too. Jackie, Cava on prescription sounds good, might be easier to get than Emend! Emma, sorry to hear that you are feeling sick despite the Emend, I find that just trying to keep nibbling something helps, a few crisps, nuts, a biscuit, or a piece of toast. Hope you feel a bit better soon. Xxx Jill, sorry to hear about your Lymphodema, hope you get some improvement after your clinic appointments. Enjoy your Shepherds Pie! Chelle, hope your blood tests come back ok tomorrow. Good luck to Jayne, Izzy and Jill at the bar tomorrow, let us know how you get on when you feel up to it. Have a restful evening Jewels. Xxxx ... View more

Hi Lols. I started TAC in June, recently had my 3rd chemo. My Onc advised that the regimes given at my hospital were either FEC or TAC. For me she recommended TAC for the same reasons as you have stated though I am a little older than you. I was a little concerned like you at first but decided to trust my ONC's recommendation and get on with it. I understand that TAX is usually given where there is some node involvement and with TAC this is included each time. One benefit I see from staying on the same regime is that the side effects shouldn't change too much though they may build up over the cycles. So far my side effects have been fatigue especially in the first week and also indigestion/slight nausea. Good luck and please feel free to keep in touch. Xx ... View more

Joan, am so sorry to hear your news especially after being given previous indications that things were going in the right direction. Hope that some of the other Jewels who are having chemo first will be along soon. Sending you a huge virtual hug. Xxxxx ... View more

Good afternoon Jewels, haven't posted for a while but have been reading your posts every day! I had a text back from Martha last weekend and she has continued to struggle with fatigue and when she has felt well enough has been focusing on her business as this has been neglected somewhat. I am on day 8 cycle 3 and have been more tired this cycle and don't seem to have much energy. The breast care nurse told me that the tiredness may increase over the remaining cycles - bummer! Had a minor incident at the chemo unit when all the veins on my hand turned bright red, looked like spiderman for a while until a heat pad was applied! Not sure what state my hand will be in after 3 more cycles. Exercises for cording seem to be going well and I have better movement now, go back to physio next week for a follow up. Have booked an intro day at the Haven in Leeds just before my last chemo and hope to book some much needed therapy sessions. It's great having my son at home in the school holidays and we have a good laugh together, though it can be expensive when he "needs" a new tennis oufit and racket! Had a lovely couple of days in the Peak District recently, though I struggled with my wig, it was too tight and gave me a headache. Have managed to get it sorted now. I received a lovely butterfly scarf from some friends yesterday which was a nice surprise and very thoughtful of them. They had already sent me flowers after my op and when I first started chemo. It certainly gives me a lift when friends show they care. Debs, Marion, Katherine, Jackie and Chelle hope you all feel a bit better soon, thinking of you, big hugs to all of you. Trish, am so sorry to hear about your vision and mobility and hope that you have a way forward to improve things very soon. Big hugs to you too. Debs, I am on TAC chemo, so similar to you and my ONC said that it is tough but that she thought I was fit enough to cope with it. Time will tell. Deedee, thinking of you, it must be very tough for you with your neighbour's situation. It is good that you have a special birthday celebration to share with your niece next year. Maxie, have a wonderful weekend with your daughter. Hope to go out for a walk with my OH soon, with sun hat and cardigan of course. Hope you all have a peaceful afternoon and sleep well precious ladies. Xxx ... View more

Sandra and Kath just popping in from the June Jewels to say that I am thinking of you both and hoping that your fears are unfounded. Take care both of you. Xxxx ... View more

