Breast Cancer Now Forum

Hi    I refused to have a tattoo on my breastbone as I knew it would bother me, told the registrar I've managed 66 years without feeling the need for a tattoo anywhere on my body and don't want one now if it can be avoided. (I agreed to the side ones as they would be under clothing).  I had to remind the staff at the planning session there was to be no tattoo there and they managed with a 'felt pen' mark covered up with a  waterproof surgical dressing that had to stay in place untouched for the three weeks of radiotherapy.  But if I hadn't stood my ground I would have ended up tattooed.  I'm so pleased to have avoided one unnecessary reminder of my treatment.   Alice ... View more

Sorry Bramley  - not ignoring you I think we posted at the same time    Alice ... View more

Hi  Pollensa   Just been catching up on the thread. We're all clocking  up the cycles now - third cycle for me yesterday, lot of you also done three.   You asked in an earlier post if the injections are only given with some treatments , I started on Docetaxel [plus Herceptin and Pertuzumab] and with that combination I was given five injections of Zarzio starting on day 4.  Due to bad reaction to Doce I'm now on Abraxane (nab-paclitaxel) and nurse explained that this one doesn't have the same effect on your white blood cell production so the injections are not needed.  So yes looks like it is dependent on your exact drug regime.  I'm cold capping too ...  first cycle didn't lose any more hair that usual but had a few bad days during cycle 2 when first my scalp felt really uncomfortable then next day I was shedding loads and feeling pessimistic.  It does add so much time to treatments I'm wondering if it will be worth it.  Any way cold capped again with cycle 3, expect I shall soon know.   Does any one else have trouble with their eyes following treatments?  My vision goes blurred like my glasses are the wrong prescription ..    Lovely weather here in the Midlands, bright and sunny although quite windy.  Just planning on resting up over the weekend as these are usually my worst days for tiredness.      I've not posted much but do find it very reassuring to find out on here that I'm not alone with my worries,   Happy weekend .    Alice ... View more

Hi Lozza     sorry to hear you had a reaction to Docetaxel.  i did too, had awful abdominal cramps on cycle 1 - felt like bad bad period pains/early labour, plus blood pressure dropped suddenly.  I only managed half of the dose.  Long and short I'm now on Abraxane instead and completed the whole treatment on cycle 2.  Have to admit to being very scared going in to cycle 2 in case i reacted again.  /wishing you a better time .  Hope your docs  find an alternative that suits you,   wishing all well    Alice ... View more

Hi Mini and Anxious   HER2+ as well,  herceptin, pertuzumab and docetaxol for cycle 1 but i reacted to two drugs ending up with a two night stay.  once home afterwards i had waves of fierce tingling right through my body just as described in the side effects leaflet.   Docetaxol has been changed to Abraxane now and i did cycle 2 over two days with no adverse reactions, what a blessing.  No way did i want to be ill like that again.  Good luck    Alice ... View more

Good on you with the self-injecting.  I'm not brave enough.  OH is doing well and doesn't mind playing nurse.  Chemo for my Cycle 2 was spread over 2 days and I had Abraxane instead of docetaxol =  and no reactions which was an incredible relief.  Next cycle plan is for all treatment on the same day.   Zarzio injections still giving me lower back pain, not awful but enough to have me reaching for the paracetamols.  Other than that I;m just tired plus lots of digestive issues.   Keep strong    Alice ... View more

Zarzio injections   think i could do it myself if push came to shove but actually glad OH is around.  Advice given to us was pinch an inch and pop it in, squeeze slowly   and important to take out of fridge for 30 mins beforehand or it stings.  I'm lucky with my excellent care assistant/nurse  aka my husband!!   He's being great hope the rest of you are blessed with good care.   Cycle 2 starts for me tomorrow.   Keep strong, think long term, this is a step on the journey.  We can do it.      Alice ... View more

Hi Joemic   Sorry you're having a rough time Cycle 1 I had /zarzio inj 30MU for days 4 to 8 so 5 injections, apart from a mild lower back ache across the pelvis area I was ok.  Downed a couple of paracetamol - (probably wouldn't under normal circumstances but i had a rough ride with reactions to two  drugs so sometimes enough is enough).  Cycle 2 starts for me tomorrow.  Getting the same targeted therapies but a different chemo drug this time time round.  Hope your pain decreases..   I'm so glad this treatment is available even though it's brutal to be honest.  Even so I don't see the point of being a martyr, I take the painkillers rather quicker than i normally would than add to the side effect misery.   cycle 1 for me  = herceptin, pertuzumab and docetaxol   HER2+ let us know how you're doing ps were you brave enough to inject yourself   'pinch an inch and pop it' is the advice here;   glad my OH was around Wishing you well    Alice ... View more

Welcome Oots   hello everyone   Oots strange that you loved the taste of ketchup - my taste went completely for a few days but i loved anything with fresh tomato.  For me today was blood test, tomorrow clinic and Thurs is chemo day.  very worried about what will be suggested for cycle 2 as i had reactions to two drugs on round 1, so approaching cycle 2 with trepidation to be honest.  Never had any nausea, no sickness so that was a blessing but did suffer with an incredibly sore nostril - just the  one-- and a drippy nose for a few days.  Tight bad headache on waking for three or four days, so next round i shall be drinking more water to see if that eases.  Back of my hand is like one big dark itchy bruise so i shall be asking about that tomorrow,    Wishing you all a good round 2 whenever it starts.     Alice ... View more

