Breast Cancer Now Forum

Hi all haven't posted for a wee while lots of things going on! My other half recovering from back surgery so have had to look after him, which has occupied me during daylight hours,however as all you brave gals know only too well the nasties arrive when darkness falls. I start chemo tomorrow have had two lots of steroids today so now I feel I could have run a marathon too bad not last week as it ran past my door!! I know that many ladies experience s.e. but if you look at se of paracetamol closely it would put you off. I am wide awake and it is now02.18 and I refuse to allow myself the wallowing in the se of chemo thread. We are all different and many people get through with minimal se. You Bright gals know where this is going....power of positive thinking!!! We must...every time I feel I'm heading for the dark side I block the thought its very hard sometimes but what's the alternative? That's not to say I don't have a good greet...Glaswegian for cry!! But I am lucky to be able to pull my self together and get on with things so far! A good book for anyone who can't pull themselves up from the dark hole is the black dog its a book about a mans experience of depression.  I found it very good a few years back when I was about to leave my ex after 25 years I felt so low I didn't think I could ever recover. But here I am . yes fighting the b....r cancer but I'm damn sure its not going to beat me so I see the chemo as an ally in this battle to get rid of it for good. Maybe not the easiest of allies but you can't be too choosey!! I've ranted enough ! I wish you all strength and whatever it takes to get you through this battle ahead. Love to you all ....yes and I will be bricking it tomorrow but will smile and take a deep breath and get right in there!!! The not so sane maz on steroids! ... View more

Hi Paul S Be thinking about you tomorrow.  Good luck Maz x ... View more

Thank you so much for this information/  This is one of the things I'm dreading I have thick hair and can't imagine being without it.  I'm off to ee if this service is acailable locally Maz ... View more

Sorry all you must think I'm losing my mind too.  I've already posted this!!! I'm really struggling about this trial I would like to take part but worry that long term having Hercepton for only 9 weeks will leave you vulnerable for the damn thing to reinvent itself and come back!  Just not sure as side effects from Hercepton look scary and 9 weeks looks very tempting....oh I don't know ,,,,, help! Maz the demented x ... View more

Hi Jayni The Oncologist apt went ok have to have Hercepton as well as Chemo and Rads.  They asked me is I'd like to take part in a trial.  Not sure it means you could only have hercepton for 9 weeks instead of 52.  They said studies fron Finland were good and there was no difference however they need more women to take part 3000 apparently.  Has any one else been asked? Mazx ... View more

Hi PaulS  Am I right in thinking you have been asked to take part in the trial involving Hercepton? if so would love to chat about it .  I'm really struggling to make up my mind.   Maz x ... View more

Thanks Jo x ... View more

Hi Macky and Jayni   So nice to chat to you.... be even better if the circumstances were different! Had apt with Onc to have Gold standard treatment apparently!! which consists of 3 FEC and 3 Tax and Hercepton Radiotherapy and something else for 5 years! Then she asked would I be interested in taking part in a trial starting Hercepton at the beginning of Chemo and only having 3 lots with first 3 cycles of Tax or the other one starting Hercepton at the beginning and then a break the with Radiotherapy.  But not as many as the usual treatment,,,,,,I'm not sure will need to read alot about it... so hard to make a decision but am tempted as studies from Finland were positive but small so now they are recruiting 3000 women so maybe you will also be asked?   I have stage 2 Er+ Her+  and tonight I'm probably more down than I have ever been I know I'll be ok but it's the thought of the next few months and hair loss etc oh yes I had WLE and removal of nipple so only coming to terms with that, Hope to hear from you both and we can keep in touch during the next few months Love Maz x ... View more

Hi Jayne   Just sat down after a very long and emotionally demanding day.  My partner was admitted to hospital via a & e had emergency mri scan which showed a prolapsed disc and he has to have surgery on Friday all this took most of day/evening in between times I saw Oncologist.  She was very nice and explained that due to my tumour being Hercepton + I would require hercepton, but then she asked if I would be interested in being part of a clinical trial.  Apparently it has been done in Finland and had good results but numbers were too small so they are looking to recruit 3,000 women.  I havent as yet had time to read about it in depth but the fact that in the trial Hercepton is given with Tax for 3 cycles then no more Hercepton or the other one is Hercepton given with Tax then given again during Radiotherapy and continues for usual  time think about nearly 1 year. I'm tempted to go forward for the trial as I think starting Hercepton early might be good?? I know I need to read alot about it before I decide but wonder if anyone else had thoughts.  Oh yes and have now postponed the wedding!  Hugs to all Maz 😞 ... View more

