Breast Cancer Now Forum

For anyone starting chemo this week don't forgot to pack snacks and water.  My ward was really busy and I was there longer than I was led to believe so having something to read, eat and graze on was a godsend. ❤ ... View more

Morning all ❤ Welcome to those just starting, I'm glad we've all got each other.    How is everyone??  Last days of steroids for me today which makes me HAPPY as out of everything they got me the most, I don't like the jittery feeling they gave me, and I feel like they made me low.   So far physically I'm fine - I think like @Eowyn said a big part of this time being my 1st round is the worry of what is to come which has also probably affected my mood.  My left leg is slightly painful and was a tiny bit swollen yesterday so I'm going to keep an eye on that today.  I was diagonised on 10th June and started chemo on 23rd June so also had a quick turn around, i think having neo adjuvant treatment is quick like that but it also makes me uncertain as I don't seem to have a clear path of a plan more just it depends on how chemo works for me. I spent the 13 days from diagonsis to chemo start researching and getting the vanity aspects in place (microbladed eyebrows, beanies etc etc) I think it just took my mind off the fear.   I'm trying to stay away from researching my cancer though.  My partner is home today so am looking forward to just having a family chill day.  Hugs to you all ❤❤ ... View more

Oh no @Mandi1 I'm so sorry to hear that! Is the blood clot from the chemo or picc line/port? That's absolutely shite for you (excuse the language but it really is) 😭 hopefully you get to go home today and your next round is trouble free ❤❤ ... View more

@Mandi1 how are you feeling since your EC? I think you're about 4 days in front of me so would be very interested in how the side effects were x ... View more

Morning all ❤  How are you all feeling after your treatments?  @kereru I feel good this morning, though I've been awake since 3am as I didn't sleep well but not through being unwell just wide awake.  I'm wondering if the steroids are giving me energy? My partner did say that I might dip after day 3 when I don't have to take them anymore.  Who knows 🤷‍ ♀️   I'm so glad you liked your hair, I felt the same.  I've always had long hair so I went for a short bob (think of Frankie from the saturdays) and I wanted to hate it but I actually think it suits me.  Makes me look younger I think.  So we might both be crying on the floor when it comes out ❤❤  @NEWBY123  Sounds like and your husband have had a lot on your plate.  I'm sorry to hear that ❤ I hope things get into a routine for you both soon.  I've not been offered any help with wigs or anything - nobody has said anything.  I'm not cold capping either.  McMillian nurse still hasn't returned my phone call from last week to be honest I'm guessing it would be her that arranged stuff like that. ❤ @Pollyannasglad I'm wondering if hardening is what happened to mine.  I'm stage 3 as I thought my lump was cyst (have had them them for years) so I waited a cycle until I went to GP and by the time I got to the hospital my whole breast was rock hard and painful. I actually thought I had an abscess or infection.   I'm having neo adjuvant treatment so chemo first. That's great news about your CT scan!  Hopefully you can get on with treatments soon I can imagine the waiting around is difficult.  ❤ ... View more

Hi ladies,  how are you all feeling?  Hope today's treatments were kind to you.   I had my first EC today.  Feeling fine so far but feel like I'm waiting for something to happen?  How long before side effects kick in? ... View more

Morning all!  I had my breakdown moment for the first time since my diagonise nearly 2 weeks ago yesterday and typical me it had be oh so dramatic and over a small thing.  I had to go back to the hospital to get a scan on my other boob as Oncologist felt something and instead of just sending me for a scan they booked me in for the whole breast clinic again, I waited 3 hours and the waiting around gave me too much time in my own head and I couldn't stop crying.   The patients/reception must have thought I was a right princess sitting there in floods of tears just because I had to wait for a scan slot. 🤦‍ ♀️   They did find another small lump which they took a biopsy from so then that set me off again.   But today I'm back with my practical positive head on again 🙌 . @eeyore58 I hope you're feeling OK.  I haven't started yet so I have no experience of those drugs though I'm also due to have paclitaxel so I'm following your comments.  Thinking about you.  ❤  @kereru It's been really quick for me as I was only diagonised 2 weeks on Friday but as I'm having chemo first it's all been rushed through.   I'm also having my hair cut today (Scissor Sisters 🤣 ❤) but I'm going to bob it first so it's not such a shock I've never had short hair before.   Good luck! Hopefully the cold cap will be great.  My oncologist said for me to do it but I had already built myself up to not have it and then when they said I had to be at the hospital at 8am to do it it confirmed it for me as I would need to find someone to take my son to nursery.    @Eowyn Looks like we are the early morning posters.  Good Morning!  Great idea about the Barbie - I love that! Did you get your cheaper wigs from Shein? I've ordered a couple from there but not sure how they will look.  I think the reasoning behind the satin lined (or satin pillowcase) was if your scalp was sore but as I don't know yet how it feels I have no idea if that's a thing or not.   I didn't think about their being pressure - learning everyday from you all. I hope today goes as well as it can. ❤    ... View more

