Breast Cancer Now Forum

Merry Xmas everyone!!! Thank goodness last day of 2018 tomorrow...not been my favourite year for obvious reasons🤧...anyways looking forward to a new year full of positive beginnings 🌟🌟 Had my last lot of chemo on the 20th Dec...woohoo...and have my surgery for mx, DIEP reconstruction and anxiliary node clearance on Jan 16th😳😳 Scared but will be glad to get the horrible tumour out of my body and have a new boob and flat tummy at the end of it...part of rebuilding me👏🏻👏🏻 Now just looking in the mirror checking for signs of my hair and eyelashes regrowing that would just be magic🙏 Hope the SEs have been kind to everyone during this holiday period. Much love to u all 💕🥰 ... View more

Hi All, Due my last chemo tomorrow, have been counting down the days and so desperate to ring that bell 🔔 and see the back of it. HOWEVER, on Tuesday the oncologist was disappointed that the tumour has not continued to shrink🙁 it reduced from 6cms to 4cms after first docetaxol but has remained for last two🙁 He’s now talking about chemo tablets when I recover from my op as he suspects cancer still there. I’m triple negative. Surgery Jan 16th for mx and recon with DIEP flap. Hoping after checking the tumour it is scar tissue and dead cancer cells🤞🤞🤞 He did say could be scar tissue but didn’t look convincing🙁 Gabyf: my daughter had the scoliosis op and the difference is great. Worrying time but the surgeons are amazing. And my daughter grew 1.5 inches after op because her spine was straightened 👍👍 Best wishes to all you lovely ladies💕 ... View more

Hi all, I am looking for advice please from the ladies who have had reconstruction done, I am due surgery in jan for a single/possibility double mastectomy and have meetin with surgeons on Monday. I am thinking of asking for the DIEP flap but know is hard op and recovery🙁 How have people got in with this, any regrets? Implants seem an easier option but don’t last for ever. Any advice would be great. Thanks Lots ofove to you wonderful ladies 💕 ... View more

Hi Everyone, Not posted for a wee while. So happy for you Gaby that is great news. My tumour shrunk by 1/3 after one docetaximol which I was delighted about, however, have had 2 more and doesn’t seem to have changed which is disappointing☹️ They do say can be scar tissue and not all tumour as a result of the biopsies so hoping it’s that 🤞 Just one more docetaximol for me on Dec 20th and will be ringing that bell 🔔 and bubbling like a 2 year old 🤧🤧🍾🎉 Hope your mouth feels better soon Kath. Next stage for me is meeting with plastic surgeon on Monday re operation in jan. Need to try and persuade them I want a double mastectomy and not a single one as they are recommending. Should get result of genetics testing any day now and they said if was positive they would do the double but I want it either way. I’m triple negative so want to lesson the risk of reoccurrance. Researching the DIEP flap reconstruction which is a scary thought both the op and the recovery, however it has been referred to as the gold standard for reconstruction, anyone have any experience of it? Hope everyone is catching up with their missed sleep 😴 and SEs are calming down. Lots of love 💕 ... View more

Hi all, Can’t wait to see some hairgrowth, will be a huge milestone in getting back to ME🙎🏻‍♀️ Always felt my hair was my best feature lol always looked healthy and strong 💪 but it def didn’t like that FEC😭😭 even with cold capping am now almost bald apart from fluff that’s held on. I was recommended to get my eyebrows microbladed before chemo and best thing I have done😀 They are holding up well and a far better shape than my old ones which is a bonus! My eyelashes are falling out especially my lower ones. Always look really tired now. Looking forward to 2019 when I will be rebuilt lol ❤️❤️ ... View more

Hi, Lisa: I do find the side effects for me have been the same. Bad furry mouth for the first 7 days, have got anti biotics to sort that out. Loose my taste buds for the first couple of weeks and also suffer from dry mouth, have bought biotene mouth spray which helps that. Few aches and pains but manageable and tiredness....better than FEC tho! Gaby: I have not googled as too scary. I think the main difference is that there are no tablets longer term so get 6 monthly scans I believe. My thinking is to live my life and try and be as healthy as I can whilst still enjoying life! ❤️❤️ ... View more

