Breast Cancer Now Forum

Hi @Guest user, Poppy I have only just seen this thread and am pleased that you are recovering well from your fall. What a shock that must have been for you - and very frustrating not to see your oncologist. Although we can still have telephone consultations, a face to face meeting is so much better I find. And so annoying for you not to have your planned 'treat' day. Anyway, the main thing is that you are getting over the physical effects and the shock of the fall. And very well done on the weight loss. It isn't easy. I am 3kg heavier than I was pre-chemo and am finding that I just cannot shift it. Take care. ... View more

Hi everyone  How are we all doing? Hope that everyone is recovering well from treatment & that those of you with ongoing treatment are finding it much easier than what we have already been through. And trust that we are all getting back to some normality or embracing a new kind of normal post-treatment. I had my first ‘stand alone’ zolendronic acid infusion in June & am plodding on with anastrozole without too many problems- I seem to have many of the side effects that are mentioned but all fairly mild & although irritating at times they don’t cause any major problems. Life has been very busy & I try to take any opportunities that arise etc.  Next week will be the anniversary of my mammogram recall last year when I was told there was ‘something that will definitely need treatment’ - a bit of an understatement!! Lots of unpleasant memories coming up & reflections on what has happened during that year. But on a positive note  have celebrations next week for my mother in law’s 90th birthday & my granddaughter’s 2nd birthday, so they will certainly help lift the mood. And I had my first annual mammogram on Monday - all clear, which was a huge relief. It doesn’t take away that ongoing anxiety that never really leaves us but it was something to get through & does mark that first year,  Take care everyone & look forward to hearing any news whenever you have chance to pop on here x ... View more

Hi Poppy. I have just seen this & am incensed that someone could be so rude in any circumstances.  I assume that this person knows what you have just been through & that makes the unbelievable bad manners even worse.  I totally understand you feeling unable to forget what was said to you but please don’t let this stop you getting out there & reclaiming  your life. We have all been through the most difficult experience physically & particularly emotionally & you would hope that we could rely on friends to support us. Remember how strong you have been to get through the last few months & don’t let anyone put you down. We are all on your side x ... View more

Hi to all of you who are still checking in here. I agree totally that this has been a great group to be part of and it would be lovely to hear from time to time from those who wish to continue to have some interaction on here. @higgi you have been through so much lately & I am pleased that things seem to be improving. You will get your fitness back & shift that weight but I totally understand how you feel. @Karden - almost there with the extra chemo! Well done!! It must have felt like forever but now on to the next stage.  Most of us are still dealing with treatment of one sort or another & we are all dealing with huge changes in our lives. I had my first ‘stand alone’ Zometa infusion yesterday - all ok, although trying to get bloods beforehand was interesting! Also nearly 12 weeks down the line with Anastrozole - aches & pains but just trying to get on with it & exercise through it. Had first check ups with surgeon & oncologist - both very happy but very early days. Going forward, I will see them every 6 months but timed so that I see one or other every 3 months. This to me brings home the reality of what my life is now. I am more than happy to have the regular checks but it does reinforce the seriousness of my situation & that recurrence is probably never very far away. BUT I am determined to live as much as possible between checks & grab every opportunity that presents itself. Good luck to all of you & thank you for your support & companionship along this road that none of us ever wanted to take xx ... View more

Hi @Guest user Very interested to read this. I have been taking Anastrozole for 11 weeks & whilst I am coping reasonably well my legs are feeling heavy & weary. I am pushing myself to keep up with my usual exercise but at times it is hard! I have taken early in the morning so far, so wonder if perhaps I should try a change to the evening after hearing about your experience.  I am seeing my oncologist tomorrow for my first check-up, so I will also mention it to her.  ... View more

Hi @donkeywoman, Caroline. So pleased to hear that you are moving on so well with your life. How wonderful for you to have that feeling that life is beginning again. Thank you so much for all your support and understanding during the last few months. It was always a delight to hear from you and your honesty was much appreciated. Good luck and thank you. xx ... View more

