Breast Cancer Now Forum

Hi Everyone  Firstly big hug to LMH i know what you sre going through re the nails mine were very very similar the nails seemed to seperate , top layer from bottom and i see yours doing the same , i can give any advice because i think they just do their thing now , my toes are the same . I saw my surgeon in March and had a refashioning of scar on the 27th April as it was so messy and horrid , things seem a lot better although it's been much more painful than I expected though I developed a seroma which was drained two days ago things seem to be settling . Still waiting a PET scan and then final onc appt in June, its been a tough few years as I started my journey in Sept 19 , seems so long ago . Hang in there ladies for those having radiotherapy it's doable , like everything else we have little choice . For those whose hair isn't back yet, it is a thrill to feel it coming through , but then so does leg stubble , witchy poo chin hairs and everywhere else , think I was most thrilled to have nasal hairs back , silly drippy nose !!!  Working through Chemo !!! Well you are super super women !!! And I admire you immensely  🦸‍ ♀️ Rest , recuperate, and recover everyone 💕 Kim xx     ... View more

Hi @karzo  My first round of chemo I had EC without the F and it floored me, are you anaemic ? That can make you very tired , however chemo is not nice stuff, and it's effects build up as you go along thank goodness it's your last .you will start to feel better slowly but surely and don't be hard on yourself , I found this and it's so true Love Kim c   ... View more

Hi All Bit late with my follow up msg , as you probably guessed my scan results weren't normal , there are some nodes up in my chest and I need another PET scan in 3 months , i'm not too sure what it means but I was gutted not to be discharged , i am hoping its from the covid I had in the new year as PET was only 5 weeks after my infection. Anyway I pulled my big girl pants up and will just have to get on with it as there is nothing else I can do , but the oncologist remark of " just go and enjoy life" I thought was a bit thoughtless, I know she meant well but it's always there in my mind , I guess she meant well. On a more positive note my oncoplastics appt  has been brought forward to the 29th of March as my mastectomy scar is a mess and I still have a seroma ( collection of fluid) at the scar site , i am a bigger lady and apparently its not so easy to get neat first time round , or that's what they said , personally I think it looks like an apprentice has done it!!, 🙄 I don't want more surgery but , well it is a mess  So I guess I just have to keep going and hope for the best . Well done to all you ladies completing chemo strong women every one of you  💪 🦸‍ ♀️   Love Kim ❤️ ... View more

Thank you Jukat 😌 xxx  ... View more

Hi everyone  I was supposed to have my oncology appt for my PET results on the 24th but it was cancelled , the registrar wanted to take the scan to the MDT, so I am in panic mode as it was an end of treatment scan and I was presuming rightly or wrong if there was nothing there I would be discharged, so its not been a great week for me 😔 , I'm there this coming Thursday so 🤞 for me ladies, I just hate the waiting  Love Kim ❤️   ... View more

Hi everyone , I had my last chemo of docetaxel on the 18th January and have just had an end of treatment PET scan as my cancer was a recurrence , so wIting to see oncology on the 24th . Still struggling with some side effects of chemo , my eyes are driving me mad watering and my fingers and toes are still shedding skin , I've noticed my fingernails have become thickened and them have marked ridges I think it coincides with the chemo they look awful and I think I may lose a big toenail . My energy levels are poor and I get tired easily but on the positive side my taste is back which is soooo nice and I think my hair is starting to grow . I have had my breast surgery prior to chemo , but my mastectomy scar is a mess so waiting to see onco plastics in July . How's everyone else ?  Kim xx ... View more

I'm on Docetaxel and cyclphosphamide just had 4th Dose then thats my lot , so i'm going through to sore hands , it started with sore nail beds first then fingertips peeled and i got paper like cuts on them , you need lots of hand cream but rub very gently, my toes started on round 3 really just the same as the hands but I have a numb 2nd toe and altered sensation in my heels, makes it hard to walk long distance not that I'm doing much of that at the moment. I know what you mean about it taking over your life and I take my hat off to those that work and do chemo !!! I just wouldn't be able to have done it , not that it mattered as I had just retired at first diagnosis . Don't worry too much about the doce its strange when one course of poison is almost a comfort because you get to know it , then worry about the next , just keep hands moisturised and I'm sure you will sail through it . Sending positive thought to you Jad 💕 xxxx ... View more

It's an amazing book Shi , it helped me through my first diagnosis  , covid lockdown and my second diagnosis, its a book every famy should own its timeless , for young children  and adults , its kindness and gentleness will touch you to the core xxxxxx  ... View more

