Breast Cancer Now Forum

Hi Michelle, I just read your posts and am sending you lots of hugs and more. Will be thinking of you Monday. Take care Gigi x ... View more

Hi everyone saw oncologist today and I will be restarting herceptin. Also going back to heart doc in 4 weeks. My ef has gone down from 66 to 51 but they are happy for me to continue. When I got back from hospital met my daughter and we went swimming. Really enjoyed it! Waiting for the snow now for some nordic walking! Lol take care Gigi ... View more

Hi Christine no you don't sound grumpy at all. Love your posts on here. Good the heart doc gave you time, mine did too he is Greek and I think he even remembered me although I am rocking the elvis presley look. I know with arrythmia exercise is important so I've just got back from a long walk with the dog, exercise is on the up. That is definitely helping my disposition although during the week I struggle with energy levels at work. My partner made me go to bed at 7.30 Tuesday this week and that really helped. Lucky I do a 4 day week 5 would be too much. Will go find the podcast today. Hope you have a nice weekend. Take care Gigi ... View more

Hi everyone hope you are all enjoying your weekend. How did your one year check go Fiona? I have mine in March. Sorry your herceptin got postponed Christine, I went for my echo yesterday and initial "eyeballing" (doc said that lol) suggests no change. However the 24hr eart monitor shows arrhythmia. Heart doc told me all the options moving forward and was very reassuring that it's not life threatening just "another b****y pain" (those are my words) I see the oncologist on Tuesday and will see what he has to say. Good luck with your results next week Michelle. And that's a shame about the trial Dorabel. I will try and listen to the podcast this weekend if I can find it. Take care everyone. Gigi ... View more

Hi Dorabel sorry to hear you spent Christmas in bed. Hope your chest infection has cleared up and you are feeling better. And good to hear your 6 month check was ok. I too have bought an array of calendars and diaries for 2019. And my new year resolution is to cook with more herbs. Really dislike my haircut. It is so short but the good news is the hairdresser was as surprised as I am how much there was and how thick it is. There are no split ends now lol and the idea is that it can grow strong and the same length now rather than having to cut it right back later in the year. I just packed away all my scarves and hairbands but hats look a lot better on me so may treat myself to a new one. Can I just wish you all a Happy New Year for 2019 and a big thank you for your company in 2018. You've been great and I so appreciate you guys xxx (and breastcancercare for facilitating this forum) I'm not going out tomorrow evening but if you are hope you have fun Gigi xxx ... View more

Hi Michelle hope you had a great time in Slovenia. Want to go on holiday but not booking anything yet. Just getting ready lol probably won't go till May time coz I had that blood clot and want to give it lots of time to clear up. My bikinis were a bargain though in the sale so I'm really pleased. Yes going to have a heart scan mid Jan. Was worried it might be the 11th but that day is clear still!!! Bought a diary for 2019 too yesterday. Looking forward with just a nod to this time last year. Hair cut in an hour!!! Very nervous but then it will grow all at the same length. Hope everyone was feeling well over Xmas and looking forward to ny. I never go out nye but we are going to hit the sales (me again him first time) enjoy your weekend x ... View more

Thanks guys. Today was 1 year knowing I had cancer. Last year I went from getting my diagnosis to buying a nepresso machine. Today I bought bikinis! Got all my appointments through today too for tests. (So efficient my docs!) Getting my hair cut short tomorrow. Hope I like it! Take care Gigi x ... View more

Hi everyone just heading home from the hospital. They decided not to give me the injection today as they want to check my heart first. So happy! First holiday all year without treatment so no side effects! Will have checks and resume after that I guess (mid jan) looking forward to my hols now. Merry Xmas xxxx ... View more

Hi Michelle went back to A &E at another hospital after a weekend of palpitations and they did more tests. Apparently I'm the healthiest sick person around! My blood tests were so spot on. It seems a side effect of the herceptin. Starts day 2 and lasted 12 days for me. Next herceptin is Xmas eve so will see if it happens again and seeing the nurse on the 9th so will ask for my next echo. I'm hoping it started because I was super tired from work and that this time I don't react so badly. Will let you know x ... View more

Oh Dorabel that is fantastic! Sounds like you can relax and enjoy the festivities now. I finished work today. So tired. Will write more tomorrow when I'm a bit rested. Xxx ... View more

Thanks guys, resting but still feeling so rotten. My heart rate is lower but palpitations going strong. Feeling very spaced out so can't do anything. Just glad don't have to have those blood thinner injections again so grateful for that. Will let you know xxx ... View more

Thanks guys after 3 days 16 hours in total no blood clot thank goodness. Back to oncology and have asked them to check my heart. Will rest up the weekend. Hope you all have a good one take care Gigi ... View more