Hi all @higgi you poor thing. You really are having a tough time & just when you should be thinking that things will get easier. I can’t offer any advice on this as I am not HER2+ but I am sure there is someone on here who can help. Good luck & hoping to hear better news from you soon.  @Pyewacket good that you are now well on the road to some sort of normality. Like you, my active treatment is over & I just have bisphosphonates & hormone tablets - Anastrozole in my case due to my advanced age! I feel somewhat hesitant about posting here now as I do feel very well & I know that so many are still recovering from surgery & have months of targeted therapy ahead. But hope that we can give some reassurance that things do get better.  I also love the ‘Titty Committee’ 😊 & really admire those of you who have been completely open with everyone about your situation. I suppose we are all different & have had different life experiences up to this point. I was going to say that there is probably an age element to it & that us old folk tend not to broadcast everything. But then realised that a childhood friend who is 5 years older than me recently announced her BC diagnosis on Facebook! So just different people I guess.  I know what you mean @Pyewacket about expecting a rapid recovery. There are still spells of unbelievable tiredness. I have now decided to do the things I really want to do & that I enjoy & anything that is totally essential & only fo anything else when I haven’t been too busy. Otherwise it is a couple of busy days & wham, knocked out for a day😂 Hopefully this might be a good tip!  Anyway I have rambled on enough -again. Hope that you are all as well as possible.  @PaulineS27 hope surgery has gone well  @Karden hope side effects are improving  And hope the rest of you are improving each day  xx   ... View more

Morning everyone. Pleased to see that you are all being as positive as possible despite the further twists & turns on this difficult road we have all been travelling. Hope you all overcome whatever problems you are facing & we really do need to be grateful for all that can be done & is being done for us. Kadcyla seems to be an example of how things are moving on & improving all the time. It isn’t a treatment that affects me but I have seen lots written about it & it does sound like another big step forward for so many people.  I had my 6 month check-up with my surgeon today. All was well & he was very happy, so sigh of relief there. Of course, only a manual examination & discussion but that’s fine for now. Will see him again in November but in the meantime I have a check-up with my oncologist in 4 weeks, a check-up with the breast nurse at the radiotherapy clinic in July & my surgeon is arranging my 1st annual mammogram for August. I feel I am constantly under surveillance- but better that than no checks.  And I survived the party😂 A bit panic stricken at first but after a while it all seemed quite normal. Nobody mentioned my situation which was great as I could choose whether to say anything if the opportunity arose & I wanted to.  My other anxiety was that the last time I saw this group of people was at the same place the day before I went for my recall from screening last year. So a definite trigger for unpleasant memories. And this time I had my check up the day after seeing them which felt ominous. Fortunately better news this time.  Anyway, enough about me. But hope that I can give some of you a little bit of comfort that we can get back to normal. We all have anxious & really scary times but you ladies do seem to be doing your best to look forward. xx ... View more

@higgi so pleased to hear that things seem to be going in the right direction. Fingers crossed that everything resolves itself.  Seems that we are all moving in the right direction and treatment after chemo is generally proving more manageable. Hoping that those we have not heard from are having an easy time.  I have just had a couple of days away from home seeing family and friends. Didn’t know how this would be, especially after reading the much recommended article by Dr Peter Harvey  which suggests we should make very tiny steps to move away from home and very gradually move back to our pre-cancer lives. Perhaps I am unusual but I loved my time away. I felt totally like the ‘old me’ & for much of the time completely forgot about all that has happened over the last 8 months. It actually felt worse coming back to the environment in which I have gone through my treatment but now feel that breaking away from my home situation has been extremely beneficial.  We are all very different but I sincerely believe that we can help each other by sharing our own experiences as we go through treatment & come out of it. We may not identify with others’ views but it helps us to realise that there is no right or wrong way to deal with this bad hand that we have been dealt   I am now still very apprehensive about the family party I have to attend but think I have rationalised most of this anxiety. I have been very private about my diagnosis & treatment & - other than immediate  family - only shared it personally with a handful of people who needed to know for various reasons. The people at the party will know the full story but not from me & I think that is what worries me- a very odd ‘elephant in the room’ situation! However I have also now been able to break away somewhat from focusing solely on my own situation & accepted that the party is not for me or about me. Hopefully this is a good step back into the real world & normal life. Will update you on how if all goes!  In the meantime I have my 1st check up on Monday - 6 month post-op appointment with my surgeon.  Sorry for rambling on somewhat but just hoping I can share some insight on ‘first moves’ after treatment. Have a good weekend everyone x ... View more

