Breast Cancer Now Forum

Hi just thought Id recommend the chillow pillow for sweats at night- mine aren't as bad now but really helped me out when they were bad. they are expensive but was v helpful for me. hope it improves soon x ... View more

Hi there, I went to treloggan in portsmouth and the lady there was very helpful and chose the first one she suggested I try on. Which hospital are you with- There is also tha macmillan centre at QA where a lady runs appointments from thursdays/fridays and a place I think they recommended innovation hair in gosport where the NHS vouchers can be used from QA hospital. http://www.innovationhair.co.uk/ who ordered in quite a few different ones for me to try. They were all very helpful but cant imagine buying one without trying on. I ended up getting one from innovation and buying one from treloggan too. Hope this helps x ... View more

hi there, just wondered if there is a meeting today - if so is it at p solent, not sure from memory if im getting mixed up. will try and come if so- if i can get away cheers karenx ... View more

Hi there hope your arm feels better? did you go into the unit yesterday. I have posted about sore arms before as I had two fec chemos through my L arm but it started hurting week after the second FEC but they then recommended I had a PICC line - didnt want one but to start with but so glad I did as I still cant straighten my L arm properly. If I had the choice again Id have a PICC line put in from the start and it made chemo and blood tests musch more easy. Its out now and that arm has been fine but arm I had chemo in still feels tight and cant straighten it. Hope its getting better, take care xx ... View more

Hi I cant recommend enough about asking to get a PICC line put in as soon as possible as I had to wait to get an appointment to get it fitted as only specially trained people/ nurses/docs can do it. My chemo nurses organised an appointment for me when they saw my painful arm and brown lines on inside of arm. Think the red epirubicin of teh FEC is the worst one for veins. They had trouble trying to get PICC line in my chemo arm, I think as the veins were so bad as think mine are small anyway. (didnt hurt or anything trying at least) they didnt want to put line in my operation side arm but that was only option really and had to go back the week after to get it put in that arm instead and it went in straight away no problem. The appointment took upto an hour to get sorted as they took a chest xray just to check it was in right place etc. they told me the lump was thrombophlebitis inflammation of veins which can go on its own but after it came back again got mine scanned and it was a clot and now on injections. Dont think its that unusual to get the inflammation though. Has anyone seen ypur lump? I phoned the unit and went in to show them They did say to use brufen gel to reduce pain inflammation but phone your unit and ask. hope all goes ok and calms down x ... View more

Hiya, can really sympathise with you With my hard red lump in same place I was told initially to use a hot water bottle and ibuprofen gel on it, and certainly thought the hot water bottle helped. If you are worried about your arm pain are you having a line in? I had a PICC line put in after my 2nd FEC and I really dont think I could have stood any more pain in my arm. Although didnt want a PICC initially it made everything so much easier would really recommend it, and wish Id had one in from the start. My arm is still sore and cannot straighten it and have been told to massage it but that hurts too. xx ... View more

Hi everyone, just thought Id ask how other peoples friends react to them with treatment and wigs etc.??? I went out with some friends and was quite nervous as first time wearing wig, and am quite up for talking about it but when they arrived they didnt say anything and talked as if nothing had happened -just ignored the whole thing- perhaps they think I dont want to talk about it or were waiting for me to say something but my wig is so obviuoulsy different it couldnt be they hadnt notioed. Then felt really awkward to start bringing it up as wondering it looks so wiggy they cant even say like the new hairstyle or something. Im hoping its just coz they dont know what to say but even something would be better than nothing very strange. I did say by the end I was dying to take it off and was itchy but didnt say anything else either. Felt very strange. Anyway had my hair shaved off and got rid of the whole monk/ comb over thing. Felt alot better afterwards even if dont like the wig. I also couldnt stand the hair coming out all over the clothes & everywhere & in the shower. Hope everyone OK xx ... View more

Thanks for your replies makes me feel alot better about it. many thanks xxx ... View more

