Breast Cancer Now Forum

Hello eveyone, I finished my chemotherapy in May. Apart from a missing breast, swollen arm and lack of eyelashes, Life is getting a little more normal. Thank you all so much for being here for what has been the most traumatic six months of my (what I hope will be a long and happy!) life... Best wishes to you all with your treatment and beyond. With love, Natalie ... View more

Hi jmbrin, I live in Hexham, too. Is there a group of people locally who still meet up? ... View more

I had a single mastectomy. My solution has been to remove the under wiring from my surgery side. I need the support for my breast, but it's too uncomfortable on top of my scar. Hoping this helps x ... View more

Thank you Maryland, for the chemo brain study link. It's always reassuring to know there are facts behind our symptoms and side effects. I'm 52, too, and determined to try and regain some mental agility! I've just finished chemo and having to relax into not remembering words for the moment. It's quite an interesting ( if frustrating ) phenomenon. Will just have to enjoy the internal world a little longer and concentrate on creative pursuits... Natalie x ... View more

Having lost my sense of taste after the Docetaxol ( some might say I lost my taste a long time ago...) have just discovered the joys of Madagascan vanilla ice cream. Heaven! Am hoping tomorrow's bank holiday opening hours will not interfere with supplies for next week... Feeling a little skittish after last dose of chemo but too exhausted to do much more than lie on the sofa dreaming of freedom... Sending warm hugs to you all, wherever you are in your schedule x ... View more

Thank you Lankylass. Look after those feet, you'll need them for all your wonderful activities when this as all over. Keep posting whenever you need to talk. X ... View more

Hello everyone, I had my last chemo treatment today, Docetaxol 75%. Hurrah. I hadn't recovered from the last one and expect to be exhausted for the next month. Looking back I realise I didn't do anything but stay at home or go to places and sit down. Didn't manage to walk the dogs once. Husband looking very fit! I bought some cooling gel packs, theraflex, from physio warehouse online and wrapped them around finger and toe nails today during treatment to try to save nails which are looking bumpy and dark red. Splitting a little length ways. Using coconut oil but think the damage is coming from nailbed It felt strange to say goodbye at hospital and whilst relieved it's over, think it's going to take a while for side effects to manifest and then disappear. We've booked a holiday for one month's time and are very much looking forward to swimming in the sea - my first swim since November! Best wishes to you all, good luck with all the side effects over the next weeks. Thinking of you all x ... View more

Hello ladies, I'm having my last (6th) chemotherapy treatment tomorrow and starting to look ahead to being post-treatment. You all write with such eloquence, and your experiences all touch mine, one way or another. We have all been down different paths, and for different reasons, have made certain decisions. Nevertheless, it seems that we all need acknowledgement from our nearest that we have been through a traumatic time. I have had many messages this evening congratulating me on my final ( hopefully!) treatment, celebrating getting back to normal, looking forward to the summer etc. and yet both my husband and I recognise we still have to face perhaps a second mastectomy, gene therapy, the after-effects of chemo and ten years of oestrogen inhibiting drugs. Oh, and the shadow of a recurrence. I almost feel as though the brave face and the ' I'm so lucky the cancer was found and operable' stance is going to have to be more firmly fixed in place over the next months as people who have been magnificent gradually return to normal life. So, thank you for sharing your fortifying experiences. Best wishes, Natalie ... View more

Have you thought about trying the cold cap, in order to keep your hair, Annie? I'm having my last of six chemo sessions tomorrow and still have almost a full head of hair. I like the normalcy of going out with hair, but mainly it makes such a difference to how I feel at home. I had a mastectomy so feel very strange with one breast, have put on weight, lost my eyelashes and the steroids have given me a round red face. I have been with my husband for 25 years and we are managing a very gentle, loving relationship through all this. Not as often as usual, but it's a bonding experience.Having hair really helps as I feel I can put on nice clothes sometimes to hide and try to forget the scars, and have a nice evening. I hope your chemo goes well. If you decide to try the cold cap, take a strong painkiller an hour before to help with the discomfort, which passes after 15 minutes. Pm me if you like. Natalie x ... View more

