Breast Cancer Now Forum

I meant lounge not olive 😝 not sure where that came from! xxx ... View more

Hi Shi, I will definitely take your advice and move to the radiotherapy olive. I have found sharing experiences of treatment really useful. Thank you all.  I also intend to get some good cream before starting radiation and will drink plenty of water too. Was wandering is sparking water okay? I have acquired a taste for this now since the Docetaxel has played havoc with my taste buds.  Thanks for your advice and tips. You are a great support.  Have a good day all  love 💕 Tara xx ... View more

Hi Ann, Thats fantastic news, well done You. I bet it is such a relief to be over!  Do you have any further treatment such as radiotherapy? I know you said you are having an op soon. I think you will breeze through this after chemo.  I will hopefully have my final chemo next Thursday. Never thought I would say this, but I can’t wait.  Stay strong ladies, nearly there now!  Have a lovely day.  Tara xx ... View more

Hi Marie, sorry to hear that your chemo has been delayed. Fingers crossed it can go ahead next week so that you can spend time with your family at Christmas time. I think this is the most important thing fir all of us at the moment. I know I have my fingers crossed that I can have my final chemo next week. I am aiming to have all my treatment done and dusted by Christmas.  The weather has been lovely here, great if you enjoy gardening. Get out there whilst it’s still nice!  Hope everyone is feeling as well as they can today.  Love 💕 Tara xx ... View more

Hi ladies, I am so sorry that some of you have had a hard time on Docetaxel.  Heather, yes hopefully next Thursday should be my last chemotherapy. I have not had the side effects that you and Helen have described in terms of leg/body pain, however I have had the horrible slime mouth that Shi describes. It is like my youngest feels swollen for the first week and someone has thrown talc in my mouth. Luckily this week has been a lot better. Shi I will try the pear drops! I have also had tummy pain/ upset this time up until 2 days ago. It is joy too bad just feels like I have diarrhoea but it is not actually that bad.  I do hope to get through my final treatment with out too many side effects and have to wait to be called for radiotherapy then.  You ladies are so close now. I know at times it  no is not nice but we are all strong enough to get through this.  Have a nice evening all.  Lots of love 💕 Tara xxx  ... View more

Hi Butler, well done you on completing your chemotherapy! I bet it is such a relief? Another milestone to tick off.  I do hope you have a better time with side effects. What’s next you radiotherapy/ surgery?  Thank you for your advice and support offered to me as you have been going through chemo it has been really helpful. hope all goes well for you in the next stage of your journey. keep us updated!  Love 💕 Tara xx ... View more

Hi Amy, just wanted to say it is great news about the chemo shrinking the cancer on your lungs. See I told you that you would do it and this cancer can be beat, just got to have faith and hope and anything is possible.  Hope you get the news you want about having an op, I’ll keep my fingers crossed 🤞 for you.  Have a good day ladies, enjoy the 🌞   lots of love 💕 Tara xx ... View more

Hi ladies, hood everyone is doing okay today. I have had a lovely day. I watched my eldest play football in the sunshine 🌞 and then after the game we had his presentation outside on the grass.   Ann, I will be sure to keep talking about my friend, your right she will live on that way. I had never met her husband but have managed to tell him a couple of stories through social media that I hope will make him smile at such a devastating time for him and her children. I also talked to my husband about it a bit lady night. He said you have to be selfish and think about yourself where cancer is concerned to ensure you best it. I told him I fully intend to never let the disease get the better of me. I hope  it has given him some peace.    Hope you too goes well along with Butler. Time seems to be going so quickly!    Anna, I was told that chemo should put you through the menopause, but my not sure if I have or not as I was in the contraceptive injection and have not had a period for 7 years. I would say by the night sweats I get after chemo that it is a possibility but I just don’t know. Funny things for me are, I expected to loose weight from sickness, but thankfully from not being sick I have gained 2 stone. I also used to have dark facial hair. This happened due to medication taken for an ectopic pregnancy 13 years ago. All that fell out and it has come back as white wispy hair. I can deal with that. Also I thought my children would be horrified by how I look and I would scare them, but they have taken the attitude that if they laugh at me it’s the best way to deal with it. They will quite happily point out that I have a double chin and wonky breasts. This works for us all. Thought I would feel mortified but I really don’t. I quite agree with them.  I do hope everyone has had a nice day. Has anyone finished chemo yet. I you may have said but if not I would love to hear.  Take care  love 💕 Tara     ... View more

