Breast Cancer Now Forum

I am on facebook, pm me for my name. I am in Bedfordshire. My profile photo is of a happy lady with a blond wig at my husband's 65th party wearing black and gold. Please send me a friend request. It's funny Kath that you should mention energy levels and having to sit down after 10 mins. I have got so much more energy now and had forgotten how bad it was! It is nice to be reminded as it has shown me how far I have come. Why don't you join us on facebook? At the moment I have got a cold which I thought would stop me sleeping but in fact last night was the first time I had slept for 8 hours since dx. Funny old world. Got to be ill to have good night's sleep! My eyebrows came back quickly, eyelashes half there and hair growing so fast and strong, if it was dark instead of grey would risk going out and about without my wig. Keep safe in this cold and snowy weather. Love lynn xx ... View more

Hi Karen, I understand exactly what you mean. Treatment being finished isn't the end. I have had several meltdowns, one when a finger nail fell off. I wasn't expecting it and it reminded me that chemo has long lasting effects. It seemed silly but the diamond chicks really helped as they understood. Whereas my husband looked at me as if I was mental and said 'it's only a finger nail'. My energy levels are up but still change from day to day. Some days I still need a do nothing day. There isn't a day when I don't think about cancer. Mostly I am positive, though. After all we have been through you have to be. Other help we are now giving each other is about holidays and insurance. Looking forward. Hope you join us soon. In the meantime if you comment on here, it comes up in my email and I will come and help if I can. If not will ask others to come along. Carol, if you don't succeed perhaps u could leave a message in diamond chicks forum for Elli. Giving your computer a gin and tonic wasn't your best idea. lol! Would a Scotch have been better? love lynn xx ... View more

Happy New Year and a Healthier one, Lynne, So sorry you are feeling down. Rant away. Have a huge virtual hug from me. We all understand this emotional roller coaster ride and are walking beside you through the ups and downs. On a positive note the eyelashes come back quite quickly, though the hair does take its time to grow. I have a lovely wig and enjoy wearing that as it makes me look younger and my friends envy me because it takes no looking after. My husband won't let me use Facebook on his computer cos he is afraid of viruses. I am lucky to have my own laptop and find that talking with the other ladies really helps. Take care. Keep posting! Lynn xx ... View more

So pleased to hear that your treatment was finished before Xmas. I expect you were still tired though. I had a great Xmas ty. My daughter came over from Hong Kong and seeing her and my granddaughters for the first time in over a year made it very special. I also did a 65th party for my husband. Over 60 people came and it was so lovely to catch up with old family friends. Now I'm recovering! lol! I certainly hope that 2013 will be kind to us all. We deserve it. love Lynn xx ... View more

Happy New Year to anyone who still visits this site. We are now on Facebook instead. If anyone wants to join us just message Elli. If not please let us know here how you are getting on. I have completely finished my treatment now. Really want to know how the rest of you are getting on. Please, keep in touch. Hugs Lynn xx ... View more

Hi, Thanks Kath for your support. There is no way of not being concerned that it will come back but I expect that it will become less of a problem as time goes on and life is more normal. Good luck with that last chemo. What a relief to get the last one over with. Just one lot of SE's to get through. Hope they are minimal and don't involve another visit to hospital. The aches were less with the last one but I found I was more tired and needed more rest than with the others. How kind of that couple. It is one of the good things; how many people are really kind and supportive. I keep posting on here but am on facebook, Diamond Chicks as well. Still like this forum as it is one thread and easy to follow. Well better go and fluff up my feathers ready for the day ahead. Lynn xx ... View more

Hi Jayne, Problems with nails are a side effect of Tax. so you should be fine. I found FEC fine. Hope you are OK and your side effects are minimal. Rads are over now and I am fine. Hardly any soreness. E45, 3 times a day has worked. I wish you luck with the rest of your treatment. hugs Lynn xx ... View more

Hi, Am so pleased to hear people are so upbeat at the moment and everything is going well with ongoing treatments. I have completely finished all treatment now which is very very scary. No drugs can be given as I am triple neg. This is it. I am cured or the cancer will be right back. Longest it will wait is 2 to 3 years. On the good side I will know in 5 years if this cancer is cured. It is 10 for other types. At the moment I am really happy. Sorting the garden. Planning redecoration. Getting invites out for my hubby's 65th party. Feel really well. Just a warning carried a bag of compost across garden yesterday and breast now hurts. Think I pulled it. Probably not ready for manual labour yet. love u all. xx Lynn ... View more

