Hi [@Luisa78]‍ 

So sorry to hear your news and I know exactley how you are feeling.

It may take some time for your family to come to terms with your diagnosis. I found that if I am positive then so are they. There is alot they can do nowadays and its curable. So that is what you need to keeping thinking.

Are they not going to send you for a CT scan and MRI?

I had the scans before any treatment. I know I have it in my lymph nodes but are contained locally to the tumour and I had no spread elsewhere.

Are you having surgery 1st? I have to have chemo first to shrink the tumour which was measuring 6cm on the MRI scan, have they told you the measurment of yours?  After 2 chemo rounds i can feel that my tumour has definatley shrunk.

Its a hard slog but you can do it. I have 4 more rounds to go, then surgery and radiotherapy.

I had my 2nd chemo on Tues so the chemo hangover is kicking in, but i just keep topped up on anti sickness omeperazole and immodium and I drink lots of water and small snacks. Once its lifted I do feel normal again. 

Sending you big hugs and youve got this. Go and kick its ***. 

Lots of Love

Alibobs xx

Hi [@Alibobs73]‍ 

i am having surgery first then radiotherapy then chemotherapy 

the tumour is 2cm 

I want to do this as soon as possible. It scares me that everyone I have known to have breast cancer has died so the thoughts in my head have been awful. 
 

I wander why our treatment is different? Chemo sounds tough but sounds like you are so strong and can get through it all. 

I have asked the doctor to make sure I am on a cancellation list so I can hit this hard and get it out as the longer it's there with no treatment the more dangerous it must be. 
 

my two boys are 22 and 16 and my eldest is worried my youngest is so sweet, when I came back from the breast centre he has bought my favourite chocolate and a little candle and wrote I love you mum on a big white board I have in the kitchen.

I don't worry at all about me and how I am feeling more for them and my family as they rely on me a lot, I support both my parents and my two brothers so my mum said we can't survive without you carla and that made me so sad. I reassured her but it still stays in my mind the what ifs even though I try not to think negative about it.

this is a journey no one wants to walk but we're not alone and I'm so glad I came to this chat as I know you are there fighting the same battle. 
 

I don't know what the future holds but I, like you will fight this every step of the way xxxxx 
 

Hi [@Alibobs73]‍ 

sorry I've not been on for a bit hope you are doing well as can be expected x 

I had a 3cm tumour and no spread to lymph's 

started chemo yesterday EC for 4 rounds then paclitaxol for 4 rounds, each round 14 days apart if my body can tolerate 

well my friend Sophie says she was ok for 3 days then it hit her..... I felt it coursing through my veins and my body wanted to instantly throw up and felt absolutely sick and dizzy immediately 

my ears have been ringing weirdly ever since and I have zero energy at all - please tell me this is the worst it will get? Honestly it's terrible and I'm so scared if it gets worse like Sophie says. 
 

I start the injections for bone marrow stimulation tomorrow and in between have had decamethasone, metoclopramide for sickness. Thanks fully no vomiting so far. 
 

I also tried the cold cap which Sophie said was awful but honestly I wasn't bothered about that at all I didn't even feel cold  
 

how are you getting on? 
 

xxxx lots of love  

Hi [@Luisa78]‍ 

I am doing well considering. How did your surgery go?

Chemo isnt the nicest but the only advice I can give you is to keep on top of the meds..take the anti sickness prior to you feeling sick. Keep doing the mouthwash everytime you go to the bathroom as it helps prevent the mouth ulcers.Your friend is right the side effects dont kick in for 3 days after chemo, and usually subside around day 7-8. Just rest when your body tells you too.

I also have ringing in my ears which will go after a few days. 

I havent had the best time with the chemo..my treatment has been delayed a few times as I had severe delayed allergic reactions to the docetaxel, so now I am on a different chemo called nab pacitaxel which has no solvents in it..and I have been so much better and I can now function properly after the chemo. I have 2 more left. I should of had my last one on 28th Dec but because of having to delay my treatment a week after my 2nd and 3rd round my last one is on 11th Jan. Then I will have surgery.

The good news is that the tumour has shrunk from 6cm to 1.4cm so it has all been worth it. The chemo is the posion that will kill the cancer so thats what youve got to keep thinking. If your side effects are intolerable your oncologist will not let you suffer they will do everything to make it manageable. Keep a diary of everything, but to be honest you may not be as ill as you think you are going to be, some people arent.

I didnt have the cold cap as I wasnt bothered about losing my hair and dont want to stay on the chemo unit longer than I have too. Also having a shower is quicker and I have got a fab wig.

I am sending you lots of love a positive vibes, message me anytime you want xxxx

My wife is on her 3rd outta 4 EC treatment, and she found the 1st one to be the worst thus far. She's a day out from her 3rd, so who knows. Her's is also grade 3 hers 2 +

Other than the op 1st, she seems to be getting the same plan as you. We asked about the op, but the oncologist said it will be decided depending on how the chemo works. During chemo, she's almost felt normal other than a sore squeezing headache after the 1st EC and constipation.  If there's one piece of advice anyone can give you, stay on top of your bowels. That can be grim. She needed tablets to help as the laxative powder (laxido) didn't really do much.  Outside of chemo, she kinda dislikes the steroids.  Her day 3 crashes that she's had after the steroids have been minor thus far.  Nowhere near as bad as the nurse said they would be. Oh aye, insomnia has been on and off too. Tends to be the worst when on steroids. By day 7 or 8, she feels very much normal.

The anti sick meds have done their job brilliantly and she only needs to take them for 3 days.

Hi [@Alibobs73]‍ 

thats fantastic news about the tumour shrinking so much I am so happy for you! 
 

surgery was absolutely no issue for me, not really painful more inconvenient that I could not lift anything for a few weeks, because of the position of the lump in upper right part of breast my scar is around nipple and along my boob but that's a small price to pay, I also have a 2 inch scar under my arm from lymph removal. 
 

the fact that your tumour shrunk so much is absolutely amazing.  

did you have to do the injections as well!? I wander if that's what makes you feel really bad after day 3. 
 

i am terrified of feeling worse than I have so far as the last three days have been horrendous and I woke this afternoon feeling ok and not dizzy for the first time, god knows what's coming when did your hair fall out was it right away or after a few rounds. 
 

I have a red rash on my chest that looks like sunburn but not at all sore and my eyes are a bit dry, I've also dropped a few pounds in weight but have been trying to eat but when you feel so sick it's hard to want anything. 
 

I have been drinking twinnings lemon and ginger tea which has really stopped me feeling sick during the night. 
 

also for the mouth I have been taking manuka honey mono floral 240 mgo as the manuka honey had antibiotic antibacterial properties cxx 

Hi [@Luisa78]‍ 

I get rashes down one side after chemo that looks like sunburn but doesnt hurt. I think its the steroids. Yes i have injections for 7 days after chemo..i get alot of strange aches and pains a couple of weeks after chemo, which sometimes worry me that the cancer has spread..but if its shrunk my tumour that much then it cant possibly of spread, and the chemo nurses have said that its common to have pains.

Its sounds like your side effects have eased, i was the same as you with the eating, but you will find in a couple of days you will have your appetite back..then I eat anything I can get my hands on lol. I try and get out for a walk everyday once I start feeling better.

I started to lose my hair after the 1st round so I shaved it off.

I lost alot of weight at first but now I have put it all back on now im on this new chemo. 

Hope you feel better soon..keep strong and stay positive you will get through it xx