Breast Cancer Now Forum

Hello Tara.  lovely to hear from you. Sounds like life is fairly full on in your house too! You know, one of my big lessons during treatment was that I like how my head is when life slows down. I like taking a little time to do the simple things around the house, to clean out my fridge. It’s like the cleaning of the fridge every week or two is a symbol of whether I have too much going on in my life. I eased back into work 2 days a week in December (I run my own business so has been doing odd days through treatment) and then my manager at the office took covid in January and has been pretty much off since so things went nuts and I haven’t slowed down since. I feel and see that it’s not good for me but there’s been a huge lot happening in work and family life and sometimes you just have to get on with it. I do have some goals to slow down again and by end of October plan to be back to only 2 days in the office with the other days from home where as my own boss I can at least mix up how much I do.  So I also started to bleed last Thursday with a vengeance - the gap had been 15 months for me. Friday and Saturday I had to come home from work/town because I leaked through my clothes 😳 After 4 days it eased off. I still have some lingering pain and just don’t feel quite myself. I’ve been to the GP for hormone bloods, regular blood count, a smear, and red flagged for a gynae appt. This is standard I think for a post-menopausal bleed and I guess that’s probably what happened you too. At 46, I guess it’s probably some hormone activity still going on in there, all I could think was ‘Just typical that my ovaries decide to fire up again when I thought I was done!’  I had a sensitivity to the hormone based contraceptives in the past (liver disfunction in pregnancy) but I was allowed to have the copper coil and they were happy to leave it in place during and post-chemo. Definitely horrid for you to have that pregnancy worry - it occurred to me the other day that my Dad was born when Granny was 48, her last hurrah after 8 other children, and I definitely don’t want to go there 🙄 I am on my own with my children so no risk of that for the moment.  I feel fortunate that I bounced back well after treatment. I started to eat lots more vegetarian and an improved diet (which my children disgustedly call my ‘vegan’ diet - I’m not vegan but it’s their most insulting term 😄 ). I feel far the better of the dietary changes. Just wish I could do more exercise and slow down my head again. When a potential health problem comes up, I do find an anxiety rises up quicker than it would’ve pre cancer. Realise it’s probably healthier to let that our rather than push it down.  Hope we all stay healthy anyway!  bye for now    Lynn  ... View more

Hello everyone. Hope you are all keeping well and that most of you are clear of any treatment by now.  I have just had the unexpected surprise of getting my period this morning, after 14 months with nothing. Because I had lots of hot flushes and fatigue I assumed I was in full blown menopause but seems my ovaries decided to give it another go 🤨 How has your cycle/menopause been for you all? I am 46. Suppose I should get the doc to check bloods… ... View more

Hello Julie, Jo, Ann and all June 2020, It’s been a few weeks of anniversaries for me, a year since diagnosis and a year since surgery, I marked the dates by feeling so very thankful for how smoothly it has all gone really.  I've also been back for mammogram and a full set of checks. I went slightly early because I was worried about pain and lumpiness around the scar but it was just general inflammation of the chest wall (no more planks and push-ups recommended but more moderate body weight exercises, so much for getting in shape 😀 ) The appointment really reassured me, didn’t realise how much I’d been building up a problem in my mind.  I had a bout of shingles a month ago. Luckily for antivirals and got it under control early. Seems my white blood count/ immune system still low (1.2 neutrophils if any other geek also likes those numbers) but I googled and read a medical report that suggests that combined FEC and Docetaxel can result in depressed immune system for up to 9 months - so again that was a relief to know.  Hope you are all keeping well. Nice to have the few updates a year on.  Anna ... View more

