Having a stressful day today. Had my pre chemo consultation by phone today. Went well with lots of information given about what to expect.  However, I did forget to mention about some niggling breast pain I've been having. They come and go, sometimes slightly shooting pain. Did phone breast care nurses last week, who said probably due to all the biopsies I had. They were done a few weeks ago, so wondered if pains would only start happening in the last week. So annoyed with myself, even had it written down. I know I can mention on Monday, but will now have to go through two more days of stress!!

Hi Pippin 24, I think every little niggling pain is a worry when you're in the position that we are, try not to worry hopefully the chemotherapy will start to work killing all of the harmful cancer cells,  hope everything goes well for you on Monday,   I'm anxious at the moment waiting for my PET scan results on Friday the 8th xx

Oh gosh that does sound like a lot to take in. I find that every time i go into the consultants room they seem to up the treatment! It started off like you as a lumptectomy and a week of radio...and now we're onto chemo, more radio and 10 years hormone treatment and injections and possible ovary removal at some stage!! It's a lot isn't it! It does seem to be very much a journey with breast cancer but i am super grateful that there are treatments available and i can chuck all of that at it to stand the best chance of it not coming back.

When does your chemo start and do you know what you're having or how many rounds? Wishing you all the best with your treatment and hope you can breeze through it all...i start my chemo on the 19th and it's so weird not quite knowing how i'm going to feel with it...i guess time will tell! Look after yourself xx xx

Oh gosh that sounds a bit scary. It's so hard not quite knowing how you're going to react to these drugs and everyone reacts so differently. I really hope they can work out which specific drug is triggering that reaction, sounds horrid you poor thing. I hope you're doing a little better now and that's a bit more under control...do you have 3 week cycles or 2 weeks? Really hope you start to feel better soon. 

Thank you for sharing the info on the cold cap - i think i'm going to try it and see how i go although i've got super fine hair anway i'm not sure it really stands a chance!!

Take care xx

Hi NGS, so sorry to hear you have had such a hard time after your first treatment. Hopefully this is a one off and it will be better after next cycle. I'm due to start injections tomorrow until day 10 to boost white blood cells. Apparently I could get some side effects from this, so will have to see how that goes. Had another lovely walk with hubby today, which was nice. I too have been using the polybalm and am really hoping it helps to avoid too much nail damage. Really hope the cold cap works for you. I decided against it as already get headaches anyway, so thought it would be too difficult. Have my wig and hats ready. Hope you start to feel better soon. Xx

Sorry Pippin i replied to you and then asked whether you used a cold cap but i know you have told us a million times that you haven't used one! Sorry i clearly have chemo brain before starting the chemo!!!!!

Glad you got out for a walk today, that sounds lovely. How tired are you feeling or has the tiredness not been affected? Sounds like you're doing well! Fab news...will have a look at the polybalm! xx

Headache now gone I'm pleased to say. Only side effects so far is a little tiredness, but did manage an hours walk with hubby. Due to start a week of injections tomorrow which can also have side effects, will have to see how that goes. Decided against cold cap, due to already being prone to headaches. I also feel the cold and thought this would be too uncomfortable. It'll have to be a wig and nice hats, which I've got ready. Good luck for the 19th, hope all goes well for you. Always here for a chat and to swap tips. Xx

I did snooze on and off yesterday, but today I've been fine. Think this is due to a better night's sleep  last night. Don't worry about asking same question, it's hard to keep track of what you've said to who on here. Xx

Hi Greeny 

I started on 19 th as well.  I hope you have gotten on ok.  It’s very surreal - I too had my very long curly hair cut short.  It’s weird being so upset my cutting hair in the grand scheme of things isn’t it. 

wishing you well

Norma x 

Thankyou so much for kind words. Im Feeling better today just a fuzzy head 

 I have started the injections today for 7 days in total. Was told to have them after 5 pm as can cause bone pain so if so best just to go to bed.  Will let you know how it goes but so far so good 

xxx 

Hi Pippin 24, really nice to hear that you're coping well,  just be careful with those injections,  they gave them me to use and I could hardly walk upstairs afterwards,  I also absolutely hated injecting myself,  I  ended up begging them not to give me any more  and luckily my blood count was OK enough not to need them xx

