Breast Cancer Now Forum

Hi @Sar_ah  The advice I was given was not to bath because of the risk of infection due to the bath water not being fresh running water like a shower. If they tell you any different, or give you any tips when you see them, please let me know as I would love to have a bath again!   Which day to you have your 2nd chemo? My 2nd one is due on the 1st November.   Good luck for the port fitting, I had mine done with sedation, which helped with the anxiety of it all, and I didn't feel a thing:)   Well done for the 5k, that's amazing! I would have been exercising more but once I got this chest infection, I wanted to conserve my energy to help me get better, plus I don't think my lungs would have handled getting out of breath!:)     ... View more

@Shi - thanks, sounds great!  I'll get tuned into that jukebox now lol, and get on to the thread you mentioned straight after xxxx     ... View more

Hi @Pinklily   I think I am having similar chemo cycles to you, followed by surgery, then radiotherapy, so we may be going through it at the same time as each other. It seems a long time to me too, but I am hoping it will go quickly given how busy I am going to be with all the appointments! I have put a big wall planner on my wall and put the appointments on it. As I get through each cycle/ stage I am going to give myself some kind of treat - I don't know what yet lol, but even if something small just for myself it will give me something to look forward to. I guess other than that and planning nice things to do on the "good week" around day 14 after chemo, it's a case of just trying to stay positive, to stick with it no matter what, and to take it a day at a time. We will all get there in the end, and it's going to be so much easier now we have all found this support group. I have many friends and a great family who are all trying to say the right things, and be supportive, and that's comforting, but it's only the people who are going through it, and have gone through it before us, that really know what it's like, and how we are feeling from day to day. I am thankful for this forum, I really am. Sending you lots of positive thoughts, and hugs xxxxxx ... View more

Sorry, the chemo I'm on for this 1st lot is EC - Epirubicin and Cyclophosphamide 4 cycles every 3 weeks. Then 4 chemo cycles of 3 weekly Paclitaxel (Taxol), and weekly Carboplatin (Carbo) for the same duration - 4 months. Followed by single mastecomy & lymph node removal (but I am going to ask for a double mastectomy because it's an aggressive form of breast cancer and because I may carry the BRCH 1 & 2 genes - am being tested half way through), followed by radiotherapy to my chest wall. xx ... View more

Hi @Ktk @Aneeebel @reddit @ElliesMum @Shi @Pinklilly  Thank you for your words of advice. I took an ibruprofen and a Zapain and the pains had passed by the next day:) At least I know what to expect when I go into the ring for round 2!!!    So far the advice I have been given is:- Expect to lose your hair - well maybe up 30%-70% of it (and mostly at the nape of my neck and around my ears for some reason) depending on how much effort I put in with the cold cap I am trying. Wash it once -twice a week in tepid water using mild shampoo and conditioner and no sulphates in the shampoo or conditioner. The brand Simple was suggested. Well I tried using that and my really thick hair (which is dry at the best of times), got drier and didn't feel like my own hair - especially once it was soaked at the roots during the night by the menopausal sweats! So I am now using the new Organix coconut shampoo and conditioner, plus my usual hair stuff on the ends. I don't use any heat on it - well, apart from my fringe and that's just the ends of it once a week (my hair is really curly, and can be frizzy). The rest is in a loose ponytail. So far washing gently with tepid water (brrrr not nice with a cold), I have lost one long curl. My husband said "Don't you worry love, that's nothing in size compared to the usual long hairy slugs I pull out of the plug hole on a weekly basis!!" The cold cap isn't as bad as I thought. I can only describe my experience as a bit like washing it with a minty shampoo. It feels kind of tingly but not in a horrible way. The only two draw backs are 1. it adds to the length of the chemo appointment. (1.2 hour beforehand, 40 mins afterwards), and 2. the fact that each loo visit, has to be less than 8 minutes as the cap would lose too much heat.   I was told to be careful about cutting myself if I continue shaving my legs etc. because of the risk of infection. So I've bought a wet and dry lady shave, which is doing the trick. I've heard that any chin hairs I would usually wax off or pluck will continue to grow despite the chemo (grrr) I can't wax anymore because of infection risk, but I've not given any more thought to that one!   I was advised that my skin would be very sensitive, so to use Aveena moisturiser for sensitive skin, which I had never tried before. I am using that and my skin is so far really good. I am using it as a moisturiser on my face too, which hasn't caused any breakouts, or anything yet, so I will carry on until it does. My skins sensitive and dry so I usually use dermalogica. I tried that at the beginning of Chemo1 and had a sore, red face for a few days, so I have put that away.   I was told to floss daily, but not to be too hard on my gums, or they may get infected, to continue to use my electric toothbrush, and to rinse with difflam if I got sores in my mouth. Also, to use lots of lip balm because otherwise my lips would dry out. I had a dentist check before i started the chemo.   I also got a flu jab a few days before - poss reason I got a cold that turned into a chest infection, or could be it added to the cold the grand babies passed on to me, but I'll never know.   I have been told I can't bath because have a port fitted under my skin on my chest for the chemo (the grand toddlers would have pulled the other types like a chain if I had any of the others). This was put in under local before hand. It hasn't given me any problems so far, but it can be uncomfortable if I lay on my left side (where it is located just inside my shoulder) and I can't lay on my front. The cancer is on my right breast, so as I don't like to lay on that side, the only alternative is on my back. Also, when I tried to run, it pulled the insision next to the port, and it felt really painful, so I am now being more careful. As for the port under the skin it looks like a small bump. When showering I have still been using femme fresh, and Sanex zero shower gel. No itchiness anywhere, or rashes yet.   Other than that, I am just trying to drink as many fluids as I can (water mainly), I have a milk shake each day, make sure I eat three  meals a day (main meals things like stews, liver & bacon casseroles, meat, salmon, steamed veg etc. and lots of fruit. Oh and also prunes - at least 5 every day otherwise I have been getting constipated.    Taste wise I can tolerate most foods, but my one life long love - chocolate - tastes rank! Shame - hopefully I will get a taste for this again afterwards!! Sending big big hugs to all the October ladies, including the new ones:) xxx ... View more

