Breast Cancer Now Forum

Thanks. All very helpful. Hope you’re enjoying retirement! ... View more

Thanks both of you, that’s really useful. It’s such a big decision to make but I think I’m going to explore it. Interesting that one of you was off for 18 months and the other not, and both got it. I was full time team leader in a special school before diagnosis. Went back (virtual as shielding), reduced to three days after 6 months. Then had a term back in real life before changing jobs to autism advisory teacher now, still three days, no team leading, no classroom, still can’t do it. Do you know if you can do voluntary work on enhanced or absolutely no form of work even unpaid?    ... View more

Hi. Just seen this thread through a search I did as contemplating the same. I’ve gone back after treatment and shielding and it is too much. Interested that people have been awarded it, been told before was almost impossible! Did you get the accrued benefits or incapacity (think those are the correct terms?) thanks for any advice  ... View more

Also I don’t mind being an admin too. Will post in the Facebook group when it’s not public any more as I’m not tech savvy enough to know how public a public group is & I haven’t put stuff re my diagnosis on Facebook! 😝 Zed x ... View more

thanks for insurance tip Ruby & yes re Facebook Zxx  ... View more

Happy New Year all has anyone taken out travel insurance since diagnosis? Any recommendations? Thanks. Zx  ... View more

Happy belated Christmas everyone! Hope you’re all doing well. Mini mad at the top of the message box there are some symbols including a camera one, click to upload a photo xx looking forward to seeing hairdo! Mine also coming back & also quite liking the pixie look at the mo although eyebrows still needing a bit more work! However I’m more than a month behind you so there’s hope yet! Zx  ... View more

Isn’t it weird how your emotions swing about. I can’t tell when I’ll feel bad it just really hits me some days. Mostly ok but just started Tamoxifen which is likely to have an effect in all sorts of things I think.   went for checkup at breast clinic on Friday due to little external lump on scar & some pain. They said it’s fine just scar tissue etc but best to check every time & not to worry if I need go again. Very quick appointment time from when I phoned up, & very thorough examination & ultrasound. Just thought might be useful for people to know in case any of you experience similar. Happy Sunday. Zoe x ... View more

Hi all  Alvilajo glad the radiotherapy started well. I had my last one of 15 a week ago and apart from a little soreness / tiredness it’s been fine. Nothing as bad as chemo! Keep slapping on the moisturiser I’m sure it really helps.  had a hair trim yesterday to even up the new growth & the slightly longer bits of old hair that didn’t go. Have very short hair but no patches any more which is good. Suffering from lack of eyebrows & being crap at makeup not great at drawing them back in but will follow your advice Chicken81 & try the cream as well as pencil. Fingers crossed. Back into breast clinic tomorrow due to concerns over pain in non cancer boob but think it’s from the scar from the surgery to level it up with the other one. So not panicking too much. Hope you’re all ok. Zxx  ... View more

Hi Alvilajo yes I felt the worst I did on the last one. Had mine on 3rd October & getting some energy back but the terrible taste buds, watery eyes, sore skin still very much there. Just to let you know I’ve had 7 of my 15 radiotherapy sessions & they have been fine, a pain going every day but the actual thing is ok. Bit sore now but using body cream twice a day & wearing crop top type thing rather than a bra helps. Hope yours goes well  happy weekend everyone!  zx  ... View more

So lovely to hear people coming to the end of treatments. My radiotherapy starts next week on Halloween so wonder if it’ll make me glow in the dark 🎃   I’m also a teacher, I work with teenagers in a special school currently full time. Just about to go onto half pay. Not sure when I’ll go back & will do phased return. Had my surgery before chemo so just radio plus the ongoing targeted therapy. Definitely not before Feb half term but possibly not til Easter which will be a year since I stopped.... agree need be mentally & physically strong enough before try!  my herceptin/ pertuzumab dose was cancelled today as all the hospital systems down after a power cut so they’ve got staff coming in to catch up tomorrow so am going in on a Saturday! Crazy. Happy weekend everyone x ... View more

Hi. Anyone else suffering from watery eyes? I’m almost 3 weeks post final docetaxel & was told it is a side effect but really making my skin around the eyes so sore from constant watering these last few days. Don’t think outdoor cooler air helps either. Look like I’ve been crying a lot! Zed x ... View more

