Breast Cancer Now Forum

Hey @Kelli_41 ...hope you are feeling ok  😘 I had my last chemo treatment on 18th March. It should have been last Friday but they wouldn't go ahead with it as I have had some problems with my fingers and hands. I feel in two minds about this....I was so relieved that they said they weren't going ahead, because I felt so awful. I felt like I had flu (negative LFT) couldn't eat because I felt constantly sick, stomach cramps were crippling and my nose would not stop bleeding. But then I am also a little worried....I have already had my surgeries, but because the cancer had spread to my lymph nodes the chemo is now meant to catch any rogue cells that may have gone to other parts of the body, this is the mopping up....but if I have completely missed one of the treatments, will it still be as effective? It's really quite annoying that I am left with these thoughts! I also have my radiotherapy planning session in April and due to start sessions after Easter. I am thinking this has to be a piece of cake after what we have already been through. Good luck with your final 2 sessions! Julia xxx ... View more

Hi Karen I am starting to feel more positive now that some of the more unpleasant side effects are lifting, not that any of the side effects are pleasant....but my nose slowly stopping bleeding, being able to cook and eat...these are all small positive steps. I am still tired, though I can see tiny improvements, I'm not there just yet. When you are in the thick of treatment it feels like there's never going to be an end and you just long for that touch of normality and now it feels more in reach, 11 days post chemo. What is your re-excision for? Just remember to be kind to yourself...don't push things...let everything happen at its own pace.  Julia xxx ... View more

Hi lovely ladies There has been a development that I wasn't expecting. I should have had my last chemo treatment on Friday gone...but I have been having a bit of trouble with my fingers and arms, so the oncologist said not to have the last session. She was worried that the issues in my fingers could be permanent if I had another chemo. I had been feeling awful this last week as well, which made me very emotional, so I was so happy for it to be cancelled. How long do you reckon it takes for you to start to feel normal?  Has anyone else finished chemo and how do you feel about it? Julia xx ... View more

Hey everyone Its good to hear how you are all doing, however crappy! I am feeling crappy too. I have my last chemo session this Friday...the last of 12. It has got noticeably more difficult as the weeks have gone on. This week I have noticed my fingers are more painful, like I've burnt them. My nose is either stuffy or streaming and bleeds a lot. I also get terrible stomach cramps and feel wiped out....can't even be bothered doing anything (bloods are fine) I have been doing some reading and apparently it is normal to feel like not bothering. I just can't wait to have my energy back and do everyday things like going shopping, out for dinner, the cinema!!! And I can't wait to have my hair, lashes and brows back....god I miss those! @KC57 I agree, your oncologist was insensitive saying something like that. It beggars belief the things people say. When I had my first E&C cycle, its 3 weeks of feeling like poo, every minute of every day. My best friend made a comment the day before my 2nd cycle....she said 'that's come round quick'....I said 'maybe for you it has!' People have honestly got no idea unless they have been in the same shoes.  Fix your crowns and hold your swords high ladies....fight on! Julia xxx   ... View more

Hi Ladies...hope you are all managing. Would any of you like to help me out with something? I am writing a book about my breast cancer journey and wondered if any of you would like to contribute? If any one is interested then please private message me. Julia xxx ... View more

I can imagine that must be so worrying for you Kim.  💕 I always have the mantra that it is nothing until they tell me that it's something...I know, easier said than done! We stand alongside you Kim and send you strength and love. Julia xxx   ... View more

Hi @Kelli_41 ...hope you are doing well. I had my 5th Paclixatel yesterday (Friday) so I have 4 more to go!!!!....woohoo!!!! I can feel it building up in my system now....the first two weeks were fine and I thought it would be a piece of cake....but now I think I could be wrong  😁 Yesterday I wore my wig for my treatment and one of the other patients thought it was my own hair....I was very pleased!  What a pain about your PICC line. I have a port (TIVAD) which is completely buried under the skin...was horrible to have inserted and I honestly can't wait for it to be gone. Will you be having radiotherapy? I have had my consultation and have my planning session booked.  Onwards and upwards, fighting the fight. Julia xxx ... View more

