Breast Cancer Now Forum

Great news Karen... So pleased for you xx ... View more

Hi ladies,   Certainly much quieter on here nowadays... a  great sign that life is getting back to normal (whatever that is!!).   Carmen - glad the op went well and hope the pain is getting more bareable.   Just made my appointment for my first annual mammogram - 26th October and results on 9th November - can't help but feel a  little aprehensive even though chemo, radio and next 10 years  of tamoxifen should mean all is fine.  Just want to hear those words come out of my onc's mouth !     Anyway, fingers crossed and good luck to all those with mammograms coming up in the next few weeks   Take care all Lou x ... View more

Hi all.. it is funny how we get different advice re aloe vera... I am having rads at a specialist cancer centre that is linked to Cancer Partners UK and they have said that aloe vera is fine as long is is is the 99% gel. I am still just using E45 but I wanted to know in case I need it in future. DizzyDee thanks for the tip for pineapple juice as I definitely have a really dry mouth on rads.... hope your BBQ'd boob is not causing you too many problems !!! Well day 7 for me today and so far so good xxx ... View more

Thinking of you Tweasel... must have been such a horrible day for you yesterday. stay strong & positive x ... View more

Hi all,   Nice to read all your posts and experience of rads... I start on 8th June... 15 sessions then 5 boosters.  Had my planning meeting and tattoos etc a couple of weeks ago and the nurses were fab and explained everything really clearly.  I think the main reassurance was that after chemo this should be a lot easier to manage... fingers crossed!  Just had my portacath removed yesterday, so hoping this heals a little before I start as its really sore at the moment... oh well it's on the opposite side of my chest so all should be ok.   Stay strong and positive ladies Lou x   ... View more

Hi Lisa, yep I have heard that main side effects from radio are sore skin and tiredness... I am just keeping in mind that it can't be as bad as the drug induced horribleness (invented a new word I think!) from chemo, and at least the brain may still function  Conference in Prague sounds fab... and who needs any excuse to relax in the spa?!?! Hope you have a lovely time knowing chemo is now behind you.   Don't know if anyone is interested but just on your comment re hair regrowth... I have been told about a natural suppliment called Pilfood (available from Amazon etc).  It was recommended via a hairdresser who's sister is a chemo nurse so I asked my chemo nurses to check it out.  They have come back and said there is no reason not to take it, so I have bought my first months supply to start after the next chemo side effects have worn off.  I know a couple of people who have taken it for alopecia and they have reported good results so I am giving it a go... recommended for a minumum of 3 months to see results.  I still have a reasonable amount of hair thanks to the joys of the cold cap, but want to try and do whatever I can now for the thin patches etc.   Take care all Lou x  ... View more

Morning all,   Sorry i've been quiet lately... I have been reading all you posts with interest, and whilst I am obvioulsy very sorry some of you have suffered such awful side effects it is heartening to know alot of you have had or are soon having your last chemo    I have my last chemo this Friday and a meeting with my oncologist tonight to discuss/arrange for the radiotherapy - 20 sessions for me I think.  Everyone tells me (including Onc/nurses) that radio will be a "walk in the park" following chemo... I sincerely hope they are right 🙂  Have any of you looked into radio and its possible effects yet?   Love and virtual hugs to all Lou x ... View more

Hi Patricia,  I too am further on than you... lumpectomy in December and then started chemo in Jan, next week will be no 5 of 6, then onto radiotherapy.  Just wanted to add my thoughts on the cold cap... I have used it each time and yes it is horrible... but in my opinion worth it.  The first 15-30 minutes are definitely the worst and then you seem to become acclimatised (I even dosed off with it on during my last treatment!).  My hair has thinned, but I have learnt a few tricks along the way to disguise this and hubby (who is very honest with me) says that you would never know.  I have worn hats/scarves through the winter but it is so nice not to have to cover up all the time and look "normal" (I decided wigs weren't really for me).  I would just say give it a try as you can always take it off if you can't tolerate it, but unless you give it a go from the start then there is no changing your mind.  I know many ladies decide not to bother, and I guess it is very much a personal choice, but I wanted to try and at least keep some of my hair so when the chemo is done with I have "something to work with" to get back to normality. Let me know if you want any more info, and good luck with everything... it does get easier as your treatment plan develops. Love Lou x ... View more

Sarah & Katy, so sorry to hear you are both in hospital... I hope you both recover quickly and get back home.   Jenny and Su, FEC 3 did the same to me too... the SE's were worse and seemed to take longer to get over.   Lisa... hope you are still keeping the SE's at bay and the tiredness wears off soon.  And great news on your race for life in July... you'll all look fab in your pink wigs   FEC 4 for me this Thursday, so guess its going to be a quiet Easter weekend.   Sending hugs to all Lou xx ... View more

Hi Ladies,   Been reading all your posts with interest ,and sorry I havent commented much lately... been feeling good this last week or so, and so many of you are struggling with the dreaded se's.  Although I have to say my last FEC (no 3) on the 5th March completely knocked me for six this time... in bed for 3-4 days solid and could hardly string a sentence together.  Horrible... just hope no 4 is easier! Carmen, I am on 6 x FEC no T for me either.  From what I have read on the posts it seems that T is given when there are lymph nodes involved?  Could be totally wrong though. I am selfishly enjoying a bonus week this week as next chemo isn't until 2nd April (although I guess Easter will be written off for me!) as my nice Onc has agreed to delay a week to let me go to Madrid this coming weekend with my hubby for a work conference... must admit it is so nice to have something to look forward to, especially as I feel "normal" at the moment. Love and hugs to all - Carmen, hope all goes well today  Lou xx ... View more

