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?
Hope you are all doing well and able to enjoy the weekend, there’s a lot been going on I try to catch up but you ladies are keeping this thread very busy.
Lorraine sorry to hear you are having to go through it all again
Marian pleased your radiotherapy went ok without any problems
Camilla I had FEC-T ( 3 Fec /3 Taxotere) I finished chemo in march had no real problems with the treatment, with the Taxotere I was advised to suck ice lollys whilst having the treatment and advised to paint my nails with pearly nail vanish, my nails looked great through the treatment but a good month after they all died the whites creep done to wick and had a strange sensation,hope the treatment goes ok for you.
Well ladies I done it I went out for a pub lunch last weekend without my wig (showing my action man hair cut off ) and then I had a hour in town yesterday, I think it’s time to hang my wig up for good and be proud of my new hair .
Chelle Jean pleased you getting through you new chemo ok
Marmalade hope you are ok glad you keeping an eye on us,hope your sister is ok too.
Blossom not long to go now I wish you well .
Everyone take care enjoy the rest ot the weekend. Margaret
Thanks for updating me a little what everyone is on and grades Jean :-) I found this second FEC quite different the steroids didnt even touch me this time - no bouncin off walls and talking lots etc and sleeping like a baby this time - which does get boring - just nice knowing it wont last and soon be more me again, not impressed with taste of anything which really bugs me - only thing i can manage is tomato juice i will turn red if i drink any more, again lastnight (had chemo wed and this comes on saturday evening) felt like been beaten up all bruised and very sore shoulders back face back of head under arms etc. i must be an odd one as no one seems to have that symptom.
Isnt it strange that one tiny pea sized lump can change your life so much. Feel very low but helps knowing it wont last long till i feel able get out and about again with some energy and eat normally. My son has his prom on Friday and like say going out with hubbs on the saturday for a curry - i will probably have a banquet all to myself :-) first time we been out since before chemo started on 27th May.
Lorraine nice to hear from you sorry you having to have chemo again at least it not FEC this time,
Camilla the mouthwash they give you is essential as it helps bad taste in your mouth and keeps thrush at bay. Good luck for Thursday when you have your chemo.
Chelle and Jean great your hair is coming back keep us updated if you notice any colour change or it comes back like shirley temple.:-)
Maria hope you are enjoying your weekend with your brother - I have one brother and no sisters - he is my little brother i am 40 he is 33 but i am 5 ft 2 and he is 6ft 2 so he is my big little brother. He is a big softy too :-)
Marigold hope your hubby is doing ok and sorry are you at the end of your treatments now i cant make out where you are up to in your journey :-) Good luck wherever you are up to. x
Camilla, nice to hear from you again and hope your chemo treatment goes well. We are all here to help you through it.
Also Marmalade, I wondered where you were!!!
Margaret, Chelle and I are getting impatient abut hair growth. How long did you have to wait before you had enough of a covering to bin the wig?
Blossom, not long to go now until your op. It's this Friday coming, isn't it?
I can't wait until a week on Wednesday when I can say that I am 3/4 of the way through chemo!
Thanks for the link to the Manuka Honey, Paula and to Steff for the info too.
Steff I find that eating fresh pineapple helps with the horrible taste in the mouth. I cheat and buy it already prepared from Tesco. It's a bit dearer than buying an actual pineapple, but the ready prepared stuff is ready to eat, if you know what I mean. No waiting for it to ripen.
By the way, has anyone heard from Jo? She hasn't posted for a wee while, also Caroline.
Jean i found pineapple was quite refreshing and good for your mouth too. Stef whenever i found a drink that was ok, i would enjoy it for a couple of days when would go off it. Once it was bitter lemon for me but after a few days...yuck!! Jean it sounds like Margaret has reached the action man/wigless stage after about 3 months. My aim is to walk my 6 year old daughter to school in September wigless...could be wishfull thinking as CMF can thin your hair!!
