Breast Cancer Now Forum

Thank you xx ... View more

Welcome MaggieMac, Sorry you had to join our group but like Carolyn has said. we are all her to offer support and advice whenever you need it. It is always good to share your thoughts and rants with people who really understand what you are going through and don't critisize or fob you off when problems that are real for you need addressing. I was diasgnosed with mets to pleura, lung and bones in September 2015 after being clear for 13 years and like you was devastated and couldn't come to terms with it initially. However once you are diagnosed you are swept along with investigations, treatment plans and appointments, your life is completely taken over it seems. A year on and with 2 attemps at oral chemo behind me neither of which unfortunately I tolerated very well so they were discontinued, but that was due to my genetic makeup, so please don't take that as the norm. I am now feeling well at the moment and now being maintained on hormone therapy. I know that everyone is different and so is our disease process and treatments but please keep positive and be kind to your self.  Hugs Ann xx  ... View more

Well I saw my oncologist on Thursday and I had it in my mind that she was going to reduce the dose of Cape to a more tolerable level for me to continue on, seeing that my mets had improved according to the recent CT scan on the 2 cycles that I completed. However she explained to me that I was lacking an enzyme, I think she called it DPD, which prevents me metabolising the Cape and that is why I had a reaction causing severe Ileitus a condition she had not seen for over 12 years with Cape. Which means that I am now not a Cape crusader !!! so I will no longer be posting on this thread.  The good news is that she feels that because my mets have improved and I am feeling well she doesn't feel that chemo is warranted at the moment so has prescribed Tamoxifen to maintain as I am ER positive. She will review me in 8 weeks and repeat CT in March. Thankyou to all for your input on this thread, it has been truely helpfull when I needed info, support and advice.  Ann xx ... View more

Happy New Year everyone and hopefully a more healthy one. I am also glad to see the back of 2016 and feel more positive for the year to come. I am up to see my oncologist on Thursday to see what to do next !!!!. I am feeling quite well at the moment, eating well and gradually putting on a little bit of weight which my husband is very pleased about. I lost so much prior to my hospital admission. The last time I drained the right side of my PleurX catheter there was no drainage so I am hopeful that the effusion has dried up the only other explanation is that it is blocked but I am not getting any symptoms to suggest this, a chest xray is the only way to confirm. I am still draining 500-600mls from the left side so I think the plan will be to put me on a lower dose of Cape to see if this will dry the fluid up. Hopefully I will not react so badly to them this time but I am fully prepared and will remain positive to the outcome.  Good to hear you out of hospital Abney and you were able to enjoy Christmas with your family all be it belatedly. Best wishes and hugs. Ann xx   ... View more

Yes I will be seeing my oncologist in January so I'm anticipating that I will continue on the Cape but on a lower dose. Ann xx ... View more

Haven"t been around for a couple of weeks as I was admitted to hospital after having a urgent appointment with oncologist. I had just started my 3rd cycle of Cape on the Thursday evening but by Sunday morning I felt so unwell with the diarrhoea and vomiting I contacted the oncall nurse and advised me to stop taking the Cape. I was not eating as I didn't feel hungry and was gradually losing strength to get out of bed. I am now home after having I.V fluids to rehydrate and correct my electrlyte imbalance, C.T scan and colonoscopy. The good news is that all investigations revealed no problems and that my pleura mets had improved on the Cape. So now have just got to getter over this blip and let my tummy settle down as it still is not completely right. I have also got oedematous arms and legs because my albumin levels are low so now on a high protein low fibre diet with no alcohol. Still it"s good to know that I will get through this and it is only temporary.  Ann   ... View more

Hi all, feeling very fragile at the moment started my 3rd cycle last Thursday and it has been downhill since, I felt so bad Sunday morning I contacted the out of hours oncology nurse, she advised me to stop taking them and contact her Tuesday if I still was not any better, which I did. I have got an appointment tomorrow to see my oncologist for review. I have not eaten anything since Sunday morning when I took my last dose, I don't feel particularly hungry and when I try to eat start retching, even my supplements drink made me vomit. I have a cows milk intolerance and always have had a very sensitive stomach which doesn't help. My brain says you have got to try to eat something as I am losing weight but my stomach says Whoa ... you will only be sick again. Caught between a rock and a hard place springs to mind!!!!  Any advice gratefully received. Ann xx ... View more

Sorry to hear that you are feeling under the weather as well Bousy, are you taking anything for the nausea? I was given Metoclopromide which I took for the first 3 days when I started treatment and luckily enough I have not had to take it since. Ann xx ... View more

Hi all, feeling a little fragile at the moment, now completed 2nd cycle and on week off and se have now kicked in. Have been putting Udderly cream on sore feet and hands twice daily which I think has helped as they are not peeling. The diarrhoea is keeping me more confined to barracks at the moment and my appetite is definitely diminished so as I say feeling a little bit sorry for myself. I just hope that the Cape is working in drying up the fluid around my lungs as that is the plan. I know I should be more positive but it is difficult sometimes when your physical symptoms grind you down. Ann xx     ... View more

Hi Abney, good to hear that you are now breathing better now that they have removed the fluid from your lungs, I know how scarey that can be as I was in a similar situation this time last year. My secondaries are in the lung and pleural space which caused me to have pleural effusions and this caused my breathlessness. Thankfully a year on after having Pleurx catheters inserted to manage the recurrent effusions,  I am now able to get on with life. I have found that taking one day at a time and dealing with whatever it brings is much more manageable for me as it helps me to focus on living in the moment and not dwelling on what the future might hold. So keep positive, it sounds like you are receiving good care and treatment and you will get through this, although you are probably finding it difficult to believe at the moment.  Hugs Ann ... View more