Breast Cancer Now Forum

Hi Nette I found that drinking cold stuff through a straw worked as you didn't get the horrible taste in your mouth.  I normally drink loads of water but really struggled throughout chemo but it improved in time. Ice poles are good too.   Whiskers my T was the worst time ever.  I thought rigamortice  (not sure of spelling) had set in!! I t was so painful from my ear lobes to the soles of my feet.  My onc reduced my dose by 20 mls and that was so much better, still painful but not as bad.  I too was worried that by reducing my dose my chances of survival  would be lower but onc said that it would be ok. I refused to let them lower it again for No. 3 as I did not want to be worried about getting cancer again so they agreed to keep it the same.  They were only going to reduce it by 5mls but I did not want to take the chance.   I have finished my chemo and rads now and am on Tamoxifen.   Good luck with the rest of your treatment ... View more

I finished chemo in June then got radiotherapy.  My hair is coming in but is still very short.  I have ditched the scarfs and everyone says I am rocking the JessieJ look!! It grew in patchy and fluffy so I shaved it off 3 times.  It grew in pure white but now getting a bit of brown coming through (I am 51).  I think it will take ages to get too any decent length. ... View more

I must have been lucky with mine.  They came back better than I had before.  My eyebrows are a bit slower in coming in and my hair has come in grey.  Makes me feel much older but everyone says it looks great. ... View more

I bought a wig from the hospital.  I just made an appointment to look at what was available.  I was able to order 2 and take them home to see what family thought and to try them out.  If I didn't like them there was no obligation to buy them.  i am in England so they are not free but are subsidised through the hospital.  A Macmillan Grant can help with the cost too.  I only wore my wig when I went out socialising in the evening.  I didn't wear anything in the house but had a little cap handy incase anyone came to the door.  I wore scarfs when I went out in the day. I found my wig comfortable - not hot or itchy and everyone that seen it commented on how good it looked.  My hair is coming back now so will use scarfs/wigs less.  Good luck ... View more

Hi Bonski It sounds like you have the same as me. I had grade 3 invasive (33mm). I was diagnosed in October last year and I had 2 operations, 6 sessions of chemo, 20 days of radiotherapy and now on Tamoxifen. I had my chemo at one hospital and radio at another. My husband was in the Army and we moved to England when he came out but we only moved from Scotland. How long will you be in England? I have a friend that moved from Scotland and now lives in Texas. Just write down any questions you have so you remember them and ask everything you want to know. It is a scarey time without being in a strange new place that works different from home. Good Luck ... View more

Hi Kat77 I was really worried about my hair loss before it happened. I didn't use the cold cap for various reasons. My hair started to fall out on day 14 after my first chemo. By the following week it was so bad that I could not go out without covering my head so I decided it was time to shave it off. Once it was off I felt a lot better. I didn't have to worry about dropping hair in food when cooking or leaving clumps behind everywhere I went. Glad your Mum didn't feel too bad after chemo. Let her know if it does fall out it will grow back so not to worry. I had 6 sessions of chemo (Fec-T) and 20 days of radiotherapy. I finished on 19th July and my hair has started growing now. It is very short but growing. My eyebrows have just appeared again too. Good luck to you and your Mum. ... View more

Hi Peacock I too have Lymphodema in my breast. I go and get my arm measured every 6 weeks or so but found that radiotherapy had made it worse. I have now finished radiotherapy so am hoping it will go down soon. I didn't know you could get it in your breast either as they only mentioned the arm before. I have some massage exercises to do that encourages the other lymph nodes to work harder and hopefully encourage the fluid to drain to my good side. It was working before radiotherapy and now I have finished I will start doing the exercises again. I have started an exercise programme through referral and am hoping that will help too. I have trouble getting any of my clothes to fit and even the bigger bras I purchased from the hospital are too small. Rhianphil - I will look at the LSN website and may get more info too ... View more

