Breast cancer

FormerMember over 16 years ago

1576 replies
3 subscribers
692119 views

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?

FormerMember over 15 years ago

Hi all,

Reading yesterday’s posts has had me in stitches, Jean, I’m agreeing with Duncan, we are all mad, but hey it gets us through!! Lol

Sadly, Karl had second helpings of lasagne and 3 slices of the cheesecake – so much for him not being bothered about banoffee cheesecake, yeah right! Lol So there's not much left over to share with anyone :(

Jean, I’m with you all the way re: voddy, I just lurve it, however it tastes minging at the mo and only a lager shandy will hit the spot at the moment. You’re grandchildren sound great. Children have a way of making it not so bad don’t they? My neice keeps giving me hugs, stroking my arm telling me I’m going to be OK soon. Then goes on to ask if I’ll be better by her birthday (January), so I tell her that I should be much better by then. She seems happy with that, til she realises how far away January is to a 6 year old!! Lol

Wendy, how you feeling today? Bit better I hope xx

Paula, it’s great to hear you in such high spirits, hope it lasts xx

Laila, how did you last FEC go? I’ve got my last one on 12 August then I go to taxatere too. Didn’t know about the nail thing though. I got acrylic nails on my fingers hope they stand the test of time!!

Well I didn’t have to go and have an injection yesterday, yippee, my bloods are just fine. I did ring the breast care nurse yesterday though as I thought I should own up about making a bit of a boo boo with one of the injections (I pulled the plunger out to far and wore the injection!!!!), the breast care nurse rang me back saying she had passed the message onto the Prof. and he tutted at me lol but decided I didn’t need to have another jab to make up for it. I dare say he’ll do the disappointed parent look at me when I next see him – he has this habit of tutting at me, he says I’m too cheerful!!! Lol

Lots of love to you all

Sam xxx

FormerMember over 15 years ago

Hi everyone am new to this website.

I was diagnosed with breast cancer nearly 4 weeks ago, I had my pre-assessment on tuesday and am now counting down the days til next wednesday when i go in for my mastectomy and possible lymph node removal.

To say I am scared is an understatement, but you have to be strong, I have an 8 year old daughter who only knows that I've got to go into hospital because I am poorly. She is on a need to know basis at the moment, when I've had my operation I will tell her.

I am still at work at the moment, I work full time as a Legal Secretary. I will be taking six weeks off work to recover, and then I'll know how much chemo I will have to have afterwards.

I am trying to be positive, its just a glitch that i'll get through and it will make me a stronger person afterwards.

I have been reading all about the different affects the treatments have on people and at least I know what to expect, I know everyone is different but at least its give me some insight. Thanks girlies, I'll keep you informed as to my progress.

xxxx

FormerMember over 15 years ago

Hi Sarah

Welcome. So sorry to hear of your diagnosis but well done for being so strong and positive, that's the spirit that'll see you through this nasty time.

I've been diagnosed since middle of June and am extremely fortunate to have an Oncologist who fought for me to have chemo before surgery otherwise I'd be like you facing (if not having already had) a mastectomy. Instead I'm having 6 chemo treatments and hope that the tumour has shrunk enough by the end to have just a lumpectomy before then having radiotherapy.

You'll get lots of support here,many of the "gang" here have had mastectomies and so will give you as much info as you want.

In the meantime, good luck with your journey and keep in touch.

Love Sam xx

FormerMember over 15 years ago

Hi Sarah, sorry you have to be here but hopefully this site will help you. I know how froightened you must be feeling as I had a double mastectomy 9 weeks ago, but honestly it isn't as bad as you think, keep staying strong and positive it really does help xxx
Jean your grankids crack me up, bless them. I hope little ones op goes well and you have a huge amount of icecream in stock for when she is home.
Well, after my happy outburst yesterday I put my arm up to give hubby a kiss and the bloody boob popped again, not as bad as normal but it's the last time he gets a kiss off me lol
Weather gorgeous here so may have to hit the pub for lunch, any excuse.
Hope everyone is well after chemo this week xxx

FormerMember over 15 years ago

Posted this on the new Breast cancer thread so copied and pasted it
:

Hi All Have reas through the posts but having difficulty keeping up. Hope everyone that has had chemo this week are doing ok. Some of you are nearing the end of this part of treatment horray!!!!

Angwla Sorry youve had to become part of this group but you will find lots of suport and any advice here! Good luck with the shrikage of the tumor. If its any help in 06-07 I had 6 fecs. My tumor was over 20cm (not mm) By the end of my chemo I couldnt even feel the lump. Unfortunatley I had it in my iymph gland so still had to have a mastectomy with recon done at the same time. Fingers crossed yours shrinks as well as mine but it does look like its already going in the right direction :).

Had my chemo yesterday and was only at the hospital for 4hrs which is much better than the last time. Only problem was I was aeake till 4am because of the steroids. I plan to make the most of my energy today and clean the kitchen. I stupidly bought I hight gloss black kitchen which is a nightmare to keep clean. Its covered with the boys finger prints as they cant open the doors without touching the front of the cupboards. So its happy cleaning fo me today and tomorrow I will colapse for a couple of days till my next does.

Glad all the men are behaving this week and hope everything is going well for you all. Paula and Steff how did you get on without the steroids as I might ask nect week if I can do without them. Only thing is I do feel sickie for most of the time so missing the steroids might not be a good idea for me.

