Breast Cancer Now Forum

Thanks Anna x ... View more

Hey Juzcooper1971 Don't want to pi@@ on your chips but I think you have lost a cycle amidst the chemo fog??? If I recall your a few days behind me so your half way through and have just finished your 2nd cycle. I did exactly the same in my diary, missed a whole  cycle out 🙈 I started cycle 3 yesterday so double dose of Tax & Carb and feeling ok. Off to the panto tonight so I've given the hair piece a good old brush!  At least it only takes 5 mins to get ready these days 😄 I've noticed a few spots on my scalp. I usually get a few spots weirdly when I have my hair cut so could be something similar for me? What lotions are people using for their scalps, advice p!ease 👍 Hey lilco, the markers are pretty much the same as the biopsy, they're just dropping something in rather than taking something out. Very quick and not painful. They'll probably do a quick mammogram as well to make sure they're in the correct place. Hoping all you other others chemo warriors on here are coping well and are well enough to enjoy your Christmas dinner ( those on steroids probably more than those that not! 😉 😄 ) Take care Lisa xx ... View more

Hi everyone, hope you are all feeling relatively well today and managing to keep up with the festivities!   Hi Liloc, yes I have an 18 year old daughter and I'm 48 this month so realistically I'm not planning on having any more children and more than likely on my way to the menopause, so I guess this process just speeds things along a little!   Hi Milo & Holeinone, welcome to the thread.  You'll get lots of support and tips from these wonderful ladies, hang on in there   Hi Sals, OMG I am so with you on the wine front.  I too can only manage a glass now, but at least the lack of alcohol outways the excessive food intake!!   Hi TBird, I have my chemo through a cannula weekly, and try to alternate hands.  They put little heated bean bags or heated blankets on your hands at my hospital to warm up your veins first.  I found that after my second week my hand was still hurting as I'd used the same hand twice.  I think the pain can sometimes happen because of the speed the drugs go through.  You can ask them to turn the machine down a bit apparently.   My next session is Friday and will be the end of cycle 2 of 4 so will be half way trough my trial chemo, then off for three rounds of FEC. Yay!!!   Take care everyone and stay well   Lisa xx   ... View more

Hi everyone Had my results back from genetics yesterday and I have the mutated BRCA2 gene! Didn't think for one minute it would come back positive 🙈 So, once all this chemo is out of the way I'll be looking at ovaries and boobies surgery, probably just have the whole lot removed - in for a penny and all that 😬   Braved the shave on Monday. I honestly thought everyone was exaggerating about the quantity of hair loss - they were not!!! Since I stopped the cold cap it shed like an animal, I would never have believed how much if I hadn't experienced it! I've got a crimbo dinner with my wonderful work family tonight so will be nice to slap on a bit of make-up and wear my new wig that they all clubbed together and brought for me. They have been amazing and I feel truly blessed to have their support. I will raise a glass to you all 💗 I hope you are all doing well and are looking after yourselves. Take care Lisa xxx ... View more

Hi Pinklily Giving up the chemo isn't an option, you and all of us on here have got this in the bag. Yes, it's harder for some than others and we've all got different support networks, but don't forget you. Do this for you. Sorry if that sounds harsh, but we all need to fight this together 👭 My BCN is nice enough, she rings with results which is handy but always at a time she can't talk properly as she'll be in clinic! She does ring me back though if I leave a message. To be honest I get better info on here!I Thanks for the tip 're the green veg. I'll give that ago Take care and keep fighting Lisa xxx ... View more

Hi Emily You definitely need to pull on the support resources available to you, you are not alone, and use this forum to chat, moan, whatever! If you find you are struggling mentally, please also speak to your GP, do not suffer I silence 💗 Why do you think you have the BRCA2 gene, have you been tested? I'm triple negative, grade 3 with a bit of family history so was tested 5 weeks ago and get the results on Wednesday.  I personally can't comment on the EC treatment as have that still to come (I'm doing a trial) but there are plenty on here who can. From what I've read people seem to feel a bit more "normal" after the first week so hopefully you will start to feel better soon. Please, please, please talk to someone an get some help. Sending lots of hugs Lisa xxx ... View more

