Breast Cancer Care Forum

Hi everyone   Sorry to hear of your CF/ME problems, I hope you are getting the help and support you need?   I hope your cold sores heal soon, they are nasty things, I take L-Lysine when I get them and that relldy helps me, GP has given me anti-virals tablets in the past when I have had bad ones.   I've had 6 radiotherapy sessions now and I'm a little tired but I think thats because I'm still recovering from my last chemo on 23rd Oct, stuggling to get a good nights sleep for the hot flushes and the early mornings!   I have started to feel some discomfort in my boob and shoulder already, so I'm making sure I keep up with the fluids, cream and the exercises.   Are any of you going on to have hormone therapy? I should be going on to Tamoxifen for 10 years, I think they will start this once radiotherapy is done, I have a review on Dec 2nd with the chemo oncologist.   Love Helly ... View more

Hi everyone   Kip: Thank you for looking after us July Chemo starters, your advice is very reassuring!!   Aww, Flower79 and Lucy Lump: I hope your ongoing treatment is going well, I'm not having the same treatment as you as my tumour was HER negative so just the initial lumpectomy, EC-T chemo which is all done, radiotherapy (6 down 14 to go) and then on to tamoxifen for 10 years for me!   Im doing ok apart from the lack of energy and strength and the night sweats, and my poor nails, I uncovered them earlier today and they have gone very thick, are bruised on the nail beds and I can see lines on them from each of the chemo's, so I have policshed them up again, no one needs to see that!   On a positive note I went to a 'Look Good Feel Better' session yesterday, I hadn't felt ready to before but Im really not a make up wearer, for my wedding it was just mascara and a bit of lippy so I wasn't sure what to expect. But I highly recommend it if you havent been already. You get given a make up back full of high end products that have been donated, and then you get shown how to actually use each product and leave looking like a normal person again, biggest thing for me was learning how to draw eyebrows without looking like Aunt Sally! You can find info here https://www.lookgoodfeelbetter.co.uk/support-advice/group-session/ about sessions local to you, and you just ring up and ask to book on the next session - you dont need to be referred.    Love Helly xx ... View more

Hi Lselga   Sorry to hear your having anxiety, I had similar feelings, for me it was all around the blood tests and cannula's. I have always been anxious around needles, that combined with very well meaning people sending me messages of support prior to each chemo really heightened my feelings but as I got more used to the routine, tolerating injecting myself with the immune booster jabs, the wonderful staff at the hospital, camaradarie of the other chemo patients and getting closer to the end this eased off each time rather than increasing.   If the feelings had not eased off I would have raised this with my medical team to ensure that I felt able to continue, that would be my advice to you, don't be afraid to tell them how you feel, you will find support and solutions if you talk to them I am sure.   I hope you feel better soon   Love Helly ... View more

Hi Katy   I just bought 'Simple' shower cream and Aveeno from the supermarket following advice I read here (advice seems to be there are no added nasties or perfumes in these), I think some hospitals provide creams so you could wait and see what they say on your first appt and then buy some on your way home.   I have only been told to drink plenty - 2 litres every day, moisturise twice a day all over the affected boob, shoulder and back as the rads penetrate and you dont want any skin breakdown, also they said dont scrub or rub skin, just gentle showering and dab with soft towel to dry - it does appear from reading that each hospital has slightly different advice.   Helly xx ... View more

Hey ladies,    How are you all doing?   For those of you who have had their last chemo's what are you main problems and how are you coping?   My main issues are: Watery eyes which I'm dabbing with a cotton hankie Weakness and stiffness in my legs which are seriously limiting my ability to exercise Breathlessness when I walk more than 20 meters Numbness in my finger tips and discomfort in my nails if I knock them Weight gain even though Ive not had ANY choc's, sweets, crisps, biscuits or cake in the last week!!   I also feel very up and down emotionally over the last few days, feeling very worried that I might be stuck with side effects and remain looking bald and dumpy forever......................... sorry for the doom and gloom, no one else understands these dilemmas.   Helly xx ... View more

Hi all and welcome Geewhizz,   I followed the bra advice post surgery which was to have post op/sports bra's, but being a 32G found them very uncomfortable and the sports bra challenging to zip up at the front to say the least, in hind sight Im certain that my original bra's would have been perfectly fine although underwired as they are very supportive. I had lumpectomy and sentinal node removal mid June, and with the tumour being high in the breast the incision runs around the top of my nipple - so very neat you can hardly notice now. There is no way I could manage in crop tops, I could take somebody's eye out with my cleavage if I let them loose!!   The radiotherapy team I am seeing have not mentioned anything at all about bra's, the only things I have been told I must do is be gentle with the skin ie dont worry about trying to scrub their daily pen marks off, moisturise twice daily (I'm using Aveeno) and drink at least 2 litres of water every day to stay hydrated and also help with fatigue.    I am also very much looking forward to getting to the end of active treatment - roll on 4th Dec! I have tried not to do this but in all honesty the final 3 rounds of chemo have been challenging and I just want to get on with getting 'better' now.   Thinking of you all Helly xx ... View more

