Breast Cancer Now Forum

Hi MichelleHx All the best with your recovery from surgery & good luck with the chemo. My experience of chemo (Taxol) was that it messed up my immune system while I was having it & there was no way I could be in school while I had a  PICC line in.  I have been on full pay for 6 months, now on half pay (& will probably drop to zero pay but appreciate that my situation is different to yours!). May everyone stay great for you, being positive really, really helps and don't be afraid to accept help when it is offered. Take care of yourself, Mary xx ... View more

Hi Ladies, Just dropped back in to congratulate you on coming so far.  Can't quite believe where the time has gone. I've had a post treatment "holistic" meeting with my specialist nurse and been told I am now in the vulnerable phase between treatment finishing (except for herceptin injections - yippee!) and getting back to "normal" (which has shifted from before diagnosis "normal") and I must be very cautious about going back to work full-on too soon as I may not be able to cope.  Find this a bit scary as I am used to being in control.   Good luck to you all, remember to look after yourselves, lots of love Mary ... View more

Dear Orange Girl; Your ex boss made totally inappropriate comments - it's a small business that has neglected to train staff in HR & clearly needs educating in how to deal with colleagues who have life changing illnesses. Swines. You have the strength, positivitiy & new skills (which come from dealing with breast cancer) to move on. Re other inappropriate comments; one of my older sisters accompanied me to an Oncologist appointment to take notes. As far as I was concerned I was discussing the side effects of my chemotherapy; when I read her notes they started "The consultant - a boy - listened to Mary whinge..." which made me feel I should have kept quiet. Make sure you look after yourself Orange Girl; take care, Mary ... View more

Hi March starters, Cannot believe it is now August!  Hope you are all progressing OK. For me, chemo & radio now done, Hormone tablets started & Herceptin injections ongoing. It was a good feeling coming out of last meeting with Oncologist to book next appointment "in 3 months". Re bras:  try ASDA soft/comfort bras (I remove the padding).  I have found them really comfortable for radio & post radiotherapy.  They are also cheap at £6 each! Radiotherapy gave some "hot spots" & as a result the scar where lymph nodes removed became infected.  2 weeks of antibiotics have sorted it. Have had an ultrasound & been told node is enlarged but not cancer, and to have another scan in 3 moths. Again, hoping you are all OK; love to all, Mary xx ... View more

Hi Shervale & Running Free, I also work in a school, have been off since January and refused to go to informal meeting with headteacher in June (while I was having radiotherapy & signed off) to discuss "what to expect on a phased return". Fortunately I have been backed up by Union, Occupational Health & Specialist Breast Cancer Nurse (thank you MacMillan). Phased return to be led by Occupational Health, not the school, and when GP says it is ok. A further disadvantage for me is that I "look so well!" but as has been noted on this forum there are the emotional as well as physical aspects of recovery. Good luck to you & all recovering, make sure you look after yourselves. Platinum x ... View more

Hi SusieQ, Radiotherapy will be 20 sessions - 15 (right breast) plus 5 "boost" (tumour site).  In the euphoria of finishing chemo I expected all side effects to suddently stop!  they haven't, so I am still taking the domperidone and ondansetron for nausea; still falling asleep after doing very little (even going upstairs can be exhausting) and still unable to taste much.  but it's not yet been a week, and I'm sure it will get better soon.  I also know that the Herceptin injections will continue, and that endocrine treatment will start at some point (Tamoxifen was mentioned by BC nurse). Good luck to all, take care of yourselves, Mary xx ... View more

Hi Ladies, I start my radiation therapy June 20th (20 sessions) and have had CT scan plus tattoos - it's as if someone aimed a permanent marker & fired it at me! I'm just pleased the chemo is finished and looking forward to 3 weeks "off" from hospital visits (if I ignore the Herceptin injections).  Has anyone here experienced any problems with rads & Herceptin? Look after yourselves, love Mary xx ... View more

