Likely breast cancer after ultrasound - thread 4

[spartanrunnergirl]

Hi all!

Thought I’d start thread 4. I’ll put links to the previous threads below.

Welcome.

The original thread was started after I had a mammogram recall and was told at the ultrasound that it was likely I had breast cancer - before biopsies were taken, and before I was ready to hear that (if you are ever ready to hear that).

Three full threads later we are still sharing support, experiences, and advice. We’ve celebrated breast cancer wins and thrown virtual hugs around those who’ve needed it. (We’ve all needed it 💗)

This is a hugely kind and caring bit of Mumsnet - where we’ve all felt that awful fear waiting for scans, tests, results, or with an early and uncertain breast cancer diagnosis.

You are not alone.

This is the awful club - full of awesome women💗

@Imtiredthisyear I am so very glad you have your diagnosis now and can concentrate on the path ahead. It is a lot to take in but great that they feel it is highly treatable and CT scan was clear.

@Firework73 I was also dreading chemo but my first cycle hasn’t been too bad. That doesn’t mean it will be the same for you, but even just understanding the set up after the first time helps to set expectations for future cycles.
One thing though, I think a nurse told me I would start to lose my hair second cycle, but it has started already, towards the end of the first. Combing my hair after washing it this morning was “interesting”. Lucky I’ve already been in Etsy ordering scarves etc. I’m going to embrace my new look when I need to. Had extremely short hair in my 20’s and in my head it will look just as good this time round 4 decades later:-)

Have a lovely weekend everyone.

I’ve been a bit upset this evening, everyone in my family is so kind, but so sad.

Does it ever get easier? It just seems so scary right now. I’m so thankful it’s treatable, but I worry that I will never feel safe again.

Im so up and down I’m giving myself emotional whiplash.

Stop that now and give yourself a real talking too … 2 weeks ago you were at the other end convinced there was no cure etc etc . Now you have a plan and join us all on this crappy path ( if I hear that journey word again in my circle it will be curtains for whoever said it!)
I don’t think it does get any easier as I have found that I can’t stand it when everyone feels sorry for me . Apart from the chemo but I’m so over it honestly ! I’m over the fact that I can’t go on a planned group holiday and that I potentially won’t be going back to work when the new term starts … Let the news sink in a bit and give yourself some time and care xx

I found that I cried every time someone was kind to me, it made me so emotional. When I had my biopsy the nurse patching me up was so nice that I cried and when I told her why she said he said I can be a right bitch if you'd rather have that lol! You're bound to feel emotional at the minute, get a few tears out of the way and then you'll be ready to deal with what comes. I'm getting my second chemo next week, I struggled for about 8-9 days on and off after the first one but it is doable and I'm not as stressed now. Sending love and positive thoughts x

It’s such rollercoaster, I’m pretty sure we all have weepy moments, entirely natural.

I had my follow up surgery today to clear the margins and find the magseed (still awol!). 5 weeks ago for the first surgery I was so positive, this time round, not so much. Found out that my sick leave entitlement is less than I’d thought this week, and although should be ok in terms of treatments, any more curveballs will add financial pressure to the mix.

But one step closer to the finish line so clinging on.

Thank you, I totally relate to that, kindness makes me tear up.

I know it’s very treatable, but it’s hard not to focus on the what ifs. Still, I only got my diagnosis yesterday, I can’t expect too much of myself.

Off to a music festival today, medication in hand 😆. This time next year, I will be through the worst.

Have a lovely day @Imtiredthisyear . I think not looking too far in advance is the key and focus on the days and make sure you enjoy those when you can do normal things
Have a lovely weekend everyone in this glorious sunshine

So my hair has been coming out in handfuls since Friday and blocked the hoover yesterday so it has to come off! Just a question to those who have already lost your hair, how do you care for your scalp? Do you still use shampoo, or soap or what? I hadn't really thought about it before 😖

@Aprilcherry04

Hair loss was one of the hardest things for me.
I didnt have it shaved to the skin so while I am bald in patches, I have about 1cm length hair in places.
My scalp isn't very dry so Im just using a baby shampoo about once a week
I think there are specific products for scalps though - I just havent needed anything special up to now.
I will start looking now as its my last chemo this week so looking forward to regrowth phase.

@Aprilcherry04 you might find this Uk website helpful. The charity lead works with Breast Cancer Now and teaches nurses about hair and scalp care during cancer treatments. Have a look in the information section. They also have a YouTube channel which also includes videos on how to tell young children about your hair loss during treatment.
https://www.cancerhaircare.co.uk/

concur with @Ted27 loosing my hair overnight hit hard. TBH the whole notion of loosing my hair upset me far more than having a mastectomy in August. The later is more of a good you can have it l can wear unobra, knitted knockers or chose to use a boost prothesis. I have lost almost all my hair except for some patches on my lower legs……great that was one area l would have been happy about.