Hi everyone. Gosh, so much to catch up on. @higgi fantastic news on your results - the horrendous chemo was all worth it! But sorry that you are going through such a terrible time now. Hope that you are able to tolerate the drugs & they do the trick🤞 @Woodybird and @Pyewacket glad that the rads are going well. It definitely is the easiest part of treatment. The team were right in my case - any side effects were after the end of treatment but nothing awful- a bit of soreness & a couple of occasions when I was really tired.  @Shine13 good luck with surgery tomorrow. Are you having a lumpectomy? And @PaulineS27 good luck with your surgery. Hopefully you won’t be in too long.  @Karden hope the mouth ulcers clear up. I was fortunate not to suffer with them & can only imagine how horrible it must be.  @donkeywoman glad to hear that work is going well. Funny you should mention the aching arm. I had the same after my 1st jab & when I had the 2nd the vaccinator warned me that it could ache for a few weeks as they had  heard of this happening to lots of people. And I hadn’t even mentioned that mine had ached for weeks! And as for being overwhelmed in social situations!! I have been fine so far but yesterday I was invited to a family birthday party & it threw me into a complete panic. I usually love parties but the thought of this is terrifying me!! I had read lots about a loss of confidence after treatment but didn’t think much about it - until now. I will go as it is something I have to face & deal with & just hope that it will all be ok.  I will be back at dance & yoga classes this week & that doesn’t worry me at all - can’t wait. And then a couple of days away to see family & old friends. So far that doesn’t worry me either - it was just this party that completely threw me.  Anyway hope you all have a good week & that all treatment goes as well as it can. Take care everyone xx ... View more

@higgi So sorry to hear about this problem. I have never heard of this but it does sound as though you have been terribly unlucky. Fingers & toes crossed that they can sort it for you. Good luck for Monday. xx ... View more

Morning everyone. Hope you are all doing ok & it is great to read your posts which are so positive & full of humour. Keep it up ladies - let’s look on the bright side as much as we can😊 @higgiI can certainly sympathise with you about the armpit seroma. Mine actually burst before I could get it drained. Nobody had warned me of that possibility- it was like a scene from Alien in my bathroom!! And they fill up again so quickly - but then suddenly just disappear.  @Karden hope you are still doing ok & FEC doesn’t cause too many difficulties. Yes, I have finished active treatment. Just hormone tablets now & 6 monthly bisphosphonate infusions.  @Pyewacket glad that your radiotherapy is going ok. It really is easy although the travel for most of us is a bit of a pain. I made the most of the journey by appreciating the time on my own without medical or family distractions. Hope you continue to be ok & not have any reactions.  @donkeywoman pleased that your mood is holding up well & good luck with your return to work. Hope it all goes well. And enjoy your spa day.  Hope everyone else is doing ok. Best wishes & virtual hugs to all of you xx ... View more

