Breast Cancer Now Forum

Thank you all for all your support x ... View more

Thank you for your kind words, I will definately keep in touch x ... View more

Hi blestg, mum became really I'll on Monday and sadly she passed away last night, I'm absolutely devastated, she decided last Thursday that she didn't want any more chemo because she had been feeling so unwell, the onc agreed, we took her to the hospice on Monday for the day clinic, but she was so I'll they put her straight to bed, they wanted to keep her in but she was adament she wanted to be at home, me and my brothers decided not to have help from carers and to nurse her ourselves because she didn't want strangers washing her and taking her to the toilet, we all three stayed with her all the time, she got so poorly she couldn't even stand, we had to lift her on and off the commode, we all tried to talk her into going in the hospice as we were worried we wouldn't be able to give her the care she needed, but she said she wanted to die at home with her kids with her, the dr prescribed morphine to help with any pain, when she passed we were all holding her and her cat hayley was snuggled up to her, it was very peaceful and she was in no pain, I am going to miss her so much, we were almost joined at the hip, I'm sorry to pour all this out to you but I thought you would want to know, I hope all is going well your end xx  ... View more

My lovely mum, took a turn for the worse on Monday, she sadly passed away last night, I'm absolutely devastated, I just thought you ladies would like to know as you have all helped me and her through her treatment x ... View more

Thank you so much for all your kind comments xxx ... View more

Hi ladies, it seems I will be leaving this thread as mum has decided to stop having chemo. We went to see the onc yesterday, she agreed mum was feeling too I'll to carry on with the treatment, she's been really poorly the last few days. The onc had upped her steroid dose to see if that will help with her eating and said she would reveiw her in two weeks because she would know then if its the chemo or the cancer that is making her feel I'll, but mum was adament she wants to give up on the treatment. Obviously its mums choice but its very worrying as she has an aggressive cancer that has already spread to her liver and lungs and with no treatment the outlook isn't good. She is going to spend the day at our local hospice on Monday to see if she likes it, if she does they want her to go every week, she asked the onc how long she had left, but they couldn't say, which I was glad about because I don't want to know that, she's 79 now and wants what time she's got left to not be filled with taking chemo and feeling unwell. Thank you all for all your advice and tips, and I wish you all well xx ... View more

Hi, I need to correct my earlier post, the tonic water did help mums leg pain, my brother stayed with her last night and because she got up a few times in the night to use the toilet, he assumed it was her legs playing up, but when I saw her at dinner time she said it had worked, so thanks for the tip x ... View more

Hi ladies, the tonic water didn't help mum last night, but I think she only had one glass of it, should she be drinking it throughout the day or just before she goes to bed. Also I've just read on the internet that a bar of soap under your bottom sheet is supposed to help leg cramps, aparantly it does not matter what soap as long as its a fresh bar but lavendar soap was recommended, will get her to give that a go tonight x ... View more

Hi cape ladies, mum has been suffering terribly with painfull legs at night , I stayed with her last night and she did get to sleep untill about 4ish this morning, thank s for the tip about the tonic water, I went straight out this morning and got her some which she has been drinking so I will let you know how she gets on with it x ... View more

Thank you for all your replies, I will let mum know that the breathlessness and tiredness is very likely to be the chemo, hopefully it will put her mind at rest, she had a full night sleep Wednesday night, not sure yet about last night, the nurse told her to make sure she takes painkillers if her legs are hurting her, but mums a nightmare when it comes to painkillers, she does not like taking them x ... View more

Hi moijan, funny you should mention the swollen ankles because mum has been getting swollen feet and ankles, the nurse from the hospice came yesterday and showed her some excersises  to do, She's really not been feeling well at all these last few days, she's so tired and not eating and her breathing is getting bad, she said to me last night that she's worried that her feeling bad is the start of the end for her, it was horrible hearing her say that because she's normally quite a possitive person, I told her that I'm pretty sure its the chemo making her feel like this, I just hope I'm right as we know they can't cure her cancer, just try to slow it down, so I hope it isn't the start yet, since my dad died five years ago I have spent an lot of time with mum, and I can't imagine what its going to be like without her x ... View more

