Breast Cancer Now Forum

Hi Everyone , sorry for my absence , I forgot my log in details .  So happy everyone seems to be keeping well and healthy. Can you believe it's a year since we all more or less finished chemo ?? Time flies.  I returned to work last december but then was furloughed new years eve , went back to work again in april on a phased return. Eventually went back full time at the end of may. I'm finding it ok but still struggling with fatigue towards the end of the day. But you just have to keep going. I've had horrific hot flushes on the tamoxifen but swopped my brand and they seem to be calming down now. My hairs growing well , but it came back curly and brown !! So it's been a slow process but I've gradually dyed it to get back to my original blonde. The curls are still there though. Especially when I get warm I tend to look like a dandelion Haha.  I've just done the afternoon tea to raise awareness and funds for breast cancer now, I've raised £178. I also completed the race for life at home ( my friends and I had a social distanced run )  5k in april and managed to raise over £1200. Feeling pretty proud of doing this and it's my way of giving a little something back.  Congrats on the retirement shefgirl,  I'll also check the fb page out.  Take care everyone , stay healthy xx ... View more

Hi ladies  Sorry I've been absent from the group for quite a while. But I've had a bit kf a rubbish couple of weeks. I've discovered my partner of 4 years has been messaging other women for the last year,  pre diagnosis. Hes been really good taking me to every app going but now hes damaged the trust I had for him. So I really dont know how to move forward. The question im asking myself is do I try to rebuild the trust or just end it now. Pre diagnosis he would of been gone , but having gone through this it really makes you look at who and what is important. So mentally I'm going through the mill.  Anyway enough of my sorry life. !!  Gem your cat looks a beaut ball of fun and well done on the writing.  Shefgirl I'm so sorry to hear rads as had to stop for now , have they said why your wound as reopened ? Was it down to the rads ? Anyway hope your doing well now . Sounds an horrific ordeal to be going through. 😘 Glad everyone else seems to be moving forward with treatment and managing well. Take care , onwards and upwards ladies . Keep safe xx ... View more

Nicole07 Looks like we will be following the same lath at the same time , other than im having 23 radiotherapy sessions. But will also be on tamoxifen for 5 years.  I watched a live broadcast last night on facebook about the side effects on hormone therapy . For anyone unsure what maybe be ahead I'd give it a watch. It's on the breast cancer now page. Must admit I'm not looking forward to the side effects of this drug but hopefully I'll escape the major issues that come with it. It's just pants that you go through surgery and chemo thinking the worst is over but then have to face more side effects from rads and hormone therapy. That said I'd probably be going through the menopause soon so may as well get it out the way.  Once this cycle is over I'll be starting a fitness regime to build my strength up and lose some weight. I've tried to exercise during chemo on the weeks I've felt more normal.  My taste buds are still struggling to find some food or drink that actually tastes nice. But they tend to come back at the end of week 2.  Well done tmmorris on your last chemo,  hope you enjoy your celebrations .  And well done sparkle hopefully after this next week of side effects you can so celebrate finishing chemo.  And so we all seem to be on to the next stage of out treatment,  good luck to everyone starting rads and hormone treatment. Will be interesting to see how we all cope with these and handy to share tips.  Hope everyone as a great weekend.  Well done all 👏 👏 👏 💪 💪 💪 🥳🥳🥳 ... View more

Yay Gem 👏 💪 🥳 🤣 Well done on completing chemo , so pleased it went ahead even if you had to have a transfusion.  Just the last round side effects for you to deal with but the light is at the end of the tunnel.  Is that everyone complete chemo wise on here ?   Wishing everyone well with their next stage of treatment or just getting back to some sort of normal.  Julie x ... View more

Aww Gem  🤞 you dont need a transfusion and that chemo goes ahead as planned on weds.  All the uncertainty drives you nuts doesnt it. Hope you get the results you need today.  Sending 🤗 🤗   ... View more

Congratulations on finishing chemo witchhazel , another one to the chemo finishers club 💪 👏 💪 👏 💪 👏 Time to rest and recover now and maybe a little celebration or 2. As getting through chemo is a massive milestone.  Take care  Julie x ... View more

Thank you jowels and gem 🤗 😘 Last chemo done , I rang the bell and one of the nurses video'd it for me. And the big news is I didnt cry. I was totally in resting bitch face mode ( but not moody ) so so pleased it's over. Just the next week to get through of feeling pants . And then slowly getting back to some sort of normal.  You've all been a massive support to me during my chemo journey , thank you to each and everyone of you.  Hope you all have a fab weekend.  Julie x ... View more

