Breast Cancer Now Forum

Hi Daisy (and everyone else) Sorry to hear your treatment has been extended, but it WILL come to an end... promise!  I absolutely agree about not Googling things - I did that to begin with, but found advice contradictory and scary.  I will only look at the NHS site, Cancer Research, McMillan and this one - they tell the truth without giving false hope or offering solutions that may or may not be effective.  And I try to only look for answers to specific questions and then close the site before I'm tempted to go looking at other possibilities.  Definitely don't look at American or Australian sites - they have to pay for their treatment there, so seem to me to be looking for cheaper ways of doing things whereas at least we don't have to worry about that in the UK.   I'm Triple Positive, so had chemo (August - December 2019) then two operations (they didn't get enough margin on the first one) in December/January, and then radiotherapy in March.  Finished radiotherapy on 20 March, then lockdown from the 23rd!  I'm also having 18 infusions of Herceptin (at 3-weekly intervals), but had the first 6 at the same time as chemo (which made the side-effects worse, I'm now told!) and the thought of another 12 after surgery really upset me at the time.  But... I'm having my 16th tomorrow so only 2 more to go after that (finish end of August) and although it's a pain having to go back to the hospital every 3 weeks (twice, as I now have to go for a COVID test 2 days before each infusion) I can see the end coming.  My final (I think) Zoledronic Acid (Zometra) infusion is next January so I'll have been having continuous treatment for 16 months by the time I'm finished, but after the 5 months of chemo I've not felt nearly so bad.  I'll be on Letrozole for at least 5 years, which cause hot flushes, but popping a pill each day isn't much of an inconvenience. Really, honestly, radiotherapy was a breeze.  A pain going every day (hour's drive each way for me) but it went surprisingly quickly and I had hardly any side effects, just a bit of itchy skin which went away a week or so afterwards.  I haven't had oral chemo but, like others, have heard it's not too bad - the important thing is to get well, and to prevent it coming back.  As I said, IT WILL END.  I'm now feeling positive about the future and quite proud to have got through it all.  You will feel the same... just not yet.  Every day is a step forward.  Do be kind to yourself, rest when you need to (and even when you don't, but just want to get away from everyone for a while sometimes!).  Your body has gone through a lot, but these dark days will soon be over and you'll be able to look back and know what a strong person you can be when you need to.  As others have said, try to think about happy things - even if just a little flower that's opened up for a bee to come and drink to go off and make honey.  Life goes on all around us. Sorry to have gone on a bit, but always remember you're not alone and we all care about you (even though hugs are out of the question!!). Do keep us updated, and enjoy the sunshine we've been promised at the weekend. Julie xx ... View more

Congratulations Wolvesgirl!!!  Such a relief for you.  (I've thought about you during the last few days as we hadn't heard anything, but didn't want to ask in case it wasn't the great news you've now had). Well done, and time to celebrate  😁 Julie xx   ... View more

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A very quick one - something unusual, but perhaps you've all had the same?  I had a call from the hospital today to say I have to go in on Wednesday this week for a COVID test, ahead of my Herceptin injection on Friday.  I have to turn up and sit in the car park and they'll call me from there to go in.  It's a pain having to travel there twice this week, but I know it's essential that the hospital is kept safe.  I don't know yet whether this will happen each time now (3-weekly jabs), as when I've been before I've only had to have my temperature taken several times during each visit. Ah well, could be a lot worse I suppose! Love Julie xx   ... View more

