Breast Cancer Now Forum

Thank you for sharing this terribly sad news.  I remember fondly the sharing of messages with Mishy throughout our chemo treatment - I was in the May 2017 thread and she was July 2017 - we shared lots of advice and laughs!  I am aware that the past few months have been really tough for her and all I can say is she is now at peace.  I send my regards to her family who she always spoke very fondly of and I can still remember her excitement at the birth of her grandchild.  Life sometimes just seems so unfair xx   ... View more

When I was just on the herceptin injections my hair did grow back - very slowly at first then suddenly thicker/coarser and with a mind of it's own completely!   Two years on and my hair condition is back to pre-chemo days - having always had longer hair, I have now decided to keep it short - I personally prefer it!   ... View more

Nellie - continue to keep your nails varnished and use moisturing hand creams regularly - the damage can sometimes occur months after finishing chemo.....  Also, keep nails short.   I'm two years on from chemo and my nails have only recently got back to where they were before - and just recently they've really benefitted from me eating a handful of almonds every other day.           ... View more

A brilliant cream to use which was recommended to me by the chemo nurses, is udderly smooth (with urea) - it's great for all areas of the body - especially feet and hands when on chemo.   It's difficult to get hold of in shops but you can buy it on-line.  The one with urea is the best.   ... View more

WOW what a terrific sum of money you've raised - well done to all....  I think we all looked after each other and I thank you for the smiles along the way!  Take care and rest up now!  xx ... View more

Go go go all you ladies taking part in today's walk/run at Chatsworth - hope it goes well.    Love Jay68 - May 2017 chemo starter! x   ... View more

Thank you Shi and good luck with your walk - where is it taking place? xx   ... View more

I had the same chemo as you back in May 2017.   My hair started to return when I was on the Docetaxel chemo but I was also still on Herceptin and until I finished that in June last year my hair was growing but not like it is now!  Also, the texture is almost back to before treatment - but it's so thick - I've always had thick hair but quite honestly it's crazy now!  The curls have gone too...!   I have, however, never grown any armpit hairs under either arm - I had mx and complete node removal on my right side.   My leg hairs unfortunately returned - one leg has more than the other!!   My eyelashes and eyebrows are now back to where they were but they took time!   I also grew fine downy hair on my face - thankfully that's almost all gone and my Husband reassures me that you can't see it - but I can under my bedside light!   You'll appreciate, we'll never be quite what we were before all this treatment but we sure are stronger!   Take care and hopefully it won't be long before your eyebrows recover x ... View more

Thanks Chick - I'm not too bad with walking but again it's always my knees and thighs that feel the pain of too much walking esp up-hill!  I really have problems with crouching and kneeling - the thigh muscles just don't seem to like those position at all!     I agree with what you say about finding it difficult to work out what caused what!   Take care x ... View more

Hi Kelly   Sorry, somehow I've only just come across your message so I apologise for such a lengthy delay in responding!   By targetted therapy I mean't herceptin or pertzumab for HER2+.   EC chemo can affect the heart.  I guess you sought advice from the professionals and hopefully they were able to help.   How are things with you now? x   ... View more

Hi CorrieFan - I'm so sorry to read your initial post and I feel the pain you're going through.   There's not a lot to add to what others have said.  The only advice I would repeat is to give yourself time.  I think going through this whole horrid journey makes us re-evaluate everything.  There are quite often times, I still feel like I'm in a whirlwind and I'm just over 2 year on from diagnosis.   I would also add, always come on here - there will always be someone listening and very often able to respond.     This is the best thing to come out of my whole experience of breast cancer.  A caring community of ladies been or going through the same as me!     Take care my lovely - remember you are one of the bravest people and you've done a truly amazing thing by kicking cancer's butt!!  You are amazing  xx ... View more

Hi Chick - just out of interest, have your thighs recouperated?  The reason I ask is 2 years after treatment and almost a year since my last Herceptin injection and I still suffer with my thighs. ... View more

Sorry I was on 3 x EC followed by 4x Docetaxel with Herceptin and Pertzumab.  I did suffer with flushing on the face but it was down to the huge amount of steriods I had to take before and after the Docetaxel sessions!  Were the anti-histamines prescribed?     ... View more

mini mad - sorry to hear about your flushed face and chest.   What chemo type are you on?  Also, are you taking steriods? ... View more

Hi El,   I was in May 2017 chemo starters forum and there were a number of younger ladies in that group.  From what I've heard, how you describe it is exactly how some of them have described it too.  I guess, like everything else after going through the treatments we have, it takes time for the body to get back to a new normal and more importantly for us to realise and get used to our new normal.   I'm sorry that I have no personal experience, although I was still having fairly regular periods before I started treatment back in 2017, I was already entering the peri-menopause and whilst having treatment and continuing now I've finished I've entered the menopause stage - one blessing of which is I've not had a period now for 2 years!  I'm only 51 though so I do still have horrid hot flushes which seem to get worse at the time I would normally have had a period!    If you have any worries or concerns, don't worry over them - go see a GP or speak with your Breast Care team for reasssurance.    Take care x ... View more

All I can say is it takes time and you must allow yourself this time to reach a new "normal" - as you say, whatever that may be!  -  Again, we're all individuals and the time it takes will be personal to you.  Your body has and continues to go through massive changes.  Radiotherapy treatment in itself is a breeze compared to chemotherapy but the long term effects are still affecting me 2 years on.   You will get the other side of treatment and you will find that new normal but don't rush it.....      Take care and I hope the radiotherapy goes well for you. x ... View more

Hi Chick   I agree entirely with your comment about being told at the outset that these problems can go on and on and on..... and probably never get fully better - that way it would solve a lot of the worries and anxiety which builds up when these niggles carry on.   It is definately a case of learning to manage and accept.  The more treatment you have the more you have to accept!   Jay x       ... View more

KMG - hope you've managed to escape the hospital ward and are safely back home.  Home is where the healing starts - remember to do your exercises though, it's easy to forget once home!  I used to do mine before meals - 3 times a day - that way I felt I was being rewarded!!  In fact I very often revert to doing some when I've either done too much or too little and my arm aches.  Did you have any lymph nodes removed?   Good luck when it comes to looking in the mirror - I can still remember the first time I saw my scar - I wasn't upset like I thought I would be - I saw it as my battle scar - I faced the battle and I won - here is the scar to prove it!  May seem a weird way to look at it but it worked for me!   Take care x ... View more

3331melanie - I'm sorry you're having to wait so long for your results from surgery.   Have you had any follow up appointments with surgeon since your op?  I'm sure there is a time frame they should be following - a chat with your Breast Care Nurse may help the situation.  I'm sorry, I don't know whether you've had any other treatment and indeed what surgery you have had so forgive me, but no-one should have to wait 5 weeks for results - that's destroying... xx ... View more

Kate   I see you were wondering why some ladies didn't have immediate recon.   My personal story is that I was unable to have any recon at the time of having my mx (and there were a couple of other ladies from our group who were in the same position).  I think, although not absolutely certain - it was something to do with having to have rads(?).   The prosthetics nowadays are pretty damn good - so even just in a bra you really wouldn't know and certainly under clothing no-one would question it.   The downside is they are rather heavy and it's a bit of a phaff putting them in the bra.      Anyhow, we're now at the stage of being able to go ahead with having recon - and do you know, after 2 years, I'm finding it difficult to make up my mind.  Thankfully, there is no timescale!!     ... View more