Whats this weather like where you are?. Been sunny this morning but black clouds looming so a rainy day for me today. Off to France with some friends for 4 days on the 8th of August. Cant wait to get away from it all for a few days. Fingers crossed I will be able to go. On the 21st August I am off to visit my brother in London. He has a heated outside pool so hope the weather will be good and I can go for a dip. It feels great in the water as it takes all the weight of my sore bones.

Steff back to the dog. If I had a pup I would have to find someone to look after it when I am away as the boys are never about but I would still love a dog. Maybe I will get one around 6 months old Watch this space!

Must go and get dressed and get stuck into the house work :(

Take care all

Lots of love

Lorraine

FormerMember over 15 years ago

Good afternoon all,

Sam - my last FEC went OK. Was tired yesterday, but I think that is more due to the steroids keeping me awake Wednesday night. Had a better sleep last night, so have felt normal today.

Lorraine - if your lump was 20 cm, what's the size of your breasts??

I'm posting at the moment to remind the newcomers to fill in the FP92a "Application for prescription charge exemption (medical)) form that you get from your GP. (I remembered to pick it up today). You will get all prescription medicines for free for as long as you are treated for cancer. I'm on a lot of heart medicines and have used a prepayment card, so I'll save about £100 a year on getting it for free!!! And just thinkt about all the years we have to be on the tablets!!

Hope everybody have a nice weekend. I'm going out for a drink at pub tonight with 2 stepdaughters now.

Love from Laila xxx

FormerMember over 15 years ago

Hi ladies and gents,

Laila glad you’re feeling normal today, have a lovely evening down the pub x

Lorraine Today my hubby said "let’s move house, get a dog and some chickens"…and I thought yeah sounds good! Maybe when this is all over we'll do it! Wonder who will get a dog first..you or me?!! :-) Your trips away sound great, I think I need to plan more trips now I’m nearing the end of chemo and have something to look forward too.

Paula so sorry your boob popped again! Can they stop that from happening? Hope you had a lovely pub lunch x

Sarah I’m sorry too that you’ve had to join this club. So glad you’re keeping positive, keep smiling x

Sam it’s great you didn’t have to have that injection and your doctors wrong..you can never be too cheerful, keep it up :-) Your neice sounds sooo cute. My daughters 6 and today she was asking if I would be ok by her birthday (next April!!) so I can enjoy her big party she’s got planned!! First I’ve heard of it lol. X

Jean how’s Katie doing? Don’t think they give ice-cream now, just toast!! Poor little mite. Your grandchildren sound soooo sweet.

Well i had to go with my auntie (who's more like my sister) to have a biopsy on a lump on her boob!! She'll get her results next week. I'm so worried for her but she's keeping really calm and says she's not worried. Shes had this lump tested before but they want to be sure there are no cells turning bad!!

Hope eveyone else is ok, have a great weekend.
Take care Chelle x

FormerMember over 15 years ago

Hi all,

You are all so marvellous, your posts give me such faith, thanks for all your kind words Sam,Chelle,jeanie jean and Blossom sorry if I missed anyone but im new to all this.

Well im now on my final countdown to chemo(fec) next friday 7th august at Mount Vernon Cancer Centre in middlesex, does anyone else attend this centre? i guess not as you are probably all scattered all over the place.

My portacath is still a bit sore and im finding it hard to sleep as my mastectomy site is still sore and now the portacath is still sore on the other side but after reading on here maybe its practice for the steroids i was not told about the lack of sleep thanks god for you lot!!!!!

Best wishes to all of you on the final chemo hurdle i can't wait for that and those of you just about to start good luck also.

I will let you know how the first dreaded one goes as I have to go for a chat about my treatment but at least i won't be that shocked as you have all informed me and kept it all real.

Once again thanks for welcoming me and making me laugh keep the posts going and love to you all.
jenney
xxx

FormerMember over 15 years ago

Hi all

Well since joining this site I have stopped feeling depressed, its like a drug. Reading all your posts are really uplifting, so a great big thanks to you all.

however I do have to say that as I am not connected to the internet at home, I have to come and use a public computer, so you lot making me laugh out load is causeing me to get some really funny looks. so behave, lol.

glad to hear your all doing so well, mum saw her surgeon today and she is doing great, my dad gave the surgeon some flowers and a card as a thankyou, and the surgeon said what for only doing her job, unfortunatly mum couldn't show her my pictures because she was busy with a newly diagnose patient, and we all know what that feels like so hopefully next week she will get to show her.

keep well and have a loverly weekend all of you, I'm on call tonight but I shall be relaxing in the shade tomorrow, by the way temperature over here is 41 degrees, hence the sitting in the shade.

FormerMember over 15 years ago

Hi Chelle, I do hope your auntie is o.k, what a worry for you both.
The hole in the boob is only the size of a pin head, unfortunately because of my low blood count my healing properties are not at there best and they cant stitch it for fear of infection. On the bright side I have no side effects whatsoever from the new chemo apart from my nails which the hotel beauty therapist is going to put dark polish on tomorrow as the light makes it worse apparently. How did your chemo go? Did the move to the country bit after selling a large business 8 years ago and I can highly recommend it, didn't get the dog though lol xxx

More from this forum

Breast cancer