Hello all - glad to read your updates, and that we all seem to be doing OK... I love 'scanxiety' and am definitely going to use that!  I believe my health district don't do a follow-up mammogram until a year after treatment has finished (I'm taking that to be the radiotherapy, rather than my continuing 3-weekly Heceptin which doesn't finish until the end of August).  I'm pleased with that, because my dodgy boob is still quite painful sometimes - when squeezed - and I really wouldn't fancy having it squashed in the mammogram machine at the moment.  In fact, I decided I would ask for it to be delayed if they did ask me to go in for one soon. I had an phone update with the oncology consultant about a month ago, and she decided to keep me on the Herceptin for the full 18 cycles.  Apparently there has been a trial where you stop after 9 cycles and there's no difference in the outcome, but the onco and I decided together to keep on with the full 18 to be on the safe side, and I've only got 4 more to go now.  She said that due to my age (60!) I was at low risk of complications if I was to catch COVID-19, even though the Herceptin has meant I'm on the 12-week shielding list as it definitely lowers immunity.  Just thought I'd mention that, in case it makes anyone feel happier about going out (it certainly did for me).  She also said it was the Letrozole (hormone therapy) that was making my legs/hips ache and that it should settle down after the first 3 months (I've been taking it for just over 2 months now).  Fingers crossed, as I'm to be on it for "at least 5 years". I'll also be sent for a bone scan when hospitals start getting through the backlog (I haven't had one of those yet, despite being on Herceptin and Zoledronic Acid).  So I agree, Wolvesgirl, the differences in our treatments / checks have been huge! It will be a year since I was diagnosed soon.  When I feel a little down at times now (probably brought on by the lockdown) I only have to remind myself of what's been accomplished over the last year to stop me feeling sorry for myself now. Best wishes everyone, keep on keeping on! Love Julie xx   ... View more

Brilliant news Spottycotty!  Congratulations, and I think you were SO right to have it checked out.  Really pleased they could reassure you. You certainly deserved that beer (and a few more  😏 ) Could you remind me how long it's been since your radiotherapy ended please?  My dodgy boob seems to be changing regularly, and I haven't seen anyone since the start of radiotherapy (only telephone calls to consultants etc) and I'm not sure what I should expect.  I'm still having 3-weekly Herceptin (plus pills) but the chemo nurses don't examine me.  The boob does ache quite a bit, although not all the time. Thanks, and well done again! Julie xx ... View more

Hi everyone   Sorry to hear your surgeon didn't get the required margins, Hollyleaf.  I had to have a second operation as they'd only got 0.7mm clearance from the first (lumpectomy) op, so the second op was just to remove the remaining 0.3mm and was successful.  In the early stages I thought I was going to have to have a mastectomy and I found one of the Macmillan books really helpful in deciding whether to go for reconstruction.  I've looked on their site for the booklet, but can't find it - although all the information appears to be here:  https://www.macmillan.org.uk/cancer-information-and-support/breast-cancer/should-i-have-breast-reconstruction-surgery   I also found this very helpful, as there's so much information to remember! https://your.macmillan.org.uk/dfsmedia/1a6f23537f7f4519bb0cf14c45b2a629/975-source?_ga=2.32300151.831501024.1587477561-372887870.1564747931   Since my op, I've had 3 weeks of (daily) radiotherapy and, as Wolvesgirl said, it was really easy and I hardly had any side effects... just some dry skin, which has almost gone now.  I finished radiotherapy on the Friday before the virus lockdown started on the following Monday, so didn't really manage to get out and about at all!  In the final week of radiotherapy the hospital experience was very different (taking temperatures before you even entered the building, distancing etc etc) but it felt very safe as they are aware we're vulnerable and go to extreme lengths to make contact as little as possible.  I'm now on Letrozole (daily tablet for a "minimum of 5 years") and haven't experienced much in the way of side effects - just the odd hot flush, which is a relief.  I'm also having 3-weekly Herceptin until the end of August and 6-monthly Zoledronic Acid.  But it is starting to feel that hospital visits are occasional, rather than it becoming the whole focus of my life.   Good to read everyone else's updates as well.  My very best wishes for your recovery. Strange times we all live in, but we'll cope... just like we have over the last year or so.   Julie xxx ... View more

Hi Hollyleaf, and everyone else. Yes, it's very scary isn't it.  I have also received the "high risk" text and all the follow-up ones (5 so far) since.  The most recent suggests packing a bag in case we have to go into hospital - I found that one particularly upset me.  I imagine all of us on this thread have?     I'm trying to keep in mind that those texts/letters have been sent to 1.5 MILLION people, many of whom are at a much higher risk than us.  A friend of mine with MS, for example, has received one although she isn't on any specific medication that reduces her immunity.  I too am still sleeping next to my husband, eating with him and my (adult) children, and not isolating myself from them at all.  Everyone is being very careful with handwashing etc, and mine are getting raw with it!  The only time I'm leaving the house, like you, is to walk the dog and we live in a village surrounded by countryside so I'm keeping my distance from everyone.  We can only do what we can, and trust in the NHS.     It's hard, but we'll all get through this I'm sure.  It doesn't seem fair that we have the coronovirus to contend with as well... but forums like this are great and help us not to feel alone.   Take care, with all good wishes, Julie x     ... View more

