Breast Cancer Now Forum

Hi everyone, Just catching up with you all. My results came in last week from my surgery. They removed all the cancer and the margins were clear. They removed 13 lymph nodes (full clearance) but sadly 6 of them still contained cancer. So now I have to have a CT scan and bone scan again to ensure the cancer hasn't travelled. To say I'm gutted is an understatement! I hate the scans and waiting for results. I haven't slept well since I found out! I'm pretty nervous tbh. Providing they're clear, I start radiotherapy in the new year. I have an appointment with oncologist in January.  I'm recovering okay from my operation but this week I noticed a big dent in my boob that they operated on - where the cancer was. And last night I noticed it was red around there too. So I'm calling the nurses in a mo as I'm worried it's cellulitis or something 🙄 @Flower123 I'm so pleased for you! You must be so relieved. Another course of treatment finished now. Yay!  @Heels to walking boots I'm sorry you've got to wait for your surgery. A lumpectomy must mean though that your chemo was effective, so that's really good. I'm hoping this covid wave doesn't impact us too much either. Thinking of you 😘 @hopeful1974 I'm pleased your 6 month check up was good. Sorry that you need another operation though. Do you know when you have to have it? I think it's amazing you've completed the couch to 5k! Well done. I really hope I can do that soon when I've recovered fully. Great that you've got full movement in your arm. I'm doing the exercises too so I hope I'll be the same. @GonnaGetThruThis I'm so pleased you're recovering nicely. And that is just the best news! So pleased for you. I hope your Seroma is okay. I had one after surgery too. It's still going down. Great that you only need 5 sessions. I'm really hoping for the same as the place I have to go for radiotherapy is at least an hour away and the traffic can be awful!  @simplyeve I had my 3rd primary vaccine this week too. I had Pfizer for all 3 of mine. I will get a booster next year too. I had a letter offering mine. Everyone who was/is immuno compromised at the time they received their 1st or 2nd jabs gets a third apparently. I haven't heard of bisphosphonate before. I'm so sorry you had such a bad reaction though. Hope your niece's wedding goes well. Well done for losing a few pounds - I gained a stone with chemo and it's not budging at the moment! Hope you're all keeping well. Thank you all for being there this year. It's been so nice to know there are others going through this with me.  Lots of love to you all  Bethany ... View more

Hello everyone, I'm so sorry I've been so absent recently and haven't been on here to support everyone. I've only read a few of the previous posts I've missed but I think we've all finished chemo now? Wahoo! Well done everyone! I can't believe how quickly it all went really.  I had my final chemo on 13th October and I got to ring the bell. My hubby and boys watched and it was emotional. I really cried afterwards with relief and gratitude. I've had so much support and kindness from friends and family and the nurses too - I'm just so grateful.  I had my surgery last week. I was really fortunate because the chemo was really effective and shrunk the tumour a lot. This meant I only needed to have a lumpectomy - I had a breast reduction and lift. Sadly I needed all of my lymph nodes removing too because they'd found cancer in them previously.  The surgery went well I think - except instead of being 2.5 hours, it must've have lasted at least 5 hours! I have an appointment next week to find out if the margins are clear and I am going to ask why it ended up taking so long! I'm recovering well though and healing nicely. I'm just in quite a bit of pain from the lymph node surgery - the swelling has increased quite a bit the past few days and with it the pain too. Paracetamol and ibuprofen are only slightly helping. I accidentally burned my arm too from a microwave wheat bag! I didn't realise until I noticed 2 blisters on my arm 🤦‍ ♀️ . So have to keep an eye on that too now.  My hair is just starting to grow but it's very fine and fluffy at the moment.  @GonnaGetThruThis have you recovered from Covid? I'm so sorry that you caught it - must be the last thing you wanted. I hope it hasn't been too bad for you.  Sorry it's so long everyone! But I really you're all keeping well.  Lots of love to you all ❤️ ❤️ Beth xxx ... View more