Evening All Hope you enjoy your beach party tomorrow jowels , sounds fun . Have you any games to play? 🎉 ⛱ 🌞 how are feeling now?  Hi Gem , no I didnt have the contrast injection, the ct scan I had was just on the upper chest area and no results are given for this ( at my hospital anyway ) as it's just purely for aligning. I have 3 very small black tattoos now , one on my right side below the breast , in the middle of my breast and the other on my left side under the breast. I could play dot to dot 🤣 Good luck for your final chemo next week , we are so nearly there 👏 👏 💪 💪 🤞 Shefgirl , thank you I cant wait to join your chemo finishers club. I've bought myself some koppenberg strawberry and lime gin to celebrate next week , although I have got a magnum of champagne too. So I'll have to decide which I have 🍾 🍸 🤣 My onco said that my immune system would be compromised for 3 months at least from last chemo.  The white blood cells come back pretty quick apparently but because of covid still being around the white blood cells dont help fight this as it's a viral infection and not bacterial. Unless of course a vaccine comes out which will cover us. Shes signed me off for another 3 months with strict instructions that I can not go back to work.  I've had 2 social distance meet up with friends in the back garden which I really needed. However what I really want is to see and hug my youngest son , he moved out when I started chemo and I've only seen him twice since long down. I want hugs from all my family and friends. I really miss hugs. 🤔 🤗 I've driven a couple of times too , but just local . It's the concentration skde I worry about as all I've done is sit around the house for weeks , like we all have. Other than housework and a few exercises . Really need to up the energy levels once I'm over the last chemo hurdle. I'm exhausted after 20 mins of exercise. Anyway sorry for the long post. Hope everyone else is coping well with se.  Julie x ... View more

Hi salsa  Thank you lovely  , all went well with the bloods. So last chemo is a go on friday. 🤣 never thought I'd be happy about having chemo lol  Yes I'll be on tamoxifen,  which I start the first day of radiotherapy.  I can see the light at the end kf the tunnel now. Just hoping I dont have side effects of the hormone tablets. Time will tell I suppose.  Hope you're doing well, what's the next stage for you ? X ... View more

Morning jowels My first radiotherapy session is the 27th july , I'm having 23 sessions in total 15 normal and 8 boosts. I didnt realise they put clips in to the best after I'd had the lump removed till I attended my app last week. Apparently my onco doesnt believe that the reduced rads would be of benefit to me. Not sure why but I'm happy to go with her advice.  Hope you manage to sort your rads planning meeting out and subsequently your rads apps.  🤞 Hope everyone else is managing well  Julie x ... View more

Hi lovelies  Thanks salsa , having bloods tomoro so fingers crossed I get my last chemo this Friday 🤞 😄 Jowels , you've definitely had a rough ride with the side effects. Glad your up and about and managing some homemade soup. Hope you get to find out soon about your rads appointments etc . Have you had your planning meeting yet ? I had mine on friday went ok and I've got all my sessions printed off.  Hope everyone else is managing well.  Julie x ... View more

Thank you jowels and salsa 🤗 Salsa , I'm about 40 mins away from the hospital for rads , this will be my last treatment before taking the hormone tablets and trying to get my life back to some sort of normal. Hoping to lose the chemo / lockdown belly that I currently have too. Once I get more energy . Still doing my exercises on weeks 2 & 3 of the cycle when I feel I can. 👍 ... View more

Morning ladies  Congratulations to salsa , tracey and jowels on finishing chemo,  jowels hope the side effects are more manageable for for final session.  Hope you've all got treats and champers lined up for when you feel well. Gem and myself are bringing up the rear , my final chemo is scheduled for 3rd July. Cant wait !!  I've got my rads planning meeting tomoro with ct scan but this time round I dont get the results as it's just for aligning the machine up. My onco said she was reluctant to give me the reduced sessions / higher dose rads she seemed sceptical about them working for me. So looks like 22 sessions coming my way but I suppose I'll find out more tomoro.  Hope all of you enjoy a little sun today , glad to have the lovely weather back. Just wish it was cooler at night .    ... View more

