Breast Cancer Now Forum

Hi 23Dec glad you've found it onto our forum and welcome. I had my first FEC (I'm having 8 x FEC-T then surgery then radiotherapy) and luckily just felt a little queasy for the first 2 days which was relieved by snacking on breadsticks. Lots of the others on here haven't had it so good so hopefully be able to help with the sickness. My understanding is we shouldn't actually get to the stage of being sick as there are so many anti sickness medication out there to control it. If you are feeling really sick I would phone the chemo nurses as they could probably get you a prescription for some stronger medication. Hope you're feeling well other than the sickness and nice to hear from you. If you want to join our Facebook group then let me know and I'll private message you the details. Sheryl ... View more

Good luck Ruth and Jan for today. Let us know how you get on. Sorry to hear cold cap didn't work for you Jan. I'm only day 5 but hair definately feeling dryer so will wait to see what happens. ... View more

Linda and Cassa I've sent you a private message about joining our Facebook group. ... View more

Hi Cassa. I'm having 4 x FEC and then 4 x T but without the herceptin. The best advice is read all of our posts and tips and be prepared in advance for anything. I made sure I had medication for if I was constipated, heartburn, mouth ulcers etc. I'm now on day 4 and apart from very dry lips (get a good lip salve ) and a little heartburn I've been fine. It's not stopped me doing what I want to do and have managed to go out for walks everyday and meet up with friends. However I am feeling slightly tireder and have allowed myself a daytime nap when tired. I did the cold cap not sure you're planning that? If you are it is agonising for the first 15 minutes but then you go numb and it's quite refreshing, you just have to get through the first 15 minutes. You'll be fine and just remember everyone has different side effects and it doesn't mean that you'll get them all. Hope it goes ok and keep in contact. Sheryl ... View more

Hi all. Hopefully waking unto another glorious day has kept your spirits high. I slept really well last night and gingerly got up this morning not knowing what to expect but have bounced out of bed and eaten a huge bowl of cereal. Other than having the munchies and wanting to eat I feel fine so will make the most of this. I've just been through this forum and noted who is part of it and who has joined our Facebook group. I'm sure you'll all agree this Forum is invaluable as support and advice to each other but also others that have just been diagnosed and we will all continue to post here. The Facebook group is allowing us to become friends and get to know each other personally as individuals and not cancer victims. It's lovely sharing photos of what we're up to, our beautiful new haircuts, wigs, tattoos etc. wax2014 i sent you a private message about the group but see you haven't read it. If you want to join us follow the instructions on that message. Butterfly318 I know you're not on here that often but if you'd like to join us let me know and I'll send you the details too. Have a good weekend ladies. Sheryl x ... View more

Ruth you must feel awful that you can't do anything to help. What you must remember is that you need to think about yourself first and you're lucky enough to have siblings that can shoulder the burden (they'll just need to juggle their schedules and you're not to feel bad about it). At least you'll still be able to speak to your dad in hospital, I loved getting loads of phone calls as much as visits when I was in. Linda really sorry to hear yet another one had succumbed to hospital and to top it off you're in their for your birthday. You'll just have to be like the queen and nominate another date and have 2 birthdays this year. Thanks for the advice about trusting your instincts and mentioning every detail at check ups as this could have been much worse for you if you'd left it. Do you all have your chemo every 3 weeks with an appointment for bloods and check up a few days before chemo or do you get seen more often? ... View more

Lorraine I'd love to come back with a witty answer in response to your question but in truth one of my friends posted the link on her Facebook page a while ago. Glad to hear you found it as funny as I did and I certainly hope I'm not left reaching for the ice cream tub tonight!!! ... View more

Just thought after talking about hair removal cream you ladies may fancy a good giggle. If so go onto the Amazon website and search Veet for men, look at the 5 stars reviews and I can guarantee you a good chuckle. The review written by A Chappell had me crying with laughter. Sheryl x ... View more

Jan your joke was terrible but even so I found myself laughing out loud. Other than the tiredness in the morning are you feeling pretty much yourself again in this third week? Ruth I can't believe how unhelpful your chemo nurses sound. I would automatically expect any issue relating to the chemo to be dealt with by the chemo staff. Gill - poor you having to be in hospital for such along time. Hopefully you like hospital food and have plenty of books to read. Hopefully you'll be able to stay positive, just think the first positive is that you can't sit out in the sun now so at least being in hospital you won't be tempted ☀☀ 😄 Linda I love your account of the hair loss i hadn't even thought about down below so may well get the hair removal cream out tonight before chemo tomorrow so that I'm prepared. Well I'm enjoying what seems like my last day of normality before I start 8 x FEC-T tomorrow. I've just been to have a pedicure and manicure as I'm determined even if I don't feel pretty throughout the my fingers and toes will look it. I've got to go shopping for those last little bits I.e suppositories, hair removal cream, ice lollies to suck during chemo. Might get some strange looks with those combinations. I took some photos of my ever growing enormous boob to compare each chemo session to see if it is shrinking. Took them on my iPhone and then had this feeling of dread as they get iCloud onto my iPad which my 16 year old son was using to revise. Luckily he handed it over for me to delete the photos without me having to explain why I needed to borrow it. I'm off outside now to fry in the sun in desperation to get a little bit of a tan this summer. Hope you all have a good day. Sheryl x ... View more

