Breast Cancer Now Forum

Thanks for wiggy advice ladies, will book in to hairdressers day after Oncy-donkey appt I think, just to make sure Im def getting chemo etc (told you Im in denial!!) Vicky good luck with CT scan tonight xx Intend tackling housework, ironing tomorrow (maybe:-) ) Chelle there's a hilarious story somewhere on old thread on this website where a fellow chemo babe was practising drawing eyebrows on above her own, trying to copy the shape etc, anyway doorbell went & she didn't have time to put wig/ scarf thing on so she answered door to Tesco delivery or whoever with her baldy head & the man was transfixed staring at her, ...she was thinking 'how rude....have you never seen a bald head doesn't he realise I have CANCER & was glaring at him!....wasn't till sometime later she looked in the mirror & realised she had 4 eyebrows that had been staring at him!!!!.......sooo funny & just the sort of thing that'd happen to me!! 🙂 So don't answer the front door when you're practising!!! Getting a bit worried not heard from Ann yet, hope she's ok and hasn't ridden off into the sunset on her horse!!! Ann if you're reading this hope you're alright sweetie 🙂 xx Maxie xxx ... View more

Marion, I've got a stack of ironing too, just can't face it today! ....xx My house is also in need of a good clean but can't summon the energy! ....Funny, last week when I got the Onco appt I was whizzing round the house like a maniac, de-cluttering, cleaning etc in preparation for the big Chemo train arrival but the time just seems to be dragging now (appt not till 11th) If you would have told me when I was first DX that I'd be keen to start chemotherapy I wouldn't believe it, really didn't want it at all and thought it was the end of the world when told had to have it, but now just think the sooner it starts the sooner it'll be over!! Anyway Martha I've had a couple of ginger biscuits & am feeling better!...they obviously have magic powers!! (can't believe you're giving me tips and you're the one day 2 of chemo!!!) Think my main problem is lack of sleep, so waking up knackered and stressed! Anyway enough moaning from me. 🙂 Have made wiggy appt for day after Onc appt, do you ladies advise having hair chopped a bit before fitting? Mines quite long and I think Im in denial that's it's actually going to fall out so trying to hold onto it for as long as poss! Looking forward to seeing your pic Martha! Welcome to Ethel, Im sure you'll find plenty of support on here from us all 🙂 (we're not always moaning, we do have funny stories too sometimes honest!!!) Hoping Anns got on ok today & that she's up to posting to us at some stage. Maxie xxx ... View more

Hi Jewels, Just echoing what Faye's said above to all of you, was just about to write an almost identical post!! Feeling really sickly and feeble today for some reason (think I've taken on your side effects Martha!) not felt myself for a couple of days, mind has started wandering of course and have now convinced myself of all sorts! Am finding it difficult to balance getting plenty of rest and pushing myself to do more. I need to give myself a good talking to I think. Positive attitude has gone out of the window, hope it comes back soon! Sorry to whinge but can't really vent to anyone else and have them worrying too....xxx ... View more

Just stopping by to wish Ann all the best for tomorrow!......we're all behind you willing you on & will all be following you pioneers pretty soon!..xx Martha thank you so much for your posts today, hope you get a good nights rest & no s/e's! Marion you seem to be doing well too, hope it continues xx Deedee that's rough about the fostering, must be very hard for you 😞 With regards cording I have it too, almost to elbow but try and stretch every day. Was doing well with the excercise sheet from Hosp for first few weeks but now find it a bit of a faff.....may do Cress's version instead sounds more fun! With regards alcohol I've read somewhere (think McMillan site) that you need to avoid it for 2-3 days after chemo. I can't see that we'll fancy it that much in first week anyway. On another alcoholic note I read that Guinness is good for your red blood cells when on chemo!....not really a lover of Guinness but may give it a try! 🙂 Night All xxx ... View more