Hello Ann, Tara and everyone, Well done on getting through the final treatment on Wednesday. Do you expect to have some tough days now? Were  you still on FEC or on Docetaxel? I’ve found Docetaxel easier to handle, round 4 was a bit grim back and forth to hospital with side effects, but round 5 was the most manageable yet, no triage trips needed.  Did you get to ring a bell? We don’t at our hospital but we do after radiotherapy in November. I’m having 2 weeks. I asked the Consultant were they still doing the condensed one week treatment at a higher dose and he says that is how radiotherapy is evolving - they used to do 5 weeks, then three, but trials in the last few years have showed that fewer sessions at a stronger dose are effective. I believe mine will be a week on the right breast and a further week more closely targeting the tumour area. It’s really only a precautionary clear up of any last cells lingering (could there be any after 6 x chemo?) and the consultant said it only offers about an extra 1% chance of cancer not recurring but I’m glad to have all the layers of treatment (tamoxifen is something like 7%).  Tara, I had my tattoos done on Monday. Felt very cool telling my 15, 13, 10 year olds their boring old Mum has tattoos but they weren’t terribly impressed 😄 It’s horrible that you had bleeding, I didn’t have more than a pin prick.  Throughout chemo I found I limited my reading on the forums and generally online, has done quite a bit to learn things early on but hadn’t the mental strength to cope with it after the treatment started. Recently I came across a sort of virtual conference bus Penny Brohn, about integrating other types of help around traditional treatments and I attended some of these sessions. They were very well run. I feel this will help me for the onward Journey to plan some of the things I know I need to improve (stress and exercise and sugar intake). Maybe some of you might like a look, I believe you can still get tickets for the recordings: https://yestolife.org.uk/event/your-life-and-cancer-2020-1/   All the best, Anna ... View more

Hi Tara and everyone, I have my final chemo next Wed, all being well. I had a couple of postponements along the way because I took a dose of the cold twice. Fingers crossed all will go ahead. The Covid rates around here are really rising, and with my 3 children at school I’ve been expecting it will come close to home at some stage.  Tara, I’m also going on to radiotherapy after chemo. Initially it was to be an intensive dose for 5 days but I believe they may have moved back to the standard 3 week programme now. I have my planning appointment on Monday. Expect to be done radio by end of November and then tamoxifen for 5+ years. I’m also waiting on results of the BRCA1/2 gene test, has anyone else had this? I have 2 first cousins and 2 aunties who have had breast cancer so this pushed me across the threshold for testing. There’s only a smallish chance of it being positive, but a positive result would mean removal of ovaries for definite and a discussion about bilateral mastectomy. We’ll cross that bridge if we come to it 😊   Take Care, everyone.  Anna   ... View more

Hello Tara, Jo, Ann and all others, good to hear how everyone is getting on, there are tough things happening in everyone’s life and home but the weeks are passing and we are getting there. I had round 4 on Wed 2nd, first Docetaxel same as many of you. It was a joy not to have nausea and vomiting for a change and I sailed through a day or two, but then got bone pain and fatigue and inflamed mouth and stomach and am just coming out the other end after two visits to oncology triage. Really good to be feeling normal again (and arguing with my boys about WiFi as usual 😤 )  I was thinking about the little things on the cancer journey that have amused me in spite of it all - thought I’d share and maybe you could share yours too:   Because of being 45, they warned me that when chemo causes the ovaries to shrivel and give up for now, it may be temporary or it may be permanent. Amused to report my ovaries seem determined to stick it out til the bitter end, just got another period after round 4 😀     ... View more

Oh Jo, that sounds miserable. I’m sorry you’re having such a rotten week. I hope it comes under control and that the oncology team can do some things to improve the reactions (assume they will want to continue another 2 rounds?)   Take good care, Anna ... View more

Thanks for that Polybalm recommendation, Cubot! Will look it up in readiness.  Does Docetaxel have any further impact on eyelashes /eyebrows? My lower lashes are pretty much gone but holding on to upper lashes and eyebrows are thinner but still there. Suppose the three cycles of Docetaxel may affect what’s left.  ... View more

Hi Jo, I’m so interested to hear your feedback from the Docetaxel as I am slightly dreading the change of drugs next cycle, after 3xFEC. I’m glad you’ve no heavy side effects yet and it’s good going that you’ve got from Fri to Tuesday without being completely miserable. Because the doctors have given me extra steroids to start 24 hours before the Docetaxel (round 4 for me is Sept 2nd) I reckon they expect your body takes a beating and that makes me a little nervous!  Like you mentioned, I’ve found the nausea/vomiting during FEC really wearing. How long did you find the symptoms lasted?  It feels like all my symptoms are concentrated in the stomach. In the first week I feel wretched and just drag myself through the week, spending lots of time in bed. I bet I sound a complete wimp, it does go against the grain. Even a variety of anti nausea meds don't seem to hit the spot although they do help control the vomiting. Usually for me it turns a point after a week and it’s more bearable but still nausea present and I can’t eat my normal diet - chemo in my body just hates fruit and veg, it seems - which is a shame since I was going great guns with lots of plant based meals after surgery!  Did you see a doctor before you switched to Docetaxel, Jo? My hospital has been doing phone reviews on the morning of treatment day, but they want to see me face to face before the next one. Consent forms I reckon 😉     Anna ... View more

