Breast Cancer Now Forum

Hi Rach, you'll get support from other threads but a quick reply to your questions. I had the lumpectomy end April and was home from hospital the next morning (many come home on same day). Op was fine, bit of discomfort but nothing like I was expecting. I had my second chemo last week, again that was my choice and due to node involvement (had lymph node removal in May, again, uncomfortable but ok). Hopefully you'll have your lumpectomy followed by radiotherapy and that'll be it for you but, if your treatment does take another course, you'll cope, like you say, you do what you need for you and your family.    Take care x ... View more

Hi Rach, I'm sorry you didn't get a response to your first posting.  I truly feel for you, particularly with 2 young girls.   I'm older at 54 and also diagnosed with grade 2 in April and opted for lumpectomy rather than mastectomy.   It is a shock and IS scary and it's fine to have a good cry, we can't be strong all the time. It is particularly difficult waiting for surgery / test results but I'm sure you'll find that once treatment starts you'll start to feel more in control, that you are doing something positive. At grade 2, it's been caught early, treatment for breast cancer has come on so much in last few years, there's every reason to be positive.    I'm sure some of the younger members will come along to offer support and encouragement. In the meantime, it might be helpful to look at some of the threads to see how younger women with children are coping amazingly well with their treatment - I'm in awe of them!   Please feel free to message me if you have any questions I might be able to help with   Take care, sending you hugs x     ... View more

Hi girls, had PICC line fitted today, all good, nurse hit the right spot first time!   Ros, I didn't have the cold cap for my second FEC on Friday, I'm afraid it just wasn't for me but good luck with it, let us know how you get on.   I'm sorry you've had a tough time Joyce, just think about the fab holiday you're going to get when this blip in your (our) lives is over!     Hi Potts, I think the thread here and others show how everyone is different and has different reactions to the drugs / side effects - just look at loulou, I feel tired just reading your thread, but it shows that chemo is doable.   Josie, I'd love to see a photo of you in that purple wig! I've promised my boys (3 adult sons and hubby) that we'll have a family photo when I get my head shaved (all 4 of my boys are bald!).   Fanta, 2 down, we're getting there.... Best wishes everyone xx     ... View more

Manicmum, I use colouring books too, very relaxing and therapeutic. Good deals on ' The Works' website, books and pens. ... View more

Hi everyone, not been on here for few days but sorry to see how many of you are struggling.   I had my second FEC on Friday but took 3 hrs instead of 2 cos of my veins so now I'm welcoming the PICC line on Wednesday, not dreading it!     Ditto with hair loss but I feel much better about scarves now. I was about to order expensive scarves but rmembered my extensive collection of scarves, went on line to find tying instructions and spent a comical hour learning how to tie them, with funky results! Saved me a fortune, just need to buy couple of cheap skull caps for the scarves to fix to.   In the process, I tried on a 'fashionable' turban but my boys said I looked like I should be on my knees scrubbing a half-moon on the doorstep as some of the older women in my village still do. To top it all, I use 24 hr lip stain but, probably due to the treatment, most of it comes off apart from the middle of my top lip, I honestly looked like Hilda Ogden (for younger readers, she was a famous character in Coronation St.) ! It gave us all a good laugh and reminded me how important it is to keep a sense of humour, not always possible, but a good belly laugh is a great tonic. Take care and best wishes everyone. ... View more

Hi Gaynor, I would at least take paracetamol before, maybe even co cocodamol. I didn't have steroids before chemo, just on the day, half hour before chemo started I think. Sorry for short reply, getting ready for my chemo. Good luck, you will be fine, anticipation worse than the chemo x ... View more

