Breast Cancer Now Forum

Thanks guys sound ok I suppose just a bit weird having a wire put in breast, if it's anything like markers coils I hated it, felt very violated although it didn't really hurt that much. Hey ho it's another thing to go through and come out the other side of. Hope I don't have drains though, thanks all of you for help, I also contacted the help desk and someone like me dept called me today and they are putting me in touch with someone who has been though it to chat it through as well . Very good service I think and it's certainly something I will volunteer for in the future. Xxx ... View more

Thanks guys sound ok I suppose just a bit weird having a wire put in breast, if it's anything like markers coils I hated it, felt very violated although it didn't really hurt that much. Hey ho it's another thing to go through and come out the other side of. Hope I don't have drains though, thanks all of you for help, I also contacted the help desk and someone like me dept called me today and they are putting me in touch with someone who has been though it to chat it through as well . Very good service I think and it's certainly something I will volunteer for in the future. Xxx ... View more

Hi I hope your scans are soon so you stop worrying. Can anyone give me some advice of what to expect from lumpectomy and snb? I have meeting with surgeon on Thursday evening so would like to have some questions ready to ask her. Do I need a special bra fro after surgery and what do I need to take into hospital? Is there a drain always! I am a bit worried about it but not as much as having mx. Going to spend day in the garden in the sun tomorrow and try not to think about it. Good luck everyone whatever you are going through xxx ... View more

Hey there thanks for thoughts. I have had a wig since I was diagnosed that I wear when I want to look like me, it is just the same as my hair and brilliant, so many people have no idea it's a wig. It isn't even real hair so I just have to give it a quick wash once a month, much easier that washing my hair every other day. I am now sick of wearing a wig so getting braver about going out in a scarf. If the wig looks like your hair you are more likely to wear it I think. Sounds like your head needs some tlc, coconut oil I have heard is good for scalp. When you say expensive, how much? Mine was £135. Hope you leg/pain gets sorted, sounds horrid. How come herceptin once a week? Hopefully not long to go now anyway, loads of Drs looking after you so you will get everyting sorted. Good luck xxx ... View more

Hi all, good news for a change. My MRI scan showed a pathological complete response which means the cancer has totally gone from the breast and lymph! My surgeon was completely amazed and has said that I no loner need mx indeed in I was having double. She has advised that she can do a much easier op to take a small area around where the markers were put in breast and do an snb to check lymph. It may be that I have to have them all out but she is checking them with pathology first. Hubby and I were totally speechless and I still can't quite believe it, sometimes it seems good things happen with treatment. I just wanted all of you to know that chemo can work, please pass on to anyone who us doubting the point of it. Hope you are all still enjoying the sunshine and looking forward to the thought of no more chemo yippee xxxx ... View more

I had palpitations after my first Docetaxel and ended up in A and E although it was unnecessary as all the checks were fine, down to the fact I was not having them when I went into a and e. my onc said it may have been the steroids and I have in fact found that the steroids make me feel so awful that I pretty much only took them for the day before chemo and then day of chemo but not any others. Felt better for it and did not suffer any more palpitations. They are scary but calm breathing helps as I just panicked a bit which made them worse. Hope you feel better soon xx ... View more

Aiden turner with top off should be on NHS ! Makes me feel better every Sunday. Best wishes for this week all of you still having one more to go xx ... View more

That would be good, let me know when you are back from wherever you are, somewhere nice I hope! X ... View more

Hi Sarah, I have just finished my chemo fec and t and am having surgery in May followed by rads. Did you have mx? I am opting for bilateral I think with immediate reconstruction with implants and be interested to hear of your experience around mx. I have MRI on Tuesday to see how the chemo has worked and will the see surgeon again to discuss options. Be nice to hear from you if you go on here over Easter. Hazel x ... View more

Hi jules, how you doing since results? X ... View more

Thanks for your message as I ahave just finished 6 chemos fec and t and am having surgery in May. I think I will opt for bilateral mx same as you with immediate reconstruction with implants, can't face other options. Not many girls seem to have had this done so nice to hear from someone who has been through it and out the other side. I have read quite a lot of horror stories about surgery and I hooped it's not as bad as it sounds like it could be. I am having a rest for a few weeks until surgery so hoping to build myself up physically and emotionally until then. I am having herceptin for a year. Feel sick at the thought of it all xx ... View more

