Breast Cancer Now Forum

Hi Bravescholar (love the name, by the way!)   It is tough telling elderly parents. I think they feel the proper order of things has been breached & it's upsetting for them to be unable to take this trouble from you onto themselves. In my case, it's just my mum, as dad died last September & actually I'm glad he never had to know about this. I hope you are able to spend a pleasant weekend & that you enjoy your cooked breakfast!:-)   Good luck with your first chemo on Wednesday.   Nico xx ... View more

Hi All   Poniente - I didn't find the PICC line insertion too uncomfortable. They always offer to top up the local anaesthetic. I'm not bothered by needles though. It did feel a bit weird at one point when I got palpitations but the nurse said it was a good sign of the line being in the right place. She withdrew it a bit & the palpitations stopped. You have a chest xray to check the position & it was right first time for me. It was a bit sore that evening but fine by the next day when I started chemo. It didn't take that long to insert the line but I was in the unit for a few of hours I think, waiting for the nurse & also having a talk about the whole chemo process. The pharmacist also came to see me while I was there, which meant a bit of a wait. I had a bed to relax on & could help myself to drinks & biscuits, so it was fine. I was offered lunch too.     Sarah - I will be having rtx in the new year (time off for good behaviour?).   Carole - yes, I did have a bit of a glow for the first few days from the epirubicin. I quite liked it, as it made me look healthy!    Should I have been offered a wig fitting? It hasn't been mentioned so far. Not sure I want a wig but it would be nice to be offered the chance or given info.   All the best to new starters.   Nicoxx ... View more

Thanks for the birthday wishes Carole & Sarah.   I'm glad you feel ok so far after no.2 Carole. Are you having FEC only like me, or FECT?   Sarah it's impossible not to worry about chemo before you start in my opinion. It really does seem to be the case that everyone is different in the way it affects them. My first hasn't been bad but I'm now worrying about the 2nd one!   Nevermind, we'll get through it together:-)   Nico x ... View more

Thanks Carole. It's my birthday next Friday & I'm looking forward to a lovely day & a yummy meal in the evening, before the 2nd cycle the next day. Hoping the SEs won't be worse this time around.   How are you finding it?   Nico xx ... View more

Hello Carole & August Starters   I started the July 2015 thread because I expected to start then but actually had my first chemo on 1/8. So I'm one of you really! I'm having FEC 75, to be followed by RTX & then 10 years of tamoxifen. I agree it feels  like a very long haul but needs must I guess.   I was dreading chemo, especially as I had the whole of July to anticipate it. However, so far the worst I have experienced is about 5 days of feeling totally drained, light headed & foggy. By day 8 I was ok again. I have developed a very spotty chin, which I gather may be a side effect of the steroids, so hope it won't get worse with each cycle.    My hair is getting lifeless but not falling out yet. It's short but I may get it cut even shorter to make it easier to deal with. No idea when it will start to leave me!   Best wishes to you all on the journey no one wants to be on.   Nick xx ... View more

Hi All   Finally joined you for real on Saturday 1/8 for first of 6 cycles of FEC 75. So far I've been tired & dizzy but had no nausea or sickness at all, for which I am extremely grateful. Metoclopramide made me very twitchy, so I took cyclizine instead, which the oncologist had thoughtfully prescribed in case the meto was a problem.   I have also been craving savoury foods, though I normally have a very sweet tooth. Really fancy pork pie pastry right now (don't like the meat!) & am a bit worried I will pile on more excess weight.   Anyhow, it's a relief to be on the other side of the first treatment.   Best wishes & hugs to those of you who are really struggling.    Nico xx ... View more

Carole, I got my appointment letter today re PICC & also 'group educational talk'.  it's on Friday 31st at 9am & then back the following day at 9.30 for the first cycle.  Hard work all this running backwards & forwards!  At least I've now got a temporary parking permit & will be issued with one for the duration of chemo, because the parking fees are certainly not cheap.   The difference between PICC lines & ports (short for port-a-cath) is the position of insertion I think.   Hope your ECG is ok.   N xx ... View more

Hi Carole   I forgot to mention I'm having a PICC line.  It seems to be standard procedure at my hospital, to save the veins. Don't know why some have a PICC & some have a port though.   I hope you were reassured by your visit to the unit.  I hope I will also have a preview because it helps to be able to visualise the place I find.  Just waiting for the chemo people to contact me re blood tests etc but I suppose it won't be until near the end of July.   I think I will stay with this thread (since I started it), as there are so many lovely fellow travellers here, but will see if an August one starts too, out of interest.   Nico xxx ... View more

Hi Lalie   Sorry, I didn't see your post until now.  Gosh 4 lots of chemo - you really are a veteran!  Really good news that your results are showing an improvement already & I hope that continues.   I just feel like I'm waiting around now.  I was sure I would be starting this month, so it's a bit frustrating because i just want to know that I'll be ok during treatment. Still, at least I have time to help my mother with her house move etc before chemo starts.   Best wishes Nico xx ... View more

