Docetaxel Side Effects FEC-D Long term side effects or menopause?
Hi all, its been several years since I posted on here. I'm hopeful someone can help. My apologies for my long post. I promise Im not a hypochondriac. I'm coming up to 7 years cancer free and should be living that life changing, "Im so greatful to be alive" kind of life. But I feel like cancer has added 20 years to my health. Anything that ailed me before treatment has amplified. My knees and ankles constantly ache. Its very hard to stand up from a seated position. I have neuropathy symptoms from the knees down. I randomly run out of breath. My hair feels noticeably thinner (it grew back white). My scalp constantly itches (no dandruff, just red) and I keep getting small lumps on my crown and the nape of my neck. I'm also getting re- occurring cysts in my arm pits, some have showed up in my breast during mammograms, but they come then go. Ive had chemo induced menopause for 6 years now. So much brain fog and vertigo. I now have osteoarthritis and to top it off, during my post chemo scans they found a lump in my skull towards the base of my neck which was deemed to intrusive to do a biopsy. At one stage I was told I would need yearly scans. I feel like its been put in the too hard basket. Ive been trying to get doctors to listen to my concerns for 2 years now. Ive also been trying to get a specialist to see me since June last year. I cant even get on their waiting lists. The team that looked after me during my cancer journey were absolutely marvellous. Now that Ive been 'signed off' help and understanding have been lacking. I'm on long waiting lists to have things looked at, living with the fear of re-occurrance is always at the back of my mind. Im going around circles with my GP but Im now too emotionally exhausted to make a change. I lived with anxiety and depression before cancer but now I feel it is overwhelming me. Ive tried counselling several times but I havent found them helpful. Dealing with this and lifes 'normal' challenges has really changed me. I have searched the internet for sites that deal with life after cancer. Trying to find out what side effects are common or potentially long lasting. How to treat them or how to deal with them. Are my symptons a result of treatment or is it a menopause thing? All the sites i find talk about treatment and short term side effects. Im hoping theres a site out there that might inspire me and give me back the drive to look after myself. Even a site for menopause after triple negative breast cancer would be very helpful(preferably an Australian site). Ive been told to avoid any hormonal treatment. Are there other options? If there is anyone living a similar outcome to me, what are you doing to help your self? How are you treating menopause after TNBC? Whats working for you? Thank you if you took the time to read my post, I know its a long one but i really appreciate it.
Neuropathy in feet - any advice? TNBC
Hi everyone I've TNBC and am 6 treatments down with the first Carbo/Taxel/immunotherapy regime. For part of my infusions, they put cold gloves on my hands to reduce the risk of neuropathy there, but didn't offer anything for the feet. They suggested I go online and purchase my own cold socks to wear during treatment. Last week my toes started feeling numb and then yesterday my heels started feeling sore when I walked. I walked a bit at the shops this morning and my feet felt odd the whole time. I'm assuming this is all related to neuropathy and I must admit I'm a little freaked out. I've purchased some cold socks now online and will start wearing them during treatment, but I'm worried what damage has been done already. Be interested to hear what experiences others have had with this, what they've done about it and whether it has resolved after treatment finishes. (NB I'm putting this in the general discussion arena as I thought it may not be simply TNBC related?) Kathy
Triple negative breast cancer
I was diagnosed with triple negative breast cancer last year and had a lumpectomy, chemo and radiation. My cancer was PALB2 positive and I had a oophorectomy 6 weeks ago to reduce risk of ovarian cancer. I was post menopausal before oophorectomy but am now experiencing significant menopausal symptoms. Anyone else experienced this and what helps?
Chemo Tablets?
Hi all. I was diagnosed Triple Negative in late Nov 2023. Went straight on to Chemotherapy with lots of negative reactions, including anaphylaxis. Then had Surgery to remove lump and one lymph node which was all clear. Just finished 4 weeks of Radiation. Now my Medical Oncologist wants to put me on Capecitabine tablets for 6 months. I can't seem to get a straight answer as to why I need this as well as everything else. I was just starting to feel a bit more 'normal' and looking forward to life again. Has anyone else used these tablets that can give me an honest opinion. Thank you.
Constipation
most of the threads I can find about constipation are quite old so thought I would start a new one . Having just spent a very uncomfortable Friday / night at home, followed by fun Saturday in emergency, and a Saturday night in the short stay unit with the worst constipation ever am looking for some tips advice on how others have managed this going forward Generally I am a good popper , once a day (give or take) and have a faulty good diet. But this round of chemo that went in Monday had upset my whole system So love to hear how others have coped what food to eat / not to eat , drink , drugs etc
Triple Negative Vaccine hopes to eliminate the disease - we need these trials in Australia NOW!
This is in the UK newspaper today - hopefully these trials will be in Australia SOON .... Maybe Ask your Onc about this ..... the sooner it starts here, the better. Triple Negative Breast cancer vaccine 'could eliminate disease by 2030' : 15 women who survived aggressive tumours are still in remission up to five years later after receiving experimental shot — now doctors believe a cure is in sight https://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-12140391/Breast-cancer-vaccine-eliminate-form-disease-seven-YEARS.html and another report from Dec 2022 https://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-11400715/Three-cancer-patients-cured-experimental-vaccine-100x-cheaper-rival-shots.html
Side effects and work
New to the group (TNBC) and have had my first round of Keytruda, paclitaxel and carboplatin. It seemed to go as ok as I can expect. I am very very hungry all the time though - is this the steroids or the treatment? Also do the side effects kind of stay the same each round or do they get progressively worse? I imagine I'll get more and more tired but if I don't have nausea right now, is that for example something I might luckily miss?The Breast - scientific papers on all types of BC & conditions .... a great resource
I have found these Very recent publications re breast cancer & related topics .... there are many topics covered. ALL Volumes (about 6 articles in each volume), and about 6 'volumes' a year .... https://www.sciencedirect.com/journal/the-breast/issues The Aims & Scope of the Website: You can put any subject in the 'search' area - I put in Invasive lobular & these results came up .... recent scientific papers. https://www.sciencedirect.com/search?qs=invasive lobular
UK trial
A trial is being conducted in the UK using aspirin as part of treatment for triple negative breast cancer. The article emphasises the trial and methodology is still at an early stage and people should NOT start using aspirin themselves! Trial lead Dr Anne Armstrong said: "Not all breast cancers respond well to immunotherapy. "Trialling the use of a drug like aspirin is exciting because it is so widely available and inexpensive to produce. "We hope our trial will show that, when combined with immunotherapy, aspirin can enhance its effects and may ultimately provide a safe new way to treat breast cancer." Co-researcher Dr Rebecca Lee said their lab findings suggested that aspirin can make certain types of immunotherapy more effective by preventing the cancer from making substances that weaken the immune response. "We hope aspirin can dampen down bad inflammation so the immune system can get on with the job of killing cancer cells," she said.