Hi all it looks like we are all travelling on another road now chemo is finished. I hve surgery but not for 7weeks as my onc is on holiday and won't do surgery the week before her leave. I am having MRI on Tuesday to see what has happened to the tumors and then have to see her again to discuss options. Don't mind waiting for op as want to get stronger so I can recovery better, hopefully. I think rads have to wait until healed after surgery so you may not have to have it 3 weeks later, that seems a little premature and you have long journey time so you need the energy to do it. It may be hard but try and take a little control yourself and have rads when you feel up to it. Good luck xx ... View more

I have just had my 3 rd docetaxel on Tuesday and although FEC (x 3) was quite horrid tax has been ok. The first one I had bone pains for a couple of days but no nausea really and I realsied the steroids I took the day before the chemo made me feel horrible so I only took them that day and then only 4 tablets the day of chemo and felt so much better. Tax is definitely easier than FEC so don't give up you can do it. If you get diarrhoea take Imodium straight away, paracetamol for headaches and drink lots of water. Good luck xx ... View more

Poor you, that is really bad luck, hope it doesn't make life too difficult but I supose it will? At least driving etc. best of luck for recovery from break xx ... View more

Hope your apt went well today, please let us know xx ... View more

Feeling smug today had my last chemo thank goodness but now having a rest for few weeks until surgery. Have had one apt with surgeon but will have another after MRI in about 2 weeks time. Really stressing about mastectomy and have opted for double at the moment. Looking on line a fair amount which is confusing me as so many options and horror stories so probably need to stop for a while. I don't have a breast care nurse yet when do you get given one? Not sure if I'm missing out. Oh another good thing happened today my chemo nurse took out my picc line which is such a relief after 16 weeks of having it in my arm. No more baths or showers with a plastic sleeve yippee xx onwards to next challenge as we all will be soon in one way or another love to all xx ... View more

I am currently making the decision about mx single or bilateral and had thought I would go with the double as a I would like them to be the same but now not sure as don't want to lose the sensation in my good one. I thought that it would not be the case but maybe I am mistaken? I am a bit confused and having met with the surgeon once I probably need another meeting. Any advise would be appreciated x ... View more

Hi all I can talk about is my experience. I was having Fec x 3 and used the cold cap on the first one but after that my hair started coming out at week 2. It was coming out in handfuls which was so distressing that I went to have a wig fitting and asked to have my hair cut really short. It continued to come out so I didn't use the cold cap from then on as it was obvious it was all going to come out eventually. I felt so much better having it cut and have used my wig when I go out and about and no one can believe its a wig it is so good. I am bored of it now and can't wait for my hair to grow back and I only have one more chemo to go so fingers crossed it grows bck quickly. I think if it has started to shed it will carry on. Which chemo drug are you on? FEC is notorious for hair loss so that's why I gave up fighting it. Hope you find the right way forward for you and good luck xx ... View more

Not sure but the breast may be swollen where they did the biopsy which will make another area of the breast look different. Mine was very bruised and looked awful for at least a week after. Hope results are ok xx ... View more

Hi not sure if you hAve seen any useful replies yet but I am coming up to my 6th of 3 fec and 3T. I am having mx after I have finished chemo and then rads. My experience has been that at least the week after chemo I feel really poorly with no energy and not able to do anything except stay on the sofa or in bed. Emotionally as well get very low but then one day wake up and out the other side of it. The fatigue really increases with each cycle and it now takes up to 2 weeks to feel better. I stopped work as soon as I was diagnosed and am so grateful I don't have to work although the day time tv is driving me mad now. I try and book up lots of lunches with friends the week before chemo as I know I will have enough energy then. We are all different but I think trying to do a full time job at the same time as chemo would be very ambitious, hope you get through this as well as you can and be kind to yourself its a hard road to travel Xx ... View more