Hi everyone,not to bad at the moment glad for all your tips otherwise I’d be at the Doc’s all the time. lynn hope you’re feeling better and managed to have a nice birthday.
Loocie how you doing
Helen hope your cake turned out OK and you’re headache’s are abating Lynb I had Tomoxifen first time around and was taken off them as I also had polyops, I had them removed last Dec with no problems at all. Hope everyone is coping alright I’ve never done this before as you can probably tell Durr what’s SE something simple I expect new language for me.
Marli How you doing? another week to go. Best wishes everyone.
love Kath
Thank you all for your birthday wishes - I did manage to have quite a nice day yesterday. Didn’t exactly party but I was feeling much better and was able to enjoy it. Saw family and friends most of the day which was really nice. The partying is going to be postponed until next year where I am going to have a really big bash as a belated 50th and also a big thank you to everyone during this awful time.
I have like Loocie found the Tax particularly difficult in more of a physical body battering sort of way but again day 11 for me (like FEC) is the turning point. I felt like a different person yesterday - and physically was able to do quite a lot in the garden, which if you saw me last week I would have said ‘absolutely no way’. I have been out seeing friends and christmas shopping all day and have felt pretty good. Got a bit tired by the end and when I got to the car park I though ‘lift or stairs’ - Yes I’ll do the stairs as I must get my legs stronger. BH…couldn’t believe how tired I was, I huffed and puffed like an old lady just to get to level 2!!
Anyway Loocie and anyone else feeling the side effects of Tax or FEC - you will be better soon and you will be able to feel more normal again.
Lynn x
Gem - so glad the shaveathon went well and that it made you happy about being bald. It’s great to find some positive experiences from this dreadful time.
Happy Birthday Lynn, hope you have a great bash next year.
Loocie and all others on tax - sounds awful - I’m sending out some good vibes from my FEC good week (I feel fine, apart from my embarrassing problem which seems to be getting worse. Oh and of course the hot flushes which carry on unabated. Hope it’s over as quickly as possible.
I must be having a chemo brain week as I am just about to sign up for the Timex Women only triathlon to be held next July. I must be totally mad as I am totally unfit(can’t even walk up the stairs without puffing) and will have to start from scratch in January once I can train again. I also loathe running and have dodgy knees! Why am I doing it? Because it’s one of the best ways to get fit and lose weight and I am determined not to deteriorate into a fat slob once I have finished chemo and start on the tamoxifen. I read so many scare stories about putting on weight, joint pains, being tired etc. when on tamoxifen. Also I am concerned about osteoporosis now I have been slammed into an early menopause so must find a way to keep my bone strength up. And I thought it would give me something to aim for. If I have to walk the run, so beit.
Anyone out there mad enough to join me? I’ve never done any sort of sporting or sponsored event before and will do it to raise money for BCC. It would be great to have a team. I will be in the novice over 40 category, and the distances are pretty small, really.
And another chemo brain moment to make you all laugh - last week I got into the shower still wearing my slippers. Nothing else, just my slippers. DOH! I wonder if I’ll always be like this.
Have a good week and may the nasty side effects be minimal
Helen.
Hi to All
Kath…SE’s are Side Effects…we’re just all too lazy to type the whole thing! LOL
Lynn & Loocie…thanks for the honest account of Tax. I have my first one on Thursday morning & have my husband warned that I’ll be like a grumpy old lady for around 11 days!..his answer…‘so what’s new?’ LOL!
I’ve read that the first one is usually the worst…here’s hoping that’s true for you both. I have some nice painkillers on order from the onc…I’ll let you know what they are & if they work!..fingers crossed they kill off all the Tax SE’s!!..Yeh Right…we can dream!!
I’m absolutely dreading having the furry tongue & metallic mouth again. Haven’t had that since my first FEC…it was unbearable…although not wanting to eat will do my waistline the world of good!..the stone & a half I’ve put on since starting chemo is not good! :o(
…I’m off to the shops to stock up on Heinz tomato soup & jelly in prep!
Good Luck to everyone…hope the SE’s are minimal & enjoy your good week!
…catch up with you all after my 2nd swine flu vaccination & 1st Tax are over!
…Oh & is no one else on Facebook?..so much easier to keep up with you all on there…and I’m less likely to get confused as to who’s written what! LOL…my surname’s MacSwan if anyone else wants to add me!
