Breast Cancer Care Forum

Hi buddyfan, I still come on to the forum as I'm not on F B and I know Shi comes on here regularly. I'm so sorry to read about the recurrence and understand why you're feeling so upset-that's the beauty of the forum that everybody here understands what you're going through. As supportive as our love ones are, they can't totally understand in the same way as others on the forum do and also we don't want them to worry, I know I tended to bottle up my fears to them. Thinking of you and sending a big hug, Jencat xx ... View more

Hi Emzlew, I found FEC seemed to follow the same pattern, although I might have got a bit more tired as it went on. Docetaxol was the reverse, the first one was the hardest. I don't know if you're having the same, (sorry I can't remember what chemo everyone is having) but other chemo's might be different. Glad you're feeling brighter today x ... View more

Sorry to read about the problems with your PICC line today Annie and hope your chemo goes well tomorrow x ... View more

Hope your chemo goes ok tomorrow Kath x ... View more

Hi Claire, I'm from the Oct'17 group and had FEC-T. I found that the 3 sessions of FEC seemed to more or less be the same, but with T I found the first one harder and the next two seemed easier, maybe my body had adapted by then to the change of chemo x ... View more

Hi CureDars, Glad onc mentioned Zoldronic Acid to you today. Are you going to have it alongside chemo or once you've finished? (I had it alongside chemo and also have it 6 monthly at the chemo unit) I had 3 FEC and 3 Docetaxol, so I'm not sure if the side effects will be the same as the chemo that you're having. I was very fortunate and wasn't sick during chemo at all and only felt a bit nauseous a couple of times, which was sorted by eating ginger biscuits. I wore travel sickness bands whilst the chemo drugs were being administered and for about three days afterwards. If there's anything I can help with though please ask. Good that you've got a plan now x  ... View more

Hi CureDars, Pleased to read that you got good scan results yesterday. Has your onc mentioned you having Zoldronic Acid alongside your chemo or/and after chemo for 2 or 3 years afterwards? It is an infusion that helps to strengthen the bones and helps to protect against bc spreading there. When I had chemo I wore travel sickness bands whilst I was having it and for a few days afterwards and didn't suffer with any sickness at all. It could be just a coincidence, but I thought I'd mention them to you x ... View more

Hi Louise, I'm from the Oct'17 group and also TN. My onc told me about Zoldronic Acid and said that it helps to strengthen the bones and helps to prevent a spread there. I had Z A with every other chemo and for 3 years afterwards. I'm sure it could be beneficial to you, so definitely worth asking about. I'm also 60 (I was nearly 58 when I was diagnosed) It's a bit worrying that not all the onc's seem to be suggesting Z A, especially when we're TN and there isn't anything else that we can take after treatment finishes. I was offered the Braca gene test, but I think I only just qualified for it as I was told it's only offered on the NHS if you're under 60, I don't know if that's correct. Good to hear that your GP is trying to get it for you x ... View more

Hi Susie, Glad I could be of some help  I hope you get on ok regarding the Zoldronic Acid, hopefully you will when you show your onc the info from here and Cancer Research. I noticed on the chemo thread there is a lady there (Sept '19 I think) who is TN and her onc hadn't mentioned Z A either-bit worrying that onc's don't seem to know about it or if they do, don't have the correct info. When's your appointment? Missing all the chat from the Feb group! Please send my best wishes to everyone xx  ... View more

Morning Wolvegirl, pleased to read that you're feeling better today x Re wigs, I think it's often us feeling self-conscious wearing them at first, but actually other people can't tell we're wearing them. I remember a neighbour commented on my lovely haircut when I wore mine and she didn't even know I'd got bc so had no idea that I'd be wearing a wig x ... View more

Hi Spottycotty, I think Zoldronic Acid is only for post menopausal women, so probably not suitable for you. No, I haven't been having chemo for two years, I think I must have worded my message incorrectly! I had Z A alongside my chemo which finished in March '18, but I have to go back to the chemo unit every 6mths for an infusion of Z A until next Summer x ... View more

Hi AnnaGabanna, I don't know how old you are, but I think if you are post menopausal then you can have Zoldronic Acid. I had it alongside chemo and on it's own since I've finished chemo. It is a bone strengthener and my onc said it helps to prevent bc going into the bones and with a recurrence. I hope your next session of chemo goes well x ... View more

Naomi40, just wanted to reassure you about the PICC line, I couldn't feel it being done and had no problems with it. The downside could be that you have it flushed every 7-10 days, but I didn't mind that, I found it quite reassuring to go back to the unit in between chemo's x ... View more

Hi Spottycotty, I'm also TN. I started having Zoldronic Acid whilst having chemo, every other one and then for 3 years afterwards. I think you have to be post menopausal to be able to have them. (I'm 60 now and 58 when I started chemo) I'm not sure how old you are, but if this applies to you it might be worth talking to your onc about it x ... View more

Thinking of you all as you start chemo, I was in the Oct'17 group with Shi. One thing that I found that worked for me was wearing the travel sickness bands during chemo and for a few days afterwards x ... View more

Susie, just to let you know that I've replied to you about Zoldronic Acid on the TN thread x ... View more

Hi Susie,  Your onc is wrong, as you know I'm TN and have been having Zoldronic Acid during chemo and since I finished and will continue to do so next year. I don't think it's just for TN, but for women who are post menopausal. It's definitely worth checking because my onc said it helps to prevent bc recurring in the bones and that in recent studies it had shown it can help to prevent a recurrence of bc. As we can't take anything else after active treatment, you don't want to miss out on it. Also, I have to have a blood test a couple of days beforehand and I know not everything is picked up with that, but perhaps it would give an indicator if something was wrong. Please send my best wishes to the Feb'19 group, glad to hear you're all still in touch. Hope MJB and Edinburd are getting on ok  x ... View more

Hi Cheza, I'm from the Oct'17 group. It is scary having to have scans, but when I had to have them my oncologist said that it wasn't because they expected to find a spread elsewhere and having them was normal procedure. Don't google because as the nurse said to me, the worst stories always seem to appear near the top and also a lot of the information is now out of date. I'm post-menopausal so I have Zoldronic Acid every 6 months to help strengthen my bones and the chemo nurse told me that wasn't available even 5 years ago x ... View more

Hi CureDars, I'm from the Oct'17 group with Shi. I was 57 when I was diagnosed with TN (I'm 60 now) I noticed you haven't said anything about having Zoldronic Acid alongside the chemotherapy or on it's own afterwards, has your oncologist mentioned it to you? It's a bone strengthener x ... View more

As you say Bramley, a couple of days of possible side effects is worth it if the Zoldronic Acid hopefully helps to protect our bones. My onc also said that in recent studies researchers had found that it also helped to protect against a recurrence. It seems to vary how many infusions people have x  ... View more