Breast Cancer Now Forum

Phet7178 thank you for letting me know, I just checked, the additional meds I am taking have different names. Today is my first day after chemo and I only had 2 pills in the morning and feel so much better than last time, so I hope it's ok like this. Sorry you had to go through the same thing but glad you worked out what it was xxx ... View more

Susanmanchester I think my reaction to the steroids was beyond manic energy, I feel they gave me too high a dose, I am very thin and was on 4 pills a day, so now they reduced them to two. So sorry about your problems with your cannula that sounds very stressful, I hope it goes better on Friday. I had a port implanted, which has been amazing, as it's taken away all the anxiety around finding a vein. Good luck for Friday xxx ... View more

Hello, everyone, sorry for the long radio silence, just had my second round and wanted to share how my first round went...I didn't have any of the classic chemo side effects like fatigue or nausea, but by day 3 of the steroids I was completely manic to the point I think I was psychotic and then day 4 when I stopped taking them it was the complete opposite, anxiety, couldn't stop crying, complete melt down. On top of that I had a reaction from the injections, the first time I took them I had a racing heart, flushing, panic attacks and the whole thing lasted for 6 hours, same thing happened on the second day, so I just stopped taking them, although I was told it's at my own risk, but I felt so bad. Once I didn't take any of the steroids or injections anymore I felt really good, I even went for runs, I ate healthily (which also was difficult on the steroids) and when they tested my blood yesterday it was perfect. I spoke to the consultant and got them to half the amount of steroids and I insisted on not having the injections. I think I'd rather wait a few days longer to have the next chemo, in case my blood results are not great. Just wanted to share, in case anyone has similar experiences and to say there are always other options. I think for me the most important thing is to get my strength back between each round and be as healthy as possible. I hope it's going well for everyone xxx ... View more

I just gave myself the damn injection so proud of myself, but I forgot to wait til the thing came back out at the end because I was so nervous, so I missed a bit at the end. I hope it's still ok...tomorrow I'll make sure... I haven't had any side effects from the chemo yet, but I have been really struggling with the steroids and am wondering if they can be reduced next time, yesterday I was so speedy and thought I was going crazy, thankfully today I don't have to take them anymore. Does anyone else struggle with the steroids? xxx ... View more

Hi Bluebell, I went to my pharmacist today to ask, but they said they are only insured for flu jabs... I am hoping I can pluck up the courage on Saturday myself !! xxx ... View more

Thank you Susan, for some reason they didn't offer that to me (I am at the Royal Free in London). My GP is pretty much next door, if I am struggling I may pop round there and may have to go to A and E if I can't manage it by myself on Saturday (but I am hoping I will!!! ) Hope your treatment goes well xx ... View more

I think it depends on the chemo drugs you are getting, I don't think everyone does it (and I only found out yesterday at the end of my chemo 😞  ) xxx ... View more

Thank you, Kelly, that's good to hear you have trouble with needles too but managed to do it, and I like your tips. It's probably best not to overthink it and just do it!! I will keep you posted how I get on on Saturday, I hope you are doing ok xxx ... View more

Thank you so much, Oots, that is really helpful...I may go see my GP before the weekend and see what they say. I didn't sleep that much last night either, but I guess that's the steroids and at the moment I feel well enough to get some work in, so will make the most of it... I like the sound of Billy. We have 2 cats and they were quite happy to get fed earlier this morning xxxSteffi ... View more

Hi, my name is Steffi and I have had my first chemotherapy session yesterday (so officially still an April starter 🙂 ) It went really well, I had a port put in before and was amazed at how little I could feel and yesterday I felt a bit spaced out and this morning a tiny bit wobbly perhaps but not too bad, up and about. The only thing that really worries me is that they sent me home with some injections to give myself. She said to put them in the fatty bit in my tummy. First of all I am quite thin, so there isn't that ,much fat there and also she said get someone else to give them to you, but my partner is away this weekend when I am meant to start (and to be honest he didn't look best pleased at the thought). I was wondering if anyone has any tips on how to do this painlessly. I have that cream for the port, maybe I could apply that before or an ice pack? How are any of you finding the injections?? xxx ... View more

