Breast Cancer Now Forum

Good luck today SJB and Petal - will be thinking of you.    I stayed in overnight after my late afternoon surgery and came home around 4pm the next day. The drains were taken out a couple of hours before I came home.    It will soon be over for you both and then you will really feel like you have turned a corner,    Sending love and best wishes,    Jules xx ... View more

Thank you everyone for your good wishes.    I feel much better today - my surgery was ok and not as bad as I thought. I see my consultant on Friday evening so not too long to wait.    Best wishes to everyone who is having their op this week - it is another hurdle that is great to cross.    Best wishes and (gentle) hugs,   Jules xx ... View more

Hi Ladies   Just to let you know I had my op on Thursday afternoon - mastectomy plus node clearance. Back home yesterday afternoon and so pleased it's over. I feel good - was really well looked after in the hospital and just taking things easy now.    Love and (gentle) hugs to you all,   Jules xx ... View more

SJB - Oh no - really sorry to hear that. At least you will feel stronger and through the side effects of chemo - fingers crossed for you.    Petal - I hope the Herceptin injection goes well tomorrow. I'll be interested as to how you get on. I had my 4th dose today intravenously - 14 more to go! I hope things go well for you this week - it must be really tough with your sister and you are dong so well.    I am due to have my pre admission check either tomorrow or Wednesday and then my op on Thursday afternoon.    Sending best wishes to everyone, Jules xx ... View more

SJB - yes, I have been told I will go home on Friday afternoon, all being well. All the lymph nodes are going to be taken out too, so it sounds as though we are having pretty much the same procedure.    No decision yet on timing of rads - all the BCN said this morning was that it would be 4-6 weeks post surgery.   It has come quickly but in some ways I am glad as less time to worry about things. The surgeon and BCN said this should be much easier than the chemo I've been through so that's encouraging.    I hope your energy levels pick up - I am not too bad but can't do as much as I would like.    Jules xx ... View more

Wyn - that's great news and reassuring for those of us approaching surgery.  I hope you get your appointment through for rads soon - I will have to have that too even though I am having a mastectomy.    I hope you continue to recover well - we will soon be out the other side of all this.    Love and hugs, Jules xx ... View more

Hi Everyone   Just back from seeing my surgeon - my op is next Thursday, 1st May. I'm scared but did get a lot of confidence from the surgeon so just need to get on with things,    It all seems to move very quickly once chemo is done.    Hope everyone is coping well.    Jules xx ... View more

Thanks for the update Kaz.    SJB - sounds like I am having the same as you - full mastectomy plus node clearance. I have just come home from an ultrasound which shows the tumour has collapsed and broken up into small pieces - apparently a good response to the chemo given the size of it when I was first diagnosed. I meet my surgeon on Thursday to discuss so just hoping I get a date for the op then too.    Petal - I hope you are feeling better - it took me ages to get over the s/e's of the last chemo and I still have the nosebleeds in week 3 - so not quite done yet.    Wyn - glad to hear all went well and I hope you are recovering now.    Good luck to everyone and sending hugs,  Jules xx ... View more

Hi All   Just a week since my final Tax and starting to feel a bit more human - although the nosebleeds that I've had right the way through chemo are pretty bad.    Really hoping everyone is feeling better now we are nearing the end of chemo - it's such a good feeling.    Wyn - really wanted to wish you well for Tuesday. Will be thinking of you and hoping all goes well.    With love and hugs, Jules xx ... View more

Hi Petal So glad you are going ahead with No 6 today - just wanted to wish you well. Racing Jules xx ... View more

That's helpful Petal thanks.    I had my last chemo yesterday - yayyyyyyyy! I then had my third dose of Herceptin so am well drugged up at present. Couldn't sleep last night because of the steroids but at least have got my washing and ironing done early this morning!   Really hoping everyone's SE's aren't too bad and I look forward to greeting you all on the finish line soon.    My surgeon appointment is booked for 24th April so don't know how soon after that he will do the op.    With love and hugs, Jules xx ... View more

