Breast cancer

Hi All

Hope the sunny weather is making you all feel a bit better.

Stef like you the number of times I have written on this thread then lost it all I now do it on Microsoft word then copy and paste and I can keep turning back to the thread to catch up as I go . My husband is doing ok thanks he being checked every 3months, he has just been put on 6 monthly checks by his oncologists but he also see his consultant who done his surgery every 3 months, so they are keeping a good eye on him. I had chemo and finished radiotherapy a couple of weeks ago, I am now waiting on a catscan in july to check my liver as I have a fussy bit they are keeping an eye on and to see if the Tamoxifen have any affect. Sorry to see your chemo make you feel so batted ,most of you talk of brothers I don’t any brothers but I have 5 sisters .

Jean you mustn't be impatient with you hair it seem to take along time from when you first notice growth but once it get going it soon covers the head ,my eyebrows are back and my eye lashes are thicker again . hope you chemo goes well tomorrow.

Chelle Hope you chemo went ok today and by september I sure you will have a head of hair to be proud of ,as for a cold head I use to wear a hat quite abit as I use to feel the cold a lot , I ask about breast cancer gene as I have 5 sisters and 2 grown up daughters they said the cancer I got was just unlucky one, As for my nails they still look abit of a mess but I cut them very short as i broke one and it split have way down but it didn’t hurt when I cut it away and just left skin there I think the chemo must off killed the nerves as well getting a little colour back at the bottom so should be back to normal soon I hope.

Paula sorry you have feeling abit down,don’t kick yourself to hard lol don’t be hard on yourself it can’t be easy when its taking you op longer to heal as well as going through chemo, hope your chemo goes well tomorrow chin up.

Blossom, good luck with your op on Friday.

Marmalade hope you are still keeping an eye on us and not working to hard

Camilla I had fec-t chemo and was told the cold cap would be pointless wouldn’t help save my hair they said the only thing it would do is give me a headache. I wish you well on Thursday and if like me you wont have many side affects ,I use to have my chemo on a Friday and the Monday I use to feel abit weak,the only other problems I had like every one else the anti sickness tablet caused contstipation The pharmacist gave me lactulose as it don't work the muscles (i took it the day before chemo and a couple of days after to keep things on the move) as you will feel bloated and uncomfortable. Heart burn is another problem at night and only for about 3 nights gaviscon done the trick for me and the steroids use to keep me awake,I don’t mean to frighten you with these details but hope it will help you to over come these problems.With the 2 part of my chemo I had to take 24 steroids over 3 days.

Lisa I have been on tamoxifen for a couple of months now I do get hot flushes in the evening/night but I don’t have any problem with head aches,pleased you arm is feeling better .

Hello sam sorry you have had to join this thread but you are in the right place lovely bunch of people to chat to .

hope everone else is ok take care Margaret

Morning all

Thanks for your words of welcome, I already feel part of the “gang” lol.Does chemo make you put weight on?? I really hope not, I was planning on losing at least 5 stone!! LolThe hypnotherapy session was cool. Odd, but cool. Although I was totally aware of what was happening and of my surroundings, I felt so relaxed that I swear I was snoring at one point but couldn’t do anything about it. Pam, the therapist, took a recording of the session for me so that I can replay it at anytime to just relax me as she explained the more relaxed you are the better medication working with the power of the mind will heal and restore natural balance. Sounds a bit clap trappy I know but I’m a big believer in mind over matter, it’s just I can’t get my mind to reinforce the positive. As Pam put it, she’s going to work to get the angel on my shoulder to speak louder than the devil on the other shoulder!! I asked her when I was under to convince me I had a gastric band fitted – kill two birds with one stone!! Lol I’ll have my next session with Pam once I know when chemo starts as then she’ll relax and prepare me for what’s to come and how to cope with the side-affects.

Thanks everyone for your words of encouragement, that makes me feel more positive about my tumour shrinking. I think I’m lucky as it doesn’t look like my tumour is anywhere else in the breast, so if it shrinks, I get to keep my assets!!

Jean, I’ve taken your advice and filled in my profile – thanks for that xx

Stef, I know what you mean about the hair loss. At first that’s what I thought until I really thought about it, now I’m thinking bring it on, I can’t wait to get a wig. I’ve always had short hair, it’s very thick so it doesn’t grow very long before it goes very bushy, so I keep it short. I’ve decided to have a shoulder length wig, in red, so it’s very different to what I have naturally. If I’m going to do this, I’m going to have fun with it!! I love hats too, so have already ordered 2 from the Suburban Turban website, they’re not cheap but they’re sooo pretty.

Well the sun is shining here today, so I hope you all have a great day (or as great as it can be). Look forward to talking to you all again soon.

xxx

Hi everbody,

Hi Lorraine, that is a long time you have to spend at the hospital. If i only had to have the chemo i'd be in and out in half an hour, it's all the waiting about that makes it half a day for me!! At least you don't have a long drive. Sorry about your hair, what colour wig are you this time? :-). Getting insurance is a pain, as if it's cheaper to get a flight home than be insured!!! Hope all goes smoothly this afternoon for you x

Hi Paula i think you're right about the steroids and eating nice tasting foods when your mouth tasted bad that makes you put on the weight. For me, i find i'm also eating when i feel sick as it seems to make you feel better. I think Stef has said that too! Hope your chemo goes well for you today x

Hi Sam, your hypno session sounds like a success. I think your list of extra's will just keep on growing!! :-) I need to book an appointment too, i would ask for her to sort out loads of stuff for me like stop me from eating!! lol. You are most definately part of the gang and your more than welcome for our advice. I like your positive attitude to losing your hair, i think most of us felt like you. I too have had fun with wigs, hats and scarfs...well why not, we need to enjoy something from this experience!

Hi Stef, i know what you mean about your hair pricking the pillow...grrhh. Then like you i went through the smooth and shiny head!! The fluff i now have on my head still hasn't reached that prickly stage!! My brother and sister in law visited the other day. They hadn't since my head when it was smooth and shiny, so i whipped off the FANDANA (hee hee, you did make me laugh) i was wearing, with a beaming smile and excitedly saying how my hair has grown, only to be met with silence and shock!! Eventually my brother said.."what hair?? I thought you said it had grown"!! I said you didn't see what it was like!! Lol. My hubby on the other hand can really see a difference, and when i'm walking around the house with nothing covering my head, he says "you're just showing off now...hee hee" and i say yep :-D.
I also like the thought of being a grandma and just prancing around the house looking after my family :-)

Hi Jean hope your chemo has gone well for you today and there were no punctures along the way!! x So far i'm feeling really good on 2a, although my sugar levels have risen..boo!!

Hi Margaret, like you and Stef i have lost sooo many posts on this site and have had to start writing them again...grrhh!! Soo frustrating!! I need to take your advice and write it in word. I'm pleased to hear your hubby's doing well and they are keeping a good eye on him. 5 sisters...wow. I always wanted a sister but just got the one younger brother :-) It's nice to hear that i may have enough hair to walk my 6 year old to school in September :-D. It's good your not having too bad a time on Tamoxifen, i start those in the autumn. Did you go go Ipswich or Cambridge for radiotherapy. It looks like i'm going to Cambridge as the hospital i have chemo in (bury st edmunds) works closely along side them. Hope your making the most of the most of your lovely swimming pool on these warm, sunny days :-) Good luck with your cat scan in July.

Take care everyone Chelle x