Breast Cancer Now Forum

Hello Shadders I wonder if your OH might feel differently if he went with you beforehand to see the unit where you would be receiving the treatment. I'm sure that everyone of us, and our OH, were very apprehensive when we found out that we were having chemo, mainly because of stories heard in the past of horrible side effects. Prior to my 1st chemo we were shown the Macmillan unit where I received my chemo, and nobody was tied down in their chairs, kicking and screaming. In fact, it was so calm and relaxed with a great sense of camaraderie amongst the 'chemo-cocktail takers'. As others have said, it's not easy, but it's doable and I found it nowhere near as awful as I imagined. I was told of all the possible side-effects that I MIGHT encounter. Remember that you MIGHT get them, but then again you might not. I made up my mind when I started that if any se was really bad then all I had to do was to tell them and they would give me something to make it less so. As it turned out I didn't need to. Whatever you decide to do you are in good company here Shadders, and we have all come out the other side of chemo. Good luck ... View more

Congratulations Cherrytom and Sunshine on having your 1st rad in the bag now, and all that worrying for nothing as I guess that it was 'a piece of cake' for you both today. Don't forget to keep slapping on that aqueous cream and before you know it all 15 will be 'done and dusted'! It's definitely has been one of those years alright, so I am wishing you all, not only a very merry Christmas, but good health for us all and a much, much better 2012 than 2011 proved to be. Maralyn xxx ... View more

Please don't think of yourself of being invisible here as we are all in this together and sometimes one voice speaks for many of us. Remember that you have made a big step in adding a comment here as I reckon that they are many others who are just viewing this forum but haven't been as brave as you in commenting. Give yourself a big pat on the back and welcome to the forum. ... View more

Thanks Jo-Jo I decided to contact a trichologist today, who advised that the almond oil would loosen the cradle cap, but to use an anti-dandruff shampoo to wash it off. I have bought some Simple shampoo and some E45 anti-dandruff shampoo, both of which are unperfumed and which should be kinder to my scalp than the bog-standard anti-dandruff shampoos that are around. I am going to have another head massage tomorrow afternoon with the almond oil and then I will wash it off later on with the E45 shampoo so fingers crossed that it is only the cradle cap that disappears and not my hair!!! I gave up on the cold-cap after 2 sessions as the don't wash, don't blow-dry, don't colour regime required was not the look I desired - I looked worse than my mother on a 'bad-hair day' and that is bad! Well done for sticking with it though. How long did it take the bald patch to blend in with the rest of your hair? ... View more

Hi Clare After 3 FECs my veins decided that they had had enough, so for my 3 docetaxels and herceptin which I am on for a year I have had a portacath inserted ie a port under the skin where it is free from infection and doesn't have to be flushed. Life is so much simpler as they can take blood samples from it too, and the chemo takes less time than trying to push it through a vein that won't co-operate. I wish I had known what damage the FEC was likely to do as I would have gone for a portacath from the start. Mind you, unless you are on herceptin you may not be able to have one and that is why they gave you a picc line instead. Worth a second try? ... View more

Hi Sunshine and Cherrytom Of course you will both be fine and I'll be thinking of you tomorrow when I have my 10th - just 5 more to go after this one Just lie there with a big smile on your face for the camera and say 'cheese'! Maralyn x ... View more

I'm with you Slendablenda - I finish my rads next Thursday although I will still have 10 more herceptins to follow every 3 weeks. Just bear in mind these words of wisdom:- 'Today is the tomorrow you worried about yesterday' and where did all that worrying yesterday get you? Let's cross those bridges when we get to them, and don't let's put them in the way now. In the words of Gloria Gaynor 'I WILL Survive'!!! Follow the link and join in with me and Gloria - nice and loud please so that I can hear you! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZBR2G-iI3-I Just hope that the link works ... View more

Come, come ladies - positive thinking! ... View more

Yes, Carolyn, Jennifer Saunder's husband sums at the situation very well when he says:- "No one, he says, 'battles' cancer. Neither is it 'a rollercoaster ride'. 'It's just a long, slow, miserable grind,' 'So, there is no battle. I hate the word battle. You just get battered with a load of drugs. People want the words "trauma", "battle" and " life-changing", but it's not a great three-part TV drama full of moments, it's a long grind, like a slow car crash that will last five years and then, hopefully, we'll get out.' 'Something like 140 women a day learns that they've got breast cancer,' he says. 'If they knew more about the disease, rather than having to read all this nonsense about battles, then they'd be able to accept what they're in for and be better prepared to face it" ... View more

Many thanks Sam for coming back with an explanation for us, and in language that we can all understand. ... View more