Hi Tara, The little cry is sometimes just what’s needed. I can understand your feeling when you were diagnosed - I also had the feeling of ‘it’s okay, I can do this’ and while I’m glad that’s been the prevailing thought, we need to let out the big feelings (the negative ones) too once in a while. Take care,    Anna ... View more

Belated happy birthday, Tara. I hope it was a good day!  Anna ... View more

Hi everyone,  I'm another one for bloods tomorrow and round 2 on Tuesday, all being well. It’s a bank holiday here tomorrow (N.Ireland). The D.Nurse is coming as normal for the weekly Picc line check and normally will do my bloods then but tomorrow I have to take them in to the lab myself because of the holiday. I’m also due to get bloods taken for the genetics tests (BRCA1/2) as we now have two aunties and 3 first cousins in the family with breast cancer. The results of this won’t be back for about 10 weeks, hopefully near the end of my chemo.  My hair is surprisingly hanging on. I expected it would be mostly gone by now (day 20) and it’s thinning but I guess round 2 will finish it off. I’m glad I didn’t shave before round 1 as I had originally convinced myself would be best. Mentally it’s been good to adjust gradually - it’s cut shorter than I’ve ever had it. Also not very keen on my wig, even though it’s been thinned it still feels like too much bulk. We’ll see. The AnnaBandana beanies are great.  Good luck to all this week. x ... View more

Gosh, horseylass, even if you’re expecting it, that’s got to be quite traumatic. I’m dreading it. Are you on day 13 same as I am? (23 June 1st treatment?) I’m expecting it any day now too.  ... View more

Hi Lam, I did speak to the chemo helpline about the nausea although it was about 5am one morning when I couldn’t stop being sick - so it was a team covering overnights. They changed the anti nausea meds and it got better, but I think next time they will probably give me more up front.  It will be fine 😛 ... View more

Take care, Tabs, and be nice to yourself - those days are hard ones in my limited experience.  ... View more

Hello Lam, Tara and others, I’m checking back in on day 12 here. Feeling heaps better after a rotten first week. After 5 days of nausea and vomiting, I got a clot in my Picc line so was in and out to hospital last Monday and Tuesday and now taking Clexane injections each night for 6 months. But since then I’m feeling well and it’s amazing how some days of feeling well helps even mentally to get you strong for round 2. There were days early in round 1 when I just felt so lost and miserable - and it’s nice that it lifts and life can feel normal again.  I’m a single Mum to 3 children (10-14 years) so they went to my in-laws for the first week till we saw how I got on with first round. They’ve been home with me since Wednesday and although they care about me I have to say the parenting can be hard going - I lost my temper over screen time on Thursday and almost collapsed with the instant physical effect of stress on the body. So I’m taking help from anyone who offers and sometimes just get into bed and forget about it all. Today I have just one child at home and that’s quite manageable 😀 I've marked the calendar with the 5 further chemo dates and will be a bit gutted if any dates have to slip - but apparently it can be common enough to have to wait a week or two for example  because bloods don’t come back to normal in time?  At day 12 my hair is hanging on strong. I kept giving it a tug at the back but so far all there. I had long hair so got 12” cut and donated it, so now I have a short style for another few days. I’ve been practicing with beanies from AnnaBandana, in my favourite colours and that feels good. Not comfortable with my wig yet - felt really ill on the day I chose it and hope I didn’t make a mistake!  Long message 😖 Take Care, all.  ... View more

Hi Butler10, thanks for your reply. The whole thing does mess with your head a bit, doesn’t it? I hope after completing one cycle I’ll have a better idea how to get through the next time. Take care, and here’s hoping Saturday comes soon for you.  Anna ... View more

Happy Birthday, Horseylass. Hope you feel good for the day and can enjoy something nice (to do or eat). 😛 Anna ... View more

Thanks for the reassurance. I’ve called the ward and they’ve advised me to upgrade to the next anti-nausea meds, Metaclopramide, already in my pharmacy pack. So I’m just trying to keep some breakfast down while it takes effect. Still on steroids too. So thankful for the fantastic care, but weepy after a bad night. Daytime seems to feel better - was the same yesterday morning.  ... View more