Breast Cancer Now Forum

Hello all, Seems we have all gone quiet on this thread now, hoping that means everyone is well. Myself am very well at moment, rads well finished and chest now calming down. Hair well on the way back, have gone a week now totally bare headed even at work, eyebrows and lashes coming back (apart from growing all wonky. Had 4 herceptin and all well with them. Back working full time and luckily still have a job. Anyway hoping you are all well and things ok with everyone. Would like to say thank you to all your support over the last few months. Will keep popping in every now and then take care all Anne x ... View more

Smallstar, very interested in getting brows tattooed on. Can you give me any contact details of who you recommend? Thanks Anne ... View more

Thanks everyone, think I need to spend a few hours ringing round sites suggested. Will let you know how I get on. Anne x ... View more

Hi Cazza, I live in Middlesbrough and had a masectomy on 21st Dec. Have finished chemo and almost finished rads, on herceptin for 1 year and Femera tablets for 5 years. Also no family history. Had all my treatment at James Cook and can honestly say they have been wonderful. The day I was diagnosed and told I had to have a masectomy was very emotional. I came home from the hospital with my partner after sitting in the car crying for half an hour before we could even think of driving. We phoned all the people important to us and the hardest was telling my 29 yr old daughter who lives in cornwall. I cried all day, and said thats it, no more crying, lets deal with this and get on with whatever needs to happen to fight this crappy disease. I have had wonderful support from bcn, chemo nurse is especially wonderful. I know it is a very hard time for you, you need to take each day one step at a time and I hope you will find this site helpful. It helped me so much just to be able to talk to ladies who had/were going through the same experience. What you have to remember is the treatment we are given now is so much better than what was around even 5 years ago. Breast cancer treatment is so more advanced. My friends and family are always saying to me how brave and positive I am, but they have not seen the time when I have felt low and had a good cry, even though I said crying was done, (usually in the shower, where I could cry away). I really believe James Cook offers us the best treatment possible and I am glad I live here and have this wonderful hospital on our doorstep. Some people find it hard to talk, but I found it better to talk about it all and once I was given my treatment plan I printed out the relevant information sheets from this website. My advise is not to jump to far ahead, when I was having chemo I read up on chemo, then once I was due to start rads I read up on them. Don't do it all at once, its too much to deal with. One step at a time makes everything more manageable. You will be well looked after and please keep in touch, I will save this thread to my saved discussions and if you have any questions I will try and help. Be strong lady xxx Anne xxx ... View more

Hello everyone, Hope all ok, have not been on for a while, what with rads everyday and working 3 days a week just don't seem to have much time.# Babs, glad to here your rads have started, they will fly by. I only have 3 left now and just a little sore, slapping on the cream and defo not scratching as apparantly that is the worse thing you can do. Ruth, glad rads going ok, it will be over soon!! Glad you ok on Femera, I have taken 30 now and still ok 🙂 Am having hot flushes mainly through the night but I was having them before any of this started so can cope with them. My hair is coming back, seems to be very slow but that could be just because I am looking at it so much, have a little grey but till there is more there will wait and see about dyeing it. I have stopped wearing the wig in this warm weather and sticking to scarves, still not brave enough to go totally without any covering. Cannot wait for that day though. Sheena, glad rads going ok, sorry to hear about the nails, fingers crossed I seem to be ok at the moment, still wearing dark nail varnish most days but not sure if that is doing anything anymore. I agree with the watching grass grow thing, frustrating to see it coming back but not as fast as would like. If I have'nt mentioned anyone, sorry, hope you all ok and things going well for you all. After Wed I will only be going back every 3 weeks for the Herceptin, feels like things are going ok at present, no major se's and gradually increasing my days back at work so by Sept will be back full time (if I have a job - lots of restructuring going on). Off for a day out tomorrow to Whitby, going by train so will be able to have a few drinks and fish and chips before catching last train back, looking forward to sitting in beer gardens and just chilling. Have had to go through wardrobe and find something that will be cool but will keep me covered up. Take care all, speak soon, Anne xx ... View more

Hi, finished chemo and hair coming back very slowly in fact it feels like it has stopped, can i ask what nioxin is? Also has anyone heard of taking Kelp tablets? Anne x ... View more

Hi all, Have had 3 doses of rads and ok so far, 17 more to go, am slapping on the E45 likes mad so hoping will not get too sore. Also taken 12 Femara (take them on a morning straight after breakfast)and again so far no major problems. 2nd Herceptin on Wednesday, appointment with surgeon who did masectomy tomorrow, god I am so sick of the sight of that hospital. Hair is growing but very very slowly, wish it would hurray up, I find the wig so uncomfortable in the warm weather. Ruth hope your first rads went ok today, I find the hardest thing is having arm up. Also hope you find the Femara ok, did you read the leaflet that comes with them? The most scary thing I have ever read. Sheena, hope you getting on ok as well with rads and Femara. I think I need to ask my onc about my bones as there has been no mention of taking tablets to protect them. Krissy, glad you getting over Tax, hopefully the tablets will be ok for you. Good news re the critical illness cover, my policy conveniently did'nt have that covered. Babs, sorry your rads has been delayed but better to be ready for it when you start. Hope you finding work ok. Sal, have you had your first FEC? Hope all went well, sounds like you are well prepared. Best wishes to everyone, look after yourselves, Anne xx ... View more

