Breast Cancer Now Forum

Thanks Helen, LGFB are really good when you are first diagnosed to help with image, make up etc. I have used the forum a lot for answers to questions and just reassurance that symptoms and feelings are normal and I was not going totally mad. I found out lots of things about side effects and how to manage them. Sometimes it gets too much if you look on the forum a lot but at 3 am it is a comfort. The moving forward. Course was good as was the bra evening at John Lewis. If anyone has a frozen shoulder/ pain in shoulder joint please tell me how to make it better, physio not working or I am being too impatient, very painful and debilitating. Never mind yet another phase of this journey, upsetting but manageable, 😒 ... View more

I have just had my hercetin injections suspended due to damage to my heart function which has now recovered. I only had 6 and swing my onc tomorrow to see what is next. I hope you are having regular echo cardio grams to check you heart function. ... View more

Hi you, just reading all your messages re op choices. What a hard decision for you to make, I am very relieved I have had WLE following my complete response to chemo (tumors gone from breast and lymph ) but I was really sure I didn't want mx. I think you should listen to your intuition and if you want an mx then have one or even double if you want and they wil let you. I know it's hard but if I have learnt one thing over my life it's listen to your inner self, it will be right. I hope we all make the decisions we can live with as I don't think there is a right and wrong way through this, there are too many stories of recurrence and secondaries even after double mx or after WLE so who really knows? That isn't a helpful comment but the way I feel at the moment. Good luck everyone xxxx ... View more

Got my form from GP surgery and they got doc to sign it I think and sent it off for me. No charges for drugs for 5 years! X ... View more

Hey see if you can get Domperidon as well to take whenever you feel nauseous, great anti sickess drug and definitely Emend which you take for 3 days only, works a treat. Xx ... View more

Hi sounds like you're doing well. Try a thin cotton cap under your wig which makes it more comfortable to wear and keeps you r head warm as well, it doesn't slip either. Hope you continue to be well, your energy levels will be less each chemo so rest up. Xx ... View more

I had chemo first and it got rid of the tumors in breast and lymph node which is very unusual. I have now had lumpectomy and snb biopsy yesterday rather than mastectomy. I was so relieved as hated the thought of mx as once you look at the facts about mx and the nipples being gone, no feeling etc I freaked out. I know everyone is different but the chemo can work although pretty horrible at the time so take heart. You will feel rubbish for about a week after chemo which will get longer as it goes on as cumulative side effects. Can I suggest your son could go to friends for tea for a few days after chemo as you will probably not up to much and feeling poorly. It's nit anything too awful if you don't get sick but will have no energy. I describe my experience as going down a tunnel of physical and emotional darkness and then you wake up one day and feel human again. I hope you cope ok with se and shout if you need help, don't fight it its only for a few days. Good luck xxx ... View more

Hi have you had Emend anti sickness drug and Domperidon which is great? Ask for it, it might make a difference. I was emotional as well which I think in hind sight feels like hormonal reaction but would spend one day crying a lot and feeling very sorry for myself. I liken the whole chemo thing as going down physically and emotionally to a low point and then waking up one day out the other side. It takes longer each cycle to get there but always do. I made sure I planned nice things the week before the next cycle, coffees, lunches etc as evenings were not good as still tired come 9 pm. I know we are all different but I can look back over last 5 months and wonder how I did it but I did and you will too. Love to you all on this bit of the journey xx ... View more

I don't know about anyone else but I have surgery next week but will raise a glass at 9pm with you as through the chemo. J I think you should have a break from work if you can to re charge your batteries, I don't know how on earth you go through this and look after cancer patients, it must be very hard for you. I have just treated 7 of my friends to afternoon tea at a hotel for helping with food, lifts to hospital and support over last 5 months, feel very stuffed with cake ! Love to you all and keep smiling xxxx ... View more

A great website is moogoo which is Australian company that has totally natural products for people having chemo. I have had the sunscreen, scalp cream, deodorant and facial cream, all of them brilliant and so lovely on the skin. They are very professional and quick to deliver. Check out the website moogooskincare xxx ... View more

Well done you. If you haven't had nausea or vomiting you are unlikely to now. Steroids will play havoc with sleep and red face but will go after a few more days, won't get worse. Xx ... View more

Please talk to the helpline ladies they are very knowledgable and will put your mind at rest, no point you worrying. Good luck x ... View more

Hi all I have finished my chemo but thought I would just say that Shaving hair off is much more comfortable than it falling out. I bought some head caps and turbans on line and also have two wigs now depending on my mood. To help with constipation natural liquorice works really well, make called panda. Ask for Domperidon anti sickness tablets work well and Emend for first 3 days of chemo. The steroids make you really hungry and awake in middle of night, don't take any after midday. The tiredness will be worse after each one so don't expect to be too lively come the third or fourth onwards. Make the most of weeks 2 and 3 before the next one, I booked up lots of lunches and meeting friends as come the evenings I was a bit too tired to party at night. All of us are different but as I am now out the other side I can pass on what I found helped me. Just so you know why you are going through this I have had a complete radiological response to the treatment which means my tumors in breast and node have completely gone and I am now hopefully having WLE instead of mx. Good luck to you all, keep your chins up and be happy when you can but let yourself be sad if you need to be as well, it's all part the journey xxxxx ... View more

Hi ladies, I have finished 6chemos now but my taste buds were really awful with docetaxel but with FEC I craved red meat like mince, steak and sausages, not that I would normally eat that sort of food. The taste buds came back after about 2 weeks and I found fresh pineapple really helped with horrid taste in my mouth, Rice pudding was good as well, probably just comfort food cravings. Sparkling water really helped as well but now I can't think of drinking it! Hope it goes well for you and just eat what you fancy, I think your body will tell you what you need so listen to it. Good luck xxx ... View more

Hi my symptoms were a heavy/full breast that felt a bit lumpy but no actual lump that I could feel or my GP after I went to her. She checked both breasts and said there were no lumps anywhere and as my breast hurt a bit she said it couldn't be cancer because there was no pain with cancer! She luckily referred me to breast clinic and I had mammogram, ultrasound and 2 biopsy and have just finished my chemo for ducttal BC. Have surgery and rads to come. I would advise if you think there is something wrong insist on getting checked at a clinic to put your mind at rest. Hope all goes ok and it is nothing to worry about. ... View more

I have not had experience of discharge but know a bit about BC now. It may be that it has taken a while to get pathology on your sample and now they want you bAck to talk about what they have found. I do know that early detection is best and that a few weeks between apts is not unusual. It's very hard not to worry so I won't tell you to do that but get some information from this site and Macmillan site as I felt that it made it less scary to deal with. Call the helpline on here as well, they are great. Keep using this site after the apt if you need to as it is a great forum for support and info. Good luck next week xxx ... View more

Poor you I am out the other side of chemo 2 weeks ago and had Emend for 3days and then Domperidon to take ,4 times a day for 4 days and then if and when I needed it. I would take it occasionally through to the next chemo and It worked a treat so ask about both of those meds. Hope you feel better, I had hardly any nausea with docetaxel but a little more with FEC. The tiredness builds up over the weeks so don't try and do too much, be kind to yourself and you will get through it. I always had to go to the end of a long miserable tunnel physically and mentally and then wake up one day about a week later feeling nearly human again! It's amazing how your body will cope with the chemo, feel better and then off you go again. Good luck xx ... View more

I suggest you go to an IFA who can look at different insurance companies for you or you will be forever filling in application forms. They can also call them with your medical history first to see whether the underwriters will look at covering you. They may do so but exclude cancer, or load the premiums. Good luck x ... View more