Breast Cancer Now Forum

Hello Julie I also was diagnosed with a blood clot in my jugular vein last Wednesday!! Started clexane injections immediately and within about 2-3 days the pain and swelling had started to ease. Unfortunately though I've been told will need to inject daily for 3-6 months. A picc line will help with the Chemo going in and will help with preventing further damage to your vein, but I believe they need flushing through every week and you will need to wear a water proof sleeve when you have a shower to stop it getting wet. I feel so angry about it all, before all my treatment started I felt ok, now I feel a right mess I've had all sorts of weird and wonderful side effects!! Roll on next summer when hopefully this will all be over. Kelly x ... View more

Hi I'm day 2 of 2nd round and just lying in bed at the mo. Feeling a bit crap, but I tend to find as the days goes on I feel a bit better. Sarah - I've put on tonnes of weight since diagnosis at least a stone. I'm a big stress eater and I'm normally at the gym 4 times a week - but that's all gone down the toilet and I've suspended my membership for a few months! As to your lumpectomy, I would say that hopefully once your chemo has finished your lump will have shrunk small enough for them to remove it and for it not to disrupt the shape of the breast too much. I'm a 36D (so farely big), and although my lump was 26mm he removed 7cm and I'm surprised that it has hardly distorted my boob at all. I haven't had a swollen face, but my hands have swollen - so I've had to take my rings off. Not looking forward to the next few days and although cold capping I've noticed my hair is coming out today 😥 . I hate this xxxx ... View more

Meant to say as well - lots of people have told me that hair grows back curly! ... View more

Hi Seagull - sorry u feel so rubbish. U know it will last a few days and then hopefully you'll be feeling stronger soon ready for the next go! I was supposed to have my 2nd round yesterday but it was delayed until today because for some reason 6 weeks after my lumpectomy I've developed a hematoma which had to be investigated. My boob looks horrendous it's swollen and black and blue. Go for the picc line. I had a portacath fitted straight from the start and it's a bit weird having them putting the needle in my chest but it goes in pretty quick. So the picc line will be much easier too. I finished my chemo at about 3ish this afternoon and I'm already feeling tired - I know what's coming up over the next week. Hope u feel better real soon - stay strong xx ... View more

Hello pernapus, I am at exactly the same stage as you. I go tomorrow for my 2nd round. I've started to fret a bit about it tonight cos I know what's coming over the next week 😰 . Amazingly I haven't lost any hair yet on my head I must add, as losing it everywhere else. Fingers crossed the cold capping will help a bit - I don't think I'll make it through 6xFEC without having to wear my wig! Capelmum - glad u have managed to do some work and lead a bit of a normal life at least. I felt pretty strong and back to normal from about day 8, just a little tired now and again. Fish finger sandwiches sound good - unbelievably I've put on so much weight since my diagnosis I can't stop eating cakes and all the wrong things. I've got to get a grip on that!! Good luck to all - keep smiling 😀 😀 😀 ... View more

Day 15 post 1st round chemo and feeling back to normal. Had a couple of cheeky glasses of wine last night and looking forward to going out for dinner this evening. I'm cold capping and so far haven't lost any hair on my head. However woke up this morning, went to the loo looked down and discovered half of my pubic hair down the toilet!! At least I'll be saving money on waxing over the next few months 😂 😂 . Next round on Thursday - and so it begins again xxxx ... View more

Hi Andrea I sympathise with you - once people start to hear about your situation they all seem to have something to add! The thing that hurt me the most was being told "oh I know loads of people who've had breast cancer, you'll be ok" as if I'd caught a common cold and would be over it in a matter of days. Whilst everyone's comments are well meaning and only come from a place of concern no one will ever really know how it will ever feel to walk in our shoes, unless they have experienced it themselves! Of course, it is well documented that it is important to follow a healthy balanced diet and take regular exercise, and this is true for all of us whether we are diagnosed with cancer or not. As to not undergoing chemo, this is something that must be discussed and taken very seriously with your onc. They will only ever prescribe this course of treatment if it is statistically proven to be of benefit to you in your treatment plan. Again it is easy for people to say don't do it - would they make that choice if they were faced with it?? There are many many women here who have undergone chemotherapy and will have reaped the benefit of doing so. Everyone's journey is so personal. You must listen to what you want. I would say stay off the internet don't google too much, and if you must do so stick to the main sites i.e.breastcancercare, cancer research, Macmillan. There is so much information out there and not all of it will apply to you and your situation. Honest, frank discussion with your surgeon and onc and Bcn is the best route for you. Good luck and hugs Xx ... View more

Hi blueash wow that looks pretty good to me 😊 . I'm trying the coldcap I'll be pleased if I get the same results as you! I've bought a wig just in case, so I can mix it up xx ... View more