Hazelxx
Hi
just to let everyone know tat I got a text from Loocie today - She was asmitted to hospital with and infection just after her last post - She says she was very negative in that post and that TAX is not so bad - she still thinking of us, bless - Tried to contact her but no go - so I have replied to text an waiting further info - She says she is on the mend - poor Loo - thougt se may escape the infections etc but that explains why she was feeling so down earlier this week xxxxxxxxxxxx Hope she will be back soon good luck tomorrow Hayz xxxx
Oh no didn’t realise that about Loocie! Lots and lots of love if you are reading this!!
I promised people who were thinking about the cold cap a picture of what it has done for me after 4 FEC! It’s me with the hat on last night! I hope this will encourage other people to give it a go if they want to. I hope this is helpful to anyone considering it.
Hope everyone is ok and coping as well as possible
xxx
Oh and a late Happy Birthday Lynn!! Not the one you would have wanted but you can celebrate how fabulous you have been when this is all over!! xx
Tonight I find out the date of my first Chemotherapy treatment, probably next week. What were the sherbert lemons for - please tell?
Not worried at the moment. Losing my hair is not a big deal - It is not what makes me who I am. Very positive so far and plan to reamin so throughout.
Had a lumpectomy and sentinal node biopsy 3 weeks ago. No major problems and healing quickly. Have been walking the dog, doing housework, shopping for Xmas. All normal things really.
Reading these forums makes me realise how I have been quite lucky so far.Some people have far worse to deal with. My cancer seems fairly straightforward. However, some of these posts are quite frightening, listing all the possible problems, pain and side effects. So I have decided to simply take things as they come for me. I’m sure it won’t be so bad if I remain positive.
Really sorry to hear about Loocie - hope she’s on the mend and back home soon. Look forward to hearing that you are feeling better Loocie.
Trumpet you look really good - a great testament to trying the cold cap. It certainly seems worth it. Unfortunately bit late for me now!
Lynn x
Hi,
Trumpet, your hair looks really good, I’m pleased I’ve gone with the cold cap too - although haven’t quite got as much left as you, but enough to just wear a headband to cover the thinning top and get away with it… also where its come out I can feel it growing again… it’s all spikey!! Hope it continues and doesn’t depart!! Although, I feel sick at the thought of the hat again…In fact anything to do with going back to the hospital makes me feel so ill. I can’t even bear to look at the bag I take with me. Yesterday, I tried to read a magazine and that reminded me of sitting having my chemo- again felt sick!!! Can’t wait to finish, Is it just me or is this normal???
I’m 10days after 3rd chemo now and it’s my childrens school Christmas Bazaar tomorrow… I really want to go for a while… Is this wise…it is mainly outside and a small school!! Soooo paranoid about catching anything and it’s doing my head in now!! Stir crazy…feel absolutely fine and there’s only so much housework I can do!!! The house is already decorated with Christmas things all over! ARggghh!! I really need to get out!!
Best wishes to all, especially Loocie- wishing you a speedy recovery…onwards and upwards.
Sarah xxxxx
Hi Sarah,
Know exactly how you feel. The thought of the cap makes me feel really sick! Even getting a cold head when i have washed it makes me sick. Anything to do with things i eat and drink near the hospital and and after treatment make me ill too. I think this is normal, i am going to try some psycho/hypno therapy to stop me feeling like this now and after the treatment.
Think you should venture out, just keep putting that anti bactertial gel on and dont put your hands near your mouth,that’s what i have been told! Depriving yourself isn’t good!
xxx
Hi Sarah,
Like Trumpet said all those feelings you have I think are normal - we all feel the same. If I imagine a type of food, a picture, certain object I feel nauseous. Actually I’ve just remembered a weird one - I don’t know if any of you watch X Factor but the bit when the adverts start and then the programme comes back on again where they are painting an image with coloured pens onto a see through screen makes me nauseous because that was the time I was having FEC!!..bizzare! So unless I am going mad I think it is completely normal - there are certain things we all visualise that makes us feel ‘Yuk’.
Like you I have been a bit paranoid about bugs - having said that in my third and good week I have been out and about, trying to be mainly outside rather than indoors in crowded places. My daughter is playing piano in a concert on Sunday and I have decided to go to that… I am going to sit there with a scarf that I can pull over my mouth and nose and am going to take hand gel and hope for the best. But as Trumpet says don’t deprive yourself - perhaps you could stay outside more than going inside.
sorry… didnt sign off
Lynn xx
Hi All
I am also going stir crazy. Have spent the day crying my eyes out. I just want this all to be over. I have my first Tax next week and Im so worried that I may get an infection and be in hospital for crimbo. I am so scared about having the Tax and I see that Loocie is in hospital with an infection (Hope you get better soon Loocie, thinking about you and wishing you a speedy recovery) Does anybody else have days when they cannot stop crying? I really feel like just giving up. I really cant face the awful side effects of Tax. Sorry for the miserable post.
