Breast Cancer Now Forum

Hi ScottieDog, I was in same position as you with regards to chemo and also posted a thread on here about people refusing it. It is very hard to understand why they are offering it as the lump has been removed and there is no spread of lymph glands. I had very good non-reoccurance rates due to size of tumour and the fact there was no spread and when they tell you the chemo only makes a 2 or 3% difference of it not coming back, you do question are the side effects worth it. What in fact swayed me was the people on here, who for one reason or the other was not offered chemo, or decided not to have it and have then got the cancer back at a later stage. I was also persuaded by my husband, children and close family members to take everything they throw at you and then at least, god forbid if it does come back, you know you did try every possible treatment to try and prevent that happening. My ONC told me that there are very few people who actually turn down the chemo. I had my 2nd lot of chemo last week and whilst it isn't nice, I have only felt ill for the first 5 days on both treatments. Side effects are constantly feeling & being sick, metallic taste in mouth and slight upset stomach. I'm not going to lie, you do feel like crap for the 1st week, but after that I have been returning to work and trying to carry on as normal. As other people have mentioned, it is horrible, but doable and there will be light at the other end of the tunnel. I have booked a holiday for between my treatments to have something to look forward, otherwise think I would go mad! Good luck with your 1st one x ... View more

Hi all, Now on day 14, nausea feeling went after 1st week and the only side effect snce is metal taste in mouth. Gone off coffee completely. Cold cap appears to be working so far, although she did tell me that I'm off to a good start because my hair is really thick. Found the shampoo they tell you to use (Natural PH) not much good, feels like you havn't washed your hair but never mind. Am pleasantly surprised at how well I have been feeling since and if it carries on like this, every cycle, then it should be fine. Wont speak too soon, 2nd one due next week, so we'll wait and see. ... View more

Hi Evie, I m aged 43, no lymph spread and having 6 doses of FEC low dosage strength (fec 80) once every 3 weeks. I had severe vomiting after 1st lot, but have been told this is unusual and I had bad reaction. They will prob have to up anti-sickness drugs whilst having 2nd lot. Only other side effect so far is metallic taste in the mouth. Like you, find it very hard to understand why we are recommended chemo, when no spread, but it is all to try and prevent any reoccurances. When you have your appt with the ONC, he will explain everything to you and remember to write down all your concerns and they can help you with them. To be honest with you, I only felt rough for the 1st week, felt like I was having phantom pregnancy nausea lol, but since then have felt like normal again. They do warn you to be careful between day 7-11 due to your immune system being low as well. I am also trying the "scalp cooling" system to try and save hair and so far this does seem to be working. Hope this helps. Jane ... View more

hi all, Dont wanna frighten anyone, had my first fec on Wednesday and suffered really bad sickness about 3 hours later. Ended up back in hospital after vomiting for 18 hours non stop and a high temperature. Not off to a very good start lol. Hopefully they will look into this and sort out another plan before 2nd lot at beginning of June. Only other side effect is metallic taste in mouth, making all drinks taste foul. Used paxman cold scalp method, found that ok, bit cold to start off (1st 10 mins) and after that fine. You do spend longer in the chemo lounge, but worth trying if I can save my hair. Good luck to anybody going through this at the moment, was really unsure about having the chemo, due to no spread, and after this 1st experience am wondering what the next 18 weeks have in store! Unlike others on here, I am 43 and my youngest is 14, so children old enough to help themselves a bit, anyone with young babies/children accept all the help you can get as it really takes it out of you. I have been told that I will be at my worse at day 11, due to low platelets, so god knows what this weekend holds lol! Have got my niece's christening on that day. Have been recommended by chemo nurses to have some accpuncture done, (due to anxious state). Has anybody else tried this or any of the other recommended healing procedures? ... View more

thanks Sandra. Posted you one back ... View more

hi sandra, how did you avoid the chemo, did you turn it down, or were you told not to have it. just curious, you were diagnosed same time as me with practicaly same diagnosis. i have one unclear margin so had to go back in again, but am due to start chemo on 13/05/09, then horm tabs & rads. thanks. still unsure about treatment thats all as I had high 10 year non reoccurance rates. thanks ... View more

hi jocie, ok, decided to reluctantly to go ahead, treatment starts 13/05 6 x fec. Will try cold cap to see how i get on and going to see about wig next week, just in case. dont think they are doing any of the scans because i had no node spread. not looking forwrd to it and once the date had been suggested, the tears come back, but until i start, dont know what side effects i will get. dont think i can take the chance of not having it, too many people on here that havn't had it and it has come back. thanks for your reply ... View more

hi sandra44, glad your still posting as your diagnosis was almonst identical to mine. my onc offered me chemo, horm tabs & rads, but because i had good stats of 85.6% without treatment, 90% with horm and 93% with both horm & chemo, I stated to query why did I need chemo if rates of non recurrance so high. He gave me an alternative to think about Zoladex & Tamoxifen and told me to go away for a week and have a think about it. Week was up today and when I asked him for stats for people who are having both these treatments instead of chemo, he had none to give and still insisted chemo was favoured over just hormone treatments. Was you offered chemo, and if so, what were your reasons for turning it down? Im so bloody confused again.I was in front of you treatent wise, but had to have 2nd lump as one of my margins was unclear. Im under Barnet, North London and they have offered my 6 x FEC, no mention of TAX. Have you all experienced hair loss or tried cold cap? ... View more

