Breast Cancer Now Forum

here is a big hug for you !  a lot to take in so suddenly. I hope you will soon get a plan for treatment. Are you already on tamoxifen or letrozole? Have they already explained potential next steps? There is plenty of options and they will find what’s best for you.  warmest wishes ,  ... View more

Hi lynzoola  the first radiotherapy session is the weirdest as it is all new to you, but you soon get used to the new routine.  Tip : make sure you use the moisturiser they provide or advice to use and use plenty of it. The radiotherapy may not look like it damages the skin, but like sunburn it takes a little while after exposure to show up and you want to moisturise before the damage is visible. The fatigue builds up slowly too, and will continue to get stronger up to two weeks after finishing radiotherapy after that it slowly disappears. I hope it is not too bad for you, just take it easy and go with the flow.  Well done for completing your chemo and mastectomy.    ... View more

Hello, just spotted your message. I was diagnosed with IBC 12 years ago.  I had chemo, mastectomy and then radiotherapy.  I hope radiotherapy is going well for you. I found it the easiest part of treatment, though very very tiring. ... View more

I have denosumab every 12 weeks, from the start earlier this year.  ... View more

Hello Lesley I just came across your post. By now you have probably started chemo, and may even have had your second one? I hope the side effects are OK(ish) for you.  I was diagnosed with inflammatory breast cancer just over 10 years ago. Like you I had chemo and mastectomy and radiotherapy. It was not easy, but it had to be done (that is what I kept telling myself anyway, in between the other thoughts). For advice a few tips to start with:  (1) take it one step at the time. (2) keep a diary of what treatment you are having, and the side effects on a daily basis after each new chemo session. I found that they repeated themselves, so it was useful to know which days I felt sick or tired or ok or actually quite good. (3) bring the diary with you to each appointment and write down questions you have in advance, and any answers when you get them (or you will just forget) (4) ask for someone to be there with you at important onolocgy meetings (not always possible with COVID), (5) surround yourself with nice people and be kind to yourself (6) I found the helplines from Breast Cancer Now and Macmillan very useful, and it was very calming to speak to an independent party who know what they were talking about.  Avoid Dr Google (as she is often not correct, or out of date, and unnecessarily scary).  As for treatment and finding how other people cope etc, my understanding is that there are many other people going through this combination of 'chemo then mastectomy then radiotherapy', so look out for their experiences on this forum too. Is there a thread 'Chemo starting in May' that might be helpful? sending you a virtual hug and lots of good wishes ... View more

thank you for this 🙂   i have started my ribocicblib and have also been moved to fulvestrant now. Anyone else? ... View more

    that is so encouraging to hear - thank you. my oncology team is very good and everyone is so nice there - and many were there 11 years ago when i had my first primary breast cancer. ... View more

thank you Mary for your quick response. That sounds reassuring.  do you get the Home Service for blood tests and ECG checks? this was mentioned to me - sounds nice actually rather than having to go to hospital so often to start with.  the booklet about ribociclib that my oncology team gave is so full of side effects which scares me. especially the nausea and the immune system going low.  Christine ... View more