Hi ladies, thank you for all your condolences. It is very sad, but I have come to learn that cancer dies not discriminate and can be very cruel. It makes me more determined to fight and never let it come back!  Jo I want to say that I am sorry that your partner has left, but I don’t know your relationship so it may be a relief that they left. No one knows what goes on behind closed doors do they? I want you to know I am here for you if you need to chat as I am sure the other ladies are too.  I have found since having my diagnosis I have become a stronger person and don’t take any messing anymore. My husband has struggled, we don’t talk about things really and he keeps saying to me that I look really well and he thought it would hit me more. I look well because I get up each day no matter how I feel inside to take Care of my children. In my mind if I get up and do it won’t beat me. My husband has even said it is making me crazy. I agree I say my point a lot more now, but that is because this is a hard fight and it is all I know how to do at the moment. Before I would pussy foot around things and say things like, dont be silly all nicy nice even when I didn’t agree. Now I just give me opinion. I am not making excuses just think I have become quite threatening to some people. We are strong women now and I don’t think they will ever go away.  My mother and father in law just keep harping on to him how their cancer was much worse than mine and I generally feel that he is panicking. To me I have been told I can be cured. This is what I fight for, but to him he seems scared that the worst could still happen. He won’t open up and dies not believe in counselling so I just leave it for now.  If you need me you know where I am. That goes to all you lovely ladies.  Have a good day. Stay positive and strong ladies. We are almost there and we have done this ourselves. It’s a great achievement.  Much love 💕 Tara xxx   ... View more

Hi Ann, wow nearly there now! Well done you.  I unlike you had my operation before the chemo. I know you are nervous because I was too. I had never had an operation before, not even had a filling on my teeth.  I personally found the operation easier. I had a lovely sleep and although I had a head ache for a couple of days after, I think from dehydration, but was well after a couple of days.  You can do this Ann, I feel you are through the worst now.  I have not been posting for a while as I lost my chemo buddy on Sunday. I knew she was terminal when I met her, but her passing knocked me a bit because she seemed so well.  I am more determined than ever to beat this now and live live live.  Hope everyone is feeling okay. Nearly there now we can all do it!  Lots of love 💕 Tara xx ... View more

Happy Birthday Butler. My son is 10 today too. I don’t feel well enough for a drink as had an upset tummy this week. Partly to do with Docetaxel and partly as I lost my chemo buddy on Sunday. However I will raise a drink to everyone when I am feeling better.    Good luck for next week. Nearly there!   Lots of love 💕  Tara xx ... View more

Hi Renpen,  glad to have been if some help.  Take care!  love 💕 Tara xx ... View more

Hi Elaine, I was going to say sorry you find yourself here but then changed my mind because we are all here to support one another through the diagnosis and treatment. I know you may not choose to be here, but welcome to the triple negative train. We are a really friendly bunch!  Like Shi has said don’t worry about chasing up on your appointment daily it is important to you to understand what will happen and when. Also it should help ease any anxieties you may have.   I wanted to let you know that before I had my op on the 9th April I was on the phone to my surgeons secretary every day. Unfortunately, due to lock down I could not have chemo first and the op was the only option to get this horrible disease out. Boy did I let her know about it. I even asked her to pray and hope that my op went ahead, because as soon as I got it out the better. Fortunately for me she was very understanding and agreed to press fir it to go ahead. Even if you don’t get someone as helpful I have learned that the only way to be heard is to keep badgering on. I f you don’t ask you don’t get 😝    I found out at 2:30pm the day before my op that it would go ahead, I was so pleased but understand the anxieties of having to wait.  Please do keep ringing in until you get what you want.  Lots of 💕   Tara x ... View more