Hi All, I'm also extremely paranoid. 2nd visit to onc today and mentioned that I have had bad back for months (before feb diagnosis) and also pain in hip. Also went to GP about it, said just movement in hip. Wasnt worried about either before BC, but now thinking is this also spread, even though I had no spread in glands. How to secondaries get diagnosed, what are the symptons after first diagnosis? went ONC today who is still encouraging chemo, horm tabs & rads and although hav accepted this is best course of treatment, still cant get my head around all this. Have been fine again (since 2nd lympectomy), today get told can't go on hol in July due to risk of high infection whilst on chemo, so now not only will i prob be bald for most of the summer, but no holiday either LOL! Do I feel depressed YES and have again today asked the why me, what have I done etc etc! I have 3 children and although they need to be told, its very hard telling them all the nitty gritty as you dont want them worrying as well! Does it drive me made! YES. ... View more

Hi Josie, no spresd to lymphs, had mri scan done, just the breast area, and chest x-ray, normal mammogram and ultrascan, but have back ache and pain in the right hip and can't help thinking if it's somewhere else as well. will mention it tomorrow, seeing onc to discuss treatment again lol! cant make mind up about having chemo, or whether to just do horm tabs + rad. Actuall just remembered, i did have an internal scan as well for gyne problems, this showed 3 small fibroids and small cyst on ovaries, not sure if the liver would have been checked then? I will mention it tomorrow to onc, seeing him again to make my mind up about treatment, whether to have chemo or just horm tabs + rad. have the fact the decision has to be made by me! thanks for reply x ... View more

hope you dont me asking, but how did they find the liver mets, i have primary bc, just waiting for treatment to start ... View more

thank you all for your replies. Poodle & Lolly, what is your treatment plan. Do you still see the onc and have scans or mammograms? Did they explain if you get a reoccurance, would it come back worse than the 1st time? Did you have any side effects from either of those hormone treatments? I am not worried about menopausal symptons as I have 3 grown up children. My hormone involvement was 7/8 for both er & pr. Her 2 = neg. No lymphvascular invasion involved. It would be do nice if they could also give you 10 years figures for those people who choose not to go with the chemo. My family are all bscking the chemo and have said exactly the same as you (doing fec) that at least you have given it your best shot and gone with best recommended treatment. (my mum keeps referring to Wendy Richards, who turned chemo down and it came back, and we all know what eventually happened. I have also read blogs and forums from others who turned chemo down and regretted it. I have another appointment with onc next wed, and hopefully will see a chemo nurse at the same time to talk through any doubts/concerns as well. any other advice, please keep posting. this site has been so helpful. good luck to you all with whatever path everyone has choosen to go down. It's all so bloody stressful! ... View more

hi all, had second lumpectomy done on 26/03 as first results did not get clear margin, and know what you mean. My boob was fine the 1st week and this week, it seems to hurt all over again, hard lump and shooting pain all the time. Nipple still very sensitive and at the edge of the scar, it feels like something is going to come through the skin! You can't help imagining it is growing again as mine is very strongly hormone positive. Will ask ONC tomorrow. have looked on after surgery symptons, but not sure what is to be expected. ... View more

Hi Chelle, I am 42, diagnosed on 26/01 with Invasive Ductal Cancer, Lympectomy done, no nodes involved, but I am strongly Hormone Positive. Out of a score of 8, mine are 7 for both ER & PR. Her is negative. Grade 3 Was interested in your comment about having ovaries blocked. I did ask the breast surgeon, if I am that strongly hor pos, why dont I have a hysterectomy or ovaries removed, as I have 3 children and have been steralised, but he didn't seem to think it was necessary. Why did they suggest you having ovaries blocked, was it because you had high levels? I am only seeing Onc tomorrow as my first set of results came back with one of the margins unclear. I have been told 6 lots of chemo, tamoxifen and lastly rad treatment. ... View more

thanks ostrich for your help. will come and find you when i get the pathology report lol x ... View more

hi all, also been told grade 3, but no spread to nodes. can't understand that if the cancer is that agressive, how come no spread to the nodes as well? they havn't even mentioned the stage yet. iv also been told to have chemo, rads & hormone treatment but havnt had pathology report yet. find all this really confusing. you just get your head round the diagnosis and then have all the medical terms to try and understand as well. im 42. is the chem giving drip form or tablets. really dont know what do it, feels like your life is in their hands and you just have to go with what they are recommending for your own personal diagnosis. ... View more

hi philidel, i had same procedure as you on 18/02 this year. results came back with one of the margins unclear, so back in for day surgery last thursday and now another 2 week wait for the results of the further tissue removal. what i wanted to ask you was, when did they give you the path report, or did you have to ask them for it. Havn't had mine yet, have just been told that it was a grade 3 and inv breast cancer, and lump size 1/2" and am due to have chemo, rads and hormone treatment once the all clear has been given following surgery. thank you ... View more