Hi Ladies   I am just popping in from January 2015 starters (January Gemstones)... hope you are all doing ok.   Lolk - I though I would just chip in re the cold cap... I am using a Paxman machine and have been shown how to use it by Paxman themselves (chemo nurses also agreed with this way).  You do dampen your hair and put conditioner on before the cap goes on (helps the conductivitiy and to stop the cap sticking to the frost on your head!!) and you will need a stretchy hairband to protect your forehead/hairline from the cold. I won't lie to you, it is really really cold and gets worse as your hair thins (mine has, yours might not), and it does make the chemo take longer as you have to wear it before, during and after (the length of time is dependant on your exact treatment but mine is 30 mins before, during chemo and then 2 hours after). But whilst I have an unsightly bald/very thin patch on the top of my head the back and sides are still fully covered with hair (so yes I suppose I look like Friar Tuck!!!).  I am embracing hats and scarves at the mo, but plan to persevere in the hope that I do not lose too much more and when the chemo ends (I have number 3 of 6 FEC on Thursday) it will be easier/quicker to grow into somesort of style.  It's not for everyone but I realised that if I didn't try it the first time then there is no going back.   Sorry for waffling but wanted to try to help.   Good luck as you start on your journey ladies... stay strong and positive.   Love Lou xx ... View more

Ah, hope the se's reduce soon Jenny x   I totally agree with Sarah re udder cream... it's really good, was recommended to me by one of my chemo nurses.. she uses it all the time !   Isn't it funny how the taste changes for us all and we crave different things each time... after first chemo I couldn't get enough ginger tea, I was loving it... but second time it just didn't do it for me and I really don't fancy it at all now (which is sod's law as I stocked up after first session!!).   Sending hugs Lou x ... View more

Hi Sarah,   Thanks for the info on the website... going to have a nosy at that. Same as Lisa for me too... I had WLE but still get twinges around the scar area (nipple also), and it does make me a bit nervous as it was pain that started my process to diagnosis of C.  Ihave also been assured it is normal and just takes time to heal.   Hope everyone is doing well this week with treatment and/or SE's... I am enjoying being relatively SE free before no 3 next week.   Love Lou x ... View more

Boy was I glad to read these latest comments about how you are all feeling about the next doses.... I absolutely hate that you just start to feel well before it all starts again.  I know it needs to be done and I still say it is my wonder drug but I bl**dy hate this whole process sometimes!! Had the awful faint/sweating/nausea thing again this time... but this time it was a week after FEC so I can't monitor it.  Scary when it happens and I wish I knew what I could do to stop it - any tips?  Apparently I go grey in colour and look like something from a horror movie.   Good luck and virtual hugs to all of you having treatment this week   Lou x ... View more

Hi Su,   I was told my periods would stop as well - if they ever started again as I had a contraceptive implant prior to diagnosis - but low and behold got my period just as the side effects from FEC number 2 were kicking in.   I suppose it varies person to person, but I am assuming it will slow down as treatment progresses?   Love Lou x  ... View more

Ah Su, really sorry to read what happened to you...it sounds awful. Really hope op goes well and you get back on track with chemo x   Good to see lots of you are starting to feel a bit better after what has been a rough ride for so many.   Got my 2nd FEC on Thursday so keeping fingers crossed that se's are minimal. And have to report that despite cold capping I have still had a lot of thinning and have a delightful bald patch on top of my head...nice!!! Going go try and perserver with it though   Take care all   Lou x ... View more

Hi Ladies,   I am just popping in from the January 2015 starters to wish you all luck as your treatments start over the next few days... my first FEC was on the 15th January and I had a portacath fitted on the 14th.  I know the waiting is horrible but you will feel better once you are getting on with it. I cold capped and intend to carry on, I have had my long hair cut to collar length and am shedding a little bit (but strands rather than clumps) but no-one else would notice as yet so for me it is worth the discomfort as I know many of the ladies on our thread have already lost most of their hair. I won't lie though - it is blinking cold but the first half an hour or so is the worst.  It also makes treatment take longer as depending on your regime you have to leave it on for 1-2 hours after the chemo!   Good luck ladies and stay positive Lou x   ... View more

Hi Judi,, Not exactly the same but I did suffer from constant indestion for a couple of weeks after 1st dose of FEC. Gaviscon and the likes weren't touching it and it was painful to eat or drink so in the end I rang the GP and he has prescribed me omeprazole which reduces the amount of acid your stomach produces.  One tablet a day and so far so good.  My chemo nurse is going to make sure Onc adds this to the other prescriptions for the rest of the chemo. Hope this helps Lou xx ... View more

Hi Kathy, I got really dizzy on day 3... I thought I was going to pass out and went really clammy and had hot sweats. All I could do was go and lie still for a while and it did pass but it was horrible at the time. I mentioned it to my chemo nurse and onc but they didn't bat an eyelid so I guess it is just one of the SE's. I am just hoping I don't get it again next time !  Lou xx ... View more

Hi Border Collies - a thank you from me too for making me laugh about our lady gardens, and for being there and offering help/advice to us newbies x   Hi Judi - glad you are not feeling too bad with SE, enjoy your tea,biccies and DVD... you've certainly earned it x   Hope everyone else is feeling well today   Lou xx ... View more