Breast Cancer Now Forum

Hi ladies I was diagnosed 15/12/16 had my mx last Jan and then chemo & radio. I've been on tamoxifen since July but stopped it at Christmas because I can't bear the side effects. I just get through each day, I go through the motions for my 2 kids. I llive with the dark cloud hanging over me and worry about every twinge. I'm due to see my oncologist on Monday, she did advise me I could have a break from the tamoxifen but I'm seriously considering stopping it for good, I have no quality of life on it. My partner won't talk about it, he lost his father to cancer 8 months before my diagnosis and can't cope with the anger and fear he is dealing with. Sorry for the rant ladies x ... View more

Hi Ruth, Elisa and other ladies out there. Aussie I'm so sorry to hear about your sister, I cannot imagine what pain your family is in. It's good to hear you are all finishing your treatment and looking forward to getting back to work. I felt very tired after the radio which finished in July and have needed a couple of months to get over it. I'm going back to work next week for a few hours just slowly getting back to my usual 3 days. I am struggling with the tamoxifen though, I'm not sleeping maybe 3 hours only a night. I'm having 2 or 3 major night sweats which are horrendous. I had regular periods up until the chemo and no menopause symptoms but I'm now straight into it. I feel anxious, emotional, tearful and just not like me anymore. Has anyone else been prescribed tamoxifen? I feel like I'm in a worse place now the treatment is all over. Sorry for the doom and gloom post xx ... View more

Hi Ruth how did your daughters wedding go ? I'm doing well thanks, my radiotherapy finishes in July and I've now been taking tamoxifen for a couple of months. I hate the menopausal symptoms! We had a lovely holiday in Barbados and I celebrated my 50th last week, so lots been going on. How are you doing? ... View more

Hi ladies - anyone still here ?! X ... View more

Hi ladies hope you are all doing ok, I expect most of you are finishing your chemo? Perhaps that's why it's gone quiet here. It is now 4 weeks since radio finished and in that time I've lost my eyelashes and the tingling/numbness in my hands has got worse, very annoying as I was expecting everything to start improving. The tiredness is also getting to me, I want to sleep by the afternoon but not always practical with kids. We are hoping to get some sun and book a holiday very soon, fed up with the rain now. Just a quick hello and hope you are all ok xx ... View more

Hi ladies I finished my radiotherapy on Thursday - yay ! 15 sessions in total, I have slight redness of the skin but not too bad and I feel very tired, if I sit down anywhere I could nod off. I found driving 40 mins each way and normal life hard to cope with but it's over now!! I had my hair dyed on Wednesday which was 7 weeks after last chemo. My usual grey roots were an inch long plus my new hair was dark, I haven't seen dark roots for 20 odd years 😁 Question for those ladies prescribed tamoxifen, when do you start taking it ? I was told after radio but not when exactly, day later week later? I'm sort of putting it off because I'm fed up of crappy side effects, just want to feel normal again xx ... View more

Hi ladies, so nice to see some of you nearing the end of chemo. It will be 6 weeks tomorrow since last session for me, it will also be my 9th radiotherapy of 15 tomorrow. I can taste wine, marmite tea again, I'll never take my tastebuds for granted again! The last few days I have felt stubble on my legs again, not so pleased about that but it means my hair is starting to grow. It's quite hard for me to see as I only lost about 20 % on top through my parting and fringe but I think it is just starting to thicken up. The radiotherapy is nothing to worry about just a pain having to go mon-fri, and sort childcare, my hospital is a 40 minute drive away so not ideal. I've had one session cancelled and added onto the end, as the machine was out of action, bear this in mind as it does happen quite a bit. The only SE so far is tiredness although I think it's cumulative, diagnosis, op, chemo, life. It's now been 6 months since my diagnosis and I feel exhausted from everything that has happened. I still sometimes think this is all a bad dream and not my real life. I too like some of you ladies have anxieties about the future, and feel a bit scared that treatment is coming to an end, not sure if that makes sense to any of you. Anyway I'm glad you are all getting there, onwards and upwards lovely ladies xx ... View more

