Breast cancer

Hello All
Sorry I havent posted for few weeks but things have not been brilliant, the operation took its toll on me and wiped me out a bit, was also in a lot of pain, tried lots of pain killers which all made me sick, they have now given me Fentanyl Patches which seem to work and enable me to do my exercises.
My Oncology appointment is not until July 17, I am gutted that i have to wait so long as I would just love to get the chemo and radiotherapy out of the way now.
The worse thing that has happened, is my partner has gone, literally done a runner, walked out on me his job his parents and hasnt contacted anyoine for a week. He really was not coping very well and started drinking, I tried to stop this, but it was seen as nagging and he couldnt cope. His parents last saw him monday when he said he could not cope with my cancer and walked out. I am worried sick, not sure if he has another woman or has had a breakdown, either way , not contacting anyone is not fair and it is hindering my recovery.
I am determined to keep positive though. Tomorrow i will go with is parents to the police but not sure they will do anything.
I have decided to take my son out of school next week and take him to my parents in cornwall, i need a break away from the worry and hassle.
I am going to try to catch up on all the posts.
Jo
xx

Dearest Jo,

I'm so so sorry that this has happened to you. It never rains but it pours doesn't it? I think a week in Cornwall is a very good idea..you and your son definately need it. It must have been hard for both you and your husband...the worry and stress of cancer gets to all our loved ones and we all react in different ways. I know my husband finds it hard at times. Lets pray that he just needs some time and space to clear his head and hope he gets in touch with you soon with the answers you're looking for and need. Good luck with the police tomorrow, hopefully they can help you. I realise it's difficult but try and remember to look after you. You need all the strength you can get at this time. My biggest hugs and best wishes at this terrible time.

Chelle x x

Hi everyone. Hope the weather where you are is as good as it is here. I actually got my legs out today, it's been ages. What with fretting about hair (or lack of) and making sure my boob was on straight, these past years, it was really good to remember how much I like my legs! Still not too shabby at 54!

Stef, that Willow foundation sounds wonderful. I shall keep my fingers crossed that you get good weather in August.

Paula, hope the chemo coma is still at bay.

Sam, could I echo Sian's post and say do ask if there are alternatives to a straight recon, like getting your other breast reduced. There may be info on the internet about recons for larger ladies too that will be worth a look. I can't believe there's no solution to this, there must be lots of larger ladies who get BC.

Sharon and Marian, I'm waiting for a recon too. I see the plastic surgeon in October, and if all is well with my last echo, I'll be put on the waiting list for a DIEP flap. The op should happen in January. I must say I'm looking forward to the tummy tuck side effect as much as the breast recon - at last, a side effect I actually want!

Jo, so sorry to read of your troubles. I hope your partner is just having a wobble, and will come home soon.

Take care

Hi all

I have posted this on another thread but only had one answer so am hoping if I post this here I may get a few more. :-

My mum is starting FEC chemo next Tuesday for breast cancer, and we have been given alot of info to read and digest about what is going to happen and what to do/dont do, but I was wondering if any of you have experience of the FEC regime and although I know everyone is different, what we should be expecting.

My mum lives on her own, although my brother has offered to move in whilst she is having the treatment, she has said that she doesnt think this is neccessary. I have a young family so cannot move in with her but wanted ideas of how I could help her. Will she be wanting to eat, if so how much, will she be able to look after herself and cook meals and is there anything she wont be able to do.

I was planning to cook a load of meals this week for her to freeze and have if and when, would she be up to having meals or just things to pick at. Is there any food that is good for her, or anything she should stay clear of?

Any information or tips from experience would be gratley appreciated.

many thanks

lx

Hi All

Jo so sorry about whats going on and like the rest of us here I hope your hubby is safe will be intouch soon.

Blossom hope everything goes well tomorrow and youll be home within the week.

Chelle The last time I lost my hair when it started to grow in fluffy it broke my heart but I had to shave it and it began to grow in thicker :(

Sam I had recon and a reduction on my other breast so dont have to ware a bra now lol

Paula hope your taxol went well. My chemo almost always ends up being at 5ish so dont go to bed until around 4am as they put my steroids in my chemo but I also dont need to take them orally and I have not been sick. This week I have been taking antibiotics which have made me very sick had to have them changed.

I have had my zoladex stopped due to me back on chemo. Like Maddona I was given the same options and chose the injection. Didnt have any side efects apart from the first one gave me cramps.

