Breast Cancer Now Forum

Hi Simone, I was diagnosed 3 years ago with a small grade 2 IDC, stage 2a 0.4mm micromet on one node, ER/PR+, I was 43. I was advised to have chemo due to my age, but would have done anyway for peace of mind, my treatment was 6 x FEC75, I was told this was the standard treatment, not a lower one and was appropriate for my diagnosis. You will naturally be nervous about starting chemo, but for the majority of people it's nowhere near as bad as they expect. I cope well with chemo, continued to work, run a home and look after my 4 year old daughter. I was very sick after my first one but my onc changed my anti sickness meds and I was never sick again, make sure you speak to your onc or BCN if if affects you too badly, you shouldn't suffer and they will do their best to ensure you don't. Once you have the first one under your belt you'll know what to expect - and then you'll only have another 5 to go! Take care and let us know how you get on. CC x ... View more

Hi Rosie, have a look at The Cinnamon Trust, they are always looking for volunteers, I'm hoping to do something like that myself x ... View more

Hi Apple-Eye, I'm sorry to hear about your mums diagnosis, glad she has you looking out for her. I wasn't HER2+ but my understanding of it is that Herceptin is only licenced to be given with chemo, hence why the oncologist is insistent, unfortunately their hands will be tied and there doesn't appear to be any choice in the matter. I'm sure someone in the know will be along soon to offer further information. Take care CC x ... View more

Hi Chezz, for info when i saw my GP to have my implant removed she was quite adamant it was unnecessary, however, she did check on some kind of NHS database in front of me and it did confirm what my onc had said, thought it was worth a mention x ... View more

Bump ... View more

I'm on Tamoxifen for 10 years 🙂 ... View more

Hi Sandie, unfortunately until you start your treatment you won't know how it will affect you but I'll tell you how it worked for me if that's ok. My daughter was 4 when I was diagnosed 3 years ago, your children will obviously be more Independant, we made the school aware almost immediately about my diagnosis. I coped with chemo really well but as my daughter was in reception I couldn't just drop her off at school, I had to take her into the classroom and sort her out, which did become problematic. I was really concerned about being amongst all the children and siblings and parents with all those germs, I also felt really uncomfortable knowing everyone knew. The headmistress agreed I could take my daughter into school a few minutes late, parking was no problem then and I could take her straight to the school office and someone would take her to her classroom, I was in and out in a couple of minutes. There was one day when I felt really ill and phoned the school to say I was too ill to leave the house, they were brilliant and offered to collect her. For me a few minor changes made all the difference and my school runs on the whole were unaffected by my treatment. Wishing you well with your chemo, it will be over before you know it, take care and let us know how you're getting on. CC x ... View more

Hi Cazz, I just wanted to say that your receptor status along with grade, size etc is often different once the full pathology is known, the biopsy doesn't give a large enough sample for them to know the full picture, hence many hospitals apart from confirming it's Cancer do not give you any further information until the full pathology is known, it just isn't fair otherwise. Taking tamoxifen will not alter your receptor status so that won't have any bearing on the result. Hope this helps CC x ... View more

Hi Mac66, if you haven't been told already, I would think your biopsy has shown your Cancer to be ER+ and/or PR+ so is being fed by Oestogen and Progesterone, hence the need to remove something that is releasing these hormones into your body. When my Cancer was confirmed after the biopsy I wasnt told it was ER/PR+ but I was told to have my inplant removed. Hope this helps CC x ... View more

Hi Joolsw   Welcome to the forum. I am so sorry you've had to join us but it's a good place and you'll get lots of support. When I was diagnosed 3 years ago my reaction was exactly the same as yours, I imagine it is for a lot of us. I cried constantly, my husband said it was like having a tap attached to my face! I couldn't eat or sleep and just lived in this bubble of terror. According to my ultrasound my nodes were clear but one was found to be cancerous after surgery, so i then had to go through another operation to remove my nodes and the terror intensified. The waiting is just vile, it's the worst part, my daughter was 4 when i was diagnosed and all i could think about was her growing up without me, it was a nightmare. It is normal for your breast to feel a bit odd after the biopsies so don't let that worry you, my whole breast turned black after mine and took weeks to return to normal. Once you have your treatment plan in place you will start to feel better, it's the not knowing that is unbearable. Might be worth ringing the BCC helpline, they are wonderful and I used them many times during the difficult early days, you will feel better after speaking to them I promise, please feel free to PM me if you need anything. Take care and keep us posted, CC x ... View more

