Breast Cancer Now Forum

Morning all,   I noticed this morning when I ran my hands through my hair that quite a few strands came out. I did try it again in case it was a coincidence but the same thing happened again! My scalp has been itchy and now a bit painful for the last few days but I wasn't expecting things to start to happen so soon as only on Day 11. I know for me total hair loss is probably inevitable as I chose not to do the cold cap but nonetheless I promptly burst into tears at the prospect!!! On a positive note most of my other probs have been resolved thankfully so hoping for a good few days before the next session on the 21st. Hope you are all enjoying a lovely weekend. I've has such a good laugh at some of your posts and am thinking of going down the Burkha route too! My daughters have set me up on facebook but at the moment I haven't worked out quite what to do with it! Can't ask husband for help as he's dead against it - paranoid over security !! Also I have a slight concern - I have found looking at this site so informative and useful that I'd be sorry if others going through all this crap aren't able to see our journey and tips and queries - I've turned into a stalker of the previous month ladies just to see what's ahead ! What do you think - am I worrying unnecessarily ?   Gill X ... View more

Hi Linda - I have had an itchy scalp for a couple of days so when I had my line check I asked the nurse if that was a signal of impending hair loss. She said she wasn't aware of the itching but that other ladies had reported having a painful scalp. I've got some meds for thrush but hasn't worked yet! Hope this doesn't happen each session.Otherwise feeling quite good all in all. One of my daughters has a cold so is avoiding me which seems quite sad - I looked on Macmillan site and says vulnerable  from day 7 to day 14.  Well done for survivng work. Have a good weekend, Gill X ... View more

Wow Barbersdrove - that must have come as a huge shock - also to anyone who may have accompanied you! Glad it was tackled so efficiently and precautions taken to prevent it happening again. I'm on day 10 now and apart from mouth probs and thrush feeling so much better (hope I'm not speaking too soon ). Getting out the anti bac as I believe this may be when the immune system is at its lowest.Could be such a good excuse to send OH out food shopping so as to "avoid crowded places" ! ! Hope all of you are getting on as well as poss, Best Wishes, Gill x ... View more

Ginger & lemon tea added to shopping list, thanks Jo. Have a restful day. Gill X ... View more

I love that vision Ladycroft - you have a wicked sense of humour - just what we need! Been to have my "line care" today and came home with a multitude of goodies for sore mouth . Have also had a visit from the Thrush Fairy - both ends, so a double whammy. Nothing seems to faze them at the chemo unit though and they quickly got a Dr to make me out a prescription. Guess there's nothing they haven't heard before and nothing seems too much trouble for them! Cheers to you Sheryl - will toast you with my strawberry ribena laced with Movicol. Hi Ruth - you must be having to drink loads to combat dehydration.Hope you are finding something  tasty to get down. I'm struggling with fizzy drinks - too gassy at the moment. May you have a really good sleep tonight - you must be needing it. Good  luck tomorrow Barbersdrove and hope to heara how you got on soon. Best wishes all, Gill ... View more

Hi Ladies   Glad you got out today Sheryl and glad everything seems under control with some positive results and you can look to start the chemo soon. It's all such an emotional waiting game Hbunny isn't it  and I'm not surprised you feel like losing it. That's where this forum is so useful - you can say how you feel, ask any questions and someone always comes back to you. I've spent many sleepless nights just looking back through various threads and learnt a lot. Most of all that someone, somewhere has been through it before and come out the other end!   Take care, Gill ... View more

Hi Ladies Seems like we are all having similar side effects. I've slept loads today having felt exhausted  but have also had horrid stomach pains and a furry mouth - despite sucking ice pops during 1st chemo! Movicol has been brilliant for constipation - has to be mixed with orange juice or ribena I find to make it palatable.Really hoping to find some energy tomorrow. Ruth, I count myself lucky not to have period probs to add to everything so hope you and other ladies who are suffering get some relief soon. Lucia- good luck for Wed - in my experience it was all very calm and pain free. Jo - your lemon and rosemary chicken sounds delicious - and I have no appetite at the mo! Linda - I can cry so easily now it's ridiculous. Luckily it uses blows over as quickly as it comes.Good luck with work tomorrow.I'm still signed off so hoping to stay under the duvet until these tummy pains go. Jan, if you like cinnamon have you tried chai tea ? Can't cope with my usual strong coffee yet. Sheryl - hope you had a bit of enjoyment at home today. Night night girls, Gill X   ... View more

Hi Sheryl, I think you are totally justified in feeling frustrated. Enjoy your time out and will keep everything crossed for better results for you tomorrow, Gill X ... View more

