My questions come from a comment in the book, which suggests that radiotherapy can reduce lung function by about 15%.
I want to know if this is true?
If this is the case will I be aware of it?
The kind of impact it could have on me?
If it is likely to improve over time?
If there is anything that I can do to improve lung function?
whether it is likely cause Illness or disease in the future?
The book does say that the modern methods “concentrate exposure on the tumour (or where it was) but severely restricts the radiation dose received by normal tissue” from which I’m gleaning the fact that there will only be a limited impact upon healthy tissue on and below the tumour site?
Hope this is useful???
How’re you doing any how - finished your decorating?
Hi to all you brave ladies out there. Have just heard that I have to see chemo nurse Monday and then start 1st chemo session on Thursday next week. Must admit I feel sick at the very thought of it as I was hoping the hospital would forget and let me get on with my life. Have spent the last 1/2 hour reading lots of your positive comments re SE’s and best things to eat etc but I really do want the next few days to pass quickly so I can get the 1st session over with. I have already bought ginger biscuits and ginger ale along with lots of herbal teas which I normally enjoy. I am also on multi vitamins with extra dosage of Vit C so maybe that will help. I guess I will find out soon enough.
So envious of all of you who have finished chemo but loved reading about your experiences. I have decided not to go with cold cap as OH insists on coming with me and so I need to get the treatment over as quickly as poss. I guess the nurse on Monday will answer all my questions so if there’s anything you think I should ask specifically then I would be most grateful to hear them.
Sorry to go on and I know you’ve heard it all before but just need to get it out of system by chatting with people who really know what it’s like.
Wishing you all a happy and much healthier 2010.
Babs
Really interesting reading, lots to take in though!! I might just have to check that book out!!
Anyway, it’s the night before chemo no 5…nearly there!! Not feeling too bad about it all. Just looking forward to getting through the next few days and being able to say…1 more to go…yay!!! For those of you just starting…you’ll be there soon…time really has flown by!!
When do they start talking to you about Rads? haven’t had it mentioned yet, only at the beginning when I was told 5wks was the norm. Why do some only have 3 weeks? Is it because of the different strength machines? Ooh back into the unknown again!!
Beginning to plan for Febuary and March now…when I’ll be coming out of the 3 wk cycle!!
Thinking of those of you starting chemo this week… getting through the first one is the worst…next time you know what to expect!!
hi everyone, and thanks for the information, my main worry was that the radiotherapy would damage my heart, the registrar did say that they get you to inhale so that it pushes your lungs out and heart back. So is it a case of one or the other? i will be asking. Although if it does the trick i will be eternally grateful if this cancer never rears its ugly head again.
Babs, dont worry, just take it a day at a time and you will soon get there. I was terrified before starting chemo and have now finished 8 cycles and had a mastectomy, times passes more quickly than you realise. I think the best tip is one that i read on here and that was to be kind to yourself, and listen to your body.
Loo, i still have a bit more decorating to do but we are nearly there. I still have my drain in so once that is out im hoping we can resume things. I dont feel quite so nervous about the radiotherapy, not sure if thats right, not so worried. I think more nervous about getting my results on the 20th, fingers crossed that the chemo has worked and it was all worth it.
take care
annaxx
Hi all, and Hi Twinkletoes - sorry you’re having to join this thread, but pleased you have found the reading interesting and helpful.
Helen as you say Jane Plant’s book is mightly scary - it will mean a radical change in lifestyle to try and avoid some of the things she suggests. It’s a horrid thought to think that our food is meddled with so heavily before it gets to us. Also intersting to see what the onc said about phyto-oestrogens - what on earth do we do???
Have had to resort to eating everything in soup format as I can’t stomach ‘real’ food at the moment. All food tastes disgusting and the texture of food is all wooly and fluffy - gross! Getting on OK with the soups which are home made (thanks mum) and basically a good meal in themselves, but oh how I wish I could just get stuck into a good ol bacon sarnie. Also getting a bit of cabin fever as I can’t get out of my parents home to get back to mine. My car (usually garaged) is under about three feet of snow and resembles an igloo!!
Not that I’m in a great hurry to get away, I just want to see my cat and be amongst my own things for a bit.
Hayz, my hair is odd too. Got a light coloured fluff on my head and some eyebrow action going on, but no sign of eyelashes, which I am desperate to get back. I guess I wont see anything of them until I’m at least three weeks final chemo?
You’re going great guns girlies, keep up your perkiness - you’re all stars And those that are CPing this weekend - have a wicked, wicked time.
Saw my onc Dr Dish tonight and gave him the good news (tax se’s better on lower dose) and the bad news the steroid come done drove me bonkers and requested to be locked up in padded cell for a week next time!
He said ok to go ahead with LAST CHEMO next Wed and he cannot stop steroids cos of risk of allergy and the water/rention/swelling/inflamation!
But he will reduce dose from 16mg a day to 12mg a day for 3 days and no top-up 5 mg that the chemo nurse usually administers and the 2 extra days of 4mg. I am still scared sh*tless that it is going to happen again and that I will do something stupid or have more rows with my son and Don which we all do not need. Explained to him that it is alike a state of very HIGH ANXIETY - fear, paranoia, deep depression, irritability and sobbing/weeping all of the time and not much sleep for a WEEK.
He as also cancelled the routine antbx that i have had last two times from day 5.
I told him about Loocie’s experience with the neulasta and he said he had never heard of that happening before.
I told him that so many of us have had sepsis - suspected sepsis - infections - temperatures and that i dont think these complications are as rare as they think (or tell us)!!!
