Breast Cancer Now Forum

Thank you Edwina that helps a lot 🙂 I've been really worried as my symptoms seem to be getting worse not better and because I already know that it's spreading rapidly it's making me more anxious! I'm only 3 1/2 weeks into treatment so hopefully will pick up soon x ... View more

Hi I was looking for some advice...initial diagnosis nov 2013, lumpectomy, node clearance, 6 cycles of TAC and 3 weeks of rads. I have been breathless since march 2014 and been told it was down to the chemo. However this January they decided maybe something wasn't right so sent me for a CT scan in fab this year. The scan showed 2 very small dots on the lower right lung which they said could be an infection. I was given antibiotics and re scanned at the beginning of April. The scan in April showed what looked like snow flakes with spiders fingers branching off covering approx 3/4 of the right lung and also 1/4 of the left lung plus 2 nodes in the chest! At this point they said it still looked like an infection so sent me for a bronchoscopy 3 weeks ago. The results of the bronchoscopy showed that the lungs were very inflamed and they were struggling to take biopsies as they weren't sure what was cancer and what was inflamation. What they did determine though is that it was breast cancer cells. Since the bronchoscopy I have been left with a cough and a pain in my throat/esophegus which is extremely painful when breathing in...I've been given medication for thrush as they think this may be the cause. I have been on this for 7 days and there is still no improvement. Has anyone else experienced this? My ONC has put me on exemstane and zoladex injections and sent me for some baseline scans on bone, full body and brain a week last Monday. These scans were clear but showed that the lungs had got worse plus the mammary gland were all swollen. My ONC then suggested because of this I would probably b better having chemo, however I told her that apart from the pain in the throat/esophegus I had noticed I had started to feel better and less breathless so she agreed that It may be better to leave me on the hormone treatment for another 4 weeks and see how it goes. My question is (I'm really sorry for the long post but thought it would be better to provide full details) the last few days (3 weeks on the hormone therapy) I've started to feel a little more breathless, not as bad as before, and the cough seems to be getting a little worse, plus very slight chest pain. I have heard that you can get a tumour flare in the first few weeks of starting treatment but not sure if this can apply to the lungs....has anyone had any experience of the above? If so I would be really grateful for your advice....thank you for taking the time to read this post and once again I'm really sorry for the length of it x ... View more

Hi redriding I'm having TAC and have found the hot flushes at night unbearable as my head is constantly wet and have tried just about everything, ice even bought a chillow which is basically a very cold pillow! Nothing I did or bought helped. However, I was thinking about it scientifically the other day, and because I'm always hot and sweating due to the flushes I never wear anything on my head, but when I was thinking about it I thought maybe some of the problem is the heat from my head hitting the cold air, especially during the night when the tempreture drops. So I decided to wear a sleep cap to see if this helped and it has! Finally I sleep almost a full night. Just a thought? Marie x ... View more

Thank you x ... View more

Thanks everyone for your replies. I have tried all suggested but to no avail 😞 x ... View more

Hi projectkylie The only relief I found was to firstly shave it to a grade 3 then I slept on a silky feel cushion, everything else was too painful. Hope this helps Marie x ... View more

Hi Alice I was having this same problem and I went to see my oncologist last week and after discussion and examination it was decided there was possibly a stomach problem such as too much acid so was given some ranitidine and told never to let myself get hungry as it makes the nausea worse. I've followed their instructions as hard as it's been and I have started to feel better. The odd occasion where I've not been able to get to any food I've noticed I've started to feel really sick again. Worth a try? Marie s ... View more

Hi bigpumpkin, really glad to hear that the nausea has kept it's distance, it's just the worse thing ever! May it continue. The family gathering must have really lifted your spirits too. Re: hair....I've got a very sparse peachy covering on my head that appears to be growing! It shows no sign of shifting anyway. I've also still got some pubic hair, hair on my arms and my full eyebrows. My leg and underarms have completely gone and I've only a few eyelashes left! I'm really having to work hard with my make up now. I've got my look good feel better session on Tuesday so really looking forward to that. How's everyone else doing? Marie x ... View more

Hi everyone. Well I had an exciting day yesterday. Been having problems with my stomach and since chemo this has got worse. I was given meds 2 weeks ago to help but I felt that it was making it worse and on top of that my tummy swelled yesterday morning. So I phoned me usual GP who said I shouldn't have been given those tablets as it would make the problem worse and I should speak to my oncologist as a matter of urgency regarding the tummy and swelling. The oncologist asked me to go in to be checked over and have bloods done. They agreed there was a problem with my stomach and gave me some meds to try till next chemo and if they don't work they will investigate further. We were going away for the weekend and as I was walking out the door with my weekend bag the hospital phoned to say my bloods were dangerously low @ 0.3 and that I was to inform them immediately if I felt unwell or develop a temperature. They told me they strongly advise that I should not go away and should stay at home as I can go from being really well to seriously ill in minutes! Obviously I have took heed of their advice so have unpacked my bag and am now sat at home nursing a sore throat that I developed yesterday evening! Temp is still ok so fingers crossed it remains that way. How's everyone else doing? Marie x ... View more