Hi Daisy I don't know if it differs with different regimes, but when I missed my two (they happened to be Nos. 3 and 5, of 6 in total) I just had those a week later and then continued on and had all 6, just delayed.  I also had blood transfusions after Nos. 2 and 4 - the day after the chemo was given - as they were concerned about recovery.  I was offered/it was suggested I had a third blood transfusion after No. 6 but I refused and was just told to keep an eye on things and to contact them straight away if I felt extraordinarily tired or breathless.  I got through it without having that final one.  And, just to say, my tumour reduced from 3.5cm to 3mm during the chemo which then enabled me to have a lumpectomy rather than mastectomy.  So, to reassure you, the delays didn't have any adverse effect on the outcome.  The whole series ended two weeks later than originally planned, due to the two delays.   My regime was 3-weekly Docetaxel + Carboplatin + Herceptin + Pertuzumab, with Zoledronic Acid at 6-weekly intervals.  All those at the same time, each time.  I'm now, after surgery and radiotherapy, having 3-weekly Herceptin until the end of August + Zolendronic Acid at 6-monthly intervals for 2 years. Oh, and I've just started the hormone treatment tablets, and the prescription has been given "for at least 5 years".  It seems like an awful lot of drugs for an awfully long time - but the alternative doesn't bear thinking about, and the worst bit (chemo) does come to an end.   I hope that's helpful, but it must be worrying that your oncologist didn't know!  We all seem to have such different combinations of drugs at different intervals (I never had any weekly ones, but know some on here did).  In case it's relevant my tumour was Triple Positive.  I found the BC nurses to be much more helpful than the oncologist - they understand how confusing it all is (and the fact that our minds are in panic mode whenever we're being told stuff by the oncologist), and spent time explaining things to me when the oncologist only really seemed to be interested in whether I was coping with the side effects so she could tick them off her list.   Good luck with your treatment tomorrow.  It's SUCH a strange feeling to be pleased you're going to have it because you thought it might be cancelled, isn't it?!!!  That will be another one done, though, after tomorrow.  Stay strong - it WILL come to an end. Sending big hugs, Julie x   ... View more

Hi everyone I was very pleased to hear many of you are doing well, even with the few hiccoughs you've sadly had.   Hollyleaf - I've just (last Friday) completed my 3 weeks of radiotherapy.  The way the hospital dealt with it changed (although NOT the actual radiotherapy) as Covid 19 became more worrying.  During the last few days, the receptionists retreated to their offices and everyone turning up for radiotherapy had to phone on arrival, using a dedicated phone, to book in.  There was hand sanitiser and antibac wipes next to the phone, which everyone used before and after using it.  And we all stood around 2m apart in the queue - not told to... it just happened as people are being sensible.  They also asked that no-one other than us being treated entered the hospital - my husband stayed in the car.  You obviously need to be careful, but the staff are 100% "on it".  The radiographers also confirmed that radiotherapy does NOT reduce your immune system (at least, not if you're only having on breast(s)).  The saddest thing was seeing all the poor NHS workers who are already looking so tired as they're doing long shifts - such amazing people, staying positive and cheery for all us patients.  When I mentioned how grateful I was to one of the radiologists she said it was lovely to hear that, as not many people are thinking about the risk staff are taking to continue with our treatments.  She had tears in her eyes, but we both stiffened our upper lips and wished each other luck.   Radiotherapy was a breeze for me.  I didn't have any side effects, although I'm told they could appear in the next 1-2 weeks.  I'm more tired than usual, but it's been so long since any of us have felt 'normal' I'm not sure I can gauge it any more!   Daisy - I had two delays during chemo (a week each time) due to low haemoglobin and platelets.  Although I found it extremely frustrating, I think the extra time meant my body was able to heal a bit more so the re-arranged treatments didn't affect me so harshly.  And, like you, it felt like it would never be over... but it did happen.   It feels very strange now as I've sort of been socially distancing myself for the last 6 months or so!  (I was diagnosed at the end of June last year).  I also isolated for the worst chemo days, so what we're all now being asked to do just feels like an extension of that!  I'm sure the hand-washing instruction hasn't been too difficult for any of us... since we and our families have already been doing that during all our treatments anyway.   Stay safe everyone.  I was only thinking earlier today how awful it must be for anyone who is receiving a similar diagnosis to ours right now.  We all know how scary those first few weeks are, and if this virus had been around then I know I'd have been even more frightened.   Stay strong.  Lots of love, Julie xx ... View more

