Breast Cancer Now Forum

Hi ya ladies i just wondered if anyone is struggling emotionally. I’m feel really low, I don’t feel the same person as I was before the cancer diagnosis/treatment - do any of you feel like this? I get tired more quickly, my joints ache. I’ve been chucked into the menopause and I feel about 90 & I’m only 47.. Is it normal to feel this way?   nikNak  ... View more

Hi Debi   i was like you, Brown haired before treatment, my hair has grown back like a badger (lol) grey & black. I finished my chemo at the end of August. I had my hair dyed on 16 December at a hair salon following the go ahead of the radiotherapy team & oncology nurse. It really lifted me & gave me the boost I needed and gave me a glimpse of the old me post breast cancer apart from the length. My hair is growing back really thick just like before but it’s more wavier than before.  good luck Debi  ... View more

Hi Donna   ive wondered the same as whether the joint pain could be down to menopause & lowering hormones. I’m m only 3 days into radiotherapy & have another 20 days to go. I’ll finish on 13 December. Felt ok yesterday but today I’m feeling quite low, like I could cry for no reason & just want to fade into the background. It’s hard to be positive everyday, I try my hardest but it’s been a year I’d like to forget. Im also scared of a reoccurrence which I guess everyone thinks about whose gone through bc. Hope you’re doing ok?  nicola x ... View more

Hi Donna   You could be describing me! I completed chemotherapy at the end of August, had op 24 September & now undergoing radiotherapy. My joints, especially hips, knees & my finger joints in the morning ache. I’m not on any medication, I’m 46 and feel about 76! When I get up off a chair it takes me a few minutes before I can move! I’m glad it’s not just me. I take calcium & vitamin d supplements to help protect my bones. How are you feeling now Donna???   nicola 😊 ... View more

Hi Sue   im in Suffolk, where are you?  ... View more

Hi Debi Yes, I’m having 4 weeks radiotherapy in total with booster where the lump was. As for hair I don’t understand why it’s so grey. It’s upsetting enough when it falls out but I guess I should be thankful it’s growing! Have you had any pains in your legs at all??  take care & I hope you get the call soon. Are you getting 3 little tattoos where the beams will go?  Nicola x ... View more

Hi Debi & Bramley    I had my CT scan yesterday & my start date for radiotherapy is 11 November & I will finish on 11 December. I’d like to start now to get it out of the way, it’s such a long process. Glad to hear your seroma has cleared up Debi & hope your first radiotherapy went well Bramley. My hair is coming through really thick which it was before but like you Bramley it is so grey, I’d go to say white in some places when before cancer/chemo I was dark brown & had never had an all over color in my life. I’m still wearing my wig in public & a woolie bobble hat indoors as my head & ears feel the cold. Keep smiling, we are getting there now x ... View more

Hi Ladies   i got my results yesterday following surgery 2.5 weeks ago. I cam out quite flat & it wasn’t how I imagined it to be. The surgeon is happy with the op & outcome good, clear margin etc. but then said a cell could of jumped the margin so to speak so radiotherapy or for total piece of mind you could opt for a mastectomy but if we do a mastectomy we will probably find nothing - it’s personal choice. Now I’m scared that I still have cancer in my breast but I’ve opted for the radiotherapy. I imagined I’d come out of that meeting tripping the light fantastic but I came out & just felt numb & cried. Anyone else feel the same??  ... View more

Hi Debi   just wondered how you are getting on with your seroma? I had my drain removed today after 6 days. My boob is really swollen & feels like there is fluid in it. How long does the swelling take to subside - anyone able to advise? I seem to have a good use of my arm & am doing my exercises a few times a day & even managed to hang the washing out today. Simple things & all that. No more restrictions from the bag around my neck shloshing around.    i hope everyone is getting on ok? I’m seeing my GP Friday who will take my dressings off to check my wounds.   keep your spirits up people, we’ve got this.    NikNak ... View more

Hi Lindy56   so I had my lumpectomy & node clearance on Wednesday & all went well. Considering I’d never had surgery before it was ok & I wasn’t as scared as I thought I’d be. I came home with a drain which I’m now worried about as the district nurse has just been & she said it will hurt to remove it. Anyone else out there  thought it hurt when taken out?   any way that’s another part of the journey out of the way. Time to heal & then radiotherapy. I know it’s only Friday but I’m bored already.   Thanks Lindy56 for replying to me and for giving me the tip off about the bras on amazon x hope everyone is ok? From April look how far we have come.   NikNak5 😊 ... View more