Thank you so much for your reply! My goodness, you have really been through it, I'm so sorry for you. It sounds like you're happy with the surgery you've had this time though - I'm so pleased about that for you.  I breastfed 2 babies, and although I'm only 37 I would benefit from a lift to make them perkier! People are always surprised when I tell them I'm a EE cup, I look smaller. But I'd be happy to go down a couple of sizes if it means less complications and perkier boobies. I just don't want to look too small. But at the same time I'm just so relieved to be getting rid of cancer from my body and at the end of the day that's the main thing. They have said they will do the other side at a later date so I'm not left lop-sided.   I'm also having my nodes removed as it's spread to them. Not looking forward to that!  Thank you so much again, I really appreciate you taking the time to message me xxxx ... View more

Good morning everyone! The Docetaxel was a bit tough! I got a temperature and had to go to A&E but fortunately my bloods were okay this time and not even an infection that warranted antibiotics, so I was so relieved! I've been to A&E 3 out of 4 chemo rounds! I feel like such a nuisance! But we went away for 6 days to Derbyshire and had such a great time. We rode bikes along the Monsal Trail and I felt so proud of myself! The kids loved it too and it felt so nice to be able to do fun things with them. I've had so much mum guilt over past few months being on chemo, but they've been amazing and haven't complained at all. I have 5th round of chemo/2nd Docetaxel on Weds. My BCN said about possibly reducing the dose or changing my GSF injections as she thinks it might be those that are causing the digestive problems. So I'll see what they say tomorrow. The news about Sarah Harding was a bit triggering to be honest. But I managed to pick myself up pretty quickly, so I'm pleased about that.  @Flower123 I hear you re the piles. This is first time in my life I've had them and it's horrid. I hope they get better for you. So lovely to hear you have supportive family that are taking you for car rides and distracting you. I hope your blood tests go well today and best wishes for your 5th round on Friday.  @simplyeve I'm sorry about your magnesium again. But yes, only one more round to go - you can so do this! I'm sorry too about the emotional stress you had to go through with the house in Spain when you were at such a low point already. It sounds like it worked out for the best though. I'm so excited for you that you can see your daughter, her hubby and grandson - I bet it was very emotional!  @hopeful1974 hope your side effects are still manageable. It's lovely to get out with friends especially while the weather is still nice. Five Guys burgers are the best aren't they?! How are you getting on with running? I tried the C25K recently but didn't get very far! I really want to start it again though.  @GonnaGetThruThis I'm so pleased the side effects are manageable too for you. It sounds like you're keeping yourself busy too which is good. I've found that keeping busy has helped me stay positive. I hope you enjoyed the LGFB session. I might start painting my nails too - they have dark moons on them and I'm not quite sure what this means! But I haven't been able to do certain things with my hands that I could do before - even popping pills is tough now. Maybe that's neuropathy. Have you found painting yours has helped? I'm so pleased too about your mum! That is such good news and will be something you can really look forward to. My family live in Australia too and they feel so helpless over there. But my mum lives nearby and looks after me. My D sessions are every 3 weeks so next one is due this week.  @BabyBunting I hope you're still doing okay. Yes, it feels so good to be nearing the end of chemo and we can help others with our experience.  @Louise65 I hope you're doing okay. Mouth thrush sounds nasty. The weight gain is horrible isn't it? A wedding is nice to look forward to though. Hope you enjoy practising with your new beauty items - I'm sure you'll look great! I bought some false eyelashes this week and have been practising as mine are nearly all gone now sadly.  @Impatience I loved your poem! It summed up exactly how I feel - like an alien! I've never felt so unattractive in all my life. I don't recognise myself either. My mum keeps assuring me that everything will grow back/I'll lose the weight and I'll be back to my 'normal' self soon. I can't wait tbh. Well done for getting through this round. Just one more to go!  @Fairie I'm so, so sorry to hear about your mum. It must be such an emotional time for you. I hope you are okay and that today is a good day for you.  @Flower123 how are you now after your chemo? I'm sorry it hit you hard. I'm sorry too about your daughter's boyfriend. As others have said, it's definitely not your fault. I hope you and your daughter are okay - it must be a difficult time for you both especially as he lived with you.    I hope you all have a great week. Thinking of you all.  Much love Beth xxxx ... View more