Hi guys thought I'd share with you as a little but worried. Been feeling so tired and started getting palpitations and breathless rang AOS on Wed after work and they advised me to go to A&E in case I has a blood clot on the lung. Not a massive one just a little one that needed to be sorted out ASAP. Went and got home at 1am this morning and had to go back all day today. Symptoms got worse but improving now. It might be the blood thinners they gave me. Horrible day but managed it and appointment for CT scan tomorrow. Bit worried so been up clearing up a bit and my cleaner comes tomorrow so at least at the end of the day the house will be tidy. Wish me luck. Will let you know how it goes x ... View more

Hi everyone, how's things? Been too busy and too tired to write but have been following the thread. Hope your skin has improved Michelle. Yesterday had Herceptin number 9 so that means halfway! Went to bed super early. Today feeling a lot better and it is my day off! Still need to get to that swimming pool, nice you have been Euby. Got my prescription goggles now just need to get a swimming hat and some energy and I'm there! Looking forward to being off over Xmas. Will be able to go then. I am walking the dog more but often with a limp. Just keep on going Gigi I tell myself you will get there! Pushing through. I don't think they realise at work how hard I'm finding it. Two parents' evenings and an inspection have wiped me out but I've made it! Only 10 more working days till the hols! Also this morning is the first my hair is not sticking up in a weird cartoon like pose. I think the top where the bald parts were has grown enough now. Nearly gave up the other day and chopped it all off but perservering and lots of scarf wearing seems to be paying off. It is growing as it's time to dye it again. Take care everyone Gigi ... View more

Ha ha no such luck Michelle. Currently in A and E. Partner cut himself badly at work, been hospital and stitched but bleeding too much, daughter throwing up and dizzy. I'm the well one! Designated driver and the one going to work tomorrow! Roll on the weekend. Was hoping to start Park run Sat as a walk but we will see! ... View more

Oh and hair growing with a vengeance! Eyelashes lovely but oh no embarrassingly had to trim nostril hair. It was soooooo long. Hush! ... View more

Hi everyone hope no one is up as early as me. Getting ready for work. Partner starts early this week so up with him. Cup of tea in bed right now in the dark. Fiona and Dorabel I finished chemo on the 16th July and the neuropathy in my fingers is gradually wearing off although yesterday when I read your post I was much more aware of it. I guess I've gotten used to the tingling. I don't think mine is too bad it is in my right more than my left hand and I don't drop stuff as much any more. My problem is my legs. Due to having the port out and letting it heal and then a stinking cold for the last 2 weeks not been swimming yet but hoping that will help my legs. Trying to push myself a bit so back out walking the dog although as he is a very energetic husky it's quite hard. Also did a little bit of gardening (pruning) yesterday (my day off) I work 4 days a week thank goodness! Today I'm feeling it so will take painkillers all day and I've started taking some time release vitamins to help they were recommended on a hr2 site and it is helping. Very very stiff but not excruciating pain like before. It was mentioned on a forum that going back to iv rather than injection might help but with all the blood clot/port complications I'm pretty sure that's not an option so I'm trying to "walk back to fitness" I know Michelle walked a lot through chemo. 1 Doc says it's aftermath of chemo another it's herceptin. It is just exhausting living with such dodgy legs. Yesterday I walked the dog (not far) lucky I have a park next door. Then had to rest a few hours. Then I gardened for 35 mins. Then that was me done in. Got shopping delivered as I can't carry any weight. Felt like everything was taking so long and I'm rubbish. That feeling didn't last too long. Gave myself a" be patient talk and enjoy resting it's part of the process. " This morning my achy legs mean my gardening muscles have been reactivated lol. Everyday a little bit more or the same ....whatever I can handle. Patience....do what I can and enjoy sitting around with the family chilling. I will crawl slowly up to the bus stop and go to work. The journey is my walking to fitness today. Long post alert (should have said that at the start) have a good day everyone. Very wet here. Take care Gigi x ... View more

Hi Linda & Michelle I would recommend a cookery day with life kitchen. Ryan is the founder and he has looked at foods that help taste buds during chemo. We went and made peas and lentil risotto. Peas help a lot apparantly also vanilla and we made garam masala apple crumble. I think Docetaxel is a bit culprit. If you look up life kitchen you can find some ideas. Hope that helps Gigi x ... View more

Hi Christine I just read your post and you sound so strong. Having treatment can be so relentless and disheartening I agree and I'm glad you've found the strength to ask for some support. It's all about timing too isn't it and not being rushed and having a chance to ask all your questions and voice concerns at the doctors appointment helps but also that means more information to absorb, more decisions to make. Glad to hear your surgery is healing well x I'm home with a really bad cold but yesterday accompanied my partner for a really early appointment and after we ended up going to London Zoo. I went 40 years ago and would prefer a national reserve next time (imagine!) It was amazing seeing the animals. We drove and parked outside the gates of the zoo and he bought me an emperor penguin cuddly toy (as I walk like a penguin at the moment!) My birthday treat (birthday is next Monday) Half term has not lived up to my expectations of myself as feeling very poorly but that time in the sun yesterday looking at giraffes and lions and penguins (we were very lucky with the weather) has made my week. Today intrepid explorer Gigi is off to the library. Take care Gigi x ... View more

Great will do x ... View more