Martha great to hear from you, hope you continue to feel well!xx Glad your mind has been put at ease a bit by Martha March 13, is your appt in the morning or afternoon tomorrow? Chelle & Artemis, think Im going for a short bob too. Not booked in for chemo appt yet so hanging onto my long hair for as long as I can! Well, I've browsed the eyebrows!! Wow seriously didn't have any idea of all the choice out there!.....Chelle really hope your eyebrows don't look like Alex Mills.... that's really made me laugh!!! 🙂 Well OH has bribed me to go out for a while (with a promise of tea & a glass of wine!) so off out now, will check in again later no doubt! xxx ... View more

Emma, did the list too last night, but like Faye I scribbled in a notebook....There's lots of us now arent there?! 🙂 Faye know what you mean about getting boobs out for appts etc, just not bothered at all now, bizarre when you look back a few weeks/months and see how much our attitudes to things have changed. Glad your boob is ok and all sorted! xx Its great when peeps from other threads come here to offer advice & encouragement, long may that continue In the months to come, its really appreciated! 🙂 Having a lazy day today, feeling sluggish, tired & a bit down, no idea why 😞 Even the offer of a shopping trip with OH isn't working! (Must be bad!)....Might just do some eyebrow shopping online, that might do the trick! xxx ... View more

Good morning Jewels Sending positive vibes your way for this morning Martha!! 🙂 Maxie xxx ... View more

Welcome to all the newbies! 🙂 I'll have to start writing everyone's name down now otherwise will get in a right muddle! Know a few of you have mentioned the forgetfulness etc and I am the same. Hope you manage to get some sleep tonight Martha, what time is your appt so I can send positive vibes to you?! xx night night all...xxx ... View more

Thanks Moonbeams for answering my queries from this morning! Wishing you all a Good nights sleep 🙂 Maxie xx ... View more

Evening ladies , Jayney so sorry you've not had the news you wanted, you don't sound pathetic at all, you just need to let the info sink in, it's all so overwhelming isn't it? I have spread to nodes too & vascular invasion & am hoping I will be offered scans just to check things out. Really hope you can make it on Monday, we'll all be rooting for you!! (((Big hugs))) Martha you look fab!...lovely smiley photo! Flimbo you have lovely hair! ...Mines about the same length but not as nice as yours...We'll all be a happy little band of pixies soon!! Cress congrats on clear margins....great news! Now, this is where I get confused, I've just read lots of posts on prev page but can't go back now to see who said what because im on flipping I-pad so would lose my post!!!....so will just say how scary blood clot story was, talk about 'Dont panic Mr Mainwaring'!!.....and pleased that some of you have your plans of action in place and had successful scans etc today. I am now obsessed with eyebrows and loving the idea of the different expressions, would be great when we are so tired we can't be bothered talking/arguing, we could just stick on an angry eyebrow (or two!)....the options are endless! They prob don't sell angry eyebrows though and not sure if I could be bothered or skilled enough to draw them on....maybe we could take the idea to Dragons Den!!! 🙂 Anyway enough of my ramblings I need to eat! (wonder what a hungry eyebrow would look like?!) Maxie xxx ... View more

Haha that's hilarious March 13!!!....think that'll be describing me too, probably losing an eyebrow on the way too!!! Just read the post on the milk thistle (think had crossed with mine) Damm that was the one thing Id got ready in my 'stash' of chemo fighting armoury!! Was feeling quite smug about it too!....Don't want anything that night feed the little buggers tho so will be removing that :-(( Off to work now, will check in later this evening!....xxx ... View more

