Breast Cancer Now Forum

Yes Tessa, sluggish is definitely the correct word for how I feel, which that I can handle x ... View more

Hi all,   Hope you all ok today.   Liddy - welcome x   Jules - I've sent you a FB request. I'm Maxine Keane x   Tessa - cheers re your supplement info x   Zena - I like the badge story lol! Hope your toothache & bum pain are easing. Well done on your brave step with hair. The GSCF injections, is that the same as the white blood cell injections I've to take for 7 days after treatment? If so, didn't realise these gave you pain too? x   Mrs Orange cat - Fab news re no chemo!! I've been on Tamoxifen trial for pre-menopausal women for 5 years, with no side effects, Just periods slowed down, until I've not had one now for over a year. So fingers crossed for you x   JoJo - Hope your nausea is easing. I was given Emend to take 1 hour before treatment and 2 more to take home for the next 2 days along with Ondansetron for 2 days for nausea (plus steroids Dexamethasone). Todays is my 3rd day so have finished these & I've got Metoclopramide now to take if needed. I have to say so far I've not had nausea, so not sure if this is due to meds I've had or just lucky so far? x   Sparkydee - I'm on EC-T, 3x EC & 3x T. Took me a while to realise that T is the other name for Docetaxol! No F for me on the FEC. Yes, having the caravan will hopefully be a good place to escape durng this. Lovely area around there. I've never been given any info off anyone re wig appointments or the therapy/make-up sessions. I know I'm trying cold cap but thought I'd still be given info. Not sure who should be telling/giving me this?? My job is accounts, so not a streunous job and I work in an office on my own. My bosses have been really flexible so far through my appointments and operation. I've said I'll probably be off first week after treatment & then go in weeks 2 &3. But we've also discussed getting my work home to do there. Then I'm not worrying about my hair even if I feel ok. I'm taking time off as sick leave.Yes, you get sick note from GP & ask for medical presciption exemption form to not have to pay for any extra presciptions x   Ann - How are you doing chemo buddy? x     Well I'm on day 3 after 1st treatment and so far I've been ok. Dreaded waking up Friday & seeing how I was going to feel!! But was fine. Took my tabs & injections etc & ate ok. I did totally mess up my first injection though......I only pulled the plunger out instead of push, so none went in & was wasted.....doh!!!! So frantic call then to Christie to organise another for 7th day, as had to use another up...what an idiot I am!! Did think today I would feel worse as finished the main nausea tabs & a lot seem to say day 3 hits them worse. So see how I get on. Probably feel more tired than normal and have a feeling inside that I can't put my finger on, like I feel a bit weak or wobbly?? Hope I'm ok to attend my daughter's assembly in the morning. I really didn't want to miss things like this. Plus, the topic is inspirational people and she has only gone & done me! That brought a tear to my eye! But now I'm also thinking is this the best thing to sit in a hall full of kids with colds etc?? Still not washed my hair either, as they recommend not to if possible after cold cap, but I feel minging and certainly wouldn't want anyone to see me. I'm really sorry to those if that sounds selfish, who've lost their hair too.     Take care ladies.   Max x     ... View more

Ah right Jo thanks. Might try it neat then when I get some.   Meant to say before, does anyone take any supplements/vitamins? And if so, which do you recommend?   TIA   Max x   ... View more

