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?
Hi all, well done to you jean and chelle for completeing your chemo. Thanks for your messages of support, not that I think I'll need it as I'm pretty sure they won't find anything. Not even a brain. lol I looked up tumour markers and they do not necessary indicate a tumour, but hay at least I will know for sure there is nothing there after all these tests. hope everyone is feeling ok and keeping their pecker up ( not including you steff, viagra indeed ) well thats about it for now will let you know how the scan goes tomorrow. love sue xx
I went to see my surgeon today(who is gorgeous) shame my oncologist isn't, and he said my mastectomy area has healed very well and was pleased to see I could get my arm over my head!!!!! i now don't have to see him til april next year to sit with the plastic surgeon to discuss my reconstruction but he said it will be built from my tummy spare tyre, so i get a flat tummy as well my god i knew it would come into use one day is anyone else having this procedure or had it as i'd like to know more can't wait till nxt year to know all about it.
well you may not hear from me after this post as i go to get my second zap of fec this friday, the hair has now gone and it was not that bad quite a relief actually!!! i'm more worried about losing my eye lashes and eyebrows how vain is that???? my throat is now better and i can now taste everything so going mad before friday having a day with my mates tomoz loads of food and laughs.
anyway good luck to those being/have been zapped this week, recovering from surgery and awaiting results STAY POSITIVE!!!!!! and those being zapped for the last time well done and i'm SO jealous but hey ho one more ticked off this friday.
Congratulations Jean and Chelle! I'm looking forward to the last one now.
Hi all,
I was doing so good on the FEC and now this hell on the Taxotere. Started aching on Friday afternoon and could not stand it on Monday morning, so dragged John out of bed to take me to A&E at 4 am. Have been on 2xco-codemol and 1 tramadol every 4 hours and 1 diclofenac every 6 hours since that. But it worked. Phoned chemo nurse today and she said if it has not gone until Friday morning to call her again. But this evening I have postponed taking them to see what happened. Should have taken tablets at 18.30 but have not taken anything yet and the pains seem to have stopped!!! Nice to be back with the living. My head is still mushy after all that medication, but if I have a good nights sleep that should help.
Chemo nurse said they might have to lower the dose, but from what I read of your experiences the bad aching pains is only with the first dose. Anyway, if I get it again I know which tablets to go on straight away.
Sorry for being so selfish again, just needed to get it off my chest!
Hi everyone, week 14 done today, only 6 to go YIPPEE!!! Boob now sterri stripped but not holding out much hope until the blood cells recover and the healing process takes over, maybe my 5 weeks on the river Hamble when being radioed will do the trick. Lailla, try to stay srong, my worst weeks were the first ten, the sided effects got better after that. For anyone going through the induced menopause, hot sweat thing it seems star flower oil is the best thing to take. Going to take a whole tub tonight so my poor hubby can get some sleep without me raming the quilt over his head every two minutes lol Jean and Chelle, having a drink on you tonight, well done girls!!!! xxxxx
Thank you all so much for joining in with my celebrations with finishing chemo x x x x
Laila you are not being selfish!! You have had an awful experience and i really feel for you. I've got everything crossed that the pain has gone and hopefully you'll get that good nights sleep. How many more have you got to have? Glad you're back in the land of the living x
Jenney I’m so glad you’re doing so well and the hair going hasn’t been to bad for you. I’m afraid I haven’t had the same surgery as you (just a lumpectomy) so I can’t offer you any advice. Good luck for Friday, I hope it all goes well for you and don’t worry you too will be celebrating that chemo is over before you know it!
Sue I’m thinking of you and crossing anything that it’s nothing to worry about. Good luck for tomorrow, big hugs x. I had a bone scan today but don’t know my results yet. Let’s hope you don’t have to go through chemo again :-(
Jean it sounds like your last chemo was a smiley one. Mine went bad because they couldn’t get any blood from my port in my chest which they need to do before they can put the chemo into it. It took 3 very sore attempts and then I felt so poorly last night it was not the best finish to chemo. Having said that it all has gone so smoothly until now.
Paula you make me laugh so much x. I can’t believe Macmillan hasn’t replied to you yet!! Shame on them!! Good luck with your DLA…grrrhhh I’m still annoyed. I’m gonna appeal. Glad your chemo went well, and 6 more to go...woo-hoo thats great. Let's just hope your boob holds!!
Lesley I’m so happy to hear your chemo went well and no reaction..phew!