Thank you PaulS That must be so hard!! you have immense self control! Hope hubby has a nice birthday. Mazx ... View more

Hi Jayne Paul S and all you lovely ladies,   Going for my Oncology apt tomorrow dreading it I know it's next stage but it's just sinking in what the next few months are going to be like.  Not had such a good few days lovely partner has a prolapsed disc and is in agony and I could cry looking at him for him but also because I think I'm going to have to postpone our wedding on the 10th August, he is manfully trying to put a brave face on it, but I don't think he could even get to the hospital with me tomorrow. I have managed to remain very positive up to now but struggling tonight for the first time. Maz xx   ... View more

Hi Sandie I totally agree with everything being said. My advice is remove yourself if not physically then mentally from her and let your partner deal with her, you have enough to deal with. Try the mindlefullness app it really helps but you need to practice. Good luck. ///Alternatively get an effigy of her and stick pins in it!! might be more fun! love and hugs x ... View more

Jayne   Thank you for your encouraging words, I hit rock bottom yesterday (I'm a bit thick so clearly takes a while for things to sink in!).  I was going along thinking that only one lymph node tested positive, but subsequently found out they had only removed one!.  But today I'm calmer only thing is slight wound infection, but started antibiotics today and now back to having small dressing over the wound.  I'm going to take everything I'm offered and will see Onc on Wed. Hopefully to start chemo the following week, but that's just the surgeons estimate.  Going ahead with wedding plans and having a girlie day out tomorrow for champagne and afternoon tea....I may pass on the tea! Hope your treatment is going well and not too uncomfortable.  Thanks again Mazxx   Sandie Thanks for the info re chemo I like you am shocked was prepared to be told I'd start Radiotherapy and then back to work. Ultrasounds had shown nothing . However they reassure me that its microscopic and following the chemo I will have radiotherapy to auxila and breast. Mazx   Paul S Go girl!! you are an inspiraration.  I need to lose some weight and I have comfort eaten since my diagnosis in May (now 10lbs heavier!),  I have 3 weeks before I need my dress altered and I am going to embark on a healthy eating regime. it does get better but do not overdo it pos surgery I'm 14 days today WLE and it's still a little uncomfortable, so rest.  Good luck for the next bit Maz x   To all you ladies out there use this forum it has helped alot during the last few months. ... View more

Hi Everyone Just got results this morning.  Unfortunately not quite what I'd expected. Stage 2 Er + Her+ 1 lymph node positive the other clear.  Now waiting for oncology apt next week. Just dreading the chemo. Does anyone know how soon it starts? Maz x ... View more

Hi everyone just back from 5 days away. I didn't allow my self to think about surgery on Friday ( well not much!) but now that I'm back I can relate to all the comments that. I've read. Last night I felt suffocated and ended up going out for a run ( in the car) I'm sorry to say I'm not as fit as some of you ladies on treadmills. I'm due to get married on the 10th august and right now I feel like calling the whole thing off. It seems so frivolous to be thinking about that and I've no interest on making decisions about anything , I'm afraid to say up my partner as he has tried to be so supportive saying that we're going through this together but I want to scream no we're b....y not! He is a nurse also and he is very good but at the moment everyone is just getting on my nerves. 56 and behaving like a truculent teenager! Anyway I'm off now to buy jammies no doubt something will annoy me this morning and I'll end up standing there like a nutter trying to decide the right pair I swear I've been followed by store detectives due to my indecisiveness over the last few weeks. Jayne a special thanks to you you have at all times been the voice of reason here hope all goes well for you. I can't wait for the day I will not be avidly scanning this forum . Love to you all maz x ... View more

Good news about your friend. Good luck for tomorrow be thinking about you marie x ... View more

Hi Jayne  Thanks for the advice saw the bras on line and bought 3 so Im prepared.  I was surprised they had so little information when I went for my apt.  I thought they would have been able to tell me more. Have just decided to not think about it til next week then I'll allow myself to worry.  No point in worrying about stuff you can't change.  So just enjoying the sunshine and buying some bits and pieces for my wedding. Take care  marie xxx ... View more

Hi Jayne Thanks for all your good wishes.  I expected to get some more information, but all they could do was confirm I had invasive cancer.  I am due to go in for WLE on the 27th and then reesults of that 9th July ...More waiting!  Thinking of you all x ... View more