Breast Cancer Now Forum

Hi all July Zappers! I have come to join you if I may. Had my planning session today, tattoos in place( my first!) and will start on 20th July. Finished chemo 2 weeks ago so I suppose they give you a bit of time to recover after chemo and boy do I need it, still very weak! Sounds like you who have started get on fine with the radiotherapy so that is reassuring . x ... View more

I am due for my radiotherapy planning session tomorrow, involves having a CT scan,tattoos ( my first!) and information. I have signed the content form for the radiotherapy and the oncologist took her time to explain the rationale behind it, but I am still not 100% sure about it. The oncologist took my concerns about follow up arrangement to the MDT meeting as I was contemplating having a mastectomy instead of radiotherapy so now I see the surgeon on Friday so I can have a discussion with him and make sure I do the right thing here. It's never straight forward is it? xx ... View more

1981 Mum, the chemo nurses told me to use clear nail varnish and any oil for moisturising. It worked for me. Finished chemo last week, had 4x TC, and yesterday I noticed a dark line across most of my nails, I believe it is a common thing and will grow out eventually. My toenails are a bit sore but now to top it all I have got peripheral neuropathy, mainly toes, I hope it will disappear in time as it is uncomfortable xxx ... View more

Huneebee, hope you get sorted for next week so you can move on, it's the waiting, as always , that is the worst. xx ... View more

Hi all, just founds this interesting thread. Cut a long story short, I had a bleeding nipple for over 2 years, never felt a lump and scan after scan, mammo and u/s all always clear, a nipple biopsy confirmed grade 2 cancer eventually and after WLE changed to grade 3 and also HER2+. The tumor was small 8mm but obviously aggressive. Had 2 2WLE and just finished chemo now awaiting radiotherapy. I was told about having dense breast tissue and the problem scanning have to pick up tumors, I should say I had an MRI scan 1 week before my first op and even that did not pick up the tumor. I had heard about the 3 digital Tomosynthesis, it is similar to the usual mammogram and I got the impression that it was useful for people with dense breast tissue. I have since enquired if I could have this done as a follow up after my treatment has finished and the answer is that the machine is available but radiologists do not yet know where it fits in into surveillance programmes. I know it is not part of the National screening program and I offered to pay for it privately but there seems to be a hesitance. I will see the surgeon again in a couple of weeks to discuss my follow up arrangement and see what he has to say. xx ... View more

Hi all dear friends! Had my Last Chemo Wednesday and although I feel rubbish now with all the SE, I think I can tick most boxes in that department, it is comforting to know that I don't, hopefully, ever have to go through this again. You ladies will get there soon! Reading through your latest posts it strikes me that you all are such strong women and I am full of admiration the way you handle this terrible situation we have found ourselves in. Whatever it is, being a single parent, carer, dealing with other health problems, raising a young family, running your own business, well my hardship sinks into insignificance in comparison. I must say I can' t fault the care I have been given so far. The surgeon, the BC nurse,, the oncologist and the chemo nurses have been there for me every step of the way and I am very grateful for that. So Egret, it is so sad you haven' t been given the support you actually are entitled to, as Molliana say can you check with the onc team if they can help you in any way? Newey, a bit late but congratulations on your wedding plans, sounds so nice! Hugs to all xx ... View more

Hi Jaydub52! I am on TC chemo so started my Herceptin when I had my first chemo. The first one was given intravenously in case of a reaction and had to wait quite a while afterwards to make sure all OK before they let me go. The subsequent Herceptin has been given subcutaneously in my tummy over 5 minutes and I have had no adverse effects at all apart from a little stinging sensation. Interesting to hear you talk about the the oncologists, I must be very fortunate as I see the oncologist before every chemo in the morning. She review the bloods, check SE, answer any questions I have and because I question everything, sometimes I'm in the clinic 30-45 minutes. The breast care nurse is always present and she is brilliant. In fact she phoned me up this morning because I raised my concerns about my follow up arrangements with the oncologist, all was discussed at the MDT meeting again and now the nurse has arranged for me to see the surgeon again before radiotherapy starts. I went to the Look good Feel better 2 hour session a couple of weeks after my first chemo. It was really good fun, met lots of inspiring ladies and because my hair had started to fall out at that point to see some bald ladies and some ladies further down the line in their treatment was really helpful to me. You do get a fantastic goodie bag to take home. Unfortunately due to my skin reaction to the Docetaxel I can't use any of it at the moment, all I can use now is Simple products and Bio Oil, but as soon as chemo out of my system I'll def have a go at the tips they gave me re make up. All of you who have had chemo today: I am thinking of you, hope all goes well. xx ... View more

