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 everyone. Second chemo yesterday yesterday, doctor sent me home with ANOTHER carrier bag of tabs. Good news is she has given me an anti sickness tab which makes you drowsy so with a bit of luck it will counteract the steroid if I take it at night. Came home and my daughter shaved my head, not as bad as I thought, my head is a relatively nice shape so hey ho! Congrats to everyone who has had good results, hope everyone has the weather we have down here. It is the Isle of Wight music festival this weekend so the weather is a bonus. xxxx
Hi Jean, im really pleased to hear your side effects have been minimal and the ulcers are under control on CMF. I'm sooo much better on CMF. I did have a couple of tired days and i still feel sick for the first few days, but otherwise it is much better...phew!! :-)
Hi Dracsam i too thought that grade 1 was low grade and wouldn't have spread! Sorry your still having problems with your arm. I think mine took a few weeks before it settled down. Please keep us posted on the Tamoxifen side effects as i shall be taking them after chemo (autumn time) and am interested in how you and others are finding them.
Hi Paula, its great that you are liking your new hair do :-). I didn't mind it when i had mine shaved off either. Lets hope those tablets do the job and help you sleep better. Glad the chemo's going well for you.
Chelle i had tamoxifen as soon as diagnosed up till starting chemo FEC and i just noticed things tasted less but not terrible and had some flushes which i enjoyed as love being hot :-) mainly at night time in bed. That was it though - oh and had hardly anything at period time almost no period really - but have just had one since being on chemo???
Dracsam i felt arm numbness and ultra sensitive skin on upper underneath arm but it does get better i had lumpectomy and nodes clearance (25 taken and it in 3 of them) on 27th April and i feel brill i found that the underarm area and bust feel brill now but notice tight tendons in upper arm which i have stretched out then its moved down to lower arm tight feelings so i just work it. Dont worry it will improve x
Paula did you shave your hair because it was coming out - or just in preparation - as i am on day15 from the first chemo and when i run hands through hair it starting to come out - oh no i picking my nana up tomorrow to come and see Trevor (new pup) and she is so straight and harsh with her comments (she is 83 so we let her off hehehe) so just wondering from it starting coming out roughly how long is it before clumps come out and have to bite the bullet - i poss shave it fri pm after taken nana home, ive asked my friend to do it as really not want hubby to do it. So if anyone can give me clue how long before notice substantial hair coming out when run hands through hair to it coming out in clumps - that would be helpful :-) thanks
Hey went to see consultant just for chek over on monday and then went on to book a look good feel good day - think going end July (22nd) as it booked up till then, and whilst in there the macmillan guy said as i was 40 i could go on a special day thingy - its with the Willow Foundation you have to be 16-40 inclusive and have a year after applying to use your day out - you can chose from west end show - trip round london and on london eye - alton towers - or centre parcs for weekend - racing driving - hot air balloon ride - meal at resaurant - party including entertainment and food - and they include the children and hubby too etc the list is endless - think me and hubby going to chose to go to Lake District in b & b as kids both been away with either air cadets or friends in caravans, and i have had to cancel my portugal holiday was for 21-28 July and am in process of trying claim money back (only took VERY basic insurance). So me and hubs will have a well earned (kid and puppy free) weekend away. Has anyone else been offered this ?
The men are on the roof re roofing my daughters dorma roof as it leaked in on saturday - so that 3 now - diagnosis, dog pass away - and roof leaking in - should be good stuff happening from now :-)
The size of lumps and the number of lymph nodes affected and then the subsequent grading of the cancer always confuses me.
You would think the the bigger the lump and the more lymph nodes affected would mean that the grade of cancer would be larger, but it doesn't appear to work that way.
For example my lump was a grade 2, size 1.6 cm (quite small, I would think) and they found no cancer cells in the lymph nodes after taking cell samples from my underarm. However after the op to remove the lump and 5 nodes, they found cancer in one node and the lump was 1.5cm and then I was "upped" to grade 3. According the the surgeon, the lump was a very naughty one!! By the way my cancer was hormone fed. Second op removed the rest of the lymph nodes. No more cancer found but still grade 3!!
Perhaps the "type" of cancer found has a bearing on matters. I didn't realise there were so many different types of breast cancer until I started out on this voyage.
Stef, as to the hair loss, i can only tell you from my own experience. Absolutely fine until 3 days before the second chemo. It started with hair on the pillow for a couple of days and then then a shower tray full of the dam stuff! When it started to fall into the sink when I was blow drying it, I thought that's enough of that.
I went outside and ran my fingers through it and lumps came out. Phoned the "wig" man, who was fantastic and went straight there after the second chemo and had it shaved. For me that was the best thing to do.
Paula, I do hope you get some more sleep this time round.
Hi Steff, like Jean two weeks after first chemo it was on the pillow and if I ran my hand through it clumps were coming out. Went for my second chemo yesterday and the nurse couldn't believe it was still there(it was held there with hairspray as I had planned for my kids to do it that night). Do bear in mind I am on intensive chemo so it may not happen as quick for you. To be honest it was a relief to get rid of it, I couldn't stand it falling out all over the place. I am going to be brave and change my profile picture to show you just after it was done. I was even braver today and went out without a bandana, got a few stares but balls to it, I am bald and I am proud, I am a cancer survivor lol Jean, got 6 hours last night, you must ask for these anti sickness tabs, they knock you out lol xxx
Goodness Paula, you look better without hair than I do with it!
Stef, my experience with hair loss was pretty much the same as has been said already - started coming out 2 weeks after first chemo. I had to go up to town, then a dinner party so I left it for 4 days after that, and it just about worked, but I wouldn't have wanted to leave it any longer. My son came over and shaved it all off (he was so sweet - he asked if I "needed a moment" when he'd finished.
Kay , that is really kind of you to say but it isn't my best look lol Still, I don't care, I am alive lol. Your son is so sweet. My kids did it with all their friends and had a beer and a good laugh. They all reasured me I looked cool and tried to make me go to the music festival camping for four days lol I would of done only my tablet tray wouldn't have fit in the tent lol xxx