Hi Renpen, it seems like you have had an awful time with side effects, I hope you are feeling more comfortable now.  I had a couple of the side effects you are describing when in FEC, although no where near as severe. In regards to the upset tummy I had this in the first cycle, not right away but in the second week. I rand the direct dial number right away and my husband had to go and get a sample bottle for me. Admittedly, I did have to wait a couple of days to see if I had an infection, but it was clear so could take immodium. It might be an idea to get into the number right away if you get the same symptoms next cycle.  I have just had my second cycle if Docetaxel and although I don’t have ulcers down below I did have some gnat bite like spots in between my legs first cycle. I found running Vaseline in them and sleeping with no clothes on helped. The air seemed to get to them and soothed the area. I had the same problem oN Friday night a day after my second round so did the same again and it has helped. Once again please ring your unit before giving it a go and see what their thoughts are. It’s all trial and error I find. If you have no luck you could always ring the nurse support line on this site for assistance.  Mouth ulcers are the worst. Again I have been quite lucky I have a sore mouth and have had oral thrush, but this was cleared up with antibiotics.   All I would really say is keep in until you get things sorted. Don’t suffer and ask for a second opinion if you are not satisfied.  Hope everyone else is okay and not suffering too much. I bet most people are a third if the way through chemo now. You are all doing so well. Keep fighting, you will win the battle.  Take care all Love 💕 Tara xx ... View more

Hi Christineliwillb,  welcome and good on you for posting, I know how hard the first one can be!  I agree the waiting for test results can make you feel anxious, but remember your medical team need to know all of the details so that they can get the best treatment plan  for you. Yes triple negative breast cancer is aggressive and this puts fear into you, but it can be treated and many people survive for many years afterwards often dying from non cancer related reasons. It may be aggressive, but I see it as I have more aggressive feelings towards ensuring it never takes over me. Not sure about anyone else but since the moment I was diagnosed I have been determined not to let this beat me!   A lovely lady called Shi that is a great support to the site has listed survivors of triple negative breast cancer. It may help to look up their stories?  I do hope you get the news you hope for when your results come through.   Keep posting on here when you need to or if you need support. You are not alone.  Lots of love 💕 Tara xx     ... View more

Hi ladies, I too am part of team triple negative! My name is Tara, I am 37 years old l, have 2 boys 9 and 7 and was diagnosed on the 20th March this year.  I was unable to have chemo first due to COVID. I had a therapeutic mamoplasty on the 9th April. This is a lumpectomy to remove lump and margins with an uplift. I was previously an F cup. Would say I am about a D cup now.   I began chemo in the 11th June, 3 cycles of FEC and have just had my second of 3 Docetaxel. Fingers crossed I should finish chemo on the 24th September. I will then have radiotherapy and an uplift to my good side. In my opinion chemo has been doable. I found that with FEC I felt nauseous, but was not actually sick. Take the anti sickness they give you when you feel sick, don’t wait to be sick before taking them. Also when the C part of the FEC was being administered I had a sinus headache pain. Check with your team, but aa long as your temp is down  below 37.5 I was told you should be able to take a paracetamol before chemo to help with this. Also I found sucking a mild mint helped with the nasty salty taste in my mouth.   Docetaxel has been different. I have not had the nausea feeling or been sick so this is a bonus, however I did get oral thrush. No problems just called the rapid response number they give you and antibiotics prescribed, which had got rid of it.   When I found out I would be having chemo I said to my oncologist I don’t really want to be sick as I wanted to help take care of my 2 boys. The youngest had aspergers and although my husband is great with him it is down to me to help him sequence what is happening in his mind. I have taken the steroids and sickness tablets as advised and have not been sick. I get up with my boys each morning and although it takes me a little longer to do things I feel I am still a I’m and can be part of their lives. Like others have said take help when offered. My mum stays over the first 2 nights after chemo to help with the boys so that my husband can focus on me and my Monster in law does my washing for the first couple of days. Nicest thing she has ever done for me lol 😝    in regards to telling people about what you are going through, this is totally your choice. I work in a school so went and told the head teacher right away as I had to shield ready for my op. I am not at work for now and don’t return until I feel well enough. Remember Cancer is an illness you need to recover and feel good in yourself first!  We were just in the process of buying our first house when I was diagnosed. Luckily completion was delayed due to the build not being ready, so we were able to pull out. I can’t imagine being faced with a diagnosis and having to pay a mortgage? I really feel for you ladies with mortgages.My mum recently brought a house that she refurbed and she has let us move in, so I rent off her at the moment. Family rates lol. I did used to be a mortgage advisor before having the boys. Check your policies because, critical illness or accident, sickness and unemployment cover may pay off your mortgage without terminal illness. This will take the stress off.  I hope this post has answered some questions. I am always happy to share my experiences if anyone needs me.  Oh and ladies, we will beat this together. Remember, stay focused and where there is hope there is life!  Love 💕 and hugs to all   Tara xxx   ... View more

