Breast Cancer Now Forum

No, I hate being cold so I didn't ask about it.  I've not actually seen anyone using it so I don't know whether the hospital offers it or not.  Both sessions I've been to have been running over an hour late so I'm not sure the staff have enough time to be adding in even more time for the cold cap. It's natural to be apprehensive as this is so different from the norm.  I've always avoided putting chemicals into my body so this goes against all that.  Plus there are the unknown side effects.  There's a lot to worry about!  I just hope I don't end up having to go back to the hospital one evening / weekend with a problem (fears of covid).  I also worry that the treatment may not work of course.  I just pray that it will.  Basically I'm a worrier and I find uncertainty hard to handle.  I find it hard to be blindly positive about things even though I know that would make life easier and worrying does not help.  If you find out how to do it, let me know xx ... View more

Hi Jo, Glad you have got all your test results back now and can get on with the next stage.  I've just started treatment myself (last Thursday) and am learning as I go along.  Never thought I'd be able to do needles, who knew ... and just ordered myself some new headwear. Take care xx ... View more

Hi Shi, Should I keep the nail polish on inbetween treatments or is it just important to have it on whilst having threatments? Also, I'd heard that nail polish remover should be used as little as possible because it's not great for the nails - any truth in that? Thanks for all advice xx ... View more

Thank you for the good wishes Angelface.  As you said, it was a long day!  My nurse was lovely and I had a seat next to a window which overlooked a garden so the view helped calm me down.  I'm sure next week will feel easier now I've got one session done.  I was sent home with various tablets to see me through the next 6 days and I just have to hope that I won't be needing all of them but we'll see.  I painted my nails (I'd heard that black varnish can help protect them) although didn't try the cold cap.  Not only do I hate being cold but I really wanted to be in and out of the ward as quickly as possible. I'm feeling a little calmer after today and one less unknown.  How are your stress levels? xx ... View more

Hello Ang3lf4ce, Glad you found us!  It's nice not to feel so alone going through all this.  You're lucky that things have moved so quickly.  I was diagnosed before you and only have my first treatment today (which I'm very nervous about!).  Pleased to hear that your side effects have been manageable xx ... View more

Thanks Evie xx ... View more

I think I might have applied for the trial you found you're not eligible for.  I'll wait and see what response I get.  My treatment plan is the same as yours (assuming I get on the trial otherwise my timings will change slightly but same drugs).  Suddenly I don't feel so alone  🙂 I've not told many people but what I really don't like is when they say "I'm so sorry that's awful".  Just makes me feel worse and on the outside of a life I used to know. I hope you've made it through your first session ok this morning, at least you know what to expect from this part of the treatment now.  Hope your toddler is not too lively while you're recovering, although it sounds like his liveliness has helped you through a bit xxx I'm liking your oncologist's tough love  😀 think I need to pull myself together too  ... View more

Hello again Daisy, thanks for the reply.  I've only had 1 counselling session and that was mainly the counsellor gathering background info so we haven't really started yet.  Next session is not till 8th October and by then my head will be in even more of a mess.  You're lucky to be talking to someone regularly.  I've been eating well although my interest in 'normal life' has taken a bit of a nose-dive.  I've been staying home a lot, hiding away I suppose apart from the hospital appointments (that sounds so gloomy, reading back!), but today I think I've got to make the effort to go out and see if that helps.  Fresh air normally does.  Yes, this is all so incredibly unfair and I keep wishing it away but I know I need to plough on through.  I think I'm still getting my head around it. Good luck today; I hope all goes well over the next few days too xx PS Can I ask what your treatment plan is? ... View more

Hi, I'm certainly no expert being relatively new to this whole nightmare, but following my biopsy results which showed a positive node  the CT chest scan (along with pelvis and thorax) was one of the three scans I was told would provide the doctors with further information on how to best target my treatment.  (others were MRI breast, and bone scan)  Although it's so very frightening hearing about these things, I'd rather them do thorough tests now to reduce unpleasant surprises further down the line and get the right sort of treatment as early as possible. It's terrible being thrown these curveballs though, just when you think that you're mentally on top of all the bad news already thrown at you.  Really not the best way of going about things as we've already had to cope with so much unexpected bad news to get to where we are now. Sending hugs xx ... View more

Thanks Amy.  This time is a mixture of seemingly normal days and completely frightening / different days.  One day at a time is probably best xx ... View more

Hi Amy, All this medical terminology is new to me but I don't think I'm having a PET scan as there's no mention of that in the leaflet I was given.  I was told I'd need 3 scans: breast MRI, CT and Bone.  I was feeling quite numb when they told me all this so I didn't take in a lot of detail.  Yesterday's CT scan was quicker and easier than the MRI and I think this was helped by the person doing the scan seeming a kinder and more relatable person.  There was also a picture of autumn leaves on the ceiling which helped me relax.  This Bone scan I'm waiting for seems like more of an ordeal as I have to arrive for an injection then wait for 3 hours before I can be scanned, meanwhile drinking water and going to the loo as often as possible. I suppose the next few months will be full of new experiences that I never thought I'd need.  And I'm someone that doesn't like uncertainty but this situation has it in bucketloads.  I probably need to get better at dealing with it.  Any advice welcome! xx  ... View more

Hi Amy, The CT thorax abdomen pelvis is this afternoon but I'm still waiting on the appointment for the Bone Scan.  Results still seem a long way off therefore.  When the consultant told me I needed these 3 scans, he said just to carry on my life as normal but how impossible is that with so much life-changing information to take on board?!  Also difficult when you don't know the full picture and of course I'm just really hoping that there is no spread.  This will be hard enough as it is and I just don't want to hear any more bad news.  I feel that I've just adjusted to one set of bad news, then I go for an appointment and there's more.  I know I'll feel better once there's a plan in place, life seems to work better once you know where you're going.  But right now, all my existing plans have been ripped up and instead there's this nightmare unfolding and I don't know how bad it will get.  It's hard when there's nothing you can do to help yourself at times like this.  I already ate quite healthily but now I've even improved that. Sorry for going on a bit, but thank you for replying.  I hope you are doing ok yourself. Alison xx ... View more

That really is good news (relatively speaking of course) and must be such a relief! Now you can move forward to the treatment stage. I'm still searching for anything I can take as a positive as I don't seem to be doing very well at these medical tests so far!  But yesterday my kidney results from the blood test were obviously good enough for me to have the MRI scan so that in itself is something.   ... View more

Hello, I'm in a similar place as you with all this.  I had my MRI yesterday and then I'll be waiting for a further 2 tests (bone and brain scans) after that.  I know that my lymph nodes are affected, I'm just praying and hoping that nothing has gone any further.  Such a worry when I'm still trying to get my head around the whole diagnosis in the first place and the idea of chemo.  I don't have symptoms of spread but then that's no guarantee.  I'm trying hard to keep busy and focus on the consultant's words "this is treatable" but it's so difficult.  Mornings are harder than evenings because the situation hits me all over again when I wake up. Sorry I don't have any real advice for you; just replying to say that you're not alone with how you're feeling. Alison xx ... View more