Breast Cancer Now Forum

Hi Jill1998, Yes, you know where I live. 😀 I bought the prescribed cream from a local pharmacy for my mom. It was mixed (or made) after I dropped off the prescription. ps. It is not the branded cream Zyvodol which contains other medical ingredients. ... View more

Hi Jill1998, Just to share.  By the way, are you given the Amitriptyline in oral form or in cream form?   ... View more

Hi Angel Eyes, My understanding the port are constructed to be placed at the right side. I had right sided mastectomy but by mistake both the port and the hose were placed at the right side when primary diagnosis.  The port/hose was removed after finishing my primary treatment. And in the second time placement  last year they followed the same old route to put the port. Attached are the pictures. In the right picture, you can locate the beginning of the tube at the left top corner besides the incision and the port at the left bottom corner. The tube is barely seen in between. (I hope I didn't misled you. I twisted my neck when I took the picture myself. The tube might look a bit 'popping out' ). Furthermore, there is no bruise around the port which seems in the picture.   By the way, if one has cancer at the right, the port should be put on the left. It may not fit or look the same because the turns in the tubing are meant to go the other direction.       ... View more

Hi, did you offer frozen gloves to protect your nails. Nail changes is one of docetaxol side effects and also paclitaxol. I asked for frozen gloves one time. However was told no more at that time and forgot to ask for it in subsequent cycles. Got white lines on nails.   ... View more

Hi Bee3, I understand there are 4 dosing schedule of Paclitaxol. I was on dose dense in 2011 for my grade 3 primary treatment and on 3 weekly schedule for my SBC treatment. I wish I could be given weekly when started my SBC treatment in Oct 2018. By the way, why you missed the second week and was on antibiotics. (1) weekly - 90 mg/m2 once weekly for 3 weeks then  1 week rest ; (2) weekly - once weekly for 2 weeks then  1 week rest; (3) 3-weekly - 175 mg/m2; (4) does dense - 175 mg/m2 1 week on , 1 week rest;  Low-dose weekly administration of paclitaxel resulted in equal progression-free survival but reduced overall toxicity compared to every-2-week dose-dense https://ascopost.com/News/4213 weekly taxol provides superior outcomes to treatment every 3 weeks  (27 Aug,2018) https://news.cancerconnect.com/breast-cancer/weekly-paclitaxel-superior-to-less-frequent-dosing-in-metastatic-breast-cancer-YWLDcXe0wECgbGKkGz1-fg ... View more

Well, it hurts...feel more than bee sting. I am a needle phobia. Every time I sang my Phantom of Opera  😅 😅 😅 . Remember a nurse asked me why. I told her my chest skin is much thicker than my hand skin... but... I felt less painful already as she didn't need to further search for the blood even after the needle was in. She starred at me with her eyes wide open 😂 😂 😂 The numb cream did help but not every time. Per the instruction EMLA start to work 30 mins after applying to the skin. But, very often it was couple hours later when the nurse actually put the needle in the port. The first few day as Jen said you may feel sore and tightness around the cut. Once you get used to it, you should forget its existence. Though my super port allows the infusion of contrast dye & blood draw, blood draw I understand, I feel the blood technician is not very willing (or don't have the knowledge) to access the port due to additional procedures like flushing...  A small rant...in last CT scan 3 unsuccessful attempts to put through the contrast. 2 at inner elbows, 1  in my arm 3-4 inches away from my wrist. She explained something like ??it is common their valves are closed when a person has a lot of chemo ?? Next time, I will insist to use the port. xx Melmel ... View more

Hi Bee3, I think in general the portacath is installed under local anesthesia. I have had a portacath  installed 2 times. one was in 2011 when my primary diagnosis and which was taken out after completing  the 18 cycles of Herceptin. The second time was last year which is still in there. Both were done under local anesthesia and at the same place. Last year I received my first chemo after installation the next day. I am a needle phobia so was suggested the EMLA numb cream. I used it for few cycles and found I really don't need it. The process is much easier and always can be done in 1 go. After so many times of chemo,contrast dye, zolendronic acid, etc infusions, already see some very tiny dark dots on the skin ad think time to do a whitening mask 😁 😁 😁 Added: my BIOFLO port (or called chemo port)  is a type of the "super" ports "(what the chemo nurses call) which  supports the IV CT scans contrast dye. xx Melmel             ... View more

Hi, I think most of you may already aware of this links as it appears quite a lot of times on this forum. I have related to this links for my SBC treatment. https://foodforbreastcancer.com/ https://foodforbreastcancer.com/articles/foods-to-eat-and-avoid-during-taxol-chemotherapy https://foodforbreastcancer.com/articles/latest-research-on-factors-influencing-taxol-%28paclitaxel%29-effectiveness https://foodforbreastcancer.com/articles/foods-to-eat-and-avoid-for-her2%2b-patients-and-survivors https://foodforbreastcancer.com/articles/foods-to-eat-and-avoid-during-herceptin-treatment ... View more

