Breast Cancer Now Forum

Swam in our river in the last high heat. Lovely and peaceful amongst damselflies, dragonflies, swallows, trout etc. No snorkelling though, tol cold to put head in! Had another blood test, markers still reducing, hurray 💗 🧜‍ ♀️ 🏄‍ ♀️ 🐧 💗 🤞 ... View more

Hi Jencat, Have you looked at LDN? Worth a try. I've got some but haven't started yet as I've got to get off the opiate based drug, dihydrocodeine. Also wanted to get stable with my chemo drugs. 🤗 🤗 🤿 🐧 🏄‍ ♀️ 🧜‍ ♀️ 🤗 🤗 🤞 🤞 🤞 🤞 ... View more

My Ct review was ok. Bone activity markers are decreasing so they're going the right way. Next review in three months. Battling with uti's though, had two, back to back. They're going to put me on a prophalactic antibiotic, hopefully that will work, had to delay start of next chemo tabs for a few days. ... View more

Hi jencat, I'm so sorry that you've had another blip to battle. I know what it's like to have been on a treatment only to find out that it hasn't been working. I know they have lots of drugs in their arsenal, let's hope this one works. 🤗 🤗 🤗 💗 💗       ... View more

CT scan delayed because broken down.  They're going to re schedule within next few days of fixing. At least I don't have to make sandwiches and I've moved the canula/blood test later so we don't have such a long day.     ... View more

Thanks. I won't stay in the hospital, I'll go back to the car in between the apts. I must remember to sort out sarnies for us. Results will be on 11th.   ... View more

Blood test, Ct scan, capecitabine review and zometa infusion are all on 28th. Going to be a long day. Ct scan review is on 11th May. ... View more

Hope all had a Happy Easter and thanks for all tge goodwill.  I'm now in my third cycle of Capecitabine, but first without any radiotherapy at same time. Jencat I hope C19 hasn't messed up your treatment. My next Cape review is on same day as next CT scan and zometa infusion. So I'm going into the oncology unit rather than normal blood test place for a canula to be put in for the pre-req blood test so they aren't messing about with my useless veins for the CT scan and zometa. I feel safer there than in main hospital. The review will be by phone. Terrified of Ct results. ... View more

I'm clear which is a shame. Had I been positive I might now be immune. However, all the tests showed a urine infection, so I'm on antibiotics which I can already tell have worked. Means I can't restart chemo tabs yet, so actually feeling like a real human being again instead of old hag. My temp is back to normal. So business as usual.   Stay safe ... View more

I've been tested for covid as my temp keeps spiking. No cough though. They did a portable xray in the room this time and I had to use the door from the room to the garden. No contact with the main hospital. Xray result no different to last week. Our oncology unit has a great set up.   ... View more

My lung thing is permanent, from my accident in 1979. I have decreased function on left hand side, a high diaphragm. I usually refuse a chest x ray because I know that's why they detect reduced function. But in present situation thought best have one.   ... View more

Feel like I could do with a fur baby. Bit of a to do yesterday. Had to have routine blood test to check ok to have next cycle but had to tell oncology I had temp 38.6. Because my lung function slightly depressed they wanted an x ray. Even though I know that my left lung has decreased function. Anyway they put a mask on me and wheeled me to X-ray. At which point xray went ape **bleep**. Not the protocol in case I had covid. They completely emptied the dept. Reception staff everyone. Actually there were no patients there anyway, I guess they'd already cleared them. The hazmat suited X-ray person got the poor unprotected nurse to put the plate behind me. Basically they wouldn't touch me even in a hazmat suit. Anyway lungs fine. Prob a virus but not covid. Although they didn't test. Hand has been awful last three days but ok today so I think I'm on my way out of it. But can't start next cycle until they know my immune system can take it. ... View more

PS The HOPE course I mentioned was a Macmillan run thing. Can't remember what the acronym stands fir but it was about coping with cancer going forward. I found it useful, it got me out of that hole of finding out about the first mets.. 🤗 🤗 🤗 💗 🏄‍ ♀️ 🧜‍ ♀️ 🤿 🐧 ... View more

