Breast Cancer Now Forum

I got my diagnosis 22/1/15 so interested as to when get mammogram. I am seeing my consult next week. However, I got a temp implant after mastectomy in Aug and have now developed pain in rib under implant - feels bruised. Lexilou your comment has helped calm me - will be mentioning it when meet consultant but given me hope that not necessarily the bad scenarios I have been panicking about 👍🏼 ... View more

Hi, I am 41 and got my diagnosis in Jan 15. I have completed chemo and had a mastectomy 3 weeks ago. I have not had a period since March (started chemo Feb 15) . As my BC was hormone receptive I was told that after chemo wld start tamoxifen. I have been put onto emesethane with monthly injections.  I also need to decide whether I want a hysterectomy or my ovaries radiated at the same time as I get my breast radiotherapy.  Have been on the exemesthane  8 weeks and waking constantly through the night with sweats. Everything I read says exemesthane is given when you are post menopausal. I am surely artificially post menopausal?  I am pretty confused as I don't think I am asking my consultant the right questions, no blood test has been done to determine if I am  post or  not. If you don't mind while you post a reply after visiting your consultant. I am back at mine 2/9 so think I need to have more detailed discussion around why I am on this particular treatment and understand benefits. Hope you get some clarification for your peace of mind too! ... View more

Hi NewportR, I finished FEC-t on 3/6/15 To be honest the FEC wasn't too much of an issue so I expected Taxotere to be same. I was warned to expect some possible joint pain and to stock up on ibruprofen and paracetomol. I didn't heed this advise and about 5 days in during night got throbbing pains which started off ok and then were like contractions. Had to send hubby to 24hr tesco. As soon as I got the paracetamol into me there was an immediate improvement. After that for first few days of chemo I took ibuprofen and paracetamol and didn't suffer the pain again. If the pain is really bad then you can ask consultant for something stronger. The worst part of tax is the constipation/diarrhoea during 1st week, again once 1st week over it passes. By about the second weekend I always felt ok and even managed wine (although it didn't taste great). Taxotere didn't seem to do same damage to my mouth as FEC. Once you are on Taxotere halfway there, almost done! Good luck 👍 ... View more

Hi, I got diagnosed this yr with a hormone receptive lump, which was a grade 2. The lump was in the top of my breast close to the skin. It was recommended that I did chemo (FEC-t) to try and shrink by 1mm to get lumpectomy. Lump didn't move and have had mastectomy 3 weeks ago. The lump was also still cancerous although hadn't got any bigger. At the last minute the consultant decided against putting me on tamoxifen and opted for exemesthane (aromosin) with monthly injections. I have been on it approx 8 weeks (chemo finished 3/6) and am starting to find the night sweats (soaking head) are getting worse. Also, I am stiff after periods of inactivity, although I hadn't connected this as a side effect. My consultant keeps saying she will swap me to tamoxifen if I can't cope with the side effects. Has anyone taken tamoxifen and emesthane - are the side effects much the same on tamoxifen? Also, where are you getting the stats from? My consultant told me taking this wld mean my chances of getting a reoccurrence drop by 50% - suppose I should of asked 50% of what. ... View more

It's cope or crumble stuff, which isn't really a choice. I am 41 and have two boys under 10 my parents are same age as you. I can see how helpless they feel by this situation. I have managed to cope with the chemo and have been really lucky not been too ill. My hair did well to hang on in there for first 3 mths then became a disaster. So, I asked my Dad to use his clippers on me which I knew wld be incredibly emotional for him. But, also meant that he was doing something practical which helped me out. Worse bit was when he tried to smother my head in some kind of post shave balm. We are definitely stronger as a family now and just focus on getting past this stage and back to normality. Stay strong for your daughter and grandchildren and hopefully it will be a short journey to recovery for her. ... View more

Hi, I am doing FEC-T as well and had first dose of T 12 days ago. I am avoiding anything which is remotely spicy as it sends me into orbit. I am finding ketchup has a kick to it. I have been living on scrambled eggs and strawberry cornettos to help numb the pain from my swollen, chapped lips. Although today It feels as if the 'furry' sensation that is normally present in my mouth may of subsided. Water & lemon is also refreshing as mentioned below. I am finding normal rules don't apply and you need to do/eat whatever you can taste to allow you to function. Hope you find something you can eat. ... View more

I am definitely going to ask for something stronger for the next dose. I took the ibuprofen for 3 days after and the joint pain did stop. I get the occasional pain shooting up my spine but I was getting that with FEC. My mouth also is back under control. My bottom lip had puffed up and had ulcers, meaning I was constantly slathering Bonjela and Vaseline on. Made Take That - first TT gig that I can actually remember. Might even manage a glass of wine this Bank Holiday Monday!! ... View more

Girls, Thanks for replies - I sent husband out to all all night supermarket to stock me up with ibruprofen yesterday and the joint pain has eased off. I had been taking steroids prior to starting and for 5 days after. The pain started on day 6 so will ask the onc. about the 'tapping' down process. I was on 16 mg and then dropped to 8mg followed by 4mg. Managed to sleep last night and have the sore mouth. The comparison to labour pains definitely struck a chord as that was exactly how I described them to my husband - waves of contractions. Won't be caught short again, well stocked up for my next dose. Out of interest, have you had your lumps removed yet or are you doing FEC-T to try and shrink a lump? I am the latter plan is to shrink the lump 1mm from skin to get a lumpectomy. Just wondering how effective T is at shrinking as FEC didn't really make much difference to my lump. ... View more

Thanks Nikki, I had been taking 16mg of steroids prior to and after the T and the pain started yesterday when I had stopped. Took the steroids for 6 days. The paracetamol and ibruprofen seem to be controlling it and hopefully it eases for Friday as going to see Take That. Looking forward to some sleep tonight 💤 ... View more