Breast Cancer Now Forum

Hi Hazelr, I'm having 4 ec and 4 tax before I have my surgery.  I was ok having the chemo but as it was going in I got a headache and sinus pain which lasted the rest of the day.  My face has also been really flushed and red today, is this normal do you know? I am also a bit constipated now so I took lactulose and was immediately sick after it, it was just the taste of it made me feel really ill so I will have to find an alternative for the constipation. Apart from that I'm not feeling too bad, just scared about when my bloods drop in case I get an infection.  Janey xxxx ... View more

Thank you Rafi for your support. I'm feeling quite calm about it now. Thanks for the tip about the sweets I will get some on the way to the hospital.  Hugs, Janey xxx ... View more

Hi Sarah, hope everything went well at the hospital. I have requested to join the group on facebook, Hugs, Janey xxx ... View more

Hi Val, thank you for remembering. Dreading tomorrow but at least I will have started the treatment at last. When is your surgery, is it the 10th? If so not long for you either.  Love and Hugs to you. Janey xxx ... View more

Tommorow is the big day for me, my first EC chemo! and I am getting scared now.  I've been today for my pre chemo assessment, the nurses were all realy lovely but the list of side effects and warnings about infections has got me panicking again.   I was thinking of using the cold cap but the nurse said she had never seen anyone use it in the time she has worked on that ward which surprised me. She said I was welcome to try it but not hopeful of it working so I have decided not to bother.  I have an appointment with the hospital hairdresser/wig supplier before my treatment tomorrow so just hope I can find something that looks ok as the reality that I will lose all my hair has suddenly hit hard today.   On a lighter note I received the bandanas I had ordered today and decided to try them on in the bathroom.  Got one out of the packet and it flew out of my hands and straight down the toilet! Good job I had only just cleaned the bathroom but it is now sitting in dettol before being washed. It could only happen to me!   At least after tommorow I will be one chemo down, 7 to go.  I think there are a couple of other ladies starting tomorrow so I wish you good luck too.  Hugs, Janey xxxxx ... View more

Hi Jets, how did your wig fitting go. I am seeing someone next week to arrange mine.  What did you think of the wigs? I am dreading the hair loss and really hope I can get a wig I like as I am not really a hat person, they don't suit me at all.  Janey xxx ... View more

Hi Demi49, my daughter is also doing her GCSE's and this is such a worry to me that my treatment may affect how she does.  I have been advised to tell the school what's going on so she can get extra support.  She also has her prom coming up. I'm so glad I got her prom dress sorted before I was officially diagnosed as I don't think I would feel like doing it now but we had a lovely day last month going to choose the dress and I'm so glad now we had that special day together.  I'm on countdown to starting my chemo now as I start on 4th March.  Janey xxx ... View more

Hi Rafi, you will find lots of support on here from people going through the same thing, I was a complete wreck when diagnosed on 13th February and would not have got through the last few weeks without this forum.  I have got to have chemo and herceptin too. My cancer is also in my lymph nodes but ct scans show no spread elsewhere. I have four children and they have handled it quite well up to now but I still hate the thought of them seeing me go through chemo. I'm sure your children will be ok too, they seem to handle things better than us adults sometimes.   I am having my chemo first before surgery and start on 4th March. If you will be starting in March there is a 'starting chemo in march 2015' thread you can join to get more support.  You will not be going through this alone, we can do it together.  Hugs to you.  Janey xxx ... View more

Hi Cocolily, I asked the oncologist today about being her2 positive and did it mean the cancer was more serious. She said it used to be seen like that but that was before herceptin. She said herceptin is an amazing drug and having it puts us on the same success level as non her2 cancers.  Janey xxx ... View more

Hi Val, just saw your post on the other thread, thank you for your support over the past few week.  I'm glad you have joined this February thread too as it will be easier to keep in touch.  Janey xxx ... View more

Hi Cocolily, I asked my oncologist why I was having chemo first and she said they prefer to do it that way at that hospital. I thought it may have been because I have lymph node involvement but I have seen other people on here that have lymph involvement that have surgery first so it is all very confusing.  I would have prefered surgery first as I just want the cancer out but at least I will get the chemo over with. Janey xxx ... View more

Hi Everyone, I was diagnosed on 13th February, apparently my breast cancer is ER and PR positive and HER2 positive and was also found in my lymph nodes. I start chemo on 4th March and will be having 3 EC and 4 T with Herceptin. After chemo I will have surgery, radiotherapy and then tamoxifen, so the full package for me. Wishing everyone well with their treatments.  Janey xxxx ... View more