Jencat, I don't think it's an NHS restriction, I think it's medical in that you shouldn't have too much radiation to the same spot too soon. My sacrum will have been zapped twice by end of next week. Once with one day's hit last Nov and next week's treatment will be over 5 days, specifically to reduce side effects. I've had the scan and they're using the same tattoo. I think the tattoo is just the line up point, not specifically where they zap. Hope you're coping with the whole stress side if it. I slept through the night last night, first time for ages. Distraction therapy is the key. I started a stained glass course. Nightmare, hardest thing I've ever attempted, especially since I've got my paralysed arm. But I'll persevere and will have a lovely piece at the end and actually, I would carry on and do other pieces but my back is too debilitating. So, back to the embroidery, much easier. Enjoy what you can. The HOPE course said note three good things/feelings/thoughts that happen everyday, however small.   💗 🧜‍ ♀️ 🏄‍ ♀️ 🤿 🐧 🤗 🤗 🤗   ... View more

Oh huge hugs Jencat. I know what you mean by reading things. Last year, I was looking through my online health records for which travel jabs we might need. When I saw that I am on gold palliative care, it really through me. It's that word, palliative, although I know it just means care. Similarly, I daren't ask how long I may have with this increase in bone mets. Had the first capecitabine cycle review yesterday. As my sacrum area is now numb they are going to radio zap it again, but over 5 days. On a plus note, my bloods showed lowered ALP indicating less bone activity. Still no where near the normal level. Also, my wheezing is much better. Maybe I had an infection since before Christmas and the steroids for the rads sorted it. Who knows, I just know I'm grateful that I'm not worrying that it's spread to my lungs. Jencat, re your chemo shrinking your bone mets, I was told that it's hard to spot a reduction in mets in the bone, just due to the bone structure damage the mets will have caused. Just remember, you don't die of bone mets, or at least that's what I understand. 💗 🏄‍ ♀️ 🧜‍ ♀️ 🤿 🐧 🤗 🤗 🤗 🤗 🤗 🤗 🤞 🤞 🤞 🤞   ... View more

Jencat, wow, glad you've got something that sounds hopeful. They're really going at it with all guns. Is the chemo similar to our first lot, where we had an infusion then weeks to recover before next infusion ? I wish you all the luck in the world.   Re my pain, I'm already on loads of painkillers for my paralysed arm so I think that helps. I know I must start trying to excersise more. I'm not even driving because my dh insists on running me everywhere. Not even walking round Tesco anymore, he does that!   Hugs to Jencat.   💗 🧜‍ ♀️ 🏄‍ ♀️ 🤿 🐧 ... View more

I'm now on day 12 out of 14 of the chemo drug capecitabine. It's doable. However, I don't know if it gets worse with subsequent cycles. I'm probably more tired but no nausea. My feet have a dry pad, but no peeling and my hands are OK. Roll on Saturday for my week off them. Worse thing is my back really. I'm living on ibuprofen, otherwise it is too debilitating. Can't stand still for any amount of time but walking is OK. Mind you I'm so unfit and puffed out at the slightest bit of exercise. Jencat, hope you're coping. 💗 🏄‍ ♀️ 🧜‍ ♀️ 🤿 🐧 ... View more

Oh poo, udderly has got parabens in it. Do I need to worry about that anymore? Any other best creams for saving my feet? ... View more

Hi Jencat, I hope you're coping. Have they sorted out your forward plan? I've started capecitebine, the chemo drug. Shed load of pills, twice a day for two weeks then one week off. I'm off to get some udderly cream now to try and save my feet. 💗 🧜‍ ♀️ 🏄‍ ♀️ 🐧 🤿 ... View more

Well, a long day but they gave me my rads tattoo in am and zap late pm. So at least all done in one day. Feeling tired now and not looking forward to the possible increase in pain for couple days. But hopefully it might then improve pain. At least that's what I hope. ... View more