Hi Mich

Thanks for your message.  First chemo went ok and I'm not feeling too bad - just bit nausea and tired but ok.  I decided against the cold cap - didn't really hear any great things about it and the extra time of sitting in Hospital etc just made me decide not to go down that route.  I've had a look at wigs on line and going to follow that up soon - apparently I can choose some options on line which the hair company then order in to their studio and I go and try them out.  Not allowed to take anyone with me but at least I can try them on.  I also had a chat with Maggies which was really useful and theyve advised of a wig place which does reconditioned wigs for £15-£20 so if I fancy more than one I might try that out!  

My chemo drugs are EC - epirubicin and cyclophosphamide - I don't know anything about them to be honest!  I was a bit worried about having to inject myself with the stuff to help my white blood cells but it has actually been ok.  

I've started using the Aveeno too and so far so good.  I am starting to get some mouth ulcers but hoping I can keep them under control.  I guess still early days.....

Glad you managed to get away and have a lovely break - sounds great.

Thanks again for getting in touch and I'd love to hear how you are getting on too.

Mary xx

Hi Vicky

Many thanks for your message.  I'm doing ok - had first chemo last week and not feeling too bad from that.  I decided against the cold cap - wasn't hearing enough positive things to make it worth doing I decided.  Hair is now shorter and I've been looking at wigs on line.  There is a studio not too far from me which I can go to try on wigs once they've ordered in some I like and I think we might have a Zoom chat - I need to follow that up.  I got some good advice from a visit to Maggie's yesterday so steadily finding out more things!

I'm on EC drug - every two weeks for total of eight sessions.  I've started using Aveeno skin products.

Please let me know how things are going for you and again many thanks for keeping in touch.

Mary xx

Oh Mary, that's good news that you're tolerating the treatment well so far and hope that it continues that way.

Well done for being proactive and getting wig bits sorted although a bald head in this heat has been most welcome!

I'm generally well but struggling a bit this week with nausea and diarrhoea. My daughters (5&9) have been helping until they get bored of mummy being ill not surprising, mummy is bored of mummy being ill. 

You are very brave self injecting. I told my husband that I wasn't allowed and that he had to knowing I would struggle.

Do you have family around to help in case of bad day/s?

Vicky xx

Hi Mary,

Glad to hear last week went all ok :)  How are you feeling this week?  I started with EC too, I had it every 3 weeks.  I felt quite spacey the first week then not too bad the next too.  I did struggle a bit with the nausea feeling but then realised I wasn't taking my tablets soon enough.  So once I started taking the sickness tablets for the first few days it eased off.  I also had a stronger anti sickness pre med, as I was ill after the first dose and coulnd't keep anything down.

Well done in injecting yourself :)  i was the same, quite scared the first time.  My husband wasn't much help, he didn't want to do it either lol!  He sat with me to support me for the first time but didn't want to be responsible for the needle.  After the first couple it become quite a bit easier and actually normal.  Was quite proud of myself lol!  i found it easier to inject top of my thigh rather than my stomach.

I also drank loads of water which helped, as the drugs made me feel so dehydrated.  I had quite a bit of bone pain so took paracetomol and anti histamine before i injected.

I'm now adjusting to life after treatment, err a sense or normality, not!  I did go for a bra fitting yesterday which was really good.  I had a left mastectomy and its hard to find bras that fit and there is nowhere to try them on.  I got details of a local lady that now has a shop from home and had loads i could try on.  i bought two and feel much better that I have some pretty and well fitting bras for boob and foob ;p

I'm still trying to get out walking when i can but i do struggle with the heat and hot flushes.  My knees and hips are aching less which is good so slowly getting there.

Vicky,  Hope you are doing ok too!

Big hugs to you both.

xx

Hi Vicky and Mich

Thanks for your messages and info.  Had a couple of ropey days but lot better today.

Had second chemo on Thursday - there was some debate whether it could go ahead because of low white cells but had another blood test and all ok so was able to go ahead.  On same day I had a mammogram magnification view done which has shown uo two calcification lumps so going for a biopsy on Tuesday to check them out - hopefully just benign and they will be removed when I have the lump op anyway.  I had MRI on Tuesday but wont get results till near end of month I dont think.