Hi Ladycroft - I too am on day 5 (if I count chemo day as day 1 - was on Wed). I have a bad stomach today and wondered if it was because the steroids finished yesterday. Also have blisters on the inside of my lips. Everyday brings it's surprises! Never a dull moment.Lovely to see the sunshine and have been for a short stroll round some bluebell woods our way. Does anyone know if we're still meant to drink 2-3 litres a day or was that in the first few days to flush everything through? Best wishes, Gill ... View more

Hi Ladies, Had to go back to hospital today as infection in breast still not cleared up and they wanted me to have further blood tests and be put back on anti-biotics before the immune system packs up or whatever it does. This was picked up following a call from the chemo team who rang just to ask how I was getting on following 1st session on Wed. All very caring. I'm feeling very much like I've got the hangover from hell without the enjoyment of the night before - and also what I think is Chemo brain. Keep coming out with the wrong words and forgetting what I wanted to say!! Also getting constipated due to the anti sickness pills but I'd rather take them and tackle the other issue with some high grade laxatives! Burping too still. Rennies seem to help a lot. I've noticed a few of you are having injections after your chemo and wondered what they are for - being nosy! Ruth - Isn't it difficult trying to plan ahead for holidays/breaks etc.Having had to cancel our week in Tenerife I'm reluctant to try to re-book a holiday but I'm keen to stay a few nights with my brother in Tavistock but it will have to be later in the year now and at short notice. Good luck with sorting your out. Sheryl - make sure when you have your escaped moments from hospital you do some nice things for yourself. You must be climbing up the walls in there. Climbing Rose - have fun away in Southwold. We haven't any plans this weekend but will definately go out somewhere. The RHS gardens at Wisley are beautiful this time of year so may suggest that- with a shed load of handwipes and gel! Linda- I admire that you even tried work as I'm afraid I didn't even give it a go, even though I only work a couple of days a week now. I do feel very tired so will extend the sick note even further I think. Jan- What a caring other half you have re the awning.If you don't mind I'm going to show my OH your post and see if that might inspire him to do similar. Logicienne - Hope you manage to get your seroma drained today. It's such a relief when it's done to be able to feel more comfortable although I must admit it does hurt me a bit later where it's been prodded about.Luckily mine seems to have settled itself now - just left with this slight infection.   Happy Bank Hol weekend everyone and I will drink an alcohol free toast to all my new found friends!   Gill XXX   ... View more

Hi Sodastream You sound like you've got a lovely family.It's such a help isn't it and wonderful when the kids step up to the mark . I think, unlike the majority of ladies, men find it very hard to discuss their feelings. I know my husband finds it hard to talk to his family and friends and in fact still hasn't told his closest friend about all this. At least he's got the patience of a saint listening to all my moans and groans. All the best, Gill ... View more

Good morning Ladies, Had a few good hours of sleep last night but kept waking up wondering how I felt!! Anti-nausea pills seem to be working but feel like I've got a hangover so will  do as the Dr ordered and rest up. I'm lucky that I don't have little ones to cope with at home as mine have long since fled the nest. I take my hat off to all of you coping with all these stresses and young families. When I asked one of the chemo nurses yesterday about taking paracetamol he said if you take your temperature first and it's normal then it's ok to take a paracetamol - but NEVER it you have a temp as it masks any problems - as Ruth says. I think I'd phone first just to check. Logicienne - glad your feeling a little better today and your headache improves. Ruth - I'm burping too - not in a very ladylike fashion! Hope you get some answers re menopausal symptons. I was pushed into the menopause first tome found with BC  when put on Tamoxifen but I imagine you're not on any hormonal meds yet! Maybe you are peri-menopausal and you can get a BT to confirm that. Barbersdrove -when does the bad news end. This has been a rubbish start to the new year hasn't it. You sound really positive and it can't be easy.   Peeing pink and using separate loos as nurse told me that as I'm peeing out the poison to take care and wipe toilet with an anti-bac wipe each time of use so as not to pass anything on.   Have a good day everyone,   Gill x   ... View more

Hi Ladies,   Had my first chemo this afternoon. Everyone there was really nice and explained everything. Tonight my head is feeling quite "spaced out". On anti sickness pills for a few days so praying they work as well as yours so far, Ruth. This all seems like a waiting game to see what happens next.  Did anyone else feel a bit strange in the head after ? (Not something I would usually admit to! )   Sweet Dreams all   Gill ... View more

That's reassuring Hazel. As you say it's proof that the chemo does the trick. Had my 1st chemo of FEC-T this afternoon and am feeling very "spaced out" . I'm trying to think of it as flooding through my system killing off all those ******* cancer cells that have slipped through my lymph nodes ! Sleep well everyone, Gill ... View more