Evening Jewels, haven't posted for a while but have been reading all your posts. I had a lovely chat with Martha last week, she was having a rough time this cycle with fatigue. Tried to text her since but no reply so hope she is ok. She did say that her OH was off work this week so they might have gone away. Hope to hear from you soon Martha. Update from me, been for first physio since ANC and have def got some cording. Physio was lovely and showed me some exercises to do and also trained my OH to do some gentle massage on the affected areas. While I was there I had to lie on a couch and my wig rode up half way off my head, we all had a good laugh! Have been much better in week 3 this cycle which I think is due to not taking the antibiotics. Even managed a trip to the coast yesterday which was lovely, but still too hot despite the sea breezes. We have managed to book a couple of days in the Peak District this weekend too. Chelle, am really pleased that you have great support from family and friends. I am not too far from you so if you want to meet up sometime just let me know. Cress, thinking of you and hoping things get better for you soon. Jackie, enjoy your holiday, you deserve it! Glad you got a new date which suits you. Sandra, have started drinking a glass of pomegranate juice each day, apparently it has more antioxidants than green tea and tastes good too! Debs, what a nightmare you seem to be having! Your wig looks fab by the way. Marion, glad your cough is easing a little and your sleep is improving. Joan, a favourite food of mine at the mo is sweet potatoe cooked in olive oil and turmeric. Nicola, I am in awe of your fitness routines, mine is limited to walks but plenty of them. Nicj, thought your affected arm shouldn't be used due to increased risk of lymphodema? Sounds like you are jinxed with the cracking cannulas and the rubbish chemist, you will soon have enough material for a book! Emma, great idea about the e bay sale, will have to get my son on to it tho he will want a cut! Fiona, hope you have a better time this cycle with the side effects,. How rude of your chemo nurse not to talk to you. Hope all jewels have a peaceful evening and manage some sleep in this heat. Take care. Xxx ... View more

Chelle, good to hear from you, have been thinking of you a lot today. Am sending you a big hug and wishing you strength. Xxx ... View more

Morning Jewels! Have tried to track Martha down but had no luck this time. Chelle, hope you are feeling a bit better this morning? Think I remember that last time you managed to speak to Martha on the phone, do you have her mobile number to try and track her down? Thanks for keeping the list up to date, you are a star! My OH made me laugh today when I thought he had said that he had seen an ad for vasectomy costumes (chemo brain not working) but he actaully said mastectomy costumes! Ad was for Nicola Jane and they are worth checking out if you are in to swimming of course. Emma, good luck at the exclusive Saturday bar today, check in later to let us know how you are. For those of you recently at the bar, hope you are coping in this heat with any side effects. It's good to hear that some of us are managing to fit in some trips away which am sure helps take the mind off chemo for a bit. Hoping to get out for a walk this afternoon with OH, well covered up of course. Am not feeling too bad on day 10, mainly tiredness. Take care precious ladies, catch up soon. Xxx ... View more

Joan am so glad that you got some positive news today! Hope your meeting with the psychologist went well too. Enjoy your night out. Emma (Melrose) good to hear from you and it's good that your chemo wasn't postponed. Don't think any of us wants to keep going back to the bar especially when we have just got through all the side effects of the last cycle, but we have to keep going back for more cos in the long run it will help us get our lives back. Pat, good to hear from you too, take it easy now. Fiona, I have been a bit slack with the exercises especially when I have been feeling rough, must do better! Enjoy your time in the sun with your daughter. Might have to seek out Martha tomorrow if we don't hear from her. xx ... View more

Hi Ann, glad to hear that you are back safe from the bar. Enjoy your nap and take good care of yourself. Hope the constipation meds keep doing their job! Ps your words of encouragement to Emma (Melrose) brought a tear to my eye this morning. It is great that we can all keep supporting each other through these tough times. ... View more

Evening Jewels! I am on day 7, not feeling too bad, mainly tiredness and indigestion, tho did have a sore throat for a few days which thankfully has now gone. Hair is just about hanging on tho have more bald patches after hair wash today. OH said he would comb it over for me in the style of Bobby Charlton, I had to laugh! I know I am delaying the inevitable but will leave the clippering til the weekend. Reading all your posts I have noted how our children seem to be coping pretty well. I went for a walk with my 14 year old son yesterday and he held my hand as we walked through the woods. I got a bit upset saying how sorry I was that we weren't able to do much over the summer. He just turned to me and said it doesn't matter Mum and told me that he loved me. Deedee glad you managed to enjoy your party and felt ok in your wig. Chelle Sounds like the break away with family and friends has done you the world of good. Vicki enjoy your break away. Katherine sorry to hear that you are in hospital, get well soon. Fiona, how lovely of your friend to make a cake and be so supportive just when you need it. Marion and Beckyjoan hope you both feel better soon. Emma (Melrose) your sons words of encouragement made me cry. Your blog summed up a lot of my feelings too. Thx for the words of encouragement, they really do help. Cress great idea about fundraising, count me in. Joan glad your psychologist session went well, sounds like she is giving you the support you really need right now. Will be thinking of you tomorrow and hoping you get some encouraging news. Cazzer I too share the same thoughts as you but as others have said we need to stay strong and just take things one day at a time. Ann hope you have managed to have a good birthday. Sandra, you should be proud of yourself for going to the support session with no head covering, well done you! Ded, glad you enjoyed the Hampton Court Flower Show. Hoping that Martha and Agnes post soon after today's bar visit. Good luck to Pat, Emma, Deedee Faye and Ann for tomorrow. ... View more

