Breast Cancer Now Forum

Hey Sam,  Sounds like you are having a rough old time. There are so many rotten bugs around, everyone is hacking away. Have they given you antibiotics?  Rest up, lots of fluids and keep your chin up.  X   ... View more

Hi ladies!   Kattz, thank you for sharing, we're in this together.  In the spirit of sharing our new (and temporay selves), and so as not to get too dispirited, my  barnet status is I  still have some very sparse strands of  hair on my head . When I say hair, what is there is pale, grey singular hairs which are alarmingly curly. Now, whilst this may sound encouraging,  girls the reality of this look is it's  one of a pubic hair style. So my head remains covered lest I channel the look of an elderly woman's  front bottom!    I am also the palest of girls on a good day (I am fair and an ash blonde  in my normal life), I am now looking ghost like in the mirror. I was also quite a lazy girl with make up, and now finding it very necessary to put 'a face' on before heading out.      Think the fact that I am not completely bald is due to my martini cocktail being   a carboplatin and Docetaxel combo (shaken not stirred),  for my triple neg and not the FEC syringes etc. I have also been blessed with  the softest skin of my life and it's clear, 'every cloud' and all that!    I also want to say that yesterday I hit the blood count highs after my week delay, so my last chemo session is now behind me and it's the morning after! So after feeling low in the preceding days, now feeling quite good. No ceremonial last chemo bell to ring  in the hospital but as it's the season for bells, plenty of chimes about, and I have metaphorically rung the bell anyway!    So steroid madwoman is still with me  for a day or so, then the inevitable dip, hopefully emerging for a bit of Christmas spirit and eating. I am pleased to report I have lost weight (this was needed as I am a generous woman with a good set of child bearing hips that are nicely covered).  But come Christmas day, I hope to shovel down a generous dollop of Christmas pud with a lashing of brandy butter atop without a guilty glance and knowing it will shoot through thanks to the GCSF injections, ha!!    Have a good few days girls what ever you are up to. Beryl x ... View more

Hi all,    Well today hasn't gone to plan. Should have been last chemo. Platelets too low so despite recheck this morning have still have not made the grade.  Was tearful with disappointment as am now delayed by a week. Bring on those throat ulcers, belching, gagging and bloating for the Christmas feasting.... Am feeling deflated and fed up. I know it's protocol to keep me safe, but I had built myself up for a celebratory last session and now I have to sit and wait.  Am not very patient either!   In other news, I  have date for surgery in  the New Year and  a plan going forward for rads early spring so that's positive at the very least.    Over and out sitting here with my steroid induced pink cheeks in full flow, (like badly placed blusher),  looking like I am all dressed up and nowhere to go....    Beryl  x   ... View more

Dear Naomi,  So sorry you are having such a tough time. It must be hard going through this when your partner lives a distance away. I am thinking the weekends together are maybe something you both normally look forward to,  but right now is all about getting through each day with this physically and emotionally punishing treatment and disease. This is such a rough time on us and our loved ones. I hope you can get through this together. Am willing you on, take care and sending hugs. ... View more

Morning ladies,    I am off to see the surgeon next week. I don't seem to have a clear understanding of the determinants for a lumpectomy vs. a mastectomy? If it's the latter how do they know if there has been adequate response from the chemo pre histology results? Is this why they delay reconstruction? Does both lumpectomy and mastectomy options have radiotherapy follow up? I have many questions!    I have been semi prepared for possibility of further chemo post surgery (tablets) to kill any remaining active cells if the histology shows the chemo response has not been comprehensive. I think this is because I still have a palpable lump, I think they expected it to disappear entirely when they attached tags to the two sites I have back in August.   Feel very  dismal at prospect that there are more hurdles to face. I have lived in 21 day cycles and I think whilst this has been awful at times, it's also been a security of sorts. Coming to the end feels scary as I know have to shed this treatment security blanket and face the next stage. The challenge ahead for me is not so much dealing with the actual surgery procedure, in my mind it's the 'has it worked' question that will follow. This part of the triathlon is whole new reality of the cancer journey. As triple negative with no ongoing hormone treatment, I am pretty nervous and I feel like the stakes are just so high at every stage and phase. I do feel  great trust in my oncologist and surgeon, I am very thankful for that.  ... View more

Hi all I've been quiet from me  but for no real reason other than just ploughing on.   I too have the feet issue on docetaxel and agree Sam this stuff is Cillit Bang with bells on!  So it's last one on Thurs of this jungle juice (keeping it seasonal here readers). Really hoping that my bloods hit the right 'scores on the doors', have a feeling my platelets are too low as my nose keeps bleeding! Don't want a delay by a week as is protocol or Christmas  feasting (and drinking) really will be a bushtucker trial!    No Christmas decs up yet, am always a late starter on this, but have got my shopping largely out of the way. I have also been out to my first Christmas Lunch (shovelled in 3 courses, get me!!), this was a tad ambitious as I held onto it for a short while before making a hasty dash to a busy department store toilets (the shame)!!    Let's see what fun and games this week brings...  Bez/Pez     ... View more