Hi All, Chelle I love you mantra about 'do you want to do this again 'etc...am going to remember this when the going gets tough!....I too am chuckling about the eyebrow wigs, will have to google them later and maybe purchase too!...hope they wouldn't blow off in the wind either, or worse still just one of them...!! Im having a strange day today, am feeling ultra nervous, don't know whether Im coming out in sympathy with you Martha & March 13!!....will be avidly reading your posts after your first experiences etc. ....just think you'll be the experts on all this soon and will be calming the rest of us down! Phoned BCN today just to check that this long gap between 2nd WLE (1st May) and Onc appt was normal (not till 11th June). She has said that yes it takes a few weeks from results day which was 16th May so am reassured a bit with that. Am going into work for a few hours this afternoon and hoping a few hours of normality will shake this awful 'impending doom' feeling!.....I feel like the bloke in Dads Army who used to just walk round saying 'Were Doomed!!' every5 minutes!!....apologies to all you young ones out there who don't remember this programme and are now thinking I've probably lost the plot lol!! :-)) Anyway have a good day everyone! Maxie xxx ... View more

Hi Moonbeams, Hope you don't mind me popping in from the 'June Jewels' thread, I've been reading all your posts for quite a while now so feel like I sort of know you all a bit even though you don't know me! (sound like a weird stalker lol!) Anyway was after a bit of advice, wondering if any of you have an ear thermometer with the little disposable cap things on the end? It says on the instructions that a new cap MUST be used every time you take your temp. Well if Im taking temp twice a day will need bucketloads of new caps and think they may be expensive. Do you think it just means when you're taking someone's temp when they're ill and it's so not to get their germs etc? Normally would try and work this out for myself and be logical but my brain seems to have gone to mush lately and am panicking about all sorts of daft things! Another thing was I've read somewhere that you need to change your toothbrush often while on chemo and also to use a soft toothbrush. Went to my dentist couple of weeks ago and was told not to use too soft a toothbrush as would risk gum disease (which apparently I have early stages of-body falling apart!!!) and that I should just soak head of toothbrush (electric one) in Milton?? Sorry for all these probably daft questions while your all going through your s/e's etc but at least they may give you a laugh eh!!! Maxie xxx ... View more

Evening Ladies, Quick check in before BGT and Corrie start! (I lead such a sad life!!!) Jayney, all the best with your results tomorrow, Im sure all will be fine. There's probably not one of us on here that hasn't had the thought of 'what ifs' at some stage. I know I have and still do which is why Im getting a bit twitchy now with all this waiting around. Keep imagining being invaded by all these stray cells etc etc. Melrose aww your son sounds lovely, so glad you all had a nice time on his birthday. Im sure he genuinely is proud of his Mum too!!(sniff sniff you'll start me off again!!!) Cress that's such a worry about your son on top of everything else, I hope it was maybe just a one off setback for him and that you're feeling a bit better about it all soon. Welcome to Marion, glad you seem to be coping with your chemo regime so far. All this painkiller malarkey sounds a bit daunting doesn't it, think I need to practice with my new ear thermometer too as every time I take my temp its different!! (Must be my hormones!) Had lots of lovely fresh air and nice walks in the sunshine today (no more hangover you'll all be pleased to know!) It was very windy though and I was musing how good job not at Wig stage yet as it could have flown off and landed on a sheep or something!! Anyway hope you all have a pleasant evening...xxx ... View more

Evening Jewels, Well what was I saying in my last post about the crying getting less!....went out last night for a few glasses of vino with OH as know pretty soon prob won't be able to, anyway had a very nice time but one drink too many I think (hic!) as by the end of the night the tears were flowing!...let out a lot of things that I've been bottling up. Felt rough as hell today and missed most of the lovely sunshine...that'll teach me!! Fiona I've not been told yet re heart scan but Im going to ask for one anyway as have a family history of heart probs, maybe mention to your BCN? Seems this scan is done very close to the chemo starting from what I've read on prev threads, with some people even having it on same day as 1st chemo. Martha, wishing you all the very best for Weds, we're all behind you!!...can't wait to see your new hairdo too! Welcome to Janey, so great being able to chat with others in the same boat!! Night night all....xxx ... View more