Love Karen xx
hi Karen, dont worry about telling us you are feeling down, its allowed. I have had 4x EC and 3x docetaxel, 1 more to go, as you know i have also had an infection brewing in my tooth root. My point is that so far i havent ended up in hospital with an infection. Hopefully wont with this next one( famous last words). Take the tax a day at a time and remember you will get through it. If you are worried about your tooth, see a dentist, but also tell your oncologist your concerns, like mine he may give you antibiotic cover for it if he thinks it needs it.
I think the whole nature of our treatment gives us days when we feel down, there is a lot of uncertainty and that can be very wearing on the soul. But hang in there, because it wont always be this bad, one day soon you will look back and be proud of what you have got through.
take care
anna
Hi everyone, Sorry to hear you’re ill Loocie thinking of you hope you’ll soon feel better.
Hazel hope all went well for you today.
Did anyone have a tender spot on the back of their head, felt like I’d banged it, weird. Saw the nurse yesterday she said to try not to keep your life on hold just be sensible, not to sit in crowded places but getting out and about OK. I seem to be on an up week, next chemo Weds so that’ll put me in my place LOL
Hope all of you on Tox are coping and all of us novices take care.
love Kath
hi i had my 1st fec 17 days ago and i did use cold cap i was sick 1st day then felt like id got hangover for a week. my scalp is really itchy like ive got nits has anyone else felt like this and is it normal. diannehelen
Hi Karen,
You mustn’t beat yourself up about your down days and crying. It’s perfectly normal to have up and down days and low days when you just want to cry - it’s not a weakness just a good way of getting your feelings out and relieving some anxiety and tension. This crap journey is just such a huge emotional rollercoaster. If you are able to cry and release some tension that is a good thing but if you feel it is happening too much why don’t you talk to someone at the hospital, maybe the breast care nurse who could refer you to some counselling. It might be worth a try and it might help.
The TAX is probably no worse than the FEC - and there is no nausea (well I think for the vast majority) which is good. Get some painkillers from your hospital when you see them and use them regularly for the 2-3 days of aches and pains. All of these treatments are equally hard but you can do it - keep going. I don’t think the TAX will be as bad as you think - unfortunately it is often the fear of the unknown that is worse.
Love to all
Lynn xx
I agree lynn
the fear of the unknown is the worst. i had my first Tax last week and was sooo scared about the side effects. In the end it has not been pleasant but at least I know where I am for next time and can prepare so don’t feel so bad.
Also, for those who are still to start TAX, remember when you read the side effects people have on here - you won’t get them all to the same degree - some you might not even get at all.
RP
Hi Karen
don’t worry so much about getting an infection. I am heading towards my fifth FEC and had an infection a few weeks ago which resulted in a week’s stay in hospital - it was ok, apart from the first couple of days when I felt awful I was mostly bored - I think they keep us in as a precaution to avoid neutropenic sepsis which is potentially dangerous and to feed us heavy duty antibiotics. I would normally not have stayed in, it was just the antibiotics had to be administered intravenously three times a day. The doctors can keep us in for observation and it’s the best place to be, so just maybe just accept that it’s another potential side effect.
I have to say my infection was in my hickman line and was a special sort of bacterium which loves plastic tubes inserted into the body and normally wouldn’t cause anyone any problem. Other than that I have been out and done everything I would normally do in all my high risk weeks when I have felt up to it (other than swimming and the gymn). I haven’t avoided anything in particular although I have got somewhat obsessive about washing my hands - always remember that gel handwash doesn’t kill all bugs, in particular E. coli, so try to wash with soap and water instead.
Karen, I’m also often in tears - not from the worry about the breast cancer but from the hot flushes which are hitting me thick and fast night and day. When they wake me up at 2,3,4,5,6 a.m. I just can’t help crying as it seems so bad. I suppose this is normal although it’s not very nice. I hope it will improve. I’m waiting for the mood swings to hit next - that’ll please the OH no end! I don’t think worrying or beating ourselves up about crying is the thing to do, it’s a normal reaction, at least I hope so.
As for things making usfeel ill - isn’t it weird? I’ve had to throw out strong smelling soaps and I put some pics of me sitting with the cold cap and my drugs onto facebook - when I look at them feel sick all over again. Just walking onto the chemo ward makes me feel queasy. I wonder if the poor chemo nurses know that we just look at them and feel sick lol.
Hope you’re back on your feet soon Loocie,
Helen