Stef you are so funny. I love the viagra story hee hee. And Christmas shopping…go girl. I just love Christmas and I’m already giving it some thought. Glad you’ve had a fab day and hope you enjoy your peaceful evening. Isn't the DLA a joke?!! They have no idea how ill chemo can make us. Yes we have our limbs but we're to exhausted at times to use them to even walk to the loo!!
Kay all my best wishes for tomorrow, I’ll be thinking of you. Like Paula said it could be an infection so try not to worry (but I know that’s impossible!). Big, big hugs x x
Moomy you can add me as a friend for your friend if I can be of any help too.
Wendy and Marion I can’t offer any advice on your ops as I haven’t had that, but it’s great you have each other to lean on.
Lorraine my hospital says they don’t do radio to the ovaries anymore, even though this was an option given to me earlier this year!! I can’t have Tamoxifen because I’m at a high risk of blood clots due to another illness I have, and she thinks my ovaries will repair themselves and start working again, I have to go on Arimidex instead. However you need to have gone through the menopause to have this and as I’m just 40 I’m way off the menopause, so I’m going to have Zoladex for a short period while I have my ovaries removed and I’m put into a proper menopause and then I can start Arimidex. Glad you’re ok and had a fab break. Good luck with chemo tomorrow, can’t believe how you’re ploughing through them!! Hope you enjoyed Dave’s curry :-) x
Laila, nobody thinks you are selfish - we are here for each other. In our turn we all have really awful days and we know that we can understand each other and support each other - so no more sorrys! It sounds as if you have been to hell and back. Chelle and Jean - I had a voddy and cranberry for you!! Well done, you brave women! Marian, have they said you will definitely need radio? They told me they wouldn't know till the op. Thinking of you, Kay and Sue. Keep us laughing, Stef and Paula :-) Goodnight everyone, hope you sleep well xxx
Thanks so much for your messages. I'm feeling less panicked now, and my brain's started functioning again (well, as much as it ever does). Still worried, but at least rational. Going to bits now won't change what this is, harmless or not.
I can't believe I didn't congratulate Jean and Chelle. Sorry girls, well done and I bet you'll be celebrating in earnest once the effects of the last one wear off - enjoy!
Laila, glad you're feeling better, Sue fingers crossed for your scan, Jenney I'm down for a DIEP flap using abdominal tissue early next year. It's a long operation, takes about 6 hours I think, and they also use tiny blood vessels from the tummy area to connect up the transplanted tissue to your blood supply. That's why I had to give up smoking. The vessels are so tiny they could have become restricted from the effects of the smoke apparently. You'll have a long abdominal scar, virtually from hip bone to hip bone, but that should fade a bit over time. The DIEP flap itself leaves a kind of semi circular scar on the boob. Have you asked if your surgeon has any pictures to show you? You may be offerred a reduction and lift on your natural boob, depending on its size and shape. It's possible for the surgeon to reconstruct a nipple of sorts as well, if you want it. Having seen a few pictures, I think I'm going to pass on the nipple. Stef, good on you for at least giving the blue pill a go. I'm most impressed! Love to all. Right, I'm off to do the stiff upper lip thing (LOL) until my appointment this afternoon. I'll let you know what happens.
Thanks for your nice words. Yes, I'm off the strong tablets now, only taking ibuprofen for pains in my spine, which I think is down to the white blood cell booster.
Now that I'm back to the milder side effects like mouth ulcers etc, does anybody know what will work best to stop the diarrhoa - ordinary diarrhoea tablets doesn't seem to work??
Talked to my breast cancer care nurse last Wednesday (when I had my chemo) and she has sent me a phone number for the Macmillan centre in Stockport so I can ring them for an appointment to get help with appealing the DLA decision. Of couse, because of the state I have been in on the strong tablets, I have not done anything about it yet. Breast cancer care nurse has also filled in a form so I can get a grant of £500 from Macmillan to cover travelling costs.
I have also received the Medical exemption card for NHS prescription charge. It lasts until July 2014, and by then I'm over 60 - so no more prescription charges for me!!
Also got the date for the Feel good day - 21 October. Really looking forward to that!!
Congratulations to Jean and Chelle finishing chemo.!!!!! Laila glad your feeling better. Kay I had reconstrucion done at the same time as my mastectomy. This was muscle taken from my back. Had a nipple tatooed which looks great. A few month later I had a reduction on my other breast so can now go without a bra which is fab. You might as well get something good out of this terrible disease.
Realy getting fed up going for chemo every week. Hate the side effects and the only thing thats keeping me going is I am now counting down which is better. Only have 4 more to go after today all being well. I have now lost all my eyebrows and lashes which makes me look so strange so I avoid looking in the mirror.
