Breast Cancer Now Forum

Hi vasanthy, Just seeing this message, sorry to hear you're also a recent member of this club. My scan results came back clear today so that's reassuring. Still get some central upper back pain but think it might be some oesaphagitis, especially as now I'm on chemo it's always worse for the first week so trying lansoprazole with gaviscon advanced. Still get some twinges in my shoulder blade area too but maybe just coming from surgery.  I think we probably do become far more aware of general aches after diagnosis but definitely feel if something is persisting it's worth discussing it with your team, better to be thorough in my opinion. Hope your treatment goes well.xx ... View more

Hi B4, It's a a scary time and we all feel alone sometimes, we all have slight differences in our diagnoses and circumstances but still we're in this together with the same fears and worries.  will we survive and will it spread, I think everyone will agree are our big worries, but all with lots of individual worries about kids, jobs, our physical appearance our mental health it's such a lot to get our head rounds and we should be proud of ourselves for being strong enough to do it!! Personally I was diagnosed with grade 3 triple negative,metaplastic BC, so I know how you feel when you say you feel no one else has your diagnosis. There are hardly any ladies with the metaplastic type, I've only seen one on the forum. I was desperate to find some in the beginning because everything I read told me how aggressive it was and survival rates were lower than other triple negatives. I did find a face book page specifically set up for that type ( an American one) but was relieved to find quite a few British survivors on it so that was a big turning point out of the gloom for me. It made me feel more hopefull that I could too.  We all have wobble days but as long as, on the whole we can try to stay positive. We're always here to support you.xxx ... View more

Happy new year ladies!!   Really hope this year is the year we turn this rubbish situation around. Yes you're right Rizzer nothing like a cancer diagnosis to make us forget about all the minor things that used to bother us and make us appreciate the people in our lives. At least, if nothing else, we'll come out of this with a new appreciation of the lives we have.   I'm having a restful family day before my chemo tomorrow, but nervous now that I know what to expect with side effects. Had my full body CT on Hogmanay so hoping and praying that it's clear so I can continue to feel as though I might manage to beat this beast.   Hope you all have a good new year's Day. Xxx ... View more

Hi everyone, haven't checked in on the forum for a while, hope you all managed to enjoy Christmas in your own way. I'm due back on the 2nd for chemo no.2, getting a bit nervous now as now I know how I'm going to feel 😖 day 5-8 were the worst for me. Also have my CT scan tomorrow that I'm also nervous about as I'm so scared they find some evidence of distant metastases as the only thing keeping me positive is the idea that they got it all out at surgery and my treatment is to prevent recurrence...if it turns out it's already somewhere else I genuinely don't know how I'll cope with that. So feeling quite emotional last couple of days, started to lose some hair yesterday too so don't think I'm going to bother cold capping on the 2nd, I hated it anyway. Hating the whole situation in fact but no choice but to deal with it have we? It was my birthday yesterday and my 13yr old daughter wrote a lovely message in my card about how proud she was of how strong I'm being so will try to keep that in mind and keep on keeping on  For those of you worried about fluffball, I have messaged her and she plans to check in later today.xx ... View more

I felt as though I couldn't taste anything and what I could taste didn't taste right days 3 til today (day 9) but today they seem back to normal, hopefully that continues as it has really helped me to eat better today.x We all seem to experience things a bit differently don't we.xx   ... View more

Hi ladies, I was the same as you fluffball 4mg dexamethasone twice a day for 3 days after. Nurse said to take them morning and lunchtime so it didn't affect my sleep and it seemed to work. Had ondansetron for nausea for 2days after and metoclopramide if I needed it but only took that once a day for day 4 and 5.  It wasn't really nausea that bothered me but the crashing fatigue that floored me days 5-8 . Just starting to feel a bit more normal today but still not back to full energy levels.   Hope you you ladies having chemo over the last couple of days avoid the worst of the SE's and can enjoy Xmas with your families.xx ... View more

I've came to a similar conclusion that day 5,6,7 are the worst, was expecting it to be the first few days so caught me off guard. I feel as if I'm starting my ascent out of the chemo dungeon tonight (fingers crossed) so will be interesting to see Silvertong if your cycle 2 pattern is similar to your cycle 1.  The nurse who was giving me my chemo was saying that she has found that women who cope well with FEC part sometimes do less well with the T part and vice versa so I'm hoping that the fact I've felt pretty rubbish this time means that maybe the end of my treatment will be better 🤷 who knows.   Hope everyone starting over the next few days is over the worst of it befor Xmas day....but nevermind ladies, think of the summer we'll have once we're through all this. 🤞 ... View more

Hi ladies, Another big day for a few of us by the sounds of things. Fluffball, really hope there is some reduction in the specks as 'terminal' just sounds impossible to process.   Nicola I hope you feel well once it's all done today. I am utterly exhausted, never felt so washed out in my life. I can barely lift my head, I need to post parcels but the very idea of getting clothes on and leaving the house has me almost in tears.  I really really want to feel well, it's a week til Christmas. Can't even muster up an appetite. I don't know how I'm gonna get through this if this is me after 1 dose!  I don't understand why it affecting Mr so much more than any one else on the chat....sorry to moan.xx ... View more

Hi ladies, Got my boob squished by the breast nurse today to squeeze the fluid out and they've fitted a wee stoma bag to collect any further drainage in a closed system to reduce chance of infection. Surgeon wasn't worried, says the fluid is Normal amounts to be in there post surgery it's just that it's found a route out instead of being slowly reabsorbed. Obviously to keep a close eye for any signs of infection. Tastebuds are definitely on the way out, everything tastes weird but you're right lady34 for some reason sense of smell is sharper!  Carolyn I'm really really hoping to feel as charged as you by next week you really are being so great at staying positive!  I was feeling it last week but not so much this week so trying hard to get it back!! ♥️ ... View more

