Breast Cancer Now Forum

I've just been today for my post chemo meeting with my oncologist to talk about next steps including radiotherapy. I'm finding myself feeling really anxious about the whole breath holding technique (my cancer was in my left breast) and I'm wondering if anyone can clarify what this really means? How long do you have to hold your breath for etc? I'm the type of person to look when someone says don't look now 😳 ... View more

I'm due to start Paclitaxel next Tuesday and just wondering if anyone else is on that and how have the side effects been? I've kind of got used to the EC side effects so was shopping based on what I knew I could stomach food-wise given the nausea and funny taste-buds. Do you get the same with Paclitaxel or is it predominantly neuropathy? ... View more

@emc1017 I actually decided to hold fire and see how I coped on the EC before starting back. On my cycle two of EC I had picked up a cold just prior and it really knocked me for six so I couldn't have worked through because I was exhausted. I had my third round of EC last Tuesday though and started back at work yesterday (WFH) and I really felt quite buoyed by being "back" ☺️. Not going to lie, after not working since August I found myself tire quite quickly but as I'm phasing my return I only needed to do a few hours and then was able to take myself away to rest afterwards. Just sat in bed with a cup of tea now gearing up for day two but can say mentally I already feel better for getting at least a little bit of normality back. Hope you get on well with your treatment x ... View more

Day after cycle 2 of EC for me and feeling very sickly again. It's nausea that is the worst followed by tiredness and wonky taste buds. But other than that I'm plodding on ok. I have picked up a cold from my five year old so did have to have approval from my Oncologist to go ahead with my chemo yesterday but as my blood results were "perfect" he was happy for me to continue. I've just obviously got to be more alert to anything that feels untowards symptom wise so being vigilant about checking my temperature and stuff. Still haven't braved the buzz cut but my hair is coming out in clumps. Currently have it tied in a bobble which stops me from brushing my hands through it but half expecting the bobble and my hair to just plop onto the floor soon 😂 (gotta laugh or I'd cry). I've not returned to work since my mastectomy and reconstruction in early Aug because I was initially signed off for 8 weeks and then a further chunk because of needing full ANC. I have had a conversation though with work about phasing back to stop me from Googling and am just awaiting Occupational Health guidance on what accommodations can be put into place for me. I'm super lucky in that my manager and employer and so supportive though too so I've not been pressured at all.  Hope everyone continues to feel not as bad as I think we all anticipate before chemo x ... View more

I've had one cycle of EC so far with my next due on Tuesday. Interested to see you've been given the hormone treatment already. I've seen others who seem to be having it at the same time of chemo but I've not been given that yet even though my cancer is also oestrogen positive. Might ask about that on Tuesday!  I was taken very by surprise that I came on my period this week. I'd thought they'd stop but actually when re-reading the EC side effects it does say it can stop or make irregular so if anyone else is similar timescale to me then be warned haha. I'd also been surprised that my hair didn't fall out but again had spoken too soon because this morning I'm shedding loads! Going to convince my husband to help me buzz it today. Mentioned it to him this morning but I think he's struggling with the thought more than me to be honest bless him ... View more

Had my first dose of EC today. All went pretty swimmingly at the hospital and have to say the port was a major winner for me compared to getting the arm veins to behave.  Felt absolutely fine in the immediate aftermath and then started to feel tired as the afternoon drew on. Have had a nap but now feeling rather nauseous so have taken my anti sickness pill and tried a couple of ginger biscuits too before braving anything more substantial. ... View more

Leaving this a bit late considering I'm having my first chemo tomorrow but those who have already started, what would you recommend to take with you to the appointment?  Im having Epirubicin and Cyclophosphane so not sure if that's a long session or not. Don't want to be totally underprepared but then don't really want to do my usual and overpack ... View more

@Meanegg I didn't actually request the portacath, it was just my oncologist suggested it so I kinda went along with his suggestion partially because all my good veins are in the arm that can't be used now due to lymph node clearance. I've had such mixed experiences with people trying to cannulate my right arm that I thought it would be worth trying. When I went in for my clearance surgery the anaesthetist actually informed me they used a child's cannula in my hand because my veins were so small 🤣 And when I went for bloods the other day the nurse commented that I have 1 good vein in the arm but that's it and it might not last through the number of pokes and prods so I feel somewhat vindicated in going for the slightly more invasive portacath haha. I see above you mention there are injections that need to be done too for white blood cells. I wasn't aware of that. I'll have to steel myself for that again I've only just recovered from the trauma of daily fragmin injections. I'm actually not really bad around needles usually but doing them to myself seems to be a bit of a blocker     ... View more

