Breast Cancer Care Forum

Well done Oncewild and to all in this group - what a rollercoaster we've been on and are still on! I had my last radiotherapy yesterday. Can't believe what this year has put us all through but here is to a happy and healthier 2017. X ... View more

Well done Alex. That's great news. Ta ra to chemo!!! I'm going for my planning for RT tomorrow. I've got to have rads to my neck nodes as well as breast area. Do they tattoo you? Hope SEs bearable following your last chemo. Onwards and upwards xxxx ... View more

So heartening to hear so many of us are nearing the end of chemotherapy. Well done everyone. What an achievement. On my last chemotherapy they also gave me my first 6 monthly zometa infusion. Have been struggling with bone pain since - particularly at night.  Hope this wears off!! I've got a ct scan next week to map me out for RT and then radiotherapy to take me up til Christmas so I still feel very much on the BC conveyor belt. Getting fed up of the no hair/eyebrows/eyelashes situation but need to be patient I know! Good luck everyone xxxx ... View more

Hard to believe the end of chemo is in sight for so many of us. I will (hopefully) be having my last chemo tomorrow. Hope everyone is doing ok. It's been a rollercoaster to say the least hasn't it. I'm not sure what normal feels like anymore!! I've been in weekly chemo for the last 12 weeks so like Pookie I never quite feel back to normal in between treatments. Next challenge radiotherapy and hormone treatment.......hope everyone is coping with various regimes. We did it!!! :))))) xx ... View more

That's exactly what my onc said to me about the gcsf injections and looking at my bloods each week I seem to be managing ok without them.  I have everything crossed for you that you won't have any problems with your fingers.  It seems to be a gradual thing so keep your onc updated if it starts - they can tweak your dose.  I'm finding my main side effect tears at the moment which is odd 6 months on from diagnosis, but emotions are a funny thing aren't they?!  I start radiotherapy when chemo is finished and then there is talk of ovary removal.........one step at a time I guess.  Take care xxx ... View more

Hi Pookie. I'm on weekly Paclitaxol and had my 7th infusion on Tuesday. It is so much kinder than FEC or EC. I don't have gcsf injections now. Are they still giving you them with weekly Paclitaxol? I always have a bright red face the following day - it's the steroids they give you with the taxol. I tend to have a really down day 2 days later - a real steroid crash. Tiredness is the main thing for me and it seems to be cumulative as the weeks tick by. Some people have joint pain and of course the main thing to watch out for is neuropathy - tingly fingers, numbness in hands/feet. I'm sure you'll find it far less harsher than FEC! Good luck x ... View more

Can I just say how much these recent posts have helped. Hazel, I couldn't agree more. People mean well but unless they've been through this they haven't got a clue. I feel in a similar hormonal state to you - I'm 48 too....has anything been mentioned about which hormonal cocktail they will put you on once chemo and rads completed? I guess on top of everything we are all completely mentally and emotionally spent. I've got weekly 6 taxols still to go, then radiotherapy but at least whilst on treatment you feel something is in your body actively working, as vile as the SEs are.... I am so worried as to the uncertainty of when treatment is over, although I guess those of us who are hormone positive at least have some ongoing protection from endocrine treatment? My onc has mentioned ovary removal. Don't know if anyone else has had that little nugget mentioned too? Anyway, big hugs to all July starters. You are all amazing xxx ... View more

Hi Pookie. Yes, I've had this and it was linked to low blood count. It will right itself I'm sure when you blood count improves. Alex, I always have a big dose of Piriton put through my port prior to my Taxol infusion plus Zantac which is an anti heartburn drug. Apparently the Piritin dose is way above the normal dosage so best to ask if you anticipate taking other antihistamines on top of what they will already be giving you. I have a book which each week they log in exactly what doses I've had and of what drugs plus all my blood results etc which is useful to post my 'progress'. ... View more

So glad you got on OK Diana. It's the anticipation that's somehow worse than the event isn't it. Fingers crossed.  ... View more

Hi Diana.  I felt exactly the same before my first T too.  They keep a really close eye on you and if it's anything like with me I was so full of mega doses of antihistamine I barely remember it!!  I am finding the whole thing exhausting but I've had no persistant sickness as I did with EC and all side effects, whilst not exactly pleasant, are doable.  Stay positive.  I seem to lurch from seeing light at the end of the tunnel to gloom and doom which I guess is normal. Good luck for this afternoon.  You have my sympathy over the steroids - it is so hard to sleep.  The antihistamines should help knock you out though and just focus on what the T is doing to any nasty little critters.... ... View more

