Breast Cancer Now Forum

Thanks for food suggestions Jay - I have already gone down the white carb route so will stick on that for a bit. Have just tried scrambled eggs - felt protein might help as I am feeling extremely lethargic- so far so good! ... View more

So day 9 after first T and I can see a glimmer of light at the end of the tunnel- have found this so much harder than FEC. Not looking forward to doing it 3 more times. Any food suggestions? Have still got the manky mouth and no taste buds - alongside very sensitive stomach - tend to feel better once I have eaten something but wary of how stomach/bowels are going to react a few hours later. Lal ... View more

Thanks Kip, like to be prepared with relevant medication if I can- already have stuff for constipation, diaroheaa, mouth ulcers and plenty of painkillers - used in varing degrees on FEC so hopefully should be good to go! Disappointed to hear marmite may be come absent from my life. Does the fuzzy head feeling go - bit I have hated most on FEC. Lal ... View more

Well I have now discovered the downside of having chemo at home. Had 4th FEC yesterday but nurse couldn't canulate me - mainly cos she was avoiding vein used on last three cycles as that is giving me pain. Their protocol is that after three attempts they have to "phone a friend ' to do it but no friends in the area. She had to leave me and come back at 3pm with another nurse who took 2 attempts and ended using sane vein but further up arm away from pain so fingers crossed it doesn't make things worse. Upshot is that I will probably have a port for the T part - just trying to sort it out. Slightly amazed that even though I didn't get my steroids until 3.30pm I managed 4 hrs sleep normally only get that when I take them at noon- though one of my nurses has recommended taking nytol ( or boots cheaper equivilient) so don't know whether that is actually helping - could be all on the mind but I don't care. Hoping to get away for long weekend in cornwall on my good weekend before the dreaded T starts- really want to see the sea as rather landlocked in Bucks. Now cant book it yet until I find out about port fitting - nurse says they prefer to do it on 3rd week of cycle when bloods are back up.☹ Grumbles over- apart from what I am calling the s**t week after chemo I haven't felt too bad ( apart from arm and being more tired after 3rd cycle) Debuted my wig at nieces wedding - first time wearing it in public- now wear it more often as I am more used to it - and I managed to stay at the wedding until 9.3pm. Have also found myself slightly addicted to cheese and marmite biscuits ( apologies to marmite haters) went to a food fair at weekend and they are amongst the many indulgent food items we bought - won't be going on the scales for a while. Have found a recipe on line and persuaded daughter to make me some- cant wait! How is everyone faring - anyone hit T yet? Have to say I don't like the list of SE's my medical people keep telling me even they say ' you might get...' Take care all Lal ... View more

Hi Willie It's was my nurse on my first chemo ( I am having it at home and she had a trainee with her so I learnt quite a bit) who said my E ( the red one) was lower only 75 instead of 100 - whatever the measure is . Not entirely sure why I am having 8 rounds originally onco said 6 or 8 depending how tumour reacts - keep getting told it's rather large ( 6x 6 cm) but when it came to chemo he had written me up for 8. Not sure about the other drugs as we were discussing the nasty red one at the time. Hair is bane of my life - i am describing it as action man style fuzz with bald patches - it looks a mess and I still leave a trail where ever I go - reluctant to do a full scalping in case of a) going too close and b) being more uncomfortable when it falls out. Apart from being a bit more tired than usual every thing else is ok - back working from home and going into office tomorrow as it's start of my "good ' week before it all begins again. Have reduced my hours- only working on a pc but finding concentrating quite tiring. Lal ... View more

Well never thought I would be typing this but I can't wait to be bald- hair is driving me crackers. Shaved to a grade 2 a fortnight ago as was losing it and wanted to avoid clumps on plug hole scenario- now have action man type fuzz with bald patches. Still shedding but cos it's so short it's spiky and uncomfortable when it drops + I leave a trail where ever I go. I'm day 10 after 2nd FEC so thought it would have gone by now. I know I am on a slightly lower dose of E as I am having 8 cycles rather than 6 but still.... Apart from that moan ( and heat/tiredness) not actually feeling too bad. Have my suspicions that T may be harder but will worry about that in September. Love to all Lal. ... View more

