Breast Cancer Now Forum

Hello bunnies, I have been meaning to post for ages. I finished rads a fortnight ago, looking forward to free time but my energy levels have fallen off a cliff since then. If I do anything I need a day in bed to recover! I feel physically and mentally exhausted and scrabbling to keep up with my not exactly hectic schedule. As to reconstruction, I think I am probably going for it. I have a follow up in March, so there is time for research, I'm hoping I'll get to a BCC info session. As the surgeon gravely stated when examining me "You have very large breasts" (I nearly laughed) - well I now have one very large breast and I feel like the amazing one breasted monster woman. Sigh. I hope all bunnies are taking care of themselves. My BCN recommended the article about recovery that was posted here before. I think it was Sara12 that said that if this is the "new normal" then she isn't coping with it - I think we are probably all quite far from getting to our new normal as it is still early days. I hope everyone's doing OK and if not reaching out for some help. lots of love, Hyzenthlay xx ps Well done LittleChick for proving that it is possible to lose weight on Tamoxifen! ... View more

Hello Bunnies, I have a week and a day of rads to go, no horrible effects so far apart from starting to feel more tired, though I was out seeing Jack White on Thursday and managed OK - though I was looking up at the balcony and wondering why I hadn't got tickets which included a comfy seat! I also went to the Maggie's Centre Edinburgh 16th birthday bash (Edinburgh was the first one) and met a lovely lady who was brimming with enthusiasm about her breast reconstruction and whisked me into a quiet corner to show me! Really missing my eyebrows and eyelashes. Have other people's grown back? My hair's been growing for a while, but it's quite patchy on top still. I'm hoping to get from "receding hairline" to "stylish short hairdo" in time for Christmas. Love and best wishes to all, Hyzenthlay xx ... View more

Well you can certainly count me in for the blue bunny club. Very droopy ears. "What now?" seems to bear heavily on me. My work problem is that I don't have a job - though I am doing some work for a friend up until the end of the year, so I will have some Christmas cash. I have started rads (number 7 out of 20 today) and also tamoxifen, which may be a reason for the downward trajectory. Also from January I will be put on Zoladex, which means an injection every month for 2 years, which I wasn't expecting. Bunnyfest sounded amazing! Hyzenthlay xx ... View more

I have a red 38G mastectomy bra from Debenhams - I bought it from the website so I'm not sure if the range is generally in their shops, there are some purple and black styles as well. Hyzenthlay xx ... View more

Hello again, waving a paw - thanks to Hilary for the shout out as I am such an infrequent poster! I am counting down to my last chemo next Tuesday, so another round of tax SEs, though the muscle/joint pain mostly goes after the first week for me so far (lucky). I'm just so weary, physically and mentally - have been very down and tearful. I am prone to depression and a bit worried that is creeping up on me. I am on a waiting list for some counselling, good to hear that you've found it helpful LittleChick. Really hope those tax pains start lessening for you guys! lots of love, Hyzenthlay xxx ... View more

Hello, hello, here I am with my towel and snorkel. Swimming around coral reefs is some of the most fun I've ever had and is high on the list of Things to Do Next Year, though the list assumes that I will be finding buried treasure or something and be able to spend the whole year on holiday. I had an unexpected mini-break at the hospital last weekend due to infection/neutropenia, but chemo next Tuesday will be going ahead as normal. I am so ready for this to be over, my last one is 18th September so a bit more to go than some other bunnies. My silver lining is that I see this as a break from my life so far and I am allowed to make big changes - I have been in a rut and dithering about certain issues for years. ... View more

Coming out of lurkerdom to say hello and Hilary, I would like to join the dolphins today as I have help from St. Eroids. Good luck to everyone today, especially if you are on your last chemo - yay, you made it! I had tax yesterday, 2 more to go (combination of starting late in April and 4 x fec, 4 x tax) so hope to hear tales of recovering from chemo. I have rads after that, starting sometime in Oct, but I don't know any details, plus tamoxifen. Like other bunnies, I found the tax truck just would not leave, in fact I have tiredness pretty much the whole three weeks, so I have to pace myself if I want to go out and do anything eg day of rest means I can go out for a few hours in the evening even on week three. I have some some downy hair growing back on my head! Hyzenthlay xx ... View more

I agree, call someone to ask for advice - if you feel terrible that's a good enough reason. I was advised to not take paracetamol or ibuprofen as it can mask a high temperature (funny how we get different advice!). Hyzenthlay xx ... View more

Hello bunnies, sorry to come back then disappear again! I was off on a jolly holiday to Whitby, which was fab - though not for the weather of course. We had a view of the Abbey from our bed. I really feel for you Gaynor, I had a spell inside with neutropenia and I felt totally miserable even without it messing with a holiday, I hope you get out soon. And Pixie, hope they can help with the oozing without keeping you in. I'm another one who prefers the hat option. There are some nice crushed velvet turbans from Emma & Pickles www.chemochic.co.uk - I have a Tudor twist. I find my wig very hot and end up dripping sweat - not very nice. Back to bc reality tomorrow, I am seeing my onc tomorrow, then first Tax on Tuesday. It's strange not knowing what is in store. Hyzenthlay xx ... View more

