Breast Cancer Now Forum

@katenonip @Jennet  It’s good to hear from you. I’m so sorry to hear things have been difficult, all I can say is that you should be so proud for enduring all of this. Better and brighter days will come to you soon, just hang in there. You are very brave.  I wish you all a very happy Christmas, I hope you can make the most of it.  Lots of love to you and everyone xx ... View more

Hello everyone  Hope you are doing well. I’m assuming that some if not all of you are coming to an end of your treatment and of course for some there’s still a long road of recovery ahead. The forum has been quiet and I only hope that’s because you are taking the time to focus on your health and well-being.  Today I had the last cycle of chemo, it was bittersweet as you can imagine but it’s done. I have two week break before starting radiotherapy for three weeks. These past six months have been very difficult and next challenge for me is to get over my long Covid smell/taste disorder. Hands on heart that has been the bane of my life emotionally and of  course chemo has made it 10 times worse. But  I’m trying so hard to stay positive and believe that it all goes back to normal soon.  One thing I wanted to mention is side effects with Taxol, I had a very bad case of nose bleed. I don’t know if you’ve experienced it too. It’s been relentless and I can’t wait for it to be over. I’ve also had very sore nails and they are all discoloured I just hope I don’t lose them! I guess a small price to pay for a hopefully successful treatment. 😊   I wish you all a merry Christmas and good health. Here’s hoping for a better and brighter 2022 for everyone.  Take care xx       ... View more

Hi Sharlea, thanks for your message. I didn’t appreciate that you could get the jab in you leg, I’m glad this was an option in regards to your surgery.  I am also having radiotherapy but once the chemo is finished. I’m sure that comes with its own problems not least because it’s going to be every day. Hope we all get through our treatments unharmed and we have a better and brighter future to look forward to 😊   Take care x   ... View more

Me again! I had my booster jab last week. The injection site turned to a big red patch and was very sore for a couple of days. It’s getting better now. Make sure your injection is not on the side where you had lymph node surgery.  Also the chemo seem to have affected my taste in a much more significant way as in I can’t taste salt or seasoning in food and on Thursday my tongue felt numb. Has anyone experienced this? I only hope that the side effects won’t affect the course of the treatment 😔 Hope everyone’s ok xx ... View more

Hi @sharlea  Good to hear you’re feeling better. My chemo finishes in five weeks time and I will have radiotherapy for three weeks after that, then I’m done. I can’t wait.  I’m on Taxol and so far it’s more manageable than EC. I did have a period of nose bleed which was a nuisance but it’s getting better.  No pins and needles but that could happen any time as it’s the common side effect of Taxol.  Good luck with the jab and radiotherapy xx   ... View more

Hi all It’s not possible to start a new query so replying to my last message.  Has anyone got their booster jab? I’m having mine tomorrow and even though my Oncologist has said it’s ok to do so I’m worried for some reason!  Thanks x ... View more

@Kaisa Hope you’re recovering well from the operation and I hope everything is going to be ok with the results.  @Jennet It must be a relief to know you have your last chemo next week hope all goes well.  I had my 4th Taxol last week, 8 more to go. I’m tolerating it better than I did the EC but that may change. I hear the effects of taxol is accumulative, the nurses told me I will more likely experience the neuropathy on the 5th/6th cycle. They said if it turns out to be too much to tolerate they might have to reduce the dose. I’m always nervous about that in case lower dose will reduce the impact of the treatment.  I’ve been feeling a bit low these past few days, everything has been piling up with the treatment and my smell disorder which doesn’t seem to be improving and the horrible hot flushes, it all gets too much. Sometimes I fear if everything will go back to normal again and if I will feel normal again.   Anyway I hope everyone’s doing well and keeping safe xx ... View more

Hello @sharlea  I’m sorry to hear about the changes in your treatment. It must have been difficult for you and your doctors to make the decision but as you said if the chemo made you feel more ill then that would defeat the object.  Have they said if there are other options in addition to radiotherapy?  I’m in my weekly taxol now and although I may have not experienced any severe side effects I am apprehensive about the accumulative effects in coming weeks.  I hope you are feeling better and I wish you all the best with the rest of your treatment and recovery x ... View more

Hi @katenonip  Hope you're well and recovering from your chemo. I'm pleased to say that taxol went well and didn't make me feel sick. They gave me anti-histamine as pre-med which made me very drowsy and spaced out for the duration and rest of the day. But after sleeping it off, I was ok and managed to have dinner and stay up a bit to watch tv etc which was a nice change from the EC round. My cardiac test results were all fine for now, but I'm not any closer to knowing what causes the palpitations. I give up!  I just feel a bit down emotionally, dreading the long autumn and winter months. I can't wait for all this to be over but I also think about post chemo and how soon I can regain my energy and strength. I shouldn't complain though I know, everyone is having a hard time some more than others. I keep praying for all of us to reach the end of our treatment and start feeling happy again.  🙂 I hope you manage to get your jabs booked. I think you definitely have some immunity from having had the Covid, that's what I've heard anyway.  Hope you and everyone here are having a restful and relaxing weekend x ... View more

