Breast Cancer Now Forum

Hi Ladies   I've not disappeared off the planet, just found the weeks have ran away from me. I wanted to pop in and see how everyone is getting on.   I have had two Taxotere and two Herceptin since my last FEC. I think I might be an odd bod, or possibly just fortunate as the main symptoms I've had from Taxotere and possibly the Herceptin is tiredness and overeating on steroids.My hands have been a bit dry on the palms, some ridges on my nails, but no pain or discolouration. I have continued to have gel nails and just observed them at each colour change, but so far so good. I'm even getting a wee bit of fuzz growing on my head, possibly the FEC was harsher than Taxotere on hair.   My last chemo is on Wednesday and I can hardly believe I'm at the end. I hope chemo has been, if not as kind, then at least tolerable for all of you.   I've got my planning session for radiotherapy on 2nd January in Southampton and due to begin on 23rd January.   I'm now going to go and catch up on everything I've missed on this thread.   Love to all of you   Rhona xx     ... View more

Hello Ladies and welcome to anyone new who has joined since I last posted.   I've had a busy time recently, but have missed reading everyone's posts. Not sure how I found time to work! I was interested in the discussion on sick leave. I went off sick after getting my diagnosis. I don't feel guilty as I was never off sick and used to battle on even when feeling under the weather. I think individually it's about making the right decision for yourself, but sometimes putting your self first is what is needed.   Before I had cycle 2, I popped home to Scotland for a few days. I thought it would reassure my parents if they saw that I was feeling well and still eating and drinking okay. My dad is 92, but fit as a fiddle. He does most of the cooking as my mother's memory is quite bad, though she still supervises. He makes great porridge, made with water and salt, then when it's in the bowl, single cream poured on top! I know that might sound revolting to those of you who like it sweet, but I couldn't bear the thought of anything sweet on mine.   I caught up with family members and also had a lovely lunch out with two good friends in Glasgow. I have to confess I was feeling so good, that I probably had one too many drinks. One of my friends actually called it a night before me!   Cycle 2 I had minimal nausea again, but it was a feeling of it just being under the surface. After day 8 I felt great and the bone pain after the GCSF was a bit less than cycle 1. I take the GCSF that is given once after each cycle. I'm glad I started this post as it reminded me I was still to do my injection.My bloods have been fine too. I had an extra set done before I went to Scotland and there was a spike in my white cell count, but I was told this was just the GCSF. It returned to normal before my next cycle.   My hair was coming out from day 15 and I found it oddly satisfying to run my fingers through my hair to see how much more was coming out. Although my hair was really short, I had loads of it and it was becoming a pain, all over my pillow, on my clothes, carpets etc. I decided to take the plunge and went to the hairdresser who got the clippers on it. I got my friend to do a video and it actually felt great when it was all off. I decided that I would walk home with the bald head and it felt strangely empowering. Some little kids did stare, but that was fine. I sent pictures to friends and have had a lot of compliments about having a nice shaped head. I hope I don't sound insensitive as I know the hair loss is really upsetting for many people and hope anyone who has lost their hair is coping with it. I feel for me, it's another step forward in the process and I'm becoming more adept at tying scarves thanks to all the youtube videos. I also like how easy it is to wash it in the morning and no need for the hairdryer and styling products.   Food wise I have mainly been eating like a horse. I've had loads of mince and tatties and turnips. I'm Scottish, some of us call swedes turnips! I was eating loads of bread with the laughing cow cheese or a really nice bramble jelly I bought in France. My friend was in France recently, so she's brought me some more back. I've tried to cut back a wee bit on the bread as I have put on about 5llbs, but not going to worry too much about that. I have been eating toast with cheddar cheese, thinly sliced tomatoes with white pepper, really yummy. I have also been having egg, chips and beans, fish finger sandwiches so long as it's haddock ones, ambrosia rice pudding. Basically a lot of comfort food including chocolate, even though I'd normally favour red wine instead.   I had cycle 3 yesterday. Owing to the nausea the oncologist prescribed Emend. I'm glad he did as the nausea felt a bit stronger last night and I was getting those horrible waves you get with nausea. It was tolerable and it didn't last too long. Had the nausea again this morning, but I'm well dosed up on anti emetics including the Emend. I have discovered Belvoir Farms ginger beer. The first time I tasted it I wasn't sure as it was really firey. However, it really made a difference to the nausea and I'm really enjoying it now. After cycle 2 eating helped with nausea, but last night I ate very light, just a couple of pieces of irish soda bread with butter and jam. I was fine with breakfast this morning. The nausea has now settled and I've just had lunch. Waitrose do a really nice aromatic chicken and coconut soup with wild rice. It's delicious and had it with more bread!   I've had my echo in preparation for Herceptin and it was fine. I did have to laugh when the young technician asked if I had breast implants. I know that is a perfectly normal question, but I did have a giggle to myself as I had therapeutic mammaplasty and symmetrical reduction on the unafeccted side. He must have thought mine looked quite large, but I've gone from around a HH to a DD which for me is smallish    I am starting my Herceptin the week after cycle 4 (when I start on docetaxol on 8 November), so as it's the first one I'll be in oncology all day. My nurse and oncologist are going to go through the steroid regime and side effects in more detail. I am just trying to keep an open mind about docetaxol as I have had minimal side effects with FEC and any I have had have been well managed. I did have some heartburn and was started on pantoprazole and this completely resolved it.   I can't believe I am already halfway through, the weeks are just flying by. Good luck to anyone due their next cycle soon and hope anyone who's just had another cycle are doing well.   Rhona x ... View more