Oh Anabel @Heels to walking boots I'm so sorry you weren't able to have your chemo. Of course you were disappointed. I hope you can enjoy your week and your bloods are better for you next week. I've been so conscious of my weight too but eating was the only thing that helped with nausea! But your husband sounds really supportive and I agree we can just sort it out afterwards.  I've taken one paracetamol every 6 hours. But haven't taken other meds cos I'm too worried about it playing havoc with the other issues!  Hope you have a good day and hope everyone is coping okay with their treatment  Beth xxx ... View more

Morning everyone, How are you all? It seems that your P drug seems to be a bit easier than EC for most of you, that's really good. Hope your work meeting goes okay today @Louise65  Re hair loss: I lost most of my head hair day 20 in the shower. My armpit hair hasn't grown back after shaving and my legs have a few hairs on them. My eyebrows and eyelashes are sparse but haven't fallen out completely...yet. My pubic hair is a bit thinner but still there unfortunately! I was hoping for that to all go and never come back lol.  I had my first round of Docetaxel last Wednesday and it has really knocked me for 6. First couple of days were okay but the muscle pains and aches have been bad. Plus I've had headache and tummy pain with diarrhoea. Alongside the usual GERD and trapped wind that chemo seems to always give me grrr. Hopefully I'll start to feel better soon.  I really hope you are all keeping okay.  Much love, Beth xxx ... View more

@GonnaGetThruThis I am a planner too. My Breast Care Nurse told me that they would start discussing surgery with me around my fourth cycle. I actually have an appointment with her in the morning and I wonder if that's what it's about. I'm still not sure what surgery I'll be having - whether it will be a lumpectomy or mastectomy. I imagine that due to the size of the tumour originally and because they've found another smaller one in there, that it'll be a mastectomy. But the chemo is supposed to shrink it, so I wonder if they have to wait and see how much it shrinks.  The place I have my radiotherapy isn't close by either, so I will have to travel too. Fortunately I have family and friends that have agreed to take me. Or maybe I'll get a hotel for a couple of nights and let the boys and hubby explore the area while I'm getting zapped.  Well done for your productive day! I love a day like that.  Beth Xxx   ... View more

@Louise65 I'm so sorry that you've had such a rough time lately. Hope you have been able to enjoy the weekend.  @BabyBunting I start my Docetaxel on Wednesday. I'm dreading it tbh. But interesting that you've had nausea as they told me that nausea wasn't as bad as EC! Oh no! They did tell me that I'll be more prone to infection on Docetaxel which is a pain as I had an infection on 2 out of 3 of the EC chemo rounds! I really hope you start to feel better soon. It's hard when it stops you doing things you usually do. I try and remember it's just temporary and to take one day at a time. Did you have EC before this? My side effects usually lasted about 7 - 10 days on EC. Thinking of you.  Hope you all have a good day xxx ... View more

Good morning everyone,  @Louise65 I'm so pleased you managed to get out. I read a blog of someone who had EC chemo and then Docetaxel. They said their 3rd round of EC was their worst round of the whole chemo. We're all very different, but I hope it gives you some hope that the next sessions might not be as bad. But definitely a discussion with oncologist is a good idea. Is your BCN helpful? Maybe she can put your mind at rest too?  @simplyeve Congratulations! That's wonderful news! What a lovely thing to look forward to at the end of all this.  @hopeful1974 that's great about your children having had their first jab. Definitely puts your mind at rest.  I've only had one jab so far as I'm only in my 30s, I didn't get called until May to have it. Then there wasn't anything available for ages. So I had my first at beginning of June and am due my 2nd now. So I'm going to ask at my next appointment about having it cos I definitely feel vulnerable only having had 1.  I hope you all have a good day. Much love to you all xxx ... View more