Hi there, (sorry if this comes twice my computer is playing up so try again..) OMG Cant believe you had to be in hospital with kidney infection lily, but glad that you are out now and hope you get better soon. I had a bad chest (everyone seems to have be coughing everywhere and also coughs & colds going round the nursery & my little boy kindly brings them all back home). It started a week after my first FEC but got antibiotics from GP and was OK (although got a parking ticket into the bargain as it all tookl over an hour!). I think someone told me about homestart which can help with the kids etc and the breast care nurses helped too with info if you dont get any joy. (Wish I lived nearer as Im a week behind you and felt OK that week!) Hope you chemo goes OK tomorrow Jem. I had my second FEC today and waiting to see how it goes. Felling not too bad so trying to do what I can this afternoon. It seems that everyone has such different reactions and you just dont know how youll react. I heard of one lady who only had chemo days off and worked the whole time otherwise! Everyone is different so just see how it goes. The nurses were really good explaining it all and putting me at ease. Good luck everyone xx ... View more

Hi there, chemo yesetrday was fine. cold cap think made me feel abit sick but after 15min was ok just heavy and headache. Got home and thought I was doing really well-had chemo about 12.30 and was absolutely fine till 8.30pm and then felt abit sick and v tired so went to bed and felt sick all night but not actually been sick, comes in waves. Suppose im lucky ive not been sick yet but its only the first day. still in pjs watching crap daytime tv. Think Id bettr go and have some more tablets to try keep it at bay. hows eveyone else doing? xxx ... View more

Hi there, Im in tomorrow for 1st chemo. Cant believe the time has finally come round. Hope everyone else is doing OK. Going to try the cold cap but my hair is really fine anyway so not sure it will do anything. Good to hear how people are doing. xxx ... View more

Hiya, Yes i went for a wig fitting and they just look ridiculous. I know theres much worse things but could just do with out it. My hair is really fine and quite long so the wigs look like ive got 3 times as much hair & it feels ridiculous, wondering whether to cut it short coz it will be easier but cant bring myself to. Sure mine will grow back grey and curly! Wot a mare about your prescription when youve psyched yourself up for it.Wot a nightmare. Are you snowed in? we are stuck here. keep in touch x ... View more

Hi there, Im also starting FEC next week on tues 12th so would be good to link up. Im thinking of you and hope it wont be too bad. It seems everyone has different experience. I just want to get on with it now although Im also dreading it aswell and everything else that goes on with treatment- rads/ tamoxifen etc etc. Let us know how it goes x ... View more

Hi there, I think I have similar results to you and they told me that chemo would give me a estimated extra 5% survival advantage/ 10 years too so am stating chemo in jan too. I also had vasuclar invasion which I was v worried about but the oncologist didnt seem to think it was that significant, ( although I have read otherwise on the internet, dont really know what to thing as it all seems so random anyway). I think Drs often use the computer model and put in size/ no of nodes affected +/- oestrigen etc. etc. which gives a % reduction in risk according to what treatment you have on 10 year prognosis so that may be what they were talking about. I think a 5% reduction is worth taking the chemo for. if its useful to chat then let me know as we will be going through things at a similar time- what chemo are you having Hope you are feeling better about things by now? x ... View more

Hi there, Am interested in knowing if you are meeting up anywhere as recognise some of the places mentioned in the thread and not too far at all. Had my operation and am starting chemo in next few weeks, dont know if anyone else in same stage. Anyway will keep an eye on the postings... Thanks ... View more

Hi, I am abit confused too, but thought Id say my consultant was quite supportive of egg collection before chemo, am waiting to hear if I can see someone in the meantime to explain it (or dont know if any of you know what the regimen is??)- she said you can use letrozole instead of oestrogens etc. (as mine is strongly oestrgen positive)to stimulate egg production before collection and said I could maybe stop tamoxifen afte a couple of years to get pregnant. Has anyone gone though the egg collection with letrozole etc. -how long did it take to get the eggs/ did you have to start at a particular part in the menstrual cycle. I think it would delay my chemo which I think I would be worried about doing and time is ticking by. I am concerned though as because my tumor is very oestrogen positive so I cant understand why in theory it is OK to have a break from something that blocks oestrogen to have a pregnancy that increases the levels? I guess the benefits of tamoxifen for 5 years arent as big as we think? They havent said anything about xoladex is that only used in some people? cheers ... View more

Thanks for your replies- thats another question do alot of people have a hickman or picc line? does it make it easier or less painful. They havent mentioned it yet but seeing onc next week. thanks x ... View more