Morning everyone. Hope you all have glorious weather like we have here.  @higgi pleased to hear that you have got through surgery but what a terrible experience you had at A&E. Good that you were able to get some reassurance & hope your team can totally put your mind at rest & explain things to you. I had a similar experience A&E back at the start of my chemo. I wasn’t feeling great & went there one evening - was definitely being over-cautious but aren’t we all when not knowing what to expect! Anyway when my white blood count result finally came through it was high. The doctor was surprised & whispered to me that this was probably due to the cancer in my body. I had already told him I had undergone successful surgery & also that I had received the single dose filgastrim injection which I knew boosted the white cells before they started to drop. He ignored both these things - didn’t even seem to know about the injections! - & terrified me. And he was a senior doc, not a junior!! My chemo team reassured me the next day.  I had node clearance &, almost 7 months later, I still have sone numbness in the armpit & right at the top of my arm. It is much better than it was & to be honest I don’t really notice it. It still feels a bit odd if I think about it but doesn’t cause any problems.  Good luck with your results & to anyone else who has appointments or treatments this week.  Hope you all have a good Sunday & Bank Holiday x ... View more

Morning everyone. Hope you are all doing ok. @Karden how did the first EC - or is it FEC? - go? Hope side effects aren’t bad. And you can start counting down to the end now. @Pyewacket hope that radiotherapy is going well. Do you have far to travel each day? That was the worst part for me. I didn’t mind the 2 hours’ driving each day - it was actually nice to do it after doing so little driving during the combined chemo & lockdown months! But it did get tiring by the end - & it just took such a huge chunk out of each day. Hope your skin holds up well.  @Shine13 yes radiotherapy was much less tiring than chemo. We are all different but for most of us it is the easiest part of treatment. I have had some soreness around my scar over the last two days but have been using the cream as advised & it feels ok this morning. Other than that no problems.  Hope everyone else is doing ok & preparing for whatever comes next. I have to collect my 2nd supply of Anastrozole today. Got through 4 weeks with no noticeable side effects. Possibly some aching joints/limbs but these could also just be the result of months of treatment & reduced exercise. I am just ignoring them & getting on & trying to increase energy & stamina levels. I also have to remember to arrange my 1st ‘stand alone’ bisphosphonate infusion for June - keep forgetting about that!  So far I am not experiencing the post-active treatment slump & gloom that many seem to suffer. Although there is plenty of time - we all know how quickly emotions can flip!! Just enjoying getting on with life & I have a few busy weeks ahead. I had a trip on the train & tube yesterday - quite strange after well over a year but at the same time it just felt normal.  Will be good to hear how you are all getting on when you have chance to update us. xx ... View more

Hi everyone. I think it is a very common reaction to feel bereft, lost, confused, etc when active treatment ends. It is rather like losing our comfort blanket - we have had regular appointments medical people around us for several months & there has been someone at the end of a phone line if we have had a problem. Suddenly we are cut adrift & in addition many of us now have more time to think about what has happened to us. I suppose that now is the time to process everything.  I must admit that so far I haven’t had that dreadful feeling that so many experience. I have had a few moments this week since the end of radiotherapy but they have come & gone. I have had a busy week & have lots to do over the next few weeks, so it may well be that I will have my feeling of loss & wondering where to go now at a later date. At the moment I really just want to grab life with both hands & get on with everything- but is that the right thing to do? Who knows!!  I am sure we will all come out of this & start to regain & rebuild our lives soon. xx ... View more

Good morning. I think maybe the 5 vs 10 years for hormone tablets could be due to different protocols in different NHS trusts. I am the same age as you @Guest user & I have been prescribed Anastrozole for 10 years. I have a friend who was originally given the medication for 5 years but when that point was reached it was extended for another 5 & I have read of that also happening with other people.  Only 2 sessions left for you @Guest user. I finished yesterday. It felt a bit of an anti-climax as I left the clinic but by the time I got home I was ready to start catching up on stuff that had been neglected during the last 3 weeks due to the rads & travelling time taking up virtually half of each day. I did say to someone ‘what do I do now!’ & the response of ‘get on with your life’ is exactly what I would hope to do! There will definitely be good & bad days & as you say it has to be one step at a time. But for now I feel that I don’t want to reflect on it all too much & that I really owe it to myself & my family to just have some normal life.  Good luck to you & @Carmen Verandah & anyone else nearing the end of active treatment. We did it - & were undoubtedly stronger than we ever thought we could be xx ... View more