Morning Jewels, Wrote a post last night but it disappeared! Welcome Taylor J to our little group, great to have another recruit! Ladies can totally empathise about the crying, sometimes nothing in particular triggers it, think its good to have a good bawl now and again tho, supposed to get rid of toxins too so that's a good thing!! Must say the tears have got less as times gone on (I am now 3 months post DX) but Im sure they'll be flowing again when chemo etc starts!! Fiona I know exactly what you mean when you say some people annoying, I think people genuinely don't know what to say sometimes, but like you I don't always want to talk about cancer! There is one person who now phones me every week (never did before!) and always starts with 'oh how are you feeling?'(in a really concerned voice!).....I immediately feel my heart sink as Im reminded that I have this bloody disease. Then I feel really guilty because I know she only means well! There.....I've had my rant for the day too now!! Wine tonight I think! Enjoy your weekend Lovely Jewels....xxx ... View more

Hi all, Martha, you're handling the whole thing with your children brilliantly! they often surprise you in how they take what is 'big news' in their stride. My two girls are in their twenties and we have a laugh & a joke that Im going to look like Harry Hill etc soon but I just know they'll be upset when I do lose my hair because if they lost their hair ( especially at their age) it would be a really big deal. Vicki I do feel for you that you feel like you'll be on your own through this. My OH is brilliant and is doing his very best to support me but the nature of his job means he has to go abroad from time to time,only have my youngest daughter reasonably nearby (1hour train journey) We moved to this area last year and its literally the other end of the country to all the rest of friends and family (my parents also passed and no siblings) Could your boyfriend take some leave to be with you, at least through first chemo etc? or even a maybe ask if your chemo could be on a Fri so he could be with you at weekends? Just a thought! Deedee, like you feel I have waited ages for onco appt, had to have 2 x WLE one 4th Apr (with ANC) and 2nd on 1st May (because didn't get clear margins first time). From what I can remember BCN & BS both said would need to heal completely before chemo starts. I was diagnosed back in March and have lymph node involvement and also vascular invasion so have been on pins waiting for everything to start. Finally got appt through this am for 11th June to meet Onco (hands were shaking & jelly legs just reading the letter!!!) As for all lumps and bumps we are feeling, although they definitely need mentioning to BCN etc, my surgeon went into great detail about all the shuffling around of tissues and fluid pockets etc that they have to do during surgery, so in most cases this is prob all it is. Still scary though & as I've said before Im constantly checking, think we'll all be like this for a long time! Anyway this has turned into an essay now so will leave you all in peace! Wishing you all a good day despite the wintry weather! xxx ... View more

Hi Jewels, Gosh this is such a roller coaster ride for us all isn't it? Sorry some of you have had 'down' day today, have had my fair share of those too. Think it's the emotional shock as much as post op physical effects etc. There's such a lot to take on board in a relatively short space of time. Am dreading losing hair too, it's quite long and has taken me years to grow. Was going to order a wig online but thinking now would be better to try one on first in case I look ridiculous!! (Prob nothing new there!) Cress, definitely get checked out just to put your mind at rest. Don't know what the rest of you are like but Im constantly checking for lumps/bumps now! Hope you all get a good nights rest ladies! xx ... View more

Good morning Jewels, Great reading all your posts, very informative and have learnt a lot already! A lot of you seem to be having scans, I have been told that I won't be having any as only 2 lymph nodes positive, also found out at last appt that I have LVI. All in all I think I would prefer to have some scans just to hopefully put my mind at rest, wonder if you ask for them they would do them? Still not heard when Onco appt will be but hoping wont be too long now, all this waiting is making me really anxious! Hope all of you with appts etc today get on okay and look forward to reading about it all later. Maxie xx ... View more

Hello fellow Jewels! Flipflop/Fay... I'm going to order a wig online, had a wig make recommended to me called Banbury Postiche (google should bring it up) the ones I've been looking at aren't real hair but are supposed to be as good as and easier to maintain, prices good too. Does anybody know if we get an NHS voucher towards wigs? Have read older threads which say we do. Flimbo/Joan that's an interesting theory re the fasting but don't think I could do it.....would prob pass out with hunger before they'd even started the chemo!!!....very interesting theory though. Maxie xx ... View more