Hi to everyone else still not good at remembering the posts and cant go the the last page to re read (blame the chemo brain hope I recover lol)

Take care all

Lots of love Lorraine xxxx

Hi Kay, I have just come back from my friends who ad a recon 3 weeks ago and i was so jealous they look brill. Jenny my mate is 57 and she looks 47, she kept prancing around the room loves um lol. Be us soon fingers crossed. Hi Lollypop i to ad FEC 6 sessions was,nt to bad im rubbish with needles anyway but i found it best to warm my hands first so i used to wear woolly gloves till they were ready for me and suck a boiled sweat, They ad cold water there to drink as well, Threw my chemo months i ate alot of ginger biscuits plenty of water and lots of ham sandwiches must admit i went overboard with the MacDonald's banana milkshakes nice. little what you fancy never hurts. We had a amason room at hospital were i found a book that realy helped me threw my treatment telling you how to look after yourself and other patients views helped me sale threw it you should ask one of your mums chemo nurses. Also i picked up a leaflet for a makeover in the chemo ward witch was at notts city hospital got loads of goodies well worth it you have to ask they don't tell you. Hope i av helped and good look for your mum hope everything goes well. Jo look after yourself xx

Lollypops i am on FEC i have to have 8 lots and had my 2nd one Wed 17th June (next one 8th July) every 3 wks, after first chemo i was buzzin inside off the steroids for 2 days and a bit breathless when talking and woke at 4am each day gradually staying in bed longer, i then found on 2nd/3rd day food tasted like muck i mean even water didnt taste nice and fresh (found tomato juice and worcester sauce good and it was good for me) anything milky like tea coffee cereals with milk or yogurt was horrible and wanted fresh feeling things but even an apple was gross, so you just have to eat for couple of days with total dissatisfaction and knowing that on day 4 or 5 you will start to enjoy foods again and thats amazing when it happens - usually then you cant stop eating :-) then normal appetite resumes after day 6, oh and then felt very tired after steriods wore off but i just sleep for couple hrs each afternoon and that helps. after the first week i feel me again just not as energetic. When i had second FEC though the steroids didnt have affect ie, slept like baby every night and nap in afternoon did feel much more tired after 2nd chemo almost zombie like but again its only for the 6 days after the chemo and then normality resumes so you have to accept there is a pattern and that for a week your mum will have lots of little side effects but nothing like i thought when you hear the word chemo - not been sick just felt nauseous for a moment on odd days but thats it. I have been cooking tea for my family every night and dont clean up much because now there is no urgency - it can always be done tomorrow.

Jean glad you ok after your chemo - i have a lovely big ulcer and it doesnt like curry (think saturday nights curry night will now be a nice english meal out).

Blossom good luck for tomorrow - hope you home soon and keep us updated how you doing.

Joe what a mess - get to cornwall and be looked after you need a big hug and some love honey, i hope partner is ok and you get in contact with each other soon and can talk through this and things be ok, but like others say NO.1 IS MOST IMPORTANT at the moment - keep positive and dont be alone at the moment. Love and have nice visit to cornwall take care - it will all be ok. x x

Hi lollipops

I was going to give you the run down on FEC, but Stef has said it all, so I'll just wish your Mum all the best, and hope her side effects are not too awful. Actually, I've just remembered one possible side effect Stef didn't mention. It's called hand and foot syndrome, and most women don't get it, but just in case, tell your Mum to moisturise her hands and feet every day. This can prevent it, and is worth doing because it can give you really painful feet for a couple of weeks.

Good luck, and let us know how she gets on.

Kay

Evening everyone!
Steff your willow weekend sounds soooo good, it is going to be heaven. I was 41 in January so I missed out by a few months.Still James and I are going to shut the hotel and head off to Brighton in between my last nasty chemo before I start my once a week regim. If you do decide to come off the steroids my oncologist has given me an extra anti sickness pill called cyclizine, it makes you drowsy so great to take at night time. Lol, I also have a brown line down my head!!
Maddona you sound full of energy, good on you.I bet you can't wait for your recon, I must admit it has helped my state of mind having it done at the same time as my mastectomy. I'm booked in for a new nipple around January time, unfortunately the amount he will have to take off my backside to make it won't make a lot of difference to my dress size lol.
Jo, I hope things work out with your hubby. Not what you need at the moment. Glad you are now on thew right painkillers, once the soreness wears off it becomes a lot easier. Apart from my burst I honestly have no discomfort at all seven weeks down the line.
Chelle hope the sugar levels are good today.
Kay had usual lethargy but no where near as sleepy as I expected without the steroids. I am really pleased as it is one less drug to take and I have eaten like my usual self today instead of pushing the family out of the way of the fridge lol
Lollypops, sorry about your Mum but on the positive side the chemo is an added preventitive that the cancer won't come back.There hasn't been a lot I haven't been able to do and if your Mum dosen't work she will have lots of time to snooze if it makes her sleepy. As far as food is concerned if she is anything like the rest of us she won't have a problem eating as long as the sickness tabs work.In the chemo unit I attend they also give you free massage, reiky etc, your Mum may enjoy this if offered.Like Steff I love tomato juice but I'm an alky so I added vodka aswell lol Good luck and keep us posted!
Jean, if my steroid plan works how I will miss treading the boards with you lol I f you get too lonely I can always set my alarm!xxxxx