T2D, that is brilliant news! Re T , I have had 3 TC, my chemo combination, and I take steroids day before chemo, chemoday and day after. I would advice not to take second dose any later than recommended in my case 2pm as otherwise you will be awake all night doing ironing at 2 am! Yes, I am very tired but this is my good week before next session so I am making the most of it, just feeling pretty normal is such a good feeling, the one thing that bothers me now is that I have had a skin reaction to the T, my face is all red and blotchy, not very attractive at all, I hope it will disappear when I'm finished with this malarkey.x ... View more

OK, if you can wait until Wednesday you will be assessed by the experts and send you for tests if necessary. What is a breast light ? I know what you mean about tumors not detected on scans, I am the same as mine was not seen on mammogram, ultrasound or MRI, mine was found via a nipple biopsy. It is scary and I am already panicky about follow ups after treatment is finished. x ... View more

Molliana, of course you are freaking out, who wouldn't but you know what to do, check it out first thing Monday morning! I really hope it's nothing to worry about as you are on systemic chemo. Let us know how you get on. Take care xx ... View more

Regarding the long haul flights, I think it was me that started this and I don' t want to put anyone off flying long haul, it's just that I came across a lady that went on a long haul flight 1 1/2 years after her treatment finished and developed lymph oedema. She might have had an infection or insect bite but as far as she was concerned she was not aware of any other reason other than the flight why she got it. I have done my fare share of long haul so will stick to short flights but that is just my choice. OH very pleased as he is tall and hate the cramped conditions! x ... View more

Hi ladies! I am dreaming of a holiday too, it will have to be short haul as I met a lady who got lymph oedema after a long haul flight and her story petrified me but am am not fuzzy any holiday will do for me. Re thrush,I have had it after every cycle of chemo, the first time GP prescribed Nystatin and Canesten and when I saw the oncologist I was given Fluconazole as he said it was much better and now I get a prescription prechemo visit and guess what I am on it now again but at least it is at hand at home to take when needed.. Last two days I have been dead weight, just an effort to get out of bed but feel better today so optimistic it will carry on improving. Take care all of you xx ... View more

Hi Peta! Thank's I will try Movicol as the Senokot and the prune juice has not shifted a thing and I am feeling the consequences if you know what I mean!!! x ... View more

Hi all! Had my third TC Wednesday so will suffer over the weekend with nausea, bone pain and generally feeling rubbish, will def try the prune juice as the Senokot is not doing what it said on the tin! Knowing the routine of the SE doesn't make it any easier to deal with. When my 2 have you spoken to anyone yet, please please do, I think we all worry about you, post anytime we will read and understand. Molliana, I have sent you a pm for the FB. Back to bed now for a bit, feeling sorry for myself, OH picking up all the tissues I threw around after last nights meltdown. Thinking of you all xx ... View more

Hi Nicky! I really do understand you are worried and the sooner you can be checked out the better,the breast clinics are all one stop clinics now so if you do have a lump or a suspicious area that can be biopsied they will do it immediately, there and then. I never had a lump, just the bleed, I also have dense breast tissue so that makes scans more difficult to interpret. All the best, x ... View more

Hi Nicky! I hope your appointment will come through soon, the waiting for appointment, results etc, is always the worst. I had a bleeding from one of my nipples 21/2 years ago, was sent to the breast clinic straight away and had mammogram and ultrasound all came back clear. The consultant did not know the reason for the bleed. Cut a long story short, the bleeding continued very sporadically for 2 years and I had mammograms and ultrasound one after another, all clear,in the end the consultant said we need to do some exploratory surgery to see what is going on but first lets do a nipple biopsy. This came back as grade 2 DCIS , went on to have 2 wide local excisions came back as invasive grade 3 breast cancer, no spread luckily. I had an MRI scan the week before surgery and that came back negative too. My tumor was very small so never showed up on any scan. I really hope you get an all clear from your appointment and if the scans/ tests come back negative and you still have symptoms keep going back to check it out. There is always a cause for the bleeding but it certainly doesn't have to be cancer. Good luck. x ... View more

Hi ladies! I have so far had two sessions of my chemo regime and it is TC Taxotere and Cyclophosphamide, next one next Wednesday. The SE seems to be more or less the same as for FEC. I still have some hair but wearing a wig most of the time, the lashes are sparse, have silly looking gaps here and there and the brows have thinned out a lot. Lady garden still intact!!! My eyes keep twitching a lot and have become very sensitive so can't wear any makeup as eyes will immediately turn into panda eyes if I do! Have a good BH weekend everybody and hope all of you who have just had chemo this week won't suffer to much. xx ... View more

Mrs Merc, welcome! So sorry to hear you have to have chemo again and to go through with everything else that goes with it, must be so hard for you. I just couldn't contemplate having to do it again but we are all probably stronger than we think and again there is not much of an alternative is there. Good luck, you do come across so positive and that must help no end. x ... View more

1981Mum, good luck for today, hope everything goes smoothly for you. x ... View more

Egret, can't believe you are in Italy, how lovely. I made it down to Bournemouth for a few days, it was great to get away for a bit. X ... View more