Hi Ladies, Hope you are all doing OK; just dropped in to say I have now completed 12 cycles of Taxol and am having 3 weeks off before starting radiotherapy (Herceptin injections will continue every 3 weeks).  For me, the cold capping worked & I still have my hair, even if it is a bit thinner & more brittle. Releived, delighted, apprehensive are just some of the feelings I have at finishing the chemo - I am aware that there are plenty of others who are continuing with their various treatments and wish them all the best. Take care of yourselves, love to all, Mary xx ... View more

Hi Scoobydavies, I have cold capped for 8 sessions (still got 4 to go), still have my hair (bit finer & thinner, but still there). Will describe it as "do-able".  For me, cap has to go on 20 minutes before chemo; ie my hair has to be wet, have conditioner applied, then it's on and I can feel the liquid circulating starting from the crown of my head; then I take the anti nausea tablet, have the pre-meds, the picc-line flushed.  It's on for the hour the chemo drips through, an hour after then switched off but has to stay on my head for about 15-20 minutes so the hair doesn't break off/stay frozen to the cap.  The temperature is -2 C, brain freeze, and I am tucked  up under a blanket and kept warm with hot chocolate.  I also manage to sleep through a lot of it (I blame the pre-meds!). The cap has to be fitted correctly, and the spiffy neoprene cover fitted tightly under the chin.  It is not a good look. The feeling of releif when the machine is switched off is intense, and when I can towel my hair to try to warm my head up I feel better. Also I wear a beanie hat for going home/rest of evening as head stays cold.  Some people recommend taking paracetamol before, I haven;t done that. It's up to the individual.  For me, cold capping reduced the chances of losing my hair from 3:2 to 1:1 and I wanted to try it, and it has worked.  I know it does not work for everyone.  Hope this is of some use to you, whatever decision you take will be the right one for you.  Good luck. Mary xx ... View more

Hi, I think I am on weekly Taxol because tumour is stage I/II, ie early stages and it was thought that the lower dose of Taxol would be well tolerated as it's every week for 12 weeks.  I've just gone back to the notes that were taken at the time (my sister has been with me for every  medical appointment, writing stuff down for me) and can see:  "20mm tumour pls 4  nodes removed - good, Grade 3 - aggressive, bad!" Also, the pathology report showed the tumour had spread to lymph tissues though not lymph nodes. Breast Cancer nurse continues to remind me that every case is different, and that the same diagnosis may have different treatment.  Having had 8 cycles I am getting used to the routine of blood tests on Wednesdays, chemo on Fridays  and am starting to recognise some of the "regulars" who are on 3 or 4 week cycles. I just want it done.  I'm really feeling the cumulative effects now, particularly fatigue and get one or 2 good days before cycle starts again.  I've put on nearly a stone, which I hate, however I make sure I wear the fitbit (or unfit bit in my case) to try and walk more on the days I feel better. Every case is different, and the most important one is "yours" so look after yourselves, ladies, love & luck to you all. Mary xx ... View more

Hi Flower and other May starters, Just dropping in from Marcch 2016 starters to wish you all well.  My circumstances slightley different to yours - HER2 positive, stage I/II grade 3 so have had lumpectomy, 8 out of 12 cycles weekly taxol and have cold capped, hair a bit thinner & finer but still there. Another month of chemo to go.  Herceptin injections are every 3 weeks, and I have radiotherapy "with boost" to come after the chemo.  Hospital where I have the chemo has excellent Macmillan Centre which offers counselling, aromatherapy, relaxation, make up etc. The counselling has helped me come to terms with fact I have been off work since Jan 4th (day before dianosis) and will likly be off until Jan 2017.  I am a teacher in a special school but feel totally disconnected to it as my life now is weekly blood tests & chemo; next it will be daily radiotherapy, Sorry to hear you have negative oncologist, use the forum to get questions you can ask as well as all the support you need. Take care of yourselves, Mary xx ... View more

Hi All, Hope you are doing OK.   Is there anyone having weekly Taxol? (like me!).  I've now done 6 out of 12 cycles, and just want it to end. It seems I'm not "recovering" now as I did for the first couple, and tiredness just hits me over the head with a hammer and I end up on the sofa for most of the afternoon & evening. Even opening a can of tomato soup is a real effort.  Other side effects are minor in the scheme of things, but starting to aggravate me. The plus I hang on to is... I still have my hair!  A bit finer, a bit thinner but still there, with new stuff starting to grow. For e, the cold capping is worth it.  Can't wait for the end, when next steps will be "radiotherapy with boost" (whatever that is). Take care of yourselves, love to all, Mary xx ... View more