Thanks ladies for your responses. Much appreciated. X ... View more

Hi Thanks pinkflamingo will start googling to source the syrup.  X ... View more

Hello ladies,  Sorry haven't posted for over a week. Am ok and feeling better. Am pleased to say that I have not had neutropenic fever this cycle.    Along with my energy levels in the first 10 days particularly, my mouth has been worse this cycle. I struggled to know what to drink. I now cannot even smell ginger without feeling queasy. Tea and coffee have been foul, but this has improved. At the worst bit I  have just drunk fizzy  cold water. Has anyone found any good suggestions for managing this? My tongue was sore and very dry as was the back of my throat (like a couple of peas were stuck I couldn't shift). I have now got some biotene toothpaste (for dry mouth) and some saliva replacement spray which has helped.   Really feeling that this is marathon and not a sprint, the finish line is not yet in sight, but  this second half is taking its toll.  Sending hugs to all,  we will get there.  ... View more

Hi September gang,  Feels like we're definitely in the trenches now. I was very pleased to get round 4 in last Thursday, but after the high has come the low.  Sunday passed in a haze of exhaustion. It was enough to have made it from bed to sofa and back again. Making myself eat and drink, but don't really want to, but know I have to.    Today I feel a tad better, I think this comes from accepting that I will need to go through this  phase and there will  better days ahead. I cried alot in cycle 3, I now know how gentle I need to be with myself and others.  There is a pace and rhythm to the process my body needs to go through and I have been fighting it. This has come in the form of needing to achieve something everyday, and then feeling that I am useless (even saying I am pointless), if I can't do it. I am being a bit rubbish at being wife/mother/friend/daughter/colleague, I have sort of lost my identity in these roles, I am for this short while reduced from who I was. I have even said I am failing at this chemo lark as others seem to carry on and sail through, so why can't I? But for now this is me,  I am  not achieving  what I thought was important, my expectations on myself have realigned.  I am not keeping my chin up or carrying on to make sure life seems normal, because its absolutely not. Today I am still exhausted but I got up and had breakfast and  cleaned my teeth, and then crawled back under my duvet.  I have  got my lovely dog for company,  and I have pulled favours for the school run. I don't need to achieve anything more than just be, and tomorrow is another day. X ... View more

Hi Naomi I am on Carboplatin and Docetaxel for triple neg.  I too have struggled with neutropenic fevers,  and have in both round 2 and 3 required hospital admissions and been given  both IV and oral antibiotics each time. I have found the neutropenic infections pretty dispiriting to be entirely honest.   I am now thankfully home from hospital and hoping to enjoy a decent half term with my family.  Wishing all a good week. X   ... View more

Hi  Sorry to hear about your toenails Louise, are you on Docetaxel? Worth a quick call to specialist nurse?   No good news here either. I felt really quite bright on Wednesday after a rough 5 days post chemo. Short lived as now pinged back in hospital for a repeat of what happened in round 2.  Naff all neutrophils and a temp. Breathlessness and dry cough have also shown up too.  I was hoping to avoid drama with a reduced dose this time. Think I am proving to be a bit of a rubbish chemo patient.    ... View more

Hi My excessive food consumption has paid off! Platelets made it over the line for treatment. Have had dose reduction for both Docetaxel and the Carbo so hoping to avoid neutropenic sepsis drama this round.    Kattz, my NHS wig (not yet seen in public), has been named 'Sandra' she is very blonde and bouffant (not like the website picture), Sandra is channelling 1986, she needs shoulder pads and blue eyeshadow to really rock it!    Bizarrely I have had some hair growth in the latter part of the cycle, I am fluffy grey chick. It stands on end but is soft. Not a great look, but today's outing to get pickled and poisoned will no doubt sort it.   A friend wrote me a letter, she is on the chemo journey and on the subject of hair loss woe reminded me of a line in series 2 of Fleabag (recommended binge watch), where the line is given at full tilt after a salon disaster 'hair is everything' . I am sure many of us facing the cruel twist in the game of this side effect will concur and relate with Fleabag's sentiment.    Anyway, over and out, let's see what delights the next 72 hours will bring. All the best to those on the treatment gig.   ... View more

Hi Kattz,  I too went to the cinema, but in the afternoon. Felt quite naughty to do this on a Monday when normally would be working. Gentle afternoon for me watching Downton abbey in my case, I dropped the age demographic in the cinema by about 20 years!!  ... View more

Hi  I too popped into the local  C support centre, and had a lovely reception (with tea and biscuits). Haven't been ready for this until now. Have put laptop away so work now on hold until after christmas. Booked a 'Look Good' session for next month, and going to sign up to the relaxation therapies on offer and join the ladies support group. This group does talks and is a social gathering so sounds good.   Today's activity involves cooking and eating! Yesterdays pre treatment blood check has found my platelets too low. Re -check tomorrow. I don't want a weeks delay, so crossing everything, roast beef, broccoli, nuts and chocolate are on the menu.   Naomi, don't think I have a lack of stomach fat in my concerns list. Plenty to aim for when I inject!  Might be worth a chat with the chemo nurse about alternative sites to inject in your case.   Hope you feel better soon.  Antibiotics should be kicking in and hoping you turn the corner soon.    Will, update if I get my treatment to tomorrow. Sam, chemo twin, are you good to go tomorrow for treatment? Ps still, no new wig purchase here, getting to the point of should I bother at this half way stage?! Maybe a new coat and boots instead!     Take care all.  ... View more