Breast Cancer Now Forum

I had my chemo over a year a go then went on to herceptin that was stopped in January this year because I was so ill from it. I was noticeably forgetting stuff but was constantly told by the professionals that it wasnt the treatment. My memory to what it was is awful, although I did go to the doctors for a very short 20 minute test and she said I was normal. Im afraid Im not and to cover up for my total inability to cope with remembering things which includes appointments, doing things with friends, remembering daily stuff, knowing where places are etc, I simply agree with everything people say to me. Then just get totally confused and disorientated. This then leads to a downward spiral as I get so very angry, and cant even remember why. Its a total frustration. Chemo and the hercetin have left me feeling as if I live in this whirl that one day I pray will stop. ... View more

Thank you for this ive drpped from 67% to 50% now on 14th injection and hell its worrying - so will try this.. love sue x ... View more

Hi, im permenantly on lopermide and have been since the first injection. Oncologist told me its a common side effect. Take codeine as well for first four days following injection. the side effects have got worse as treatment progressed but still worth it even though today had to decide to give up driving because aching joints mean i cant react quick enough. Keep going we are lucky to get this treatment.... ... View more

Hi Flower, its a number thats all and having worked in stats it only takes some small change and you can swing from showers to sunshine. In all these stats what they cant tell you is what the heck those that didnt make the ten years actually die of, and that fact would scew the figures completly. So ignore them whats important is what you do with your time and how you live it. Enjoy life youve been given that second chance live it so we can help thenext generation get even better stats !, luv SUe xx ... View more

HI Isabella, my BC was as yours and I was booked for FEC-T but was stoppd at just FEC because the treatment made me so very ill. I then moved straight on to herseptin and now had 5/18 traetments. My Oncologist told me you cant have the herceptin without chemo because thats how the hercptin was trialled so we all have to follow this regime although lots of current trials are provving now that in fact its just as good to just do the herceptin. She also told me that many, many patients only have one FEC treatment and they have for years done very well indeed. The main part of the treatment as she told me was this herceptin and its just important to enter this treatment feeling as well as possible. Im doing OK although the chemo had knocked my heart efficiency down to 50% which is border line for having the treatment so I work on exercising as much as I can daily to build my heart stregnth back. All my best wishes to you Sue x ... View more

OH Bettie what a struggle for you and how utterly devestating having gone through such a fight. I just hope so much that what ever they are giving you now helps to build your heart stregnth back. These drugs they give us are marvelous at controlling the cancer I simply dont think that they know enough yet about what they leave behind in inherently weakening other organs. Their just doenst seem to be a red flag system to monitor other parts of our bodies that can become damaged to help improve things for us and future development of these treatments. I do though sincerely thank you for letting me know whats happened to you because I will ask my Oncologist exactly whats done long term in case of other damages, Youve helped me to understand far more and nor fear asking the right questions. Love to you....Sue x ... View more

Hi Bettie, my chemotreatment had to be stopped because of the effect on my heart the muga scan dropped to 50% efficiency. I couldnt walk 10 paces without feeling as if I was going to have a heart attack. Because my cancer was virulant they said that i must have herceptin and the nurses kept worrying about giving it to me which i couldnt understand. Ive now found out that this too causes major heart problems and have to see the hospital again for tests next week. From what ive gathered they take you off treatments and you can insist on seeing a heart specialist to give you tablets to help the heart. I will though let you know later in June. Tell me more about ur situation please? Kind regards Sue ... View more

Hi Sallie, you are right. I was sent down the line of chemo and had three which literally nearly killed me so I said no to anymore. It was the hardest decesion of my life, but when I told the Oncologist to my surprise she said that many women who get really ill only have one chemo and its prooven to be quite enough. Its like being put on a conveyor and the more you keep asking what yhe hell is happening to your body is the more medical staff look at you baffled. Basically because I still dont think ots really understood enough. So we should all question the wisdom.  ... View more

Dear Helen, dont isolate yourself stress is a very real problem and whilst tablets may help in the longer term find yourself a cancer care centre and get some advise. Having gone through the operation then chemo and now herceptin it all feels like your on a a train you cant get off and have many stress attacks. However it wasnt until I had to attend a cancer trust centre last week that I suddenly found out that this stress is normal and we do need longer term alternative treatments that deal with us as people. Do make a big effort, dont bottle it up. All my love to you Sue x ... View more

Hi im so sorry to read about the hell your going through. Age I dont think comes into all of this. Having recently had my mastectomy their were ladies in their late 70's going through just a s much pain as to what to do. In the end its all a personal decision and look at that in a positive way we are lucky to have so many options.    I found I could only really take one decision at a time. I needed the mastectomy to put a line under knowing in my mind that the DCIS which was vigerous had been taken out of that part of my body. I was told that if I wanted reconstruction that decision could be taken many years later.    So dont rush take your time, your young and have many many years ahead of you, I hope everything goes so really well for you. Sue x  ... View more

Hi Tina, I had a mastectomy the same time as you had your operation so all my love to you on the journey. Your not paranoid Tina  its an awful shock and the fear is hard to explain because unless youve gone through it you cant honestly begin to imagine what its like. Unlike you I have zero support from my GP apart from a demand that I go and see them in their surgery the day after my operation. They never even turned up for the appointment. My conclusion was that they know as much as you and the real experts that we need to listen to are the hospital care team. We are lucky Tina I went to Cardiff and was utterly amazed at what technologies that are available to us now. So breast cancer is now very treatable, that's the good news but its comes with a bag of highly complex treatments that thank God are very specific to each of us. So Ive had to accept that if I want the best I must listen to that team. Our job is to keep calm to help the healing. Give yourself a hug its going to be OK and accept its been a bad day. We all have them. Do let us know how it goes from the results. Luv Sue xx ... View more

Thank you Sandra,  just getting someone to go to the chemist now to see how this works. It is like a really deep itch so fingers crossed. I do so apprciate your feedback. Sue x ... View more

Thank you so much Caffy. Will call the cancer nurse Monday and in the meantime sending a friend to the chemist to try it out...its really appreciated...Sue ... View more

Thank you Val235 I made the mistake of not making the appointment at m&s and the girl looked really alarmed. Have sewn in a pocket as suggested in an existing bra and that feels more comfortable. So thanks such a lot... ... View more

Thank you i will keep doing my best. i may be finding it harder at the moment as being driven crazy with itching. Am wearing the bra a little bit longer every day to try to adjust.... ... View more

No but I was on Anwen Ward. What a team they are fantastic. Interested to read the comments in case i need node clearance. We are so fortunate. All the best Sue ... View more