Hey everyone...hope you are all still standing in the face of Eunice! After finishing 3 cycles of E&C, I have now had 4 of the 9 rounds of weekly Paclixatel. During the first two rounds of this weekly chemo I had virtually no side effects...just a little gripey tummy ache but nothing else, though I also had steroids with these first two rounds. They have now stopped the steroids and I don't know whether it is coincidence but I have started with a few nasty occurrences of tiredness, bleeding nose, stomach ache etc. The end of chemo cannot come soon enough!! There isn't a bell at my chemo centre. I heard someone had complained about it so it was removed. There is one at the other site where I will be having radiotherapy. I think I will ring it. I want it to signal a celebration for managing to drag myself through a really hard period and to draw a line under this whole cancer incident. Enough of this, bog of cancer, you are not welcome and are not allowed to come back!! This is certainly how I want to think....but those little niggles sometimes pop up and I start wondering whether it will come back and what age I will make it to....does anyone else think like that or is just me being morbid? I will also need another surgery at some point as I had a failed reconstruction (expander had to be removed) , so one side of my chest now resembles a wrinkled old mans face! At some point I will have to decide if I want to go for another reconstruction or a tidy up of the area...choices, choices! Hope all you warrior women are doing well  🥊 Much love to you all  💌 Julia xxx   ... View more

Hi @Kelli_41  It's quite comforting to know that they can adjust treatments according to individual needs don't you think?..especially if it's something like liver function and not like me just being an idiot! I also had to delay the first  Paclitaxil on Friday...but was all my own fault. My last EC was difficult but in that week leading up to the Paclitaxil cycle I was feeling much better and decided to give our rather large conservatory a deep clean after we had a new solid roof put on and plastered...that was followed by a day of errands (blood test, cat to vets etc) and I think I over tired myself...woke up on the day of the Paclitaxil cycle and felt as rough as a badgers backside! Had what felt like a migraine and generally unwell...went to the hospital to be assessed and they said I could delay for a week rather than trying to get it over with. Feel like such a weakling and failure...don't think I've ever over tired myself in my life! Going to try again on Friday. How are you managing with the PICC line? I had a port implanted before chemo started as the Oncologist said I had terrible veins. It's buried under the skin and looks like a big lump...I couldn't be more attractive!  🤣 Hope you stay on track and feel well. Keep fighting the good fight. Julia xxx ... View more

Hi Kelli...hope you are doing ok x The 3rd EC was the worst!! I felt more poorly for longer. My main complaint was the pain  😩 After each cycle I have had an egg sized swelling come up just above the collar bone...the chemo nurse thinks this is remaining lymph nodes and is ok if it goes down, which it does (I had an infection post mastectomy which caused the tissue to fuse and they couldn't get to all the nodes  🤢 ) ...but after this 3rd cycle my whole upper body felt swollen, not just egg neck! and this seemed to cause so much pain. I think it affected all my lymph nodes and any movement was such an effort....even the port area felt uncomfortable. So now EC is over thank goodness and it's onto  Paclitaxil for 9 weeks. How has this been for you? They keep telling me it is usually better tolerated than the EC and that I may even see some hair growth!  Onwards and upwards!! Julia xxx ... View more

@Kate-44  Hope you are doing well. The pain in my mouth is more of a sensitivity around the gums rather than mouth sores. The chemo nurse gave me a huge bottle of Corsodyl and recommended Sensodyne. I haven't used the mouthwash but did use the toothpaste and it's partially sorted it. Blisters under the toes? I have not even read anywhere else of anyone experiencing this. How is it now? I've not had any problems with my feet other than in the day they are freezing....I have had to use a hot water bottle as it's quite uncomfortable. Battle on Kate! Julia xxx ... View more

Hey everyone....wishing you all a happier, healthier new year! It has been such a joy reading your posts today....the highs and the lows...I am riding them all with you. We had a quiet Christmas, just the 3 of us, hubby, daughter home from uni and me. Was in my 3rd week post EC 2nd cycle so felt good, could taste the food and had a tipple or two. Had my 3rd EC cycle on New Years Eve and am suffering a bit now. The exhaustion is like a fizzing inside my body. If I move anything the fizz comes...and not the kind of fizz I would actually like! My fingers feel like I have had them dipped in a bowl of ice and yet the flushes in the evening are an awful reminder of what I have a few months prior to diagnosis. Funny though, how the flushes have appeared in different patterns on my face! One night I looked like I had a red beard and the next my full T zone was bright red! I have also had some palpitations and my lymph nodes have swollen, with one lot in my neck looking like an egg, though I have been told it's not a worry as long as it goes back down. I found the whole hair loss thing very traumatising. My Oncologist told me straight that he didn't like the cold cap, it doesn't always work, looks like torture, hurts and takes hours out of your day....and after weeks of reading different accounts to help me decide he helped me in that minute! So I was expecting hair loss and prepared by cutting it into a short pixie style, but then the pain started, like pins in my head so bad that I couldn't lay my head on the pillow without wincing, so I ordered hubby to shave it off and the physical relief was instant, though I think emotionally it will take longer to get over.  I have also had some palpitations and my teeth and gums have felt very sensitive, though luckily no mouth sores as yet. At this point I feel like I have got off lightly compared to some...though my weekly chemo starts on 21st Jan...a new drug and I am a bit frightened that it will be a whole new set of side effects that I may not manage as well.  Also hubby has gone back to work today so I am a bit anxious about the whole covid situation....everyone I know seems to have it at the minute and I feel like I want to lock myself away. So glad to be in your gang ladies...warrior women!! Julia xx ... View more