Oops, I went to correct my spelling & somehow managed to post instead!!  I was going to say that I have heard good things about Moving Forward and really should find out more. I am looking forward to getting back to some of my pre-BC life, especially my dance & yoga classes which should be up & running again in 3 weeks. And like everyone as we come out of lockdown just living life. I am not sure at the moment how closely I want to analyse & reflect on what has happened to me over the last few months & I sort of feel that I owe it to myself & my family to just enjoy some ‘normality’. A holiday would be great as well - need to do something about that!! I think I will just see how things go & whether I need to consider any help etc with getting on with life. I know that I have certainly moved on a long way from the dark days of my anger & resentment whilst having chemo. And I will definitely still be checking in here to see how you are all doing. Take care everyone xx ... View more

Hi all. And thank you @Karden and @donkeywoman for your kind words and good wishes. Yes, my mood didn’t stay low for long. I totally agree with @donkeywoman that we have to just roll with the waves - and, yes, I am sure there are still done big ones out there waiting for us.  Final radio all fine and dusted. I have so many check ups coming along in the next months, plus the first ‘stand alone’ bisphosphonates in June, that I don’t actually feel as though I have finished treatment! But I am very happy to get my days back - rads did take up a huge amount of time.  I have heard good things about the Moving Firwars ... View more

@Pyewacket Sorry to hear about the blip with your radiotherapy. The little twists & turns keep on coming don’t they, even when we arrive at what is supposed to be the easiest part of our treatment. As you say, the chemo has already done its worst on the whole of our bodies & the consultant will have carefully weighed up any risks against benefits. Good luck with your rads. Hopefully it will all be easy & fingers crossed you have no problems with your implant.  @Karden I think it is this week you start on your extra chemo? Hope the side effects aren’t too bad & you can retain your positive outlook throughout.  And @higgi I think your surgery is imminent? I do get a bit muddled up with just what everyone is doing, so hope I am right & hope all goes well.  Hoping that @PaulineS27 & @Shine13 are feeling ok following the end of chemo & looking forward to moving on.  And @donkeywoman hope you are continuing to feel well & to build up your strength & energy I have my last radiotherapy session tomorrow. Can’t quite believe it. I have continued to have no skin reaction or any side effects that I am aware of other than some tiredness. Also had my 2nd Covid jab on Friday. Don’t think I had a reaction this time but between that, radiotherapy & Anastrozole I have no idea where any little niggles are coming from😂.  I have had something of a down mood today though. I have been pretty upbeat & getting on with normal life & looking ahead but I inadvertently stumbled on posts online from secondary sufferers & got drawn in to reading them - normally I wouldn’t as no point worrying about what something until it happens. I went into a real downward spiral convincing myself that I have very little hope of any future. As we have all said, it is amazing how quickly our moods & emotions can dramatically change. I have picked up somewhat now - some gardening & terrace cleaning helped! - but that was a very dark few hours.  Anyway tomorrow is another day - & my last day of active treatment!!  Have a good week everyone & best wishes to everyone having any treatment xx ... View more

Perfectly put @Guest user I have also received nothing but kindness & friendliness both in the NHS & in the private sector. But I have heard of several people like @Carmen Verandah who have not had such a positive experience & feel they haven’t had their questions answered etc. We do completely appreciate how busy the medical staff are & what a fantastic job they are doing but a few words can often make all the difference between a good & a bad experience.  I am sure we will all be different people as we emerge from this experience. Let’s hope we will be able to leave it in the past & make the most of our new lives & new selves going forward x ... View more