Good Evening ladies Sorry I've not been on this week. Truth is after my 5th chemo last week I've got obsessed with a netflix series so not done much other than watch this and rest. My eyes seem to get a little blurry on the T so makes it difficult to message and to concentrate. Side effects similar to last time round although the horrific bone pain was bad but not as bad as before. 😄 So pleased side effects , infections and chemo have for the most part cleared up for you all. And that you all seem to be enjoying some exercise / yoga time / chill time.  Think weve all got that bottle chilling for the final chemo session. 🥂 🥳 Cant wait to get off that chemo bus , next stop rads bus. But almost there . Spoke with my onco last week and she believes it will be 3 months after my last chemo before I'm fit for work with the immune system being low and the threat of the virus. Not what I wanted to hear as that takes me to october and I will of been off for a year.  Just craving some normality of actually going to work. Never thought I'd be eager to return but then being Ill isnt the same as having time off for a lovely holiday.  Hope your all having a pleasant evening. Take care lovelies 😄   ... View more

Jowels youve had such a rough ride , have you  just got the one left now? Sorry but what's  a syringe driver? That doesnt sound very pleasant at all ?  We are nearly there !! Hope youve  got the champers chilling too. Think you deserve a few bottles after what youve  been through 🥂 🥳 🎉 😄 ... View more

Arh Shefgirl I'm so sorry that chemo is postponed but on the bright side at least the infection was found and can be treated. Fingers crossed you can go ahead next week 🤞 I never use to hate needles but over the last 6 months I've had a few the same as you.  So now I dread them. Lol  Its number 5 this Friday,  if my bloods are ok. Will find out tomoro at my onco app. Having a face to face one this time with starting T they wanted to see me. So if friday goes ahead I've one more to do. So 3 weeks on Friday could be my last chemo. Woop woop the champers is chilling already 🥂 🥰  thanks for asking shefgirl 😘 Take care  Julie  x   ... View more

Afternoon ladies  Just checking in with everyone to see how their treatment is going and just checking everyone is doing ok.  Massive change in the weather this week , isnt there. But I refuse to put the heating back on lol  Hope everyone is keeping well and safe.   Hugs to you all 🤗 🤗 🤗 ... View more

Good morning all , Sorry I've been a little quiet this week . I've read all your posts . My memory is shocking so had to make notes in order to reply to you.  Gem wow you put me to shame doing yoga , hope its helping and that you're feeling much better now.  Jowels how you feeling after round 5 ? How many more have you got to have now ? You are wonder woman going out for runs. I'm exhausted just thinking about running 😄 Shefgirl , the end is in sight with your last T next week , its truly awful having to attend hospital app on your own. So I totally get the wednesday wobble. Hope the rads ct scan went ok. Almost there 💪 Tmmorriss thanks for the Insight and advice on the 2nd T . Your doing ak well. Aww it must be so difficult to explain cancer to your little girl. Bless her 🤗 hope your feeling ok.  Salsa sorry to hear you had a bad week last week , although totally understandable. Hope your feeling better this week. Its fab that the end is in sight for you 🤞 I started to feel better last friday , day 8 and I've gone from strength to strength. I've got more energy this week , even managed to do my housework , clean the oven,  windows and do 15 mins of exercise each day. I've still got some SE but they're manageable. Need to shift this white carb and treat weight I've put on , turned into a 🐷 . Not ordered any treats with the online shop this week. Lol  Anyway sorry for the long post , I think you are all amazing. Thank you for the tips and advice .  Have a fab day  Xx ... View more

Morning Everyone  Hooe everyone is feeling ok and not suffering too much with side effects. The T asnt been too bad so far , other than the achy bones the first 4 days , but I've done some research and found that an antihistamine that begins with L , sorry cant remember the full name. Can help sometimes. So I've actually managed to get some.  I've had a few tingles  in my hands and feet , but nothing major. And the cotton wool mouth and taste bud changes and now the 💩 but nothing major. So I'm pretty happy I seem to of escaped with minimal side effects this far.  Another sunny day here so I'm going to move myself a little today and crack on with the house work before it becomes too hot.  Hope you all enjoy your day. Sending love and hugs to each and everyone kf you lovely ladies.  Xx ... View more

Hi gem   these are the tablets I've been prescribed and told to take even if I dont need them.  Witchhazel,  I'm right there with you on the aching. First of all had chronic back pain and now it's in my ankles / legs . Worst pain ever , cant get comfy to sleep . Never had shin splints but I'd probably say it's a similar feeling which lasts all day. Paracetomol seems to ease it a little . I've also got the lack of taste , even water doesnt taste right. But so far this seems to be my side effects ( other than hot flushes ) and trying to pull back my sleep.  Hope everyone else is coping ok with side effects and feeling well in general.  Good luck to all having treatment this week .  🤗 😘 ... View more