Hi, had rads planning meeting today and found it very upsetting. I was on my own and found the room with the big scanner in very scary, actually got a bit teary. Found it very uncomfortable to lay with my arm up for so long. Come home with pen marks and tattoos. Eyes still streaming constantly............ Spoke to the wig man today (as wig seems to be slipping about now have a very slight covering of fuzz) he recommends kelp tablets (makes your hair grow fast) but first need to talk to onc and check ok to take with herceptin and femera. 1st tablet tomorrow still can't decide whether to take first thing or with evening meal, at work so just don't know what to do. Anyway, going to have a can of beer to chill with. Hope everyone ok, Anne xx ... View more

Hi Emma, I have just finished my chemo at James Cook (just started a years course of herceptin), am at hospital today at 11.00 to have my rads planning meeting. The chemo unit is really good and all the nurses are lovely. My dedicated nurse is a lady called Helen (she is great), they are in a temporary location at the moment but they will really look after you and answer any questions you may have. You have been given good advice by all the lovely ladies earlier. I used to get nervous before going to the hospital but once you are there they make you feel a lot better and all the other people having treatment are friendly and you can chat away. The headstrong ladies are really nice (you get a free scarf) and you will get a voucher for a wig from a lovely man called Tim (he goes to the holistic centre on a Wednesday). Good luck for today, one step at a time is the best way to handle it all. Anne x ... View more

Lily, Mal, Thanks for your replies, will take on board about making sure I get supplies, and prob try taking in morning first and see how it goes. Anne x ... View more

Ladies, Due to take my first Femera this Thursday. Had my first Herceptin last Wednesday and so far so good. I was wondering if there is a best time of day to take tablet ie morning or evening?? Thanks Anne x ... View more

Hi all. Babs, go for my planning meeting this Wed and due to start Rads on 2nd June if planning goes alright. Sorry to hear yours have been put back, I'm sure it will be sorted out soon. I wonder if that happens often, was looking at my scar the other day and it goes from under my arm to the centre of my chest, so was thinking about the heart being around that area, will just have to wait and see what they say. Have booked to go to Tenerife for October half term, really looking forward to it, just need to sort out some insurance and buy a swim suit (without getting ripped on price wise!). Sheena, we start rads on same day!! I am due to start taking Femera this Thursday, also not sure what is best time of day to take it. Have asked on another thread about advice about it so will have a look there and see if any ladies can advise. Krissy, sorry you suffering after last tax, the tongue thing is so awful but will get better. My hair is growing back too, head is really itchy but cannot wait to be able to dump the wig. Have been getting braver and going out in scarves much more as cannot bear the wig in the heat. Mind you people do stare at you more. Jan, glad your rads getting started, I think a lot of us are looking forward to the end of June when another lot of treatment comes to an end. Sally, hope everything goes ok for you with your chemo, this thread hopefully can give you lots of advise, just take each treatment one step at a time and you will be amazed how quickly time will fly by. My advise is take all the tablets they give you and drink lots and lots (sorry not alcohol). Don't hesitate to ask away if you have any questions. Take care everyone, Anne x ... View more

Thanks Lulu, can you get the eyedrops from the chemist? I already wear glasses but have noticed eyesight got worse. Am due an eye test but waiting till eyes improve a bit, could'nt sit through an eye test at the moment. Anne ... View more

Hi all, Just back from 1st Herceptin.............. so far so good, no allergic reactions and hopefully should have no se's. Got talking to a lady having her first chemo today so told her all about this site and how much of a support it has been for me. Krissy, hope last tax went ok for you. Jan, how you doing?? Hope infection is getting better. Debs, hope all still ok with you after your herceptin. Next step is to start taking Femera next week, wonder what that will bring.... not too much I hope seeing as I have to take it for 5 years. When I went to hospital today chemo nurse said i looked quite red in the face and asked if i'd been out in the sun. Said had walked the dogs for 1hr that morning, she has advised i start wearing sun cream as skin very sensitive to the sun. Anyway time for fish and chips for tea (prob not be able to taste them as taste buds not come back yet), but you've got to eat. Hope everyone getting on ok and se's not giving you all too much hassle. Take care Anne x ... View more

Hi all, Jan, sorry to hear about your infection, hope you get it sorted this week and your rads don't get put back to much. Debs, so glad herceptin is going ok for you. Krissy, good luck with last tax......... almost there. Am starting herceptin this wed, start femera the week after and first rads on 2nd June. Its all go and to think once chemo was finished it would be easier. Bit nervous for Wed. Have booked a week away in October to give me something to look forward to and hopefully by then will be well on the way with the herceptin and rads will be a distant memory. Need to sort out holiday insurance as I believe it can be expensive now had bc. Also been looking at masectomy swimwear. Does anyone else get angry and what prices they charge us!!! Anyway, have just bought a new polti steam iron and going to have to tackle the mountain today. Take care everyone, Anne xx ... View more

Hi Debs, So glad your first Herceptin went well, thats great news. I have my first a week tomorrow the 19th. Same as you, am a bit stressed but just will have to relax and keep fingers crossed. Keep in touch and let me know how it goes. Anne x ... View more

Krissy, I have a very flushed face for a few days after tax and did get a bad rash on neck after second one but it did clear up fine and a week or so. Hope you enjoyed the curry. Cant understand the prisoner xx ... View more

Monica, Thanks for your comment, can't wait to start feeling better and have some energy. Emma, its funny you are scared at not having Herceptin or tamoxifan when I am scared at having them (herceptin and femera for me). I think i need to stop reading the paperwork that comes with the tablets, the femera leaflet is horrendous. Good luck with everything xx Anne ... View more