Thank you everyone. My sister is no great loss to me. It was a year or so before diagnosis since I last saw her and only did see her at diagnosis cause she asked to see me! She didn't ask anything about the diagnosis we just chatted about other things. I haven't seen her since only heard she didn't want to speak to me but she couldn't say why till now! That's why I'm lost as to how I've made it about me! Unfortunately for her though it is about me, I am the one dealing with this and haven't got time for petty jealousy. Let's hope she doesn't get what she wishes for! Like I said she's not important to me, whereas getting rid of this ridiculous taste in my mouth is! Lol I can now taste food and enjoy it while I'm eating but once I've finished my mouth tastes so bad! Anyone else having this? If so, any ideas how to ease it? Marie x ... View more

I hate it when people say to me your half way through! To me all I can think is I've got the same amount to go again! I've had a very odd week this week. I haven't felt too great and the taste thing that I've developed this time is really getting me down. Firstly like I said, I haven't felt too great. My self esteem has reached an all time low. I look in the mirror and wonder who this strange person looking back at me is. I have half a boob which is at least 10 cms higher than my other one. I've no hair. Not only have I gained a considerable amount of weight ( 1 1/2 stone since diagnosis) but I'm also very swollen. I've aged too, not just visually but physically too. I constantly sweat from the hot flushes, that seem to come every 10 to 20 mins. My eyes constantly look tired and sore from the constant streaming! I'm struggling to keep inside the rising anger and frustration that I feel towards people and their insensitive comments. Just the other day a bloke I know said "it could be worse, you could have what I had, my throat is still sore a month later" not that I'm belittling him or what he has/is going through, but seriously, he had throat cancer which was cleared up with 4 weeks of radiotherapy. I stood before him with no hair looking dreadful as it was only 5 days post chemo, having had 2 ops and looking forward to 5 weeks radio, another op and 10 years of medication and a lifetime of praying it never returns! I really wanted to punch him! My sister who hasn't spoke to me since I told her I had been diagnosed also decided this week to let my other sister know why. Apparently she had been feeling down for a bit beforehand and was upset as it was all about 'me' now and it made her feel worse as she wasn't getting the attention...yes ladies, this actually came out of another human beings mouth! I wouldn't mind but I haven't been any different during any of my treatment. I have made sure life has remained as close to normal as possible for my children regardless how how ill I may have been, I have cooked, cleaned, washed, ironed and gone back to work as soon as I've got over the worst of the SE. Jeez I do feel so much better now I've wrote all that down, it feels like I've lifted a weight off! On a happy note though, I'm going away this weekend as I so desperately need a break from all this. Hope you are all well, thanks for being there to listen/read. Hailey how's your little one? Marie x ... View more

I'm not too bad Rowan thank you, still feel rubbish but the nausea has eased an awful lot. I too am having major mouth issues this cycle, it's not been too bad till this one! Mouth really sorry, awful taste! Everything taste like I'm licking envelopes! Stomach still feels 'raw' very strange sensation. Fatigue has hit this time too. Your body has had some exciting times of late Rowan probs why your extra tired and unsettled but I bet all the fun of the bands have been worth it 🙂 Marie x ... View more

Seems we have something in common bigpumpkin, my boy fractured his foot too, the day before my chemo! On the positive side he did get to come sit with me for the last 20 mins which he found reassuring as it wasn't as scary as he imagined. He is 13 though Marie x ... View more

Hi caz, it's the weirdest feeling eh this raw stomach! First cycle that's all I could eat too. I don't even eat bread etc as a general rule. Last cycle i wanted stodgy food, gravy dinners, baking, I had a taste for curry too but this time nothing works! I ordered 5 dishes from the Chinese menu last night in the hope that 1 would hit the spot...nothing! I may has well been licking envelopes as it tasted exactly the same! I've just got up and my tummy feels slightly better and I feel like jumping round the room in excitement as I've just made myself a coffee and can taste it 🙂 it's heavenly, so much so I'm gonna push the boat out and have another lol Hope you are all well, Marie x ... View more

Your inspirational hailey x ... View more

Hi jaffacakes...hello all the newbies I've yet to say hi to. Thank you for your concerns jaffacakes, it's been a tough one again and seams to want to linger this time. TAC 3 day 5 and still feeling extremely sick. Temperature is a bit high today to so keeping a close eye on it. Several family members have colds etc 😕 My tummy just feels raw? Anyone else feel like this? It's a weird feeling, gassy and raw! Fatigue has hit with this dose so feel like a withered old lady with sparse hair napping on and off! My fingers and nose are numb also today which is making life difficult! Other than that I'm great! Lol How are you this time round jaffacakes? How is everyone else doing? Hailey how is your little one? Wishing you all well, Marie x ... View more

Hi all My next chemo this morning 😞 TAC number 3. I know it's half way but it just isn't making it feel better. I'm dreading it! I just don't feel like I've fully got over the last lot. For 2 days of the last cycle I really thought I was going to die, in fact if I'm honest I wanted to die! I just can't get those 2 days out of my head. I keep telling myself it's only 2 days but the oncologist keeps stressing that each cycle will get worse, it's the nature of TAC! He has said I can reduce it to FEC if I am finding it too much, but then says if I do how would I feel if they don't get rid of it or it comes back in the future and I didn't take the extra 2% the TAC offers! I couldn't bare for my children to think I didn't give it my best shot if anything did happen. 😞 this chemo rubbish doesn't half mess with your brain and emotions. My head is a complete mess! Oh well, I shall go along as scheduled, do what I have to do and face what I have to face...what is it they say? What doesn't kill you makes you stronger...here's hoping. Love to you all, hope you are feeling ok as can be jaffacakes. Marie x ... View more