Hi Joyce, it's not surprising having a bad day, no matter how we think we are prepared, it's difficult when we start to lose our hair. I hope you're feeling a little better no, it's the shock I think.    Fantasy, I too hate my hair, I'm shredding more hair than my dog but didn't realise how much hair I have, it's fine but there's a lot of it.   Manicmum, sounds like you had a rough time of it. It's very frustrating when things don't go to plan.   Josie, how are you feeling now?   Gaynor, did you check with your team? Can you go ahead with chemo tomorrow?    I'm due my second chemo tomorrow but, as nurse had difficulty finding veins for yesterday's blood tests, my onc has warned that they may not get a vein for the chemo which may have to be delayed. Worse, I have to have a PICC line fitted next Wednesday.  I'm dreading this, not just the fitting but the thought of having this line in until October. I'm going to post in earlier chemo threads to get some advice / words of support. It's silly really, I've sailed through 2 surgeries yet I seem to have developed a dread of the PICC! ... View more

Sorry, forgot to say, my wig took a week to collect after ordering from salon. When the wig came, I had another fitting and had the fringe trimmed to my liking x ... View more

Hi Maggie, once I'd decided on chemo with onc I was given a voucher. My onc also advised to get my hair cut 'as short as I can manage' to give the cold cap the best chance of working.  So, the following week I found a wig that I liked (a salon that was contracted to take NHS wigs) and had my shoulder length hair cut in the same style. I admit, the first 3 wigs I tried were awful (I looked like Esther Rantzen!), but I persevered and found the right one.    I was told I looked (and felt) 10 yrs younger with my shorter hairstyle. I'm 54 but feel younger by decades, well at least two!   The voucher covered the cost of the wig. It is synthetic but the salon doesn't use real hair because real hair is such high maintenance - washing, conditioning etc., the salon owner recognised that to maintain a real hair wig when one isn't feeling well is too much for many women.     I tried the cold cap on my 1st chemo but struggled with it (not everyone does) and decided I wouldn't use it again (personal choice) but on day 19 of 1st chemo, my hair started falling out, not in clumps, but all over, not enough for others to notice but it has thinned considerably.     I feel confident knowing that I have a wig and scarves ready for when I need them. Of course, we're all different and will suffer more or less hair loss but I think it helps psychologically, emotionally and practically to be prepared.  Wishing you well, take care x           ... View more

Hi Josie, welcome to the thread. Good luck with your chemo tomorrow. The team send you home with a pack of anti-nausea pills which really worked for me. I took them as prescribed, ate small meals often and drank plenty of squash and I was fine. I did have nausea but wasn't sick once. I also found ginger biscuits helped too. Mind you I was a wine drinker (still have the occasional drop) so that may have put me in good stead! Take care, let us know how you get on x ... View more

You're right Joyce, we don't know what lies ahead and I'm preparing myself as my oncologist said that the side effects get progressively worse so I'm appreciating every good day I have. Fanta, I too had my hair cut in prep - from shoulder to short style.  My hair is continuing to fall out and I also plan to have it shaved but think I'll wait until it starts to look patchy, at the moment, it's thinning all over. Disco D, I'm sorry you didn't manage to get a ticket to see Bette, I was just very lucky to be on the internet at the right time. Best wishes everyone x ... View more

l wanted to share my weekend with you guys to show that we can still enjoy ourselves during this treatment. Before I was diagnosed I'd booked to see the fabulous Bette Midler in Manchester. Thinking that the drive up on Saturday and back on Sunday might be too much (I live in S. Wales), I booked a night in Blackpool on Friday to break up the journey.   I had a fantastic weekend, a real tonic. I sang and danced and forgot about the cancer and treatment for the night. Earlier on Saturday in the hotel, my hair started to fall out big time but all over, not in clumps so didn't notice to others ( I was on day 19 of my 1st cycle of FEC). If I'd been home I probably would have been upset but, with a night to look forward to, I just combed out the loose hair, put my make up on and had a great night.    I'm now planning a treat for the third wk of each cycle. Not on the scale of a Bette Midler concert,  just simple things that give me joy, like a trip to the beach.    My second treatment of FEC is on Friday and already I feel more prepared for it because of the lovely experience I've just had. My partner was concerned that I'd done too much, my reply was I'd do as much as I can, when I can. Wishing you all well and hope you manage to get some good times on your good days x       ... View more

