Breast Cancer Now Forum

Good morning ladies all, thank you so much for your messages of support re my hair and general feelings about the chemo. Last Friday I had found a couple of online head accessories sites and ordered a few different things, some arrived Saturday and the rest on Monday. I got so distressed on Tuesday when trying the items on and finding loads of hair in them when I took them off that I cried, this is not something I do easily. Decided to take the bull by the horns and rang my friend who is also my hairdresser and asked her to come and shave the remaining hair off for me. She came yesterday afternoon and let me take my time as to when we stopped chatting and she started clipping my hair down; she did it in stages and I plucked up courage to loook in a hand mirror at each stage - found it less stressful than I had thought it would be. My head is now covered with a very short stubble which will not be so noticeable as it falls out and believe it or not I feel much better today, more like I am in control and not dealing with prolonging the agony of watching my hair fall out. I have told some close friends what I've done and they all say 'how brave' I am, I don't feel brave, more like taking a coward's way out in getting my head shaved rather than endure the natural process. Ah well, another personal hurdle surmounted and a much more positive Hattie today. Thanks to you all being there for me. Hattie xx ... View more

Hi, I had my first cycle of EC chemotherapy start on 1st July, and my second cycle started yesterday - so different from first. I had Zometa bone infusion on 14th June and had terrible bone pain the following day, yesterday I had my second bone infusion and no pain at all today. I can't help but wonder why I have such differing responses to exactly the same drugs and dosage. My biggest problem that I am facing now is hair loss because I couldn't tolerate the cooling cap therfore hair loss became inevitable; but so soon! and so quickly with so much thinning that I feel I will have nothing left by this time next week when I see the 'wig clinic lady'. Has the rapid hair loss been the same with others on EC chemo? I must admit I have found this to be the hardest to face and deal with, and became very tearful this morning; I'm feeling that I am moulting as a dog would do! Sorry, I sound miserable, I'm not usually like this but am feeling a bit 'down' right now. Hattie x ... View more

HI Ann, Good luck with Femara. I started this in July and have only experienced mild side effects - for the first few weeks my hair went very lank and lifeless but recovered and is back to normal now. I do have the occasional 'heat wave' during the day and have had a couple of nights where I have woken up absolutely sweating uncomfortably but an odd night is something I (and I guess most of us) can cope with. Reading the manufacturer's information on side effects can be scary and most of the things listed are rarities but we need to be aware that serious things can happen so that we don't ignore any major changes we feel in ourselves. I would suggest that now you know what could happen, be aware of this but otherwise just carry on concentrating on the here and now and note any changes you experience without getting too alarmed about them. Hattie ... View more

Hi Karen I had two surgeries to ensure the margins were good and after the second op, in April, I found it took a long time for the swelling to down simply because I had radiotherapy soon afterwards and that can create a sweeling too. During the summer months I got quite fed up of having to buy new bras to ensure a good fit and comfort. I still have hardness either side of the lumpectomy scar and have never had a problem with the axillary scar (same one used twice for SNB and then clearance). Generally we are all different and find our experience of this awful disease and its treatments varied but at only two months post op I wouldn't worry too much but would suggest you talk to your breast care nurse, not in a clinic situation but in a separate appointment so that you have time to mention all your concerns. I found my BCN to be the one to give me most information and advice, as well as leaflets issued by this charity. I felt I had the most personal support from BCN although the therpaists and specialists gave information there was not a lot of explanation or support. I hope my experiences have helped you a bit. Hattie x ... View more

Hi Irene, you will get back on track but it will take some time for you to recover from all you've faced this year. I was diagnosed in January of this year and returned to work only two weeks ago having allowed myself the time to deal with all the issues diagnosis raised. Each of us will get through diagnosis and treatments but in our own way and pace. I think we all 'suffer' a kind of relief when treatments are complete and we then let ourselves give in to the emotional reaction that we've kept a tight hold on while undergoing all the tests, operations, treatments etc. Talking to your BCN will help, and 'chatting' here at the website will help too. Do not be hard on yourself or feel you have to be 100% right now and for all people; let your body and your mind recover from all it's traumas, look after yourself and allow yourself to gradually get into the swing of daily living and I'm sure you'll be fine. Hattie ... View more

Oh please don't get so distraught, the lumpy feeling so soon after RT is just as I experienced in July and I was told it was normal. You are bound to be emotional and tearful some of the time you have taken quite a few shocks in recent months. My experience was of feeling exhausted and 'blue' for about a month after the RT was completed. Perhaps you ought to tell your family that although you are fine in respect of completed treatment you need some time to come to terms with all that has happened to you - maybe try a mutual comforting session so to speak but tell them how you need their support along with you giving them assurance that you are fine. Allow yourself to react to what's been going on in recent months and ask them to allow this too. Hattie. ... View more

I saw the Oncologist yesterday and was told that I now move into the 'observation and checks' period and all treatment as such is completed. I will see the surgeon in 3 months time then alternately every six I will see the Oncologist and Surgeon. I will have to have bilateral mammograms every year for the next five years and continue with the hormone therapy. My BCN has discharged me from her regular visits but I have the option to phone or email her if I have any problems. My skin is good now and generally I can return to normal life again although with the limitations for the rest of my life brought about by the axillary clearance surgery. So, after 7 months of various 'troubles' I can re-start my life! Feels rather odd though as my life will never be the same again. Hattie xx ... View more