I use a tiny amount of Sanex 2 in 1 shampoo to wash my head, some hints of hair reappearing on my head but it’s a bit itchy as I try to reach the end of the last two chemos….and use zerobase to keep my scalp happy.

I wash my head and post surgery boobs with zeroveen. I had boob acne after starting to use soap and that cleared it up.

@triballeader

knitted knockers 🤣 I nearly choked on my tea

I am quite chuffed that I no longer have pesky chin hairs to pluck

@Ted27 I kid you not….
although I will admit I have made my own as they are light weight, soft and the outside is 100% cotton. https://knittedknockersuk.com/
Look I HAD to find something to do as last weeks exhaustion wiped me out and doing anything that required physical effort was dreadful. turned out to be a Hb count of 7.3 and plunging magnesium levels that killed all interest in eating , no wonder my oncologist cancelled last weeks chemo and organised a blood transfusion and mega amounts of magnesium supplements to take. feeling more human after having blood units on Saturday and having horse tablets of magnesium to take three times a day.

PS: others about to start chemo watch out for symptoms of anemia as it might not be just chemo tired.

Agree with @triballeader - I think I'm a few weeks ahead of you Tribal treatment wise, chemo is done and my surgery is tomorrow. At pre-op my bloods were low ( not transfusion level but I've now had two lots of Iron infusion), just because bloods are ok for chemo doesn't mean everything is peak!

I lost all my hair the week after round 2 of docetaxel and carboplatin + phesgo, same story - bald from the knees up. I just used my normal shampoo as I found baby shampoo and Aveeno just made my scalp even drier and sore. My hair is coming back about 6 weeks after my last round though my eyebrows and lashes seemed to have given up since chemo stopped weirdly enough.

I feel I've been very fortunate as while side effects from chemo have left me tired, sore (oral thrush!) and hairless, in comparison to the challenges others have had I have gotten off lightly.

It's a shitty journey no one expected - love & strength to everyone, one treatment step at a time 😘

Good luck for your surgery tomorrow @Snoopy1612

Hope surgery went well @Snoopy1612

@triballeader Thanks for the link, that was exactly the info I needed 😘

@Snoopy1612 l suspect we started treatment around the same time but mine has been delayed by adverse reactions to drugs till the oncologist took out the drugs with the carrier I am allergic to then delays from blood results…..passed as for for chemo tomorrow then one more round to go before surgery.

hope all went as well as it could for you today and that you recover quickly and heal cleanly.

had unplanned urgent can you come straight in appointment with echocardiogram before penultimate chemo could be clear this morning, oncologist wanted to check last weeks dodgy bloods had not upset my heart rhythms. Suspected from side effects I had yesterday that the dose of magnesium supplements was way too high. blood test confirmed I was right so oncologist has dropped me down to the normal single tablet a day supplement to offset the impact carboplatin has had on me. This time l will suspect anemia setting in rather than assuming close to the end Chemotherapy tired.
appointment with plastic surgeon to request aesthetic flat closure reset for almost the end of June.
Thankfully flat friends had warned me of the difference between an aesthetic flat closure over the standard flat closures. If anyone else is considering a flat SMX have a look at Unobra for after you heal up.

@triballeader

You have been through the mill.
I had my last chemo today and had every possible side effect but they have been 'managable' . They did reduce the dose for the last 3 because of the rash which is now up to my elbows.
There is no surgical option for me so will remain on 3 weekly phesgo injections and daily Letrozole

@Ted27 , I hope they help you.

I hope everyone is doing as well as they can be. Chemo seems like such an intense experience. I’m glad I have chemo first, then surgery, it’s the chemo I’m dreading the most.

I found some bamboo beanies that look soft and comfortable. Also looking at getting my brows Micro-bladed, has anyone else tried that?

Chemotheraphy intensity varies between person to person as well as between each round of treatment.
l was advised I would loose all my hair, that includes nasal as well pubes etc somehow my leg hair is still hanging on in patches.
i found bald beanies to be the most comfortable to sleep in and they wash and wear well. Breast Cancer now provides a list of decent Uk based suppliers that others have reported as helpful and good. Just watch out for the sizing and materials used if ordering via less known sites as well as scams. One hat my daughter bought in good faith thinking wasa cheaper copy of a bald beanie turned out to polyester, poor rough internal seams and my head is not that shape. She wished she spent the £5 extra.

I had my eyebrows microbladed 3 weeks before my chemo started. You’re supposed to go back for a top up 6 weeks after the first session but of course I couldn’t do that as my chemo had started by then.
It didn’t matter though - it was still very effective and I’m glad I did it.
It was strange because I didn’t actually lose my eyebrows until two weeks after my final chemo had finished! They had thinned a
lot during treatment but apparently it’s quite common for them to go completely a few weeks after treatment finishes. That’s when I saw the real benefit of the microblading.
The good news is that they grew back as quickly as they went. Within about 4 weeks they were growing strong and healthy again and needed waxing!