Hi Juzcooper1971 Ditto your comments 're the treatment, feeling pretty much ok most days and forgetting we're poorly! I think I'm going to have to bite the bullet tomorrow with the hair, I thought people were exaggerating about how much was everywhere in the house. I blow dryed it yesterday and I looked like I was wearing a mohair jumper 🙈 Amazing news about the shrinkage. I had the exact same thought about the EC 's, didn't think we'd skip that one, sounds horrendous compared to our current regime 😬 I thought I'd be a bit rubbish tonight after the first injection, but ok (apart from still awake, which I think is the steriods?) But ok after the carb & Pac in general. You might find it better this time around. Drink loads of water it seems to help 👍 Take care and keep me posted Lisa xxx ... View more

Hows everyone doing this fine Saturday? I started c2 yesterday and decided to stop cold capping. Was a hard decision to make as although my hair has come out loads, I have so much of it you would never know! I probably should have persevered with it but the thought of doing another 9 weekly sessions then  3, 3 weekly sessions was just too much for me. It's not the cold, it 's how heavy it was and how miserable and disorientated it made me, the whole chemo session was 100% better without it. I have brought my wig a long GHD styled layered look in toffee peacan, makes me look loads younger so massive bonus 😆   Just need to see how hair loss goes now before braving the shave 🙈 Have crimbo dinner with the work crew on Thursday so might need to be sooner rather than later or I'll be eating chicken liver pate with a portion of hair on the side! 😂 Juzcooper1971, oncology appointment was promising, we have some shrinkage so good start. After the carboplatin and paclitaxol yesterday, feel totally fine, no nausea so far which is good. Will be those pesky injections starting tomorrow that bugger me up 😡 Take care everyone Lisa xxx ... View more

Hi Juzcooper1971 Glad to hear youre back home and well. My hair started shedding on Sunday (day 17) and was terrible when I washed it today - I cried in the shower and all the way to work 😢 I think I've still not admitted to myself that I have cancer and everything is hunky dorey! I've been fine again this week apart from the injections. How are you finding them, are you getting side effects?  I hope your session went ok today. My cycle 2 starts Friday so I'll keep you posted on how that goes. All you lovely ladies on here I hope you are all well and being looked after by your loved ones 💗 Oh, going back to hair loss, can anyone recommend products to look after your scalp please for when I have to brave the shave 😬 Take care everyone xxx ... View more

Hi Kateday & Sals I'm day 17 today on weekly Paclitaxel and carboplatin every 3 weeks. Have been cold capping but the one you change every 30 mins or so. It's so weird cos as much as you know your hair will more than likely fall out, you still think (or pray) it wont!!! I've chosen a wig ready but was hoping I wouldn't need it 🙈 xxx ... View more

Kateday, my head hair is definitely coming loose! How long does everyone find the hair shedding lasts before looks a total mess? I have loads of thin hair, was hoping it might just thin out a bit?!!! 🙈 Lisa xxx ... View more

Hey Juzcooper1971, sorry to hear about your blip. I'm sure you will be fine and the antibiotics are precautionary, I'll keep everything crossed that you'll be back home later today and fighting fit for your next round. I've been okay so far again this week, just finished the first cycle. I find the injections are giving me more grief than the chemo! Got one later,  can't wait 😬 How are you doing with hair? I think my head hair maybe starting to shed, but only very slightly, but my foo hair is going for it!!! 🙈 Stay well  Lisa xxx ... View more