Hi everyone,   Hope all ok today.   Good luck JoJo today & anyone else whose treatment today too.   Well I had my first EC, no F for me and all went fine. Apparently I've got very good veins! My appt was 12.30 & I got in the chair at 1pm, so not too much waiting around. Then my chemo nurse asked if I'd had my sickness drug, which I knew nothing about & should have had an hour before?! So only took it then, but with getting my cold cap sorted & it has to be on 30 mins before treatment, the hour was soon gone. At least I know for next time! Was a bit wary when she started putting stuff in as she was saying this & that can happen, so braced myself, but all was fine & that's when she complimented my veins haha! Treatment done by 3 but you then have to sit for 90 mins after with cold cap on & another 15mins after that for warming up, before taking cap off.Bit of a mix up at this point with one nurse's wrong info & I ended up with an extra 35 mins!! So finally left about 5.30ish, thought I might feel weird when I finally stood up, but was ok, just desperate for loo! So cold capping does add a lot of extra time on! It was bearable, once 10-15 mins gone it's numb anway, but before that I was thinking can I stand this if it gets worse. The worst bit actually is the tightness of the helmet and the neck strap, as feel like someone is squeezing your head. Me & my friend were just laughing at it though! I had some butternut squash & sweet potato soup (which I had made in morning ready) when I got home. Felt fine. Had a shower to rinse stuff off hair. Started to feel shattered from 8.30ish. Had a great sleep, only waking twice for toilet (due to extra water consumption!). Alarm goes off at 6.30 for OH & I stayed in bed till 7.15 before getting kids up, felt tired but no more than usual really when getting up early. Had my tablets in bed with 2 belvita biscuits as knew you had to eat with them but wanted them as early as poss so can have steroid at 2pm, going by what others have said. Have since had a bagel and I'm feeling normal at mo, but only day1! The thing annoying me most is not being able to wash hair, which I do daily and couldn't style it last night after rinse off, so it's looking delighful, as dries wavy and not how i like it! Anyway 1 treatment down, 5 to go!!   Zena - Hope you feeling better soon. And sorry to hear about you & Tessa suffering with your mouths. Big hugs for your hair shaving later x   Pinkloz - Welcome x   Ann - Hi chemo buddy x. Glad went well for you yesterday too. Hope you feeling ok today. With regard to the genetics, my gran had BC at 50 & had MS but no chemo & then lived till 80 & my mum had BC in both breasts at 42, so had double MS & chemo and is 69 ths year. So positive outcomes really. Do worry on results for me though, as ok I might go for double MS and hysterectomy, which I'm fine with, but I worry for my kids. My son is 15 & daughter only 11, so when testing would start I'm not sure, but sure it will be when they get older & will be monitored very carefully. Even my son would be tested as one of the BRACA genes can be linked to prostate cancer too, if my memory is correct. My daughter is already asking will she get it now after all the family history. It shouldn't be something she has to worry about & that upsets me.     With regard to manuka honey, is that the best way to take it in hot water (think that was you Ann?) or are there any other ways to take please? Jo, I think you mentioned taking it?   Hugs to all and take care,   Max xx           ... View more

Mornning ladies,   Hope all feeling ok today.   Well D day is here! Great tips from you all, thanks. I think I've got everthing....warm stuff too for cold cap. Had bloods & echocardiogram yest and all ok to go. Not got aloe vera juice yet! Just had egg on toast & a banana, as not there till 12.30 & I'm going to be quite a while with cold cap. Hope SE gentle from tomorrow!!   Ann - I'm your chemo buddy then, as I start today. I was diagnosed 23rd Nov, so only 1 day diff! Good luck today. I was advised not to drive on own, as one lady took a turn & fainted & although was perfectly fine after, she wasn't allowed to drive her car home. My friend is taking me & staying. She's used to it as me and her went with our other friend to hers. I didn't want OH taking more time off work either.   Jo- no I've not heard of Kettleshulme. I'm in Urmston, near the Trafford Centre. I've been with family history clinic at Wythenshawe for years & so now with my family history they want to do genetic testing. I was told originally that it takes up to 9 months, but were going to rush it. Went for a simple blood test Monday & they said 5-6 weeks, which I queried & it's because they just doing BRACA 1&2 for now, not the whole genetic testing. You're supposed to have councilling too first, which I've not had as they wanted to do bloods before I started chemo. Depending on the results, I may want to go for double ms after treatment. Also, it has an affect on my 2 kids then too in the future, even my son!   Hugs to all and take care,   Max x     ... View more