Thanks for giving me the heads up on the injections. If I have problems, will get them to check my blood count too.  Luckily won't have to inject myself, as hubby is going to do this for me. Will let you know how it goes. Xx

Thanks for giving me the heads up on the injections. If I have problems, will get them to check my blood count too.  Luckily won't have to inject myself, as hubby is going to do this for me. Will let you know how it goes. Xx

Fingers crossed for you xx

Thanks, will let you know how it goes. Xx

Hi Pippin 24 , only just just got back from the hospital after 2 hours,  I've basically been told that the cancer areas are the main lump under my breast,  a nodule in my lung and one around my heart,  hopefully should be starting treatment which will be abraxane weekly chemotherapy and pembrolizumab every 6 weeks.  I'm struggling with them saying that this will be be life now as I can't be cured,  hope you're doing OK xx

Hi Rufusblue, I'm so sorry to hear that you're now going to be on treatment for life, that must be a difficult thing to hear. I have a friend in a similar position, who has secondary breast cancer, which has spread to the brain. However, she is doing amazingly well, treatments are so good now. Will the weakly chemo be only for a certain amount of time? I seem fine after injection yesterday, so will see how that goes. Sleep is my biggest problem at the moment, keep waking at about 4.30am, then can't sleep anymore. I think it's more to do with coming off hrt and getting hot flushes. I am also worried a bit about a couple of lung nodules and a cyst on my liver. They've said not to worry about it and I'll be having another scan in 3 months. It's difficult not to worry about everything though. Will you need surgery for the lump, or just the chemo?  Please keep in touch to let me know how things go. Sending big hugs. Xxx

Hi Pippin from what I've gathered there's no end to the chemotherapy which I find upsetting,  it's classed as inoperable so can't have an operation,  good to hear your friends doing well,  I'm going to have to try and pick myself up and get on with it.  It could be the steroids that's keeping you awake so hopefully it's a temporary thing,  take care xx

Hi Pippin, I"m glad the chemo seems to be going well and the injections too, i think i'm going to have to do that too so it's good to hear you're ok on them. Sorry sleep isn't great though..ive been waking at silly o'clock too and i haven't started my treatment!!....i think you just wake up and then your. brain pings open and there's so much buzzing around your head. Really hope you can get into a better sleeping pattern soon...these hormones and overactive brain have a lot to answer for don't they!!!!..Sounds like you're doing well though.but i'm so sorry you're worrying about the nodules...yes very easy for them to say don't worry but i can totally undestand that you will...but if they're not worried for now then hopefully that will give you some comfort. Concentrate on the chemo that you're having now and it's fab that they want to check again in 3 months so if it is anything they'll be totally on it...i know it's hard to put it the back of your brain though so i'm sending big virtual hugs...and really hope the next few days are ok with the chemo. xx

Oh i'm so sory to read this. I want to jump out the screen and give you a hug....That must have been a lot to hear today. BUT it sounds like they have a plan....and although perhaps not curable they can hopefuly treat and keep at bay...do you know when you'll start your treatment? You need to go and do something nice for yourself...but you can totally do this...i'm sure you have so much support around you so lean on them...and i am here too if you want to offload to a random!! I'm here. Big hugs xx

It certainly is upsetting to be on permanent chemo, but try to stay positive. I suppose we have to be grateful that there are so many available treatments with what we have. Let me know how you get on moving forward. I'll also keep you updated too, especially with regards to my next scan regarding the nodules. I think once you have cancer, there is no end to the worry unfortunately. I saw that you posted a new thread, I hope you get some responses from others in a similar position, which may be of some help to you. Xxx

To be honest I think sleep issues are to do with hot flushes, as had to come off hrt. One minute I'm boiling hot, next minI feel cold. I ended up listening to relaxing music from sbout 4.30am, which was better than laying there overthinking everything. Managed to clean bathrooms and go for an hours walk with hubby, so a pretty good day today. Trying really hard to not focus on the nodules they found. Even before I had my scan, they said they have seen these a lot since covid. Just need to keep reminding myself of that. Did you manage to sort out a wig and decide whether you will try the cold cap?

Sorry to hear this.  But please stay positive.  My cousin developed secondary breast cancer in her lymph nodes some years after breast cancer.  She has been managing this with tablet chemotherapy well for the past 8 years xxx