Breast Cancer Now Forum

Hi Claire, I'm Sarah - the anomaly in the February group, I'm triple positive so am on a slightly different regime - TCH - taxotere, carboplatin and herceptin. My first dose was 14th Feb. I've had a WLE which was successful with clear margins and nodes, and though there were 2 tumours close to each other they were both stage 2. Me and a couple of others are trying cold cap too ... View more

We are allowed to b space cadets!!! 😂😘 xxx ... View more

Had my first one yesterday Zena, so 7 March for me... Sarah xx ... View more

Brilliant news on the botty Zena!!! So glad it's easing. Enjoy the shepherds pie, and try your best to relax tmrw, you might have an easier ride this time round... much love xx ... View more

Day one has arrived!!! TCH here we come.... go in strong and fighting my fellow valentines day'ers, we have the day of love on our side to boot!!!! xxxx ... View more

Hi Lisa well done on today, hope u get some sleep tonight, and feel ok tomorrow xxx Susan I start TCH tomorrow- post op WLE - taxotere, carboplatin & herceptin x6 cycles 3 weekly. Similar... then 3weeks radio, another 6 cycles of herceptin only, then tamoxifen! We will be fine. Try not to worry about SE's, we are not guaranteed how it effects us, we might get off lightly!!! I've started steroids today, after second dose had a case of what felt like verbal diarrhoea lol, was buzzing... heart racing a bit but ok.. I'm just wanting to get started xxx ... View more

Xyloproct... ... View more

Maria, sorry u are feeling wiped out. Hope the hospital can offer some advice to help..I've only had indigestion a couple of times in my life so heart burn must b awful. Zena I had internal piles a few years ago, was excruciating and felt constipated but couldn't push.. gp gave me some cream with lidocaine and it was marvellous. Will get the name when I go upstairs... might sound daft but I'm hoping for diarrhoea as SE rather than constipation, it's a battle I fight so often 😖 Xx ... View more

Bless you Lexxy, my name is after an old cat of mine bless him. Docetaxel is aka taxotere (brand name) or 'T' which u will see.. I've got it in mine, and lots of ladies seem to have it in conjunction to FEC. Pray for you at genetics appointment, that would worry me.. Zena thanks for info on parabens. I think! I'm going to do more digging on it and consider getting the free from stuff, but I think I've got to concentrate on food more, eating better and such.. I'm going to wing half of this next couple of weeks... if I overload my brain I get worried, stop sleeping, both of which won't help me personally.. I read a thread in the tips section last night and it frightened the life of me, having a 'chemo bag' eek, I was thinking iPad, book and that's it!! My list is either going to be VERY short, or I'm taking a suitcase!!! xxx ... View more

Lexxy. Sorry. Autocorrect 🙈 ... View more

What are parabens?? And what doesn't have them?? Have u all stopped shaving pits cause of node removal? Have I read somewhere that there are fake eyebrows too..?? The mind boggles... sorry for all the questions. Levy, hello, it's scary stuff, what are your results and chemo programme? I start the day b4 you... xxx ... View more

Max, I've not been given info on wigs but know a couple of people locally who have been to local NHS approved hairdressers. I called them to make appointment, and going to call chemo ward about getting a voucher. In Wales we get £90 towards cost, don't know if different in England. Look up the website 'look good feel better uk' there are centres all over country that do these sessions, it's all free, and I haven't a clue how to make my eyebrows look normal lol so thought it a good idea! I work for council, they're being very supportive but I'm going to try go to work on 16th (chemo 14th). Who knows. It's the constant being signed off and back on again that's flummoxing me! Lucky for us in Wales all prescriptions are free, as is hospital parking!! It seems there are endless combos of drugs, I'm going to wait and find out what other concoctions I get lol. So glad you are feeling ok, and you JoJo, a trip to the shops is great and fresh air will certainly help!! Tho you saying TC was tougher makes me nervous lol. I've taken an A4 page a day diary to keep track of SE's and what I've achieved each day. Rambling again, sorry, back to rugby 😁 Xxx ... View more

