Breast Cancer Now Forum

Hello Carolyn. You know how brave I think you are, but isn't it wonderful how everyone has rallied around to perk you up and offer such amazing support and tips, etc? This Forum is so incredibly friendly and comforting.   I too have a cleaner - I couldn't manage any more with hoovering, etc. I also take my clean washing out to be ironed as I can't do it with my back. You will wish you had succumbed to a cleaner years ago! I found out the other day that my lady is 77! She is way fitter than I am!     Love and hugs. Barton.x   Ps Jobey - I laughed when I read that about your technology knowing your preference for gin! ... View more

Hello Tatyana, sorry I didn't reply earlier - I got an email to say there had been a reply from you, but when I looked your message wasn't showing! Then all of a sudden it appeared under George's reply, which I could see. All very strange!     Anyway, glad to hear you are doing well on Cape but sorry to hear about all your other ups and downs.     Good luck to everyone.  Hugs. Barton.x ... View more

Hello all. Just dropping in to wish you all the best. I hope any se's are mild or non-existant. I hadn't meant to desert you all, but I have had a busy time with quite a lot of hospital visits. Nothing too serious - 2 bags of fluid over 2 days because of high calcium levels, then 2 bags of blood for anaemia, and then a CT scan. No chemo for me last week, but they gave it to me yesterday, so hopefully things are back on track.     George, I have been wondering how you are, too.   Hugs and best wishes to everyone.   Barton.x ... View more

Hello Tatyana, thanks for your good wishes. So glad you are not suffering se's. Good luck for your 2nd cycle. No, not been out in it at all - staying indoors with the heaters on! I hope everyone else is keeping warm and safe. Wrap up well if you have to go out, but stay in if you don't. Hugs. Barton.x ... View more

Hello Linda, thanks for thinking of me. No, not started treatment yet but had portacath inserted yesterday. Rather sore at the moment, but nothing that a couple of paracetomols can't handle - just for a nights sleep - don't need them today. My Onc wanted the port insertion to settle a bit before starting the chemo, so I have a weeks grace - 1st one next Tuesday and weekly for 5 more after that. Will be reviewed after that and might go on to IV Vinorelbine. Hope you and everyone else is doing ok. Hugs. Barton x ... View more

Hello everybody. Wishing everyone with scans coming up, or waiting for results, good luck. I, too, am supposed to be having a CT scan soon in order to get a baseline for the new chemo. The dye is called Contrast, and, I think, is iodine. You have to tell them if you have an allergy to iodine.   Thank you all, again, for your best wishes.   Hugs. Barton.x ... View more

Thank you both - Nicky and George - for your very kind wishes. I promise to keep in touch, and hopefully post good news on a separate thread (which I might need to start as it doesn't seem to be a common chemo for secondaries) re Doxorubicin in case it helps someone else re se's etc. Please have a really good holiday, George - I'm sure you will. Should hopefully be a bit warmer for you! Please do PM me and keep in touch. Hugs. Barton.x ... View more

Hello Kate, Linda, Phoebe and Tatyana. Thank you all so much for your kind words. You have all been just as much support to each other and everyone - just a bit newer to the thread . I'm sure you will all continue to be (as well as everyone else who posts on this thread and others).   I'm sorry to be leaving you, but, as I said, I will look in on you - help when I can, and to make sure you are all behaving yourselves   Hugs and best wishes. Barton.x ... View more

Thank you Moijan and Bon for your best wishes. A bit nerve-wracking, getting used to a whole new set of se's, but it has to be done. Moijan, don't worry about the Portacath - it's a doddle. The worst thing is getting the local injections before they start - they sting quite a bit. Hugs to all. Barton x. ... View more

Just a short note to let everyone know that I saw my Onc this afternoon and was told my run on Cape is over after 3.5years. My TM's have been rising quite steeply recently and I have been told it has stopped working (had worked that out for myself ). I had been researching Vinorelbine, as last time I saw Onc (different one), I was told it would probably be Vin. However, I was told today I would be having weekly IV doses of Doxorubicin for 6 weeks, then probably Vin)- but no idea how often. I am having a portacath fitted next Tuesday, then first dose of Doxo the following week.   Anyway, I wish all of you long and successful runs on Cape, and I'll keep an eye on the thread, and help if I can.   Hugs and best wishes. Barton.x ... View more

