Breast Cancer Care Forum

Hello Debi So pleased u have finally got a date for your radiotherapy YAY !!  Thats great you will be finished in time for xmas!!   With regards to your holiday, BOOK IT!!  Dont let the **bleep** (thats what me and the kids call it!!) stop you from enjoying yourself.  We went on holiday in october and it was great to relax and forget about all the crap that has happened to us this year.  The holiday will be something for you to look forward to and you deserve to enjoy yourself.   Hope all the ladies on here are keeping well? It certainly is quiet these days now a lot of us have finished our treatment, and our lives are beginning to get back to the way they were before.   Take care Sue xxxx ... View more

Hello Kelly Good luck with your last chemo and make sure you ring that bell loud and proud!!!   Radiotherapy is a breeze compared to chemo!!   Hope all the rest of the ladies are doing ok?   Take care Sue xxx ... View more

Hi NikNak Im in Warrington (cheshire). Sue xx ... View more

Hello ladies Sorry not posted on here for a while, just been reading the thread and it sounds like u are all doing amazing with your recovery.  Good luck to those ladies still undergoing radiotherapy.  Hope you are coping well with any side effects.   Im slowly returning to normal life.  If that is at all possible!!  I get very emotional when i talk to people and tell them my treatment is finished.  It feels like a lifetime since i was diagnosed in february, the treatment took up most of this year so it feels odd now treatment is at an end.  My hair is growing back quite quick now, and starting to use shampoo on it again - i stopped washing it in May when it started to fall out so it feels weird to wash it again!!   I was lucky to go abroad with the children last week, we had a lovely week in Spain.  As well as my diagnosis and treatment, u may recall i also lost my mum to breast cancer in February.  My lovely work colleagues held a fundraising day a few months ago and we used the money to go on holiday.  We had a lovely week in the sun and it was nice to put the awful year behind us.  Sadly we had our cat put to sleep the week before we went away, he was a very well loved little man and we all miss him.   This week i will return to work.  Im on a phased return for the first month.  It will feel very odd to go back to work but also looking forward to returning to normality.  I know im going to be so emotional but ive had amazing support from my work colleagues and i know they will be making me lots of tea to ease me back in.   I know its been mentioned previously but if anyone would like to meet up to put a face to a name i would love to - not sure how it would work logistically but it may be nice to do over the xmas holidays?   Take care ladies - u are all amazing!!!, Lots of love Sue ... View more

Hello ladies I have this week had my final radiotherapy and therefore finished my treatment.  To say im emotional would be an understatement.  I cried when i rang the bell and i have cried every day since at the fact that there are no more appointments until my 6 week follow up in November.   My diagnosis in February seems a lifetime ago now.     I want to say thank u to every single lady on this forum.  (Im crying writing this!!).   I wouldnt have got through these last 7 months without your support.  The advice and support i have received from you has been invaluable.  Its so reassuring knowing im not alone and ive shared so much with u all.   I want to say good luck to each and every one of you.  None of us chose to be in this situation but we have all come together and shared our lives with each other.  I would love to meet up with u all - not sure where everyone lives and how it would work logistically? I live in Warrington (cheshire).   I will continue to read all the posts and i will continue to offer advice and support as much as i can.   Take care ladies Love and best wishes Sue xxx     ... View more

Hello ladies Apologies ive not been on here for a few weeks.  I hope you are all recovering well after surgery and for those on radiotherapy i hope u are doing ok.   I finished chemo on 2nd august.  I felt poorly for a few weeks after my last dose but im finally getting my strength back and the hot flushes are reducing.  I have just started tamoxifen tablets and ive had hot flushes at night recently - anyone else on tamoxifen? The nausea that i had since day 1 of chemo (16 april) has finally eased away!!  Thought that would never go away!!   I started radiotherapy on 3rd september (my birthday!!).  Ive had 9 sessions (6 more to go) and so far so good. Ive been given a cream to use twice a day as the radiation can dry out my skin but its been fine up to now.  However the hospital only have 3 radiotherapy machines and 2 keep breaking so ive been sat waiting up to 2 hours but there are always lots of people to chat to and the nurses come out with tea and biscuits.   For the last 3 weeks ive been walking every day, only 3 or 4 miles, trying to keep active as i was very fit before i started chemo.  Plus i put on weight from the steroids and eating too much cake and biscuits!!  Ive started to put a bit of running into my walks too, im enjoying getting back to my running again.     Take care ladies, speak soon Sue xx ... View more

