Breast Cancer Now Forum

Hi Angie Our bodies all react to the chemo in different ways but I just tried to keep up with a well balanced diet to keep bloods good and did my best to stay healthy I felt really tired a lot during the Epirubicin and Cyclomosiphide ( not sure on spelling) and rarely drove my car unless I felt ok . I walked my grandchildren to school 3 days a week about 2 blocks away and had to have rest upon return , on one occasion I put sneakers on and by the time I got back my big toe nail had been bleeding and the sneaker was full of blood so always wore open toe shoes after and carried bandaids and steri wipes with me When I was changed to the Paclitaxol and Herceptin ( Trazumimab) again not sure on spelling I seemed to cope physically better and my hair started to show some stubble towards the end  which gave me some hope that the end was in sight All up it is tough and draining on your body and mind I just tried my hardest to stay positive and pushed on for my husband ,children and grandchildren with a happy face that was covering up a lot  Now I’m near the end of treatment which will be 12 months of treatment I’m almost back to normality and looking forward to life , travelling and a new grandchild 🥰 stay strong your son needs you 💕 🌼 ... View more

Hi Coddfish Thankfully my toenails are now only a couple of mm’s off normal and healthy pink I think with help and care from podiatrist and lots of walks in salt water at the beach with special care to clean out sand from under nails after I Hope all goes well for you with the rest of your treatment through this tough journey  stay strong and positive 💕 ... View more

Hi I'm now four months post chemo doing really well just having Herceptin every three weeks .My hair is growing back very grey and lots of chemo curl it’s between 1cm and 2cm everywhere and eyebrows and lashes back too. I also ended up having auxiliary lymph nodes removed all benign thankyou God 🙏 . As for my toenails they all hung on although very ugly and sore at the end . I think regular care from podiatrist helped me get through that tough time and now nearly back to normal but toes still slightly numb as are my finger tips. Also finger nails survived although discoloured and are nearly all pink and healthy again. Sending hugs to all and hope you are all staying strong through this tough journey 🙏 💕   ... View more

Hi Congrats on finishing the chemo it feels great 🎉 I finished mine on 13th January and am now continuing Herceptin . My hair is starting to grow back and feeling a lot better generally .I have to go back into hospital next week to have 2 more lymph nodes taken to check if all is clear if not I will be off to have some radiation 😔 Oh well onward we go  Good luck with your treatment hope all goes well now 💕 ... View more

Hi Em My fingernails have only just started to give me grief in the last week or so by discolouring but the numbness has been there for about 4 weeks and I thought I had got away with just the neuropathy in them so hopefully as I finished the chemo a couple weeks ago it doesn’t go too far. My toenails are terrible they totally discoloured on a few of them and lifting .I have been going to a podiatrist monthly and he has been cutting them right back and I’ve also been soaking them in salt water and using antiseptic wipes on them daily .So far haven’t lost any I just hope this is all over sooner than later 😔 So we just keep chin up and try to stay positive 💕 ... View more

Hi Justine Ive just finished chemo a fortnight ago after 4xEC and 12 paclitaxel and herceptin Hooray!! But still have the remaining 9 months of herceptin to go Ive found my sleep pattern is irregular too and it drives me crazy .Sometimes I get up and have a chamomile and honey tea which seems to settle me That’s exciting about your eyelashes coming back , I can feel some stubble on my eyebrows and my hair has started growing back as well , although it’s very white, my fingers and toenails are worrying me as they are discoloured and numb hopefully it won’t last long Cheers to getting back to normal again 💕   ... View more

Hi I didn’t have a reaction but I was given antihistamine before each treatment as a preventative as my sister had a reaction but she does have a lot of allergies Good luck through your treatments and stay positive 💕   ... View more

Hi Louisa I think we all have these feelings I lost heaps of hair 3 days after my second EC it just slid away from my scalp in the shower. Although I had planned for it by having a wig and caps and scarfes ready at hand when it happened my emotions went crazy but because my hair was long  and I knew of the mess there would be I decided to clipper and shave it off through which my husband and I cried the whole time.4 weeks later I am coming to terms with it knowing that eventually it will regrow but wow sometimes emotions do swell .So I just have to pick myself up ,put my wig on which is virtually identical to my own hair and there I am again ready to go on. please love yourself and know that we are all going through this for the better  and we are all here to help 😊 🙏 ... View more

Hi  I’m having EC at the moment and told not to drive myself for these sessions Im going onto Paclitaxel next month and Dr said to get someone to drive the first time to see how I go with it but hopefully be ok  Good luck with yours 💕   ... View more

Hi bookish so glad I got the port as my veins don’t give up blood easily and don’t know how I would have coped .It’s a bit uncomfortable for couple of weeks but hardly notice it’s there now it’s just under my collarbone and scar is about 3 cms . I have another scar from a cyst which was removed on opposite side just above the collarbone about 4 cms long from a few years ago and is hardly visible now. Just so easy to use and don’t feel a thing with all that they do during chemo when it’s all over eventually it will be removed and all back to normal again  wishing you well through your journey 😊 ... View more

Hi had my second last week but I’m fortnightly at moment and did mine off week maybe check with doc but mine said have it as it’s important for us ... View more

Hi Mel Im so sorry about your hair it’s happened to me too .I’m same I have my 3rdEC this Friday and I also lost my hair 3 days after my second EC I am lucky I have my husband who supports me and we both cried a lot as he got the clippers to my shoulder length streaked hair it was like my last identity as a woman was taken and the realisation of I have cancer his me . I can’t imagine being by myself through this without the support of family , friends and my beautiful neighbours although I sometimes need to just sit and reflect on my own I know they only want to help and love me so please try not to push people away because we dooo need them and their love and support whatever it may be. I had prepared for that moment and had pre bought a wig online from Wigs Australia who are really lovely and helpful   you can chat online to them or ring them  also bought some turbin caps from eBay  I have joined Feel Good Look Better fglb.org.au they are recommended by the Cancer Council and have free workshops on skincare and makeup also wigs and scarves etc you can do them on line through zoom or attend locally in person they will also send you a care package gift I’m just waiting for mine it’s a bit exciting apparently they are great Sending you lots of hugs please feel better we are all here to talk to if you need and try to except love and help from people who do care about you as it does help. We will be ok and come out stronger on the other end with beautiful new hair 💕 😊 ... View more

Hi bananasatsuma and 14 I have had  2 out of 4 fortnightly chemo sessions and the to follow weekly about 10 more . The weekend after the 2nd lot I lost my hair . Don’t worry we’re all in this together and with all of the great support here I’m sure we’ll get to the other side of it just fine  keep smiling 😊     ... View more

Hi Tizzy its fglb.org.au and look on the menu for workshops Hope you enjoy it I did hopefully you can snuggle those grandies soon 💕 🥰 ... View more

Hi hope you enjoyed the look good feel better session today I know I got a few tips from it I too did the shave yesterday after my hair just fell into my hands in the shower and it really brought all my emotions to the surface from this last few months of turmoil We must be strong and positive and take this day by day  my children are older and I have grandchildren who I love with all my heart and they are really upset about my cancer so I strive to reassure them all the time that I will be ok all the time with a smile and a cuddle 💕 ... View more

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Thankyou can’t wait to see what happens when it grows back 😊 ... View more