Breast Cancer Now Forum

I'm haing mastectomy tomorrow and they are putting in an expander implant at the same time. I was having chemo first, but abandoned for now due to no effect on tumour. Resume chemo afterwards and radio to follow. They didn't want to put the silicone one just now in due to risk of damage from rads, but told me the expander one may get damaged but would be replaced by a silicone one anyway once treatment finished, or I can have the DIEP recon that I was originally planned for. ... View more

I had an MRI after my second FEC, and there was no change in the tumour size at all. They expect 50% reduction ideally.  They have abandonded the chemo plan for now, and I am going for surgery next week and will resume the T part of FEC-T after my op, and then on for radiotherapy. After the oncologist saw the scan result, they had a meeting and they all agreed to switch my plan to surgery for now. Good Luck x ... View more

The waiting is the worst. They can be pretty certain from mammo and ultrasound pictures what's going on, but to be 100% sure, they wait for biopsy results. I waited a week for the results and it was looooong. ... View more

The waiting is the worst. They can be pretty certain from mammo and ultrasound pictures what's going on, but to be 100% sure, they wait for biopsy results. I waited a week for the results and it was looooong. ... View more

Mine started to come out 2 weeks after first lot of FEC. After 3 days it was very thin. Started Wednesday and by Saturday I wore a scarf as I was aware of how thin it looked. On the Monday I got it shaved off and had pictures taken by a photographer who is working on a charity calendar which I'll be in 🙂 Good luck with your charity shave off!! ... View more

What lovely news. Congratulations!!! ... View more

A few days of tiredness and then I've been feeling good Cocolily, I've had 2 now, third next week. My hair started to come out 2 weeks after the first chemo and by 3 days later, I was wearing scarves. Went for the buzz cut and felt much better. Good luck and hope you begin to feel human soon 🙂 ... View more

When I attended, I saw the consultant for a poke and prod around, then the mammo, ultrasound and had 3 biopsies. Went back to the consultant again who more or less told me his thoughts, but we had to wait for the biopsy results to be completely sure. They'll be able to give you a good idea of what's what at the time. Altogether the clinic visit was about 3 hours.  Oh and good luck with your visit 🙂 ... View more

I'm quite liking the no hair look as does my Husband. I'm very proud of the shape of my head 🙂 Unfortunately the weather has turned cold again here, so I haven't ventured outside naked yet 😉 ... View more

I too am a nurse and been off since diagnosis, as my head wasn't right to start with. I got started on chemo 3 weeks after initial diagnosis so would have been off since then anyway. I work in ICU so was told there was no way I should be working due to the infection risk. Once I have surgery, obviously I'll have the physical recovery time required and go back on a phased return when I'm ready. My bosses, HR and OH have been great so far. ... View more

I would stay off work and try to rest and get rid of your cold. They probably will still go ahead with your surgery, so long as you're not chesty or particularly unwell. Good Luck x ... View more

I'm having chemo before surgery, which will hopefully shrink the tumour to give clear margins for surgery and also to help reduce the risk of local recurrence.  I am due my second round this Wednesday and besides a few days of tiredness, I have felt good - no sickness at all.  My hair however is a casualty.  Started coming out 2 weeks after chemo and is nearly all gone 😞   Good Luck x ... View more

I'm having 3 rounds of FEC and then switch to the other one Taxotere (or Docetaxel), hence the name FEC-T (or FEC-D).  I'll have an MRI after round 2 and if not responding, they will switch me earlier so I will get 2 rounds of FEC and 4 of the other. ... View more

First session today and was ok.  Only problem was I was delayed as they didn't have the right bloods done, so they took some and I was to go back after lunch.  When I went back, they realised they had made another mistake and still not have the full complement they needed, so an urgent sample taken and a few tears and expletives from me, before I finally got underway at 3pm.  Apart from a funny feeling in my nose, I felt no ill effects......... so far 🙂 ... View more

I've requested to join your facebook group March Marvels if you don't mind 🙂 ... View more

Hi.  I had appointment with my oncologist toady to discuss my chemotherapy. Cancer was confirmed a couple of weeks ago and I've had all my scans to exclude spread.  He told me they would give me 3 lots of FEC and 3 lots of D.  He said that they like to do heart scans first, which could be done next week and start chemo the following week. I said,I'd had enough of waiting and just want to get started.  I am fit and healthy and run regularly, so he agreed that they didn't really need to do it, so instead organised an ECG, which was done right away and then he told me I could start chemo tomorrow!!!!!  Yikes - it's real.  A bit of a shock, but it means one step closer to kicking cancer's butt!! ... View more

1 down 5 to go!!  That's one way of looking at it   I'm due to be starting in a week or so, and like you, I'll be taking whatever advice they give.  But I suppose we all have to wait and see how things go and ultimately do what's right for us at the time!! ... View more

Decisive!  I like decisive!  Good luck with your surgery and your recovery xx ... View more

Great news Tra about no spread, but still lots of decisions to be made regarding surgical options.  My CT and MRI scans only showed up what we already knew, so a weight off my mind too.  Bone scan tomorrow, but everyone is confident that will be clear too.  I've to have chemo first and should start the week after next, but will almost definitely need a full mastectomy afterwards due to the relative size of my lumps compared to my breast size!  I will have reconstruction at the time, although I did admit to my consultant my concerns about my body not being so fit after a whack of chemo.  He did say that they were valid concerns and if I felt really storngly they would reconsider, but even though I am a nurse, I am not an expert in this field and will bow to their superior knowledge with this.  I will just try and keep as well as I can and hope the chemo is kind to me 🙂   Good luck with whatever decisions you reach xx ... View more

Lena, from what I can gather if you are fit and healthy before treatment starts, it stands you in good stead for what is to come.  I'm glad you are keeping active too.  I'm getting in as much swimming as I can before my chemo starts.  During it, I will try and keep up my running, but if not able, at least a walk every day!!!!   Ok, so you are 74, but I'll bet compared to most women your age you look and feel great!.  Good Luck xx ... View more