Breast Cancer Now Forum

Thanks MBJ! ... View more

Hi Everyone,    Just wanted to reassure anyone considering the cold cap that I just had my first one today and it was not a problem for me at all, though I realise everyone is different. It was bearably cold for about ten minutes and then I noticed it so little I was actually concerned it wasn't working. It didn't stop me eating, drinking, reading, talking to the lovely nurses and only added a bit to my time in there - when they took the cap off it had indeed been working because there was ice all over my head, but by scalp was numb, so I hadn't felt it. Now at home just feeling a little tired and full of steroids which are giving me a marvellous appetite. Having considered fasting as per the articles going around, I can safely say I don't think I could bear it; my body wants to eat and eat it shall! Good luck to everyone in the days ahead - the nurse has given me the go ahead to travel with my family to Exeter (I am in Kent) on Friday to visit my son's prospective university. She said the best approach is to assume you can do things as normal and just play it by ear, which seems good advice.  ... View more

I started targeted hormone therapy today, 8 hours, and, once the catheter was in and I wasn’t having an allergic reaction I actually started to really relax and enjoy just having time to read, drink tea and watch the incredible nurses do their thing. God bless the NHS. I know feel I am actively fighting this cancer and it’s way better than being passive and crumpling with scanxiety. Chemo proper starts tomorrow - bring it on. ... View more

Okay I've looked up FEC and I'm not having that - I'm HER2+ and am having pertuzamab and trastuzumab (catchy) tomorrow and then docetaxel the next day, then after that they will all be given together every three weeks. Is anyone else having this, or has had this - wondering if the side effects are different from FEC...  ... View more

Hello Everyone,    Got my info session this afternoon and then treatment starts tomorrow and Friday (does anyone else have their first one across two days?). What is FEC and how does everyone else but me know exactly what they'll be on! Am also wondering what the dark nail polish is for, should I be doing that today in preparation? Have just had a nice short haircut in preparation for the cold cap - am really hoping it works for me as I have fine hair and I don't want to freak my son out.    Was feeling very anxious, but yesterday, finally, got all the bone scan and CT results in and they are all clear. My husband was elated, but I still feel a bit numb about it all. Just want to get this out of the way, though am also dreading years of taking drugs when I've always been so careful to never put horrible things in my body. I realise this is a petty concern in the scheme of things, but I'm the type of person who can't drink coffee because it makes me jittery and am wondering what on earth the drugs will do to me.    Hey ho. Good luck to everyone else out there and thank you to those who are posting a week or so ahead, it's very comforting to have any information at all.    Clare, x ... View more

Thanks Everyone!   I'm just cooking my boy's supper so can't really respond properly, but will try to tap a bit later, or in the morning... needless to say I'm scared witless, but doing best to be a grown up. Having read thread am a bit concerned that I have no wig ordered! Am going to try the cold cap after being strongly encouraged by my onco, but maybe I should have a wig in the wings, oh dear. This forum has already been a great help as I don't know anyone who's been through this - or at least I've only known people with brain tumours, inculding my own mum, who didn't make it, hence my fear I guess.    Back when able - thanks for having me. I'm not a robot, good to know.    x ... View more

Hi Everyone,    I'm starting chemo on Valentine's Day - so romantic - and would like to join this group, but do I have to subscribe or can I just use the Reply button to join the chat - already confused, ha.    Many thanks,    Clare.  ... View more

Dear Jude - thanks for all this advice on the thread, I have only just dared to come back on, but am glad I did... I start chemo on Thursday so will stock up at the chemists and gird my loins!   All best,    Clare. x ... View more

Hello Steph, thanks for messaging! It is an awful shock, isn't it... oddly I was dealing with it better in early January, when we found out, than now - the waiting has done for me I think. I have had a clear microbubbles test of my lymph nodes, but am still waiting for the bone and CT scans, so can't rest easy til then. Chemo and targeted therapy start on Thursday then surgery down the line.    Do you mind me asking how old your boys are and whether you have told them? I have an 11 and 18 year old and can't bring myself to do it, particularly the younger one, though my older boy is about to go through A levels, so I worry about him too. We are very close and the only cancer they have experienced has been with terminally ill grandparents or a friend of mine who had a brain tumour and left two kids behind, so it's very loaded. I don't know how long I can string this out once chemo has begun, though.    I hope you are alright - if my chemo starts before yours I'll tell you how it was. Oof.    All the very best,    Clare x  ... View more

Oh thank you! I'm very interested in both the cold cap and the fasting, if I'm woman enough to see them through! Would love to keep hair just so that my eleven year old isn't freaked out. Did you fast the day before and after - how did you find it? Am worried it might push any exhaustion over the edge. My oncologist didn't dismiss the idea, said there had been interesting studies, but recommended not doing it on the first round, so will maybe for for it on the second.    All the very best,    Clare. x.  ... View more

Hi Steph, I hope you have had your scans back - still waiting for my bone and CT, but chemo starts for me onThursday - seems hard to go into it not knowing the full picture!    All the very best,    Clare. x ... View more

Jo thanks so much for replying, that's lovely to hear... I am about to start chemo on Thursday, with Herceptin and Perjeta, yes - will keep a look out for Neratinib, no one has mentioned it so far. Someone I know called this period "scanxiety", which seems spot on to me - still waiting to hear about Bone and CT and imagining the worst when my guard is down!   All best,    Clare. x ... View more

Dear pennylynne, thank you so much for this advice - I have been finding it really hard, which has suprised me as I've always thought of myself as a tough coookie. I think it's the chlidren that makes it all so emotional, I just can't bring myself to tell them.    My oncologist was very keen that I try the chemo cap, so will give it a go - I'm having chemo and targeted therapy first, then surgery, so it may just be a lumpectomy if it shrinks sufficiently.    I hope you are doing okay? x ... View more

Thank you Peggycat, I really appreciate that! ... View more

Thanks so much Lynda - all the very best! ... View more

Oh my goodness, I'm so sorry, I've only just come back on here and had no idea there would be so many replies - I frightened myself on Google and decided to stop looking online. Thank you all so much for your messages! I started out feeling very positive, almost superhuman, about all of this, but had a big emotional crash about two weeks ago and have been very shaky since. My microbubbles have showed no sign of cancer in the lymph nodes, which is good news, but am still anxiously waiting to hear the results of my Bone and CT scans (am of course convinced it has traveled!). I have my first chemo on Thursday and then on Friday and am losing sleep with fear of it, but am sure it will be better once I've takekn the plunge - it's the waiting that's awful, eh. I have two boys, 11 and 18, the latter about to take his A levels and I just can't bring myself to tell them (I seem to be doing a good job of looking normal, though don't feel it). I realise I may have to, very soon. I shall look on here more often, now, thanks again for all your advice. x ... View more

So good to read this, I've been diagnosed with the same today - many thanks to you. Clare.  ... View more

This is very reassuring!  ... View more

Hello,    I've just been diagnosed with DIC grade 3 Her2 positive today and it's good to read your advice - I am very interested in fasting whilst going through chemo, as long as it doesn't wipe me out, having read a lot about it. I hope you are still doing well. Clare.  ... View more