Breast Cancer Now Forum

Hi @Sara123  My knees ache too. My next Phesgo injection is delayed slightly due refurbishment at my nearest hospital, so I thought I'd look back at my Nov/Dec side effects over the Christmas/NY break and see if I can spot any patterns. I am feeling so much better than during the summer and the two months after radiotherapy - primarily due to the fatigue lifting. Seasons greetings, Helen ... View more

Hi @WestieRuth, It's great to hear that you had a complete pathological response too. I might have misunderstood my oncologist, but I think my recurrence risk after surgery was c10% and the phase 2 treatments (radiotherapy, the ongoing 3-weekly HerPer injections, plus the daily hormone/bone tablets) takes that down to c3%. I have bought a book about the history of Herceptin to read other the Christmas/NY break. I will let you know if I learn more. Seasons greetings, Helen ... View more

Hi @rjh18 , I am nearly one  year on from a Grade 3 Stage2 HER2+ ER+ diagnosis. Thankfully a complete radiological and pathological response to date. I hope your wife's treatment is progressing well, Helen ... View more

Thanks @Ruby1  and others who have responded to this thread, I am just coming up to my first anniversary this winter of my HER2+ ER+ Grade 3 Stage 2 diagnosis. Very best wishes to you all ... View more

Hi @Sara123 others with HER2+ diagnosis, My active treatment started in early February 2021 and my post-op radiotherapy finished seven months later at the end of August.  I've just (yesterday) had my 6th (of 12) 3-weekly HER/PER injections. I'm also keen to connect with others at various stages of treatment/recovery from HER2+ primary breast cancer. A few more details: Grade3, c3cm, ER2+, Stage2 (two lymph nodes impacted), six 3-weekly chemo cycles (docetaxel with HER/PER), late June lumpectomy, rCR and pCR (thankfully), taking letroxole and ibandronic acid tablets since early August 2021.   ... View more

Thanks for starting this thread Skye and your post Anxious Soul. I am half way through my post-op Her/Per injections and approaching the anniversary of my HER2+ diagnosis. I'm just starting to look ahead to 2022 as my fatigue starts to fade. Post-radiotherapy rib tenderness emerged recently, but it's proving to be a welcome catalyst for the next stage for me. ... View more

It's been great to read this thread. Thank you all. I was diagnosed last winter aged 53 (c30mm lump in my right breast, ER+, and 2 lymph nodes impacted). I am now nearly halfway through my post-op phesgo (her/per) injections, and about three months into taking leteroxole, ibandronic acid and vitD/calc. My radiotherapy was in August after a June lumpectomy. The six rounds of docetaxel with her/per between Feb and May led to a complete radiological and pathological response. That still feels like a miracle! I've recently experienced a new side effect for me - tender ribs caused by the radiotherapy. My first recurrence wobble, given I'd forgotten this could happen at this stage. November has also brought more energy as the fatigue finally starts to fade, and much improved finger nails after the subungual haemorrhaging at the end of chemo. The hot flushes might also be waning, or perhaps I am just getting very used to them ... I have just signed-up to a Dec Moving Forward course and might join an in-person equivalent at my nearest Maggie's centre in the new year. Very best wishes to all diagnosed as HER2+/Grade3, Helen ... View more

Morning all, Best wishes for today @Gelbel and thanks for all the research @CrazyCatLady  I have found Sara's book and website very useful: http://www.tickingoffbreastcancer.com I read "Helen's Melons" shortly after my diagnosis was confirmed, and have a copy of The Complete Guide to Breast Cancer by two doctors/survivors. I have slept more now that the Mon-Weds steroids have worn off - a good nap yesterday afternoon and a much less disturbed night. I'll add more later in the day. With love to you all as we face Friday's challenges as the Feb2021 team, Helen ... View more

Thank you @CrazyCatLady and @Gelbel for your messages of support and welcome, and to all other Feb21 Chemo Starters for sharing your initial steps, I am starting with six three-weekly cycles of Perjeta, Herceptin and Taxotere. These were given by cannula on Tuesday, with an anti-sickness drug. I started taking DulcoEase yesterday afternoon. I am managing to drink 2 litres of water a day and walk between the kitchen and sofa for a few minutes each hour. My appetite has been OK so far. I had my last steroid tablet for this cycle yesterday evening, so am hoping for a little more sleep tonight ..... but bracing myself for side effects over Friday and the weekend. I haven't decided whether to cut my hair ahead of time (above shoulder bob at the moment). I have a few hats, caps and headscarves gathered together for later in the month. I suspect that I will only wear my wig for a few key zoom meetings, but it is comforting to know that the two I selected during my consultation can both be picked up on Friday by my husband so that I can make a final decision here over the weekend. I am 53, born and brought up in North Yorkshire, followed by c30 years in London, before moving to coastal Northumberland. I work in the charity sector - specialising in the overlap between climate change and investment. My trustee work often takes me to Scotland in more normal times. Very best wishes to you all and especially those starting chemo today/tomorrow.   ... View more

Hi everyone, After HER2+/ER+ diagnosis on 7th Jan following a call to my doctor a month earlier, I started six three weekly cycles of chemotherapy yesterday at Alnwick Infirmary in Northumberland. Surgery and radiotherapy likely to follow from June at Wansbeck General. Etc. The team is wonderful - the care at my pre-assessment in Alnwick on Friday was excellent and I felt well looked after yesterday in the four seat unit. Thank you Barbara, in particular. I am awake early due to the second of three days of steroid tablets. Waiting to see which side effects will appear first over the coming days and weeks. Work (my part-time paid, current secondment, and voluntary trustee work) are all being very supportive. We're experimenting with a rest week followed by a light working fortnight with good cover. Probably easier while working from home remains the norm, and during the first few cycles. Cold cap has been withdrawn here recently due to the pandemic, but the 'Lovely Locks' team squeezed me in for a wig fitting on Saturday. I hope to add more later today. ... View more