Community

Afternoon all, Only lasted 5 out of 6 chemos. Should have had the last one today but they decided not to go ahead. Have been on Taxol and Clycocystamide on a 3 weekly cycle. Questions for all you ladies who have been through and finished chemo.... How long before your hair starts to grow back? How long before chemo brain passes? (feeling stupider by the minute:-)) How long do you still have chemo symptoms for? Had reimaging done last Friday and will have all the results on the 10th. Anxious as to how the chemo has worked. It has certainly given me the side effects .... lol ..... but has it actually affected either of the 2 types of cancer I have remains to be seen. Surgery set for Sept - just waiting on the date now. Still absolutely hate, hate, hate the thought of it. Any tips from anyone who has been through it without immediate reconstruction gratefully received. Thanks to all Dane

Hi All, Sorry if I'm starting a thread that's already been discussed on here. I'm at my wits end with this whole menopause lark!! I know I need to do more research myself but I said I'd ask for a little advice from you guys first. I finished my TCH x 6 on June 6th. I'll be getting Herceptin until Feb 2013. I also finished 18 sessions of RT on July 27th. (Exhausted!!). I stopped having periods immediately after starting chemo on 22nd Feb, so I did start having a few hot flushes back then. But holy God almighty above in heaven this Tamoxifen lark is no joke at all. I'm crucified from the hot flushes and night sweats. Actually I don't really mind the hot flushes during the day it's the ones when I'm in bed that bother me the most. I'm triple positive so obviously I can't take anything hormone-related, or simulated to ease my symptoms. Does anyone have any helpful hints or tips that might help me through these few months? Also, I'll only be 42 when I finish taking the tamoxifen, and there's a possibility that I'll come back out of this chemical menopause, but I really really don't ever want to have to go through this again. What are my choices? Sarah. XXX

WOULD LIKE TO HEAR FROM ANY ONE OUT THERE WHO IS DIABETIC ON INSULIN AND HAS BEEN TREATED FOR BREAST CANCER. I HAD LUMP REMOVED.. RADIOTHERAPY.. AND A YEAR ON HERCEPTIN I DID NOT HAVE CHEMOTHERAPY DUE TO OTHER HEALTH PROBLEMS MY EMAIL IS : glucosesweet2002@yahoo.com smiles are because i am in remission and also because I have remained positive through out

Hi all Just wondering how long it took for people's hair to grow back? I finished chemo last october and had radio in January and February finished herceptin in June. While the hair on my body has come back with a vengeance the hair on my head has remained very sparse. I am beginning to worry if it will ever grow back. Would like to know how others have got on. Thanks Madge

Hi, I had a mastectomy and reconstruction on my left side six years ago. I am now pregnant with twins (thought it would never happen) and my issue is that my right breast has increased in size and I need advise on what to buy and where to buy it for the other side to make them match!

Hey there all I finished my treatment at Easter. Diagnosed Jan 2011, on tamoxifen for 3 months to shrink large tumour, followed by chemo for six months, then two lumpectomies and eventual mastectomy (jan 2012) and then radiotherapy. All done now, on tamoxifen again for five years and awaiting reconstruction. It's 8 months now since the mastectomy and I feel like I'm coping with it less than I was when it was done. I feel really out of sorts, can't bear to look at myself and have taken to even sleeping in my bra as I hate waking up in the morning with no boob. Is this normal?? I am keeping active, swimming, walking, am back to work, taking care of the kids etc and on the outside I seem fine - and some days I am grand, not down at all time. I am generally a very positive person, during my treatment everyone was impressed with how positive I was and it really helped me get through it all. But now I just feel kinda lost...and I don't feel able to talk to family or friends about it, which is why I'm on here I guess. Maybe I need to get some counselling, I don't know...anyway, just fancied a moan/rant and find this place always helps.

Hi all, me again with more questions for my friends to answer. How long after treatment do you wait to apply your first lot of aqueous cream/ Aloa Vera and how many times do you apply the creams each day. When applied after treatment do you wash off all traces of creams that night before next treatment. Not too sure if all the washing might harm the skin. Are you best to wear a cropped type vest or a bra. I know you can't shave, use deodorant, talc, perfume shower cream etc but when radiotherapy is fully finished when can you start using deodorant and start to shave your underarm and stop using baby wash creams,not looking forward to the no deodorant and hairy underarm now as with these hot flushes I will be sweating and smelling so much. Thanks for the help. Take care G x

The Irish Cancer Society’s Annual Patient Conference “Supporting people with breast cancer” takes place on the 29th September 2012 at Dublin Castle, Conference Centre from 9am - 4pm. For further details and to book your free place please visit: http://www.cancer.ie/breastconference or contact Valerie Abbott on 01 2310518. Lunch is included. If you would like to speak to a specialist nurse about breast cancer call freefone 1800 200 700.

hi all im new my wonderful sister who is 48 met me for coffee recently and told me her breast cancer is in the bones and her time is limited .I do not know a thing about cancer and i am totally struggling .I am hoping she is wrong can anyone PLEASE tell me the truth .She began with breast cancer 2 years ago ,had chemo then breast removed and radium after the operation it was discovered that they did not get a clear wall dunno what that means it travelled to liver where she had modules ,she has got small dose chemo but has never beeen totally away from chemo.Now her bones can anyone please shed some light please .She is so amazing and told me where she wants to be laid to rest ,Im not ready to loose her and am so afraid of telling my daughters who adore her ,please can anyone tell me what i dont know

Hi anyone out there have the above test done? I recently got results back and I fall into the middle grey area, do I have chemo or not, choice is up to me, a nightmare. Currently there is inconclusive evidence to show it works for those who fall into the middle bracket. Any takers. Mimi