Gill sending you a big hug and at least you're in the right place getting treatment. Hope you're on the mend soon. Sheryl x ... View more

Hi Linda Just sending you a big hug. I can't begin to think what you must be going through at the moment with your daughter and it must be very tough. My two are slightly older but I would feel awful if they weren't coping. At least you're being pro active and counselling is great. Hopefully this is just a little blip and everything will be ok. Sheryl x ... View more

Ruth it really sounds like you're having a rough time. Don't mess around with the antibiotics as they'll get rid of the infection and with your immune system being low the quicker you start the quicker the infection will clear up. As you're all aware I'm the expert on antibiotics having spent 12 days in total in hospital on IV antibiotics and a total of 28 days on them now. My consultant was worried about diarrhoea but it was the opposite for me too as I went nearly a week without going to the toilet, looked 7 months pregnant where I was so bloated and resorted to drinking prune juice and senokot to get things moving. Hope you get back to normal soon. Sheryl ... View more

Just read your post Barbersdrove. I bet you're feeling fed up as it must feel like you have enough to deal with at the moment without added complications. However I'm glad you've turned it into a positive and managed to sleep, how are you this morning? ... View more

Thank Hbunny that's made me realise I need to speak to my surgeon sooner rather than later before I decide on radical treatment. Hope you're ok today? ... View more

Hbunny. Haven't had meeting with surgeon yet but I'm happy to have implants if he'll agree. They can do marvellous reconstructions these days using muscles and fat from your own body and reconstruct to make them look totally natural and the same as before your cancer. Speaking as a 43 year old mum of 2 with 2 droopy spaniel ears as breasts I haven't got anything to lose. 😄 ... View more

Jan I had to giggle at your post, I think I can safely speak for everyone to say you cheer us up. ... View more

Hi Hbunny Sorry to hear it's not the news you were hoping for. Try to find the positive in the situation as it will help. I got my results back today too. Having had a cough for the past few weeks I was paranoid it had spread so was relieved when bone scan was clear as was CT scan although it showed a few enlarged lymph nodes. I start chemo in the next couple of weeks as they're going to try to shrink it and then do operation. They keep asking if I want a lumpectomy as they need to put a coil marker in. However I'm insisting on a double mastectomy. They won't be able to reconstruct straight away as I need radiation. I'm not thinking of that period and just looking forward to finally ending up with new boobs (hopefully pertier than the pair I've got now). It's a very personal decision and it's awful when some of the control gets taken away from you as in the case of you diabeties. I think the best thing is to take one day at a time and when it's all over I hope you have the result you want. ... View more

Hi everyone. Good news I've finally escaped after 8 nights in hospital. They came to the conclusion that although some of the redness on my breast was infection what is left is the cancer. My white blood cell count was high because I have no spleen due to a blood condition I have. So today I met with the oncologist and signed all the consent forms and will start chemo soon. Great news was my bone scan was clear, my CT showed a couple of slightly enlarged lymph nodes but nothing else and my HER2+ came back negative. I think there is reason to celebrate in our house tonight although I haven't had a drop of alcohol for over a month now so had better be a little bit sensible. Barberscroft I can answer your question re the steroids as they told me today (impressed myself that I'd paid attention), if you're on FEC chemo then one of the drugs can cause an allergic reaction so they give you the steroids to avoid this. Just. made appointment to go wig shopping on Monday so I'll post some pictures on Facebook soon. Sheryl x ... View more

Hi Ladies Hope you're all well and enjoying the beautiful bank holiday sunshine. For me this is day 7 of being stuck in hospital although I have managed to escape for a few hours over the last 2 days (to enjoy the simple things we take for granted like sitting in the garden enjoying the sunshine, ironing and cleaning!!! And watching TV). I'm on my 4th canular now as they keep going red and sore and in danger of infection which would be all I need. The DR has just been and my blood results show no reduction in my white cell count which is disappointing. Problem is it's bank holiday weekend and lousy timing as nothing seems to get done so am waiting for my regular DR to make decisions tomorrow. As you can tell I'm frustrated and can't see an end to this, at this rate I'll be joining June or July chemo thread. Right rant over pick myself up and look forward to my escape for 4 hours today. Sheryl ... View more

Jan- a lady after my true heart, one that sees a positive in every situation. I really laughed at the picture of you outside doing your gardening and making sure you get your money's worth in aches. At least I know by day 3 I'll be up to a bit of ivy clearing???? Still stuck in hospital but they're going to repeat blood test today so hopefully I'll get out of here soon. I am escaping today in between my 3-9 pm doses and am planning on sitting in the sunshine whilst I still can before chemo starts. Sheryl ... View more