Hi Mac123 I know where you are coming from. I had 6 cycles of Fec-T followed by 3 and a half weeks of Radiotherapy. I thought at the end of chemo I would feel good - another thing ticked off the list but I felt awful. Very tired, upset with not being able to do all the things I could do before. Then I started Radiotherapy with boosters on the first 3 days and the last 3 days. I said when I was done with the daily appointments I would be celebrating but I finished 2 weeks ago and still don't feel like celebrating. I did not use the cold cap as my hair was thin and I had highlights so there would not have been much left. I am now egg shell blonde with a few bristles starting to grow again. I lost my eyebrows but went to a Look Good Feel Better session and they showed me how to draw my eyebrows in. If you haven't been to one then you should consider going. My nails look like they have been trapped in a car door! They have been orange to purple and very sore. My toenails have gone the same. I used nail polish to give them some strength. I am now on Tamoxifen and that seems to be ok. I am normally a very positive person too but you are tested to your limits on this journey. My skin was good on Radiotherapy until I got to the last week then it started to break down. It looked a mess but now 2 weeks after finishing it is healing and I will soon get a bra on again. (I have big boobs which caused me a few issues). Try and stay positive as you will feel better soon. My hair has started growing again but looks very grey. I am not sure when I can colour it but at least it is growing. I have decided that whatever colour i get I will have to accept it. Good luck with your last chemo and radiotherapy. Take care from Vi. ... View more

Hi Julie I was on Fec-T and was able to work part time while on the first three but only the week before treatment started again. When I went onto chemo no 4 that all changed and I haven't been back to work yet. I am planning on going back soon. Everyone is different so speak to your boss and explain that you will just have to listen to your body and play it by ear. Good Luck. Vi ... View more

Hi Elma I had my lymph nodes removed and a lumpectomy in November 2012. I asked them about leaving the good ones as I only had 3 bad ones that they had found in advance of my op, but to be sure it could not spread they took them all. Just be prepared for not being able to move your arm very much afterwards. You will get exercises to do and it is better if you try to do them as often as possible. If you are like me you will think your arm will never be in full use again but it is amazing what you can achieve in a matter of weeks. In the end I think removing all is the best and it gives you more peace of mind for the future. I have now had 2 ops, chemotherapy and just finished radiotherapy. Good Luck for Thursday. If I can help you with anything during your recovery or before Thursday just contact me. Vi ... View more

Hi Rhubarb I had Fec-T and got quite weepy a couple of times during my treatment but I think it was being tired that caused it. It made me very sleepy for about 2 days but as soon as I took my injections I could not sleep. How many sessions have you got to get? Speak to the nurses when you see them they are usually very helpful. Good Luck Vi ... View more

Sorry to hear you are going through a bad time. I can symathise as I have exactly the same issues. I have big boobs too and the skin from my nipple down to my ribs is black. I have open sores, not just in the crease but on the underside of my boob. I kept telling the rad nurses during last weeks treatment but they just kept saying this is "normal". Well it isn't normal to me! Instead of jumping for joy at finishing my treatment I feel quite miserable. Working in an office with just as many men as women does not fill me with confidence of going to work without a bra (I haven't gone back yet). My skin is very red and boob very swollen. I ended up going to my practice nurse at the doctors and she dressed it for me. When I went back today it was bleeding, weeping and stinging like mad. She has now given me an antiseptic dusting powder which should stop any further dressings sticking and removing more skin each time it is changed. I will let you know how I get on with it. ... View more

Katy I experienced pain in my bad side but they adjusted the top support which allowed me to relax my arm much more. It didn'y effect the measurements as the bottom one is their guide. Ask them to move it until you feel more comfortable. I had my last radiotherapy session today. How many have you got left? Good luck. Vi ... View more

Twizzie3 I had really bad burning feeling after my first and every session. I also had what felt like pinball going on inside my breast which was not good. I was told by one person to put my cream in the fridge but she was quickly interupted by another saying never to do that. I just use it from the bathroom and never put it in the fridge. Thought I was doing well but this week my skin has broke down. Get my last one today so will see what they say. I was advised to keep my bra off and use a cotton hanky underneath by breast to keep any moisture from building up. I do have quite large breast which is one of the problems but you being a runner that might help save your skin. I haven't felt very tired with it but have been told that will happen afterwards. ... View more