Breast Cancer Now Forum

Hello ladies-not written on here for a while but have been keeping up with all your progress you brave ladies and some of you have certainly been through the mill!!! I rang the bell in chemo unit yesterday after X6 FEC-T. Not been the easiest few months have to say and at the beginning of August that last date seemed way off...... It goes remarkably quickly doesn't it?  Been in a bit of a chemo blur all the way through which could probably be partly to do with it, as well as in built coping mechanisms! Have 20 radiotherapy appointments starting 12th December (80 mile round trip) but small problem in the grand scheme of things. wishing you all a speedy recovery- the end of treatment is in sight and we will be glad to see the new year!! Best wishes love Amanda X           ... View more

Hi Jude Hope you are ok and start picking up soon. I am the same with the 2nd round, feel like have been hit by a brick wall, taking all my energy just to get dressed today. Hoping for sleep tonight but fully expecting the 2-3am wake up. good night all !! we can do this .......   Amanda xx ... View more

Hi ladies Gosh..... not been on for a couple of days so just catching up with you all! There are some ups and downs......bless you all.   Sorry to hear you are in hospital Kip, hope you get sorted and home very soon!   Georgie good to hear you got your pic line in eventually and hopefully it will save a lot of hassle for you now. Good luck and hugs going your way for the next round. On the parking issue I only found out this week from another patient that if we take our ticket from the machine into the department we are attending be it chemo, outpatients or a&e the reception stamp it and we don't pay. This is York trust so it obviously varies depending where you live.    Jude, like you am just coming up for breath after having 2nd FEC 2 days ago. It seemed to hit me like a brick wall 5pm that afternoon. More so than last time.They changed my sickness meds which they warned can cause drowsiness...that's all I need more spaced out than normal but they seem to be working. They also gave me lansoprazole for the gastric issues. Haven't had the hangover type headache this time but was awake 2am on the dot last night. We basically just have to ride through this don't we?   Ktk it is encouraging to read you were fit to go out the day after your first T round. Let us know how you get on as I for one am dreading them.   Also lost most of hair now which started going on day 15 but have to say got used to it quite quickly. Was out and about with headscarves on last weekend and did not get too many funny looks. Got my wig too but there is so much more hair on it than used to so may only wear it for special occasions! The chemo hairdresser told me no need to wear anything under the one I have and it doesn't feel as though it would blow off.   To cheer you all up....My OH said he thought he had woken up next to Sigourni Weaver in Alien 3 the other morning as my sleep cap had come off.    Hope you all have as good a day as possible.   love Amanda x ... View more

Hi Sally that is so funny -my chemo brain did not engage there at all although it isn't far from the truth. There has been hair everywhere I have gone.....including the loo!!!   welcome Millsy to the mad house!!!!   A x ... View more

Hi Jude Your blog once again is brilliant. Good luck for your hair appointment today. I can't tell you how relieved I was for it to go. I think you just get to the stage where it is so annoying and uncomfortable that anything is a welcome relief. There is still shedding happening going to a number 2 but much more manageable and it's nice to wash your hair and rub the scalp without worrying about a handful coming away. I too am dreading round 2 next Wednesday but do you know what......bring it on! What else can they throw at us? We will be very strong women after all this!   Sending big hugs your way love Amanda     ... View more

Hi ladies Hope you are all doing ok Day 15 for me now and had to go for the number 2 shave this morning as the hair shedding and painful scalp was driving me insane. Its the best decision I could have made as it feels much more comfortable. Don't be afraid..... it is quite liberating. A  x ... View more

Morning ladies   Hope you are all ok and coping, particularly Georgie-hope you get home soon!   Day 10 here -still some bowel 'issues', sleeping better, appetite and taste returning. Very dizzy and off balance and overwhelmingly fatigued today. Hit me like a brick wall in fact. Hoping next week life can return to normal for at least a few days...fingers crossed. Hair is feeling thin and delicate but still there for now!! Dare not blow dry in case it all flies off.   onwards and upwards thinking of you all Amanda x ... View more

Morning   Hope Fran & Georgie have been ok overnight and you have both been tucked up in your own beds!   Day 8 -First night for me where I wasn't wandering at 3 am ....hurray! Did feel the need to sort out my freezer at 6.30am though-what is that all about?   hope you ladies have a good day today  A xx ... View more

Hi SB I feel for you and hope you are ok. The ladies on here all seem so brave and upbeat about things! I am just a day ahead of you, had 1st FEC on 1st August. I am just starting to feel have turned a corner today but would not feel confident driving or going far on my own as so  woozy headed when upright for any length of time. I like many others am anxious about hair loss and woke suddenly and panicked this morning thinking it was all laid on my pillow!!  My head is starting to tingle and am noticing strands are falling easily. The texture has altered too and am afraid to wash vigorously or blow dry. I decided not to do cold cap and just had my hair cut really short last week. Am ready with some nice head wear and will see hairdresser at chemo unit when next there. I think once it starts coming out then it will be better to accept and will soon adapt. It just seems so frightening at this stage. take care and keep in touch  A xxxx   ... View more

Love your journal Jude 😭 It's fab! Wow what a similar week we have had!! A X ... View more

It's been a very "cardboard" day today!   hope you all get some sleep, night night   A xx ... View more

Thank you Kip and Jude! Makes me feel better knowing I am possibly turning a corner 🌻😂 ... View more

Morning ladies  hope you are all coping! i am now day 6 following 1st FEC-t and got to say still feel pretty rough but managing. Trying to tell myself that anyhow! nausea remains on and off, having loose stools, waking still at 3am, mouth becoming sore, appetite not so good and taste going, feel woozy and unsteady, trying to potter around house but becoming worn out very quickly. hoping to pick up soon.......please!!!! does it get easier ? 😭😭😭😭 ... View more

Hi ktk thanks for reply. yes was thinking the same re take home meds. Think they try you on cheaper ones first which is understandable. Will ring them Monday if no better. Did you feel better or worse when the 3 days of steroids stopped? Hope you are getting on ok 2 weeks out of 3 feeling Okish would be great!! All the best for last 3 sessions Amanda ... View more

Morning ladies This is my first post but have found the forum really useful in the build up to having treatment. So thank you! I had lumpectomy and node biopsy a month ago, found to be invasive ductal grade 3 negative to all hormones but no spread to lymph nodes. I had my first FEC of x6 FEC-T on 1st August and so far have survived!! Then it's radiotherapy (80mile round trip everyday for 4 weeks) The treatment itself went fine, was in the department for 3 hours, was offered lunch whilst there. The other patients seemed quite happy too. I took my 21year old daughter for company which was a good idea. I had decided beforehand not to try the cold cap as my hair is very short and I have just prepared myself for losing it now. I have bought some nice head wear in readiness and have an appointment to see the hairdresser at the chemo unit next time I go to look at wigs, get some advice etc. The afternoon I got home The nausea kicked in and I took the metachlorpromide regularly that day. Was awake by 2am pounding headache and nausea so not much sleep had. Yesterday started the steroids 2mg x3 times a day and have got to say helped the nausea. Started feeling flushed in the face late afternoon and it is still the same this morning. Don't feel unwell though.  Was awake again at 3am last night but did eventually get back to sleep. Appetite not been too good for a few days(no bad thing as need it to come off, not gain) just drinking lots of fluids to flush toxins through. Pee is less pink today!!  Need to eat when take steroid so things like rice cake, banana, yogurt was managed yesterday. I am lucky to have lots of friends and family support around me and for that I am grateful. good luck to all you ladies out there going through it as well. Be brave, strong and take what the hell they throw at us next!!! 🌻🌻🌻🌻🌻🌻 ... View more