Hi Phet and everyone   Know just what you mean worrying whether chemo will reduce the tumour size.  I too am on chemo with an aim to shrinking prior to surgery. Honestly I daren't feel the lump,  so badly want to but only had one cycle so far - have been told i will be scanned after three cycles to assess, then decision how we proceed.   I'm just trying to be positive, just got to believe in the treatment.   Do your best to believe, we all need this to work.   Stay strong.  My thoughts are with you.     Alice ... View more

Hi Louise   I've got steroids to take day before next chemo session, then IV steroids with the docetaxol, then oral steroids for day after.   It's not called a steriod high for nothing - basically you can't switch off to sleep .  Hope all goes well for you.  Information on here is wonderful, so good to know you are not alone.   Wishing you well.  the staff on chemo suite are very knowledgeable, ask about anything there as well.   Good luck    Alice ... View more

Dear Posters   sorry so fuzzy brained, read through the posts but now can't recall who is doing what haha.  Wishing you a lovely day at the wedding.  I managed my grandson's first birthday for a cuddle and cake and that has been the highlight of my cycle - the rest is pretty rubbish.  I was taking my temp quite often in days 2 to 15 - kept almost hitting 37.5 , so felt strong need to check , now down to 36.8 so more confident all is ok.  worst for me is the chemo brain, feeling stronger physically but mentally feeling fragile and having great trouble concentrating.  Drove car this a/.m (supervised)  did grocery shopping, and now feel generally frazzled.  Next week its blood test Monday, pre chemo clinic /tues then here we go again on Thurs.  Had hoped for more good days and finding it daunting that cycle 2 is just round the corner.   Has anyone else got a sore rash?  Back of my hand, red, bruised and itchy.  I so want to think about something else than side effects.  Sorry peeps feeling just a tinsy but sorry for myself .   Any way happy wedding tomorrow Debi     Alice ... View more

Hi Everyone   re  cough    Day 13 cycle 1 for me,  coughed a dry sort of cough days 10, 11 and 12, today its gone, hurrah .  Don't know if this is another side effect or just me.   glad to be feeling more like me, more energy and losing that nothing tastes right.  Still can't stomach coffee but heyho can manage that.   Elsewhere someone else mentioned a bad cough,   are you better?    Not looking forward to cycle 2 but it;s got to be done to bust the little b.....s Chins up one and all    Al    HER2+   Herceptin  Pertuzumab   Docetaxol ... View more

Hi Mominette   i found cold cap ok.  weird to start with but doable.  I had a reaction to docetaxol tho and only completed about half the treatment, so cold cap came off early, not sure if i'll manage to keep my hair only time will tell.  Day 12 of cycle 1 for me-   nasal drip has stopped, burps and wind have eased so feeling much better today, a bit more human. Herceptin/pertuzumab / docetaxol  HER2+.   Feeling yeah i can do it.  We all can!!!!    Al ... View more

Hi SP    chemo is no easy option, i felt it was Hobson's choice.  Perhaps  ring your breast care nurse and talk things through again, no harm done that way.  I'm not up on other regimens, only done research on my own so don't know about letrozole. I'm 65, with lymph node involvement on one side,  CT scan showed up a lung nodule that might or might not be a secondary, chemo should reduce it if its a secondary, no change if its benign. Not suitable for biopsy. I do 3 cycles then a repeat scan and hopefully know more what is happening in my body.   best advice i can give is ring and speak to someone you need to be sure in your mind that you are making the right decision for you.     Al       ... View more

Hi SP  my second cycle is 2nd May, today is day 10 of cycle 1.  Popped in to say anything with ginger has been brilliant.  Coffee tastes foul but tea tolerable - taste generally affected, hoping that will reduce as the days go by. Have not been nauseous but getting bad wind both ends!!!  Rennies/gaviscon good.  Needing to nap like the grandchild.    Wishing you all the best. on herceptin, pertuzemab, docetaxol   HER2+ Al ... View more

Hi Llangal   Consultant said salty water was the best mouthwash  forget fancy stuff stick to the basics.  Reading other posts i feel a complete wimp.  First cycle, Thurs 14th then wham, reacted to pertuzemab and docetaxol so my outpatient day turned into 2 night stay and no visits on here for reassurance.  Then Tues suffered central chest pain and ended up on A n E.  Husband being brilliant with care and doing the injections, just want cycle 2 to go better.    Feeling pretty wiped out but determined i can do this.     Happy Easter everyone.   ... View more

Hi Everyone   I'm so pleased i found this forum,this is my first post. although i've been reading for a while,   Pre-chemo clinic was today then start first cycle on Thursday.  HER2+  and one node involved, plus  CT showed up a nodule on my lung.  Was to be EC -T for four cyples but now getting targeted therapies first. Docetaxel (taxotere). Herceptin and pertuzumab.  lung nodule may or may not be spread from breast, if chemo shrinks it then its a met, if stays same its benign -   anyone else dealing with this situation?   Would very much like to share how it goes Wishing everyone luck.  when i learn how to I'll send hearts adn hugs     xxx      ... View more