Still not sure how to start a new post on here lol  here goes , I found this wonderful book , The boy the mole the fox and the horse by Charlie Mackey  it has helped me through some tough tough  times , I particularly liked this by the same artist and it’s one for all of us here .  love to all 💕   ... View more

Hi Kate  I thought I had replied to you about the toes but not sure where it went, I'm on Docetaxel and one of the side effects can be hand and foot syndrome , I have had the very painful nail beds it hampers me opening  packets tying shoe laces and I couldn't get a credit card out of my purse in the shop yesterday , now my toes have started hurting my toes next to my big toe are numb and my heels have altered sensation , the skin on my fingers went hard and peeled off and I think the same is happening to my toes as the skin has gone very hard and cracked . I don't think there is much they can do , keep moisturised ,if you have an open sore contact your team as it could be a root for an infection . My last chemo has been put back because of my Covid infection to Tuesday so only a few days delay , at least I won't feel rubbish on my birthday , they mentioned a PET scan on completion at my first appt but he said I don't think you need it , I think he saw my face drop behind my mask and asked my concerns , I said my body has let me down twice now and the consultant obviously felt there was some worth as she mentioned it plus I have a lung nodule they were following up , so he agreed to do one and will see me in 6 weeks with results  Then I'm on my own again no further treatment available for me and this is when my anxiety levels go up and I feel unsafe , barmy I know  but your trust in your body does take a knock  Upward and onwards ladies every treatment is another ticked off the list  Love Kim xxxx 💕 ... View more

Quick update ladies I made it home yesterday and am so pleased to be home the food was abysmal but thats a different story . My covid journey hasn't been too bad ( she rushes to touch wood) I feel very lucky I caught omicron rather than an earlier versions as this seems milder and of course I'm vexed, what I found difficult was deciding what symptoms were covid and what were chemo  Aches both,, tiredness, both, sore throat both , cough I have asthma , body aches I was on figrastim so both, feeling rubbish both My temp was the only thing that alerted me and I got a temp once !!!  So ladies be careful ,for me catching covid , well I was terrified as I was having chemo in our original lockdown and so many died , this made the fear overwhelming and my anxiety levels were through the roof, thank goodness to science and those wonderful staff I was ok . Take care out there lovely ladies 💕 💕 ... View more

Hi everyone  Well my chemo story dosent get easier , after avoiding covid since March 2020 it finally got me , or should I say hubby then me , he was notified by his friend who had lat flow positive result early last week , all hubbys lat flows were neg but he got a sore throat so I made him have a pcr which was positive. Now I haven't been feeling great due to chemo and filgrastim but I got a temp I rang the out of hours emergency number and was admitted , all my lat flows were neg at home so I was hopeful, however its got me . It's so difficult to extrapolate chemo from covid symptoms though , so I feel a bit rough ,on antibiotics as a precaution and consultant will decide whether I can go on the trial for antivirals however the nurse said I may be too well  So my release from isolation is the eleventh , next and last chemo 14th Jan , im a bit of a worrier so glad they are keeping me for a few more days . So be careful lovely  ladies Kim xx  ... View more

Hi Niks75 This is my first time on Doce as my last chemo in 2020 was EC then pac and carbo weekly which was tough as I got very anaemic and neutropenic , this time I have had the Figrastim with each round so my my white cell  count has remained up theough my red cells are falling  Doce seems similar to the rest , tiredness, sore, mouth, hairloss, I get dizzy spells runny eyes , runny nose , sore tongue , however I have got the hand and foot syndrome which  I didnt have before my nail beds are sore and just changing color a bit , my finger tips are red and sore but I think this is a specific side effect to doce . In the Nov 19 chemo starters ,, some were on doce but not everyone had the nail and finger problem , we all react so differently . I to was worried about the change over in 2019, 2020 as EC was in a pattern however you will get in to a pattern with the doce to. Hope everyone else is doing ok  Kim 💕 💕 💕 ... View more