Hi ladies Susanmanchester - how are u finding radiotherapy so far? I had my planning appointment this morning.  All seemed to go ok and im booked in to start next tuesday. I enjoyed my holiday last week, didnt have a great week for weather but i got chance to rest.  I felt grotty most of the time and kept checking my temperature as my neutrophils were low but my temp stayed within the guidelines. Hope everyone else is doing well? Take care Sue xxx ... View more

Hello ladies Congrats to everyone who has had their last chemo this week and good luck to everyone awaiting surgery and results. Im 7 days post my final chemo and unfortunately ive felt rough all week.  Ive had hot flushes, stomach cramps and the nausea seems to have got worse not better.  I felt so rough i asked for my bloods to be checked in case of infection.  The bloods came back clear but my neutrophils are low so i need to check my temperature to make sure it doesnt drop or go too high.    Today ive come on holiday with the kids in a caravan for a week in yorkshire.  We had it booked since last year and we have all been looking forward to it but i feel so lousy.  We are right by the sea and im hoping the sea air and rest will perk me up.     I have my radiotherapy planning appointment for 19 august so i should start the week after.  Has anyone started theirs yet? Hope u are all keeping well? Take care Sue xxx ... View more

Hi sharon it was such a relief to finally have the PICC line taken out.  It bled when the nurse took it out but only for a minute, so the nurse pur a dressing on but i was able to take it off a short time later.   Sue xxx ... View more

Hello ladies I had my last chemo yesterday and i rang the bell!!!  I was a bit emotional but i actually cried more once the machine had finished pumping the drugs into me!! Once it started beeping i said "thats it, im finished!!".   It was such a relief to get the PICC line taken out and once i had a glass of champagne at home i had a lovely cool shower (i did intend to have a soak in the bath but weather was very humid) and nice not to have to wrap my arm in plastic to keep my PICC dry.   Bramley i hope u are recovering well from your op and you enjoyed your little holiday.   Debi i think its a marvellous idea that we arrange to meet up!!  Would be lovely to put a face to all our names !!   Lizandsarah hope u have got over the grotty stages from your last docataxel and u are enjoying the sun.  Do u move onto radiotherapy soon?   Take care ladies Sue xxx ... View more

Hello ladies Bramley so pleased the surgery went well for you.  Hope u are getting lots of rest and hope u enjoy the little holiday.   I must admit im really struggling with this heat.  I have lots of hot flushes but combined with the heatwave its unbearable. I try to take cold showers to cool down but i have to wrap my arm in clingfilm to prevent my PICC line getting wet.   Ive been out for quite a few walks lately.  I went back to my local parkrun last weekend, i hadnt been for 3 months and it was so good to be back and lots of my friends shouted out support to me.  I dont have the energy to run so i walked it all while chatting to the lovely tailwalker.     Ive had more mouth ulcers this week and of course the nausea which ive had now for 102 days!!! Ive been keeping a little diary since my first day of chemo.  I know it will be nice to look back on in a year or so.  I did the same when i was pregnant.   Fingers crossed that this time next week i will have had my final chemo.  Looking forward to ringing the bell but i know ill cry as i have done when ive watched others on the ward when theyve rung it.  I must admit the last 3 months have flown by.  Cant believe im so close to the end of chemo.     Take care ladies, speak soon Sue xxx ... View more

Hi Bramley When i had the dye, it was injected into my breast around the nipple area.  I didnt have any anaesthetic and it did hurt but only for a minute or so.  The dye will leave a little blue mark on your breast - i still have it and my op was in march!! Im sure it will fade away eventually!!  I too had to wait all day to go to theatre so take a book or something to read while u are waiting.  My sister bought me a little cushion to put under my armpit while i was recovering afted my op - it really helped to ease the pressure from the scars. Good luck tomoro - we will all be thinking of you and wishing the best for you. Take care Sue xxx ... View more

  And this is the sign i wore on my back with all your names on as well as other ladies who i know are having treatment Sue xxx ... View more

This is me and my lovely children (twins!!) at the start of race for life today.  I walked it all with my daughter Hannah and we ran through the finish line holding hands.  My son matthew ran the 5k.  I thoroughly enjoyed it and cant wait to get to the end of my treatment and start running again.  It was such a fantastic atmosphere today, i had family and friends taking part with me but i had all you lovely ladies in my thoughts too.  Ive had a lovely rest this afternoon and ive not been suffering too far with side effects of chemo number 5 but im going to take it easy for the next few days. Take care ladies have a lovely evening Sue xxx ... View more