Oh and I saw a Facebook group that satin lined bamboo beanies are great for sleeping in when you lose your hair.   I'm going to order from Amazon I think xx ... View more

Thank you both so much! Mum guilt is a real thing for me right now and I've not even started my treatment so I know I'll be grateful to have other people to speak too who are in similar positions.    I'm having my PICC line inserted tomorrow. How are you feeling about the hair loss? I've decided not to cold cap so I know I really should try and get my hair cut short over the next week or so.   ... View more

First session is Thursday for me.  Having my PICC line put in tomorrow. Half of me just wants to jump in and see if they can fix this but half of my is scared on how I'll function and how much of a Mum I am going to be to my 4 yr old.  I'm going for a scan today as oncologist felt something in my opposite boob, praying that it's nothing 🙏 ... View more

Hi Kathie, I'm sorry to hear this ❤ I too have just been diagonised (last Friday) and have a 4yr old son.  The hospital have been great and I've been rushed through so I start my chemo Thursday.  My cancer is stage 3 and too big to operate on so I'm having chemo first to try and shrink the tumour. There is a children's book that you can buy/download that might help explain the process to your children, I changed it about a bit to read to my son but wanted to give him an understanding of what is too come with how I might feel. Sending you lots of positive feelings ❤  always here if you want to vent. Lisa x ... View more

Hi Sally, how are you doing?  Yes it does seem we will be going through the chemo stage together.  I'm having my PICC line inserted Wednesday and my first chemo on Thursday. I've decided not to cold cap so that's cut down my session times to just a couple of hours.  I went and had my eyebrows microbladed yesterday though to cover that bit of hair loss.   I'm just praying that they will shrink this tumour 🙏   I had a PET CT scan a few days after my initial biopsy/mammogram/ultrasound.  The radiologist was very on the ball and ordered it straight away, I think because I had a stage 1 melanoma last year they may have thought it was melanoma related originally but no its a separate breast cancer.  I'm guess I'm lucky he did it see so quickly.  We've got this! ❤   Lisa x ... View more

Hi all, I am due to start chemotherapy next week - I have a 16 week plan 4 x EC and then 4 x Paclitaxel.  I was only diagonised Friday and am still trying to get my head around what is going on. Any tips would be appreciated x ... View more

Hi Sally, I was told yesterday my cancer is stage 3.  I have cancer cells under the bone on my chest which are apparently 'tricky' to get out with surgery so they are hoping the chemo kills them. The oncologist was lovely but I realised more with her how serious my cancer is.  I'm having 16 weeks of chemo 4 x EC every 2 weeks and 4 x Paclitaxel every 2 weeks.  Then hopefully surgery and radiotherapy if all goes well.  She also gave me an injection of Goserelin to turn off my ovaries.  I had a PET CT scan on the 28th May and no cancer was found anywhere else in my bones so I'm hoping that nothing has changed since then.    I have scores ER8, PR7 and HER2 negative,  no idea what any of this means 🤣 🤦‍ ♀️ but she said the Er8 was a good thing. Good luck in your meeting.   ❤ Do let me know how you get on. X ... View more

Thanks Sally - is appreciated same to you ❤ I'm not of the age for regular mammograms as of yet I've a meeting with the oncologist tomorrow on my 41st Birthday.  I'm trying to think of it as she is my gift that will get me through this.    I know it's in my lymph nodes and in my tissue already but I'm guessing without surgery they won't know how many lymph nodes - these are all the questions I need to ask I think.  Do you think you will need to have chemo? Were you happy with the lumpectomy?  Thinking of you xx ... View more

Hi Sally, yes I too am in shock I don't think that will change for a long time.   I hope you're holding up ok ❤ At the appointment on Friday I was told that I have to have chemo before they will do surgery and the doctor said it would probably be a double mastectomy.  My tumor is 7cm which seems huge now but it came on so quickly, I thought I had am infection as my whole breast just became hard it was like having masitis.   How about you?   I feel like I'm in limbo, I'm not sure how long it takes for the chemo team to get in touch but now that I know it's bad I just want things to start moving.   ... View more

Hi,   I dont have any information to give you but I was also diagnosed with micropapillary carcinoma on Friday.   I'm totally overwhelmed right now and can't see to find anyone else who has had it. Thinking of you.  If you would like to keep in touch through this please do let know.  ... View more