Had terrible contraction type pains early Friday morning so rang Cancer Hotline and they advised to go to Hospital - had ECG, X-Ray and bloods and everything ok apart from low sodium levels so had to have another blood test to check them which was also low but I was allowed to go home and need to get bloods done again on Monday at GP to get them checked again.  Just as well I don't mind giving blood!

Hair coming out in handfulls - thought I would be ok with it as knew it would happen but still not easy to cope with when it actually becomes reality.  I'll get my daughter to cut it shorter and probably shave it soon - hair everywhere getting a bit annoying!  I've not heard if the wigs I ordered to try on in hair salon are in stock yet but hopefully soon.  

My brother and his wife sent me some lovely lotions and potions from a company called Jennifer Young who produce specially for cancer people.  I found the scalp one really good when my scalp was really itchy.  

Glad you've been able to get some nice bras sorted Mich

Cheers for now

Mary xx

Hi Mary,

I'm so glad to hear that you are coping with the chemo, despite the hair loss. I hope that your wigs are in soon and, that they help you to feel better about yourself.

What a pity that you have been having problems with your sodium and white cell levels, but it's good to hear that your second chemo could still go ahead. I hope that the bloods taken at your GP's on Monday don't show up any further problems.

It is always helpful to have others come along, who have gone through, or are going through, the same journey as yourself, so I am pleased that Mich and V31KYG, have come along to support you.

What a lovely thoughtful present from your brother and his wife. I haven't heard about this company, but I shall certainly be looking at them, as I have been left with a permanently itchy scalp.

Don't forget to let us know the results of your magnified MRI.

Kind regards,

Jolamine xx

Hey Mary,

Aww I'm sorry to hear you had a tough time after your 2nd dose. EC is really tough on our bodies at times, but then its knocking the sh** out of those tumours.  All the best for tomorrrow, will be thinking of you.

Urgh yes, hair falling out was the worst and so painful.  I coldcapped and still hand clumps coming out.  I shaved in the end and felt so much better, was also so tired of seeing hair everywhere and in my food.  I felt quite liberated after shaving and in control again.  I embraced it and wore some nice scarves, I have so many so put them to good use.  There are some great videos on tying a scarf.  If you are on instagram follow braveryco.

Glad to hear the lotions and potions are working.

Hope you are not feeling too rough today.

Hugs xx

Hi

update from Tuesday's hospital visit.  Following Docs meeting/discussion I was advised they wouldn't be doing  biopsies of the calcifications as they think it is so highly likely to be cancer related- due to where they are related to lump - that it's not worth doing and they will be removed at same time as lump anyway.  
 

they put markers in where the calcifications are plus a new marker for lump as original one not in right place.  Doc showed me the mammogram on screen and I felt that was helpful.  All staff been so nice every visit - even though I had to wait 45 mins before anyone came to speak to me but Doc apologised for that and said not the normal way they worked.  
 

My hair all gone now - quite relieved not finding hair everywhere- was annoying me!  One of my daughters shaved final bits off.  Not heard anything about wigs yet but been busy ordering a few different hats 

Good news is that I've been advised my cancer is not genetic - absolute relief as I'd been so worried about that.  

Cheers for now

Mary x

Hello there,

I hope no one minds me jumping in on this thread rather than starting a new one, but the cases here seem most relevant to me.  Two days ago I was diagnosed with grade 3; I have one lump in my right breast 1.9cm and one under my arm 2.3cm.   HER2 and oestrogen sensitivity are negative; progesterone is moderately positive.  At my Friday appointment I was told my first treatment would most likely be chemo (with others to follow) but I need to have a breast MRI, bone scan and brain scan beforehand to see if the problem has spread.  The breast MRI is booked for Wednesday; I don't know when the others will be yet.  So far, every appointment has brought bad news so I'm not looking forward to any of these.

My mind is just numb with all this; it's something I never expected and it's hard to process.  The consultant said there's nothing I can do for the moment, just go about life 'as normal' but my head is all over the place.  Physically I feel fine but I'm hearing all this bad news relating to me and it's so surreal.  On a positive note, my partner is very supportive.  He tells me we just need to get this treatment done and then move forward, since the doctors say this is treatable.  I'm 45 by the way.

Any supportive comments would be so much appreciated,

Alison xx