Hi, Good news! I think I know why my eyes are watering. My eyelashes are back. I can't see them but I can feel them. Thumb nails are hanging on by a thread. Actually wish they would fall off as wearing plasters to protect them is getting on my nerves. There is a new nail underneath, about half way grown. One more week of rads.! Hugs Lynn xx ... View more

Hi, First of all sorry that you are in this position. Just wanted to let you know that all of the relatives and friends I told coped really well and have all been very supportive. I know you feel strong and I can understand that but my son, daughter and Dad and sister in law would have been devastated not to know. I was very matter of fact when I explained and even my grandchildren took the news well. I find that people are genuinely interested in how I am getting on and I have valued their support. Up to you to decide! Hugs and best wishes Lynn xx ... View more

Hi from, Diamond chicks, I still read your thread from time to time and am always impressed with the way you have bonded. And of course for the way you make me laugh. This time I wanted to visit and say thank you for the article by Dr. Peter Harvey. I have read other articles on a similar vein but this one really hits the spot for me. Have been crying at some parts because it so exactly explains how I feel. Had to give up reading it at the moment but have printed it off to finish later and to try to get my husband to read. Thank you again. Best wishes to all of you who are putting your lives back together, and special wishes for the ones who are still suffering from SE's. Hugs Lynn xx ... View more

Hi, Yvonne good luck with the surgery! The soreness is very specific to the area where the rads are given and is no worse at the moment than a slight sunburn. You know the type? Where you just don't want clothes to rub on it. The worst bit is where there isn't any flesh between the skin and the ribs. Not bad at all really. Lynn xx ... View more

Hi everyone, Oh Kath, poor you. Sending great big hug. Chemo has certainly not been good for you. Only one to go. I bet you will be really glad to see the end of it. Take care! 6 rads to go and starting to get sore. You are supposed to tell if you get sore so I did. But apparently it is to be expected and I can't do more than keep applying E45 3 times a day. Oh well, have the weekend off from rads so it will have the chance to settle. To think I was in a grey area and chose to have this extra treatment. Only myself to blame but it is nowhere near as bad as chemo. Actually enjoy the drive to the hospital with friendly, chatty hospital drivers. They are all volunteers, bless them. To all the chicks, have a good weekend. love Lynn xx ... View more

Hi to Eve and anyone else still reading this, It seems that many people are now on fb. You have been going through a lot. No wonder you are feeling emotional. I am sending a virtual hug your way. Love my gown, a pity everywhere doesn't do them. Obviously someone very thoughtful designed them. Hope you will join us on fb soon, but must admit I liked this forum because it was one thread not many. Love and hope you are on the up soon. Lynn xx ... View more

Hi Everyone, Kath, I remember the aches and pains, and crying with them while waiting for the painkillers to kick in, so am sending my best wishes that they are over soon and a great big virtual hug better. I am full of sympathy for you. The effects did build each time. One thing is, I can't imagine they will do rads through xmas because they need to be continuous. Mine were 3 weeks after last tax but some people have waited much longer. I was asked if I was going on holiday and they would have arranged rads round this. Presumably you could ask for it not to be round xmas. I do like my turquoise gown and the fact that it is the same one each time. It preserves my modesty, well the bit that I have left. Yvonne, at least you are going to the gym. Amazing. Good luck with the surgery. Rads are no problem after chemo although very tiring for me mostly because of the journey. love to any Diamond chicks still reading this. Lynn xx ... View more

Hi anyone still posting here. Thanks for the news on the rads Carol. I'm getting emotional too. I think it is because of tiredness but also because I am triple neg. no drugs will help so at the end of rads. that is it. Fingers crossed the cancer is cured as there is nothing else they can do. It's all very scary!! 5 rads down and 10 to go. Everything OK so far. I too have given up on bras but I am so small breasted you can hardly telll. Put my softie away somewhere and can't find it or I would use it under a vest. I have a plaster on my thumb nail now as it is lifting from the bottom and only hanging on by a thread. Most awkward. Last night the area under many of my nails started to bleed. Anyone else getting this? The soles of feet and finger ends are less numb now 4 1/2 weeks after last Tax. Hair is beginning to grow but as it is longer round the sides than the top I look as if I have a monk's tonsure! lol! Well love to all the little chicks and have a lovely weekend Lynn xx ... View more