Hi Maggie, I had a NHS voucher for £100 when I met my oncologist. I was told that the chemo regimen I was on would lead to hair loss. Before chemo started I went to a salon, chose a wig and had my hair cut in a similar short style. I don't know about your chemo regimen but imagine that if it involves hair loss, you will be given same advice and voucher. I felt better knowing that if I did have hair loss, I had a wig ready. I also bought a couple of headscarves from annabanda and suburbanturban (both online). My wig is from a company called Natural Image and does look really good. I've only had 1 chemo and have not had to use them yet but, as my hair started falling out on day 19 of my cycle, I don't think it will be long before I'll be using both. Hope this helps. Wishing you well with your treatment x ... View more

Hi mum-three, I'm really sorry to read what you are going through. I would like to send you a private msg but think you have to add me as a friend. Take care, Sandra x ... View more

Sending you virtual hugs Sheena x ... View more

Sorry, that should have read 1) coping with the DIAGNOSIS at such a young age, hope it didn't come across as patronising. ... View more

Hi ladies, I've been straddling this and July's thread as I was a late June starter but, from what I've read here, feel that my cycles are in line with quite a few of you. I just wanted to say how in awe I am of everyone but particularly those of you with young children. I take my hat off to you guys and can't begin to imagine how 1) you are coping with being so young and 2) how you are managing to juggle your treatment, family commitments etc. along with the nasty side effects.   Whilst we don't have a choice and have to do all we can to tackle this illness head on, we can choose how we deal with it; of course, we're all going to have our bad days but on the whole, I think we're all bloody marvellous!   I've just read this thread from the beginning to re-aquaint myself with everyone and the bravery, in particular, of those with children has made me feel humble. I'm 54 with 3 adult sons and don't work. I can rest when I need to and pretty much only have myself to concentrate on. Next time I feel sorry for myself, and I will, I'll think of you guys. You are truly inspiring. Thank you for sharing your stories. Ooh, I've come over all emotional and that's without a glass of wine! X     ... View more

Hi Ros, I was at the hospital about 3 hrs, half hour before chemo and 45 minutes after because of cold cap. Chemo given slowly through injections along with saline drip - took about half hour. Felt no discomfort or adverse effects from that, it was almost an anti-climax! I did suffer with the cold cap though. I found it very painful and felt sick, the nurse and my husband said I should remove it, that's when I burst into tears because I felt frustrated and knew if I didn't do it on the first cycle, I couldn't use it for the rest. I honestly don't know if I'm going to try it for my 2nd cycle next week, I'll have to see how I feel. Of course, not everyone struggles with the cold cap and I certainly think it's worth a try.   Other tips: I have problems with my veins but the nurse put my hand in warm water for 10mins before inserting the cannula then put a heat pad around my arm during treatment, that worked a treat; I wish I'd listened to advice on here about taking movicol or similar before constipation becomes a problem (definitely not fybogel, I learnt from experience!), I ended up with suppositories from my GP and was in a lot of pain and discomfort; take all the anti-sickness meds, I felt nauseous but wasn't sick, ginger biscuits helped too!; I had a reaction to dexamethasone, a burning hot red face and neck for 2 days and was told off by onc team for not phoning them; on day 8 of my cycle I had diarrhoea, contacted emergency number and prescribed Loperamide, worked instantly; eat little and often and drink plenty.   The fear and anticipation of chemo was actually worse than the actual chemo. I know it's early days and I may not be so lucky next time but so far, so good. Hoping your's and everyone else's goes as well. Take care and best wishesx ... View more

Apologies Joyce, I've just read your post about the injections x ... View more

Hi Joyce, I hope you don't mind me asking but just wondering what injections are for. I've read that some women have injections to boost blood cells but I've not been offered this. Just wondering the criteria for this? Kind regards, Holly d ... View more