Hello my name is Heather I have just been diagnosed with brest cancer last week for the first time (and last I hope) Both my sisters have had cancer,one died seven month ago Im a bit scared of what to expect with the chemo. Can anyone tell me how soon after the treatment do you start to feel ill? How soon do you lose your hair?
Its good to finaly talk to poeple who are going or have been through the same thing as me. I have appointment tomorrow with consultant to discuss date for mastectomy, i can't have reconstruction at same time as i have to have radiotherapy, is this normal, i was so shocked i didn't really ask anything other than would i survive this.
Hi caley rachelle - sorry - this has to be a quick one as I'm just off to bed. Sorry that you've had to join us here. It's very natural to feel numb. As the days go by you will find that you are taking one step at a time. You will find lots of friends here and as you get your treatment sorted some of us will be going through the same things as you and we will be able to support each other. They are a great bunch. Ask anything you like - someone will have an answer.
I’ve just been catching up with your posts and have been in stitches. :o)
Paula – I saw Simply Red years ago and I too thought they were excellent, like you said just like listening to their CD. Amazing. Glad you had a great time, but then who couldn’t with VIP tickets eh?! Lol
Jean – re: Duncan’s comments about his vasectomy….Karl said exactly the same thing and is most put out that I even suggested condoms!! Lol I’ve told him to keep me stocked with Crunchie bars!!!!! Lol
Chelle. Glad you had a good time at the BBQ AND stayed awake lol
Hi Caley. Welcome to Share, sorry you’ve found yourself here, but as the others have said, you’re in the right place. It is very normal to feel numb. I was diagnosed mid June and am nearly half way through chemo and there are times I look in the mirror and can’t believe I have cancer. If it wasn’t for the fact that I’m as bald as a coot anyone who didn’t know me wouldn’t know I was ill. I found that with the information on this website, I didn’t really need to hit the books to find out more. Like you I’ve not asked too many questions with my consultant or oncologist – except the obvious one….is this going to kill me?, and once the answer was “absolutely not, you’ve got years left in you yet” Ive just buckled down and got on with it. I am very much of the mindset of, it’s there, it’s not meant to be, and it has to go by whatever means necessary. After each chemo session when I feel like poo I just keep telling myself that it’s doing the job and shrinking the lump to have the lump removed and then I’ll be clean again. Up until a few weeks ago I too was facing a mastectomy, luckily for me my medical team have decided to do chemo before surgery in the hope of preserving my boobie. Because I have faced that option I totally understand how numb you’re feeling, but keep focusing on the reason they are doing the mastectomy- to keep you alive. Keep your chin up and come back and chat to us again soon.
Laila – Your tiger print outfit sounds fabulous. Re your meal, lol you nutter, I love the fact you take a recipe and then use it as a guideline!! :o) How’s your back today?
Well I’ve had an uneventful weekend, didn’t really do much. Karl’s been banished to his mums as he’s got some sort of blood virus and iron deficiency. So under duress he’s packed his bag and gone back to his mums until he’s better – probably for a week at least!! Lol He thinks I’m heartless for doing it, but I told him he’s being selfish wanting to stay. Bless him, he looked so sad when he got in the car to go. I couldn’t stop laughing lol. It’s raining here again today but I might just go for a mooch round the market today.
Ha ha Sam is crunchie an alternative contraception - you lost me there lol.
I am still very tired from last wed chemo as not taken steroids this time and have felt sickly since saturday its easing now though. Will have sleep this afternoon. Trevor my pup is getting used to sleeping with me and now when go to bed at night he is scratching the kitchen door to come and get in bed with me, ignored him last night but think have to distance myself from him - he is pack leader and thinks he has to look after me now. Going for a wash and get ready as Hannah coming back in half an hour shes been at my mums for few days.
Caley good luck with your appt today - let us know how you go on.x stef
Awww Trevor sounds fab. Cookie's kept her distance a bit from me since my diagnosis, but over the weekend (without Karl around) she's decided I'm not that bad afterall and will come and cuddle up to me on the sofa. I draw the line as her being in bed with me, when I first had her she used to sneak into bed and then take up the entire bed, or worse, she'd lay on the pillow and curl herself around me head so when I woke up I thought I was paralysed!!! lol After that she stays firmly downstairs in her bed.
Get some rest today, I hope the sickness wears off soon, I think that's the worst feeling. I'm lucky I've got his week clear and then chemo again next Wed. last FEC so hoping not to suffer too much.
Sam id chose crunchie too lol. Im on the FEC too how do you find it which are you worst days after wed chemo - mine was sat and sun seemed to drop like a rock after steroids finish fri night. so chose not to take this time and my taste hasnt been affected as much. You doing very well keep it up honey x stef
I sailed through the first FEC without anything really other than a bit tired. The second one, I felt sick within 4 hours of chemo and had a rough night on the Wednesday. Thursday through to Sunday I just felt weak and feeble. I couldn't put my finger on anything specifically just didn't feel right. My taste hasn't been affected at all and the steriods have had no affect on me. All in all I don't think I've done too badly on it. This week I'm feeling great, I actually want to go out and have a walk or do something. My last FEC is next Wednesday then I'm changing to Taxotere. I've noticed this morning that my head is bit prinkly, looks like my hair is growing this week!!!
Laila, can you explain more about stroking the aqueous cream towards the heart, please. I’ve started to apply it to my boob, all over, as radio should start next month. I’m still waiting on a date.
Paula, so glad Simply Red was a great success. Sleep is much better this month with no steroids. I feel more tired during the day, but that is so much easier to cope with than bouncing off the walls.
Enjoy your “feel good” session next month, Lisa. Glad you are coping not too badly with the radiotherapy.
Hi Caley, welcome to our ever growing group. I can only reiterate what Stef, Lisa, Wendy and Sam have said. You will get a lot of help and support here. We are all bonkers, by the way, in case you haven’t noticed! It helps us get along.
Sam, hope you don’t miss Karl too much. Keep taking the crunchies, girl!
Girlie night for me tonight, with my mates, Chris and Carol. Wine will taste like poo but the effect will be nice!
Having my first hair cut today, girlies! Well a bit of exaggerating there! Duncan is shaving the back of my neck as the dark hair growing there is showing beneath my platinum blonde wig and we can’t have that!
Thanks Steff, even though I have 9 to go after tomorrow I think we finish around the same time because I am on weekly. We can have an on line celebration together lol Jean and Chelle are nearly there, I'm counting down for them lol Sam crunchies are definately a better alternative, do they burn the same amount of calories lol Caley, sorry you have to be here. I hope you get all the answers you want today, it is very daunting at first, in fact it is quite a long journey but gradually we do accept things and try to deal with them. I am doing great apart from the fact I think I have hit the menopause early as they said I would, my hormones are up the wall lol. I had recon done at the same time as my mastectomy, the surgeon said my implant could react with radio. I decided I would have to have a reconstruction later so I decided to take the chance as if it does react it will just be a case of changing my implant. Going out tonight for a big juicy steak, I am craving red meat a lot at the moment, it must be my low blood count I think lol Have a great day everyone xxxx
