Breast Cancer Now Forum

Hello all! Suuny here in London, hope it is with you too. I am so relieved chemo is over. Must admit, a week after my last chemo I was very tearful and low. I think the reality of what I'd been through in the last five months hit me.    Leyla, that sounds awful about your thumb nail. I hope it is not too painful and recovers soon. Must be really awkward to manage with. I'd agree withRuthElisabeth's advice about your lumpectomy. Mine was back in January, before chemo, and I had no trouble at all with either of the surgery sites (boob and armpit) although my boob did swell up afterwards - I must have gone up a couple of cup sizes on one side and could hardly put my arm against my side! But the fluid soon dispersed, and I do the lymphodema exercises to get my lymph system working well.     I wear a M&S camisole with a hidden shelf to bed every night still, just stops anything pulling on my boob and scars.    RuthElizabeth I'm so pleased to hear about your daugther's wedding, how special for you and your family.    Really good to hear that lots of us are progressing through radiotherapy too. Mine starts on Monday (your last day I think, Moonstruck) I have 23 days, so will finish on 6th September. Honestly not worried about RT at all. The team at the hospital were super when I went for my scan and tattoos (my first ever!). A good friend who went through breast cancer three years ago has given me some organic aloe vera gel, which she has advised I keep in the fridge so it is super cooling on hot skin.    Anyone else taking tamoxifen? I started on Monday, so far so good, just hot flushes, which I was getting with chemo anyway.    Next step is waiting for my head hair, eyebrows and eyelashes to grow back. My eyes water like crazy too. I'm happy if all the other body hairs don't bother to come back! Apparently facial hair is a side effect of tamoxifen - now that is ironic after the trauma of losing hair through chemo 😉   And best news of all, this morning I had a cup of tea for the first time in months! My last docetaxol was 11th July and it seems my tatse buds are nearly recovered. Simple pleasures mean so much.   x ... View more

Hi Mai, I've just had my last docetaxol. I found it much more tolerable than FEC.  Water retention hasn't been an issue for me. The main side effects are pain, so I alternate ibuprofen and paracetomel to manage the pain, my mouth feeling slimy, and fatigue.  I have a couple of baths a day, epsom salts are great for easing the leg pain and tense shoulders which I also get.  x   ... View more

Meash67mosh, the pain in my pelvis is at the front and down the front of my upper thighs (apparently it's the bone marrow in the pelvic bone making new blood cells). I feel like I want to stretch out my hips when the pain comes.    Moonstruck, good luck with radiotherapy today. Agree with you about tatse buds - I haven't enjoyed a cup of tea in months!   x x ... View more

Hi Everyone,   So near to the finish line now!   Aussiegonewrong, hope you feel better soon. My eyes water too, I often have to wear sunglasses even on non-sunny days because of any grit in the air. At least the sunnies also cover up my very sparse eye lashes. Good luck with your surgery next week. Meash67mosh, hope your last docetaxol went ok. Your pattern of rough days is exactly the same as mine. Have my last round tomorrow so Thursday evening to Tuesday will be a write off. But at least it's the last time! Eliza, you're right it's my last chemo tomorrow - we can think of each other! My eyelashes are sparse but I still have a few. But I don't bother with mascara as my eyes water so much I end up looking like Alice Cooper. My once thick eyebrows are now sparse, but I have enough to be able to draw them in (I love Wunderbrow). Despite cold cap, my hair has continued to fall out on docetaxol. I now have a bald patch on the top of my head so I look like Friar Tuck! I feel really self conscious in my wig, so I have mastered the art of tying headscarves. I really don't want to burn my lily white scalp in the blazing sunshine. Moonstruck, hope radiotherapy is going well.   I think I'm having hot flushes, but it's hard to tell with this heatwave we've been having. The filgastrim injections make me quite feverish for a couple of days. I've woken up at night with sweat dripping off my face and chin. Yuck! I'm so glad this will be the last lot of the injections and the accompanying pelvis pain.    I see my doctor about radiotherpay on Wednesday, but that should start in 4 weeks from now. My oncologist wants to start me on tamoxifen at the same time. A whole new set of side effects to navigate! But at least no more chemo - hallelujah.    Well done all, we're amazing. Thanks for continuing to share your stories.    x     ... View more

Don't know why that says **bleep**???   I typed that "I've felt more of an observer than a participant"...... ... View more

Hi everyone,   It's much quieter here, sounds like many of are coming to the end of our chemo - hooray! Really lovely to hear about some of your plans, it's so good to have events to look forward to. Once I get through chemo I hope to plan a short break to the seaside. I've felt a strong need to stay near my hopsital through chemo.    I had 5th round on Tuedsay (FEC-T), and my last will be 11th July - that day can not come soon enough. I have been so lucky on docetaxol, found the side effects much easier than FEC. The fatigue is cumulative, and my taste buds have desserted me for weeks now, but overall I feel like I've been so lucky. My main ambitions now are for my hair to grow back and to be able to enjoy tea again.   Still waiting to hear when my radiotherapy starts, but by end July I think.    Good luck to all with the next stage in treatment, be it surgery, radiotherapy, hormone therapy or all of them! It's been great to have this forum, even if on many days I've felt more of a **bleep** than participant. Great to know us ladies were all out there getting through this togther.   We're not alone and we're amazing.   x x    ... View more

