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?
Thanks so much Jean, feeling better already having you lot to talk too. It has really lifted me as I don't want to inflict all this on the family. See you Thursday lol xxxx
Chelle good luck tomorrow :-) will be thinking of you.
Paula after that lot im not surprised you are low - i have felt low from Friday to this morning and when i eventually woke up (sort of) i came round and felt ok again after being really down about food tasting like dung and being so tired i was just gorping into space and now im back up so i going to nanas tomorro with son who will cut her grass for her and we will have dinner together then im taking her to see my uncle who is in a home as he has alcohol related brain injury, but is getting better with time. So i feel like im going on a big day out hahaha thats pretty sad. Do you run a hotel or work in one Paula - im not missing work one bit - i liked work and walked there and back after walking my dog, but really think i feel very content (or is it old and sad) at home with Trevor and always enjoyed being at home full time when kids were little. Will go back to work when all this is done and at least i can just concentrate on ME at the moment. (Just eaten 3 mars bars and a cadbury caramel- i can taste again). Ha ha i dont have PMT now or dont notice it, but i do get shirty and catty first couple days after chemo - then calms down - i have only had one period though since beginning April as went on tamoxifen so that probably stopped them (had one day tiny period twice) then after 1st chemo had quite a heavy one - i dont even keep note of the dates anymore - i just cant be bothered.
Your all stars- cheer us all up and say the right things to bring us back up, glad Paula feeling a bit better too. Onwards and upwards we are women in invisible rubber suits - that the poo in life just bounces off us.
Oh Paula so sorry you're feeling down. I'm sure the chemo doesn't help!! You need lots of hugs from your lovely family. I felt as if i didn't smile or laugh half so much as usual when i was having the epirubicin chemo. I've definately been happier since i've finished it. Try to be positive and keep smiling :-) x Keep us posted on that gene test.
Hi Jean thanks for your best wishes. Even though CMF has been alot better i'm still not looking forward to having more tomorrow!! I think it's because my sugar levels will rise and that alone makes you feel strange and tired. Good luck with yours on Wednesday. Lets hope our bloods are ok to have it, we don't want any delays!! Thanks for clearing up the Arimidex, tamoxifen and herceptin treatments.
Hi Stef isn't it awful feeling so sleepy? I really feel for you. I'm back for chemo tomorrow and dreading it making me sleepy. Hopefully you've come through the worse. What a shame you had to cancel your holiday. I hope you get your money back soon. I don't like the sound of those side effects your mum has told you about. I think you're right that we shall all be moaning about new problems in a couple of years!! I'm 40 and haven't gone through the menopause. I need herceptin because i'm her2+. It just means i've got an extra year of 3 weekly treatment...boo!! I haven't filled out my willow foundation form yet, i must do that :-)
I took so long writing and submitting my post last night that i missed some of your posts, but i was to tired to add more to mine so i'm doing it now.
Kay your advice about allowing yourself a boo hoo day is great. We all have them and we shouldn't feel guilty about. There was some discussion about herceptin and i believe i'm right in saying that you also had it?
Paula i'm so pleased your feeling a bit better. It's fab we can all come on here and know everyone here knows exactly what we are going through and how we feel.
Stef i was like you on...gorping into space!! I definately became a zombie!! Glad you're feeling alittle brighter. It's good those yummy chocs tasted good :-) when my taste buds were at their worse i found chocolate tasted salty!! :-( Thanks for your best wishes and have a lovely day with your family, you deserve it x
Jean and Paula, when i first have chemo my family are keen to let me rest and do some jobs around the house themselves, however as soon as i show signs of improving they are more than happy to let me get on with it!!! :-)
Well i'm having more chemo in a couple of hours...boo hoo!! Never mind it's good to tick them off. Hope everyone has a smilier day today.
