Breast Cancer Now Forum

Hi Corrina I had chemo from Nov 15 - Mar 16 then surgery and rads and returned to work in late Sept 16 after 12 months off. I can honestly say the first few weeks were a blur I work for the NHS and had a phased return of 4 weeks then remained part time (4 days) using leave till I stopped herceptin at the start of Jan 17. Please dont worry about the fuzziness and wooly head feeling I had it to and its all gone now (probably had by about easter this year to be honest) its stressful returning to work so this wont help with the memory side of things toi. Meet with your bosses tell them how you feel, figure out strategies that help you get round it whatever works for you if they can do it they will. One of mine was even though I sat in meetings and knew what I was going on and fully participated if someone stopped me before I had written what had happened in them down and asked me to do something else I would often forget bits so someone else at the meeting kindly reminded me of my actions in an email after the meeting this was done on the QT so only my boss and the other person knew. My boss even stocked up on post it notes and notebooks for me as she realised for the first few months I literally had to write everything down or I would forget. Im now an expert at to do lists. Ask can you split your breaks , maybe take a few minutes longer at lunch a couple of tea breaks get outside see daylight get fresh air and it makes the day seem less tiring. I found when I was trying to carry on as normal colleagues seemed to not give a flying fig about me but the minute I said im sorry I need help as I cant remember things very well at the moment, im exhuasted , achy etc they really did step up. Sometimes people think you want to go back to "normal" which you do but your new normal may involve a few more post it notes, short breaks (or even just photocopying for other people because thats easier than thinking at a desk) Take care and do talk to your bosses x dont take any s**t though you are entitled to work if you want to and they should go as all out as is reasonably possible to help you Jen x ... View more

Yes because the more you can get on the better skin seems to hold up, I am very fair and thought id fry I just moisturised at every opportunity at least 3 times a day and my skin held up amazingly xx so if you can get it then do because at least then cost isnt making you scrimp to make it last longer as this cancer business is a bloomin expensive lark Take care and just know it gets loads easier as the weeks go on to find who you are again xx ... View more

I used aveno during rads way back in July 16 I just used the norm body lotion if you ask your GP and say its for rads they may give you a large bottle on prescription and as you get free prescriptions now its a good way of doing it as you can lash on loads and loads without worrying about how much it costs xx ... View more

Heya I was a size 26 last year when I had my MX i was worried about PJs as I couldnt find button ups that were not warm winter ones but instead opted for very large mens button up short sleeved shirts and leggings for wearing around the first few days I even bought them in the jacamo sale so they were about £3 each . Simply be do have button up PJs But it turned out I need not worry I could easily get my arm above my head a day after and could ptetty much wear whatever if it was a little bit loose Take care x Jen ... View more

Hi I had 15 rads this time last year after an MX and lymph node clearance without recon, my tattoos landed just under my arm just under where my boob would have been and just in the middle of my boobs they are so tiny I cant really see them. I used aveeno, aloe vera and yes to carrots coconut oil lotion . My team said R1&R2 were not not needed and any good mild moisturiser would work. I am really fair but with frequent moisturising my skin held up really well. I used to put some on as I was getting dressed straight after rads and then around 3-4 times a day at regular intervals . At my rads follow up the doc said he had expected me to get problems and was suprised I hadnt. I can honestly say after chemo surgery and seromas rads were the "easy" part Take care xx Jen ... View more

Dearest Tat its been a long time since I logged in or even browsed the forum but something made me pop in today. Sending you all my love and wishes x ... View more

Hi I went in at 7:30am and was home at 8:30pm the same day for a full mastectomy and node clearance this is the norm in the hospital I was under Everyone in my family was shocked that it was day surgery initially including me but all you do after surgery is rest and thats a lot easier at home and reduces the risk of infection. I had hardly any pain until I developed a seroma around 3 weeks later so I would have been taking up a bed for no reason Hope your surgery goes well Jen x ... View more

Hi Momo Please dont worry it will grow back x I finished chemo at the end of March so am 7 months post chemo today and I am just getting to the stage where it looks like a hairdo rather than as bibi said prisoner cell block H At the end of June I had no hair on the front of my head from my ears forward but growth on the back mid july when I started rads I had enough hair I confidently ditched my wig for a v short but even crop Mine hasnt grown a cm a month either it just sort of took off of its own accord a few weeks ago. As bibi said just try and help your hair by eating well. I have hair thats a good 5cms on places and 3cms in the bits that started growning later I washed my head now hair every 3 days with watermans grow me which is about £10 on amazon I only recently bought the conditioner to help with fluffiness. I take biotin 10000mcg a day I have no idea if either work but I have decided when I run out I am not buying anymore. I massage my head for a few minutes each day with my fingers again I dont know if this does work. The one thing I have noticed is a friend and I both ditched hats, wigs , scarves etc the same time as it was v v hot she was a month behind me but her hair has grown loads too so maybe our heada like the lack of friction from headwear Jen x ... View more