Hi everyone  It's been a tough Christmas , I had treatment Xmas eve , this is my third docetaxel and cyclo and it's hit me pretty hard the sheer exhaustion took me to sleeping and napping whenever I could , but only one treatment to go . Unfortunately I have developed hand and foot syndrome due to the docetaxel , mainly my hands , my fingertips are red and painful , the skin is going hard and cracking , I don't think there is much they can do i'm already on pyridoxine a vitamin they can give but it makes simple everyday task like tying shoe laces , opening packets and washing hands pInful . The joy of chemo just keeps giving !!! My last session is the 14th Jan  just before my 60th Birthday on the 17th so no celebrations just a quiet day I think . The only other bit of chaos is hubby needs a pcr test as a friend rang to say he was positive for covid and hubby was speaking to him in a building for a short while but of course he didn't have his mask on , I was furious !!! Chemo during bloody covid is no fun , so I will update when we know his results and let him out the doghouse ,  Keep fingers crossed for me ladies  Love to all Kim 💕 ... View more

Hi Jad  This is my second time round for chemo and there is little empathy from the family who say " you did it before " and " it didn't kill you " so "you can do it again can't you " I can't begin to say how much that hurt from people close to me , I didnt want to have to 🤬 go through it again full stop , I am angry that my body let me down .... again  its bloody hard to put a brave face on it , I scream inside and rant and rage but on the outside I'm mum who copes with everything . I bought a car today on a lease and I had to ask the guy what happens if I die in the next 4 years , I don't want to have to ask those questions but someone has to , my hubby looked away , but I have to be realistic those honest conversations are not happening here and I don't know who's fault it is , both of us I guess  As you can tell its not been a good day today , I feel pants and my superhero mask has slipped , im tired and fed up . Sorry ladies just a bad day xxxx ... View more

Hi Lindsey Rough night here to , sorry to hear about your pain if its due to the filgrastim it goes pretty quickk after you finish it , within s day or two , take regular pain killers and let your team know how it's affecting you and hang in there you're not alone , i'm awake with this ruddy itch ! Sending hugs Kim 💕 ... View more

Hi Kate  I have  only been given the filgrastim for 5 days each round but you described the pain perfectly , it also makes me itch which is driving me CRAZY 😖 ! I'm struggling this 2nd time round more than when I had chemo in 2019/20 literally no energy whatsoever I seem to be running on empty , I to have had a racing heart which on my fitbit looks like I have done loads of exercise lol 😆   We are getting through it ladies step by step with big girl pants pulled up high  Love to all Kim x 💕   ... View more

Hi all    Well I had my 2nd cyclo doce cycle , bit wobbly today and taste gone again , flushed no tired . My hair was falling fast this week so I braved the shave , noticed my eyelashes are bailing to , think i hated that the most , lizardeyes yuck . I prefer the chemo hats to my wig , it cost a fortune and was soooo uncomfortable,when my hair grew back last time I kept it short so a blonde Bob isn't me anymore . My next cycle falls 24th Dec just on Christmas but hey ho its got to be done ,at least I have been told it's only 4 cycles I have to have , oh and I got my silicone prosthetic last week and it's comfortable us a free bra so a small perk . Not really looking forward to the next few weeks still not sure how I'm going to react 2nd time round  Lots of love to all    ... View more

Hi Karzo and e eryone else  I'm still on a bit of a roller coaster ride following my first chemo ( 2nd time having chemo) following my breakout of mouth sores at the beginning of last week  , I've developed an allergic reaction to something and am itching head to toe and its driving me crazy , I have no idea what I'm sensitive  to though. My taste still isn't back and my hair was coming out fast as well , so that's been buzzed off and my chemo hats and bandanas on , trust me to make that decision on the coldest days of the year lol  If anyone is interested there is a lovely funny and poignant piece written by Heather Lagemann called the "11 stages of losing your hair" , it made me smile and cry a little but rings so true It's my 2nd cycle on Friday , again not too sure what to expect , just so pleased that mask wearing is picking up , not pleased about the new covid variant , but I guess this is the life we are living now  Hope you are all ok and coping well  💕 Kim xx  ... View more

Hi everyone  Well after my first dose of doce and ccyclophosphamide ,  it hit me pretty hard, I guess 2nd time round for me for chemo may make myresponses a bit different , I was starting to pick up then had to start the filgrastim injection  to boost my white cells and neutrophils and ohhhh my body did not like that, they finished a few days ago but yesterday I woke with lips full of cold sores and sore mouth and nostrils , I was besides myself . I rang the unit, who wanted me in to assess me , so bloods done , inflammatory markers up but rest of them not bad , I was there a couple of hours but saw a doc who prescribed me mouth washes x 2 and cream, reassured me and told me to get in touch if things didn't improve. I guess what I'm trying to say is don't suffer with side effects ring your units , they were great, understanding and very helpful , so we are not alone there are good people wanting to help  And we have each other to laugh and cry with Kim  💕 💕 💕 ... View more