Hi Chelle Hope the chemo goes OK today. Yes, I've just finished a year's worth of Herceptin. I remember when I started, and was horrified when told that it would take a whole year. I expect you feel that it will never end, but it does. The side effects, such as they are, are nothing like chemo. A few aches and pains but nothing unbearable, and I have read that some women experience a kind of 'closed throat' sensation, but I didn't get that. Be prepared though for a long day for your first treatment. You need to wait 6 hours after the start of the infusion to make sure you don't have an allergic reaction. Boring! Thereafter, you only have to hang around for 2 hours. According to my oncologist, by having the Herception, women who are HER2+ are then no more likely to have a recurrance than anyone else, so it's worth it. Incidentally, it's VERY expensive, so just tell yourself you're worth it! Kayx
Morning ladies, I have woken up far more positive today thanks to all your support, thank you. Chelle good luck today, I hope the chemo is going to treat you gentle. I am off for no3 of the 4 evil AC tomorrow, only one more to go after that and then I go on to Taxol once a week for 12 weeks. The oncologist has told me this is more gentle, has anyone had this? Steff hope you have a great day with your family today!!! In answer to your question we run the hotel, we bought it 8 years ago as our other business was taking us abroad and away from the kids too much so we sold and decided on a change of lifestyle. It worked out great as we were always here for the kids come GCSE and A level time. Now they are all grown and settled we are looking for a different direction again, I am thinking of becomming a bald stripper lol Jean is your computer fixed yet? Your grandson Lewis will be having withdrawal systoms lol I am on Mission Impossible today. I am off to the supermarket to find something that tastes fantastic, which isn't spicey (my ulcers can't cope), and something which dosen't contain 5000 calories (the chairs is in the house can't cope with the weight). As I said Mission Impossible lol Kay, Maria and everyone else have a great day xxxx (Sorry to miss names but the thread is sooo big now)
Hello, my name is Sam and I was diagnosed with Breast Cancer 2 weeks ago. Like Heather, this is my first (and hopefully last) time and to be honest I'm a bit bewildered by it all. It was a bit of a shock to say the least. There is no history of it in our family but I think it's hit my mum harder than me. So sorry Heather to hear of your story, chin up chicken, you're in safe hands with the hospital and they'll do all they can for you.
I'm 37 and this seems to have caused a stir in my medical team as I am so young to have such a large (approx 6 cm) tumour. However, they've told me I'll be fine and "they'll get it" I just have chemo, surgery and radiotherapy to go through first. I reckon in 9 - 12 months time I'll be tickety boo and fighting on all cylinders again.
I'm just waiting now to hear when chemo will start. I'm nervous as if it doesn't shrink my tumour within 3 treatments, I'll need a mastectomy and I've been told I won't be able to have reconstruction due to my size (I'm a dress size 26)!! That was a kick in the teeth, and frustrating as I can't get my medical team to understand the importance to me of keeping something there, preferably my own breast but a fake one will do!! So I'm determined chemo will work and then I'll just have a lumpectomy. I'm off for my first hypnosis session today too to help me deal with what's to come.
I wish you all well with your treatments and hope we can all be good friends.
Been for bloods this morning and then Tescos. When we came out of Tesco we had a flat tyre. So poor Duncan had to change that, bring me home and has now gone back into town to either get it repaired or buy a new one!
Steff, enjoy your day out visiting your family. It'll help take your mind off things.
Paula, the Pc is fixed now. Neil, my son, brought it back on Sunday. All singing, all dancing, much improved, faster etc etc. He really is a whizz with computers. Lewis came with him and is pleased to have his back again. He is a lovely grandson.
Do you have a Tesco near you. One of things that I find tasty and you don't have to cook, only warm it up, is from their Finest range. It's chicken and oak smoked bacon in a creamy cheesy sauce with pasta. Didn't look at the calories, it's probably horrendously fattening, but it is tasty!!!!
Sam, so sorry that you have found yourself here with us. However you have come to the right place. We are all here for each other, supporting when needed, laughing, crying and sharing experiences.
If you go back to page 54 of this thread and read Blossom's profile, you will find that she is about the same age as you and her tumour was 5 - 7cm. Her tumour shrunk with the chemo and she has her op this Friday. Of course, it all depends on which type of cancer you have, it may not be the same as Blossom's.
It may be a good idea to fill in your profile as it saves repeating yourself when you make more posts.
Chelle, thinking of you today. Just get this one crossed off the list and then next weeks and then you will be 3/4 of the way there. Hope your sugar levels don't go through the roof!!
Lovely day here today. Now do I sit out for a while or watch Wimbledon? Decisions, decisions, all the time decisions!!!
Steff and Paula, I hope that you are both feeling a bit better now.
Thanks for all your useful advice. Lorraine, Marmalade and Chelle thanks for your comments about cold cap and I have decided not to have it - don't really want to spend longer at hospital then I need to plus I think I would find it too stressful Stef thanks for advice on mouthwash the nurse said they would give me Corsodyl when I leave and also anti-sickness. jean I will stock up with pineapple also re tablets I will be on Tomoxifen apparantley and I am 51and havent had a period for two years so I assume I am in the menopause - very confusing really. Don't know if I will be joining the Thutsday night hot chocolate club as have my first chemo on Thursday but don't know if I get steroids will have to ask its the FEC part of FEC/T. Sam welcome this is a lifesaving site for us - would be interested to know how hypnotheraphy helped. I really just want Thursday to come to get the first one over with - am I mad!! xx
Hi Sam, and welcome. My tumour was 6cm too, and I had what is called a full response to the chemo, which means that there was no trace of cancer found in my tissues following the operation, so it's perfectly possible that you'll be lucky too. I did have to have a masectomy though, because part of the tumour was behind the nipple. Good luck with your treatment.
