Breast Cancer Now Forum

Hi Jules Just reading your post, sorry what you have been going through.  I always worry about the cannula as it can vary so much, depending on your veins and the nurse doing it....  I know that being really well hydrated helps make the veins fuller ( I had a blood test one day without expecting to and had really thin veins, she had to put the needle in twice and it really hurt - and left a bruise for ages- this was all down to dehydration ) I drink loads the day before ( at least 2 litres ) and on the morning - though not water that is too cold as it can make your veins smaller. Then keeping warm, layers... and very effective last time, when I was waiting in the chair for the nurse to come and do the cannulation, I was sort of pushing myself up off the chair a bit, very subtly, like in the gym ...just to make my veins bulge. I am pretty sure this made a difference, the veins were much fuller and cannulation was easier..... just a thought. I hope it all goes really well for you next time.  Chloe  ... View more

Thank you for the PICC info... I am ( probably ) going to go for one. I had hoped to avoid the PICC as didn't like the idea of the initial procedure, always being aware of a 'something' in your arm and feeling even more like a 'patient' all the time, then the extra weekly visits to the hospital etc . However, on my fourth cycle, after an episode of extravasation,  when the epirubicin leaked out into the surrounding tissue, the staff recommended a PICC line for the next infusion.  The extravasation was pretty scary and the emergency procedure afterwards, not one I would want to repeat. I understand the PICC is safer, though I will have to have it one the side where I had the sentinel lymph node removed and the breast surgery. I have a blood clot in the superficial vein, next to where the  extravasation happened, so I don't think I can have a PICC on that side ?  Chloe ... View more

Hi Carly Just read your post. So sorry to hear what you're going through, I know it is incredibly scary. I hope by now you are feeling better and more positive... I have 'borderline' tnbc ( HER2+ status equivocal ) so am going to  be treated with Herceptin anyway, but may also have tnbc, ( more than one type of cancer ) positive nodes too. ( diagnosed Nov 18, then lymph nodes Fen 2019 ) I am about to undergo my second round of EC. I have been doing a lot of reading, a book strongly recommended by a friend, 'How to Starve Cancer' by Jane McLelland - a really intense and initially scary but ultimately extremely positive book about the metabolic pathways that can feed cancers, and additional things to support your chemotherapy by blocking the pathways that supply cancers,  things she did to treat her secondary cancer. She has a webiste and FB, page too.  You might also want to check out COC ( Care Oncology Cininc ) website, in Harley St, London. I just spoke to my oncologist about taking part in their clinincal trial using 4 off-label drugs. Might be relevant for you ?  I am 55 with 2 children, aged ( just ) 15 and 17. Worrying about cancer, and all the bad press about tnbc can be terrifying I know, but there is also plenty of positive stuff out there too....  I hope this might be of help to you.  Chloe x    ... View more

Hi Ann Thanks very much for your calm and calming response ....  I am 'reguating' my Googling, not going on every day, looking for certain information only and then having a 'cut off' time... 4.00pm. Plus making sure I do a lot of 'cancer free' things, when we don't talk about cancer .... !  Feel a lot better at the moment, But I appreciated your message,  Thank you ! Chloe  ... View more

Hi Alvilajo I remember being sore for ages after biopsies ( I have had a few ) they were all different. A big haematoma last time that went away on its own eventually.  I would recommend phoning the breast care nurses if you haven't already, they are great for reassurance and can invite you to come in if they think it needs to be checked.  I I always make good use of them if I am at all worried or just have a question. Chloe  ... View more

Hi Shi Just read your reply to Katjack, which was soothing to me as well... I have triple negative , with positive nodes ( though Dr said not triple - as HER2 + is 'borderline' and will get Herceptin ) from what I am reading, it is very similar either way... Anyway, been reading things on line and got myself very scared ( believing all the negative stuff and ignoring anything else probably ) just feeling on my own and in a PANIC !!!!  Don't know where to turn for help or how I am going to remain sane ....  what do you do when fear gets the better of you ?  Chloe  ... View more

Thank you !  I will try harder with delegating to the teenagers ..... bottles of hand sanitizer everywhere and liquid soap that actually gets used up... Chloe  ... View more

