Hi everyone, just thought I'd give you an update, as I had my post op assessment today. It was the best possible news I could have had. They took 20 lymph nodes out, none of which had cancer showing. There was no sign of either tumour and no cancer cells in any of the breast tissue. They still want me to have radiotherapy as a precautionary measure and to reduce the risk of cancer coming back. Hope you are all OK. Xx

Hi Pippin24   That's amazing news!  Well done you!  Radiotherapy will be a breeze after everything you've been through.  Do you know how many sessions you will need? 

All good here thanks.  Had a poorly pup for a couple of days but she seems to be much better today.  My last immunotherapy session is scheduled for 21 November - all being well (e.g. bloods are ok and they can find a vein for treatment!) I will be ringing that bell!  

I'm meeting up with the "Moving Forward" ladies on Monday evening for dinner and a catch-up.  I'm looking forward to that.  Am also out to dinner tonight lol. Thank goodness for my PT to help me work it all off!  He's gradually increasing what I do and I am definitely feeling better for it.  Yesterday he introduced light weights and I found out I couldn't quite straighten my left arm directly in front of me!  That was a new one lol.  So I'm working on that in between sessions too. 

Hope everyone is doing well.  

Carol xx

Hi Carol, I can't believe how good the news was, still feels a bit surreal really. I'm actually quite pleased they've said that I should have radiotherapy, as it reduces the risk of recurrence. Sorry to hear about your poorly pup, good that he's feeling a bit better today. Lovely that you're getting out and about and socialising and doing normal things again. Sound like you are doing really well with the exercise you're doing with your PT, keep up the good work. I'm doing my daily exercises and feel my mobility is pretty good. Just have a small part of my tummy wound that hasn't healed yet, it's only about an inch long. I was looking at the moving forward courses online yesterday, do I have t get through the radiotherapy before I can go on one? Hope you have a lovely weekend and I hope the pup continues to improve. Xx

Hi Pippin

That's great re your mobility.  Mine was so poor after chemo and surgery as I wasn't really able to do anything whilst having chemo as it completely knocked me for six.  I'm sure your tummy will heal soon and that's great all your other wounds have healed. 

Re the Moving Forward course, they do like you to have completed all "active" treatment. I'm not sure if that includes radiotherapy, I suspect it might as you are still going to hospital (probably daily) for treatment.  You could always give them a call.  I had finished everything except immunotherapy when I went.  If you're radiotherapy is daily, you will get tired.  Not so much from the treatment itself but from the journey to hospital every day.  I would wait, but I don't know if that's the official line.  How many sessions are you having? 

xx

Thanks for that info Carol, think I will wait until the radiotherapy is finished. Not sure yet how many radiotherapy treatments I will be having yet, need to have a meeting with oncology. Not actually sure how long I will have to wait after surgery, for them to do the radiotherapy, something I will need to find out. Take care and keep in touch. Xx

I really hope you don't mind joining your threads.  I've been reading with interest since I was diagnosed with ibc on the 8th October.  Things are now starting to move this week with a view to starting Chemo on Friday.  My treatment so far as I am aware will be Docetaxel  Carboplatin and Phesgo.  Also bisphosonate treatment once I have had dental check up.  It was a lot to digest but I think I have my head around it now.  Still up and down emotionally but getting better.  I am in the process of getting a wig/wigs so hopefully these will be available when the inevitable happens.  What I would like to ask is what are the Phesgo injections like and what are the other injections mentioned that you are having between chemo.  Thank you all.  

Hi ROBIN71, of course you are welcome to join this thread, we are all here to help each other. So sorry to hear about your diagnosis, it does take a bit of time to get your head round it. I started on EC chemo for 3 cycles and my hair fell out quite quickly. Not sure if this will happen so quickly with docetaxel, as my hair started growing back before my last cycle of docetaxel. I would recommend a product called polybalm to protect your nails as docetaxel can cause nail damage. I used this throughout my treatment  and my nails have been fine. I am currently on phesgo injections and don't find them much of a problem. My husband trained at the chemo clinic and he now gives them to me at home. One side effect I seem to get is itchy arms, they give me anti histamine to help with this. I did also get some pain in my hip joints for a while, but this seems to have stopped now. I have to have an echocardiogram every 3 months while on phesgo, to monitor my heart. No issues so far, which is great. I've also now started zoledronic acid infusions, every 6 months for 3 years and had to visit dentist before starting. If you have any questions at any time feel fee to ask. Good luck on Friday, let us know how you get on xx

Thank you.  I've got a Muga scan tomorrow.  I really should have started my chemo on the 1st November but my referral for the Muga scan seemed to have gone astray between hospitals but I can't complain because I only saw the Oncologist on the 18th October. I'm having my pic fitted on Tuesday and face to face meeting with Oncologist Wednesday.  Just a bit worried at the moment because I am having a lot of pain in the boob and under the arm.  Boob has been very swollen /hard and has been very uncomfortable since my first appointment with Nurse at my GPs.  Ive had a CT scan too - nothing had spread to my lungs for liver.  Unfortunately we have a funeral on Thursday and fingers crossed Chemo will start on Friday.  Not looking forward to it  but just want rid if this.  Busy busy week.  Xx

Thank you.  I've got a Muga scan tomorrow.  I really should have started my chemo on the 1st November but my referral for the Muga scan seemed to have gone astray between hospitals but I can't complain because I only saw the Oncologist on the 18th October. I'm having my pic fitted on Tuesday and face to face meeting with Oncologist Wednesday.  Just a bit worried at the moment because I am having a lot of pain in the boob and under the arm.  Boob has been very swollen /hard and has been very uncomfortable since my first appointment with Nurse at my GPs.  Ive had a CT scan too - nothing had spread to my lungs for liver.  Unfortunately we have a funeral on Thursday and fingers crossed Chemo will start on Friday.  Not looking forward to it  but just want rid if this.  Busy busy week.  Xx

I did got boob pain also, a couple of weeks after my biopsies. Good to hear that your ct scan showed no spread, that is a big relief. I opted for a port instead of a PICC line, only because I didn't want to have to go and get it flushed every week. You will get used to having lots of appointments. I have 2 this week, one for a wound dressing and one with oncology. Hope your week goes well, take care. Xx