Breast Cancer Now Forum

Hi all. Had my fourth decs Thursday. A few days before my feet especially left foot and leg swelled up pretty bad. Last cycle both feet and ankles did. Had line care on the Wednesday and nurses got doc involved as thought I may have blood clots. I thought it was just usual as last time. Had to have ultrasound scan next day before chemo. Turned out no blood clots and bloods ok. Went ahead with chemo 4. Feet going down now but starting to get bad mouth, lack of taste. I really hate this more than anything. I can take the pain with meds and take injections for neutropenia. No neuropathy after third - just swelling - which was bad enough. Will discuss all this with onc before next treatment but if it is doing good and side effects don't get worse will probably carry on. Being triple neg not many options. Really hate the nasty mouth and not being able to taste my food. Hope everyone else coping ok after initial problems whatever drug you are now on? Best wishes to all. ... View more

Hi Karen C. So sorry you going through this. Although it is common to have bad side effects. Are they giving you injections to boost your white blood cells next time. Since I ended up in hospital with neutropenia sepsis after first treatment they gave me injections. You have them a few days after chemo and they are easy to do yourself but if you don't want to I was told a district nurse would do them. It's only a few days but it's helped. They should also offer help with other probs. Make sure you tell them when you go for chemo. I have different problems each week as I have said before, however, if treatment is working I will try to continue. My fourth treatment is Thursday. Tell them how you feel. If this treatment is really affecting you badly they can try others or maybe just alter dose. Please tell them. Let us know how you get on. Thinking of you. Carrie ... View more

Hi Karen. Can only comment on tax/docs as that's all I'm having at moment. I get breathless but later on in cycle. Had 3 now. Pattern seems to be tiredness and aches after steroids finished. Nasty mouth, loss of taste for a week, low white blood count - take injections to boost this. Painful feet with pins and needles and then swollen feet and breathlessness before starting again. If you breathless that quick seek medical advice. It may be your red blood cells have plummeted? That's what happens to me. Best wishes. Hope you get sorted soon. Carrie ... View more

Yes bluesash. I understand. I can't take more FEC because of hypertension and am triple negative this time. Used to have aromasin but not hormone receptive this time. Was disappointed at that. Will keep taking tax if it is improving my condition. However I too am having trouble with low blood counts. Now may need blood transfusion because of low Hb. Also having zometa although recent evidence has shown it is effective every few months not just every month so not so many treatments now. Had chemo Thursday and feeling usual tiredness and pain. See how it goes? Best wishes. X ... View more

I am triple neg and my onc said I can have radio and that there are alternate Chemo's. Think it depends on each individual and their individual problems. ... View more

Doxetaxol is really awful. Due for third dose tomorrow but my feet so swollen and breathless, not sure whether they will do it? Had FEC 10 yrs ago and wasn't this bad. Although I was younger then and managed to work. No way I could work now. I have injections now due to neutropenia and sepsis and admission to hospital after first treatment. Best wishes to all. See what they say tomorrow. ... View more

Thanks Swampy. Thought that it migjt be PM. Seeing doc tomorrow  see what they say and if there is anything they can recommend to relieve pain     Best wishes   Carrie ... View more

Hi all. I have had two treatments of docs. First I ended up in hospital with neutropenia sepsis. Second treatment was given injections to boost white blood cells. Had a week of joint pain, tiredness and metallic mouth. Thought I was improving then got really painful feet. Seeing doc about this Friday.  Anyone else experienced sore feet? Any feedback much appreciated.  ... View more

Hi everyone, I have just had line inserted and wondered if any of you have been able to go on holiday, in the UK? We have a holiday home in Scotland and really want to visit there. Have heard some places you can arrange for them to look after line if set up before arrival and have temporary GP there which I have? Appreciate any guidance. Thanks. ... View more

Ps I know I am straight to Chemo and all that that brings. Due to start on taxotere. Side-effects I know. Just wondered if anyone else going through similar? Carrie ... View more

