Breast Cancer Now Forum

Hi, I also had treatment from June last year at WSH. I finished rads in December and apart from dealing with Lymphoedema, am trying to move forward.  Would be very happy to chat over a coffee sometime. Wil PM my email address. Cressida x ... View more

Good luck Katherine. Sorry the Tax train is causing problems for some of you - I'm having my own battle with FEC! It's horrible but in a totally different way. Really fuzzy brain, weak and lethargic and my teeth feel loose! And hungry but nauseous at the same time! Chemo sucks! Have a good week everyone xxxxx ... View more

Morning all,   I survived the first FEC yesterday and so far, I feel a little nauseous, have a headache and the vein in my neck where my central line is looks a bit enlarged - Oh, and my pee is luminous orange!! I'm planning on a very quiet day as I've been feeling so very tired recently - even a short walk wears me out!!   Good luck to all of you at the bar today - we're getting there slowly but surely. xxx ... View more

Haven't worked out how to do that Clare! Couldn't find the link to upload an image.... ... View more

Just got to write this quickly while I remember. Found this very useful saying for when you want to say to someone that you're not interested in their complaining.... it's translated from Polish I believe 'Not my circus, Not my monkeys' I'm going to be using this one!!! Catch you later shiny peeps. x ... View more

Had a real downer of a day yesterday - a real black cloud moment. Happily, it has blown away and I'm feeling better both physically and emotionally. Settling down to watch Bondi Rescue - lots of good looking Aussies wearing not very much - how very sad am I!!! Hope you've all had a fab weekend Jewels - catch up when the new forum is up and running. xxx ... View more

OMG - are you staying at The Great House??? ... View more

Debs, seriously? Lavenham?? It's like - on my doorstep!! I'm sure you've got everything planned but if you fancied a meet... just PM me! No offence if you don't - I understand time away is SO precious! xxxx ... View more

Ha Ha, we all posted at the same time! ... View more

Debs - I'm confused! Isn't Ludlow in Shropshire? I'm only asking as being in Suffolk - I thought you might be coming to visit near me!! x By the way, I love the pic - the wig looks great, really suits you! X Deedee, ANC is short for axillary node clearance - this BC is like a whole new language isn't it! One we never wanted to learn but now speak pretty much fluently. Don't know about the rest of you Jewels, but ROLL ON YORK!!! xxx ... View more

Fiona, I'm with you - what am I going to do on Monday with no thread? - it is NOT a reflection of my sad life (honest!) - but more a reflection on how important you all are, and that just knowing there's always a Jewel with a virtual hug, words of wisdom and support who knows just how I'm feeling that makes it all bearable. Doing this as a single woman, with older teenage children does mean I spend quite a bit of time on my own and all of you precious people have become an important part of my life. Right, enough of the soppy stuff. Off to the library! Been reading like mad lately. Really recommend 'The Light between Oceans' - bit of a tear-jerker but I read it in one day! xxx ... View more

Hello my lovelies, I'm back home after a 2 day stay in hospital. Seems like there's been something in the water. I've read all the posts, please forgive me for the lack of individual comments - I'm feeling a bit tired and woozy! Sorry for the Tax ladies who are suffering, It's tough - but if I can do it 3 times, then you all can. Came home to find no washing up had been done when I was away and I completely LOST IT. Felt really awful afterwards but I was so disappointed and upset..... For those of you on or going on, holiday, have a fab time and to those at home, have a fab time. Shine on... 🙂 xxxxxx ... View more

Will someone stop this bloody train because I want to get off. Now. (yes, I'm having a Grrrr day too! ) I popped into school to get some books, and I'm just so fed up at (a) missing nearly all of last term and (b) not being able to start next term. The start of the school year is one of the highlights and I've got all these ideas for lessons - and it's not going to happen. I feel really frustrated and angry and sad and I've just had about as much as I can take of people trying to be nice but saying totally the wrong things. I'm also fed up with staying at home when I could have been in France for the entire summer. Thank you precious friends - I feel better now! Love you all xxx p.s. Fiona - yukky mouth - cucumber in fizzy water with ice is very refreshing. I also ate lots of broccoli with round 1 because it still tasted like broccoli. However by round 2 I was sick to death of the sight of it..... ... View more