Hi Moonstruck, Just wanted to send you hugs for what you are going through at the moment. I'm pleased to read you have a supportive family to help you through. Chemotherapy is tough enough as it is, it's just so unfair you have the loss of your brother too. Will be thinking of you tomorrow x     Hi meash67mosh, Yes, I think we're on the same cycle! My second docetaxol is 20th June. I've found sleeping has been on and off. I even had head sweats for two nights this weekend, woke up with my pillow wet. Yuk! But today I feel much, much better. Hope you do too. I think they give us about three weeks after the last chemo before rads - I should see my radiologist after chemo #5. And I got a period too! Was glad I hadn't throw away all my tampons.....   Hi Lumpytits, I still go out and about when I'm strong enough. I'm much more cautious about touching my face and mouth until I've had a chance to wash my hands. I also carry anti-bacterial gel with me at all times. And I just avoid anyone who looks ill or is coughing and blowing nose!    Hi Eliza76, My fingers and nails are ok so far, but I know the peeling skin and nail damage can start weeks after the first docetaxol. I'm wearing dark nail varnish, mositurising regularly and wearing rubber gloves for my household chores. It's bad enough losing hair, without losing nails as well!!!   I'm going to a Race For Life this evening. I usually run it every year, but this year it will be a gentle stroll 🙂 At least it gets me out of the house!   Keep strong x    ... View more

Morning everyone, it's so good to hear that everyone is getting through treatment. RuthElisabeth, I completely agree with your sentiments, the news of yet another terrorist attack last night is too much for me at the moment and I can't watch the news. I have to focus on the good in people, not the bad and the sadness. Good luck with your surgery - it's such a good feeling to get the pesky cancer cut out and not have to carry it around anymore.  Aussiegonewrong, that support group sounds great. I haven't found anything like it in London, although I have found a charity called Shine for young adults (under 50) with cancer which has helped me.  Leyla, I love your plans for your 40th! Great news about your shrinking cancer too 🙂  Eliza76, hope you are now recovered after your hospital admission. My side effects from my first docetaxol on Tuesday sound like yours. I felt really good for two days after (even went to a spin class at gym). Then on evening of day 2, Thursday, the pain started in my legs, but it is easing now. I'm alterating nurofen and paracetemol and having a couple of baths a day. It's bearable but tiring. So annoying not being able to get comfortable, and how can your knees hurt when all you're doing is lying down!!! Weird and frustrating 😉 Appetite is worse than on FEC, but overall I've felt better than after FEC. Having prunes for breakfast which has kept things moving.... My oncologist said the hand and feet pain may kick in after I finish the filgrastim injections, which is today, so I'm ready for a new set of side effects! Keep strong ladies, we're all doing brilliantly. We're nailing this x  ... View more

Hello all, first day of summer, hooray!   I had my first docetaxel on Tuesday, two days ago, and so far so good, I feel much better than on FEC. So I'm just waiting for the pain to kick in.... I have lots of painkillers and radox ready for if and when it does.    Have dark nail varnish on fingers and toes in the hope of preserving them. Also putting on hand and foor cream religiously as can feel them getting drier already (or am I just imagining it?).   Appetite as massive as it was after FEC and craving carbs like crazy.   Hope you're all doing ok. We're getting there!!!!   x ... View more

There's lots of great info here:   http://cancerhaircare.co.uk/common/js/kcfinder/upload/files/Cancer%20Hair%20Care%20Guides%20Scalp%20Cooling%20V2.pdf   I was advised to not use baby shampoo as it is alkaline, and whilst kind to eyes, not great for hair loss. I've used Organic Surge gentle shampoo and conditioners with success.    https://www.organicsurge.com/collections/hair-bundles   Good products here too:   https://livebetterwith.com/products/collections/cancer/hair-loss/   x ... View more

Hope I can provide some reassurance, hair loss is so traumatic and not vain at all. I've used Paxman cold cap.    I've had 3 cycles of FEC and pleased to report I still have quite a lot of hair. Put it this way, I haven't bothered to collect my wig yet! My hair was very thick, shoulder length with heavy fringe, and I loved it. About two weeks after first FEC it starting coming out quite heavily, and scalp itched. So, I took the plunge and got a pixie cut. It was a big deal for me, but made the hair loss more bearable (I was constantly vacuuming hairs and wore a hat in bed as I was losing so much overnight) and I thought would ease me in to going bald, if that was to be the outcome.   I've now completed all 3 FEC and am on docetaxol. My hair loss has slowed considerably. My hair is thin on the crown and at the back, but with skilful comb over it looks presentable and I do not need to wear wigs, hats or scarves. Although I wear a hat in the sun to prevent sunburn.   The cold cap is tough, but managaeable, and I am very glad I perservered. I may be lucky as my eyebrows and eye lashes have thinned, but not lost them completely (yet!). Not shaved my underarms in over two months, but leg hairs still growing! But I think we're all different.    Good luck! x    ... View more