Hi Jennie60, Wonder if you were told to take the anti-nausea only when needed. I was prescribed 120 tablets (the patients to pay in Canada)  before I started Paclitaxel but I didn't need any. By reading the article posted on the BC Cancer agency of Canada Provincial Health Authorities website. I think you may not need it as well. I think you may want to discuss with your medical team regarding which med does suit you the best, just in case you feel nausea. Below information is extracted from the BC cancer agency website.       ... View more

Just an update.  Talked to my onco over the phone, as usual she rushed to finish the conversion in 10 mins. I didn't remember whether she had replied was metformin contributed to my reaction. She only said the next time she will prescribe me steroid (as a preventive)  and Benedryl before the next contrast CT scan. She mentioned this time reaction, w/o swelling, low blood pressure, breathing should not stop me from having another CT scan.   The good news is my brain is fine, clear and she did not request another MRI having contrast. My tumor marker keeps stable around 13-15. 😄 I was allergic to Paclitaxel. During 1st infusion, I could not breathe, blood pressure dropped to 40/80, I was confused, found a big bruise at the back of head when I lost all my hair in cycle 2. I was given IV steroid, IV benedryl, high does oral taken dexamethsone  before each infusion. I was still able to finish all 8 cycles as planned. I hope I will be fine too for subsequent CT scans with the help of some pre-med. 😊 ... View more

Hi Susie, Just to share my experience. I am type II diabetic and have been on metformin (500mg twice daily) since 1999. My mammogram in Oct 2010 came back clear. In Dec the same year I found a lump (about marble size) in my breast. The walk-in clinic physician (probably based on the mammogram result)told me it was cyst and could be absorbed automatically by the body. In March 2011 I felt the lump had grown to about 1.5 inches. My GP examined both my breasts and my armpits. He sent me for the ultrasound/biopsy.  In about 1.5 week the biopsy result came back as positive. I then had my mastectomy in 3 weeks time. stage 3 with 5.5 cm tumor, 8 out of 27 lymph nodes were affected. In a post surgery follow up appointment with my GP, he said he was very surprised so many nodes  were affected and he didn't feel any when the first time he examined my armpit. I also felt the lymph nodes had grown one by one during the waiting time. That means, the cancer had spread to 8 lymph nodes in 4.5 weeks time.  Personally, I really can not agree metformin has any ability to kill the cancer cells or maybe, even to slow down the aggressiveness. At least I can not see. My mom was type II diabetic and had high cholesterol. She was on metformin and Lipitor when she was diagnosed stage 1 ER+ bc in 2004 and sbc (met to colon and blood vessel) in 2012. She only had 1 round of chemo and chose not to have any more chemo due to her age (70 yo) and also the side effect (not able to recognize her family and friends for 1 month). My dad had been on Lipitor for 25+ years when he was diagnosed secondary colon cancer spread to liver (initial 2 cm tumor) with unknown primary (primary not found). He did not have any treatment but only lipitor. When he passed away after 3 months, his liver tumor grown to 9cm. I understand Taxol treat both breast cancer and lung cancer. I had 8 rounds of THP (and ??maybe with metformin??)  which cleared all the lesions in heart(?)/lung/sternum/abdominal lining. ps. I am not any medical. I just feel COC protocol may work being a complementary therapy but can not look it as the main treatment.      ... View more

Hi Nicky, thanks for your detail clarification. Hope more patients on this forum can benefit by reading your post.  That is also the purpose of my initial post.  😁 😁 😁  Canada has the drugs special access program, which made me wonder if you  access the drug through a similar program in UK. I understand in a clinical trial they have to limit the trial drug must be the participant's first treatment to ensure the outcome would not be affected by previous treatment. But I don't understand why some of the target drugs are limited to first line treatment only. ie. CDK inhibitors, Atezolizumib. In those "patient paid" countries, as long as a patient meets the physical criteria (ie. health condition, condition that the drug targets for)  no matter at what stage, they can be considered for accessing  (if they can afford). Maybe "Cost and Benefit" for us !      ... View more

Hi , I wish the new treatments can be approved faster in Canada but the fact Canada is far behind UK. Any new treatment is first approved at national level then down to provincial level which always take another 1 to 2 years.  Besides, we do not have private.  ☹️ By the way, the phrase II trial for PIK3 target drug (Alpelisib) is opened for recruiting in England (BC Canada not yet) https://www.cancerresearchuk.org/about-cancer/find-a-clinical-trial/a-study-of-alpelisib-and-hormone-therapy-for-advanced-breast-cancer-bylieve  Hi Nicky , maybe you are currently on this treatment. By reading the information on the HK website (the patients have to pay so faster assessment), rash happened to 50% of the patients in clinical. Tablet of 50 mg, 150mg, 200mg are provided. Dose reduction is allowed when grade 3 (by mapping your description to the HK website description) rash (2x150mg->1x50mg,1x200mg->1x200mg). Another new treatment which is opened for recruiting in England. (no information at all in BC Canada) https://www.cancerresearchuk.org/about-cancer/find-a-clinical-trial/a-trial-of-capivasertib-for-triple-negative-breast-cancer-capitello-290 ... View more

