Breast Cancer Now Forum

Hi, I'm Kirsteen and I'll be there from Thursday night. Looking forward to meeting you all and lots of chat as well as what looks like a brilliant programme :-).  I'm from near Inverness. ... View more

Hi Joyce,   How are you doing? I'm finally feeling that I'm over chemo but tired from all the travelling for rads. Started tamoxifen 12 days ago and the warm glows from the chemo are now full blown hot flushes!  I'm on 8/15 rads now. I have always had a bit of puffiness over my ribs under my arm since my op in June and it is definitely worse now. I've also developed swelling of my arm, prob lymphoedema but that started just before rads. So not sure how much the rads are contributing but the nurses did say to me that they expected a bit of swelling. I spoke to my BCN last Monday and have an apt for the lymphoedema clinic on 7 th Jan. :-).      ... View more

Hi Joyce, glad you're getting there and you've a break now. It's been some few months. I'm at the woozy, struggling to walk up the stairs stage but the steroid tail has helped with the pain so much. Just a few more days and I know I'll feel better :-). I can't believe radiotherapy will be anything as hard but time will tell. I hadn't realised that it's effects will last 2-4 weeks after in terms of tiredness and possible skin damage but I suppose that makes sense. Bibi, I didn't use the cold cap so lost my hair but I have about half a cm of fuzz now, 7 weeks after my first tax and it started growing about the time of the first T, just slows a bit after each chemo . It looks very light though- suspect grey not blonde....!  ... View more

Hi Joyce, Sorry to hear this round has been harder and hope that you feel better now and ready for the next step. i had the last one on Wed and am pretty spaced out but not too sore so far.  Take care, xx ... View more

Hi Mazzi, more likely I misunderstood 🙄. Thanks for your reply :-). Xx ... View more

Hi Curlykaren, I had an awful time with pain on my first T and like many others, was given a few extra days of steroids on a reduced dose for T2 which made a huge difference. Lots of other people find the T more tolerable. I hope you get the answers you need, xx ... View more

Hi Ros, last one 🎉🎉 and thanks for your good wishes - it's funny how at the start it felt like this day would never come and now it seems to have come so quickly. Mazzi, I hope the side effects go quickly :-). can I ask why your surgeon agreed to having the double mastectomy? Joyce11, I hope all is going well and you are nearly through the side effects. Thinking of everyone, xx ... View more

Hi Sarahd , I started with paracetamol, tried ibuprofen but my stomach revolted, co codamol wasn't enough and ended up with amytripilline first time round, second time, paracetamol was enough. But we're all different and you may sail through 😀. Horrible as the pain and the mouth were, they do pass and the significant risks with T are neutropenic sepsis and peripheral neuropathy, one is life threatening and the other can be long term, xx ... View more

Hi Richelle, hope you don't mind me popping in - I had an awful T1 and was given a steroid tail of 3 days of 4mg daily after the 3 days of 8mg twice daily - the second T was fine - I managed to de clutter the lean to and apart from the horrible mouth and taste loss, just was a bit tired and a wee bit sore unlike round 1 when I was sitting rocking with the pain. Still got slightly blurry eyes but not as bad. I hope it goes better for you. I have T 3 tomorrow so hopefully it will be like T 2 but at least it is the last one, we're getting there :-). Xxx ... View more

Thanks, Ann,  Turnercat, we're all different. I didn't put weight on with FEC, but I have on T. x ... View more

Hi,  good to hear how everyone is going and sorry to hear how some of us are struggling.  ive my  last chemo on Wed as long as everything is ok so fingers crossed. Ann, I had a mastectomy before chemo and am one sided by choice - couldn't face reconstruction. It's not so bad, honestly. The first wee while with the softie is awkward as it doesn't hang right but I just wore a padded waistcoat or open cardigan and that disguises any lopsided ness.  Once you're healed enough, the silicon prosthetic is great - it's comfortable and you get to try loads of shapes and sizes to get the right one - I'm really pleased with mine and so is the other lady who had an op the same time as I did.  I also wasn't sure about reconstruction as I felt that as I go through the menopause, my remaining side would change and then I'd end up squint anyway - but that's probably me being daft! i also have the choice of opting for reconstruction at a later date :-). Xx ... View more

Hi Joyce, Glad you're feeling better, it's sunny up here so I'm planning a wee walk later with the boys and dog. I hope your mouth feels better soon - last loss of taste :-).  I'm just starting to feel nervous as it all starts again with the blood test tomorrow, xxx ... View more

Celebrations Joyce, 🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉 ... View more

That would be so good - to start the New Year with it all done. My last chemo is due next Wed and I'm still waiting for radiotherapy dates. I now have about 0.5 cm fuzz over my head which has grown since I started T and my leg hair has come back - typical! I can't tell what colour it is yet. I'll be thinking of you tomorrow - hope it goes to plan and the side effects are not too bad, xxxx ... View more

Enjoy your break :-). Does that mean you'll be just finished by Christmas? X ... View more

Hi Manicmum, hope all has gone well today - last one, hooray 🎉🎉. i had a mastectomy and anc prior to chemo and it was much easier than chemo, the worst bit was not being able to drive for a few weeks. Xxxxx ... View more

Hi Joyce, I suppose it's good that they're not worried. Mine is much the same - I spoke to my GP and she has given me a prescription for Dermacool to try but as long as there's no sign of infection then she's not worried either. I'm glad you're good to go on Wednesday though 😀😀😀. I can't remember if I said that the steroid tail helped immensely and the round has just been tiredness and discomfort rather than sleepless nights and pain. My eyes are sore too - they're not running, but I have double vision in one which is horrible. I find a hot flannel compress once daily and lacrilube artificial tears at night keeps things bearable. Just think though , in 10 days you'll be more or less finished this stage and onto the next - I can't remember if you're having radiotherapy? Xxx ... View more

Hi Joyce, I feel like a Belisha beacon ! It's not very itchy but I feel as if I touch it, it will really get bad. I hope you get on well tomorrow and it's all go for the last round and if you get an answer re the rash, let me know, xxxx ... View more

Hi Joyce, I treated myself to a coffee and cheese scone in our local art gallery and cafe last week - just took my book and sat on a comfy couch and read for half an hour on my own. It was a real boost :-). I hope you can find some good things for this week.  Ive just taken the last of my steroid tail and so far, I'm just tired and a bit stiff - what a difference from 3 weeks ago. I'll just have to wait and see what happens tomorrow, whether the pain comes then.  The thing they seem to worry about most is the neuropathy and my level was probably still only stage one effects last time so that's possibly why I didn't get a dose reduction. have a lovely week and isn't it good to be looking down the home straight - may it stay straight, xx ... View more