Sorry to hear you are suffering, Moijan. Hope you get some answers and relief. Re the port - I had one in 2011 for my original chemo, and it was fantastically easy. In my opinion, much better than a PICC, although I have never had one of those (they sound like a nuisance to me!).   Hope everyone else is doing OK.   Hugs to all. Barton.x ... View more

Hello Tatyana, glad to hear you are feeling ok after your first cycle - long may it continue!   Re the Denosumab discussion - I have my jab 6weekly as it fits in with the Cape cycles. I wasn't actually offered 4 weekly, but as it would mean extra visits to the hosp, wouldn't want that anyway.   Lindy, re Tm's - mine originally stayed around the mid twenties when I first started Cape, then they stayed steady for a while around the mid 30's, but have been creeping up a lot recently. The last time they were done (5 weeks ago - due to be done again on Tuesdays blood test for Onc visit on Thursday), they were 166. That is the highest they have ever been. Like George, my TM's are quite a good indication of how things are going (it isn't for a lot of people).   You also ask about memory problems on Cape. I have noticed my memory is a lot worse the last few years. I think it is more a combination of my previous IV chemos (FEC-T) in 2011, Cape and getting older. I find the problem being rather annoying when everyone else says I am wrong about stuff when I know I am remebering correctly and they are wrong (not everyones memory is perfect, although I have one particular friend who thinks hers is ) - they just assume it is me who is mistaken!   George - enjoy your Hol - I expect you are beginning to get excited now.   Hugs to all. Barton.x ... View more

Hello George - I hope you have a wonderful holiday in Portugal!   Hugs to all. Barton.x ... View more

Hello Lozzer, hope you have had a lovely day today!   Sorry, Pan - haven't meant to ignore you. To be honest though, my only answer can be that I have no idea! All I can tell you is that I eat live yoghurt and as far as I can tell, have suffered no ill effects.. I know that's not much help, but I can only suggest you speak to your medical team. Then make up your own mind.   Hugs to all. Barton.x ... View more

Hello Tatyana. In answer to your questions - I have probably broken every one of those "rules", except the avoiding grapefruit one! I eat soft cheese (not blue, because I can't even stand the smell!), shellfish, smoked salmon, and have recently restarted eating live yoghurt that I make from a packet (Easiyo). I have not suffered from any problems at all. I stick to the no grapefruit rule (even though I like it) because it was the one thing that seems to be stressed for every chemo. I used to think it was because it reduced the effectiveness of the chemo, but have since heard that the opposite is true - it actually enhances the effects, and could, therefore, overdose you a bit. I can honestly say, though, that I don't know how true that is. It could be an urban myth for all I know. Oh, and I also eat licorice!   I think it just really comes down to eating what you are comfortable with. Perhaps eat one of those foods and see how it goes. If you find you are OK with that, eat it when you like, and perhaps add things gradually.   Hugs and good luck. Barton.x ... View more

Hello Lozzer. I'm afraid I can't help you with the steroid question as I have only ever had the 3 or 4 days of pills when I had IV chemo in 2011. Perhaps someone else will be along shortly who can help (or perhaps ring the freephone number at the top of the page - which, sorry to say, I have only just noticed after being on the Forum for at least 3 years!).   Re question 2: I have tried to take the pills at 12 hours apart, or as close as possible. I work on the theory that that was what presumably worked best when they did the original trials, and, as they say, if it aint broke, don't fix it. Obviously it isn't possible at all times, but I do try to stick to that. I take mine at (give or take 15 minutes or so) 6am and 6pm. I am lucky that now I have retired, I can go back to bed after the 6am ones!   As for your third question, re anti-sickness pills, I have never taken them while on Cape, and have never felt the need. I wasn't told to take them "just in case", and probably wouldn't have done anyway. I take too many pills as it is - I don't want to take any extra if I don't have to.   Well done on starting your first cycle, and I hope all goes well for you.   Hugs to all. Barton.x ... View more

Hello Nicky, hope you enjoyed Iceland! A friend went years ago and loved it!   Hello Lozzer, welcome, but sorry you have had to join us. Hope everything goes well for you. The best advice I can give is to read back through this thread.   Hugs. Barton.x ... View more