Morning everyone, I've just been reading everyone's updates and I'm so sorry that so many have had a rough time recently. Sending you my love Xxx But I also find the posts really comforting - knowing we're all moving into a new phase - whether it be finishing chemo or starting a new one. It feels like the end is in sight and it feels good!  I ended up in hospital overnight on Monday - I had a temperature and needed to be put on antibiotics. My neutrophils were okay though, so that's good. It meant I could come home the next day. But then the following morning my 13 yr old son became ill with a tummy bug. So I'm isolating in my bedroom and being a mum from a distance is so hard! More mum guilt! But he's such a kind boy, doesn't want me to catch anything, and my husband has been amazing too doing things. Plus my mum has been helping so much too.  We're off camping next weekend for few days which we're looking forward to. I find it so frustrating though that I have to wait to week 3 to do anything! And even then you never get a whole week cos you have to juggle everything around appointments! Although I know it's just sensible really. And it won't last forever. Do you all wait til week 3 to go anywhere/ do things too?  Sending you all much love and hope you have a good day xxxxx   ... View more

@Fairie I'm so sorry you have been struggling so much recently. The side effects of the chemo can be so awful. I'm sorry that it has been so nasty on your digestive system. I really hope they can help you with this at your next oncology appointment and that you can come up with a plan that helps you. As been mentioned, please don't worry about posting when you're feeling negative - we all feel that way at times. We're only human. Thinking of you Xxx @hopeful1974 thank you so much for those nail tips. I will look at getting a really good hand cream then. Thank you.  My digestive system is all over the place too. I gained 3kgs in 3 days from fluid retention and constipation (sorry TMI!). It's so horrible. I'm so conscious of my weight and my flushed round face. I take omeprazole every day to help with indigestion but the bloating is horrid. I've taken a metoclopramide this morning as it apparently helps with GERD symptoms and gets things moving from your stomach to bowel but I've been reluctant to take up til now as it made me so drowsy and lacking in energy last time I took it. But I'm getting desperate now! I'm just juggling side effects!  Thinking of you all today and hope you have a good day xxx     ... View more

That's really helpful. Thank you so much @hopeful1974 .  I will have a look on Amazon then!  Thank you so much xxx ... View more

Thank you @hopeful1974 . That's really good to know. They said that's a common side effect re nails/neuropathy.  Did you try painting your nails a darker colour by any chance? I asked the chemo nurse about it and she said she's not sure about the effectiveness of it but will hide discolouration and won't hurt to try. Just wondering if it actually works!  Thank you xxx ... View more

Good morning everyone, @hopeful1974, @Louise65 and @Heels to walking boots I hope your chemo all goes well today, I'll be thinking of you.  I'm so pleased that people are starting to feel better too.  @hopeful1974 congratulations on your son's GCSE results - that's great news. Lovely to be able to have something to celebrate too.  @GonnaGetThruThis that's a great idea about the salt water bath. I will try that too if I need to this time as I suffered a bit last time. Pleased you had your daughter to help you do some things around the home too. I start Docetaxel next time.  Has anyone else been on Docetaxel - I'm sorry I can't remember!  @Louise65 I hope your cooking session went well! Chutneys made from your own produce sound delicious and a great distraction and very therapeutic. Thank you all as always for your helpful replies. Sadly my chemo hadn't been booked in for Tuesday! I found out on Monday when I went for my blood tests and they couldn't get hold of one of my drugs for Tuesday so had to delay having chemo until Wednesday. At least it was only one day. Strangely enough, I have felt better on this cycle than I have on my others! I mean the nausea is still really yucky but I've haven't been stuck in bed as much as the first two cycles...yet!! I suppose there's still time! Although my bloods were better this time than cycle 2 and cycle 1 I did end up with neutropenic sepsis so maybe it was to do with that? Who knows?! So it appears I hadn't put as much weight on as I'd thought - it was fluid retention from my delightful gastro problems that I've inherited with chemo/steroids and also my time of the month. Still gained a couple of pounds but nowhere near what I thought! I spoke with breast care nurse who says they may need to put my ovaries to sleep as I shouldn't really be getting a period still. So I may have to have an extra injection once a month. She also said it may account for my few sad days last cycle - chemo can play havoc with PMT apparently. Yay! Another side effect 🙂 I'm getting biopsy results today from the other 3 lumps they found in my breasts on MRI. Not sure what to expect, but I guess what will be will be. It might just mean more surgery I suppose when it comes to it.  Very jealous of you who grew up/are visiting/living in the Cotswolds! Such a beautiful part of the country.  I hope you all have a good day today. Thinking of you all xxxx ... View more