Hi to anyone still posting here, I have joined the facebook page of Diamond Chicks, posted once but haven't been able to post again and apart from some welcome notices haven't been able to read anything posted. Anyone, can you help please? Had my first rads. Was fine. They even gave me a rather fetching top in my favourite turquoise. It has a zip down the front and velcro at the shoulders and sides. I suppose by letting me bring it home it saves on laundry and means I can get ready quickly in the changing room as soon as I get there. You are even allowed to cough while they are giving rads. Main problem is the length of time to get there and back. Well done Max for finishing your chemo. Nearly 5 weeks on I must admit that gradually my energy is coming back. Still conerned about most finger nails as they are hanging on by a thread. Toe nails seem to have settled. Soles of feet and finger ends still numb but I think they may be getting a bit better. Slathering myself with E25 cream. Hope I can get to Facebook to see how Donna, Pauline etc are getting on. Pauline, you still need to drink plenty of water on rads. Bye for now. Must get ready for next session pick up at 8:00. Lynn xx ... View more

Hi everyone, so glad see posts on here again. TY all for best wishes about throat infection. Still there but the good news is my temp. is staying down so need for hospitalisation. White cells must have recovered. michelle, sorry to hear about your eyebrows. There is a video on youtube that I found useful. It just took me ages to find it again. I put 'youtube videos alopecia eyebows' into search and then clicked through the videos till I found the one of a pretty girl wearing a blue top and grey hat. I am grey haired so use grey eyeshadow instead of black and brown eyepencil instead of black as this gives a lighter finish. They look good even though i do say so myself. I couldn't agree more about Tax. 3 weeks and 2 days after last Tax. am still struggling with tiredness. Sleep all night and all afternoon. Feet and fingers still numb. Trying not to knock nails as many look precarious. Have heard that rads can make you feel tired, particularly all the travelling. Sleeping Beauty here I come to join you. Also have the blurry vision still. Ordered a new wig yesterday, the same as the one I have. Bit jealous of those who get them for free, as I had to pay £63.35 for the prescription. Carol, thank you for the info on rads. Thought it was only 6 mins on the table so to know in advance it will be longer has really helped. got to get huge tub of aqueous cream. Job for today I think. Yvonne, sounds as if you are going to have to ease back into work. It must have been disppointing to find it so tiring. Elli thanks for the pm about how to find you on facebook. Will try now. Well bye for now. Lynn xx ... View more

Hi all, I didn't make the reunion. Caught the sore throat germ from husband and didn't feel up to going. Was so disappointed had to have a cry. Don't know where everyone has gone. I start my rads on monday and wondered if anyone else was. Or has anyone started already. Am going out today to order a new wig. I love my wig. Feel very confident in it and get lots of compliments. But it was second hand and is going a bit ragged so I want to keep it for best. Will try to be brave enough to ask about therapies while I am there. I am down to one eyelash! But I can feel new ones growing even though I cant see them. Had to cut nails reallly short as I was in danger of pulling them off! Kath, best wishes for the 2 more tax you still have to go. Hope people stay with us. This site has been such a boon. Josie. hope you haven't lost any more nails. How are you coping with them? Do you need to wear plasters? Bye for now. Must flap my wings and take myself to the kitchen for another cup of tea. Lynn xx ... View more

Grr! Windows decided to update itself without warning and I lost my message. I'm so pleased that you have finished Fec, Hannah and that they managed to sort out the sicknes for you. A Fec off party sounds great. The best part of finishing chemo is 3 weeks on when you don't have to have it again. It is so liberating. Can you get hospital transport for your visits to Oxford? Would save a fortune! Also if you drive yourself you have to check your insurance as some companies will not insure you to drive home from rads. Josie, hope you will be very happy in your new home. Josie you winge away. That's what we are here for. Tax is awful. And to lose toe nails, ouch. As if the fatigue and other SE's aren't enough. I am hoping to keep my toe nails because the onc lowered by dose after the first poisoning, but I have a lot of finger nails with dead patches under them. Hoping they won't fall off. My friend who went through chemo last year, used to use superglue to keep her nails on for as long as she could. If you try this be careful as one time she stuck one of her other fingers to her nail and they had to be soaked and carefully cut apart. Funny now! Well at the moment I resemble a snake as I lose an outer layer of skin. I have 2 eye lashes left. But my hair has noticeably started to grow. How did it know there was no more Tax? I had my flu jab yesterday. They do recommend it for cancer patients. I checked with my onc. but as flu is a dead vaccine there is no problem. It shouldn't give any flu symptoms. I am fine. Can't even tell where I was jabbed. I was lucky to get a cancellation as the first app. was 27th Oct and I would have started rads by then. Max ty for the sympathy. My daughter is still shaky but on the mend. Had short phone call to my Dad. He is upset. But it looks as if Doreen has had her medicine changed so fingers crossed for a happier outcome soon. Hugs to all Diamond Chicks. Have a good weekend. I am off to a school reunion on Saturday. Risking the 1 3/4 hour drive there and back. Will be the furthest I have driven on Tax. Lynn xx ... View more