@Shi wrote: Zed for rads see if you are getting 15 + 5 boosters, and ask which bits are getting the rads, it differs for each of us, they can do chest wall and under arm etc they will know what you need and exactly what to do. You might have 3 small dot tattoos done so they can line you up on the machine, not all trusts do this but yours might. During rads I just wore a vest top with no seams from H&M under clothing and a kaftan thing at home to get air to skin. Ask about creams to use and I kept one in fridge at home and one in handbag for slapping on while out and about. Ask about using deodorant during rads too. I still drank lots of water and did have a sleep most afternoons too. Try and get a time slot that works for you too if you can the trust I was with arranged around the same time every day so keep that in mind if you are going on your own and having to park 😘 hope that helps a bit 💕 💕 ✨ ✨ Shi xx Thanks Shi that is all really helpful. Just good to have an idea before embark on this next bit. Have been so so tired this weekend think cumulative effect of all this stuff. Keep having to concentrate on the fact that it will get better in a week or so!  ... View more

Happy weekend from me too. Had my final chemo yesterday! Bye bye docetaxel! Now just the side effects to get over. Still have 15(?) doses of herceptin & pertuzumab thru IV every 3 weeks so no bell ringing yet but no more bloody chemo!! Whoop whoop. Radiotherapy consultant next week. Any ideas what I should ask about? Hope everyone else doing ok. Zxx ... View more

Thanks all for cinema advice! Went, very empty, saw Ad Astra, enjoyed it (more than my 18 year old did who was the one that instigated it!)  last docetaxel this coming Thursday. Bit worried about it. Should be fine after having it twice already & three lots of FEC. Am going slightly mad. Wish was also last herceptin & pertuzumab but they continue for months. At least not as debilitating as chemo. Good luck everyone having doses this week xx ... View more

Thanks Ruby. Think was being a bit over the top. Have been out other places eg restaurant in last couple of days so why not cinema ! Thanks x ... View more

Hi all  re the gene testing thing. I’ve had it (Nottingham) - not got BRCA gene but slight possibility of the PALB2 but they need look further after I’ve finished treatment. If I did have that they’d only really monitor me as much as they would normally after having BC. I was offered testing as my mum and my dad’s sister both died of BC in their 50s (however this was in 1980s so treatment v different). Think they’d just offer others in my family test if I was positive.  Also a silly question maybe - I’m on day 18 of three week cycle, people have said don’t go places like cinema due to infections but I really want go with my family this pm & looks like others of you have been braving it?! Am I being too cautious?! Zxx  ... View more

Hi everyone  how are you all doing?  On a positive note I have had 5 out of 6 chemo treatments. Still have to keep having herceptin for ages through I.V. visits but at least only one more chemo. Still have a bit of cold capped random hair. Don’t feel too ill.  However really really fed up with the taste thing though. Almost everything tastes like plastic. Keep thinking can find things that will be ok then get severely disappointed. Realised how important nice food normally is in my life! ☹️ Hopefully after a few weeks 🤞 🤞 🤞 hope you’re all ok xx ... View more

Chicken I’m on same stuff as you. Think I’ve lost taste of some things but not others? Very weird. Can’t be doing with cheese which is normally my go to food. No sickness but external skin soreness has now replaced the burning mouth & throat. Has that happened to you? Also feeling more tired than with FEC but maybe that’s the cumulative effect....  Hope all of you are enjoying the sunny breezy first day of September. Had a gentle dog walk with my crazy spaniel which lifted my spirits!  Take care allxxx ... View more

Chicken81 I love the pic. I’ve had 3xFEC and last week first herceptin & pertuzumab on Wednesday IV for couple of hours then had to stay on ward til 7pm make sure no reaction. Then docetaxel on Thursday. So same regime as you nearly except this time over 2 days & I'm having 4 in total. So had it a week ago & felt ok but tired, achy bones for a couple of days. Have now got very sore throat & mouth which hospital have given me mouthwash for & I’ve decided my diet should consist basically of chocolate mousse as can swallow that. Also sore skin. I need ask if the herceptin can be injection after chemo bit over but I was given the impression that with pertuzumab as well had to be IV?? But not sure keep getting different answers. Will ask next appointment. Guess you’ve had yours? Was it ok? Z x ... View more