Hi BigJean,

I'm so sorry to hear about your struggles with chemo. I'm sure that you're relieved to just be down to the Herceptin now.

Have you got a date to see your surgeon to discuss the effectiveness of the chemo yet? I hope that you find that it's been helpful.

I'm doing ok thanks. My son is gradually improving now and will be starting 3 weeks of intensive rehabilitation at the end of this month.

Kind regards,

Jolamine xx

[@Jolamine]‍ [@Woollylamb]‍ [@BigJean]‍  [@Lorz]‍ 

hi all

sorry not been on here for a while. Had number five on Friday the first of my new chemo - pretaxillian or something like that. Sorry I’m not one for remembering what I’m on. My memory isn’t is the best at the mo. Was dreading it but think the double dose of steroids I on is getting me through it ok albeit not sleeping well. Lucky if I’m getting four hours but feel so tired but just can’t slerp. Abit of a dodgy belly and acid but not as sick as with my other chemo. Three more rounds every two weeks then I’m done with chemo. I did ask oncologist how does it know it’s working but because I had mastectomy and node removal there is no way to tell. He just said if you are not back here within five years with recurrence then we know it’s worked but without doing chemo etc the chances are Id e back. I’ll do anything to try not to be back. The only downside to these steroids are I’m becoming abit of a psycho - blowing up over slightest thing did anyone else get like that? 

When I saw oncologist I had a meltdown re thy scar had dimpled but he examined me and said it was normal. I said when I had scan for blood clot on arm and chest it bought back the scan on my boob and I’m now paranoid it’s my healthy boob. I just wish I’d been offered to have that one taken off too but bless oncologist he checked me thoroughly and reassured nothing was there but reiterated that I cannot be scared of examining myself and to check regularly and if any worries to ring and they will see me straightaway but he said it’s normal to think/feel like that. I do get quite abit if pain where my scar is but he said I’m still healing inside from the operation.

see you don’t hear from me for ages then I can’t stop rambling. I blame the steroids for this too .  My children have been great through this although my middle one lost his temper on the football pitch yday because someone said s*cj your mom! It was a far-away team so they know nothing About me and it was just a boyish comment but my lad lost his head. He has done so well since my diagnosis and excelled his and schools exoectations with his GCSEs And has shown no sign of struggling but I guess sometimes the slightest thing can trigger a reaction. 

Woollylsmn and bigjean I’m so glad to hear you have finished chemo . You truly are amazing ladies and jolamine I have no words to describe what a super trooper strong inspirational lady you are. I wish your son the best speedy recovery and I hope he is keeping well mentally too xx lorz I hope you are remaining positive and let us know how you get on x

if you are still awake reading all this then I applaud you take care my amazing warriors and speak soon xx 

so sorry to hear that  jolamine a double mastectomy  is what I was going to get if 8 had been carrying the gene but it came back negative I have had a lot of trouble with the left breast another operation on Tuesday here. I have terrible low blood pressure and my heart beat drops touch wood nochest pain last time the nurses were taking my pulse every hour got no sleep on Tuesday thank god by wed lunch time went back up the anestic lowers it as well I was looking at a video clear margins breast tissue cancer the USA have a white device it scans the skin called a prod so when tumour is removed they scan the tissue there and then if it’s still cancer they remove the skin there and then the uk is so behind  I listened as a lady surgeon explained no clear margin the patient has to have further surgery what is getting to me I saw him on Wednesday my surgeon he said it’s still better than losing the breast then said you may require 2 more operations did not cry but I did when I got home they are good they sedated me down there inject you to relax you the mask too takes your mind off it I suppose everyone be the same Mooney likes operations lol  my right breast was straight forward. 2 cm tumour removed 4 lymph nodes and chemo was fine for 9/12 years then I found tiny lump on left breast pea sized but over an inch after biopsy’s the right breast was scar tissue at first they thought I had tissue cancer there but no you have been through worse than me god bless you I know what you mean each day is a bonus xx

hi jean do they put a sickness injection through your line ? I had terrible sickness 9 years ago I got sickness pills too which helped me a lot ask them I’m waiting for another operation on Tuesday here had tumour removed lymph nodes removed but the surgeon explained not a clear margin I still have breast tissue cancer I watched a video clear margins on you tube in the USA they have a white device called a prod it scans the tissue there and then if it’s not good they remove it then too which prevents the patient going back for more surgery I have terrible low blood pressure probably get put on bags of water again ask your surgeon or doctor for sickness pills jean hope this helps you best regards Lorraine x

hi hope you get good news woolly I know what you mean I have been feeling low too knowing I could face another 2 operations uk so behind in the USA they have a small device prod it scans the tissue if it’s positive they remove the breast tissue there and then my surgeon told me I have not got clear margins the tissue is cancer all round the breast he said I will remove tissue top and bottom but you may need a third operation I could have wept he said it’s still better than losing the breast I’m hoping he can get it all this time I just have to think it must be done I hope things go well for you woolly xlorraine

I ha£ all my hair shaved off too as it fell out in clumps I did try the cool cap could not bear the ice cold lol it grew back I’m waiting fo4 another Brest tissue operation on Tuesday I’m praying he gets it all don’t want a 3rd operation the surgeon said it might require 3 operations trying to stay positive I’m on daltrapan injections only one more tomorrow morning I go into hospital 2pm tomorrow operation Tuesday morning I’m not worried about chemo just get past this cancer jean x

Hi

I too am 44 and was diagnosed with DCIS three weeks ago. Last week I had a CT and bone scan and was told that my lymph nodes were enlarged so I would need them removing when I had a mastectomy. I'm just waiting for an appointment to see the surgeon but it feels like I've been waiting for ages - I hate feeling like I'm in the dark.

Hi Lorraine,

I shall be thinking of you on Tuesday and, hope that your surgeon gets it all this time.

Kind regards,

Jolamine xx

Hi Mejules,

It's so good to hear from you and, good to hear that you are coping better than you did with your last chemo. Would you consider asking your care team or GP for a sleeping tablet to get you through this stage?There is no point in getting tireder and tireder because you cannot sleep.

Surely an MRI would still show how well your chemo has worked? Your emotions will hopefully settle down once you stop taking your steroids. I was an absolute mess emotionally when I started taking Tamoxifen and then Letrozole. I stopped taking Letroxole 2 years ago and have felt so much better since.

It is normal to get pain in the scar area for quite some time after surgery. I am so glad to hear that your children have been so supportive throughout all of this. Your son's outburst was just par for the course. Cancer doesn't just affect the person with it, but all of their family too. I'm sure that many family members need a release valve at times. Good on your son for doing so well in his GCSE'S. It can't have been easy for him, when he was dealing with your news at the same time. Hopefully, this reaction was just the 'trigger' you mention.

Only another 6 weeks to go and, I'm sure that you can hardly wait to put this all behind you. You are a true 'warrior' yourself having come through all this and I do hope that you manage to see it all through. 

Kind regards,

Jolamine xx