Hi Moonstruck, Hope your chemo went ok yesterday and you're not feeling too rough today. I know what you mean about feeling beaten up, the side effects seem to be the gift that keeps on giving! Hope it feels like the end is in sight for you. I know I can't even think about radiotherapy yet, I just want to get through the chemo.  So sorry to read about your brother, life is just so unfair sometimes. I've heard that the treatment for throat cancer is pretty brutal, I can imagine it's been really tough to see him go through it.  Take care, and hope your recovery is on its way. x ... View more

Hi everyone,   Hope you have the sunshine today, I'm just sitting in my kitchen with the sun on my back. Lovely.   I had third and last round of FEC 12 days ago - hooray! Luckily the physical side effects got no worse on the third one, but emotionally I hit rock bottom, felt very depressed for a week afterwards. Quite frightening to feel so depressed so quickly. But, now I feel great and am preparing myself for three rounds of docetaxel.   RuthElisabeth, it's good to hear your treatment is able to move forward, must have been awful being in limbo for so long. Great news about your lumpectomy, especially as it means you should be ok for your daughter's wedding 😊 Moonstruck, hope you're ok after your tough side effects.  Meash67mosh, I start docetaxel the day after you, on 30th May. We can compare notes! I'm a bit apprehensive, but hopefully it'll be kinder to our veins than the FEC. The vein on my left wrist and lower arm is like a solid, raised cord. Hellesbelles, thanks for the information on side effects of docetaxel. I'm most concerned about the pain, so really good to know it was manageable for you.  Eliza, how have your got on with docetaxel?   It's so inspiring to hear about the fundraising that people are doing. I've been asked, as someone with breast cancer, to talk at a fundraising event for The Haven about the difference that the charity makes to women with breast cancer. I feel so honoured and it's given me a real boost as I go through the hell that is chemo. Just hope I'm not bald by the time I do the speech (although they might raise more money if I am!).   x x  ... View more

Hi Moonstruck, I haven't started Docetaxel yet (just finished my third FEC) so have no words of advice, but wanted to send you a virtual hug. I'm feeling pretty crap at the moment with fatigue, nausea, hair loss etc, and can relate to that feeling of "I don't know if I can do this anymore". It's just wretched feeling like this. But we're all here and doing it. You're right about the fresh air, most days I manage half an hour sitting in the garden and it definitely helps.  Hope everyone else is getting on through. One day at a time....  x   ... View more

Hi, The advice you list is great. I also bought dry shampoo and a wide toothed comb so I could stay vaguely presentable. I wash my hair once a week. I've had two round of FEC and have lost about 30% of my hair, so got it cut in to a pixie style as it was becoming a hassle and upsetting. I wear a beanie in bed beacuse as the hair falls out it's really scrtachy on the pillow.  Also, take layers and scarves to wrap up during chemo, and a flask of a hot drink so you can keep your body temperature up. I got very cold last time and felt quite ill! x ... View more

How's everyone doing? I'm just out of the five days of fog and weakness after FEC, hope to go out for a walk in the sunshine later.  Anyone else find their side effects changing with each round? This time I really went off sparkiling water, so am now drinking sugar free lemonade by the pint - it's all I can tolerate! And the veins in my lower arm are sore from the injections - just hope they last another 4 rounds 😕   x ... View more

Hi Heather, I'm taking steroids right now (had chemo on Wendesday), I take at 8am and 12 noon and have had no problems with sleeping at all. In fact for the fice days after chemo (I'm on FEC-T) I sleep really well and actually struggle to stay awake for more than two hours at a time! Your chemo nurse will explain all the medications they give you - I'm on seven different medications at the moment to manage side effects, so I took a notebook with me to write it all down as nurse dispensed them to me. Good luck! x ... View more

Good luck to you too Onwards and upwards! At least we know what to expect this time x x  ... View more

Morning all! Hope you enjoyed Easter as much as side effects would allow 😉   I'm off to hospital this morning to get my bloods done ready for round two of FEC tomorrow, then having acupuncture at a local cancer charity centre - appparently it can help with nausea. Then off to have a wig fitting, with my one of my good friends so we can decide what style I should go for. Sometimes having cancer is a full time job.    Had a lovely, funny moment yesterday. I met a new friend for a cuppa, who I met through a Macmillan therapy course. She too is being treated for breast cancer. We took ourselves off to the ladies toilet to compare hair loss (she wears a wig) and compare boob scars. It made all this craziness seem a bit more normal. Although the other women in the toilet must have wondered what the hell we were doing....   x x  ... View more

Thanks for asking Hellesbelles. Yes, chemo delayed by a week - I was very frustrated! Have chemo, FEC, on Wednesday now. But the right thing to do as the shingles had also knocked my strength and energy so I've been able to get back to normal. All cleared up now, means I can be sociable again too as no longer infectious! x ... View more