Liddy, we start on the same day! TCH for me, I'm 42 but no kids.. and never going to b able to have them after this now either.... I'm physcing myself up for it, concentrating on keeping active - with 5 dogs I've got no choice but to keep walking.., but actually want to do more during this to get it out of system effectively ... xx ... View more

I've sent you a friend request Julie, Sarah Hannah 😁 Xx ... View more

Evening ladies, been keeping up with this, Jo, Max, well done on getting through today and Max the cold cap. Glad people get through it, gives me motivation to do the same. thank you all so much for all the tips, on what helps, side effects to expect- btw, how many here on TCH? i see more FEC people... I wish there was a glossary page for all the acronyms, the penny has only just dropped today that TAX might be taxotere!  Max, Pwllheli is on the west of north wales, I'm on the east, nearer Rhyl, or Chester.. about 1hr 45 from Pwll. Nice place to go, maybe a good place to rest after treatment? ive got my bloods booked in, and wig appointment for the day b4 chemo starts.  I've also booked myself on a "look good feel better" makeup session, has anyone done this? I'm hopeless at makeup and usually go bare/just mascara but some tips on how to make myself look ok ( work on reception) would be helpful!   Those of u who work, are you working in between? Are your employers classing time off for treatment as sick leave? Just curious, and do you get sick note from gp?   Sorry for all the questions, I'm trying not to worry about the SE's til they happen, thinking I might get lucky and not suffer too much.... xxx ... View more

Fb works for me, I use my phone mostly and these threads are hard to follow on here lol xx ... View more

Hi ladies, hope we are all getting by ok today for those who haven't reported in 😉 I live in North Wales, near Holywell... lovely part of the world.. of course, NHS Wales is different, but I've been happy so far with my care, having never been ill b4 (I'm 42) so this is my first experience of the health system for me anyway. I work as reception manager for a local council, and so far very supportive. Oncologist today was fine, confirmed I was positive everything! HER2, PR & ER!! So, I'm gonna get TCH - 6 cycles of TCH then another 6 of the H. Also 3 weeks of radio after chemo part finishes, and rounding it off with tamoxifen after! I've decided to try coldcapping, as I've got to b in all day for the first 2 cycles, so thought I may as well try it. Just need to sort someone to see to the dogs when I'm in all day, first round is 14th Feb....!!! Happy Valentine's Day to me!!! 😂 Sarah xx ... View more

Hi Mrs O, and all you lovely ladies. Z get u posting a pic, so brave, and nice to put a face to the name! I've got my first oncologist appointment tmrw, so hoping to know what chemo drugs I will have in conjunction with herceptin, and when to expect start. Also going to ask about lump in boob around scar after WLE, when I had surgeon appointment he checked and said just scar tissue, but it's changed since then so want to double check... anyone else have hard lumps after WLE? I've got to start thinking about food/supplements you are talking of, and how I'm going to deal. So much strength on here to make u realise and appreciate so many ladies going thru the same or worse... xxx ... View more

Hi all, I'm keeping up with this thread, pleased your first treatment went ok ladies. Much love and thanks for all the advice so far , done some reading on McMillan and cancer research on chemo types.. still mind blowing!! Xxx ... View more

JoJo thanks for the info. It really is so much to absorb, and I am normally quite good at stuff like this.. having never been ill/in hospital b4 (though lost my sister 2years ago to cancer - she was 43- I'm now 42..) it's an almost fascinating experience if it wasn't so scary!! I blew my mind a little reading on herceptin here last night, side effects etc, so will do the McMillan site tomorrow. Think I need a night off science lol. All of you due to start soon, hope it is bearable and you get plenty of rest. Will pray for you all (hope that's not controversial 😕) and keep reading.. wigs will b my route too I think - I have long hair and to b without will be too much for me.. Waffling now, sorry ladies xxx ... View more