Hi Fluffball   So pleased that you have got things clearer in your mind and shared concerns with your team!   Just wanted to share my experience re mouth problems.   Pre chemo I often had horrendous mouth ulcers that took well over 7 days to heal and nothing made them better, I just had to go with it but they usually happened when I was run down, and the same for coldsores - huge beasts that hurt like hell!   I was really concerned that during chemo my mouth would suffer, I had EC-T treatment - so three EC's ( epirubicin. cyclophosphamide) every 3 weeks and then 3 T's (docetaxel) every 3 weeks.   Apart from a slight sore throat on cycle 1 I have not had a single mouth ulcer or coldsore (touching wood right now as dont want to bring any on!) The only other tip I can give is to try using Corsodyl toothpaste - it tastes gross at first but you get use to it.   Good luck, thinking of you Helly xx ... View more

Hello everyone, hope you are all doing ok?   I have just had my 2nd session today and feeling fine.   The hospital providing my treatment have a short film of what to expect which I just posted on another thread but thought might be useful too for any one who has not yet been for their planning meetings   https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WM9e4sVsDjI   Love Helly xx ... View more

Hi Diane   Thinking of you xx   I have just had my 2nd of 20 radiotherapy sessions today (had lumpectomy in June and 6 session of chemo through july to oct)   The hospital I have my radiotherapy have a helpful short film that might be helpful for you - it certainly helped me   https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WM9e4sVsDjI   Love Helly xx ... View more

Hello everyone   I had my planning today, CT scan and tattoo marking - 3 tiny dots or tittoo's as I am calling them. It was so straightforward they get you in position and you just lie there like a basted turkey while they make their pen marks, then the itself CT takes a few minutes and viola you are free to go. I was in and out the hospital within 30 minutes.   Feel totally drained now as I couldn't sleep last night overthinking everything, and I stopped my pain meds too eaarly too so back on them tonight so I can have a good rest.   Ready to start my 20 blasts now on 7th Nov, will keep you posted on my progress   Thinking of you all Helly ... View more

Thats fantastic news, Im so happy for you, hopefully the surgeon will be pleased too and can get you booked in swiftly, I had lumpectomy in June prior to chemo and healed really well, I didn't bother with any creams and I can hardly see any scars now, altho when I first looked at the wound I cried as I thought it looked like a mutant boob, it just looks normal now and the node removal scar just looks like a crease in my armpit, all very boring now!! ... View more

Hi Debi   I hope you get your dates confirmed soon, its very anxiety provoking not knowing whats happening, I've been quite fortunate so far that things have flowed well. I had my last Chemo on weds so feeling very spaced out today!    I'm feeling ok about radiotherapy so far, just hope that it stays that was as I have been quite up and down on the chemo, but I suppose thats part of the journey.    Looking forward to Look Good Feel Better session in a couple of weeks time too, I feel very fat and frumpy from all the treatment and lack of mobility so hoping that I can lose some chemo weight and grow some hair for christmas!   Helly xx                 ... View more

Hi Silver Pixie Im sure the doses are still strong enough to give the baddies a good battering!   I spent much of days 4 to 14 of cycle 5 in tears of feeling emotional but by day 16 I was so positive (even tho I have the physical energy and memory of my granny).   I smiled through the whole of the administering of cycle 6, my chemo finale!   Bring on the pain, fatigue, night sweats, weakness, breathlessness, chemo brain and yucky tastes ready to welcome some more energy and hopefully some hair, knowing my luck I wil have big bushy legs and a bald head 😂!!   Love Helly xx ... View more

Hi Aww   How are you doing, thinking of you   Helly xx ... View more

Hi Kaytee   How are you getting on with treatment, and more importantly how is the holiday?   Thinking of you   Helly xx ... View more

Hi Silverpixie   How are you getting on with your treatment?   Thinking of you   Helly xx ... View more

Hi LMC88   How are you getting on with your PICC line installation? Thinking of you   Helly xx ... View more

Hello ladies   I had my final chemo today - woohoo!! So relieved this chapter of my journey is almost complete, and am almost looking forward to the side effects as I know there is an end in sight! Really chuffed that my bloods have held up throughout and allowed me to have the max dosage throughout - I feel reassured that I have given the nasty cancer cells the hardest time I possibly can, I know there are no guarantees in this cancer game but I'm happy with myself, and thanked Hubby for his dedication, he has endured every single hospital appt and chemo session with me and will deliver me to each and every radiotherapy session too!   How are you doing Flower79 and LucyLump, have through about you both alot through our shared journey   Love to all Helly xx ... View more