Hi Carolec   Thanks for asking about my appointment.  It was fine - a really lovely oncologist who was very reassuring about my prognosis.  I will be having FEC and have decided against the cold cap, as I have fibromyalgia & am very sensitive to the cold.     Guess what though: I won't be starting until 1/8! So it seems I don't really belong in my own thread (you & I can be stowaways in July's thread together). The delay is because the dr wants me to be ok for my birthday in August & a later start works out better - very considerate!   Best wishes to you & all the July threaders   Nicoxx ... View more

Hi Sheena   I don't envy you the decision.  It's really not easy & in a way I'm glad I didn't have a choice, odd though that might sound.  Maybe phone the helpline to discuss?  Life certainly can be pretty **bleep**, I agree.   Hope you find your answer soon.   Nico xx ... View more

Hi Carolec   You're very welcome to this thread.  I hope you enjoy your holiday before the chemo onslaught begins. It's great that you get to see the suite in advance with your nurse to reassure you.  I hope the same will happen to me - not sure if it's standard.   Hair loss  is a scary thought, isn't it?  I don't think I'm going to try the cold cap, so I guess I'll be joining you in wig shopping.  Maybe something funky.....?   Have a lovely holiday.   Nico xx ... View more

Hi Joyce   Very best wishes for your first chemo session.  I really hope it goes well & that you find any fears are not realised. At least it's the right weather for a cold cap! (That is if it's hot where you are.) I've heard that the PICC line is nothing to worry about & makes blood tests etc much easier for you.   I agree family & friends aren't always the best people to talk to, as they either express their own fears without thinking how it will affect you, or they gloss over the situation which leaves you feeling lonely.  I think it's definitely something you have to experience to really understand, unfortunately.   Sending virtual hugs   Nico xx ... View more

Thanks for your lovely message Jo.  It's good to be part of such a supportive community.  Fingers crossed for all those waiting for results.   Nico x ... View more

Hi RuthieG   I'm being treated at the Churchill too.  Just found out today I have to have chemo, so waiting for oncology appointment.  i hope I won't find it as tough as you did.     Hope the radiotherapy goes ok.  I met someone at Maggie's at the Churchill who has been having RT & she said it was fine but takes a long time for them to line you up before zapping!  Fingers crossed for you.   Nico x ... View more

Thanks for your wishes Sheena.  The good news is I don't need further surgery & my lymph nodes were negative, so that's a huge relief.  Not so great is the fact that I have to have chemo because of my age & the high grade of the cancer.  This will of course be followed by radiotherapy & then tamoxifen.  I know it could be worse & it is good to know the plan but I'm dreading the chemo.    Nico x ... View more

Hi I am in the same horrid position, 2weeks post WLE & awaiting my fate! Appt for results on 24/6 -finally only 2 days away. I have been ok, then anxious, then sad, then irritable etc, etc, etc. My mother is coming with me ( along with my husband) & I'm worried how she'll cope with whatever is said, especially if I need a mx. She is an extremely anxious person, maybe not the best companion on such an occasion. But she's my mum & wants to be there. It's tiring taking everyone else's feelings into consideration! As far as being called at short notice, I was given surgery date of 22/6 in clinic, then the nurse phoned me the same day to say they wanted to bring it forward to 8/6, which was only a week away. I was scared it was because the tumour was growing really fast! The nurse said it was just that a space had become free & not to worry. In the end I was glad to get it over with sooner. I suppose we have to take what we're given. Xx ... View more

Hi Amberstone   Overthinking is definitely an occupational hazard of this cancer patient job but doesn't do anyone any good.  It is especially difficult  to avoid though, when you can't distract yourself with your usual activities. Hopefully you will feel better once the drain is out. Luckily mine was removed before I was discharged the day after surgery (just as well since I kept catching it on things whenever I was out of bed).  I know exactly what you mean about the mixture of emotions. It is a huge leap into the unknown, as you say.      If it's any comfort to you, I found what turned out to be an invasive cancer but, like you, also had calcifications on mammo, which proved to be DCIS (pre-invasive).  So I had the tumour & the DCIS removed. It's good that your cancer is Grade 2 rather than 3.  The high grade of mine worries me, as I was told that the type of cancer I have is 'sneaky' & good at getting out of the local area. That's why chemo is likely I think, as well as my age, (50 this summer), which the medics seem to consider young!   Anyhow, I wish you all the best with your post-op recovery & further treatment. ... View more

Hi Joyce11   Thanks for replying.  Feel less lonely already!  Sounds like you've been through a lot, so well done for keeping positive. I'm very pessimistic by nature but am trying to overcome that because I think I'll need my energy for other things, whatever happens next.  I'm sure it will help to know exactly what the next step is, as uncertainty is the worst thing for me.   Hope your first chemo goes ok. Who knows, maybe I'll be joining you in the July batch & we can get through it together.   x ... View more