Thanks Jen, I will ask my specialist BC nurse for these before next dressing change. All the best to you, take care of yourself. Mary xx ... View more

Hi Helen, Re "Coutdown Calendar" - I had my local copy shop make me an A4 pad with 13 pages - top had "12  cycle 1" in large letters, next page "11, cycle 2" and so on counting down in numbers, up in cycles.   "9, cycle 4" will be ripped off when I come home from chemo this Friday, the page then crumpled & tossed in recycling.  It goes down to "last one cycle 12" and once that is torn off I have "DONE!" underneath.  My way of dealing with the chemo.  I usually work with young people on the Autistic Spectrum, and have learned that they deal with routines by knowing how many things have to be done (in my case, 12 cycles) and having "finish" to show work is done. I hav also had to work out the "routine" of chemo as I found that what I anticipated, ie "chemo" involved anti sickness tablet, pre meds, saline, chemo, then more saline & I am using the cold cap as well (didn't know it had to warm up after being switched off & before being removed from my head!).  By breaking everything down into steps I feel I have more control over the outcome. Good luck to everyone, I've enjoyed having a week off from chemo - the joys of solid poop! - but not looking forward to getting back into the routine. Mary xx ... View more

 Hi Leo, Just dropping in from the March starters to wish you all the best.  The waiting around is horrid.  Can only say "dip into" any information booklets and  DO NOT GOOGLE!  the latter advice was given to me by my breast cancer nurse, and was wise, wise beyond belief.  I ignored the advice & scared myself silly trying to sort out procedures before my surgery and after.  I went out & bought a pretty box (covered in owls!) to dump all my information in.  I also got a load of wallet files & labelled them up so I keep hospital appointments, sick certificates, booklets all separate.  It means I have all information in one place but don't have to look at any logos or hospital headers unless I want to. At time of writing one of my cats is sleeping on the box, which  makes it a bit less scary for e. Take care of yourself, all the best, Mary xx ... View more

Hi Leo, Just dropping in from the March 2016 starters to wish you all the best.  You are in the right place for uconditional support. I suspect there will be other April starters, so you will not be "alone". Check out the other monthly threads and see that there are no limits or boundaries to the things you can ask/vent about! Take care, Mary xx ... View more

10Hi Helen, my first chemo (Taxol & Herceptin) was March 4th, and although local anaesthetic used, canula hurt and I asked for a PIC-line.  It has made a massive difference:  my second chemo (taxol) was March 11th & it was painless process to get blood tests/get the drugs.  Staff explained every step of the way, and they changed the dressing.  I am able to drive & use arm as normal.  I am aware of it, but PICC-line is covered by bandage & I keep it covered. Re the "pain" when chemo given - I was given pre meds and anti sickness stuff that made me drowsy.  I slept & snored through first chemo, dozed in & out of second.  I was using public transport (trains/buses) to travel to  & from the hospital.  Not brave, my sister came with  me.  I am also using a cold cap.Will only describe it as "doable" as I want to keep my hair, and this is a way of increasing the odds in my favour. Good luck to you, make sure you drink at least 2 litres of water the day before, remember to drink on the day, and the day after. Look after yourself, Mary (one of the March starters!) ... View more

Hi to Sarahs & Claire, I have now had 2 sessions with the cold cap and will only describe it as "doable" for me.  I thought I was prepared for the cold (I wasn't), hadn't anticipated the noise of the machine, the drips down my neck, or not being able to wear my glasses once the purple neoprene over cap was on, complete with chinstrap.   Also, hadn't realised it had to warm back up after being used before cap could be removed and that I would end up with cold,wet hair (I did read the information, just didn't take it in!).  Was better prepared for 2nd session, and took my own soft towel in, earphones for kindle, and hat to go homein. I asked for cold cap because it increases chance of me keeping my hair. The mitts and boots sound grim.  Hope they work for you. Good luck, take care, Mary xx ... View more