Hi ladies, just wanted to chip in in response to Peta's post. I have been on Tamoxifen for nearly 3 years following chemo and radio, I checked with 2 different oncologists and several pharmacists (including the hospital pharmacist) regarding interactions between Tamoxifen and grapefruit and all were quite clear that there were none. I was told any interactions legally have to be included with the instruction leaflet and the pharmacist should also make you aware, I dont know about during chemo, I was never told it was a banned food by my onc and I did ask, suggest you ask your medical team if you're unsure. Hope you're all coping well with treatment, it will be over before you know it. Take care CC x ... View more

Hi Sarah, well done on getting the first one under your belt, as unpleasant as it is I used to look forward to mine as I wanted it over with. Yes it is normal to feel hungry all the time, very few people lose weight on chemo! I would say just eat what you fancy when you fancy it, you can work on eating healthy when you're feeling better. Take care CC x ... View more

Hi Barbara, my reaction wasn't as severe as yours but I was extremely sick after my first FEC, my ONC prescribed Emend for my subsequent chemo's and I wasn't sick again, I had the occasional bit of nausea but metoclopramide helped with that, it's a very effective drug x ... View more

I never had an MRI either ... View more

Hi Helen, my daughter was 4 when i was diagnosed 3 years ago. We told her that mummy had a poorly boobie and needed an operation, she was happy with that. When my treatment plan included chemo we told her that I needed some medicine to make me better but it would make my hair fall out and might make me feel poorly, we stressed that it was only the medicine i was having that caused this and nothing that she ever had to take would. She accepted everything we told her and never really questioned it, we also spoke to the school who were brilliant with us. I struggled with the thought that everyone knew what I was going through and found it hard to be amongst people with nobody daring to mention the fact that i was bald, i was also paranoid about taking my daughter into school with all those little darlings full of snot and lurgy, so the headmisstress allowed me to take her to school a few minutes late and the office staff took her to her classroom. Hope this helps, please feel free to PM me, take care CC x ... View more

Also, I've always refused anti depressants due to paranoia that they will interact with Tamoxifen but getting to the point where I cant refuse for much longer, how do you find Citalopram? x ... View more

Hi Angiepops, I was told I couldn't take Valerian, don't know if it contains that x ... View more

So sorry to hear this dreadful news, I only met Anne once but she was a lovely funny lady, my heart goes out to all who knew and loved her. RIP sweetheart x ... View more

Dear both I was in a similar position nearly 3 years ago now and for me it really was a no brainer, I wanted to know I'd done everything possible to stop it coming back, I know chemo is sadly no guarantee of that but for my own peace of mind I had to throw everything at it, statistics didn't matter to me. In terms of treatment, FEC75 is the standard treatment, not the cheapest, depending on tumour grade, size and node involvement the usual treatment is FEC or FEC- T (although as expected different oncologists have different preferences). For me I had a grade 2 19mm 8/8 ER+ IDC with a micromet in one node, FEC75 was standard for this diagnosis. Please remember your oncologist wants your long term survival, it isn't about offering you the cheapest treatment, it is about the best treatment. I know chemo is really scary, we're all terrified of it believe me, but most of us cope really well, I continued working fulltime whilst running a home and looking after my 4 year old daughter. It is 4 months out of your life, that's it, just 4 months, short term pain for long term gain was how I viewed it. Best of luck making your decisions. CC x ... View more

Hi Daisy, I have never heard of this and to be honest don't see there is any need, the scalp itching and tenderness soon disappears once the hair has gone. Wishing your mum well as she progresses through her treatment, it's a hard slog but will be over before you know it. CC x ... View more