Hi All   i was diagnosed in March & the breast cancer nurses wanted to sign me off there & then but I refused as I would of been bored senseless. I have worked through 5 months of chemo, i started 1 April. I’m having a lumpectomy & nodes removed tomorrow & once healed 3 weeks of radiotherapy. I hope to continue to work either at my work place or from home. Going to work has meant a normality to life for me & takes your mind off hospital appointment s etc. Each & everyone of us is different so go with what is best for you.   NikNak  ... View more

So pleased for you Debi. It’s been such a long & unpredictable few months its not surprising you don’t know how to feel. Just take each day as it comes.    NikNak x ... View more

Hi Christine18   Just when you think yay chemo done, you get aches & pains. I’ve spoken to a few people & they have told me it’s a chemo side effect & will ease, but it is agony. It feels like my knees get stiffer the more I walk. I woke up last night as my knees and lower legs ached.   If will be good to get the surgery out of the way. I’ve been told the chemo is the hardest part, I wish you all the best for your surgery on the 3 October.  NikNak x  ... View more

Hi Debi thank you got your response. I’m a little scared about op as not been put under before. I’m having lumpectomy and possible drain. Did you purchase the bras with the zip up the front?? So glad that you are healing well. I will be glad when the surgery is done & I can start radiotherapy, it’s such a long journey.  Do you plan on going back to work soon (not sure if you work or not) I can’t wait to get back to full time work. I’ve managed to work some hours each week through my chemo.   Take care. Are you staying on this group or moving to the radiotherapy section? NikNak  ... View more

Hi All   i had my last chemo on 28 August. I’m having my surgery on 25 September. Over the last couple of weeks I’ve developed joint pain in my hands & knees. My knees kill me when I get up from sitting. I’m quite an active person but these symptoms are new to me & I wonder if they are chemo related? Any one else suffered with similar?   many thanks   NikNak   ... View more

Good luck Debi. Thinking of you. I’ll be having the same but on 25 September but I will come home the same day. Thinking of you. We’ve done the worst part. X  ... View more

Good luck Debi.  ... View more

Hi Lisa   im not going to lie, my first dose of chemo I was petrified, I sat in the chair on the day unit in tears. My first dose was not pleasant it was carbo & paxel but after 2 days I wasn’t too bad. I didn’t bother with a cold cap. My hair started to fall out from week 5 & for me this was the hardest thing ever. I’ve now done 12 weekly chemo’s & 3 out of 4 cycles of FEC, my last dose is on 28 Aug, 20 days and counting! It’s a long journey but necessary. You are at the hospital a lot & the weeks do fly.  Have you had a PICC line fitted & do you know what course of chemo you are having?   i found writing a daily journal helped as I was able to look back to see how I was feeling on certain days, you kind of get in a pattern so you know what to expect each dose. Do get yourself a thermometer as you’ll need to take your temperature each day.   its a scary thing to start but the nurses & staff on the day unit will put you at ease & answer any questions you have & so will you Chemo nurse. I didn’t really have any bad side effects but have got more fatigued towards the end & for the last 4 chemo sessions I’ve suffered with oral thrush. You may need some form of constipation relief too as you have so many drugs they tend to bung you up.   i hope this helps & I’ll be thinking of you next Friday, it’s scary but you can do it. Happy to chat anytime x   nicola ... View more

I’m not from Newcastle but I do have TNBC & booked in for my lumpectomy on 25 September. Happy to chat.   Nicola ... View more

Hi lovely ladies   ive not posted on here for a while but I only have one more FEC to go - 20 days and counting. My lumpectomy is booked for 25 September, I’m really scared as never had an operation before, I’m also having partial lymph node removal as I has been diseased so I’ll come home with a drain for 4-5 days. It’s been a long slog   paclitaxel weekly for 12 weeks along side carboplatin every 3 weeks. Then I switched to FEC every 3 weeks for another 12 weeks. After surgery then it will be radiotherapy but should all be done & dusted by Christmas hopefully.    Are any of you ladies triple negative? I’m now scared about the reoccurrence rates.    Anyway we we are all doing so well to think back in April would we ever make it to the end of Chemo & here we are. Truely remarkable you all are.   nicola 😊 ... View more