Hi @katenonip  I think I will be given those meds but I’m not sure about the dose yet. My oncologist said the taxol shouldn’t make me feel as sick but there are other side effects that I’m worried about like the numbness and tingling in hands and feet. I just hope it’s not as bad as it’s reported.  I should get the result of my cardiac tests soon, hopefully there’s nothing serious and palpitations are linked to chemo.  Re booster jab, we should be getting ours 6 months after the second jab. I had my flu jab on Saturday I was told it was absolutely ok to get one. I think your surgery should contact you to book the jab.  I hope your treatment goes well this week. I know what you mean about the private insurance. I’m grateful for having my treatment done via insurance. Having read some of the posts, it looks as though it can be a bit challenging to go via NHS. Having said that I think it’s right for patients to make sure they are getting the right care and keep checking that the staff are providing them with the right meds etc.  I keep my fingers crossed for everyone and pray we all complete our treatments successfully.  take care x ... View more

Hi @Kaisa  I’ve always used deep cleaning lotion from Clean&Clear brand to manage blemishes. The Neutrogena facial wash is also good. Every night I use a cotton pad to clean my face with the lotion and washed my face with the Neutrogena. Hope things will improve soon 😊   ... View more

Hi @katenonip  Thanks for your message. I haven’t had it yet, will start next week. I’m quite apprehensive as I don’t know what to expect. With EC I knew the routine and I was ready for it. I just hope it doesn’t make me feel as sick.  I’m still struggling with some palpitations for which I’ve seen a cardiologist and having some tests done so will have to wait and see. And of course my smell and taste disorder and tinnitus continue. I wonder if tinnitus is also part of long Covid symptoms. Who knows!  Enough about me, how are you? I hope you’re feeling better and managing your symptoms.  I guess this applies to everyone here but I have been put into the high risk category by NHS. I wonder if this means we are soon asked for booster Covid jab?  Anyway I hope everyone is doing well. I keep everyone in my prayers xx ... View more

Hi Kate Thanks for your message. I’m getting Paclitaxel, taxol for short. I was just reading about it, I think it’s slightly different from Docetaxel. I’m supposed to get it once a week for 12 weeks. Did you get your treatment every 3 weeks?  Some of the side effects are same as EC but the nurses told me it’s not supposed to make me as sick as the EC did. That’s what I’m hoping for anyway. But I remember my Oncologist saying the EC would get easier on the 2nd and 3rd cycle and that was far from the reality.  Anyway I hope it won’t be too bad 🙏🏻 Thanks again for your reply 😊   ... View more

Hello @sharlea and @katenonip and everyone  I hope you’re all well. I had my 3rd cycle of EC drug last week. By far this one was the toughest round; sickness, fatigue, palpitations which now have turned to pulsating tinnitus. Didn’t sleep a wink Sunday night and had to go back to have some more blood test done on Monday. They didn’t call me with results yet so maybe it wasn’t anything too bad to report. But I think low blood count has something to do with it. I’m feeling a bit better but the palpitations and tinnitus are really annoying and I still feel quite tired during the day.  In two weeks time I will start the weekly Tacxol. I’m really apprehensive about this one. I’ve been told it’s not as bad as EC and it shouldn’t make us too sick. I wondered if anyone here has had it and what their experience has been.  Hope everything’s ok with everyone xx ... View more

Hi Chiara  Thanks for your message and your advice. I will try those threads.  Many thanks x ... View more

Thank you for the tips on scalp products, very useful. My skin seems to have darkened a bit and I have some discolouration on my nails. They look awful but I’m hoping all of these side effects stop once we finish chemo.  I’m sorry to hear you are suffering from vertigo. I once had a very bad case of that which I had to seek treatment. They did an Epley manoeuvre to resolve my vertigo at the time. It’s a movement in the neck which needs to be done by an specialist. Since then I’ve been having on and off episodes but not as severe, so I know how you’re feeling. Try to raise your pillow in bed and move your head slowly.  Hope you feel better soon and get some relief xx ... View more

Thanks, unfortunately can’t take anything for tinnitus. I’m going to try acupuncture and I’ve also got an appointment with a specialist to see what they say. I can even hear my pulse through my affected ear, it’s really annoying.  I’m glad to hear your palpitations are resolved. Haven’t touched the wine since my smell and taste disorder which is long Covid, taste is like anything but wine and the chemo has made things worse! I don’t know if everyone else's smell and taste have been affected by chemo? Even fresh water in a glass smells horrid to me. It’s never ending..  So I guess it’s just a matter of time we lose the rest of whatever hair that’s left as we go through different cycles. ☹️ Take care xx ... View more

Hi Katenonip Hope you’re feeling better. My palpitations are still there but not as bad as the Chemo week. For all I know they might be part of my menopause symptoms considering I haven’t had any steroids for a week now. Another problem I have is tinnitus, I’ve had it for a few months but it seems to have got worse. It’s really annoying and something I could do without. I find all of this quite overwhelming at times but nothing I can do about it atm. How’s your sleep, hope it’s getting better.  @DAB72 I’m like you in terms of hair, I shaved my hair just before the second cycle of EC and the hair in my armpits and legs have stopped growing but still holding on to my brows and eyelashes 😊 I wonder if they’ll come off by the third cycle which is just over a week away! Do you or anyone here use any product for your scalp? I think my scalp is quite dry. I’ve seen a few products recommended by some cancer group but I’m not sure which ones are the better.  Hope everyone’s doing ok xx  ... View more

The dose was the same but it’s funny you mention that, I did think the 2nd cycle was a bit quicker just wasn’t sure if it would effect people differently. I tried to google the term in your message but had no luck. I’ve spoken to my team and they are going to see what may be the cause of the excess palpitations this time round.  This time I didn’t take the recommended steroids dose post chemo for the same reason, they do cause palpitations you’re right.  I’m glad you’re feeling better, I might have to wait for that walk in fresh air another day still in PJs too 😄 Thanks for cheering me on. Take care and be strong xx ... View more