There is certainly light at the end of the tunn x this time last year I was diagnosed I started chemo in Nov, had mastectomh in may, rads in July and im back at work full time and fighting fit now. Hang on in there it does get easier xx ... View more

Hi Kay Sorry you havent had a good time of it up to now, obviously I cant tell you what to do but I can share my experience of weekly paclitaxel. I had 3 xEC and 12 weekly paclitaxel and whilst not side effect free weekly paclitaxel was really doable its not has hard hitting as 3 weekly tax and by a couple if weeks after I was feeling fit as a fiddle, it really wasnt as bad as EC. Im only 37 so I took the chance to throw everything at it. My tumour was still largish after EC but after Paclitaxel is was so so small I could feel it shrinking week on week. You are in a scary place right now but 12 weeks for years is worth it. Take care Jen x ... View more

Hi Gracie I was diagnosed Oct 6th last year im now back at work it'll he a crazy few months but life will get back to normal x so to quote Dory just keep swimming. I had 3 x EC at 3 weekly intervals and 12 weekly paclitaxel and I had more or less no side effects apart from not getting along with the steroids post chemo on EC and having a down day or 2 because of those I was OK and once I switched the paclitaxel I didnt have steroids. I only had very mild constipation that never lasted more than a couple of days on EC, I was sick just once but think it was a bug not chemo and I had the odd headache but nothing I may not have had anyway without chemo. I had one night of really bad aches but put that down to herceptin, I had the odd day of feeling tired but I was up showered , dressed ,cooked, cleaned and looked after a v sick relative every day so I was never that ill I couldnt function. Ok maybe I had the odd 9pm bedtime but no bed bound all day or unable to look after myself or others. I am not saying I ever want to do it again but I was OK I just got my head down and got on with it. The thought of it is lots worse than the actual chemo in most cases but you get a skewed view as the ladies who are well during chemo post less. Be kind to yourself , plan for easy lazy days , have pizza for tea etc , expect the odd ready/cheat meal, plan treats for regular intervals and days out where possible. You are in a scary place right now in your life but just hang on in there and itll be OK xx Take care Jen x ... View more

Have DMd you x ... View more

Hi H 🙂 I have now had 13 herceptins 8 without chemo I have had a bit of diarreoea with all of them, it hasnt gotten any better or worse its usually around 5-6 days after my injection but by around 8 days after its OK again. It is one of the side effects from what my nurses told me I manage mine by diet primarily and just eat less fibre these days Jen x ... View more

I went back Tuesday 12 months of typical NHS inbox awaited me. I didnt delete but I did create a new folder and drag anything apart from the last couple of weeks into it and left it all in there unread. I then just had a quick shufty at policy folders on the intranet to see if any had been updated, no way was I trawlling through thousands of emails the way I see it is return to works and keep in touch calls or meetings (while you are off) are to ensure they tell you of any major changes or to remind them they need to on your return and policy folders should mop up the rest. ... View more

Hi Oncewild Just to give some hope but if you are going on weekly paclitaxel you may not feel sick 🙂 I had 12 and wasnt poorly at all through any of them infact I felt quite normal so fingers crossed you will too Jen x ... View more

I was told to expect it to go on EC and any remaining "tufts" would go on paclitaxel That said looking back I kept a lot of stubble through EC a lot of which didnt go till paclitaxel so if you fancy trying cold cap it may help , I know Bibi ( a Sept lady) cold capped and kept lots ... View more

If anyones near Altrincham and needs a good not really expensive but not cheap ( mine were around £35) post surgery bra then I can reccommend Betty & Belle the ladies were bloomin lovely with me and would not stop till I felt and looked like a million dollars I walked out head high shoulders back and one real one foob out 🙂 ... View more

I had EC Sarah I didnt cold cap as was having paclitaxel afterwards and was told id lose hair no matter what. I seemed to have an easier time than the ladies on FEC not sure if it was the lack of F though Jen x ... View more

Yenakiieve ... View more