Breast cancer

FormerMember over 16 years ago

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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

Hiya all

feeling loads better following 2nd chemo, gonna make sure I have a 'full' weekend. Have had lovely news from my eldest daughter, she got engaged while on hoilday in Jamacia...her other half did the meal, down on one knee & produced the ring bit!!! Who said romance was dead.

I have felt really low in mood following this chemo which has surprised me as I have always managed to keep upbeat...I've even argued with Dave (my hubby) cause his 'halo' slipped momentarily!!! I have been quite a bitch!

Steph..know what you're saying about work..I'm missing work, I have been of since 6th May & can't go back until all treatment finished (wouldn't cope because of the nature of what I do) but I miss the stimulation & crack with my colleagues.

Jo...I have some false eyelashes, but still managing to apply mascara to the ten or so I have left on each eye :) losing my eyelashes & eyebrows bothers me more than losing my hair. Funny eh.

Chelle...heard similar from my oncologist re radiotherapy & altering shape of your boob...he said it doesn't happen all the time but it can, just something else to look forward to!!

Jenney... I found chemo hard this time but my pattern is :-have the chemo Wednesday, knackered Thursday..totally wiped out Friday, Saturday & Sunday & start to pick up on Monday...honest there is light at the end of the tunnell.

Blossom..so sorry you are having to go through so much, I admire your strength & wish you all the best.

Love & luck to everyone else

Lesley xxxx

FormerMember over 15 years ago

Good morning all,

Blossom - (((((((((((((((((((((hug))))))))))))))))))))

Jenney - I have not been aching after my mastectomy, but I'm still numb around the scar, my armpit and down side of my arm and back.

Here I was yesterday morning bragging - yesterday afternoon I was in hospital!! I have angina, very well controlled by medication, so I have about 2 attacks a year and they usually go away by using the nitro spray. But I had a bad one on Sunday and again yesterday, and the spray did not work too good so we went to hospital. They kept me in overnight, as they take bloodtest to see if you have had a heart attack, and that only shows up in a bloodtest after 12 hrs. Anyway, home again now and fit as ever.

Love to all,

Lailaxxxxxx

FormerMember over 15 years ago

Morning All

Chelle I had a letter from the DLA yesterday telling me that they haven't reached a decision. They have written to my consultant for a report. So looks like they may be considering me. So mate, 2 more zaps to go for us. I'm at the point now that I can't wait to get it over with. Roll on the 25th for you and the 26th for me. I think a "virtual" party is on the cards!

Paula hope that stitch holds! Thanks for the compliment. I may be 60 but certainly don't feel or act it!

Jenney, I was told, when I first had chemo, that it goes to the weakest points of the body first i.e. operation wounds. So, yes, they do tend to ache more after the chemo. You will feel better after a few days, honest! As for the prickly head, I haven't had that, so can't comment. Be guided by your onc and the chemo nurses re the steroids. I followed their advice and am now steroid free. I cut them down gradually, but everyone is different. So seek advice about your own particular case. Just remember we are all different when it comes to the chemo and the meds they give you.

Jo I hate to tell you but I still ache 6 months after the ops. The last time I saw my onc she said it could last for months, even years, but everyone is different.

Great news about your Mum, Kimita. No chemo and no radio, I am sooooooooooo jealous!!!! Keep posting and let us know how she gets on after her op.

Blossom, what can I say? Just read your post and I'm so sorry that you now have an added struggle to cope with. Try to stay strong for the kids, easier said than done, I know. Thank goodness you have good support from your Mum. I will be thinking of you.

Bloody Hell, Laila!!!

Watch what you are doing woman. Hope it's not the excercising that brought on the angina attack. Slow down and look after yourself.

Well I am off to the pub today for lunch and wine! The sun is shining and "I feel good." Cue for a song?

As always love to you all, especially those on their chemo week.

Jean xx

FormerMember over 15 years ago

Hi girlies

Well it’s day after chemo and so far so good. My bloods were better than good so everyone happy. The higher doe of FEC yesterday hit me immediately and the Nurse told me that my eyes rolled and suddenly went heavy – it felt like I was drunk without the fun of getting to that stage!! Lol The Prof popped through whilst I was being done, he nodded at me and then told the nurse to watch me, I’m trouble!! He then asked me why I never laughed and chatted with him, so I told him he scares me, he laughed and trotted off. Bless him, OK OK I admit it, I have a teenage crush on my Prof, it must be the chemo!! Lol

Before the Taxotere run I need to take 8 steriods over 3 days first thing in the morning, so day before chemo, chemo day and day after, and that’s all I dreamed about last night, counting bloody steroids!!

Jo good to see you back.

Laila – you’re mad, but I wish I had your energy. Bloody hell!! Steady on girl. My Dad’s had angina (ended up having triple heart by pass in October but doing great now), take it easy xx

Jenney – As you know I’m on FEC too and I usually feel odd (as not always ill) for the first week, then slowly feel better then the last week before the next lot I feel great, like my usual self. I had my 3^rd FEC yesterday and today feel fine, bit shaky but fine. I have noticed that I’m getting lots of hot flushes followed by cold clammy sweats, but I’m told that’s normal.

Paula – whey hey!!!! That’s great news. I hope you got as nisssed as a pewt last night xx

Blossom – so very sorry to hear about your marriage, you’re strong enough to fight cancer, you’re strong enough to go on now and we’re all here for you xx

Jean Enjoy your lunch, I wish I was sitting outside a pub having a ploughmans and a shandy!! Lol Sadly no energy so will make do with chicken soup and a cheese sandwich.