Good luck this morning to Lins, Becky and Jayney. Sorry about the palps, Jayney, how horrid. Make sure you tell your team at the unit (I'm fussing like a mother hen!) Try not to worry about the Tax (so much easier to say!) I've not found it pleasant, but not as tough as some of the ladies on FEC have (which I'm dreading!) Jill glad the line went ok, hope fuzzy head starts to clear. Fiona, keep taking it easy - no point in overdoing it! Debs, Tax x 3 got me too dispite the lower dose + single jab. Day 7 and it looks like I've swallowed white paint! Took a sleeping pill last night as desperate for sleep but even though I did get a few hours - it's not like good quality sleep and here I am, awake at 7am but still tired! Sandra/Fiona, I know what you mean about Half-Way - my friends are all beging very (Shh ...positive!) telling me '3 down, 3 to go' and I know they mean it to be encouraging, but honestly, after 3 I don't know I've got another 3 in me! it seems like a huge mountain to climb and even then, there's more to come.... and I'm not even having Herceptin..... I'm just so ****** tired of having BC. Fi, I'm so sorry to hear of your ex-partner. No wonder you're feeling low. I hope you have someone you can talk to, but for the moment, hugs coming your way xx Chelle, loved the wig pic! Have fun with your folks Vicki - I also have the radio on when I'm on my own - Hope your boy's back safely. I'm dreading September because I'll have 2 more cycles and all my children will have gone back to school/uni - so it'll be me, myself and I.... Ann, hope the arm has settled, did I hear the mention of a good-looking doctor (ears pricking up!)..... Sigh.... Sorry if I haven't mentioned anyone - all Jewels are very precious and I hope you're all feeling ok. Hoping today is a doing day rather than a doing nothing and lying in bed day - I've got so much I should get on with!! X ... View more

Emma , so sorry to hear you're having a rough time. We're here for you anytime x I thought I was going to have a bad day but in fact I'm back up and cooking supper. If you're not sleeping, you can't get anything in perspective. My gp has prescribed me Zopiclone. It seems mild, I don't often take it, doesnt make me groggy and sometimes a half tablet is all I need to convince my body to let me go to sleep. Doesn't work against the steroids tho! Try talking to your unit ASAP. Chelle, I had the multi dose jabs twice and just had the single one. It's more expensive but has less side effects I.e. less aching joints apparently. So far so good for me, day 3 I just have yucky mouth and spaced out feeling. Very tired but not in pain. Long may that last. Sorry for typos but also got fuzzy brain! shine on! Xxx ... View more

Hi Izzy First Tax for me started day 5 and lasted about a week. I was advised to start pain relief and to keep it going regardless to get a certain level up in the body. You could try with just paracetamol (take temperature first!!) and then use co-codamol if it doesn't help. Are you having the single shot injection or the 7 x daily ones? - they can cause the pain in your bones and joints. I've just been switched (Tax x 3) to the single one and although I feel rough, nothing compared to x1 and x2. If you're having the 7 daily ones, and you're in a lot of pain, it's worth telling your onc before round 2. I also had my dose slightly reduced... Good luck Izzy, I hope it passes really soon - Take care - Cress xxx ... View more

My Tax truck has hit sadly, can't get up! Can't think - brain gone fuzzy - mouth like the proverbial bird cage and just feel a bit pants! Fiona, so pleased you're still feeling good - take it easy though! Sandra - some people do state the bleedin' obvious dont they - 'has your hair gone' I mean - honestly! I'm sure we've talked about the hot flushes before - but I was like a Belisha Beacon last night! Temperature normal (or a bit low) but sweaty betty! First time - no likey! Where's my Breast Cancer Sucks T-shirt when I need it!!! Have a lovely day Jewels - Good luck bar babes. xxxx ... View more

Jill I've got a groshong line which I believe to be quite similar to a hickman. I had it inserted in the procedure room on my day unit - it took about 30-40 minutes. It was not painful but it was uncomfortable because the sedative didn't work. I had some discomfort on the entry site in my neck for a few days and had to keep that and the exit site clean and dry for several days. My stitches came out after 3 weeks and now I am completely unaware it is there - and it has no covering. I can shower etc as normal but just need to keep it very clean. I have not been told to put anything up my nose! Thank goodness as all my nose is doing is running! I have found it to be a huge relief not to have to have nurses digging around for invisible veins but it is a bit of a bore going in to have it flushed every week. The tube that hangs out of the chest looks a little unsightly but is usually covered by what I'm wearing (!) and I find that if I wear even a simple necklace, the entry sight is also much less visible. Please ask if there's anything else I haven't covered. XXX ... View more

Oh Katherine, poor you. I really hope things look up for you very soon and that the meds kick in to make you feel better. I can't think of anything to say that will make you feel better, except that I understand how down you must be feeling and I'm sending you a virtual hug to let you know that I'm thinking of you. This crappy time WILL pass.... Cress x ... View more

Nicola - I usually reply to the looking well comment with 'It's amazing what drugs and make up can do' - that usually shuts people up!! Starting to feel a bit spaced out after yesterday but enjoyed the LGFB session - met a couple of really nice ladies local to me. V tired so lights out for me. Good luck for tomorrow to the jewels at the bar - and hope everyone is doing ok. Fiona - hope you continue to feel non-nauseous. Night night dear friends. XXX ... View more