Thank you, Kathy and Blueash. I read a bit about both yesterday, and I think for me personally I would still prefer to just get a cannula each time. My main problem is that the staff at my hospital don't seem to have time to explain anything to me properly which isn't helping my anxiety. Putting the guide wire in at my operation and my biopsies were really traumatic and I think getting a port or piccline implanted  would feel similar, at least from what I can read online. Right now I just feel terrified and I need to find a way to get over that, I think I want treatment that feels the least invasive (although maybe I am stupid). I just spoke to my gp and he said patients opt for both, either a port/piccline or cannula. ... View more

Hi, Blueash, thank you so much for replying. I do get that it makes it easier and painfree, but I really hated having the drain in after the operation and I think having the piccline would feel similar and a constant hazard/reminder for me for those 6 months, I think I would prefer just to be pricked every 3 weeks and not worry about it inbetween. The nurse today didn't take any time to explain anything to me or talk to me about my options, but just stated that that's what I was having, but I am wondering if it's also ok to have a cannula each time ( I am having 8 cycles). I feel very scared right now and googling what the piccline actually is  without having it properly explained to me has made me so much more anxious. ... View more

Hi, Jewels, I empathise, I was very anxious after 2 biopsies and worried what the wire being put in would feel like. It wasn't that bad, I just felt the local anastaetic (and told them to give me an extra dose upfront, as during the biposies I had to have more, as I could still feel something) and then it was over pretty quickly. I also told the nurse who was in the room how anxious I was and she held my hand which helped. The other thing you could do is ask for valium. I did ask the anästhesist about it, I was the first to be operated on so he gave me the choice to have the valium and be operated on a bit later in the day (but I wanted to get it over with so decided against it.). I tried to see the day of the operation as the last bit to get through after all these tests and before I knew it it was over. I think for me the worst was the anxiety beforehand about being anxious during the procedures (does that makes sense?) which is pretty pointless if you think about it (but so hard to switch off). Wishing you all the best and that it goes smoothly on the day xxx ... View more

Hi, Caz, I had a second operation 3 weeks after the original operation, to have more lymphnodes removed and during that operation the surgeon opened up my breast wound from the lumpectomy to drain a haematoma and stitched it up again. It wasn't more painful than the original pain, and they gave me lots of painkillers, so it was bearable, but I can understand your fear. The second operation is now 4 weeks ago and I feel really good, it's pretty amazing to me how quickly the body heals itself. I hope it all goes well xx ... View more

Hello, it was the same for me. I had a lump which was biopsied as cancer and then they did an MRI scan and there was another area they were worried about, I then had another biopsy but that came back negative, I think sometimes breast tissue can be very dense and the MRI doesn't recognise if it's abnormal or not, so I wouldn't worry yet (although I feel for you having to go through 2 more biopsies!) Hope it all goes well xx ... View more

Wishing you all the best! For me all the tests beforehand were much worse than the operation itself, I was just happy to finally have the lump removed. I didn't mind the general anastaetic and didn't feel too bad waking up, just a little sore, but nothing unbearable. But I know what you mean about the wait after. I hope the time goes quickly and that you have the best possible result xx ... View more

Dear Nicky, thank you so much for you reply, it made me feel so much better and less alone, I am happy I reached out! Similarly to you I am waiting for results of Endo Predict (which I believe is similar to Oncotype DX), I'll get my results on the 8th of April. I was diagnosed just before Christmas, but because the Xmas period followed everything took so much longer, and then I had to have a second operation of axiliary lymphnode clearance after my lumpectomy, luckily all the other lymphnodes were clear. I wish you all the best for Friday, do keep me posted, I would love to keep in touch. xxx Steffi ... View more