Thanks Hollyleaf, that's very kind of you and you'll be in the same position as me (not retirement but socialising more) before you know it.   Just wanted to mention: I had to have a second operation too (they hadn't taken enough healthy tissue from around the tumour the first time).  As your surgeon said, it's a MUCH smaller operation - my surgeon re-opened the existing wound as well - and it healed REALLY quickly (much more so than the first op).  I agree it's daunting to have to go through the process again, but it's better to be sure... and it honestly was very much easier to recover.  I believe it happens in 1 in 5 cases, so we're not alone!  Will be sending positive vibes on the 10th, and you'll also be sure it's the last time you'll have to be there.  Long road, but there IS an end to it!   Love Julie xx ... View more

Hi all - apologies for going "missing" for a couple of weeks.  I've been really busy!   Good luck for next Wednesday, Lisaloo.  I was going to suggest you may prefer to have the mastectomy first and reconstruction later, as that's what I was going to opt for (my surgeon said he could do that, although he does breast surgery AND reconstruction so there wouldn't have been a need to get two surgeons together).  But as it turned out, I only needed a lumpectomy in the end so decision not needed.   Sorry to hear about your problems with Zometra, Wolvesgirl.  I'm assuming that's the same as Zoledronic Acid?  I've been having that at 3-monthly intervals at the same time as chemo, so could never tell what was giving me what side effects.  I had my first Zoledronic Acid on its own on Thursday last week, and didn't really experience any noticeable side effects so it sounds as if you've definitely had a reaction.  Such a shame, but perhaps there's something similar that might be better for you?     Like others, I kept my eyebrows and and eyelashes throughout the chemo - only for almost all of them to fall out about 3 weeks after my last treatment!  They've started growing back now, but mascara is a no-no as it really shows the stubby ones against the (probably 5 in total) long ones.  I'm quite tempted to pull the long ones out!  As I was able to have the cold cap throughout chemo I didn't lose all my hair, but it thinned to about 50% of what it was and the 'ice' damaged what I did retain and made it frizzy.  The new growth is now about an inch long, so I've had the existing (longer) bits styled so it doesn't look quite so mad!  All coming through grey, and I think you have to wait 6 months before you can use colour.  I might stick with the grey though, as I quite like it and it will save a lot of faff in the long run!   I've been at the hospital this morning for a colonoscopy (something they couldn't identify from my baseline CT scan had to be investigated) which was fine, although the 'Moviprep' - which completely empties your bowel - that I had to take yesterday was anything but pleasant.  I must admit I feel like most areas of me have been violated now!  They gave me the results straight away, and it was great to hear there's nothing to worry about.   I turned 60 last weekend and also retired!  So I was back for a leaving do on Wednesday last week - it was lovely to see my workmates but, for me, I want to use my precious time doing things for myself rather than spending it at work.  I'll be keeping in touch with work friends, but only socially in future.   I also had my portocath removed from my chest last week - lovely to get rid of that!  My ongoing (until August) 3-weekly Herceptin injections are going into my thighs so I don't really need the portocath any more... although I do wish I'd kept it for the Zoledronic Acid on Thursday.     I start radiotherapy next Monday, and have already been 'marked up' for it.  I think it's going to be the travelling to and from hospital every day that will be more of a problem than the actual radiotherapy (fingers crossed) from what others have said.   It feels like I've hardly been away from the two hospitals I have to go to over the last couple of weeks - a bit like all the tests before chemo started.   It's great to hear everyone's updates.  Keep up the good work, and do let us know how you get on.  Nearly there...   Julie xx ... View more

