Breast Cancer Now Forum

Sounds awful Lisabee 😞 i've not started this treatment yet so not really much help - do you know yet what meds you are getting for the pain relief? i'm relying on public transport to get too and from appointments cos i dont drive. i'd speak with oncology and see if adjusting dose is an option - hope they SE ease off soon & please keep us updated on how you get on xx ... View more

Hey Skye - sorry to hear you are in the same boat.. how are you coping? they have changed the oral chemo dates til after radiotherapy so i've put it to the back of my mind to focus on the current treatment. been very tired since radiotherapy started. i'm not sure if this is because of the hormone therapy or situation with covid etc. feelin a bit fed up tho! xx ... View more

hey i started letrozole 5 weeks ago & due rad 4 out of 15 tomorrow. like you i also feel very wiped out. possibly even more than on the chemo last year. i've had problems sleeping since chemo triggered menopause but it defo seems worse since radiotherapy started. be good to hear if anyone else had similar - i'd been all chilled about this part as everyone said it was so much easier than chemo but i'm already struggling to work & i'm all out of sick leave!   hope you are all keeping well x ... View more

thanks for this Sue! feel a bit more reassured. hopefully SE will be similar to you - i wish they had informed me more of this before now as its come as such a shock. hope you're managing ok x ... View more

Hey all how is everyone? I'm due round 6 this week. only 2 more to go after that. my hair has fallen out loads this week & now have very showing bald patches. im getting it shaved on tuesday & cant bare to go outside or meet people. didnt think i'd be as bothered as this but its really getting to me. my mates keep trying to meet up but just cant face them. is anyone else in same boat or got any tips on how to embrace this better? feeling a bit pressured from folks which is annoying me (know that they are trying to help & i'm just being grumpy). just want this all over and done with! lou x ... View more

Hey Amy - yeah the results are a huge relief & had a chat with one of the nurses on here before hand who were really cool & put my mind at ease over a few things. Sunday is grand so we can pencil something in & please if you feeling crap on the day then dont add any extra stress - lets do if and can on the day. hope all goes well this week & anyone else up for a zoom then feel free to message emails too! xxx   ... View more

Hi Amy - hope you got on ok today? i was there for 6 hours too - no reactions to new stuff though & been told the biopsies etc all came back clear so least now can focus on the treatment plan in place with no hidden surprises. still up for zoom - if you private message me your email we can take it from there. friday/sunday afternoons are best for me but can be flexible since working from home & all. i was on EC for the first 4 rounds - really found the constant sickness unbearable at times. apparently this new stuff is less about the sickness and more the tiredness but everyones different so will just need to see how it goes. only 3 more rounds to go is keeping me cheery at the min! hope everyone else is coping ok xx ... View more

Hey everyone sorry not posted in a while. round 4 been pretty tough. i'm due round 5 & first of paclitaxel tomorrow. my bloods came back low so had to do a repeat today & hospital wont get the results til tomorrow morning. supposed to be there for 9am and need to take 10x dexamethasone 6 hours before treatment! Really anxious about taking the meds then it being cancelled if bloods not recovered on time (bad enough setting alarm 3am to take them!). on the plus side only 3 more to do if all goes ahead tomorrow. x ... View more

cool! more than happy to set up.. i will bring tea hot bottle grumpiness and no vid cam if peeps dont want. date and time with considerness. anyone else in let me know either just like or private message & we set up xxx ... View more

would anyone be up for a august starter zoom so we can compare notes? just a thought know its tricky at the min but maybe some virtual support might be an idea? xx ... View more

Hi Amy 🙂 i've had 4 rounds EC - due to start 4 rounds Paclitaxel. i've also been worrying about the change - the nurse said last time the side effects of paclitxel are not as bad as EC but i'm sure they said that about EC at the start! its friggin awful isnt it wouldnt wish this on worst enemy. think its worse not being to do anything normal on the good days cos of this covid rubbish! bring on 2021 we will of beat this pish n be skippin about by spring xx ... View more

Hi everyone Just thought i'd post to hopefully reassure some of you - i'm day 5 after round 4 chemo & although the side effects have been worse than ever over the weekend today i feel actually  ok! it was so bad i didnt think i'd last but i feel full of hope today so if any of you are feeling as rough as i did then there is light 🙂 going for ultrasound today & have appointment with onc thursday to see if this horrible chemo is working or not. fingers crossed & big hug to all of you we will get through this xxx ... View more

thank you Evie! this is so helpful. i'm due to see me oncologist next week so i'll ask about the pre-prectoral implant then 🙂 xx ... View more

so glad i found this thread.. i got told at the initial meeting with consultant that implants wouldnt be an option due to having surgery before radiotherapy. same meeting i was introduced to the plastic surgeon who mentioned plan for reconstructing with back muscle which at the time i agreed with as was still taking in the you have cancer info. i've not much muscle/fat on me and concerned that taking muscle from my back will lead to longer term aches/pains. has anyone else had this done? i was thinking maybe they could reconstruct/consider implants later on after radiotherapy - i'm 41 and dont really want to be flat one sided but then longer term if its gonna avoid future health issues then willing to face it. x ... View more

Hi Nicki yea i feel for you - i felt so ill after round 3 & it lasted way longer than previous rounds. i felt even more sick on Tuesday just knowing whats to come. we are getting through this though! i've got 4 rounds of paclitaxel next followed by op & radiotherapy.  all be over by spring (my fave time of year) & hopefully less covid by then! xx ... View more

Hi Amy & everyone i had round 4 of EC chemo yesterday. i also found side effects worse after round 3 almost fainted a couple times - had hard swollen veins, sickness non stop - i found this all stopped after the 5 day zarzio injections. gave up on the cold cap as apparently the next type of chemo will take 4-5 hour drip & didnt fancy having to hang about  another 90 mins on top of that. half way through now - had biopsy & mammogram before chemo - hoping that will come back clear so i can have a break before operation in january. been watching this to get through the insomnia  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4YssM-HO6fU anyone else found anything funny please share! hope yous are all keeping well ... View more

Hey all & sorry for the delay responding. thank you for the hair scarves tips - i've still not had the balls to go skin head but thinking that this will be sometime very soon. i'm on day 5 after 3rd EC round and felt worse than ever this last week. missing the hyperness i had initially must of been deluded thinking it would continue to be that easy.. the last biopsy came back inconclusive so to get another one to see if its on other side as well as initial diagnosis. seems to be taking forever. i got asked today when i would find out if the chemo is actually working or not.. does anyone know if theres a standard follow up check or is this something you just need to wait and see after the full chemo plan is complete? i'm almost half way through (crazy writing that time seems to of flown in) i'm worried that they will put me on more if biopsy doesnt come back clear. diagnosed in July and still waiting on results it seems never ending. xx ... View more

Hi Sarah - i had the same & used cold cap too.  had dull sore head/scalp the week after treatment then started getting itchy 2 days before 2nd EC. hair starting to fall out now - hoping its just thinning as no mass chunks but its coming out in strands everywhere.. x ... View more

Where are the best places to buy some cool head gear for when my hair falls out (molting more this morning) i have a wig ordered but keen to hear of other ideas as an alternative! lucy x ... View more