Hi ladies, Hope you are all ok. Moonstruck I'm so sorry about your brother, I hope you manage to get through today. Life really can be be c**p at times. I have now had my planning appointment for radio, where they take measurements of chest area and give you the tattoo dots. It starts next Thursday 15th which is 4 weeks after last chemo. I'm having 15 sessions. Bit apprehensive as tiredness is main side effect. I still have numb fingers and toes and tastebuds not returned yet 😡. Nice to see some of you finishing chemo too, it's so good knowing that bit is over. Leyla great news your lump has shrunk. Aussie I've also put on weight, eating chocolate mostly out of boredom and the hunger from steroids, even though I can't taste anything properly! I don't have any local support groups, so this forum is fantastic. Ruthelisabeth I hope your surgery went well this week. Tinkerbell I hope your arm is ok. Lumpytits sorry to hear about your chest infection, I think I did well to get through without any illness or hospital admissions. Eliza hope you are ok after your night in hospital. I have a lovely image of us in Costas running to the loo both with our dodgy eyebrows! Hope the rest of you ladies are doing ok xx ... View more

Hi ladies, well it's now 16 days since my final Docetaxol. I still have no tastebuds and have the yukky taste in my mouth. My fingers on both hands are numb and I still have diarrhoea. On the up side my mood is so much better. I can't wait to feel normal again, that's if I ever will ? Once you have had cancer I'm not sure things are ever the same. Moonstruck I'm so sorry to hear about your brother, this disease is so cruel. I'm currently at Bath hospital waiting for my 1st radiotherapy appointment, I'll let you know what to expect. I hope you are all coping with the Docetaxol, I can't compare it to FEC as I didn't have it. You are all nearly there and there is light at the end of the tunnel now. Eliza I love your top tip, and definitely up for meeting, I'll be coming to Bath for the radiotherapy which is half way between Bristol and me. When you feel up to it I'll make myself free! All other ladies welcome if you are near enough. Xx ... View more

Hi ladies, well it's been a week since my 4th and final Docetaxol. The sickness feeling but hard from Friday for about 4 days I didn't even want to drink water or eat for two days as the taste in my mouth was probably at it's worst. No aches or pains though. My mood has lifted so much knowing that bit is over. Cold cap huge success as lost minimal hair this time, I just have a very wispy fringe which shouldn't take too long to grow back. I've also still got the never ending cold/virus. Docs gave me antibiotics and steroids for my asthma on Monday as can't stop coughing. Also had bloods taken need to go back tommorow to see her. I have 1st appointment for radiotherapy on 2nd June, so will hopefully be done by July. I'm staying here to see you through your Docetaxol rounds! Ruthelisabeth good luck with your op. Cartwheels good luck with your speech. Well done meash to your husband and sons, I would like to do the walk next year. I managed to get to the 'look good feel better' yesterday in Bristol, worth going if you can, the products you are given are fantastic! Been for a pedicure today and booked my hairdresser in a few weeks, little things to make me feel like me again. One bonus is not having to wax/shave legs at the moment 😁 Good luck all with Docetaxol rounds xx ... View more

Thanks Eliza, I'm so happy it's my last treatment today! It took 4 attempts to find a vein again today, at least I won't have to go through it again. I too went a bit crazy with housework yesterday and the laundry, although it rained all day. I'm usually ok tomorrow then sickness kicks in for 4/5 days and feel generally yuk. I'm going to a local theatre production on Friday with the school mums I'm determined to go as I've not been out properly for months. Thought I'd run through symptoms of Docetaxol as some of you ladies are about to start. Although they seem to be similar to FEC. Sickness for 4/5 days after treatment. Couple of numb fingers on each hand. Nails slightly ridgy but no discoloration , I keep them painted. Feet ok no problems. Skin a bit dry, lots of moisturiser. Some days dihorea some constipation, not really bad. A few aches and pains but not severe. Feel more tired as treatment has gone on. I have nearly all my hair thanks to cold cap and my eyelashes! You will be fine ladies, you are all doing amazingly well. I've just been given my meds to take home including tamoxifen, now I have the menopause to look forward to oh joy ! Xx ... View more

Hi ladies, hope you are all ok - moonstruck hope you are better? I am finally over my rotten cold/virus after 2 weeks, and bloods ok so have 4th and final Docetaxol tomorrow yay !!! Leyla I'm not having FEC I will be going straight to radiotherapy. Not sure why, I think it may depend on diagnosis? I'm ER +, lymph node clear and HER2 - I am staying here to encourage those that have a few more rounds to do. Although radiotherapy won't start for a few weeks. I've found 3rd round more tiring and felt low because of the cold and just fed up thinking about cancer since December. I'm lucky I have most of my hair due to the cold cap it's just a bit thin through my parting and fringe. Decided to banish my white roots and dye it today with Holland and Barrett dye (no chemicals). It looks so much better but could all fall out still !! Eliza you must be having your next round this week? Xx ... View more