Breast Cancer Now Forum

wishing everyone a very merry christmas, hope everyone is feeling stronger. x Cal B  ... View more

Hi Geri, pleased to hear you have completed treatment, hopefully you are not too sore from radiotherapy. I am sure this next week will feel strange when you are not needing to be anywhere at any time. Hope all check ups go well. X Cal B  ... View more

Hi Tanyette radiotherapy did effect my arm - it was almost back to how it was following surgery to clear lymph. Armpit fely numb and swollen (it wasnt). The cording started but I was religiously stretching and that helped. I had a few sharp pains in my breast but not for long. It has all settled now 3 weeks post radiotherapy. Hope your side effects improve and dont cause too much worry. X C  ... View more

Hi one and all I have just dropped in to catch up on the thread and to see how everyone is doing. Great to hear so many have completed or nearly completed active treatment. I am now taking anastrozole every day and up until this week was finding it ok. I have just started having a few pains in my left elbow, not bad but nagging ! I return to work on the 21st and have been given the opportunity to do some days at home and some days at school which is fabulous. I have signed up for the 'moving on' course which starts at the end of Nov for four wednedsays. I am not sure what to expect as I return to work but will take it one day at a time and have some very supportive colleagues and boss so I know I can rely on them.  I am still moisturising skin and treating nails but skin is doing ok and nails are a little sore but are still intacked. My hair is coming through and I am hoping that by Christmas I won't need hat and false fringe any more! Maybe that more about me than other people?  Not sure when I will have a review with oncologist but assume it wont be too far in the future? Seems very weird not to be seeing someone for some kind of treatment!! Bestwishes one and all. Cal B    ... View more

Hi Sue I am.a great believer in 'things happen for a reason' and although I can only imagine how stressful it has been with your work situation.  Starting your own business is certainly an exciting adventure. Good luck with that and enjoy the rest when it comes. All the.best C  ... View more

Hi Tanyette - tomorrow is my final day of radiotherapy !!!! I started Anastrozole at the same time as starting radiotherapy and so far so good with that. I hope you find the therapy treatment useful. I had six free sessions of crainiopothy and I definetly thought it helped me with energy levels. I have continued it throughout my treatment and will continue it for a few more months. I am booked onto the 'moving on' course in November and I hope to return to work at end of Nov. Like you I would like to thank everyone for their support, wise words, and advice through this journey. I hope that everyone stays well and moves on to do amazing things in the future. X c  ... View more

Hi Tanyette glad that you have seen someone and been referred. The exercises and stretches do seem to help me, hope they will help you. The analogy form lymph nodes and pathways was amusing ! Hope things improve for you. Cal B  ... View more

Hi Tanyette sorry to hear about your arm. As you say it is a little frustrating to have to wait to see the specialist therapist! I hope you manage to get an appointment swiftly. I guess we all need to be careful of doing too much with our arm espcially if we have had a lymph clearance. I had some physio during chemo and I was advised to use it normally but not to hold a weight in a static manner. It was ok to move something from A to B as long as A to B was next to each other - ie lofting something from floor to kitchen worktop BUT not to carry a static weight or a distance. I will need to re think some of my daily routines at work but all is do able with a few solutions!  Good to hear other peoples skin is holding up to radiotherapy - mine seems fine. I am using a combination of E45 and Ralife Cream that was reccommended by several people way back on the forum. I am still using nail creams and although i have lines they seem ok (fingers crossed)!!  Wishing everyone a lovely weekend. Cal B  ... View more

Hi Everyone I hope the lack of posts on this forum means that everyone is progressing and side effects are  easing? I am into week 2 of radiotherapy and taking Anastrozole. Both seem to be going ok. I have muscle fatigue in my quads, worse first thing in the morning and if I sit for a prolonged time. I am trying to walk for at least 30 mins each day to build physical activity up. Thinking of everyone. Cal B  ... View more

Hi Tanyette  Have a wonderful day with your granddaughter! Like you I start hormone treatment next week along with radiotherapy - I am going to be starting Anastrozole. Like you I am wondering if anyone else is taking this hormone drug and if they have found a best time to take it! I am hoping the SEs wont be as bad as the leaflet says!  I popped into work yesterday (school) and had a great day catching up with the staff and pupils. It had to be done, I have missed my work.  Hopefully everyone is doing ok and most people are coming to the end of chemo. Lets hope the sun keeps shining this weekend. Hugs all round. Cal B  ... View more