Thank you waffles, we are seeing a nurse from our local hospice today so I will ask her about it x ... View more

Hi blestg, I'm so sorry to hear your mums cancer has spread, this disease is evil isn't it, its good that you are spending as much time with your mum as you can, I'm doing the same. You never know what's round the corner. Mums not been too good today, she had no sleep again last night because of the pain in her legs, her breathing was bad tonight and she's hardly eaten today, we've got a nurse coming to see her tomorrow from our local hospice just to see if there is anything she needs so I will have a word about it. I really hope your mum is able to take the hercepin and that is helps her, thinking of you both xx ... View more

Hi blestg, this is really weird because I was only wondering about your mum at the weekend and made a mental note to myself to get in touch, I can't remember what was going on with mum the last time we spoke. She had to be taken off the docetaxol as it made her really I'll and ended up in hospital, also when they did the scan the cancer had got a little worse so it was time for a change anyway. She is now on cape, which is in tablet form and she finds it a lot easier to cope with. She doesn't feel I'll but she is struggling with the tiredness, also she's not sleeping very well, when she lays down in bed she gets really aching legs that keep her awake, and she's become quite breathless, she is exhausted, we have to take her everywhere in the wheelchair, she has problems with her legs anyway but its now a lot worse, other than that she's had no other side effects, no sickness or upset tummy, just very tired, how is your mum doing on the docetaxol?,is she coping ok? X ... View more

Thank you EJ and Nicky for your replies, mum actually had nine hours sleep last night with a couple of wee breaks in between, hopefully she will start to sleep a bit better now, its horrible seeing her so tired and down, she's normally really upbeat about it all, I think if she had a normal sleep pattern it would make all the differance. When she's tired she doesn't feel like eating, which worries me because on the iv chemos she hardly ate and lost a load of weight which made her really weak and she ended up in hospital, the onc put her on permanant steroids which has helped with her eating, as I said before she hasn't had any other side effects yet so I suppose she's quite lucky really. Thanks again x   ... View more

Hi cape ladies, hope everyone is doing ok. I just wanted to ask a couple of questions, mum is halfway through her second cycle of cape, she hasn't had any problems with her hands and feet yet, and not feeling sick or had a dodgy belly, but she is absolutely worn out, she can't walk anywhere anymore, she has to be taken everywhere in a wheel chair, she has problems with her legs anyway, she's walked with sticks for the last 19 years after an accident, she said she feels exhausted, she is also having real trouble sleeping, since Monday she's only had one full nights sleep, she says she sees every hour of the night. Has anyone else had this trouble and if so do you have any tips to help her to sleep. Also she's looking quite pale and wondered if she maybe a bit anemic. How soon after starting cape is she likely to have a scan, nothing has been mentioned yet, I don't know how long it takes to take affect, I just hope it makes a differance x ... View more

Happy birthday Barton and thank you for the reply x   ... View more

Hi cape ladies, mum has been on cape for one week now, she's had a bit of a dodgy tummy and been sick a couple of times but doesn't feel I'll as such, she just feels really weary and is aching all over she's also had trouble with her legs during the night, she said they feel irritable and she doesn't know where to put them, she just can't get comfy which is affecting her sleep a little bit. I've been taking her out in a wheelchair because she can't walk far anymore without getting breathless or having a painfull back and legs. She wasn't the most mobile of people anyway because she walks with crutches since having a fall years ago, but her mobility has definately got worse recently, has anyone else suffered this way xx ... View more

Thank you moijan, the onc said they would start her off on reduced dose because she felt so I'll on the other chemos,  she said he's may up the dose later on, I just hope she doesn't have too many se as she says she will stop it and not have any more chemo x ... View more

Thank you for the reply barton, I will find out the proper dosage tomorrow and let you know x   ... View more