Morning all So day 4 of 2nd round of fec and new se appeared - acid reflux not nice but got hold of omeprazole from gp which appears to be working. Been a bit of a plank this morning think cos I'm tired from steroid insomnia and didnt reduce my steriod dose as I should - the upside is I don't have to take any more today so may get some more sleep tonight. I am actually feeling a bit better this round I think it being less hot is helping- though I am I in Buckinghamshire and they are forecasting 30 degrees again tomorrow so that may change. Hope everyone's ok and coping with se's Lal ... View more

Hi ktk Definitely not Googling - had already decided to just deal with the here and now for my own sanity - trusting my onco and treatment plan. Lal x ... View more

Well have decided that my good 3rd week of cycle has not been so good on this first cycle: A week long period - was premenopausal before I started this chemo game so not unusual but could have done without it. Had the sniffles - ironically I have passed it on to colleagues at work and they were all worried about me catching something off them! - got bloods today ahead of chemo on Weds so hope everything in correct range. Got a copy of letter from onco to gp which seems to say I have TNBC - suspected it could be as knew at diagnosis that I was ER neg but hadnt had pr or her2 results- have now! Seeing onco this pm so will talk to him then. And finally yesterday I did the shave - cue tears all round - do feel better for doing it now and had a quick look on you tube for scarf tying ideas - have got a wig but think it will be too hot. Have decided the only way is up - the sun is shining and I am feeling ok today. Good luck to those on 2nd chemo this week - may the se's be manageable. Lal ... View more

Hi all Good luck to those starting chemo this week seems to be a few for Friday 13th! I 'm day 15 after 1st of 8 x Fec-T - first 7 days were grim mainly due to steroid insomnia- since then not too bad - just a bit more tired tend to fade about 4pm but that could be down to heat as much as anything else. Just starting to shed hair - had it cut short before I started but just wondering at what point I need to go for the shave - not annoying at the moment so will wait a bit. Hope everyone who hads started still feeling ok . Lal ... View more

Hi Karen Well this is certainly the gift that keeps on giving! Haven't had same experience but for what it's worth my approach had been that knowledge is power - ie more I know more I feel a litttle bit more in control. Not that it's working for me as I am still waiting for my her2 result! I had to have a 3rd biopsy on some nodes shown up on mri ( done under us) - radiographer fairly certain not sinister but wanted to test before chemo 'while he had the chance' - and yet another result I am still waiting for I have just realised .... If you are feeling well enough could you tag a treat on to the trip? Lal ... View more

Thanks Karen , year ahead of you so did manage the big 50 celebrations - fingers crossed for your plans. Definately need things to look forward to. Lal ... View more

So today is my birthday - not quite how I had planned for this year but such is life. Best birthday present is no steroids now until next cycle on 18th- definitely worst se for me - mini meltdown yesterday over spilling a drink because I was so tired. Gave in and had afternoon nap and still got 4hrs last night. Planning to enjoy a couple of lazy days before back to work on Weds- though i'll work from home for a week and planning to do shorter hours so shouldn't be too bad. Take care all Lal ... View more

Hi I have decided to nip into July started though I started on Weds (27th) it feels like July! Bizarrely feeling glad I have actually started treatment- chemo is my first step (8× fec-t ) then hopefully only WLE if tumour shrunk enough ( apparently currently 6cm x 6cm) then rads. First got the hint i had bc on 23rd April so it's been a long wait to start . Have had mri & snb ( no nodes involved yay!) But couldn't get out of my head that nothing was being done for the bc. So far not too bad se - had face flush from the red one the following day which is a bit more unusual. Found a juice receipe to hep with constipation - spinach, pear and prunes - doesn't taste too bad and definitely worked. Worst thing is the 3am wakeup with steriods - cant wait to finish them tomorrow. Just having to learn to pace myself - have a flurry of activity and then need a sit down. Hope you all enjoy this sunny day - sitting in the shade. ☹ ... View more

So results are back and it is bc- actually feel better with definate diagnosis- thanks to every one who posts on these forums- actually felt I understood what Dr was saying having done a bit of reading on here. Good news Is that they ok'd my holiday first so off to kos tomorrow for 2 wks before everything starts - which I am completely unorganized for as spent most of last 3 weeks waiting so today eill be manic which helps. Lal ... View more