Hi, I had left axillary clearance in April and sometimes get tingling in my fingers of that hand but not to a point of numbness. I would say it is early days for you and it might improve, especially if you are able to do the exercises, but do talk to your breast care nurse if it continues - better to be safe and find out about it rather than worry. Hattie xx ... View more

Hi Julie, I don't know if this will help but I wore front fastening bras that were a very soft cotton fabric immediately post op and found their support comfortable. I bought them on line from Fifty Plus. I am four months post op and just starting to wear 'normal' bras and chicken fillet having had two ops for excision of lump then axillary clearance. Mail to me privately if you think I can help any more and you don't want to discuss nitty gritty in public. Hattie ... View more

Hi snoogle I hope you are doing okay so far with the Femara. How's the sleeping doing? Hattie ... View more

Hi, I haven't had chemo so no loss or re-growth of hair but I noticed after only a week of Femara that my hair changed. Always fine, deep waves and plenty of it, my hair lost its natural wave and volume to a point where I've had to change my style completely. It took a while to get used to the 'new me' with almost straight hair. Hattie ... View more

Hi snoogle, it might be an idea to have some sleeping tablets in the house in case the distrubed sleep increases with Femara. Hi Irene, don't ever think you are bothering your BCN if you have a worry - if she's anything like mine she'll be very understanding and supportive. To talk to her will ease your mind when the opposite is sitting home and worrying which increases other things. I hadn't put the tingling in my fingers at night down to Femara, just thought it was recovering nerve sensation after surgery in March and April, maybe I'll ask my BCN when I see her next if it doesn't settle. Hattie xx ... View more

Hi Debs, I hope you are coping with your last session's effects reasonably well and resting as much as you can. I went to the prosthetics clinic yesterday and had nearly an hour of being 'fitted' for something to level me up - finally found a 'smile' chicken fillet that does the job pretty well although there is still a slight difference. Still it won't be so noticeable as my natural state would be when I return to work - I've never minded friends and family seeing me as I am. One thing I discovered is that my scar is considered to be very tight and at first BCN said I may need surgery to relieve it, or we could try intensive use of E45 in a couple of weeks time when my skin is more normal again - I opted for the latter in view of already having had two ops this year and each with a pretty rough recovery period. The only problem area with my skin now is around the breast scar - all the rest of the area has gradually peeled just like sunburn - with no discomfort in that process at all. I'm glad to say the exhausted feeling has gone now and I get more like a normal tiredness but take less effort than before BC to get tired - but as with everything else it is taking time but improving all the same. I go to see the Oncologist on 21st and my GP on 24th, who knows, by then I may feel ready to say I want to return to work. Time will tell on that one! Do look after yourself and pamaper yourself when you can. Love Anne xx ... View more

Hi Topsymo, I agree with you entirely, every one of us will experience 'the same treatments' in different ways. The problems I had were minor compared to some ladies and major compared to others. I guess it is a sad fact that so many ladies do have breast cancer that treatment sessions can seem somewhat like a conveyor belt, I was warned of this by my BCN but didn't find it distressing, more of an endurance test when waiting for my session because of various delays. I suppose I am one of the 'lucky' ones where chemo was not a necessary treatment, and left to me to choose whether to have it - as it would only increase my possible survival rate by 1-2% I opted to keep chemo in reserve in case I am unfortunate enough to have a recurrence. Hattie ... View more

Hello, I seem to be junping into a long conversation re skin care but wonder if this might help. I have recently had RT (finished 8th July) and was advised that Aloe Vera was not appropriate to use during treatment. For post RT I would guess it is ok. To get the gel straight from the plant is easy to do - take off a leaf and run your fingernail down the side so that it splits then you will see the pure gel and just need to gently squeeze or push it out. I used this on my son when he had a skin rash that didn't respond to more 'chemical' preparations and it worked wonders. Hattie xx ... View more

Hi Debs, Is this next session your last of chemo? I hope it is not too traumatic for you, although if it is anything like the effect of RT the more you have the worse you feel. I felt dreadful by the end of my three weeks RT. As to going back to work I think my head is ready where my body is not, yet, as I still get tired very quickly and can't manage much more than 1/2 hour drive before I feel in need of a rest. As I am a peripetatic NVQ Assessor I need to be able to drive and have my wits about me for individual sessions of tutoring and assessment. I'm hoping I improve more over the next few weeks as I have in the past few. I have a new experience planned for next Monday - an assesssment at the prosthetics clinic for although I don't mind so much my family and friend seeing my uneven bust I don't want to be meeting new people in that 'state'. My skin hasn't completely recovered from RT so I don't know if I'll be able to wear a prosthesis next week or whether I'll have to wait a bit longer, but at least I'll see what is available to even me up again. I'll let you know the results of that visit. Love Anne xx ... View more

Hi Ladies, How are you all doing? It's gone very quiet in this little forum recently; for myself it has been the RT and it's after effects with extreme tiredness and lack of incentive to do much other than 'rest'. I'm glad to say I seem to be over the worst now and am getting back into doing things, including sitting at the computer for more than two minutes. I hope all is going reasonably well with you. Let us know how things are when you have time and incentive :-). Anne xx ... View more

Hi J, I haven't been on Tamoxifen so can't comment on its side effects but I started Femara in April and although I had a change in the texture of my hair almost immediately the only other problems I've had are the sweats and some insomnia. As you have these already lets hope the change over is with little effect on your body now. Hattie xx ... View more