Hi Fiona and everyone My story is a bit of a long one! After having a lump since 2008 and biopsed twice 2008 and 2014 both times fibrostic change I felt about July time that something had changed. Third time "unlucky" have grade 3 invasive ducal er+/pr+ her2 neg 26mm cancer. 4 nodes taken 3 clear but 1 with micro metastasis! I'm 46 with 2 kids 16 and 15. Married for 23 years to a wonderful man who over the past couple of weeks I've discovered is a good cook 😂 ! 2 days ago I was lying in bed post 1st round chemo feeling like I'd been trampled by an elephant. Today I've got up put on my makeup, contact lenses in and been out for breakfast, walked the dog, been shopping for a few hours and been round my brothers for dinner!!! What a difference 2 days makes - I feel back to normal again! So please be reassured that although there might be times when you feel rubbish - it does get better and there will be good times. I found eating things like jelly and yoghurt really helped, and really keep up with the good mouth hygiene. WE CAN DO THIS!! Kelly Xxx ... View more

Morning Fiona Lovely to hear from you, and it's a great inspiration to read all the stories that everyone is sharing. I'm so sorry to hear that you're diagnosis wasn't what you were expecting yesterday. It is a shock to be told that you will need chemo and very frightening at first, as we don't know what to expect. You made me laugh when you said you'd ended up having a Tourette's session!! I totally identified with that. At the hosp I was swearing like a trooper one minute and then apologising the next!! You're work seems like they have been very supportive, so i can't see why they wouldn't continue to be so. I'm sure they will support you throughout, and you might be able to continue in some capacity when you feel up to it throughout your chemo cycle. I'm only on cycle 1 at the mo so my hair hasn't started coming out yet. Im a bit scared about that too! But some of other side effects can be more unpleasant, so I think at least that one doesn't physically hurt ☹️ ️. I'm trying the cold cap to see if it saves any hair. Can you ask about that. At least we're coming into winter so I've bought lots of woolly hats. Sending you lots of positive thoughts Kelly xxx ... View more

Hi everyone! I can't believe I'm day 6 post chemo and can't get out of bed today! I hadn't been too bad up til yesterday and now I feel terrible!! I've not had any sickness, but feel like I've been hit with a 10 tonne brick! I suppose we're all different, but I feel so frustrated I can't get on with things - my husband is ironing as I lie here!!! Please tell me it will get better and I won't feel like this for 5 more cycles!!! Hope everyone is doing well. Onwards and upwards xxxx ... View more

Hello Sarah, nice to hear from you. I had portacath fitted was worried about it - but after having had first round on Friday I think I can already see the benefits. I am having 6xFEC. Everyone's treatment is so different there isn't a one size fits all, do whatever has been diagnosed will be right for you. Chase up seeing your onc though as they are the ones who can answer all your questions. I'm 2 days in and feeling quite tired, not been sick but got terrible heartburn. I was brave enough to give myself the jab and it wasn't that bad! Keep in touch and let us know how you are getting along as we are all going through the same thing together. Kelly xx ... View more

I'm having 6xFec not the taxanes as I suffer quite bad from Raynauds (bad circulation to hands) the onc said the tiny extra benefit it gave me on their calculations didn't outweigh the risk of the complications. Yes let me know when u start to lose hair! I've been told I will lose hair but might get away with a bobby charlton comb over 😀 X ... View more

Thank you - I had it fitted yesterday and first chemo today. Think I can already see the benefits of having one - no digging about in your veins and feeling the drugs travel up your arm x ... View more

Hi, I too had my first round this afternoon. Wasn't too bad - I'm going with the cold cap so it took longer because I had to keep it on for 90 mins after chemo finished. Will be interesting to see if it does work at all. I'm lying on the sofa now eating shortbread biscuits and drinking loads of water. Good luck with yr treatment x ... View more

Hi Snowydog, had portacath fitted yesterday. It's a bit sore, feels like a bad bruise - but that will settle in a day or 2. They've left the needle in as chemo starts this afternoon. Lots of people say it's deffo the best to have one fitted if u have the chance, so will prob be glad of it. That's another thing ticked off the list of things to do!! X Skye I'm trying on wigs tomorrow - like you I'll prob burst into tears 😭 ! But I suppose we need to try and have a bit of fun with it. I'm trying the coldcap to see if that saves any hair! Good luck xx ... View more

Hello Snowydog, I start chemo on Friday, so will join this November thread! I too am having a portacath fitted tomorrow - I'm actually not looking forward to that at all, or any of it really 😞 , but apparently it is best to have one fitted. Good luck with starting your chemo next week. In a couple of weeks we will have a better understanding of what to expect!! ... View more