Breast Cancer Now Forum

I was trying to be polite Joeyaff, but I completely agree with you and more........     ... View more

Hi Joeyaff, I suppose our bodies get used to it after a while.  The entire treatment programme is certainly challenging and getting through it is pretty tough. Thanks so much for your comments. Jo   ... View more

Thanks Helzie,   So far so good! 🙂 ... View more

Hi Helzie, It's costing a lot of money, I suppose if they are willing to spend so much on keeping us alive the least we can do is to take the tablets. Your message is so helpful, thank you.  I'm just a huge wimp! Best wishes  Jo ... View more

Hi TKN, Thanks to all the positive messages here, I've just taken my second one this morning. Another step forward....Good luck! Jo   ... View more

So sorry to hear you are so far from here Chelle, ah well, maybe we can compare notes on here.   Tattooed and bald! What a life.    Happy Days   Jo ... View more

Hi Cazzy,   Thanks so much, I'm crossing everything and hopeful.  The brand is Cipla.   I hope the side effects minimise for you.   Good luck xxx ... View more

Hi Chelle56   Thanks so much for your response its given me a boost, I'll take your advice regarding the timing of Letrozole.   I hope your radiotherapy goes well on Monday.  Just to say, I'm at Maidstone in Kent in case you are there too.    Good luck with all the treatement.   Jo ... View more

Hi Alibobs,   Thanks so much for the positive post.  I have the boxes of Letrozole but can't bring myself to start them. I'm due Radiotherapy next Monday and thought I would hold off until after that.  Every part of this cancer treatment holds its side effects and as you say we are all different.  Fingers crossed for everyone going through this.  Keep as well and exercised as you can I think it helps.  ... View more

Thank you Wonky, you made me chuckle and cheered me up.  I will have a good long think about the whole thing.  I hope you are well and if you have any spare Baftas knocking about let me know!!!  ... View more

Thank you so much for responding to my post. I think I am without doubt the very worst patient ever.  The chemo was awful, the first lot dreadful sickness and 2nd lot with a partially numb foot, toes, nose and other parts which I hope are not permanent. I just feel that if that hasn't killed it then why bother? I was nearly reconciled to it when I went today, but the thought of my lungs being compromised and not getting proper answers just sent me running. All the treatment is part of a plan and a protocol which they follow for us to be well and hopefully cancer free but side effects can remove quality of life and all these have to be weighed up.   We are all so different as are our lives. The decision must be without any regrets. ... View more

Hi, I've had a mastectomy, lymph node clearance and 7 sessions of chemo and today went to be measured up for radiotherapy.  I had been told what to expect regarding side effects etc but asked one of the radiologists some more questions.  The chemo was adjuvant and just in case anything had spread.  I've also had Zolondronic acid and will be for the next 3 years as well as Letrozole.   The radiologist said that the radiation will take a small part of the top of the lungs and if I hold my breath it will avoid my heart. I had a weird pneumonia a few years ago. A medical paper has been written that states this particular pneumonia can be caused by radiation treatment for breast cancer.  I am therefore very worried that any of this could cause my pneumonia to return.  I stated all this and had sent the paper months ago to my Oncologist but this has rather fallen on deaf ears.     I therefore have refused treatment.  They really wanted me to have this as I had stage 3 Aggressive cancer with a lump of 4.3 mm which appeared 6 months after mammogram.  I just feel that this potential side affect to treat something that may not be there would be a very bad thing to do.  Also, with all the chemo then surely that would have killed off any lurking cancer cells as what then is the point?     Has anyone else been in this position as I feel terrible but I hope it's the right decision.  If inconvenience is making you not do it then maybe think again. Having said that, it is your body and your decision and nobody really knows what to do for the best.   ... View more

Hi Jan,   Thanks so much for your response.   What a horrible illness this is and how worrying. We have to put our trust in our Oncologists but it is hard not to feel like a statistic at times.  I think having a list of questions really  can help.  I'm sure they don't want us to suffer with long term side effects any more than we do.  It's just that we have to decide what we really want and that can be extremely difficult particularly as nothing is guaranteed and so much guess work is involved.   You are so right, they don't take these drugs.    Thanks again.   Jo ... View more

Hi Sam,   Good grief, you really suffered after just one of the doses.  I'm not surprised to hear that you were determined to have quality of life as much as you could. I do think that the Oncologists mean well but really are blinkered in terms of treatment for the patient and not the patient's needs.  We are all different and our reactions are different too!  I was really worried that more treatment was going to cause more numbness. I am very active and use ladders a lot (I wish I didn't have to) and a numb foot could cause a huge problem/accident. Mine is going to ring me on Monday to discuss it all as we have delayed last Fridays treatment and sadly I was unable to contact the Oncologist all last week.   I did wonder whether she will change this drug or revert me back to EC on which I really did suffer with appalling sickness.  I will have a list of questions ready. I like the idea of using a hairbrush for something as I've been wondering what to do with it!  Thanks for the tip 🙂 Very best wishes to you and thank you so much for responding.   ... View more

Hello, I've had 4 lots of EC at 3 weekly intervals and 2 of Paclitaxel so far, 2 more to go two weekly.  I'm really worried about the peripheral neuropathy nerve damage as I have a numb foot and don't want it to become permanent damage.    I contacted a Dr who said that it was only stage 1 numbness and that the drug would be stopped at Stage 2.  Does anyone know what the difference between these two stages could be?  She asked if I felt I was walking on a tennis ball - I'm not. Has anyone any knowledge of this? I would be so grateful as I'd like to finish the course but don't want to make my foot worse. Thank you in anticipation. ... View more

Hello, I've had 2 doses of Paclitaxel and I found it much more bearable than EC however I have got sore fingers and toes and now have a numb foot.  The numb foot could be permanent or not and this doesn't happen to everyone.  So I am concerned that the next 2 doses could make this side effect much worse and be permanent nerve damage.  Other than that, it's really not that bad.   I hope this helps you.   I am anti all drugs but needs must and this one could be far worse.  ... View more