Hi Harkes I'm day 14 on Taxol and carboplatin every 3 Weeks and have been cold capping. Got home this evening and the lady garden has tidied itself shall we say! Head hair still hanging in there but we'll see what the next few days bring. Think I've read on here that the non head areas seem to go first.  Hope you are recovering well from your abcess? Take care Lisa xxx   ... View more

Hope everything went well for you yesterday Liza. It's sounds like you have a great network of friends around you. I have been lucky in that way too although nobody has cooked me food! 😄 Love Lisa xxx ... View more

Hi Juzcooper1971 Ready for today? This week has been a much better week so far, although I have come to the conclusion that the injections are the devil! Apart from my "toilet episode" on Friday I was totally fine until yesterday when I ached from head to toe.  Had a hot salt bath and watched some netflix.  Feel ok this morning apart from a bit of a headache, but we'll see how the day goes.  Usually start to flag at work around 3ish. I agree that so far its been ok but don't want to jinx it!  I'm convinced if we manage ok on this chemo cycle it will be the FEC that gets us later on!   Glad to hear everyone else isn't doing too bad as well so far. Look after yourselves ladies and gents   Love Lisa xxx   ... View more

Hi Juzcooper1971   Was not in the mood for the session yesterday, felt like a spoilt child, very irritable!  Anyway at least it was only the Paclitaxel.  Had the itchy foo thing again, apparently its the steroids, then once they've put the antihistamine in it wore off! Not sure if its a weekly torture of pleasure After about an hour of being home I had the worst "bottom explosion" for about 40 minites which I didn't get last week.  I'm wondering if it was all the grapes I ate whilst having the treatment?!  Note to self to give them a miss next week! I have only been given the injections for this week and to carry on with the antibacterials.  So no steriods this week or next.  Should be sleeping better for the next couple of weeks. Keep me posted on how you are doing - Hope the hangover feeling has settled Lisa xxx ... View more

Hi Harkes Just checked out your video recommendation, and you are so right reference the lyrics -   Oh yes I am wise But it's wisdom born of pain Yes, I've paid the price But look how much I gained If I have to, I can do anything I am strong (strong) I am invincible (invincible) I am woman   You can bend but never break me 'Cause it only serves to make me More determined to achieve my final goal And I come back even stronger Not a novice any longer 'Cause you've deepened the conviction in my soul   Great inspirational words xxx ... View more

Hi Kateday I've also been diagnosed triple negative (2 tumours) plus lymph node involvement so stage 3.  I'm doing the same trial as Juzcooper1971 & Lilypad so will be interesting to see how we all get on. Had the results of my bone scan yesterday which were clear (thank god), I was sooooo scared another sh*t storm was coming my way!  I'm off for my second chemo session today so fingers crossed the upcomming week is similar to the last, completely manageable if it is.  @Juzcooper1971 - Yesterday (day 7) was the best day ever.  Felt totally normal and ate like a pig! Stay strong everyone and lets keep each other going.  #WEGOTTHIS   Much love Lisa xxx ... View more

Hiya Juzcooper1971 Next chemo is Friday (tomorrow) off for the blood tests this morning to check all good to go. Yes, just the Placataxil so shouldn't be there as long  The Injections, my sister lives around the corner so has been popping over to do them.  She watched a video on YouTube which helped as well as reading the leaflet. She's a dab hand at it now!  The needle is so thin, you can barely feel it so you'll be fine.  I think after the second one i started to feel a bit achey in my legs, so that would have been day 5, but appart from that I felt fine in myself, it was quite a good day.  Yesterday was a good day again until about 4pm then I felt like I had been run over by a bus! My neck, back, everything ached and hurt to touch  I had a hot bath and a lie down.  This morning I feel pretty much ok again apart from a little headache, but as I'm off to the hospital this morning I'm just going to mention it, but sure these will just be side effects.  I've also found that the days I was taking the steriods, i wasn't sleeping.  Top Tip - Invest in some Senokot!!  3 Days in and a brought some  Hope youn are doing well yourself? Lisa xxx ... View more