Hi everyone,   Firstly, thank you for your welcomes and I hope everyone is doing ok today.   I live in Manchester (originally from West Midlands until I was 12- remember going to Ironbridge on a school trip Jules!)) and am being treated at Christies. I would be up for FB too.   Well... had my bloods done yest for the gene testing and then went out for lunch with friends and then for tea with mums from school (with 2 glasses of wine!), so feel I enjoyed my last day of "normality". In work this morn & then off to Christies later for echocardiogram, bloods & see onc for signing the forms etc. I had ecg done 2 weeks ago at first visit to onc. Then tomorrow is the Big Day! The lovely lady at the Family History Clinic yesterday, used to be a chemo nurse, so it was nice to chat to her. She said the nurses had tried the cold cap themselves, so they would know exactly how it feels to discuss with patients and she said thet half couldn't stand it, but other half were fine. So still going to try. Took a selfie this morning after washing hair, thinking well this is the last time it will be like this for a while, as even if I don't lose it all, it's going to be greasy (as can only wash once a week), frizzy (as can't use straightners etc)  & a lot of grey roots (as no dyeing)!! Kinda thinking maybe bald will be easier!!!!     Zena - I know what you mean about my nan and mum, but yes it is positive   Tessa - welcome x   Sarah - We have a caravan in North Wales near Pwllheli, not sure if anywhere near you?   Take care all,   Max x           ... View more

Hi   Just thought I would pluck up the courage to join this thread, after reading it for a few days! I think this forum is a great thing (if you can say that during all this?!), as you all going through it at the same time.   I'm due to start my chemo (EC for 3 sessions & Doc for 3 sessions) on 2nd Feb. I was diagnosed Nov 23rd & had lumpectomy, breast reduction & sentinel nodes removed on 13th Dec. Thankfully my nodes were all clear and they got a clear margin. My mother & grandmother both had breast cancer (my mother at 42 and is now 68 and my grandmother at 50 & she survived another 30 years), so I have had yearly mammograms from age 35 (now 49). I have even been on a Tamoxifen trial for the last 5 years, hence the chemo as Tamoxifen didn't stop the cancer coming (difference of opinions on this!!) and so the docs feel as a precaution I should have it. Tomorrow I go for blood test to do the gene testing & this will then dictate what op I go for next after chemo.   I am absolutely dreading the chemo!! I just dread how I am going to feel. Everyone's journey is different I know & some seem to suffer more than others. My best friend went through this in 2014 and I went on many appointments with her, so it all does seem like deja-vue!! She coped remarkably well through it all, but I feel the pressure to be like her....silly I know!! I have coped well through diagnosis and the op & recovery and feel I'm back to normal now. But then I feel the chemo is going to change everything and I'm never going to be the same person again...did anyone else feel like this? I've just noticed over the last 2 days how emotional I'm feeling about starting. Not the actual day itself, as having been with my friend, I know what to expect and so it's not as daunting, but it's more the SE's. I feel it's going to be 15 weeks of hell!! I have a daughter (11) & son (15) and I just want things to seem as normal as possible for them & they not suffer as a result. The main thing I get emotional about is not getting to my daughter's last things at school in the next 5 months, as she nears the end of her time in juniors. I also need to do school runs and work, so not sure how I'm going to feel for these and get stressed about this. I have my OH, parents and excellent close friends, who all offer to help, but I feel bad having to depend on others too often!    My big 50 is in May and we had plans to do all sorts this year, but now feel it's all on hold (all being well, my last session would be 18th May, 5 days before my big day!)   I have picked up so many tips from this forum though, as was surprised how little the hospital gave me. I am going to try the cold cap. I have very thick hair and so maybe it may just thin..... I'll try anyway. I made a big list of all different things to get! Are there any tips though on keeping as healthy as poss or for getting prepared for starting chemo ie any vitamins or anything? And how soon do SE's kick in and then last? My friend's seemed to start after 48 hours and by the 2nd & 3rd week she'd feel ok again. I go for bloods on Weds, the day before treatment & see the doc to sign forms etc, will I be given more info then (like the temp thing, do I need to check this daily & what I do if up)?   Sorry for the lenghty post!! And for feeling sorry for myself!   Take care all.   Max x     ... View more