@Louise65 @GonnaGetThruThis I'm so sorry you've had a rough time with your final EC. I was warned by a few people that the effects are cumulative but it still doesn't make it any easier when you're going through it. I really hope you start to feel better soon and start to feel more human. Thinking of you xxx My 3rd EC is tomorrow as long as my bloods are okay today. My first cycle I felt rough for a week, 2nd rough for week and half so I'm expecting 2 rough weeks this time.  I'm gaining so much weight though. Eek!  @JessicaB you look beautiful xx Hope you all have a good day xxx   ... View more

Thank you so much for your lovely message @hopeful1974 . So kind of you. You're right - I know more people that have successfully come through breast cancer than haven't. I will remember that, thank you. We will all come through this!  Hope you have a lovely day today xxxx  ... View more

I hope you're feeling okay today @Flower123. I ended up in hospital after my first round of EC with neutropenic sepsis. They gave me my next round as planned but reduced it by 20%. Like you, I was worried about not waiting but oncologist just wanted to keep going. I've been fine this time with no temperature etc. My next chemo is due on Tuesday.  I hope you're feeling okay. I'm sure it feels good to know that you've done the last round of first drug. Are you now at halfway point? Thinking of you xxx ... View more

Morning everyone,  I'm so sorry to read there's a few here who have been having a rough time lately. This chemo malarkey is no fun hey?! I  really hope everyone starts feeling better soon.  I never seem to be able to sleep the first 2 weeks or so after chemo either and noisy neighbours don't help either grrr. I hope you manage to get some sleep today @GonnaGetThruThis. Sorry I have been absent. I have had a few sad days. I saw a few posts on Instagram that made me sad about other young people getting secondary breast cancer and I actually felt really scared and sad. But I had an ultrasound yesterday that showed my tumour had broken into pieces whereas it started as a solid mass. I need an MRI to see if it's shrinking cos it's hard to tell on ultrasound. But I'm feeling hopeful. Also had 3 more biopsies done and clip markers placed for 3 other lumps that were found on previous MRI. So I'm expecting to be sore today!  Thinking of you all and knowing there are others going through this at the same time is comforting.  Wishing you all a good day today xxxx ... View more

Thank you all so much for your welcome and reassurance. My husband tells me that we're all different and it will affect us differently too. I think I was having a low day yesterday as I've generally been really positive! But I managed to walk the dog yesterday and saw someone else had managed a 30 minute workout and felt so rubbish about myself! But thank you. I've woken up feeling brighter and your messages have really helped. Thank you.  @Jennet I haven't looked at reconstruction yet as haven't been told whether it will be a lumpectomy or mastectomy yet. I'm thinking of going for a mastectomy though because the tumour is quite large (although they're trying to shrink it). I have to have another ultrasound as MRI has shown another suspicious thing in same breast too. Will your operation be fairly soon do you think? I think mine will be about December/January after chemo.  @chynadoll EC chemo hasn't been as bad as I thought it would be. It's called 'red devil' and I was thinking uh oh. But generally so far it's just been the nausea that's not nice; so I agree - take all the anti-sickness meds you can! And I've found nibbling on crackers throughout the day helpful too. The nurses are so good too at helping with side effects aren't they?  Much love to you all today. Xxx   ... View more