Hi Cola Thanks for your response....  Pleased if I was uplifitng ! sorry you have to have chemo, you will be having Herceptin ?  I am hormone negative, which is more challenging to treat ( great eusphamism ) and unlike the other day, have been scaring myself silly on line.... !  However, yes, hair loss and all that is scary, losing our identity and looking 'ill' I wouldn't call it vanity ! I am paying a small fortune for a real hair wig that I think will be really good....I hope !  Hope you are ok, if you want any wig info, just ask ( although I don't have it yet to give a review ! ) Lots of exclamation marks in this message, breast cancer makes me add exclamation marks like over-seasoning with salt and pepper (!) one more  Chloe  ... View more

Hi  I have estrogen and progesterone negative and possible HER2 - invasive BC, positive lymph nodes -  and have been upsetting myself reading about it on line. I started EC at the beginning of March but am trying to read about additional treatments...  what is Capecitabine ?  Thanks, Chloe ... View more

Hi Sally Thanks for your comments.... good to meet you ! Your hairdresser sounds good ( mine was a bit awkward I think and didn't know what to do or say, althoough she is really nice, I know it's hard for people ! ) hence relying on my daughter to cut it... Are you going for the cold cap ?  I have orderd a wig ( assuming the cold cap won't really work ) 'made to measure' kind of....the hairdresser doing that is amazing and very relaxed about it all... Can't imagine losing my hair or wearing a wig... I suppose it just 'happens' and then you no longer have to imagine it .!  The grey hair that will grow back in the end is another annoyance, yes ! Have you had a meeting with the doctor in charge of delivering the chemo ? I remember very little from mine, I was too stressed and numb at the time.  My chemotherapy drugs are different to yours, ( EC ) but hopefully when you come to it, it won't be any way near as scary as it is worrying about it beforehand ...  Wishing you the best for the big day !  Chloe    ... View more

Hi Josarah   Just wanted to say hello and send you positive vibes !    And to share with you because my diagnosis and treatment plan have similarities .....   I was diagnosed initially in November 2018 with grade 2   2 mm  er- and HER+ with LCIS. I had a lumpectomy and lymph nodes taken wihich revealed another area of invaseive cancer, 1 cm ( grade 3 ? ) more LCIS and positive lymph node/s.  (This cancer was borderline HER2+ may be triple negative ? I don't yet know )  ( This was all following a LCIS diagnosis about a year and a half ago, which was treated with a lumpectomy ) I have just started chemotherapy (March 1st ) with EC, which will then go on to docetaxal, as with your treatment plan. I begin the Herceptin next time, March 22nd. My daughter cut my hair ( shorter ! ) a bob length ( but she is 16 ! ) I wore the cold cap ( which I have mixed feelings about regarding safety, and that it wasn't really working properly ) it was very uncomfortable ( tight ) might not wear it again... haven't decided. (  Last night I dreampt that I cut all my hair of myself and made a real mess..) it may happen yet... I think one of the main reasons I wore the cold cap was for the children...!    Fruther ahead I will be having the rest fo the lymph nodes cleared on the right side, probably radiotherapy and I want a mastectomy, but that is all about the next stage...   I have being doing some reading ( things recommended by others ) and decided to fast ( some say it reduces nausea ) before the chemotherapy ( or very restricted diet ) for 2 days, then little to eat on the day and day after. I don't know if this helped, but I only expereinced a slight feelig of nausea on one ocassion, and was not sick.    Not knowing what to expect is really scary and there are so many possible side effects reported... but on EC, for me so far, not much.... bit of tiredness in the first few days, at the moment, nothing I am noticing. Early days....    I was incredibly nervous before the first chemotherepy session, not able to imagine it, 'how to do it' but in the end it didn't feel like a huge deal... not nice, but definately not awful... kind of ok. Next time, when I get the Herceptin, I have to stay over 6 hours in case of an alergic reaction.    Am doing a fair bit of reading at the moment, looking at diet etc, trying to go out for walks...It is helping me to feel more positive.    I feel for you and everthing that you are going through, it is such a huge amount to get your head around....    I hope your cough is feeling better and you are all set for your first chemo.... sending positive vibes to you !   Chloe    ... View more