Chelle, sorry that you are having to miss your cousin's wedding, but I think that you have made the right decision.Have just washed my hair after having 2nd cold cap on Thursday and have lost loads of hair this morning. Had a few tears and now have to decide whether to let OH clipper it or leave for a while. Think will go for clipper as have large bald patch now on top. I am constipated too, oh the joys of chemo! At least it is another sunny day Jewels, so enjoy! Xx ... View more

Good afternoon Jewels, just a quick update from me. Am back from the bar and resting in front of the TV. Was a bit concerned when my cold cap helmet was taken for another extra large headed lady and to be told that they only had one in that size and I would therefore have to wait for her to use it as she was in front of the queue. On no I thought, will be here all day at this rate! It was her first time and kerching the helmet wasn't big enough for her xxl sized head. I was so relieved but felt guilty then cos she couldn't even give it a try. The life that we now have is totally alien to our BBC life and I also find most days to be a roller coaster of emotions. Sometimes I manage to block it from the forefront of my mind especially when I am having fun with my son. I am managing to sleep ok and know that I am lucky in that respect. I see sleep as an escape from everything and i try to nod off by deep breathing then try and use visualisation techniques, e.g focussing my mind on happy memories from the past and then on new memories that I want to create when all this c**p is over. Have a peaceful evening Jewels. Hope to hear from my fellow drinkers later. Xxx ... View more

Jewels, so much to catch up on. Are we going for a record on the number of postings- 1762 and we are not all a third the way through. Martha - hope you didn't mind me tracking down your Mum but we were all so worried about you! It was lovely to chat to your Mum too and I told her what a hugely positive impact you are having on us all. Thank you. Re nails, I have been using Evonail and my nails have never been better. Deedee - hope that you will be back with us very soon. Chelle, when are you off to the Haven, I was thinking about booking an intro session too. Great news about your I Phone, you are def now the Jewels Chief Negotiator! Vicki - sorry you haven't got a def answer after your scsn, fingers crossed for your referral back to the surgical team and a big hug too! Joan, really pleased that you are now feeling more positive and I hope your meeting on friday helps you even more on the positivity front. Big hug. Trish, so sorry to hear about your eye condition, as if you haven't got enough on your plate right now. Hope it starts to improve very soon. A big hug for you too. Lins, well done on enduring the cold cap, it's tough but hopefully will be worth it. If not you might just hold onto your hair, that's what I am hoping anyway! Quick update from me. Having a lot of wind at mo, so need to speak to Onc tomorrow. Must admit I am not happy about taking antibiotics and antifungal tablets every cycle and not being able to take acidipholus. Lost a filling on Monday night, chewing a healthy brazil nut! Fortunately I was having my bloods done Tuesday as chemo nurse said that I had to have them cleared before going to dentist. Bloods were all fine so then had to use my persuasive charms on the dental receptionist who at first said that I would have to go on waiting list, but when I used my "Chelle" persuasion tactics got an appointment same day! Dentist was lovely, managed to do filling without injection and said if I needed any more treatment just to ring him and he would fit me in when I needed it! Must admit I had a few tears on the way home cos he was just so nice. Re constipation, I have a mug of hot water first thing every morning which seems to stimulate the bowels ladies. Have also discovered some lovely fresh soup from Sainsburys Tomatoe with red pepper and lentils. OH suggested going back to York again today so off we went on the train and it took my mind off chemo number 2 tomorrow, lovely walking in the sunshine and treated myself to a new top and casual dress in the sales. Welcome Shygirl36! Good luck to my fellow barflies for tomorrow, Claire and Marion. Marion hope you have a much smoother ride this time. Well this has been hard to do with one eye on the tennis. Have a peaceful evening everyone. Xxx ... View more

Good afternoon ladies. Have been doing a bit of investigation work and have managed to speak to Martha's Mum. As we suspected Martha is back in hospital. Her Mum said that she is ok and that she hopes to get in touch very soon. ... View more