Hi KathNic, I had my right sided mastectomy in 2011 and that was my only surgery so far. I had annual mammogram covering only my good (left) breast until my second diagnosis in 2018. The mammogram in Mar 2018 showed something in my left breast and later CT scans picked up the same. A follow up ultrasound right after my 2018 mammogram confirmed that was only fatty tissue. After 4 cycles of THP, my 1st onco left and I requested my 2nd onco for a surgery or radiation to the shrunk lesion on my sternum. My onco turned me down and said "for sure no surgery and only radiation but your last onco believed the chemo should clear it up" After couple weeks, my 2nd onco discussed a CT scan result with me and said the 2 lesions in my liver were cancer as they shrunk (not disappeared) with chemo. I then requested a surgery, ablation or radiation to my liver. He turned me down and said no surgery. At most radiation but I had more than 3 places. I challenged all gone except the two. The first time he mentioned skin met. LOL the so said skin mets under my right side surgery area were so coincident the little bumps due to  I felt so itchy in summer and scratched too hard. And, of course they disappeared in 1 or 2 weeks after the CT scan. Anyway, he still offered me a mammogram which covered my left breast AS WELL AS my "no tissue right breast" but only 1 angle was taken which was from the side. As expected no skin met was found. A follow up ultrasound again showed the suspicious area was fatty tissue. Since then, no more mammogram. For your case, I feel you your lump in the breast may have a complete response to the chemo and not sure if they will offer you any surgery to your breast as nothing to remove. Maybe you can check with your onco. The below link is for your reference. https://www.breastcancer.org/research-news/sx-linked-to-better-survival-for-her2-pos-mbc ps. I had requested a biopsy when my current onco (the third one since my 2nd diagnosis) told me the lesions in my liver are benign She turned me down and said she can not poke me everywhere.  A MRI can tell but that won't change my current treatment. I choose to believe as at least one of the lesion was there since my 1st diagnosis. My mom passed away 6 years ago due to SBC met to colon and blood vessel. She also had 1 (benign) polyp in her liver and was found since her 1st diagnosis in 2002.  ... View more

a typo in my first post. My first diagnosis was 9 years ago in Feb 2011. ... View more

yes. Remember a lady on this forum has been on H&P for 6 years and is going on. ... View more

Hi KathNic, I was diagnosed SBC in Aug 2018. MY first scan was quite scary". Shadow in heart, 1.5 cm leison in lung, "a dot on x-ray, 1.5 cm desruptive tissue on both vertex" on sternum, 2 leisons on abdominal linings, 2 nodules in liver. The radiologist commented the ones on sternum and lung should be cancerous. However my tumor marker showed 27 (normal range <30, had been close to 0 after all my primary treatments). My 1st onco said the one on heart should not be cancerous as breast cancer cell can't grow in heart. One of the leisons on my liver were found at my 1st diagnosis 7 years ago and were confirmed non cancerous after MRI. She said my cancer was everywhere and she picked the one on sternum for biopsy and confirmed MBC triple positive. 4 cycles of taxol+H+P blasted off (made disappear) the leison(s) in heart, lung, abdominal linings, barely seen dot on sternum. Since then Tumor marker dropped to around 13-15. The latest bone scan in June last year  showed the spot on sternum was healing and about one tenth in length was highlighted. The liver ones remain suspicious. On those CT scans afterwards, one radiologist interpreted them as cancerous, other radiologists not sure. My current onco said they are benign. She does not offer MRI but said will closely monitor. No change in treatment H+P unless increase in size and/or increase in number. My current onco once said my CT scan was "clear"  😀 Not sure if it had helped, I refer to below link for my diet during treatment. https://foodforbreastcancer.com/     ... View more

oh no... just aware FDA has approved the Herceptin+Purjeta combo injection. I am a needle phobia...   https://www.breastcancer.org/research-news/fda-approves-phesgo-for-her2-pos-bc ... View more

Hi , I am triple positive. Was diagnosed in Aug 2018. Started with 8 cycles of 3 weekly paclitaxol+herceptin+purjeta, after then ,continue with H/P up to now. Last week just received my 31st cycle of H&P.  After 6th cycle, I found my vein was recovered a bit longer than 3 weeks. One time my nurse tried the vein under my thumb. My veins were good. Usually 1 attempt but this time 3 attempts. So painful... I decided the chemo port after my onco told me PICC line last for months but chemo port last for years. Since then, faster and easier to get my blood though I am still a needle phobia. ** ps I am no medical. Hi Angel eyes, seems you are triple + by reading your previous posts. Not sure if your 18 weeks scheme means only the weeks on THP or HP.  Hi Jennie60, I am no medical but I think your onco has chosen the best option for you.  😊  taxol vs cape. If remember correctly, my onco once told me the first line chemo is usually having a better ??performance rate?? (something like that, can't remember the exact term) statistics from the clinical research. By the way, before you decide whether PICC or port or vein, maybe you want to check with your onco what is your next treatment after the 18 weeks. Back to hormone?? continue with the weekly treatment ??       ... View more