Hello Linda, I had 3 FEC and am having my third (and last!) Docetaxol tomorrow. I've found it to be harder than FEC in that I don't really get my energy back before the next dose. For me, it kicks in after 2-3 days. I got terrible bone/ muscle pain with the first so it was reduced by 25% for the next two treatments. Main symptoms have been exhaustion for the whole three weeks, sore mouth/thrush/loss of taste for about ten days and then very watery eyes and nose throughout. Good luck with your treatment. Now I'm coming to the end of mine, it seems to have passed relatively quickly, although it's been the most difficult and all- consuming thing I've ever had to do. Best wishes to everyone this week. Natalie x ... View more

Try to keep positive, in a few days you'll start to come out of it. It's bloody grim and I'm sending a hug. In my experience it is taking a little longer to recover after each treatment. This is probably (and hopefully) one of the hardest things we'll have to do. I don't think I have sworn or complained so much in my whole life. Losing most of my eyelashes and eyebrows this round has completely changed the way I look. I notice people aren't saying how well I look etc but how brave/ strong I am. Interesting. Chins up, lovelies. A chemo - free summer is beckoning... Natalie ... View more

Hi Jackie, I'm sorry to hear you are back on this treatment path. Very best wishes for tomorrow. And as you quite rightly say, take care of yourself x ... View more

Hi folks. I've had 3x FEC and my second (of three) TAX last Thursday. First T was really painful for four days, unbearable. Felt as though I was unable to control it with even strong painkillers. I lost my taste for two weeks, though that came back before the next session. My dose was reduced by 25% last week and I got an extra 3 days' of steroids. Haven't had any pain yet although v exhausted and am just able to potter and lie on the sofa. I don't know if the second T is just generally easier, but this is much better, and I feel optimistic about my last dose in16 days' time. Am using Gelclair mouthwash twice a day for the first time, which is helping a lot. I also drink aloe Vera juice which seems to help with digestion. I guess we need to concentrate on hydration and eating whatever we can stomach. Best wishes, everyone x ... View more

Good luck with your treatments Angie. Stay positive. Best wishes, Natalie x ... View more

Good luck today. I have had no pain this cycle so far. Keep positive x ... View more

Hello everyone, hoping the side effects from last week aren't too bad. Worried Sick - my onc reduced my dose by 25% and gave me a reduced steroid dose for an extra three days. I have treatment on Thursdays and last cycle was feeling a lot of pain, in bed and on 2-hourly pain relief by the Sunday (which lasted for for 4 days). I haven't yet had to take any pain relief this time and although very heavy-limbed and tired and lying on the sofa most of the time, I haven't experienced any bone/muscle pain. So good luck with your treatment tomorrow, I hope you have an easier time than last. Best wishes to everyone, Natalie x ... View more

Good morning Alison. I've just woken up since falling asleep at 4pm yesterday after my 5th dose. Had only 1 hour's sleep the night before treatment, a mix of steroids and anxiety, I think. I had a reduced dose and am continuing on reduced steroids for three extra days, so like you, hoping ses will be less severe than last time. I'm sorry to hear you ended p in hospital. Am trying to fill time with wool felting and have just bought huge bag of merino wool to make one of those chunky cowls. But have also just started watching ' the Chefs Table' on Netflix which I think will take me through what I suspect is going to be a sleep-free night in the spare room! Perverse when alI I fancy eating is toast! Good luck later today. And then only one to go... Best wishes everyone. Thinking of you all x ... View more

Hi, I've just got 2x tax to go and then hopefully finished for ever! I had a single mastectomy and full node clearance last Christmas and will have had 6 cycles of chemo. The Tax is very tiring; I imagine it's going to take some time to get my energy back to do more than just the basics each day. I can't wait until it isn't the main thing I think about each day. Whilst I'm not over anxious about the cancer returning, or the effects of the surgery, the chemo seems to have been all- consuming. Your process has been longer than mine- it'll have been almost a year for you? Best wishes for the reconstruction. Do you have plans for next year? Natalie x ... View more