Hi, Nikki: so great you have got through this journey🎉🎉 I am also triple negative and it scares me so much. Have you made many changes to your lifestyle post treatment? Reading books on diet etc. but all a bit brutal... no chocolate, carbs, wine🙁🙁... all the good stuff!!! Tip for those going through T chemo, I find if you get some vitamin C tablets and put 1/2 of one on you tongue it freshens your mouth a bit and gives you some saliva. I am suffering from dry mouth and sore finger nails after 2 T’s. Hope everyone has a good week❤️❤️ ... View more

Hi Everyone😊 Lisa-T: I am soo happy for you that your scare on your good boob is nothing to worry about, I just can’t imagine how you must have felt waiting to hear that great news. Peewee. 😅 Glad the T is being kind to you so far, honestly I have had 2 now and far prefer the side effects with this one. Do you have to inject your tummy every day for the first. week to boost your immunity levels? I am having to do that. GabyF: Every cloud has a silver lining missing chemo and enjoying life without SE’s...enjoy x CatGarland: Hoping the T works for you too as FEC made no difference for me but T did after just one dose so 🤞🤞 I had my meeting with the surgeon, as expected not keen to do double mastectomy and remove a healthy boob. To go back after genetic blood test result in mid December to discuss further. Definitely going to push for it though. Met with the plastic surgeon to discuss reconstruction options...a bit daunting. However one option involves getting a free tummy tuck thrown in 👙😀...sounds good but big op involved. A lot to think about! Love to all and minimal side effects💕❤️ ... View more

Hi All, Alittlepixie: I’ve had 2 T treatments so far and isn’t as bad as I was expecting tbh. Tiredness, loss of tastebuds which is rubbish🙁 and I notice my eyelashes coming out after this second one but haven’t had that nauseous feeling that FEC gives you. But has worked for me and tumour has shrunk from 6cm to 4cm on T so I’m delighted it’s working😀. Gabyf: Good luck with your MRI results🤞🤞 I’ve got a meeting tomorrow with the surgeon about my op. I’ve been told I need a mastectomy but would prefer a double mastectomy as would only worry the cancer would come back. I don’t think they are too keen on removing a healthy breast tho so will need to see how I go. All the best to everyone with their treatments/results ❤️ ... View more

Hi All, Lisa-T that’s devastating for you to have found another lump, but they say the majority of lumps found are non cancerous so everything crossed for a good result🤞🤞🙏🙏 I know u are at the same stage as me. I’m due my 4th chemo tomorrow. I have had one lot of Docetaxel and side effects were manageable tbh better than FEC for me. Also following a CT scan one does has shrunk my tumour from 6cms to 4cms...whereas FEC made no difference...so has worked well for me so hopefully will do the same for you. Loving the stories about the hats/hairbands. I took a photo of me with my daughters long blond curly hair extensions under a scarf. My friends believed it was as my latest wig! Considering I am 52 and my normal style is a shoulder length bob I thought they would have gueiwas a wind up...but they all fell for it hook line and sinker! ... View more

Hi Lisa-T, I think we are at the same point with 3 chemos down🎉🎉 I have had 2 FEC and because my tumour hadn’t changed they swapped me into T early so I have had 1 T. The SE’s have been fine, not much nausea but tiredness and issues with oral thrush which I have found to be the worst. Now have an antibiotic for that so hopefully will clear up🤞 My vein has not been sore. Was apprehensive about the T chemo but so far 😊 Best wishes to everyone💕 ... View more

Hi All, The hair loss is just such a hard one to cope with. I don’t think I’ve felt as traumatised by anything as seeing my lovely hair coming out. I’ve not braved the shave yet even although I have only a pathetic few strands left but at least I can see a bit of hair under my scarves etc. I’m now wearing my wig quite a bit and feeling quite confident in it now... still a bit itchy mind you but not sure you can avoid that?? My hubby sounds like yours Lisa-T, he’s doing his best but always says ‘It will be fine’ when I try and talk to him about my fears. But I know he’s putting a brave face on for me which I admire and appreciate💕 Not easy for our other half’s either. I am due my third FEC on Thursday. So the next few days I will be catching up on all my housework and getting a big food shop in preparation for a rough week of SE’s. However after the first week I am usually feeling fine so I can cope with that. Head down and I will be half way through treatment after Thursday...woohoo👏🏻👏🏻 And closer to ringing that bell 🔔🍾 Best wishes to everyone ❤️👍 ... View more