Well what a relief!! I thought I was being overly sensitive over the hair loss and that my couple of traumatic days of crying and feeling down over my shedding more than the cat were just me being dramatic....and no one really understands it do they? Friends and family have said 'well we expected that didn't we'.....but that really doesn't help...it's still a shock and just another part of my femininity that has been stripped away. To add insult to injury I went for my blood test this morning and popped a hat on to catch hair and noticed in the mirror when I pulled up at the hospital that I look like where's Wally!! Just gets better doesn't it! Julia xxx   ... View more

Hi Kim The flipping itch is a pain in the rear!!!! I had it bad during recovery from one of my surgeries. My skin at the time was falling apart (dressings allergy) plus a large area was completely numb so I had to watch that I didn't over itch in those spots  🙄 My sister bought me a back scratcher and it was like my best friend....I just lightly rubbed it over the really bad itchy bits and it was bliss  😌 ...I did also take anti histamines but they didn't seem to do anything. Hope you find some relief soon. Julia xxx ... View more

Hi Karen, glad you are starting to feel better now  😘 I had my first cycle of E&C 10 days ago and I think I have got off lightly. The first few days I felt great...loads of energy...just had a lot of flushing, eyes red, skin changes....then I had about 3 days where I couldn't get off the couch (I refuse to go to bed!) I just felt exhausted....after that, the last few days I have again had bags of energy but then hit a wall in the afternoon and needed a nap! I have felt a bit of sensitivity on my scalp but as yet haven't lost any hair and even though they warned me that the Filgastrim would cause joint pain...all my usual joint aches have disappeared...I even found I have more mobility in my arm (I had 3 surgeries on that side and was still improving movement). I think the most annoying side effect has been the loss of taste....anything I put in my mouth tastes like wallpaper paste  🤢 I had also heard that each cycle can be different in the severity of side effects....but I am really hoping that its the same next time round as it will be Christmas and I may feel like having a glass of bubbly! Hope your second cycle goes well and you have a mild experience. Much love. Julia xx   ... View more

Bum buttering?....had to check then that I was on the right forum!  🤣 Thank you Shi xx ... View more

Hi all I am on day 4 of E&C and feeling ok so far. The most dramatic thing is my skin flushing, which my steroids say is a common side effect. It doesn't last all day and just looks like I have been enjoying the sun! And my axillary clearance scar has gone a dark pink colour? My temp has been spot on through all of this.  Feel like I am stood on a cliff edge though, as I know so many say after this point it is down hill. Up to this point I have carried on as usual, washing, cleaning, ironing....don't know how long that will last, which is a bit scary....just got to go with it I suppose. Little question....is it ok to take to take Senakot or do you always have to get meds from your doctor? Keep on fighting lovely ladies! Julia xx ... View more

Hi @KC57 , can I ask a little question? I am due to start my first cycle this Friday but no one has mentioned steroids to me. Do they give the first dose on the day IV or should I have had a prescription?  Julia xxx ... View more

Thank you for your advice ladies. It is a hard call to make but I think I need to let my head rule my heart. Even though I work from home so am safe in that respect (plus I am taking time out for the treatment) all of my family work with the public and are worried about passing anything on. My husband doesn't want us to take any chances so I think we will cancel the pre Christmas hotel break and have Christmas day with just us and our daughter who will be home from university, she also wants to isolate for the week before coming home bless her.  ❤️ We did this last year due to Covid and it was so stress free and we had a lovely day. Hope you are all navigating your treatments well xxx Julia xxx     ... View more