Breast Cancer Now Forum

Hello all , lovely to hear from you Kaytee and Louise. Sorry to hear you've both been having various problems.. hope you are on the mend now 🙂  And staying safe. Hasn’t this coronavirus been a extra burden to carry? Just when I was breaking free from radiotherapy and checkups and feeling brave enough to venture out again along comes Covid and puts us all back inside shielding , unfortunately I lost my dear dad to it in April . I’ve had  Heart problems with Herceptin but they’ve cleared now, so am restarting that next week. Fingers crossed this time 🤞🏻 Anybody on Letrozole? Any joint problems ?  I find it hard to believe it’s a year since we started out on our chemo journey ... thank goodness you were all there with me along the way ! Stay well and safe you lovely ladies xx       ... View more

Kaytee  I am so happy to read this ! I know what a time it must’ve been waiting for the result. hope everyone is ok and staying safe ..at least with our hair growing back we don’t have to be concerned about the hairdressers  being closed! Mine is growing back like a crinkle cut chip 😂 it used to be dead straight .  Silverpixie xx  ... View more

Hi Lucylump I was thinking the same .. it is a scary time . I’m also thinking of those going through their chemo just now .  stay  safe and well all you July ladies !  xx    xx ... View more

Hi LucyLump, Yes,  I have had split skin on my thumbs and index fingers from the chemo working through. My nails are still tender to touch ... loads of cuticle oil and moisturiser but it still splits . Also,  anyone had rib pain from the radiotherapy ? Don’t make me 😂 it hurts !! hello to all you lovely July 19-ers ... we’re still trying to get there aren’t we, whatever hurdles come our way.  SilverPixie xx  ... View more

Hi Kaytee Yes , we went on a Mediterranean cruise 3 years ago for a special anniversary and had a wonderful time . Only tip I’d give is take clothes in 2 sizes and wear the smaller ones at the start of the cruise because you’ll definitely get bigger towards the end !!  We are hoping to book another one for next year once my OH has retired , only thing I’m wary of is the travel insurance now we’ve been through this shenanigans .  But do go and enjoy it .. we thought it was like a 6* hotel and wanted for nothing . Bliss!  Glad you are on the up now ... it’s been a blooming hard row to hoe though hasn’t it ?  best wishes  Silverpixie x  ... View more

Hello Louise, yes I have missed our group chats and reassurances too . No I didn’t  have haematoma after surgery but sympathise with your concern . I've ha my radiotherapy now and abandoned bras in favour of camisole tops and loose fitting blouse shirty things . Have had my Herceptin delayed because of heart probs but just had another heart scan do I hope I can restart it soon plus getting the Zolendronic acid stuff too . I have to start taking letrozole too but am so hoping not to deal with any more yuck side effects .  my hair is growing back too . Straight and tufty at the sides but like a Brillo pad at the front - not for release to the public just yet ! Eyebrows And eyelashes are coming back too -yay!  It was my birthday yesterday so had a bit of a celebration with a couple glasses of wine .. anyone else wary of alcohol now we’ve experienced the dreaded C ?  woukd be interested in your thoughts  SilverPixie xx ... View more

Hi Lucylump and all you lovely July ladies,  Happy Christmas to you too and I  echo Lucy’s sentiments, when I say that having you there, has made such a difference to this journey,  that none of us wanted to be on . It’s been so often reassuring , and sometimes humorous   😂 to have you there  at the end of a keyboard !  let’s hope that next year is better for us!  love and hugs Silverpixie xx ... View more

Hello all, My hair is starting to come back , like a soft covering ! But no eyelashes or eyebrows yet! I miss my eyelashes because I wear specs  and they were the one thing I relied on to perk me up 😂 It’s still grey though and a wee bit crinkly 😂 my OH was hoping for a redhead! Ha!  Yes, we have done well these last six months and especially your little boy Flower79 .. bless him .  Don't think we would’ve got through without our family and friends support and this wonderful forum of course !  SilverPixie xx    ... View more

Hi LucyLump, Nice to hear from you ! No more chemo but I’ve been stopped having my Herceptin until my heart can be checked again 😞   I start radiotherapy on Monday , so hope that’s an easier row to hoe than chemo was. I still have nails peeling and swollen ankles ... how long does that yucky mouth taste last?  I had appointment with the hygienist today hoping to zing but no such luck! hope you are getting on ok and the wound is improving ... we’ve done well to get this far haven’t we ?   SilverPixie xx ... View more

Thanks for reply mini mad . I’ve only been offered IV Zolendronic acid, so perhaps that’s just as well with heartburn, as a poss side effect from tabs ! Will let you know how it goes ... SilverPixie x  ... View more