@Meanegg glad to see that you've not experienced anything severe at present. I'm due to have my portacath fitted tomorrow and then starting EC on Tuesday so the nerves are really starting to kick in 😬. As horrible as it is to be in this club together I'm grateful that we have forums like this to support each other  @Celticgirl I hope all goes well for you today  ... View more

@Sephie @svedija thank you for your replies. I do have a desk job and have the facility to work from home so I think I might have a chat with the company occupational health team, my manager and my HR rep to see if they would be supportive of me trying to work if even on a phased return/part-time basis. I know it's probably a bit bonkers that I'm keen to work but being off since surgery I keep finding myself researching stuff and then scare myself silly so I think I need a better distraction.  Of course if I find I am suffering too much with side effects then I'll step right back and give myself more time ... View more

Hi all, I'm not long back from meeting my oncologist to discuss chemo. So far I've had mastectomy, DIEP flap reconstruction and left ANC only. Going to be commencing EC (3 x) from 18th Oct and then will be following up with paclitaxol (9x). Have to be honest but after reading through the patient leaflets about the drugs I'm now pooping my pants 😬. I've chosen not to have the cold cap because my hair is already fine and thin anyway so I expect it'll be too painful. I also already have a stash of wigs that I used pre-cancer anyway so I'll just make use of those. I'm going to get a portacath(?) in place too because unfortunately the arm with the good veins is now a no go. I've had some dodgy experiences with folks trying to use my other arm so this will prove beneficial to me and the caregivers. Nice to "meet" you all and fingers crossed for as smooth a ride as possible for us all x ... View more

A couple of weeks later and I've had my full lymph node clearance and the CT scan (which was done just prior to the ANC). When I arrived for my ANC I was informed that my CT scan is clear (woohoo). Surgery was delayed until a little later in the day so after being told it was a day case and I'd be home in the same day I actually ended up with an overnight stay. Can't say as I was disappointed at that really because the armpit pain I am finding is more noticeable and uncomfortable than the Mastectomy and DIEP pain which is just pretty numb and tight feeling. I was told that I then need to see the surgeon the week after surgery to check how I'm healing but that it was unlikely that I'd have the results from the histology. Well what a lovely surprise to find that they did have my results and there was no further cancer found in the rest of the nodes they'd removed! So it was only 1 of 21 nodes that was affected.   I'm still going to be going through Chemo, Radio and Hormone Therapy to throw everything at it which I'm not looking forward to but I think at this point I'm happier to keep on with all I can to give myself a better chance of some longevity. So all in all should be pretty positive news considering. Yet here I am having been awake for hours still haha ... View more

@evmel blimey that's a really quick turnaround for surgery and recon! I had my diagnosis on 7th June and didn't get my mastectomy and recon until 6th August! ... View more

A couple of weeks later and I've had my full lymph node clearance and the CT scan (which was done just prior to the ANC). When I arrived for my ANC I was informed that my CT scan is clear (woohoo). Surgery was delayed until a little later in the day so after being told it was a day case and I'd be home in the same day I actually ended up with an overnight stay. Can't say as I was disappointed at that really because the armpit pain I am finding is more noticeable and uncomfortable than the Mastectomy and DIEP pain which is just pretty numb and tight feeling. I was told that I then need to see the surgeon the week after surgery to check how I'm healing but that it was unlikely that I'd have the results from the histology. Well what a lovely surprise to find that they did have my results and there was no further cancer found in the rest of the nodes they'd removed! So it was only 1 of 21 nodes that was affected. I'm still going to be going through Chemo, Radio and Hormone Therapy to throw everything at it which I'm not looking forward to but I think at this point I'm happier to keep on with all I can to give myself a better chance of some longevity. So all in all should be pretty positive news considering. Yet here I am having been awake for hours still haha   ... View more

@4748 oh that is such wonderful news! I'm thrilled to hear you had such positive results! ... View more

@4748 thank you for your reply and I really hope your results meeting went well today X.  I think when I go for my scan on Sunday I'll mention the specific pain points I have to the radiologist and will ask them what they think in terms of likelihood of any mets being picked up. Then I can follow up with my consultant and/or breast care nurse if we should get an urgent MRI arranged or something. Since Tuesday I have managed to pull myself together at least a little bit and have started to have the horrible conversations with my husband about 'life' admin stuff. I've found myself taking more pleasure in some of the smaller things in life but have had a setback tonight as my 5 year old was quizzing me about when I'm going to be better. That was a huge gut punch to me 😢. I know that the above sounds very negative of me given that I've not had any further results yet but as a lot of people on here say, you tend to know your own body. That said, I would obviously love to be proved wrong and just happen to have developed osteoporosis or arthritis early or something! However it just feels increasingly unlikely.     ... View more