HI Everyone   I'm a bit behind with how everyone is doing. I came home to Scotland for a few days as thought it would reassure my parents who are quite elderly that I am doing okay.   Hope anyone who has had their chemo this week is doing okay. My second cycle is next week and I know there's a few of us must be next week too.   I am joining the hair shedding club on day 16. I'm more fascinated than upset at the moment, but I'll see how I feel when it starts going patchy. I brought a headscarf with me just in case. Once it's noticeably patchy I'll get it all taken off.   I am just enjoying some time catching up with family and friends before the second cycle. Need to start increasing the fluid intake again as definitely not having two litres at the moment.    Rhona x ... View more

Hi Cathysid   My oncologist said it was okay to have the odd glass of wine, but my nurse said to avoid the day before and a few days afterwards. To be honest I didn't feel like alcohol till last night which was day 9.   I am leaving my hair till it starts falling out, but not got any changes at all at present. Good luck if you do decide to take the plunge.   Rhona x ... View more

Mornng everyone   Hope everyone is well and that those with bone pain from GCSF are getting some relief.   Vee and Bujtterflyflyfree my PICC line is on the right hand side as most of my surgery was on the left including SNB. I got a little heatpack and used this for the first few days and it really eased the discomfort.   My bone pain is so much better today. I was reading some anectodal research on loratidine, also sold as Clarytin anti histamine. It's suggested that as there is a histamine response when white blood cells are stimulated that this drug may help with the bone pain. I'm sure I've also read this on the forum elsewhere. I bought the Llloyds own Loratidine as much cheaper than the branded one. The pain may have passed on its own of course, but following the Loratidine I didn't need any more analgesia.   I am also pleased to report I had a great sleep last night. I woke up once, but didn't look at the time, closed my eyes and went back to sleep.    I had my first glass of red wine in almost two weeks last night and really enjoyed it. However, it really is the devil for giving me hot flushes. I was prescribed venlafaxine for hot flushes nearly a month ago and I found it has really helped, but not strong enough against wine!    I'm off for an echocardiogram and ecg in preparation for Herceptin, hoping they find I do have a heart    Feeling really good today on day 10. Hoping cycle 2 will be as manageable.   Rhona x     ... View more

Morning everyone and hello to those joining recently   Sorry I've been missing in action recently. I started getting some nausea on day four and five and just felt like lying in bed doing nothing. My friend took me to get some food shopping on Sunday, but I came straight home to bed as I was getting motion sickness and felt very spaced out. However, I was also getting heartburn and think the nausea was possibly more related to this. I've now been commenced on pantoprazole and this has helped greatly. It still didn't affect my appetite though!   I've been reading that a few people are getting back pain and it's hitting me too! I started getting lower back pain last night (day eight) and had to get up around 6am as had been awake since 4am with the pain which has now spread to both hips. I know the GCSF can contribute to this, but I only had one subcutaneous injection to do 24 hours after chemo and it's 7 days since I did mine. I'm going to check with my nurse as joint pain has also been reported in people taking pantoprazole.   Hope everyone has a good day.       Rhona x ... View more

Hi Sam34   I am having herceptin too owing to having a Her2 positive tumour. Her 2 can make cancer cells divide faster, so herceptin stops the her 2 from doing this and is seen as a very good treatment.   Rhona x   ... View more