Hi Tanyette - I am feeling ok thanks, I am just coming to the end of week 2 of final chemo. I have been given Anastrozole. I have been asked to start it with Radiotherapy, so I thought I would wait till the three weeks of chemo 6 is over, then I have week before radiotherapy starts so I thought I would start that week. Having read all the SEs I am just hoping I don't get too many! If anyone else is taking Anastozole - what time of day do you take it and do you take it with or without food? Tanyette hope you are feeling ok. Cal B  ... View more

Hi Tanyette what is the hormone drud you are going to be on? x Cal B    ... View more

Hi Tina pleased to hear you have the ok for a hoilday! My hair is the same fluffy and greyish!! My radiotherapy starts last week of September. We have a long weekend away next weekend which will be great.  Hope everyone is doing ok? X Cal B  ... View more

well do e Sue, lets hpe the reduction helps with the SEs. I had last chemo on Tues (last T) so just awaiting SEs! Like you move onto Radiotherapy- planning meeting next week and then first treatment last week of Sept so have a little break yo recover a little more! Take Care X Cal B  ... View more

well done Geri, Tina and Flower last chemo completed. Hope SEs are ok for the final cycle. I have bloods today and final treatment next Tues so we are all getting there! I have Radiotherapy appoint on 8th sept and have first appointment for Mon 26th Sept. Hoping that the radiotherapy will be kinder to us all.  Wishing everyone a happy sunny bank holiday 😎 ... View more

Hi Geri - good luck for what I believe is your final treatment ! You made it. Next Tues I will follow in your foot steps and have my final T - yipee! Have my radiotherapy appointment at the beginning of sept and dates set to start last week of sept. So all should be done by end of Oct.  Hi everyone else, I have just caught up with posts, pleased to hear scans have been positive and that some have been able to negotiate changes in regimes to make SEs a little more managable. Sue you pic for your oncologist was spot on, as you say they must have a professional tough exterior to deliver 'news' to so many people and then switch off for their family life, but to be able to know that they have the potential to make a difference to so many must be a positive feeling too.  I can't believe how quickly August is passing by, hope everyone manages to make the most of the lovely weather on those good days or even good hours. Take care. X Cal B  ... View more

Hi RosieFlower, I was dreading first T as it was a case of the unknown again. My experience has been that T has been more manageable than FEC although I have had more fatigue. I had my treatment on a Monday and first SEs started on wednesday evening. Big bonus for me was no nausea or dizzyness and calmer digestive system (but still taking ranitidine every morning). My oncologist made the analogy of 'being hit by a bus'. I hit the bus on the wed eve/thurs morning. Completely wiped out. Pains in bones and muscles started following the post 24 hour injection. Mainly lower back to start with, I have used paracetmol but I havent needed loads of these so quite pleased about that. Muscle spasms was something I wasnt prepared for and although intermittent the first time it was frightening. Again paracetmol helped and rest. Constipation has been a real issue for me and thus I have a planned regime with movicol and suppositories which has helped this time ! Taste and appetitie wise things have been better on T. Things still taste odd but I cant taste the drugs (bonus!) Drinks have tasted fowl throughout and so I have stuck with iced water and a small amount of squash. I know that others in the forum have had very different experiences. Try not to worry too much, fingers crossed you will have a manageable time on T. Just take it easy when wipe out comes along ! I slept day and night for two days so just take it easy. X Cal B  ... View more

Hi Tanyette, belated birthday wishes, I hope you managed to go out for lunch 🎂 . I have been flopped in front of the olympics snoozing and watching since second round of T, just keep thinking one more round now! Geri how are things going for you? Sue sorry to hear you had such a frightening experience, I do hope things settle down. Sending everyone good wishes. Cal B X  ... View more

Hi Geri - Second T went as planned today and feel ok but steroids are affecting my sleeping bur positive tomtaht was seeing Adam Peake win Gold in the swimming at Rio! My hair seems to be growing on T, wasnt expecting that but really pleased. I hope your pains and SEs remain manageable. Do you have one more cycle to go?  Sue - sorry to hear your veins are that bad, hopefully now the PICC is in thats a worry taken away.  Hope everyone else is ok and ticking days off on your calendar - Its all down hill now we have reached half way and are heading down the other side. x Cal B  ... View more