Pixie, thanks for setting my mind at rest! It's true that it's hard to join in again after falling by the wayside. After my mx I have only the one nipple, I wouldn't say it's pointing heavenwards but is looking the world in the eye - lol. I was well endowed, and over the years I had learned to love them. Yet I've not found it as difficult to lose one as I thought, I'm more relieved to get the cancer removed. Eventually I will be having a recon, which means a reduction on my large, but still bouncy breast to match up, as it seems they can't make them that size (have they seen Katie Price?). I'm really fed up about this, which I know is nonsense. I'm hoping that if I lose some weight my healthy boob might escape the knife. Love to all the warren, especially those suffering SEs, Hyzenthlay xx ... View more

Oh dear, I am now really worried that I am the possible troll - I have fallen into the reading, not contributing group. I seem to have shut up into myself generally. On the neulasta etc I didn't get anything for the first cycle, but then was in hospital with dangerously low white blood cell level (neutropenia) so I now get the neulasta injection each time. I have had FEC4 and go on to TAX week after next, four of them too. I was really lucky with FEC side effects, so am awaiting tax truck with apprehension. Hyzenthlay xx ... View more

Hello warren, I'm afraid I'm another unhappy bunny. I feel ridiculous complaining as I have been having minimal SEs, but I have felt very stuck and unable to motivate myself to do all the good positive things I assured myself I would do - like posting here! I have Jubilee FEC tomorrow, maybe they could make the F or the C blue for the occasion. Pixie, it might be worth looking at Etsy.com for selling the Happy Bags. Hyzenthlay xx ... View more

It's FEC2 for me today. The dreaded SEs finally caught up with me. I was feeling a bit ropey with a sore throat last week, then my temperature started heading in the danger zone, so last Wednesday I was admitted to hospital and was attached to IV antibiotics for 4 days and discharged on Sunday. My blood counts were very low, so this time I will get an injection which should prevent the levels falling quite so much. Anyway I have taken up the Edward Lear limerick challenge. Hope you don't mind me borrowing your name, Pixie! There was a young bunny called Pixie, Who found herself feeling quite myxi, She said "I knew I'd be FEC'd, But I didn't expect, The chemo cat to be so darn tricksy!" Good wishes to all the warren, love Hyzenthlay xx ... View more

Just a quick hello to the warren! Vanns, I was told day 10-14 was when the white cell count would be low, which is where I am now. I have my hand sanitizer at the ready and although I went into town today and am going round to a friend's for dinner, I am not going to visit the local rock dive to see my brother's band tomorrow! ... View more

I hope the bunnies coping with SEs feel better soon. I've been lucky so far, I've just been sleeping a lot this weekend. I have a wig appointment on Monday and a breast prosthesis appointment on Thursday - keep thinking about drag queens! We actually had some sun here in Scotland yesterday. I went for a walk in the afternoon and my face felt quite tingly. No sun without sunscreen/big hat I guess. Take care all, Hyz xx ... View more

Hi Big M, I got a lot of information from the the chemo nurses, the basic advice was to take my temp every day and act immediately if it's over 38 and if in any doubt at all about anything phone the chemo ward or out of hours oncology registrar - they even gave me a card with the numbers. If I'm worried I intend to call them! I had my first FEC on Tuesday and I'm wondering about the low white blood cells period and how likely infection is. Should we be avoiding crowds of people, for example? I know how anxious you get before starting - the list of side effects is long, I suppose they have to cover all the possibilities, but it can be a bit of an overload. Hyzenthlay xx ... View more

Morning folks. I'm OK today too, though after breakfast (porridge) I felt I was going to be sick, so I'm not planning to eat much today. Sarah - yes I had FEC yesterday - sorry forgot to tell everyone, I'm on 4 x FEC then 4 x TAX. And you should feel proud of yourself going into work. Hope it goes OK. Have a good day everyone, whether you're starting, waiting, coping with SEs or managing to escape them for now. Hyzenthlay xx ... View more

No SEs really so far, a little queasy and slightly headachey. And some wind. So I am in bed sipping water and having some crystallised ginger sweeties. But I am just being lazy really. Pixie, you certainly earned your bunny badge for bravery! Good luck to those starting tomorrow, and best wishes to everyone, Hyzenthlay xx ... View more

Thanks for the welcome! Chemo is at 1pm today and my mum is taking me like the first day at school - lol. She is visiting for a few days. I have a huge range of ginger products at the ready, if I go off ginger I will be quite annoyed. Yesterday I was pretty panicked and weepy, but calmed down at the new patient appointment. Now I just feel resigned to it all. Good wishes to everyone, Hyzlenthlay xx ... View more