I really wonder if Jennifer Saunders claiming that she has now forgotten all about having breast cancer is her way of getting the paparazzi off her back. What she seems to be saying to them is that the topic is now closed by being forgotten about, so no point asking me about it. We all have very different coping mechanisms for what goes on in our lives, but at least most of us are not in the public eye everyday. Will any of us ever forget that we have had breast cancer? I think not. As for not even minding about losing her hair - of course we mind about losing our hair, our eyelashes, our eyebrows because we still want to see ourselves looking back at us from the mirror, but given the choice I would rather lose my hair temporarily than lose my life. I am sure that this is what she meant, but remember that the press are selective in what they print, and not always in the context in which they were said. Just in case you are interested in reading what Jennifer Saunder's husband said in a newpaper article about her breast cancer you will see what he has to say about being 'cured' in the link below:- http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-1322482/Adrian-Edmondson-struggling-help-wife-Jennifer-Saunders-cancer.html ... View more

Hi DizzyD If your surgeon is referring to what you ought to wear post-op (including for night-time too) then try the Sloggi Crop-tops as they are lovely and soft, offer support, wash well and dry quickly (very important at this time of the year. They cost around £10 amd cupsize is not critical although they tend to come up quite small. They are also good to wear if you need to have radiotherapy too as they don't rub your skin. If you really want a bra then why not try M & S who do a mastectomy range as do Matalan who are even cheaper. Even if you don't need a prothesis, at least you know that the mastectomy bras will be nice and soft to wear post-op. Again, as blueyegirl suggests have a word with your BCN as they will know who best to contact in your area ... View more

I second that Cherrytom. Please can we have an experts verdict? I am also HER2+ Thanks ... View more

Hi Melic How did your weekend go? Did you indulge in some alcholic therapy? Hope that a good time was had by all! ... View more

Hello Jo I may not be at the same stage as you right now, but I have been and, just like everyone else has said, the waiting is the hardest of all, but you must trust us in that you will get through it just as we all have. I was diagnosed earlier this year and within 5 weeks of finding my lump I was having my mx with reconstruction. I finished my chemo 8 weeks ago now and have now had 7 of my 15 rads. My lymph nodes were clear and I will have my 5th of my 18 herceptin treatments this Tuesday. So, other than my herceptin, which is given every 3 weeks and won't be finished until the end of August 2012, I am almost at the end of my treatment. It's a long old haul, but you'll make it with the support of your family, friends, colleagues and this website. 48,000 women in this country are diagnosed with breast cancer each year so you are not going through this alone so please don't suffer in silence. Speak to your BCN and they will be with you every step of the way once you know what treatment you are going to have, as we will be. Keep smiling, be positive and you'll be fine Take care Maralyn ... View more

Except that my lymph nodes were clear and I had FEC-T so probably a number of reasons why they use both rather than just one reason. Perhaps one of the BCN on here can enlighten us please? ... View more

Enjoy your day watching the demos and trying out the make-up tips. Just hope that the runny eyes don't wash all your hard work away. By the way, she mentions a book called 'Why I wore lipstick to my mastectomy' by Geralyn Lucas on one of her demos - well worth the read. You can get it on Amazon or on The Book Depository. Happy reading and happy make-over! Maralyn ... View more

Have you tried using eyeliner and kohl pencils to add some definition as I am definitely a mascara lady with precious little to use it on thanks to the 'dreaded docetaxel'? My eyelashes stuck with me through FEC, but decided that they were off once they came into contact with docetaxel!!! Personally, I think that most false eyelashes are too long and false-looking at the best of times, and be careful that your eyes are not ultra-sensitive to the glues at the mo. I would hate to use them and find that when I remove them I take my remaining eyelashes too! You might also like to look at April Capil on UTube as she has quite a few videos entitled 'Cancer Help: How to Apply Makeup During Chemotherapy'. Try this link (hope it works!) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ggb-8fm9BVU I found it very useful and picked up some useful tips and hints. As for the constantly running eyes the only solution I found was to wear sunglasses as the bright sun made the tears worse. The more your eyes run, then your nose starts running too so you end up looking like the 'snotty-nosed kid' with red-rimmed eyes - not a good look, especially if you have attempted mascara on those 6 stumpy lashes as that will be running down your face too! My eyes stopped running after a couple of weeks - its the runny nose that now drives me mad although I have spotted some nasal hairs reappearing!!! Happy make-over! Maralyn ... View more

Why not ask them to write things down for you then, or take a pen and pad with you and do it yourself and ask them to explain things if you are unsure of anything? I'm sure that they won't mind either option, but you may just have to ask for what you want rather than feel overwhelmed by it all. There is such a lot of information to take in all at once, and, often, you think of questions after the meetings. At my very 1st apppointment with my oncologist I was given a written record of everything that I had been told in terms of what was found in terms of size, grade, sensitivity, lymph nodes clear, what treatment I would be having in terms of chemo, rads, herceptin, the possible side effects of my chemo drugs and herceptin and how they would be administered to me, as well as details of the persephone trials for herceptin that I could volunteer to take part in. I have found this extremely helpful to have and refer to as I have progressed through my treatment. Sorry but I can't help you with the tamoxifen question though as I won't be having it but I'm sure some of the others will know the answer. As for the radiotherapy, yes you are getting yourself worked up for nothing so stop worrying and keep smiling! ... View more