Hello all, Glad to hear that your op went well Louise and that you are recovering . Good to hear to Helly that the rads are flying in and are manageable ! Going for my radiotherapy plan and mark up tomorrow and then hopefully start mid December . I’m also getting an IV Zolendronic acid twice yearly for 3 years with the Herceptin next time . Anyone else having this ?  sorry to hear about your nails Kaytee .. mine are all marked as well and my toenails are discoloured  too. Taste buds coming back slowly and I’ve still no hair regrowth.. my OH and I joke about who has  got least hair .. at the mo I’m winning 😂 best wishes to you all .. we’ve made it through the chemo... onwards and upwards!  SilverPixie xx ... View more

Hi LucyLump,  I’m only getting Herceptin as well,  as haven’t had Perjeta at all . But next Herceptin I’m having Zoledronic acid IV twice a year for 3 years to help prevent reoccurence  in bones .   Had my last Docetaxel yesterday with Herceptin so feeling a bit ropey today 🙂 still last one so another target reached .   Radiotherapy  starts in mid  Dec plus hormonal tabs for 5 years . I really feel they are covering all bases and have been well looked after . Speak to your team and see what advice they have . Mine have quite happily answered all my questions , however daft they might have seemed at the time 😊   hugs to all you ladies still on this rollercoaster but we are getting there one way or another 😊 👍🏻 👏 👏 👏 silverpixie  ... View more

LucyLump that is fantastic news ! So happy for you ! Onwards and upwards now ! Sending you a big hug x  ... View more

Hi Helly, thanks for thinking of me .... so glad you’ve finished and got to the end of chemo. I had round 5 today so only one to go ... get the side effects over with and I’m nearly through . It’s been hard , I’ve had reduced doses because of some severe side effects but I’m hopeful that it’s enough to have zapped any cancer cells lurking ! Like you I have a dedicated husband who has done all appts chemo and emergency drives to A&E at 2 in the morning !  Sending you a hug too x    silver Pixie    ... View more

Hi LucyLump, Yes, me too .. belching and feeling yuk . Haven’t got a solution though, sorry. The taste is awful isn’t it? I can’t summon up much appetite when my mouth feels dirty . I have been eating Randoms sours as they provide a brief respite and brushing teeth frequently. Are you on dose 4or 5 ? I’m on 4 and so want this to be done ...  doxcetal is a real trial .. I feel sorely tested !  Anyway , sending you a hug as I know we’re all doing our best to get through this xx ... View more

Morning Helly and all , I’m glad you’re feeling positive today after your drug changes for the next chemo. I had my 4th yesterday( doxcetral and Herceptin )   and like you am waiting for the side effects to kick as I feel sure they will !  Don’t the steroids leave you wired 😂 I feel I could tackle all sorts but I think that’s not a good idea just yet !  Im on 80% dose because of my experience with excess vomiting on round 1 and they have decided to keep me at that level for now . As long as it works long term that’s fine with me .. like you its preventive as my cancer hadn’t spread although stage 3 .  Im just thankful to have got this far and have to say that regular input from you ladies has helped me along no end .. best wishes and hugs to all .. we ARE getting there ! xx   ... View more

Morning LucyLump , hope you’re feeling better now , and able enjoy the next chemo free days... that’s what I’m doing  this week . Taste is funny isn’t it? I can’t bear chocolate or tea and have developed a complete aversion to what I call manufactured sugar .. I’ve been eating hard pears and hard nectarines so they’re not fully ripe and sweet ! But my favourite is chicken gravy!!  We are getting through this and will get to the end somehow , giving each other strength and support along the way .  Best wishes to all xx ... View more

  Hi Crochet-Helly sorry to hear that Doxacetel is giving you such a rough ride.. hope you feel better today and the painkillers are helping to ease it .  That’s my next stop having just done FEC with mixed reactions . Can understand the tiredness .. it just zaps you doesnt it? We’ll get through this somehow ! 👍 😊 x    ... View more

Hi SusieB and minimad  thank you both  for your helpful replies . Worth bearing in mind if it’s a problem getting a cannula in on Wed ... it may be the answer ! Hope your continuing treatment goes well too . Enjoying my last couple of ‘ normal ‘ days before Chemo World again 👍🏻 😂 ... View more

Hi LucyLump,  I’m sorry to hear you had a reaction to the Perjeta but glad the nurses sorted it out quickly and effectively, ( though it must’ve been scary at the time 😳 ) and you are ok today.  I think I am one dose behind you, so when you say six weeks till your last one , it makes mine seem possible!   I’m halfway through on the next one Kaytee and like you,  have sore veins , in so don’t know how they’ll manage that . Does anyone have a PICC line and how does that impact on your week with reg checks and cleans?  I went to a post surgery exercise class yesterday ..20 ladies there ... and we had a good laugh trying to get balls up walls ! So nice to have support both here and in other groups .  Sending you all best wishes .. we can do this ! xxx ... View more