Hi Sunshine,  Hope  all went well/goes well with your final treatment( can’t remember if you said that you have had you 4th round yet or not). Well done you have got there girl!  I only have 1 more round on the 24th of this month and then hopefully onto radiotherapy and uplift to my left side. Hoping this will be my Christmas pressie 😝   I too work in a school and strangely enough really miss it too. I work at the same school as my boys, they went back Wednesday so all is quiet here now. Mind you I was okay until had treatment yesterday, but getting up and getting them ready and off to school today with my husband has tired me out so I’m back in bed watching bet flicks for an hour or so. I am hoping to go back to work in the new year, but keep thinking that I will fall to sleep on the class or struggle to walk upstairs as I work in key stage 2. What I would say is that I am going to make sure I feel completely ready before I go back as I am sure you know in a school you are expected to hit the ground running lol!  Good luck to all you ladies having chemo today. Virtual hand holds coming your way.  Take care, love 💕 Tara xx ... View more

Hi ladies, Yes Heather I’m here having Docetaxel now. Glad yours went okay with no problems!  I agree the name on your friends shirt is ace. When I enter race for life maybe next year I will have my name on the front to run in celebration of me when I am over this. I always had my nans name until now running in memory of. She died of brain cancer 28 years ago. It started off as  breast cancer, but I know treatment have come a long way since then and I’m an optimistic person. I truest hope the cancer never comes back for any of us or gets worse but I know each of us will fight it each to time and never let it beat us!  Hope everyone is feeling okay, relax and take it easy.  Lots of love 💕 Tara xxc ... View more

Hello,   my name is Tara. I have had 3 cycles of fec and are about to have my 2nd Docetaxel in a moment. As of yet I have not had a period, however I was o the contraceptive injection until May, have been for 7 years since having my youngest and have not seen a period. When I came if the injection to conceive my youngest it took 6 months for me to have a period so I will expect it in the next couple of months unless the chemo had put me through the change.  I have read on here that others have had periods that are on similar treatments and go on to have them after treatment. I think it just depends on the person. Sorry not much help but just remain vigilant and always have products available.  Hope you treatment goes well.  Love 💕 Tara xx ... View more

Hi Butler, well done you! I bet you will be relieved it’s all over. Well this part anyway.  I am currently having my 5 chemo. One more after this. Then radiotherapy and uplift to the good side to match me up lol. Hoping this will be my Christmas pressie 😝    My eldest is 10 on the 10th so I will try and have half a glass of wine fir both of you as soon as my injections are done.    You have been so brave and should be proud of yourself. You go girl!  Lots of love 💕 Tara xxx ... View more