BREAST CANCER OPERATION AND TREATMENT

Hi

Welcome to a friendly, informative and helpful forum. In the 3/4weeks since I joined I have received lots of helpful advice and made lots of friends who have/are going through the same experiences. 

Briefly, I had a mastcetomy 5 weeks ago with an immediate implant. Due to speak to oncologist next week to start chemotherapy ( totally unexpected from first diagnoses). I do have a supportive family but they dont know what your going through as the ladies do on this site. There is always someone to speak to anytime of day or night, some of us a really night owls. Of course you can always ring the help line. 

Obviously I am not looking to starting chemo but I know I have to do this and I will come out the other side.

Always available to chat.

Linda x

Hi Linda. I wasn’t looking for Linda, Linda found me. I was diagnosed yesterday with DCIS. I made this account in case I needed some reassurance in the future but I couldn’t help relying to your lovely blog. How nice it is to know I’m not alone & there’s so many nice women out there. 
thank you Linda x 

Well done, you found us!  Good to see you here and am sure you'll get the support you need and also see how others get on.

I'll be on with my radiotherapy end April so not yet on the other side but will be very soon.

Sam

Hi Sam, thanks. I am looking forward to the support both ways.  You are getting there which is great.

Thanks Linda, it does make a world of difference to learn from someone who has experienced what you are going through.  Coming here I hope to be able to give and receive comfort/support on the journey.

I look forward to the chats/updates.

Sharon

Hiya

I’m sorry about seeing you on here and also about the change to your treatment plan.

I just wanted to reply to you as I live on my own and have gone thru lumpectomy surgery and lymph nodes removed in Oct, I had five out of six of chemo (FEC-T) starting in December. I think it depends on which chemo you’re having and everyone is different. I ended up not having my 6th one because of the dreadful side effects of mouth ulcers, where I could barely speak but also the risk of the virus was a consideration too. I finished chemo on the 13th March and will have radiotherapy from 30th April for 5 days (Fast Forward) instead of the usual 15 days.

I equally was shit scared about chemo, it was the biggest problem for me, along with losing my hair. I had someone with me when I was having my treatment so they could drive me home. I had to take steroids the day before my treatment, the day of and the day after, however these also didn’t agree with me and made me feel wired and couldn’t sleep at all. My treatment was always on a Friday and so my sister would arrive to be with me for the weekend. For the first three treatments she’d leave on Sunday and I’d be fine on my own but i didn’t feel great for treatment 4 & 5. I’m not sure if I could have been on my own, I needed the support of my family and friends. 

I coped ok mentally and emotionally. I do yoga and meditate and both these helped, although I found I couldn't meditate for the last two treatments I just didn’t feel well enough and couldn’t concentrate.

Each person reacts differently to chemo and it does depend on the chemo regime you’re having. Have you been told? I wish you lots of luck and you will find some inner strength .... I certainly did but I’m very glad it’s over. And that’s the thing to remember it will end. 

Take care.

Sarah x

Hi Sarah

The fact it is a toxic drug is scary. I could have had someone on the day to be around just in case. With the current atmosphere it is just impossible to have family in - that bit hurts myself and them.

Radiation starts kicking in now, I finished yesterday. I know feel the effect on the area.

I will be having a cocktail of Flourauracil, Epirubicin and Cyclophosphamide. The first 2 contribute to hair loss so I am cherishing my locks until then.  I am meant to have 6 doses over 18 weeks, currently waiting on the chemo team, say they are extremely busy due to the pandemic more people having homecare..  Been assured they will wear PPE so that will minimize infection risk.

Yes I am looking forward to the end of that 18 weeks and hoping it will start soon.  I have booked 5 weeks of Caribbean sunshine so I have something to look forward to.

Glad you have gone through to the bright side, enjoy life to the full. 

Kr

Hi

Yes I agree about the toxic part, I found it hard dealing with that too. I drank a lot whilst I was having chemo, I wanted to flush it out of me as soon as I could, obviously it was still in me but I liked the idea of drinking plenty of fluid.

I can understand that will be hard for you not having any family on the day of chemo, however chemo is accumulative, but I don’t know that cocktail of drugs, So hopefully your first one or two won’t be so bad. I was quite organised and got all sorts of food that I thought I’d fancy. However because of mouth ulcers I couldn’t eat much at all, but if you’re going to be on your own I’d get some food in that’s really easy to cook. I couldn’t be bothered with food, however when I didn’t eat I felt really weak, so I def would advise little and often if you’re not v hungry. I would def also advise to keep talking to your oncologist, you’ll have a telephone consultation before your second treatment. Keep a note of how you felt, they can tweak the treatment if needed. I had my 5th treatment reduced to 75% but I didn’t realise that was possible. 

Good to hear they will be wearing PPE for your treatments. The hair loss is tough, I have long thick hair and found it really disturbing when my hair started falling out but I made the big mistake of not washing it and then it basically went matted and my Mum ended up having to cut it out for me. Have you got a wig lined up or are you doing scarfs/hats etc?

That’s great about your radiation finishing yesterday, I hope you don’t have too many side effects. Mine starts next Thursday. What a great thing to have a 5week Caribbean holiday booked ....that sounds amazing and something to really look forward to.  

Fingers crossed you don’t have to wait too long for your treatment to start. I can’t wait to finish radiotherapy so I can properly get on with my life.

Take good care, stay safe.

Sarah x

Hi Sarah

Thanks for your detailed response. 

Yes I have been buying things I like hoping my appetite will not change much.  Nutritional drinks and such should I  feel too weary  to make a decent meal. I  will have to make use of technology to keep my spirit up with regards to family and friends.

At the moment my oncologist give firm instruction to call him or the chemo team if I have a problem so I will definitely make use of that.

Good idea, I will sure make notes, keep a daily diary of everything. I had the great fear, now I am anxious to get it started because then I can look forward to it finishing.

At the moment I can feel tenderness in the area especially when I wake during the night. I try to stay on top of it with the moisturizing cream to prevent it getting sore. The team did say now I have the full dose I may start having side effects. I am drinking a lot these days, my first 2 days were  terrible and the radiologist told me to drink a lot.  I  find I was ok once I start drinking a lot, I was able to stay awake all day and go bed normal time instead of 8pm and 2 x 1 hour sleep during the day. Yes I am really hoping they will start soon. 

The good thing for you is that the worst is behind you. Ensure you use whatever cream they tell you to prevent burns.  All the best with it and remain positive. 

The great feeling that you have beat cancer is just around the corner and like you say a chance to put it behind and move on with you life.

Good luck and you stay safe too.

Fagie

Hi Fagie

Thank you for your reply.  

I haven’t been recommended any creams for radiotherapy, they suggested my normal unperfumed moisturiser. What are you using?  I said about aloe Vera as I’d read that on here and they said it was fine providing it didn’t have an alcohol in it. I was also advised to drink loads of water so I will definitely do that. I’m glad your symptoms improved once you started drinking plenty.

I hope you hear soon about when you’re starting, meanwhile, stay positive, eat and drink well and hope it will start soon so as you say you just want to get started.

best of luck.

Sarah x