Hi Hollyleaf   I know it's so much easier said than done, but PLEASE try not to worry about the anaesthetic.  I was really concerned but, as you say, when you arrive and realise you're in a long conveyor belt of people queued up for surgery it most definitely 'normalises' it.  I did have rather a long wait to go in, both times, so by the time I was called to walk down to the theatre I was just relieved it was going to happen and couldn't wait to go.  As the day went on, my biggest worry was that they would run out of time and I wouldn't be able to have it done!   The anaesthetists are, as Wolvesgirl said, very used to patients being nervous - and the ones I saw made the experience almost pleasant with their jokes and messing around.  For example, the one who gave me the injection asked "so who's the best looking man in the room?" and demanded an answer... even though he was the ONLY man in the room.  Then, in the recovery room afterwards, I got accused (by the nurses) of flirting with him because I said he was the best looking man in there (again, the ONLY one!).  It's all in a day's work to them, and you quickly feel you're in safe hands.  And just think, once it's done, it's a further amazing step to getting better and seeing the end of all the hospital trips.  I was lucky in that I didn't have to stay over night, but I came home and went to bed more or less straight away - sleeping was not a problem in the next couple of days!  Good luck, and I'm sure you'll be absolutely fine.  As Wolvesgirl says, if you can do chemo - and you have - next Wednesday will be a breeze.  We'll all be thinking of you I'm sure.  (By the way, I think it's perfectly normal to have 'irrational' fear - but that's exactly what it is!).  Good luck, Julie x ... View more

Hello again everyone - thank you so much for your messages of support about my two surgeries!   The second one knocked me out a bit, but I think that was more the effect of x2 anaesthetics in 2 weeks (and quite soon after final chemo) than anything else.  I'm feeling absolutely fine now - 2 weeks after the second one.  Got my results on Wednesday - ALL the cancer is gone!  Nothing in the nodes or in the good tissue around the lump.  Such a relief!  I go back next Wednesday to see the oncologist to sort out the radiotherapy.  The scar I've been left with after the lumpectomy is almost invisible, as the surgeon cut around the bottom of the nipple in a perfect arc - once it's all healed I don't think I'll see it at all.  He opened the same wound for the second op.  It's still a bit lumpy but thinks it should settle down after radiotherapy.  I think the 'blue boob' (dye they put in to find the lymph nodes) will last for around a year... but it's a very small price to pay for getting well.   Excellent news re your lump reduction, Lisaloo.  Sounds like you should be able to have a similar operation to me (but just one, hopefully).  The surgery / healing itself was really easy.  I was certainly nervous about having the operation, but it really was absolutely fine and seemed to heal very quickly.  And, unlike the end of the chemo, made me feel as if this is all nearly over.  I have another 11 Herceptin injections to go at 3-weekly intervals (they've changed me from infusions, which I was having during chemo) and I've been having Zoledronic Acid (bisphosphonate) throughout as well and will continue with that for some time.  No particular side effects from that, although it's quite hard to tell when you're going through the Docetaxel at the same time.  Nothing can be as difficult as that though!   Thank you for your reassuring information about radiotherapy, Wolvesgirl.  Definitely sounds do-able, and great to know it doesn't take long (although I'm an hour's drive each way from the hospital, so those 3 weeks will be pretty much written off for other things depending on what times I'm given).  Life is slowly coming back to our house... we're out at a 60th birthday party this evening, and again tomorrow evening with other friends.  I couldn't have imagined doing that only a few weeks ago!  SO nice to start to feel normal again!   Best wishes to everyone, and hope you all have great weekends. Thank you all for continuing to update on here - it's brilliant to see us all getting there in our own different ways.  lots of love, Julie x ... View more