Hi Bramley Ill ask my daughter to show me how to upload the photos - she is much more technical than i am🤣🤣   Yes i had sentinel node biopsy at the same time as my lumpectomy.  I was sore and tender for about 6 weeks in total. Make sure u get lots of rest - i used to endulge in a nice long hot bath.  Just make sure u have lots of spare dressings to cover your wounds afterwards. I found ibuprofen helped to ease the soreness.   My sister bought me a lovely "recovery kit" which included a cushion - its smaller than an average sofa cushion.  I used to put it under my armpit and it took the pressure of the biopsy scar rubbing against me.     When i had the docataxel on friday it took an hour and a half to be administered which was longer than last time - when i asked the nurse she said they liked to thin it out on the 5th dose.  Side effects so far have been the usual nausea, mouth ulcers and hot sweats.   Well ladies im off to get ready for the Race for Life - wish me luck - ill be thinking of you all !!!   Sue xxx   ... View more

Hi Debi I had surgery in march so ill be starting radiotherapy in september.  Where are u up to with your treatment?    I consider myself lucky that mine was found early because i took myself to get checked after my mum was diagnosed in january.  Sadly it was too far advanced and she passed away 3 weeks later but if it wasnt for my mum being diagnosed i wouldnt have gone to get checked and i dread to think where i would be now.   Im resting as much as i can today to bank my energy for tomoro.  Im entered into the 10k but im doubtful ill be able to run much of it however ive raised over £300 in sponsorship so there's no way im not taking part.     Sorry to hear u have been in hospital however glad there is no sign of infection. I hope u are still resting up and catching up on your sleep.   Take care ladies, speak soon Sue xxx ... View more

Good afternoon ladies Well im pleased to say my bloods were ok and i went ahead with chemo number 5 yesterday.  Im glad i was only delayed by 3 days and not a week.  The antibiotics have started to work on the insect bite (there has been no more green discharge). Billy Bob is also healing nicely 🤣🤣  Yesterday i watched 3 people ring the end of treatment bell and i know ill get to do this in 3 weeks time.   I know ill feel grotty tomoro once the side effects have started (already have hot sweats and mouth ulcers😢) but ive decided to still take part in the race for life.  I have "Sue's Pink Army" of my children, family and friends taking part with me.  I hope its ok with you all that ive decided to write the names of all the ladies on this forum on the sign that i wear on my back - "who are you running for" - we are all on this journey together and i want u all to know that you have all helped me along the way with advice whether ive been feeling low emotionally or about my PICC line clot or any of the side effects from EC or docataxel.   If i could i would post a photo of the sign and of the race.   Take care ladies Sue xxx ... View more

Hello ladies I was due to have my 5th chemo yesterday but unfortunately ive got an infected insect bite (not Billy Bob the blister - he's burst!!) So im now on antibiotics. I need to get my bloods checked again tomoro and im booked in for chemo on friday so fingers crossed i can go ahead then!!  This is the first time ive had chemo delayed so im gutted but like the doctor said the infection needs to clear up as the antibiotics and chemo affect the white blood count in different ways and i could end up poorly and being admitted to hospital.    Im taking part in the race for life on sunday and ill probably feel grotty but ive got my children, family and friends taking part with me and im determined to do it even if i have to crawl!! Ive ran the race for life many times before and i signed up in january on the day my mum was diagnosed (she passed away 3 weeks later) and just before i was diagnosed and ive raised £300 so far.    Hope you lovely ladies are all keeping well Take care Sue xxx ... View more

Hi ladies Sorry to hear u have all been quite emotional lately.  Ive had days were ive sat and cried - the emotion of it all but also i feel so fat because of the weight ive put on with the steroids as im usually so active. Lynsh can i ask how u have coped with not being able to run? I usually run 3 or 4 times a week but just not had the energy.  Running is a big part of my life for 10 years and ive missed it and i know ill get back to it once my treatment is over but sadly dont think ill be doing the half marathon im signed up for in september!!  I did walk with my running club but ended up with a humongous blister as my trainers were tight from my feet swelling up on the steroids.  I saw my oncologist on friday and she couldnt stop staring at my foot!! If i could post a photo on here i would to make u all laugh.  I nicknamed it Billy Bob and he burst yesterday🤣🤣🤣.     I also found ive been emotional at the fact that tomoro is chemo number 5 and in 3 weeks ill have my 6th and final chemo.  Its been the main focus for me for so many months and i think ill be sad to say goodbye to the girls on the chemo ward as i see them every week and chat to them when im getting my PICC line cleaned.  I still have radiotherapy in september but ive had my surgery in march so im almost two thirds of the way into my treatment.     Ive really enjoyed chatting to all u lovely ladies on this forum and its been great that we've been able to help and support each other.  I feel emotional that we are all coming to the end of our chemo journey.   Take care ladies, speak soon Sue xxx ... View more