Thank you Val and Shelley, I have had my results of scans today and my ct scan was clear and heart scan looked good, I am so relieved! I was convinced the back pain I have had for ages must be due to spread of the cancer but she said nothing showed up on the scan and thinks it could be a disc problem in my back.  I am so happy to get some good news at last.     I go for my visit to the chemo ward on 3rd March and will also see someone about choosing a wig then as well and then have my first chemo on 4th March.  I am still terrified of the chemo but really pleased to be starting treatment. After chemo I will have surgery and then tamoxifen so a long road ahead for me too.   There is a thread on the just diagnosed board called 'diagnosed in February' that I am going to join and I have joined the 'chemo in March' board too.  Please keep in touch and let me know how things are going.  Hugs, Janey xxx ... View more

Hi TomCat, thank you for putting things a bit more in perspective for me. I can't believe you have been on 4 flights while on chemo. That gives me hope that I can maybe lead some kind of nomal life while having treatment. I have four kids and one of them always seems to have some bug or other at the moment. I think I expected to pick up every infection going which does not seem to be the case.   Thanks again for your advice and I wish you well with the rest of your treatment.  Janey xxx ... View more

Hi Waiting, thank you for your advice, it has made me feel a bit better about it.  I think I just want to avoid going into hospital as I hate them so much.  I guess I better get used to it though as I will be spending most of my time at hospitals from now on.     I am having chemo before surgery and in a strange way looking forward to it starting as at least I will be doing something about the cancer instead of just this terrible waiting around knowing it is there.  I am preparing myself for the side effects and will just take all the meds they give me to help with them. I think I will pack a 'just in case' bag ready in case I need to go into hospital but hopefully if I'm sensible I won't need it.   How have you found the EC chemo, that is what I will be having. I hope it's not been too bad for you, at least you are over half way through now and the end is in sight. Janey xxx ... View more

Hi Herewego, thanks for replying. I think it's just the fear of the unknown with the chemo. I will just have to be sensible and try not to obsess over it.  I see you are having the EC chemo which is what I am going to have. Do you know why they are using EC and not FEC which is what most people seem to getting, I have only seen a few people mention the EC. I'm glad it has not been too bad for you so far and hope you continue to feel ok. Janey xx ... View more

Hi Val, that is amazing news! I am so pleased for you. I have been thinking about you all day today and praying for good news for you.  You can now move forward with treatment and gid rid of it for good.  I hope I will have good news to share as well on Friday but not feeling very hopeful at the moment but nothing I can do except wait.  I hope you have a lovely restful sleep tonight. I will let you know my results on Friday and then hopefully we can move on with this together. Hugs to you. Janey xxxx ... View more

Hi Val, what an awful thing to happen to your duck, terrible at any time but especially now.  Our family had a really bad year last year with one thing and another and I have certainly felt lately what have we done to deserve all of it and what else will be thrown at us.     I had my ct and heart scan yesterday but won't get results until next friday when I meet with the oncologist again. Every time the phone goes I panick in case they are ringing to say they have found something on the scans!   Did the hospital arrange a wig fitting for you or did you have to find one yourself? I have just ordered one online which is very similar to my own hairstyle but if the hospital arrange something for me I will maybe get another one.   You made me laugh about drawing on your eyebrows as I wouldn't know where to start and would definitely look like a clown. I am just going to have a longer fringe and hope no one notices!   Hope all went well with your pre op assessment and that bone scan is ok. Let me know when you know the results of everything. At least we are both moving forward and getting closer to treatment starting.   Hugs to you.  Janey xxxxxxx ... View more

Thank you to all of you for your support, this forum is amazing and full of strong women who are willing to  reach out to others when they are going through so much themselves.     I have been a bit calmer yesterday and today. I had my ct and heart scan yesterday and my lovely eldest son insisted on coming with me for support. I have to go next Tuesday to have a marker put in my breast before they start the chemo the following week.  I have had a good chat to my daughters and explained everything that is going to happen, they have been so good and helping me to look at wigs online. I have just ordered a lovely wig very similar to the style I have at the moment.  I don't know if the hospital supply wigs on the nhs as nothing has been mentioned up to now but I feel a bit more in control having ordered one. There is nothing more I can do now but wait for the results of the scans and for chemo to start which I am dreading but wanting to start so at least something is being done at last. Take care everyone. Janey xxxx ... View more