Dear Hollyleaf, and everyone else...   I do sympathise with the 6 x Docetaxel as that is what I had too.  I found the last one particularly hard too, and assume it's the cumulative effect (and I didn't have to endure two earlier ones that didn't appear to be working as you did!).  My fingernails, and toenails, didn't give me any problems throughout although I can see some small ridges on them now.  They feel strong though so I'm hoping I got away with that (I just made sure I moisturised my hands/nails often with Nivea Creme).   It's difficult for me to say when the effects got better for me, as I had a lumpectomy/sentinel nodes biopsy only 3 weeks + 2 days after my final Docetaxel - so I then didn't know whether I was trying to cope with the effects of the chemo or anaesthetic!  I was booked in for surgery after the 5th cycle and, although that was delayed by a week because of low platelets, they wanted to keep to the same surgery date - the surgeon said 4 weeks after the final chemo is the optimum date for surgery, so it was a bit early for me in the end.  Hopefully they will sort your dates out very soon.   I got the results back from the surgery a week and a half afterwards.  Very happy that they found NO cancer in the nodes (he only took 2 in the end) but unfortunately he hadn't taken enough healthy tissue from around the lump so I had to go back last Friday to have another 0.7mm taken.  I'll get the results from that next Wednesday, so fingers crossed again.  To be honest, recovery from last Friday's surgery hasn't been too easy - although I suppose 2 x general anaesthetics and 2 x surgeries within 2 weeks of each other was a bit much for my not-quite-better-from-the-chemo body to cope with.  The surgery itself was fine, and is healing well, but the effects on my brain were a different matter!   In answer to your question re scans, I was initially only sent for an ultrasound but the surgeon wasn't happy with the result so he sent me for another MRI which revealed my lump had shrunk from 3cm to 3mm (although that's now debatable, with the additional surgery required).  I think it depends on how dense your breast tissue is - mine's apparently very dense, so changes are not so easy to see on ultrasound only whereas MRI is much more detailed.  I was told, though, that because of the shrinkage my tumour had been re-categorised from a Stage 2 to a Stage 1.  I think we've all found all along that different hospitals approach all the treatments differently.   As I'm already 59, I'd already "done" the hot flushes once (no HRT for the same reason as you) but they seem to have come back recently as I'm still having 3-weekly Herceptin and I believe that causes them.  Not nice, and quite confusing with everything else going on!   So, very best of luck for your appointment next Monday.  Another step on the journey but it WILL all be worth it in the end!  I didn't feel the hoped-for euphoria at the end of the chemo, but as everyone has said it's so nice that it's over.   Julie xx ... View more

Hello everyone I hope the surgery went well, Blackcat, and you're not too "out of it".  I had mine last Friday (27/12) and was really surprised how tired I felt afterwards.  I'm told it's the anaesthetic (I'd never had a general before, or indeed an operation!) but that you slowly get more energy.  So I'm now a week beyond the surgery and finally feeling up to doing a few limited things.  I'm beginning to heal, and go back next Wednesday to see the surgeon and get the results from the sentinal node biopsy and whether they found anything in the 'healthy' tissue surrounding the lump that was removed.  So I'm worrying about that now!  The surgeon made it very clear that it was possible there would need to be another operation, depending on the results.  At least you won't have to think about that.   It's great everyone is getting back to the gym.  I've never been a gym-goer but I'm certainly looking forward to getting back to much longer walks with my dog - they've always kept my weight down, and I'm definitely getting a bit chubby with all the extra food I've had to eat to try to raise my haemoglobin levels (my op was delayed for a couple of hours so that matched blood could be brought across in case I needed it - again due to low haemoglobin.  I don't know if it was used though!).   Hope everyone has good weekends - the 'dark days of chemo' are almost over!  Julie xx     ... View more

Hi everyone (new and old posters and readers)   Great to hear everyone is getting there.  My last post was that I was disappointed my lump had not shrunk, according to an ultrasound, and I must admit I deliberately haven't posted since then because I couldn't think of anything positive to say.  As others have said, we've all had to deal with this in our own ways but I didn't see any value in posting "depressing" news.  BUT... I've now had good news!  Because the surgeon wasn't happy with the ultrasound result, he sent me for another MRI - which revealed my tumour has shrunk from 3cm to 3mm!!!  Although I (and the docs) can still feel a larger lump, they believe it's scar tissue and say that the MRI doesn't lie.  (Hollyleaf - that was after 6 x Docetaxel + Carboplatin + Herceptin + pertuzamab.  I was quite ill with it - had to have 2 separate blood transfusions, and had 2 delays of a week each time for low platelets.  But we got there in the end!).   I'm now booked in for surgery next Friday, 27th December.  It should just be a lumpectomy and removal of the first few lymph nodes to be on the safe side.  I'll then have radiotherapy (daily for 3 weeks) but don't yet know when that will start yet.  I'll continue with the Herceptin/pertuzamab for a few months and then follow with hormone tablets for 5 years I think.  Still feels like a long road, but I'm on Day 18 of my last Docetaxel and nearly all the side effects have gone.  I'm actually starting to enjoy food again!   So, thank you all again for keeping our spirits up when we've needed it and sharing experiences.  Wishing everyone a peaceful and happy Christmas, and especially a very healthy New Year.  I won't be sorry to see the back of 2019, and I'm sure you all feel the same.   Best wishes, Julie xx ... View more