Hi Springstream,   I know how you feel about all the add ons after being diagnosed. As I have had BC previously -11 years ago- I automatically had to have a CT  & Bone scan after my new BC diagnosis in Feb.Like you, too, I had a grade 3, 4cm tumour which when removed the surgeon likened to 2 golf balls side by side (and even then he didn't get clear margins so will need further surgery) The CT scan was fine but the bone scan showed up a "tiny"spot on my ribs. I was panicked about that and like you I was petrified that it had got into my bones but have been too scared to look it up further!. When they had a second look and discussion about my results they decided it was not enough to worry about and my treatment was to go ahead as planned. I'm to have another bone scan in 6 months.  With my first chemo tomorrow to be followed by a further op and radiotherapy it has now gone to the back of my mind. In my imagination I am hoping if there is anything there the chemo will blast it away ! This forum is such a good source of mutual exchange of information, tips and encouragement that I am getting seriously addicted.   Take care and all the best, Gill X ... View more

Hi Ruth and Ladycroft- well done on your first session. Seems you both coped really well which is so encouraging. I've been out to dinner tonight with both my daughters to have a lovely meal and quite a few glasses of wine - you did say to drink gallons -  before my first session tomorrow afternoon! Dreading it but your posts are so encouraging.   Linda - Hope tomorrow goes as well as these things possibly can. There's no pain quite like it when you lose a parent and my heart goes out to you. All the best for Thursday, too. I've just had my hair cut and friends tell me I should have done it earlier as it knocks years off me - Imagine how young I'll look when it all goes!!!   Jo - enjoy your break and re-charge your batteries. I'm still in the process of claiming my insurance money back from a weeks holiday in Tenerife that we'd booked for end of March. Roll on next year.   Sheryl - hope your stay is a short one and you feel a whole lot better soon.It does makes you feel happier when you have some confidence in your doctor.   Barbersdrove - You and your family sound like you have had a nightmare journey. Hope you enjoy a lovely weekend away and back to enjoy a hair appointment. I did look sadly at all the hair on the floor following my haircut but then I thought better the mess on their floor than mine!   Hi Rosie - wish I was further down the line like you. Had a lovely hol in Cyprus a couple of years ago. Good luck with the rest of your treatment.   Off to bed now Ladies although feel a bit too wound up to sleep. Take care, Gill X     ... View more

Hi Ruth and Ladies   Good luck for tomorrow Ruth - will be thinking of you. I have been for a review today and the oncologist has given the go ahead to start my first dose of chemo on Wed. The infection is low grade so shouldn't be a problem. Although the side effects of the FEC T were explained to me today and seem pretty frightening I am glad not to delay any more and get rid of those b****** rogue cancer cells at loose in my body! I did my bra shopping on line as haven't felt like undressing in public  - not a pretty sight, especially now with the Hickman line. Still quite sore following the insertion but had bloods and tube flushed today and didn't feel a thing. One of my granddaughters has been told now that Granny may have to wear a wig soon. This afternoon she asked me if I would be able to do any magic tricks with it ! The mind boggles but I may work on that!   Take care everyone and good luck to us all, Gill X     ... View more

Hi Sheryl   Like you my breast cancer is grade 3 and over 4cm. Had op first to remove it but margins not clear so will have another op after chemo. The consultant is talking about a reduction at the same time on the other bood so that I will have a matching pair ! I too had probs with bra sizes. As my lump is at the bottom of my breast  where it meets my  ribcage I found all my old ones far too tight and put too much pressure on the wound. I bought a couple of larger than my normal bras which and they also do up at the front. They have been a godsend . Good luck with the hair decisions. I'm not going to go with the cold cap but only because I'm a real "wuss" and want the treatment over asap ! I may regret that when it all comes out! That of course is if I get the go ahead as still slight infection in breast.   Good wishes, Gill ... View more

Hi Ladies   Ruth, I'm glad I found you on this thread and that your scan and HER2 results were good. That must have given you a boost. Hanging around in hospitals is just exhausting isn't it.   I had my tunnelled Hickman line put in on Thursday - I though it was a portocath but not really sure what the difference is. How on earth do you shower/bath with tubes etc coming out of your chest!! Will ask on Mon as I have a review to see if OK to start chemo on Wed 30th. Still have infection following drainage of seroma but seems quite mild. Been shopping for lollies to suck during the session just in case just in case. I know what you mean Ladycroft about sleeping on your side - it feels very strange to change position, let alone stay in that one position all night. Enjoy your cats, I have just the one but she seems to know when I'm feeling low and is good company when my husband is away.   Take care Gill X ... View more

Hi Ruth, Hope it went ok for you yesterday. I must admit to feeling a bit tender and bruised afterwards but hopefully it will all be worth it. There was a lot of hanging around involved, due to an emergency, so I was glad to have one of my daughters with me to stop my over active imagination taking over  !! I did burst into tears after but I think it was just the relief that it was over ! Take care, Gill ... View more