Stef im sorry your feeling low today. I'm sure the tiredness makes you feel down..at least that did it for me. It really won't be long until you're back to normal. A curry sounds perfect as it will over-ride those horrid taste buds!! I had no idea that the E in FEC was Epirubicin. I'm learning all the time about treatments! I was grade 3 too. I've been told that all young women are grade 3, but i don't know if it's true. Your woollen hat sounds perfect to keep your head warm and groovy too :-) My head gets so cold sometimes!! Where are you planning to have your weekend break through the willow foundation?? Like you i'm considering leaving the kids behind (i feel guilty too) so me and hubby can relax and have some time out. Ethel sounds adorable. My great grandmother was an Ethel!! :-) Not many days to go until Trevor gets his first walk...he'll love it :-)
Margaret well done. How lovely it must have felt going out without the wig :-D. You're right about this thread being busy..it's easy to lose track of things! Are your nails growing back now? Glad to hear you're keeping well.
Blossom, good luck with your op x
Paula thanks for those websites. I'm learning new things all the time about breast cancer. It's reasuring to hear that grade 3 is just as beatable as grade 2...phew!
Camilla i was offered the cold cap and was finding it really difficult to decide whether or not to use it (as i had heard both good and bad things about it). Then i heard that if a stray cancer cell had made its way to my brain, using the cold cap it could survive. My dad asked me why i was considering using it saying "why are you leaving a door open for cancer." That comment made up my mind as i chose not to leave the door open. I'd rather be bald than run the risk of it surviving! Sorry i know thats alittle strong and the risk is very small but that was enough for me to decide. Good luck with whatever you decide x
Lorraine i'm glad the Taxol is'nt as harsh but sorry you've had to shave your head again. Don't worry it won't be long till it's growing again.
The chemo and steroids would knock me out because i'm diabetic. Apparentely they raise my sugar levels and this puts you to sleep. I am having the steroids after chemo (sorry i was wrong that i had them a few days later, i misunderstood the nurse). This time i'm having less because of my diabetes. I'm having 3 one day, then 2 tablets the next, then 1 tablet to see if this helps.
Its good to hear your ok and checking up on us still.
I can't believe your sister is still waiting. I didn't realise that it took so long!! You must both be frustrated..it's annoying me....ggrrhh!! Hope you don't mind me asking but was your sis her2 + the first time she had breast cancer and hormone + the second?? Or was she both each time or negative either time?? Does having the BRCA 1 gene always presents likeself with the same type of cancer or can it vary?? Sorry to bombard you with questions!!
Maybe some of you can answer my question. The doctors have told me that it's very unlikely that i carry the breast cancer gene, however my aunt has had it (although she was over 50), now i've had it at 39, and the doctors have said that my 6 year old daughter is now at high risk of having it in adulthood. I'm wondering why she is high risk if i'm not carrying anything to pass on to her!! Has anyone else with daughters been told this??
I'd appreciate any comments regarding this. Many thanks Michelle x
Hi Chelle, funnily enough I filled my questionaire in about this yesterday as I have been referred to a professor in Southampton for gene testing. My mum had it, my sister has it and me also. Mums cousins have also had it so they now consider my twinnie daughters as high risk. Both girls are in the Royal Navy and they have been fantastic and sent them to the breast clinic already. HTH xxx
Chelle - that is how Ethel got her name it was my mums Grans name too :-) i just seem not to have woken up properly for 2 days now but think my tea might taste good tonight as it seems to be fading now :-) I havent asked about my daughters risk to cancer she is 13yrs old. I haven't been told what type of cancer i got either ??? ie. hormone fed or her2+ or BRCA1 i dont know what these stand for either. I was put on tamoxifen on the day they were quite sure it was cancer and i go back on it after chemo i think so i think need to ask more questions - only see oncologist at christies for a mo but will try and do a bit of digging. I will try pineapple though did eat the most disgusting tasting apple yesterday (well it was prob a nice apple). Going to cook my smoked haddock potatoes and mini corn cobs with parsley sauce - here goes - hope i taste it. x
Hi everyone. Got back from the West Highlands late yesterday. We had a great time, even the weather cooperated for about half the time! We had a cracking view of Oban harbour from our apartment window. The highlight of the week was probably spending a day on the island of Mull, which is very beautiful, although the driving is challenging (glad it wasn't me behind the wheel). Although it's great that this thread is so well used, it makes it hard to keep up with everyone if you're away for a few days - I'm considering keeping notes so I know where everyone is up to! Really sorry I missed the Gregory discussion!
Steff, you need to put your foot down. I am booked for a 1 hr appointment with my oncologist before each chemo session, my surgeon is in the next room and will come in at any point. You need answers to your questions xxxx
