Breast Cancer Now Forum

Starting rads tomorrow. Well, it will be a practice session and rads will be given the day after. I am told the practice is necessary because I will be having treatment on my breast and below my collar bone. 25 sessions ahead so I will be in the middle of treatment over Christmas. It's the start of the end. The last hurdle but I am not looking forward to it. I am worn out from being treated for breast cancer.  ... View more

GMC, no she didn't say how long my immunity will be compromised and I didn't think to ask but my next surgery will be six weeks after my last chemo.  She said I will get loads of antibiotics and they will be monitoring me closely for infection.  I also have to have someone with me to sign in and out of the hospital and be prepared for an overnight stay.  The surgery is a day operation.  The first op I had I was not told I needed anyone at all with me so I assume the high risk of infection is the reason for needing a carer.   Sheryl, I had the drain after my second op. I second the sofa, Xfactor and/or Strictly. Maybe add some chocolate. Ruth, what a pity you have the delay but it is best for your body to be able to handle the Taxol.  You know that anyway, I'm sure, but it is still a bummer.  How weird to have numb toes, and you GMC, you poor things.   ... View more

Well, I had my final chemo on Sept 3 and have been waiting impatiently to be better since.  My son, who had a knee op on Sept 10, has an exercise bike to help his recovery so I hopped on thinking I would start regaining my fitness.  After a half hour of slow cycling I had to stop.  I was so tired I had to have a lie down!  So next I decided it was time to start riding my horse regularly and get back my riding fitness.  Again, after a half hour I was as weak as a kitten and had to get off, go home and have a lie down.  The next day I was so stiff and still very tired.  I also tried dieting to lose the weight I have put on during chemo.  Needless to say, I have not been very successful there either.   I am riding twice a week as this is the most I can manage and hope to try the cycling again but maybe for 15 minutes at a time. I have put the diet on temporary hold. I have just realised it has only been just over 3 weeks since the last chemo so I suppose I am trying too much too soon. More surgery on Oct 15 and my surgeon told me that even then my immunity will still be very compromised by the chemo.  No sign yet of hair growing or of pins and needles in fingers and toes going away but I have started sleeping all through the night which is an improvement. However, I am beginning to think the hot flushes must now be all menapause rather than chemo. Keep smiling, everyone still on chemo. It won't go on for ever and you will feel so happy when it ends. Trish.x ... View more

Yippee!! I had my last chemo yesterday.  Soo happy it is finished.  My veins can leave the inner depth of my arm and return to the surface.  My hair can grow back.  No more constipation/diarrhea.  The welcome return of taste.  Oncologist told me the pins and needles won't go for several months though and my eye sight has deteriorated slightly.  Hopefully, I can start to lose the wieght I have put on.  I have missed exercising as I used to be quite active and I can get back in touch with my horse, something I have missed terribly.   However, I will have surgery at the end of September, which I don't mind in the least, and radiotherapy about 5 weeks after that for 5 weeks.  Oncologist wants me to start on tamoxifen on October 1.  It seems as though there is no end in sight to the treatment but at least the chemo is over.  Next week my son is having surgery on his knee and I should be just about finished side effects enough to look after him.   Hang on in there everyone. There is an end to the chemo for everyone. ... View more

Also having a good weekend.  Today I rode my horse!!!  My next taxol is Tuesday so I am feeling strong and good at this point so I took advantage and got up on him instead of just giving him carrots and apples.  It was nice and slow, mostly walking, but the sun was shining, the birds were singing and bees were buzzing and it was just soo lovely.  I have not ridden him since March.  I am still high as a kite.   I don't have a husband so no hording in my house! ... View more

Good evening all.  This forum is great for saying all the things you feel you can't say to friends and family.  I find it great to come here and hear that other people are having it as bad as me or worse in some cases.  Hang in there to everyone. ... View more

Got some bad news today.  The surgeon who did my lumpectemy in April said, at the time, that the clear margin after surgery was very tight but decided that with chemo and radio therapy it would be ok.  She rang me today to say she had changed her mind and wants to make perform more surgery for a bigger margin when my chemo is finished in September, before radio therapy.  Does it ever end!?!  On the bright side, I would prefer surgery to more chemo any day. Sodastream, I have not yet tried the frozen condom. I have not figured out how to make it narrow enough yet!!! ... View more

Hi All.  I have been lurking here for a while but felt like posting this evening.  It is so good to read that I am not completely imagining things.  I was wondering if I was becoming incontinent with all the peeing and constipation rather abruptly becoming diarrhea. Forgive this next bit please, but my hole is sooo sore from it all!!!  And at the last session (my 4th on AC) the nurse was very lucky to find a vein for blood tests and for the canula.  I had thought all these things were just me.  I am dreading my next session in just over a week.  Like everyone else, I have never felt such a lack of energy.  Regarding taste, food is leaving me very unsatisfied so I am over eating.  Sometimes I think that if I could throw up it would be better.     Thank you all for posting here.  These are things I am not comfortable talking to other people about and it is good to know I am not a freak, these things are happening to other people too.  I expected the pains and discomfort but not the digestive issues.   I absolutely HATE chemotherapy. ... View more