Day 8 of my first chemo cycle and I have really bad bone ache:( Like a boring pain in my back, thigh bones and hips. The chemo nurse said it is where ive been given a jab since chemo to boost my immune system and it should pass within a few days. Been taking anti inflammatories and paracetamol but its still so sore. Have any of you other ladies had this at this stage, and if so, do you have any tips I can try to ease the pain? It would be easier for me to manage if I could get sleep properly night time, but as I've been told to stop my HRT, I am being bothered by menopausal  sweats and headaches. On a brighter note, I think the antibiotics are now getting on top of my chest infection:) x ... View more

@reddi Thanks, i'll try to avoid those days for the next treatment and see how I get on. I've got a big wall planner at home with all the appointments and goals on it, and it seems to be making me feel like I am bit more in control of things. I work from home too which is really handy now because it means I can work away comfortably in my pjs, as and when I feel up to it - plus it keeps my mind busy! Good idea to avoid sitting in the local cafe and working on those days. If my internets been down at home, I've worked in the foyer of a local hotel on my laptop before, and that wasn't too noisy or busy, as I chose a fairly quiet day of the week to do it. Plus there was somewhere to get tea or coffee if I needed it. If I find myself going a bit too stir crazy at home during the treatment, I might just take myself off there again for a few hours lol:) xx   ... View more

Hi Reddi Thank you for sharing your experience. I had a cold coming on before my 1st Chemo (I was told to still have the chemo as my temp was okay) , which decided to turn into a streaming cold and chesty cough on day 4 after chemo. I'm now on day 7 and have been given a weeks course of antibiotics as they are worried it's turning into a chest infection. Hopefully it won't delay my 2nd chemo. What advice would you give re contact with other people, especially my grand toddlers around the time of my chemo and in the days afterwards when my immune systems low? They are both at different nursery schools so pick up and share everything that's going round! I love them to bits and hate staying away from them, so it would be good to know so I can try to make some sort of a plan around treatments. xx ... View more

Hello October ladies from another October lady:)   I just wanted to say hi, I am new to this forum, and I am so glad to find a forum like this. It has made me feel so less alone in all of this.   I started my 1st Chemo last Thursday, after being diagnosed with TNBC in my right breast and lymph node. I am 48, with a loving hubby, two lovely daughters and two energetic grand toddlers to keep us all busy!   I wish you other ladies lots of warm hugs xx ... View more

Hi debiday   I've been reading your posts, and I wondered how you are doing? I have recently been diagnosed with TNCC in my right breast and 1under arm lymph node. The tumour in my breast measures approx 3cm  x 1.5cm. I received my first dose of EC chemo on Thursday, and have developed a chest infection, so i am now on antibiotics. I've been told that I need to have another 3 cycles of this EC chemo every 3 weeks, before 4 cycles of three weekly Taxo chemo, at the same time as 4 cycles of weekly Carboplatin chemo. After that I am going to be offered a DNA test for the BRCC1 & 2 gene (I am 48 with no known family history of breast cancer), prior to a right mastectomy, with axillary clearance and chest wall and supraclavicular fossa radiotherapy.  My world has been turned upside down in the last 4 weeks, but I am trying my hardest to remain strong and positive and to focus on taking each day at a time! xx       ... View more