Breast Cancer Now Forum

Hi Tonipm How are you doing now? Hope you are feeling a bit better. Do think about joining us in the June 2014 thread. Take care Athens. ... View more

Hi MummyDolly Hope things are getting a bit better as the week goes on. At least you must be getting a decent amount of sleep if you crash out at 8pm and it is great you are still getting a decent amount of exercise in, albeit not as much exercise you were used to. Athens. ... View more

Glad to hear you are feeling a wee bit better Roxie. How odd that the healthy foods are having this effect. Last night I cooked up a pile of different very healthy soups and meals and stuck them in the freezer to see us through the next week after my second chemo this Friday, so I will be interested to see if I still want to eat them. As ever, it is good to hear the experiences of others so if it happens to me I'll know I am not the only one. Take care Athens x ... View more

Hi Pixie How are you doing now? I am having my second FEC on Friday & the oncology nurse warned me last week that as I had an easy time after the first one, it can only get worse and the postings here seem to support that. Hey ho. It is great to have this forum to exchange our experiences. Athens. ... View more

Hi Rach Hope you are feeling better? It certainly is a warning to me of what can happen out of the blue, so thanks for posting this. Take care, Athens xxx ... View more

Brilliant! Thanks for this great story. Athens ... View more

Hi Roxie Hope the improvement continues and you are feeling a bit better. Take care Athens ... View more

Hi Tinker Hope you are continuing to do ok after your second chemo. It was great to hear that the shave & wig went well. I am due my second (of 6) FEC next Friday, so I am expecting my hair to go by then. So far it is still hanging on tight. Take care Athens ... View more

Hi Mel Many thanks for letting know your experience, it really does help to hear the different experiences. Hope all is going well for you. Athens ... View more

Thanks Joan for the comments - no worries about the typos, I could work it out! Hope all goes well for you. ... View more

Hi CP Do you mean you have travelled to Majorca on holiday with still with more FEC sessions due or do you live there? I ask because I was advised really strongly by the hospital not to travel too far from home and certainly not to leave the country in case I developed an infection and had to cope with getting that treated. This was illustrated with a couple of horror stories. I love to travel so that was a blow for me! Athens ... View more

Dear Kes, Maryland & CP Thank you so much for your replies, always helpful to here from others. I spoke to the BCN yesterday about it & she disagreed with the oncology nurse & thought I should try again this time without the PICC so that I would have another 3 weeks & review for the third session. I am going to have a look online to see if there is anything I can do more to help avoid the vein issue or at least reduce it. Take care all I ... View more

Hi Pen I am doing ok thanks. I have called the 24 hr Helpline a couple of times but was fine. The oncology nurse told me it would definitely get worse as I go through the cycles, as the toxins build up, so no guarantee that because I got off lightly this time that I will be fine in future cycles. My hair is holding on there - I saw a couple on my pillow this morning for the first time, so I need to take my new much admired short haircut out and about over the next days before it starts to disappear! If it stays til Saturday I will delighted because there is a big social event I am going to with my extended family so it would great to still have my hair for that! Bye for now Athens ... View more

Hi Flutte Hope today went ok and that you get through the next few days without too much bother. Athens ... View more

Hi Jinny Perhaps your breast care nurse can help and advise you about what support might be available in your area to help with the anxiety. Some people seem to get a lot of help and advice from the BC nurses though that has not been my experience though I am getting some support elsewhere. This forum is an invaluable source of advice for me and I have had a couple of really helpful discussions on the Helpline. I have attended a few sessions at the local McMilllan Centre eg relaxation classes, Pilates, complementary therapy such as hand and feet massages. They have all helped me stay a bit calmer than I would otherwise be, plus it is an opportunity to meet others - the ones I meet are all towards the end of their treatment and have passed through chemo and radiotherapy so I feel like a newbie but I found it helps to talk, having spent the first 2 months all bottled up and not wanting to tell anyone outside of close family what was happening. I still do not want to discuss it with others that I know but I somehow feel ok talking about it with the 'strangers' I meet passing through the McMillan Centre. That then has helped me take what was a huge step for me, to discuss with professionals who can help me such as my chiropodist, dentist and hairdresser, all of whom it turns out have dealt with loads of clients going through chemo and had lots of advice and tips for me and assured me I only had to ask if any concerns or worries. It changed the nature of the relation I had with them for many years, so it was scary and emotional. So through that I am gradually opening up a bit and realising that I can have a bit of control over part of what is happening to me, even if only a tiny part and that helps me cope a tiny bit better. The tranquilliser the hospital gave me half an hour before putting in the needle on my first chemo helped too! I was very reluctant to take it, as I had never taken one before. I will definitely want to have one the next time too. Jinny, I hope you begin to feel a better and brighter soon. I hope the forum helps you as you are helping others by posting your thoughts and queries eg your later posting about the Breast care nurses and the replies you got to that have helped me realise that maybe I can call them - I had originally thought they would be in touch with me and when they did not make contact I assumed they had a lot of new people to be supporting so I should not bother them. Stay in touch and let us know how you are getting on. Big hugs, Athens ... View more

Hi Cowgirl I too was fine on Day 1 after my first FEC on 13 June, I was a bit off colour the next two days, slight nausea and lethargy and have been a lot better since Monday. I am grateful for not having as hard a time as some others on this first round and will not be surprised if I have harder times ahead. The only issue I have had so far was a drop in temperature about 1am last night when I was going to bed and when it stayed below 36 degrees I phoned the 24 hour helpline - I did wonder whether I should bother them as I felt fine, just cold. They assured me I had done the right thing, asked me a few questions said they thought I was ok and that they would check back with me tomorrow, which they did with a phone call at lunchtime. So that was reassuring and at least I have had a test of the support system from the hospital and will feel ok about calling them again if any worries. The coldness was odd as it is normally overheating that bothers me and I think I will soon have worn out my sheets through the daily washing and I am surprised I have not shed a stone in sweat in the last few weeks! Take care Athens. ... View more

Hi Ria Hope the advice posted helps you find something to sort out the heartburn. I'll know to come back and look here if i get it. At least you have the first chemo over now and are on your way! Athens ... View more

Great Roxie, thanks for the link and I'll take a look.  xx ... View more

All the best for Round 2 Mummy2Dolly.  Quite envious of the headscarf culture in UAE! Athens   ... View more