Breast Cancer Now Forum

Made me laugh too, Sarah! Yes, indeed, treats are a must. I've gone off tea too, though. On the bright side, guess that means fewer choclate digestives! Seriously though, I did lose my appetite a bit after the first sessions and have lost two kilos. I think that's good and bad. ... View more

Hi ladies. Just catching up on posts after a few days off the forum. You're all putting me to shame with your healthy eating. We had a Chinese takeaway last night and I've just finished a slice of buttered toast and peanut butter!   2nd chemo cycle went well yesterday - thanks for the advance good wishes.- although I have to say I really struggled with the cool cap this time, having found it ok the first time.Still, I did perservere. No head hair loss yet (have been told with AC it usually starts after 1st or 2nd session so these next two weeks are critical).I'm feeling fine today, emotionally and physically, although mouth already feels a bit "thick".    Good luck with whatever life throws at us all over the next few days/weeks! x ... View more

Glad things seems to have settled down for most folk.   My 2nd chemo session is on Wednesday. Got off lightly with the first cycle other than this past Friday, which was a horror of a day with severe headache and forehead sweats all day and thankfully just one episode of vomiting. It actually all felt like food poisoning but without the runs. In fact, I guess it could have been, as Friday was nine days after the chemo session.   Re cold cap at first session, I was given two paracetamol beforehand.   Re anti-nausea meds, pre-chemo I was given iv dexamethasone (a steroid), and in tablet form Aloxi (p alonosetron )  and Emend (a prepitant ). Then post-chemo I was given  dexamethasone tablets, to be taken at breakfast and lunch for three days; Emend (aprepitant), to be taken once a day at breakfast for two days and domperidone, to be taken three times a day for three days and then as required. I was very compliant and took everything as directed. I didn't feel any nausea at all - but no bloody wonder with so many anti-nausea drugs!    I believe the type of anti-nausea meds you're given is determined by which chemo drugs you're on.   Good luck to anyone else who has chemo this week. ... View more

Thanks, Clem. Great to meet a fellow tennis enthusiast! I too played 2-3 times a week but I've pulled out of the club leagues and have given up my place on the Ladies 3rd team while I fight this thing. I do plan to keep playing through chemo as much as I can, though. I played one set earlier this week, one week after my my round of chemo. Lost badly, but can't say that was down to the chemo!    Your post was really helpful and it's really encouraging you're able to do so much. It might not seem that way to you but I'm really impressed!. Just two months off the courts after node clearance seems amazing to me. I was thinking much longer than that. Good luck to you too!  ... View more

Hi all. Funny how every hospital seems to be different. My oncologist insisted we try veins first rather than insert a picc even though i'm doing the cool cap. They give me something like a hot water bottle to rest my chemo arm on during treatment to keep the veins open. I thought it was just to keep me warm in general cos i was having the cool cap - i had it resting nicely on my tummy! - until one of the nurses put me right! Day 8 after Cycle 1... not feeling great, for first time really. Painful mouth ulcers, whole mouth feels "thick" and I generally am feeling quite low. Sorry to moan. ... View more

First session, of AC, was last Wednesday. Other than v slight headache for couple of days, no side effects at all. I know it will be much, much worse as sessions progress but for the moment I'm thankful. ... View more

Hi Lindy. How are you? My first cycle of AC has been fine. No side effects at all really, other than slight headache.Took your advice and had scrambled eggs afterwards and an early night. I've gone for cool capping and had to wear the cap for half an hour before treatment and more than two hours afterwards. Was there forever. Have been warned may lose hair anyway but thought it worth a try. Fingers crossed rest of cycles won't be too bad either although I have been warned... ... View more

Inspired by you lovely ladies, I have just been out for a 20 minute run (well jog, really).I seem to have got off lightly with my first round of chemo so I reckoned I owed it to myself to get out there. Keep up the fight. ... View more

Thanks Carol. I've made an appointment at Trendco for Monday morning!   Everyone, have as nice a weekend as you can. My husband has taken the boys away camping for the weekend - not too far away, though, in case of emergencies - so the house is blissfuly quite and peaceful. ... View more

Blondeambition, what's the reconstruction like? I'm much older than you and at the moment am thinking I wouldn't mind just staying flat post mastectomy. But everybody tells me I'll feel different when I come to have the operation.  ... View more

Hi Lisajane. Sorry to have to welcome you to our group. It is, however, a real godsend.   I too am having chemo first, before mastectomy and total lymph node clearance. I had my first chemo session on Wednesday. I'm still feeling ok. A little tired today, perhaps, but that's not unusual for a normal Friday! Good luck with everything. What regimen are you on? I'm on eight cycles of AC- T, with a session every other Wednesday.    ... View more

Good luck with that 10k, Diane! ... View more

Am definitely going out for bike ride or a run tomorrow if I feel as well as I do today! Will take it easy and stay close to home. Oncologist said instead of going out from A to B and back, to imagine the house as the centre of a flower and to run round the petals, ie out for a short distance then back close to house, then back out in another direction for a short distance, and so on. That way you should always be able to get back home if you suddenly find you run out of energy. Cleverl, eh? Will keep you posted. ... View more

Bibi, good news here on GCSEs too. My son did really well, better than expected, which is great. Will check out Trendco for wigs here in London. Thanks.   Sarahd. Gosh but you're young to get this bloody thing, aren't you? Bad luck there. Must be nice to be a young grandma, though. Or maybe I'm wrong there! Enjoy your takeaway!   Re PICCs and ports, etc, my oncologist said to try veins first. So we did. First session went fine. ... View more

And I'm only at the very start of my "journey"! First session of neoadjuvant chemo yesterday. ... View more

Hi Claire. We all feel the same, I'm sure. I feel guilty cos I know they mean well but at the same time I wish people wouldn't keep telling me I'm the strongest woman they know, or what a fighter I am, or what a great attitude I have. It doesn't make a blind bit of difference to the cancer. Also with you on dealing with the family; husband has been amazing but one kid going through really difficult patch and I really don't have the will to deal with it. ... View more

Yes, got to keep trying. I guess I'm lucky (?) in that I have chemo first and may be able to keep things going until surgery. Will see how it goes. ... View more

Hi. I started neoadjuvant chemo yesterday and the plan is have a mastectomy and full lymph node removal in December or January. It's silly, but the thought of not being able to play tennis or go on long-distance bike rides (which I'd just got into pre-diagnosis) for a long time is one of the worse things about this whole thing. I will aim to keep fit through chemo as best I can. It's pretty rubbish, isn't it? ... View more

Hi. You might considering calling your nurse over this. ... View more

Hi. Yes, this can be annoying, not to mention extremely upsetting. I read somewhere that you should practise saying "Thank you, but I'd rather not talk about cancer now." Interrupt people mid-flow if necessary; if they're offended, tough!     Some of it you can't avoid, because it's part of life. You do become much more sensitised to it when you are the one with cancer.    Here are a couple of articles you might like. I don't agree with all they say (people generally think they're trying to help), but I do like some of the points they make:   http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-2606430/My-friend-died-things-NOT-say-cancer-sufferer-JOANNA-MOORHEAD-diagnosed-fortnight-ago.html   http://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2012/apr/18/10-things-not-say-when-ill   Good luck with everything.     ... View more