Hi Fluffball, I'm glad you're keeping so well, I'm feeling better this morning, maybe just the different type of chemo making the difference. Who knows. I didn't get any injections to start, they said they'd see how my cell count did on its own with the first cycle. I haven't had an excessive amount of nausea actually just the first couple of days, more just tired and fuzzy headed but so far today that seems better. Hope it continues as with 9 days to Christmas I've still got shopping to finish 😫   Priority today is to sort out issue with leaking boob however.   Hope so haven't worried anyone about to start chemo. I'm not very ill, just had a few yucky days which I think with FEC is to be expected really.  ♥️ ... View more

Shi,   I'm only day 3 so hopefully WCC count still ok. I'll be very careful with it overnight and sort something out first thing. Thankfully, I have a few dressings in my work bag, being a practice nurse myself I know what to look for in terms of wound infection.   Anybody still have a fuzzy head a few days in after chemo? It's not a headache as such just woolly and can't concentrate properly. Think this is what's making me feel tired.  Not enjoying this so far hope I start to feel more normal soon. At least I've not had any vomitting or diarrhoea though 🤞 ... View more

Hi, So hospital phoned said it wasn't a medical issue, more surgical do advised phoning on call Dr and see about antibiotic or attend A&E if they advised for surgical advice. Phone the NHS 24 number, explained the situation, nurse says doesn't sound infected so to dress it tonight and see practice nurse tomorrow. I'll just keep an eye on temp tonight and phone first thing to speak to my breast care nurse. ... View more

Hi, I'm in Ayrshire in Scotland treatment will be between my local hospital and the Beatson cancer centre in Glasgow. Was actually sunny today, which is unusual, had intended to get out a walk with the dog today but just don't have the energy. My excision wound had randomly started leaking a lot of fluid so I'm waiting on a call back from the hospital right now with advice. X ... View more

Hi Everyone, Glad to hear everyone is doing ok. I'm definitely having a better day than yesterday, less headaches less nausea, appetite still not great but managing my 3 meals. Think is the steroids and ondansetron that bring on the headache. Only one more day of steroids to take so we'll see.  Was supposed to be my work Xmas do tonight so a bit down at missing that especially when FB throws up time hops of happier Xmas activities. So night in watching the strictly final for me...at least I'll save some money and won't have a hangover tomorrow 😊 Interesting to read about the turmeric earlier. I did hear about that before, might run it past my oncologist. Enjoy your break away Carolyn sounds lovely. Hoping I'm feeling as good as you around day 12 as that'll be Christmas eve for me.   Welcome to the group Julie ♥️ Love Dianne.xx ... View more

Hi Rizzer, There are a few of us 1970s ladies on here now 😊 I'm just home from my first chemo session today. Ist round of FEC with cold cap and feeling really quite well apart from a bit of a fuzzy head. Don't want to temp fate though 🤞 So relieved to have the first one of 6 ticked off. The evening were worst for me in the early weeks too, think you're absolutely right during the day your busy and distracted and the sun's up, once it gets dark it seems gloomier and I found it harder to stop thinking about all the uncertainties, but it does get better once you get started on your treatment. I had surgery first so once that was over I felt better, and each day has been easier than the last. We all still have our worry moments, think it would be odd if we didn't. Just try to think of the positives, don't read the bad stories just the successful ones. The odds are in our favour for sure 💪   Xxx ... View more

They told me at the results of my biopsy. Said itd be surgery first then the pathology from that would determine treatment but likely to be chemo. So when I went back 2 weeks after surgery it just confirmed what we knew. Was that your biopsy results they gave you on Monday? Was it at the breast clinic, usually they give you a contact number of a breast nurse, if you have questions you should phone them. Maybe they need more information first so will arrange the mastectomy first and then do the full pathology of the breast then. I'd phone for done clarification if I were you do you're not left wondering for 3 or 4 weeks.   ... View more

Well, if it's not going to happen for a couple of weeks then try to enjoy your Christmas and worry about things afterwards. I had a wide excision lumpectomy done mid November. Went well thankfully, starting chemo tomorrow as mine was triple negative and aggressive. So although they are a certain as they can be that they got it all out, there's a high risk of recurrence so chemo n radiotherapy afterwards to try to prevent that happening. So just have to keep on keeping on and get over each hurdle one at a time.xx ... View more

Hi ladies, Sitting here all radioactive waiting to be taken for my bone scan before chemo tomorrow. Wish so could knit, my mum is a lovely knitter, can't now due to spondylitis but she did try to teach me when I was wee but so lost the place too often, dropped stitches and basically gave up in a huff! Might try again 😊 Fluffball, check your local cancer charity they usually offer transport. I'll be using mine when I go onto radiotherapy as I need to go to Glasgow for that and I hate driving in Glasgow city centre, it's terrifying! Chemo is fine as it is at my local hospital 15mins away.xx ... View more

Oh I'm sorry it wasn't the news you were hoping for.xx This is the worst time, you Will be completely overwhelmed by it all but just know that you will get through this difficult period, you will get a plan in place with your team and start to feel like things aren't so dark. I'm only 5 weeks from diagnosis myself and already feeling much more positive.   Feel free to message me at any time. You'll find lots of support on here, post on the newly diagnosed forum and you'll find lots of people at the same stage in the game as you are. Have they discussed the plan with you yet, surgery or treatment first?? ... View more

This was what I had read too, the dead cells are reabsorbed and excreted as waste like all other extra stuff we don't need so through the bowels n kidneys. So get those bowels moving and drink those fluids girlies!! 😁 ... View more