Breast Cancer Now Forum

Many thanks to JuniorJ for starting this thread. Quite new to this lifestyle. Only had bi mx in March this year and decided no reconstruction wanted. So far no regrets. I like my prosthesis and going without, feel like I have the best of both worlds. Reading everyone's posts has made me feel I'm not alone in being comfortable breast free. I'll be honest I was beginning to feel a bit less of a woman because I feel so comfortable without. I feel good again. Thank you all very much. X ... View more

Hi Sue. Ive had 3 FEC and 3 TAC. Mine experience seems similar to Karen. 3days after the treatment I took to my bed with bad leg pains. This only lasted for 3 days. It wasn't a good time. Watched a lot of films and read a lot of books. Ended up in hospital with chest infection after last dose. Finger are dreadful but lucky not lost any. Used cuticle oil on toes and fingers daily and kept them really short. Used lots of hand and body lotion too. Not sure if all this saved the nails but felt there was no harm in doing it. There were more goods days than bad! Good luck with your treatment. Dorothy x ... View more

Hi Karen Starting my rads on 18 October. 15sessions. Aqueous cream seems to be the common one. My BC nurse said any cream as long as it doesn't contain zinc. Seen posts on here that recommend Aloe Vera 99.9%. have a friend who used it and skin stayed good. Planning to use both. Aqueous in morning, Aloe after treatment and Aqueous before bed. Probably over-kill but really dont want want to dry out. Also found a good gently shower gel from body shop? Doesn't contain anything but soap. No phosphates etc. Really nice stuff. If I find the thread that spoke about creams I'll let you know. Good luck with treatment. Dorothy x ... View more

Feeling like a real person again. Yesterday first whole day out of bed since Sunday. No pain. No aches. A bit delicate but good to be able to walk out the front door and go mix with the rest of world. Found tax so much harder than FEC. If you don't mind Jellipops will hold on to your experience that the first Tax is the worst. I know everyones experience is different but I need to believe it can't be any worse otherwise I don't think I could do another one. Really constipated as well, pain killers made it worse. Even tho took 2 senna a night and ate as much liquorice as my dreadful tastes buds could cope with didn't go for 5 days. Then the tax trots arrived last night. Grizzly bear head still with me. Family talk to me fro the doorway now to assess the likelihood of being growled at before entering. Thanks for the fizzy drinks advice Rattles and Em. Mouth is disgusting. Been forcing water down my throat to keep the fluid intake healthy. Only had tonic water I house so tried that. First refreshing drink I've had all week. So good. Will look for cordial and getspring carbonated water today. Thank you so much. Watching the opening ceremony last night made me think this treatment is like an Olympic decathlon. So many hurdles to overcome before finally standing proud on the podium getting that gold medal. We will all get that gold medal, we deserve it. For those of you still going thru SE from last round of juicing, big hugs. I know we've all said it but it really is taking this awful thing one day at a time. Those of you who have had the Tax - is there anything else that might bite me before the next round so I can be a little bit prepared? ... View more

Hi Rattles. I don't think it is possible to look good in the comfys! Mine were dreadful. I did wear them sometimes. got told off by the BCN at my hospital when I turned up for an appointment without them as I was supposed to get used to them before the more permanent ones. I wore a lot of loose clothes until fitted with others. They are not cheap and so many out there so I waited until my fitting where I could try the different shapes etc. andwhere free. Do you have someone close to you who may be able to make some for you until your fitting? Dont think the post bra helped either, hooks and eyes kept coming undone. Just bought a genie bra from Bhs. Very very comfy and snug. Hasn't got fastenings tho so may be difficult if you have trouble lifting arms still. Hope you find something soon. Big hugs. Dorothy ... View more

Hi Everyone. I hate TAX. So much for my walk in the park. It's turned into a crawl thru the forest of despair (a bit dramatic, but I don't care). I don't even feel low this time just angry, frustrated and generally grrrrr! SE sound the same as everyone else, except constipated rather than trots. Taking everthing i can to keep things moving but not being that successful. Knees and feet hurt so much that can't even walk sometimes. Ranting over! So sorry you not getting any sun ginger, even tho I can't sit out in it, it is nice to see it shine. Good news on your scan results Claire . Great that some can get away for a short break. Hopefully will b going to see stepson in Cayman Islands in January! Worth the wait. Hope you feeling better Doggirl. I don't have many happy thoughts at mo but sending what I have to each and everyone one of you. One thing that's a step forward I suppose - my hair has started to grow again! I live in Essex. NO I'm not a TOWIE. About 30mins fro London. Promise to leave my white stilettos at home! Xx ... View more

Hi. Had my first Tax last Thurs after 3 FEC and feel like hell! Thank you for posting these threads. I can feel so isolated at times and wonder if it's just me! I don't mean to sound selfish but knowing someone else having similar SE makes this "normal". On the May 2012 thread and Tax only been had by very few. Good luck with all your treatments and hope the sun shines over you very soon. Dorothy x ... View more

Hi all. Squeakymouse I just want to squeeze thru and give u a big hug! The bone ache and tiredness is so destructive on my emotions too. Physical pain seems so much easier to deal with. Hope you feeling better and the dark thoughts letting some sunshine in today! Had my juicing Thursday and was a walk in the park compared to the FEC. Thanks for the heads up Em on the first 10mins zone. Was a bit anxious thru this then just sat back and let the poison flow thru. Took so long though. The FEC session only took bout an hour, I was there for over 2 hours! No nasty mouth, no weird nose, no nausea and managed to walk out width a clear head. The crazy chemo brain is thinking "maybe it was just water they pumped into me, they're just playing a game with me". Mind you woke up looking like a great big tomato today. Skin very red. Oiling my finger and toe nails more now. Taken on board the Tax effects to the nails. Someone mentioned wearing socks - were these special socks. I've lost my breasts and hair and don't fancy losing the nails too. Finally got my cardiology appointment thu for next next. My last CT scan showed had fluid in heart area and an echo confirmed. Need to get this checked out before the radio starts. Feeling confident it won't turn out to be a big thing as the breathlessness has subsided. Love, hugs and happy thoughts to everyone. X ... View more