Everyone else, hope you’re all well. At last it looks like we’ve got some sunshine so might just go sit under my awning outside with a good book and my bottle of water.

Love to you all

Sam xxx

FormerMember over 15 years ago

Hello All

Just home from my second chemo and so far so good, only thing different is that i should have doubled up on the sickness pills but didnt realise, so will wait and see what happens. I am going to take three at tea time instead of two and see if that helps.

Just got my date for my Look Good Feel Great course and they have a cancellation so i can go on September 8th , I will look forward to that.

No word on DLA yet, just the acknowledgement letter, sayiiing they are writing to my gp and specialist nurse, so fingers crossed.

Lesley how long was it before your eyelashes fell out? ten are better than nothing though eh.

Jean thanks for that lol, something to look forward to. My breast nurse said it was just scar tissue and nothing to worry about, so that has put my mind at rest for now.

I hope to get back to you all in the next few days if not too wiped out.

chat soon.

ps how do i join up to skype and chat to everyone in the small hours, i didnt sleep at all last night lol.

FormerMember over 15 years ago

Blossom my thoughts are with you - what a poo time youve been having - you sound very strong and positive and i really hope you get through this and keep smiling youre doing brill.

Lesley - you have a dog called COLIN haha mines called TREVOR and we both live in the North - we are so alike haha.

Sam nice to hear you got a hunky Dr - ha ha mine looks like hes died - hes very old and white with white hair and whispers - now thats scary. Great to see you in good spirit after chemo - i feel like you mentioned when i have mine - i go all blank looking and just grin - i had the cold clammy thing - and sweats at night around FEC number 2 and could not get warm absolutely frozen for about 1/2 an hour or so.

Lailla glad youre ok - id leave the gym out and just be a slob like me (no i walk lots) look after yourself x

Jean glad your high on life - enjoy your pub lunch and steady with the wine haha.

I busy cleaning house as go away with hubby to lakes for 2 nights in fancy hotel - booked free with willow foundation look it up if your 16-40yrs old you get a special day. So my mum and dad staying at our house to mind kids and Trevor so been cleaning all afternoon and done shopping this am - and ive just konked out on the settee. Not doing any more - hope weather stays good or i will be sat on my posh balcony overlooking the lake with a brolly up :-)

Stef xxx

FormerMember over 15 years ago

Hi Ladies,
Blossom so sorry to hear of your troubles, last thing you need but you sound strong and I am thinking of you xx
Lailla you mad woman! Stay away from the gym until you feel better. I am going to try and get back on my running machine tomorrow, will give the weights a miss though.
Jean hope you had a great lunch with loads of wine!!!!
Sam my surgeon is hunky too, he calls me his wee young thing and always greets me with a hug and a kiss. He is about 6ft 5 and if I didn't have my James, considering he is the only other man who has messed with my boobs since I was 18 he could carry on messing lol
Steff, hope your organised for your posh weekend, I am so jealous, have a fab time!!!!
Boob still intact, no side effects today. Even managed to play chess which is amazing as normally my brain dosen't work day after chemo.
Chelle hope you ok
Everyone else keep positive xxxxxx

FormerMember over 15 years ago

Hi Stef

Have a great weekend in the Lakes. Hope the weather improves for you. It looks a bit dodgy!

Paula, so glad the boob is holding up and that your brain is functioning normally!!

Love Jean xx

FormerMember over 15 years ago

Hi everyone,

I havent been on for a while and I must apologise in advance that I havent had a chance to read through all the posts since I was last on (its about 30 pages) but I will try to catch up! I hope everyone is getting on okay and you are all as well as possible. I have had some more scans and have my treatment plan in place now. I have cancer in quite alot of lymph nodes, more extensive than they first thought. I have it above and below collarbone on both sides, in my chest and also in some deeper chest nodes and they have found some in my groin too. My liver was clear so I dont have any spread to organs at present which is good,,,,,I suppose. I cant have radiotherapy as it may affect my heart due to the location/amount of affected nodes so I am going back on Herceptin again start Monday. I will be having a port put back in on 2nd Sept as well. My onc didnt want to put me on chemo just yet which I am thankful for. I have had a really difficult week emotionally, I am really tired and low and I havent been to work. I think I am going to leave as I feel if I try to do everything it will be too much and time with my family is most important thing to me now. I get very stressed lately trying to juggle everything and I take it out on my poor kiddies and they are going through enough as it is. Work is the only thing I can let go of. I have had a bit of a sore throat too so I think I am run down as well.

On a seperate lighter note...actually a really high note I am going to New York on 10th September. Just me and my hubby for a long weekend. Everyone has clubbed together and paid for us thanks to my mum and dad organising it all. It has been my dream to go there for so long and I just dont know what the future holds for me anymore and I may not get another chance. So start spreadin the news....da da da da da da.............

Chrissi xx

FormerMember over 15 years ago

Hi Chrissi, I am sorry to hear your news, although like you say it hasn't spread to any organs which is our worst dread. Do try and keep positive and fighting, don't let this bastard disease get you down.
On your lighter note, hoe brilliant!!!!! James and I took our twinnie daughters to New York for their 16th birthday, it was fabulous. My best memory is walking through Central Park around 6am with jet lag, can still see it now. Have a great time it is a fabulous place with lots to do xxxxxx

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