No, I wasn't offered mitts and haven't tried. Might ask my onc about that tomorrow. Lots of other people haven't had half the side effects I've had and have had a pretty good quality of life so don't bank on having to write the next few weeks off. You never know! You might sail through, lots do. To feel sick free is just wonderful. Xxx ... View more

PPS I've had no sickness with Taxol touch wood..... Now that's got to be a huge plus 🙂 ... View more

PS I had a portacath fitted prior to chemo starting which hasn't been without its problems but has saved my veins. I only have one usable arm due to lymph node clearance so it was a no brainer. Hope you get on well xxx ... View more

Hi once wild. I'm on weekly paclitaxol. It is much more tolerable than EC. I had 2 weekly ECs x 3 and quite honestly It totally floored me. Taxol isn't without its side effects though. I'm having my 4th treatment tomorrow and have been plagued with a horrible itchy rash and nasty tummy pains/upset tummy. Buscopan has helped with tummy (it's like bad ibs) and constant antihistamines have kept on top of the rash. However other ladies at my hosp have had neither if these pribkems and are sailing through with just a few aches an pains. . Everyone is different. Joint pain and tingly fingers is another issue. By the time you're ready for the next treatment things have settled down though. I usually get a reasonable weekend and the Monday before the Tuesday infusion. You are given steroids and a wopping dose of Piriton before the drug is administered. I'm pretty sleepy by the time i get home. The weds I'm always wired from the steroids and thurs and fri are usually my lowest grittiest days. How many weeks are you having? I'm having 11. The neuropathy is the s/e most people worry about. I've had tingles and pins and needles that come and go but no total numbness yet. On the whole though it is all doable and they can tweak the dose significantly if you do get side effects. You feel like you're constantly at the hospital with it being weekly but it soon becomes part of our temporary new life that we didn't want. Hope it goes well. ... View more

That did make me smile Oncewild. Baby orangutan!! Gorgeous! I'm more like Friar Tuck and that's with 3 cold cap sessions. Feel the same about my wig too oncewild. Prefering headscarves/bandanas at the moment.  First weekly Taxol tomorrow......shoukd I keep going with coldcap or not? Very anxious about starting new drug though glad to see the end of fortnightly ECs which gave me no let up from SEs and has wiped me out. Hopefully it's wiped out any cancer cells too though. Hope all July starters doing ok. Anyone else on weekly Taxol?  It's the fear of the unknown all over again. Xxx ... View more

Hi everyone. Hope you're all managing within reason. I had my 3rd EC on Tuesday. Haven't been able to get out of bed since. Worst one. But today I'm going to try to sit in the garden and at least celebrate that the last wretched dose is done with. Have cold capped again but hair very thin but Still have fringe! (Of sorts!) The 2 week regime has just not really given me any let up from SEs so really glad that's done with. Start taxol on 16th August. Worried about allergic reaction but I gather they closely watch you?! Big hugs to you all brave ladies. Onwards and upwards xxxx ... View more

And pookie, reverse rain dance....superb xx ... View more

Pookie I have a port. The scar is very small and it is very straightforward having infusions. Any questions if you do have one don't hesitate to ask. Sorry you've had problems with your picc xx ... View more

Thanks Alex and Hazel. Yes, they tried the steroid tail last time. They said this time they will tail it off even more gradually!Just dreading taxol when it's every week. Not sure steroid wise how that will be. Even though I'm using the cold cap I've lost loads of hair.  Delightful bald crown. Dont know whether to cold cap today or not. I would like to hang onto my fringe. This illness takes so much from us doesn't it. My 9 year old daughter is going for a 2 night sleepover with her friend. Hopefully she will miss the worst.... so hard for the kids isnt it.  My teenage boys have been great. Not quite the summer holidays they were expecting but they're making the best of it bless them.  ... View more

Hi everyone. Sorry to hear some of you have been through such horrid side effects. Me too......turned a corner this weekend but have my next EC tomorrow with barely a let up due to this fortnightly regime. Had my bloods done today as my liver function has been odd and was half hoping for a few days grace but I'm good to go tomorrow. Dreading it. We all know what to expect now........I actually find it as much mentally as physically challenging. I get so low particularly when the steroids finish. Horrible. Anyway, it is my last EC tomorrow before I switch to Taxol weekly. Worrying about that already!!  Sending hugs to you all. Xxxx ... View more