Breast Cancer Now Forum

Hi CactusQueen, Congratulations on finishing your treatment. 👏👏👏 I’ve been taking Letrozole (anti oestrogen) since April although I had to stop during chemo. I will be starting on bone strengthening bisphosphonates too but need to have some dental work first.  I had 6 rounds of EC and I haven’t had very much in the way of side effects apart from the hair loss and dry skin. My hair is starting to grow back but I only have a slight fuzz at the moment. The worst part is my eye lashes growing as it really makes my eyes itch like mad.  I’ve felt very similar to you in that I’ve only been able to deal with one aspect of the treatment at a time. I had a breast reduction when they removed my lump so that has left me very lop sided and needing the other reduced. I don’t know whether my Heath trust is still doing those sort of operations at the moment or not. I guess I’ll find out when I meet with the surgeon on Thursday. I would like to get it over and done with but I do understand that there may be people with a greater need than mine. xx ... View more

Hi aNN,  I’ve had 5 sessions of radiotherapy and my last one was today so I have officially finished my treatment. Yay.  Im so sorry that you will have to stay shielding for so long. I’ve done 8 months so far and I don’t think I’ll be going anywhere any time soon given the ever increasing virus numbers. Apart from my husband the only people I’ve seen are medical staff.  We will get there though and remember 2020 as the year we beat cancer rather than the Covid year. Stay safe. x ... View more

Congratulations Tara on finishing your treatment and giving that bell a good ring! I rang the bell after my chemo finished but I don’t think there is one on the radio department. Not that I mind, just finishing my treatment is good enough. I have my last radio treatment on Monday and then back to see the surgeon on Thursday to talk about getting my healthy breast so it matches!  Touch wood, so far I’ve had very little in terms of side effects to the radio. I’ve been a bit more tired but it is taking over 5 hours of the day, when you include travelling. My biggest tip for those of you yet to start radiotherapy is moisturise, moisturise, moisturise! I’ve used E45 and Aveeno and both have been really good. Do your exercises too as they will help with the position you need to rest your arm for the treatment.  We are so close to getting through our treatment ladies. Stay strong and stay safe. xx ... View more

Ann, I’m glad I managed to put your mind at ease regarding the tattoos. I’ve been telling everyone that I have 3 tattoos. Ha ha, I think they’re imagining pictures not3 small dots! I started my radiotherapy this week and have had 2 sessions so far. I’m not finding it too tiring but my poor husband is exhausted from the driving as it’s a 5 hour round trip to the hospital everyday.  Mine is on my left breast too, so I have been doing the breath holding which isn’t too much of a problem. There’s a TV screen on the ceiling with photos to distract you too. I’m having tablets for the bone strengthening. It’s interesting how different hospitals have slightly different treatments. I have been shielding since my treatment started in June as I was told to from the beginning. Once the treatment is over It will be strange to go anywhere other than the hospital, doctors or dentists!  ... View more

Hi Ladies, I had my operation in May and have been doing my exercises since then. I was told by the physio ( in my phone appointment) that I should carry on doing them for 6 months after my radiotherapy. I remember that it was difficult at first but does improve gradually. I do now have pretty much full mobility but my shoulder still gets stiff every now and then if I do too much.  I had my radiotherapy tattoos last week and they are no more than a scratch. They are tiny. I have one on my sternum, one below that and one under my arm. None are actually on my boob.  I start my treatment next Tuesday. If I’m like Tara I shall be falling asleep on the way home as it’s a 2 hour drive. Fortunately my husband is taking me.  Julie, so pleased that your nodes etc were all clear. Stay safe and strong ladies, we can do this. xx ... View more

Oh Tara, you poor thing. Thank goodness you rang the hot line. I’m pleased that it won’t affect your treatment though. Good luck with your radiotherapy this week, fingers crossed that it all goes smoothly for you.  Enjoy your day with your boys. Cold and windy here too. Take care. xx ... View more

Glad your surgery went well. I too thought I had a fab sleep when I had my surgery. I was astonished how quickly I was knocked out and then what seemed like the next minute I was in recovery.  I have my radiotherapy planning scans on Monday and my tattoos! It’s a 2 hour drive each way which is the worst part. It makes for a long day. But hopefully I’ll get my dates soon for treatment. I’m having 5 days in a row and then I’ll get to ring my second bell! After that it’s surgery on my right breast to even things up. Whether I’ll get that this year or not, who knows. As it’s only cosmetic, I wonder if it will be postponed because of Covid. I hope you are all doing well and have a good weekend ... View more