Hi all just wrote a post and looks like itgot lost. Must take the dogs out as driving me mad and will try again when get back. Been awake since 430 again! So feels like afternoon already! am feeling great though! Will fill you in later. ... View more

Hi to All. No news from the hospital so assuming juicing with first Tax to go ahead tomorrow afternoon. You are quite right Doggirl, must get rid of the guilt. What you get being brought up a Catholic and going to catholic schools. No matter how much you think you finally think for yourself the guilt thing creeps back in. So raspberries to guilt! Hi Rattles, didn't mean to mislead you. I have a portacath inserted, makes me look a bit like Sigorny Weaver with a little alien trying to surface through my chest. The cost is using the special needle they need to withdraw the blood. So they try to use the feet first. Only took 3times! Apparently veins collapse no matter where they are in body. All juices put thru the port during juicing time. Glad the tax went well Em, will try the mantra too.Although I had no nausea on my last FEC. Had my 8 steroids today,hopefully will sleep tonight. Got a stinking head cold today. Hopefully be better tomorrow and they will go ahead with it. Loves to all.xx ... View more

Hi everyone. Sorry to see most are having a rough time. I've felt a bit guilty cause I doing ok. Not great but ok. I have no trouble with hospital except seem to see different onc each time. SE seem mild and manageable, few ulcers which only lasted 48 hours. Had bone ache cause of the jabs again lasted a week. The lethargy gets to me, starts the emotions going as can't stand asking for help and feel life is just passing me by. So started knitting again. At least I being creative. Reading everyone's treatments is so confusing! I had surgery first, bilateral mx, only few node removed which were all clear (yippee), had 4 scans, most tumours were TN. This doesn't seem to fit with others either. Very strrange. Had bloods done today so feet very sore. Can't use arms and they won't use the portacath as it costs too much! Really thinking of you all. I do read most days and try to send happy thoughts every day. Will let you know how the first tax goes, due thursday. Hugs to all. Xx ... View more

Hi to Everyone. After a couple of days feeling very energised and not being able to sit still I feel a quiet,lazy day coming on with nothing but films to watch and knitting to complete. Had my walk with doggies so they're happy. Bikerchic - I like most others it see the onc between each treatment. Rattles - thanks for the info on the TNBC thread. I diagnosed the both TN and DCIS ER/HR positive tumours. Positive stories on the thread. Em - my first tax due next week (Thurs). Feel like the first time again when started the FEC. Trying to stay open minded about the SE but negative thoughts outweighing the positive and giving me headache! Off to energise to body so can enjoy lunch with friends tomorrow and day with grandson the weekend. Have a good weekend everyone. Thanks for being here X ... View more

Evening everyone. Glad your up and about again Rattles and got out for a walk. Have 2 dogs and like you Doggirl so glad I have them. They make me get out. Don't do the long walks at mo, more of leisurely stroll round neiGbourhood but feel so much better when I get out with them. Think that's why so miserable last week as didn't have the energy. I haven't done anything as drastic as freak out cyclist but have caused a couple of delivery guys to wish they hadn't knocked. At home I tend go au naturel! Trinny and Suzanne (my falsies) go their hammocks in the bedroom, and head only gets covered when I cold. Had a shoestring top on so no hiding the fact I had no breasts as well as having no hair - poor man didn't know were to look. Was a good girl today - finally went thru my clothes and got rid of the clothes I can no longer wear due to the shape. Wasn't as bad as I thought only lost some and can easily adapt others. Goodnight all Dorothy Xx ... View more

Love these stories. I've recently had a bilateral mx and being a woman of mature years and 3 children my "originals" were tired and droopy. I took full advantage and got a perky pair and slightly larger. So happy wIth them. My clothes have never looked better. I named mine as Shelley61 did. My softies were Thelma and Louise. They even got an outing on Facebook. Fully fledge members of the family. They went into semi retirement when Trinny and Suzanne joined the family about 8 weeks ago. When they need replacing intend to recycle them as ear protectors. ... View more

Thank you all so very much. Back to me again with your help. I have joined the May 2012 feed which I know, along with family and friends, will keep me going so I can see this through to the end. You are all amazing women. X ... View more

Hi everyone. Thank you all so much for your kind words. My crisis is over. Surprising what sharing, and 24 hours, can do to a person. Felt better yesterday and back to myself today. I came through and knowing I did it this time, I know I can do it again (if I have to), and I know have new friends to help me. My family and friends are wonderful, but at times like these you really do need people that have felt it to talk you through. I'm enjoying a day with my grandson today. Will continue to visit. Thank you again. X ... View more

Hi to all on May 2012 feed. I started treatment on May 17th. 6xFEC-T. Only just got the urge to join you. Quite new to this kind of thing. Only a member of FB so I can keep up to date with family! So if I go wrong and only post half of what I'm trying to say apologies now. I'll come back to finish off, just not sure when! Just wanted to say thank you for sharing your stories. I've had a good read today as needed a boost. My first 2 treatments I got over quite quick, the last one was a week ago and I still feel rough so feeling sorry for myself and wondering if it's all worth it. I'm sure it will pass, just don't like feeling this way. Thanks again. Dorothy x ... View more