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 Lesley my periods stopped when i was on tamoxifen before i had op and up till havin chemo (FEC x 8) and once started chemo - periods started again one of them lasting 2wks.
Jenney when you say you have flu like symptoms - i have chemo on wed and on sat day to sun am feel like from ribs upwards every bone and muscle aches even jaw and back of head - the first time it happened was worse it was so tender all over felt like i slept on bed of rocks would have sworn my back had huge lumps on it but it was just a feeling and only last 24hrs, is this what you experiencing?
I have felt much better after FEC no. 5 than all the others as being playing around with the steroids worked out that have chemo wed and just take one steroid am and pm on the Thursday is best - as supposed to take 2 in morning and evening for 2 days - but had the worse come down off them all weekend then - crying, seriously depressed, sad, and couldnt cope with that. i will just suss it all out and it be over lol. i got chemo 6 next wed then one at end sept and last one 21st october - its my 18yr wedding anniversary on 19th oct so we going for slap up grub as i will be able to taste. Sick of weather wouldnt be so bad if i hadnt bought a mainly white pup (english springer spaniel called trev) as he gets filthy every time take him out and then have major clean up job. As time is going on i do feel that no-one at work texts or rings or calls round any more feel quite isolated, thats when i love my mucky pup as he is very cuddly and loving and makes me smile. having a lazy day today as been so busy the last week enjoying having my energy back and we back to decorating hall stairs and landing at weekend. Not seen Lailla post for a while - ARE YOU OK LAILLA or still suffering with the new chemo? love stef x
Hi, my first time on share and I am not sure of what I am doing. Was diagnosed with breast cancer in June last year with cancer found in all my lymph nodes. Have had chemo, mastectomy and radiotherapy, I feel really guilty but my hair loss is the thing that is making me depressed as well as not knowing when the cancer might spread. My hair is growing back but is so thin on top, I have to wear a wig. I have gone back to work as a staff nurse on A/E. I am on Femura tablets and am wondering if anyone who is in the same position as me is having problems with hair not growing back as soon as they thought.
Hi Fran, glad to hear you are over your treatment and fingers crossed you are well. I am still undergoing chemo but my hair is attempting to come back, very slightly. I was told to shave it off at least three times before letting it come back as this really thickens it up. Did you do this/
Welcome to the site Fran88. I don't know how many of our posts you have read, but most of us are in treatment, mainly chemo, at the moment. There are some girls post treatment, so there will be some answers for you sooner or later.
As I can see from all your posts over the last couple of weeks - most of us are having some problems or other at the moment, but as we all know - in a couple of days it will get better.
Did I have a bad time with the first go of the taxotere!! Have had a proper beating if ever I had one in my life!! 10 days on top medication (and head in lala land as a result) before I surfaced. Have had 10% energy the last couple of days, but it is going better now. Still have bad aching on and off, maily in my joints, but keep on downing tablets like a druggie when I need to. Have now also mainly lost my taste - not completely, but most things taste yukkie, so I can symphatise with the rest of you on that.
I have also had a bad few days with hubby, had to leave the house and stay in a hotel for a night, but everything OK now :-).
Getting more and more energy every day, building up to next Wednesday when I have my second taxotere. From what the chemo nurses have said when I phoned about the bad reactions, they will lower the dose hopefully. I can't have the same reactions as I had to the first one as I'm going on a few days holiday to Clacton-on-Sea with family on the 14 Sep!
Hope everybody's treatments, scans & other examinations go OK. Have a nice weekend everybody!!
Hi Fran -welcome to the site. I know there will be lots of people who will be able to help you. We all get scared and need each other. Laila, so sorry you are having such a rough time. You are such a fighter, I know you will get through this even stronger. I'm so pleased you and hubby are reunited - I think little breaks like that are needed for everyone's sanity! I got my admission papers today - it makes it all so real now! I have managed to put on half a stone by constantly eating so I should get a lovely pair of coconuts! Sleep well everyone - tomorrow is a brand new day! love from Wendy xxxx
HI All Glad to hear that some of you are feeling a bit better and my thoughts are with you that are having a tough time of it. I have only just had my first chemo (FEC) and feeling ok but don't know how long this will last for. Will probabloy be back again soon asking for more advice about things. Thanks to all that replied to my earlier posts. My thoughts are with you all.
Laila, what a rubbish time you've been having. I do hope your next blast of Taxe doesn't make you feel as bad. I remember feeling very aprehensive waiting for the side effects after my second go, but it turned out much easier than the first, so fingers crossed it will be the same for you.
Cheryl, here's hoping you don't have to bad a time after your first FEC, and Camilla with the Taxe.
Fran, hi. I finished chemo over a year ago. What Paula said earlier is right. My hair started to grow back very patchily, particularly on the top. I had it shaved a couple of times to try to even it up. This did mainly work, although it's still slightly thin near the crown. Like most women I suspect, I was told my hair would grow back thicker than before, and was therefore disappointed with what actually happened. My hair used to be very thick and it grew like a weed. I have to say that it is still not back to how it was, and I would still have to pencil in some eyebrows if I could be bothered. Of course, the hair on my legs came back with no trouble at all! As you're still wearing a wig anyway, perhaps think about shaving your hair and starting again if you can bear to.
Sam, haven't heard from you for awhile. Hope all is well.
Hi Stef, Lesley, Wendy, Marmalade, Jean, Chelle, Sue and everyone else. Sorry, like Paula I can't remember all the names by the time I get to the end of a post, but love to all.
I thought some of you maybe interested ina site I found for temporary eybrow tattooes. I have just got mine and tried one on my arm as I have not lost mine yet. It does look very good and they just wipe off wth baby oil. Maybe good for a night out. Quite cheap too.
Hope it is of interest to anyone, they are similar to the tattooes kids have the you have to wet. They have different shades and sizes and you get 7/8 pairs.
Hi all sorry I haven't had time to catch up on all the posts, as I'm doing this on my way back to work. Just to let you know my brain scan results were normal, but the cea marker is still rising, so I don't know what's next but I will let you know. sorry its so short but I've got to run. sue xx
Hi, am new to this and a nice lady called Lorraine suggested i talk on this one. My mum found out last week she had breast cancer. She is so positive, she cried for one day, and then ploughed on as though nothing was wrong. I am having to put on a brave face, but its exhausting me. I will always show her the positive smile she needs to see, but i climb in to bed at night and have sobbed myself to sleep every night for a week. I thought that by speaking to people who are going through similar things, I can get it all out, instead of building it up til i explode. I hope you dont mind that im not the one who actually has cancer, i feel ridiculous as you all sound so strong! x