It seems that no-one has experience of secondaries triple negative. I find that hard to believe and think I am perhaps on the wrong thread. Either that or there is no hope? Has anyone experience of this situation or can you point me in the right direction to an appropriate thread. You have been so supportive so far. Perhaps this is really rare problem? Carrie ... View more

Hi ladies. Not sure. If my last post went out. Anyway bad news. It turns out the Ca is different and triple negative! So it's straight to chemo. Thanks for all your help and support. ... View more

Hi Maldives. It's all been a bit 'haphazard' really. At first I was told I had spine mets and possibly lung mets, together with breast, lymph node and neck involvement. Was set to go on zometa and letrozole. Now after biopsies of breast, found not same as original cancer and triple negative. Before for primary took aromasin. So confused and think gone past worried. Feel ok. No real pain apart from bone which they say is arthritis. Nevertheless, chemo in two weeks to make me feel really ill. Just thought I'd give more detail. CG ... View more

Thanks Maldives. Hug back. ... View more

Thanks FF and Nicky. Yes my onc did make it clear that this would probably be sessions of tabs, Chemo and maybe rads. Think the stats I got confused. He also said 30% make it to 5-10 yrs. with appropriate and responsive treatment. He did however say that mets such as I have, breast recurrence, possible lung (they not totally sure about that) and, the most important at moment spine, will usually be original cancer. But as I say, did caution may not be. As I know you all know, this time around, meetings with onc are worse than treatments. You never know what they going to find next? However, this site is invaluable. Nothing can change things really. Important thing to carry on and live each day to the full. We look at these docs as 'gods', and I'm certainly not diminishing their wealth of experience and dedication, thoroughness and humanity. But we are all different, and they can only work with the information and experience they have. Have to say, my team are great. Thanks again. Be in touch soon. Xx ... View more

Hello ladies. Sorry to come on here again with my anxieties. Supposed it's only natural as I get to find out what treatment options are available on Wednesday. Was told probably letrozole if biopsies confirm same kind of cancer as primary which was hormone receptive. Just worried as it's been a while since biopsies and thought if this was the case perhaps onc would have informed gp and got me started. Could be it's not same which onc said was rare. Just worried as thought they would let me know sooner? They def had biopsies results by now but contacted GP and not heard anything yet. Still quite trying to get head around all this as I know you have been through this. Once I know, I will probably settle more into regime, whatever. If I have to have Chemo straight away I'm sure I'll cope. Have already been told I will probably have to have adjuvant therapies incl tabs, zometa, Chemo and radio. Wish me luck for Wednesday. Let you know. Xxx ... View more

Oh, and happy Burns night. Got my haggis, neeps and tattiies. Xxx ... View more

Thank you again ladies. You have given me hope that I may manage a 'normal' life, once I get used to the regime once again. Your comments that so many of you manage to get away for breaks in between treatments especially inspiring. I do love my home in Scotland as is right by sea and, even if I am very tired, would rather be tired there. Husband can work from home a few days a week when not traveling around Europe. He will be cutting that down anyway. I too have bad knees and other problems which they say at moment are due to arthritis. Docs in Scotland very good - had to visit them last year for severe knee pain. Other people around me in Scotland very helpful too. Feel a lot better about future, however long. At least I know I have possibilities. Funnyface hope you get to Florida? Will be in touch soon all. Xxx ... View more

As I said before, I am still coming to terms with mets. Your comments have been very encouraging. One thing I forgot to mention is that we have a holiday home in Scotland, which is 5 hrs away from home. I mentioned this to my oncologist and he said as long as I felt well enough and obviously attend my appointments, I should be fine to travel. Let's say I am on zometa and letrozole, do you ladies agree it might be possible. I have severe calcium deficiency and, despite all the hype, where our holiday home is situated it is on the whole very good weather. My oncologist says sun good with protection. It is also good for my frame of mind and will be back regularly to see children and granddaughter. ... View more