Hi Everyone, I have had 2 rounds of FEC and third due on 18th Oct. First week after chemo is rough for me with nausea then I feel fine. Have some oral issues with a mouth ulcer at the moment but is manageable. Hair loss is just such a bummer🙁 even although you think you are prepared it just hits you mentally when you are staring at big clumps of your lovely hair🤦🏻‍♀️ I did cold capping but sadly didn’t work for me have only about 5% left. However a friend is is going through the same treatment as me at the same time is doing really well with her hair. So cold capping definitely works for some👏🏻 I am quite confident now wearing my wig and feel when I have it on I feel like the ‘old me’ and my teenagers think it looks great 👍People keep commenting how well I am looking and overall feel much better on chemo for the 2 weeks out of three in my cycle. Fingers crossed continues like this🤞 Best wishes to everyone 💐 ... View more

Hi Lisa-T, I’m the same with pain in my arm where I had my second Fec last week. I spoke to my chemo nurse and advised to place a hot water bag on it ...which I’m doing just now to relieve the pain, also paracetamol. She said next chemo they would use my other arm which I am happy enough with. ... View more

Hi GabyF, Thanks so much for that info it’s been really useful. Wishing us both the best of luck on our results🤞🤞 sure we are due some luck💕 ... View more

Hi, I am TN and have quite a bit of cancer in my family, my consultant applied for a genetic test for me in August. Can you advise please how long it takes and what is involved? At the moment I am down for a single mastectomy following my chemo but I would push for a double if this test was positive. Best wishes to all 💕 ... View more

Hi All, Due to get my second FEC treatment tomorrow and losing hair big time🙁 I did do the cold capping although was just frozen caps and not the machine. I wonder if anyone else did the cold cap and if they are losing a lot of hair? To be honest bring in the chemo as that’s what going to win this battle for me👍 Best wishes to everyone ❤️ ... View more

Hi all, Update on my liver ultrasound results... Went ok, the ultrasound didn’t determine what the lesions are, apparently they are very small. If they are cancerous the chemo might sort them. To get another ultrasound after third chemo. Also, might have always been there. Main thing is it’s NOT a big mass of cancer so I’m happy to take that at this stage. It’s amazing how happy I am that I may JUST have breast cancer...unbelievable...what is happening???...a month ago being told I had breast cancer rocked my world 😳 Anyways will get a good sleep tonight. Love to all 💕 ... View more

Hi all, Day 12 now after first of my FEC-T* 6 chemo rounds. Feeling good, just a bit paranoid about going over the door when I am in my ‘middle week’ and my immunity is low. Still doing the school run but apart from that and a bit of food shopping not venturing out much more. Keeping buying stuff online!!! Need to stop that as off work and not earning £££’s (I’m a foster mum and had to let my wee boy go🙁) Anyway, really scared today as have appt at 4pm to get result of liver ultrasound. A couple of shadows were found following my CT scan. Just seems to have been bad news for the past while so expecting the worst and praying for the best 🙏🙏 This is such a challenging journey, getting the chemo and dealing with the side effects has been straight forward for me so far. IT IS THE WAITING FOR RESULTS THAT IS EMOTIONAL TORTURE 😰 Anyway roll on 4pm so that I know 🤞🤞 Sorry for the moan I am normally a positive person but this ride tests the best of us! Love that I can post here and people in the same boat can really appreciate the feelings. Love to you all💕 ... View more

Hi, Just a wee update after my last post: Day 5 after first FEC chemo and feeling much better. Sick for first day and 1/2 then just tired more since then. Completely off tea and coffee which is amazing for me I normally am a 3 cuppa/day person. Same happened when I was pregnant! Anyway had a visit to hospital today for an ultrasound on my liver. My CT scan showed everything looked ok apart from the breast and a couple of shadows on the liver🙁🙁 they said the shadows could have always been there and not to worry....I AM TERRIFIED 🙁 And although the radiographer said she would have the results on the system by the end of today, I was told I had to wait til the 25th for them😰 This is mental torture. Thinking will phone my breast nurse tom and ask if I can have them earlier. Has anyone had any experience with this? Best wishes to all💕 ... View more