That's excellent news that the radiographer struggled to find a lump, Lisaloo!  Congratulations - I'm not surprised you're relieved.  I went to see my surgeon this week too but, unfortunately, my lump doesn't appear to have shrunk much, if at all (I've just completed my 5th cycle).  The chemo consultant had said at the beginning she expected the lump to "almost disappear" but as that hasn't happened they're now sending me for another MRI scan in the hope it's mainly made up of scar tissue.  It's a bit of a blow and I'm now trying to get my head round what it might mean.  I'm Triple Positive.   My 6th chemo (plus Herceptin + all the other drugs) is due on 28 November - I'm hoping my bloods will be OK so that it doesn't get delayed - and then MRI on 9 December; see surgeon again on 11 December; and then I've been provisionally booked in for the surgery on 27 December.  I initially thought "oh no, between Christmas and New Year" but then decided it would be good to get it done while we're still in 2019.  Then, depending on the operation I have which can't be determined until after the MRI results, highly likely to be followed by radiotherapy.  After that, Herceptin etc for 10 months at 3-weekly intervals.  Phew!  I'm sure I should feel delighted to be coming to the end of the chemo but seeing the surgeon has dulled that for me.  Still, I'm shaking myself down and will "re-positivise" myself over the next few days.   Well done everyone else for getting through your latest rounds.  We ARE getting close and we WILL get there.  Hope everyone has great weekends, with or without decent taste buds!  Best wishes to all, Julie xx ... View more

Hi everyone   Great to hear everyone sounding so positive!  Yes, we're all approaching the next stage of our treatments now - although the thought of surgery is scary, it can't be any worse than the chemo in my opinion.   I had my 5th Docetaxel (+ Carboplatin + + +) last Thursday but unfortunately had to have another blood transfusion the following day.  The hospital told me that would be needed earlier in the week, so it wasn't a result of the 5th treatment but the one before when I had to have a week's delay due to low platelets.  So if it's not platelets it's anaemia for me it appears!  Still, going to get through this and out the other end - my 6th and final chemo is due on 28 November and, like Blackcat, I really hope the bloods will be OK.  I'm finding the fatigue is worse now, although it does come and go.  I have an appointment with the surgeon next week when I'm hoping to be told the lump has reduced and then I'll be given a date for the surgery.  I'm not getting too excited as I thought it had shrunk when I went to my last ultrasound and was SO disappointed when it hadn't (well, hardly).  The psychological effects of all this are becoming more of a reality for me now - but need to soldier on and we'll all get there.  I am still in my first week though, so as others have said I'm probably just forgetting how it gets better by Week 3.   No-one has suggested I have a flu jab, so I haven't had one (or pneumonia).  I think I'll give it a miss as I've never had one before and if I can get through the next few weeks hopefully won't need one.   Love to everyone - we really ARE getting there!   Julie xx ... View more

Sorry to hear Docetaxel isn't treating you kindly, Wolvesgirl.  I had my fourth of that (plus others) 2 weeks ago, and I was surprised it was the easiest to cope with so far.  I think I may have just got used to the nausea, as I was told it was likely at the beginning so didn't expect to get away with it!  I found I could hardly eat (each time) from Day 5 to Day 8 and SUCH a foul taste in my mouth didn't help (I think Blackcat mentioned that).  Then from about Day 10 I felt better, and had to seriously start eating to regain the weight I'd lost before being given the next treatment.  The chemo fog lasts a bit longer with me - I've found one of the worst things about all this is not being able to think clearly.  I feel I'm likely to make mistakes, so I check and double-check everything - then STILL make the mistake.     So I'll be having my 5th Docetaxel (+ Carboplatin + Herceptin + Ptsumababababbabbthing) on Thursday next week, provided my bloods come back OK... which I really hope they do this time.  I've also now been given an appointment with the surgeon (having op after 6 chemo cycles) so progress is being made.  Don't forget it's important to rest while your body is re-making your platelets etc - I think that's where I may have gone wrong before.  Good luck to everyone having treatments this week (and everyone else of course).  Julie xx ... View more