Hi All, I had my 6th and final chemo this morning. Yay. I got to ring the bell! 🔔   That’s done with. Now I just have to wait until November to start my radiotherapy.  I hope you are all ok? Everyone seems to have been a bit quiet for while.  Stay strong. We can beat this. xxx ... View more

Oh Tara & Jo. I’m so sorry to hear of your problems. I hope you both manage to get your last chemo sessions done as soon as possible. It does seem the more of the treatment we have the more our bodies take a hit. I suppose it’s inevitable but not nice.  I had full dental X-rays taken yesterday as I need work done before they can hive me the bone strengthening drugs. It’s one thing after another isnt it.  Stay strong girls. Fingers crossed that you get your last chemo soon.  xxxxx ... View more

That’s great news Ann and hopefully great news for you next week Tara. I had my 5th session on Tuesday and hopefully my last one will be 6th October. We are beating this, ladies. One step at a time but we are beating it!!  Xxx ... View more

Oh Tara, I’m so sorry to hear about your chemo buddy. I’m glad you are using her passing to make you more determined. I’m sure that’s what she would want but huge hugs nevertheless as it’s never easy to lose anyone. Ann, so pleased you are nearly at the end. I too has my surgery before chemo, although I Will have to have my non cancer breast reduced to match after my radiotherapy. I too found the surgery no problem at all. One minute they were putting me to sleep and the next they were waking me up. I had very few problems afterwards apart from the drain which was just annoying really.  I have round 5 of chemo on Tuesday and then just one more after that to go before I move on to the radio. It seems like ages since we started but at the same time I can’t believe this is number 5!  Keep strong ladies, we’ve got this. xxx ... View more

I’m so sorry that you’ve all been having a bad time. I’m just bumbling along with my EC every 3 weeks and touch wood it’s all still going really smoothly for me. Lots of love and hugs ladies I hope they manage to get you sorted out as it sounds like you’ve all had a rough time.  xxx ... View more

Oh Jo77 that sound awful, you poor thing. I hope they are able to change things to make it better for you.  Gentle hugs. x I hope everyone else is managing ok. I’m due my 4th EC treatment on Tuesday. We are getting through it ladies and we’ll be out the other side of chemo soon. Have a good weekend. xxx ... View more

Hi All, Thinking of you today Tara. I’m sure you’ll be fine. Its a bit cooler here today which is nice. I’ve not been managing to walk as much because the heat was just too much but hopefully I should manage 3miles today with the dogs. I had my third EC last week so 3 more to go now. Great to be halfway through but October still seems a long way off!  Love to all xx ... View more

It is hot isn’t it? Phew! I am enjoying sitting in the garden though.  I have my 3rd (of 6) cycle of EC next Tuesday. Half way through then. Yay. October still seems like a long way off though, doesn’t it?  I have felt quite down mentally this time. I think it is the fact that I can’t go anywhere or see anyone that makes it so difficult. Talking to people on FaceTime or Zoom is really nice but just not quite the same. Although I do feel better this week than I did last week.  Just got to keep on keeping on haven’t we!  ... View more

So sorry to hear that some of you are struggling. I don’t think that this heavy weather is helping either. Ie been sleeping really badly since my second dose.  I had the heartburn problem last cycle but have some tablets now that really have stopped it, it might be worth contacting your team to see if they could send you some out.  I have to keep reminding myself that this is short term pain for long term gain. We will get there ladies and we will beat this! xxx ... View more

I’ve been ok. The second round I didn’t have any nausea at all and I’ve been managing to walk at least 3 miles every day which I think has really helped me. I had a lot of heartburn after my first round but I now have tablets for that which have stopped it altogether.  I did the injections myself as my husband is a wuss too. Not a nice job but bearable although I was glad when they were over! I think that’s one of the worst bits.  ... View more

Hi Michelle, Welcome to our group. I have my 3rd EC on 4th August, I’m having 6 EC.  How have you been coping with it?  ... View more

Hi All,  Thank you for your thoughts. You were all with me today. My bloods were good and my treatment went well, thank you. I’ve got the injections this time so I asked about them. They are to help boost your white blood cells and neutrophils, my Oncologist is prescribing them as a matter of course to try and keep peoples immunity up because of Covid.  I even managed a small walk this evening and just sat on one of our field walls looking at the view, it felt really nice.  Tara, I think you do sometimes just need to let things go and have a cry. You do feel better for it, no point in bottling it up. I agree it does also make you consider what is important in life too.  Hope everyone else’s treatment went well today. xx ... View more

So pleased you’ve had a good day Tara.  Good Luck to everyone else having treatment tomorrow. We’re going to beat this horrid disease, one treatment at a time. Tomorrow after round 2 I’ll be a third of the way through. Yay.  lots of love and sleep well. xxx ... View more