Petal - yes, my Herceptin is by infusion via my PortaCath. I have had 2 doses already with chemo rounds 4 and 5, and will get the 3rd dose tomorrow with my last chemo.    It will then be a visit every 3 weeks for a year (18 doses in all) - but I think after chemo, it will be a breeze as no blood tests etc beforehand. I will just need an echocardiogram every three months to ensure the Herceptin isn't causing any heart damage.    I really hope you cross the finish line next week too - we are all getting there 🙂   Jules xx ... View more

SJB and Wyn - I'm just back from seeing the oncologist and my chemo planned for this Friday will be my last dose - she gave me the option of a 7th round but on balance agreed to call it a day with 6 - especially as I am on Herceptin for a year - really pleased      Bellablue - congrats on finishing your chemo - must be a fabulous feeling and well done!   Sending everyone best wishes and hugs   Jules xx     ... View more

Good luck SJB with your surgeon appointment. I was really interested to hear that your hair is growing back - no sign yet for me. I have still kept some of my hair as I have  used the cold cap throughout so hoping to see some signs of regrowth once I have finished my last T treatment.    I find out next week if the 6th will be the last, or whether I need an extra dose to compensate for the 10% reduction on doses 5 and 6. Fingers crossed that I don't - it will be pretty disappointing if I have to!!!   Petal - hope your SE's aren't too bad. At least we have the spring and summer to look forward to after a pretty dark winter.    Love and hugs to all.   Jules xx ... View more

Hi Wyn   Just a note to say I am so pleased you have had your last dose - must feel wonderful.    Love and hugs and look forward to joining you on the finish line soon.    Jules xx ... View more

Dear All   So glad to hear we are all moving closer to the end.    Thanks Petal for your words of encouragement - really hoping I don't need the 7th session but I won't know until after the 6th - so it will be an odd situation to turn up not knowing if it's the last. I really hope you get through the next few days with minimal SE's.  Day 5 now post Tax 2 and it's not as bad as last time.......fingers crossed.    Roll on the days when all this is behind us 🙂   Jules xx     ... View more

Dear All   Thank you for the helpful replies. I am day three post second TAX so hoping the SE's stay at bay,    Wyn - thank you for your kindness - hoping that I don't need an extra dose but I won't know until after my last TAX treatment - fingers crossd. Wishing you well with your last TAX - must be great to have that so close on the horizon!   Petal - so hope things work out for you quickly and you don't have any delays.    Love and hugs to all - Jules xx ... View more

Hi There   I have had 3 x FEC and 2 X TAX and used the cold cap througout. I still have a good coverage of hair - would say I have probably lost about two thirds of it though. For me it was more important to keep as much of my own hair as I can so I still look like "me" when I look in the mirror. I have coped fine with it and worthwhile. I can get away without a wig if I want to and only resort to the wig for business meetings.    Definitely worth trying if you are in two minds.    Best of luck   Jules xx  ... View more

Hi All   After a week's enforced delay due to continued neuropathy in my fingers, I had my second T yesterday and all seemed to go well.    The dose was reduced by 10% to stop permanent damage to my nerves, but I now have the possibility of an additional T treatment (booo). I won't know until after the next dose, which I am so hoping will be my last.    The tumour has shrunk considerably - has anyone else been in the same position as me with potentially needing an extra dose due to a reduction in content?   Love and hugs to all    Jules xx ... View more

Hi Ladies   I was due to have my second T today (I've had 3 FEC) but the oncologist has delayed my treatment for a week as I still have numbness in my fingers and toes.    The oncologist is going to reduce the amount of T that I am given next week and thinks I may need to have an "extra" session to make up at the end. I'm obviously disappointed on both counts as it feels like I have taken a step backwards. That said, the tumour has responded well so I am trying to keep positive and just keep going.    Has anyone else had similar problems with numbness on T treatment?   Best wishes to all,   Jules xx ... View more