He said he’s going to put me on arimadex first as I am post-menopausal and that I should let you all know on here so that you can have your say lol.
It must have been a more lonely journey for breast cancer ladies before we had tinternet I think - I have not felt the need to go to any group meetings as I have you all on here in our fantastic groups - as well as my firends that have had treatment previously. But I know more about your treatment than theirs because they want to put it behind them and the day-to-day trauma is now a (hopefully)a fading memory for them.
I’m off to Centre Parcs this Friday with mostly girls from ‘Diagnosed May’ thread and Lorraine LB1966 and will raise a glass to all of you too. Hugs xxxxxxxxxxxxxx Lynb x
I’ve had a right wobbly night and now I’m flippin wide awake & alone with my thoughts thanks to my steroids!
I have a friend who has just been diagnosed with duke stage b bowel cancer & my best friend still hasn’t woken up since a nasty sledging accident on boxing day which has left her with some scary head injuries…,this added to the fact that some nosy old sod decided to tell me today that she’d read something about what I have & cheerily reminded me that I could be looking at a 30-50% chance of still being here in 10 years. …thanks!! I do try not to pay much attention to the figures because the chemo we’re having wasnt around 10yrs ago, so how can they give accurate numbers for 10 yrs from now? It is however very hard to ignore when it’s shoved in your face! Grrr. Lol
As a result of all of the above I spent last night sobbing all over my poor husband…who bless him, spent a good hour or so rubbing my head, cuddling me & assuring me that I’m gonna be fine. This must be the pits for him…although he is happily sleeping away next to me as I type under the covers on my trusty iPhone! I’m so jealous!!
I can relate to a lot of the stuff you mention Lyn. I’m really struggling to look at my 2 youngest without crying at the moment. They’re so young & need their Mummy! It’s more guilt I feel with my 10 year old. He’s in p6 now & my cancer is obv on his mind a lot. He’s constantly asking if I’m alright & I see him looking anxiously at me if I so much as sneeze! Poor kid shouldn’t have to worry about me!
Anyway, thanks for listening! Lol… Hope I haven’t depressed anyone…,I just really needed to vent. I’m thinking about asking for some counselling when my treatment is over. Might give me some coaping strategies for days like today.
Take care everyone. Lyn & Al enjoy CP. Make sure you book again…I want to meet you all next time!
Oh poor you - you have the right attitude have a good old cry then just tell those who don’t help to simply ^&&*^% off - you have enought to worry about without some silly sod talking percentages to you !
I had a very similar wobble to you - making my poor husband promise to not put down the dog if I die !!! - but he was great and after saying all the right things set me back on my feet - I haven’t asked my onc what the chances are cause if they are good that is great - if not then that would just be something to worry about
Sending you a big hug Hazel - sounds like you need one just now; your situation sounds testing indeed. Not helped by being alone with your brain in a steriod filled fug, in the middle of the night. A breeding ground for nightmares!
I’m comparing different things here I know, as my parents are capable of understanding, whereas your little ones aren’t there quite yet, however, my biggest worry about this cancer stuff is the worry it has bought upon them. So although I don’t have the same understanding I empathise as to how heartaching it must be for you - so I hope your big, fat cry was therapeutic and that you finally managed to get some sleep. Least OH didn’t rub your belly as well as your head
You and lots of others (HURRAH) are knocking on the door of being swamp free, and if you’re like me you’ll have a whole more blubbing in front of you. Not sure whether it is relief that it all done, or frustration that I keep encountering difficulties - or being snow bound, but I’ve been a real teary bunny this time. I’m not having my PICC line out until the 26th, and as that is three weeks from the final tax, that is when I am going to start celebrating.
I think you’re right Lynn BC must’ve been a very lonely place for people before this kind of forum. Like you, I’ve found all you lovely ladies amazingly supportive, particularly as we’ve been able to share our experiences - which are so unique and yet so similar
Can’t believe the amount of steriods you were taking - you must’ve been really buzzing. Also can’t believe your onc hadn’t heard of the reaction before? It is listed in the leaflet that comes with the durg as a known side effect?
Good luck today Hazel and anyone else swamping today - lotsalove to you all
Loocie
xxx
PS Hayz, give us the address of your neighbour and we’ll pop round and willingly duff them in for you. The world is full of too many experts isn’t it?
I feel a little better this morning, but have been awake since 2:15, so expect to fall asleep in the chemo suite this afternoon…hope I don’t snore like the guy who’s there at the same time as me! We always have a laugh at him…but he is very, very loud!! PMSL
Recs, I’m like you in that I specifically didn’t ask my onc or surgeon for %'s. You know it’s not great tho when your surgeon says on parting that ‘we have our fingers & toes all crossed for you’!!
I kinda figure that if you desperately need to know they’ll tell you. I did say to him ‘I’m not gonna die anytime soon?’ & he said Oh No, no, no…that was good enough for me…until the coo next door had great pleasure in enlightening me yesterday! I don’t know how she found out so much about my cancer, 'cause I would never have told her…wouldn’t put it past her to have some of my mail!! LOL
Loocie, that’s the shi@t thing about all this, isn’t it? It’s not so much the effect on me that upsets me, it’s what everyone else has to go through. I feel so bad for putting my family in this position. I just so desperately want to be fit & healthy again, even if it does only last a few years for me. I’m determined to see my 3 kids thru Primary school at least tho…hopefully this Jane Plant book that you’ve read will ‘cure me’ LOL :o)…well, it cant hurt to try some of her ideas can it?
Well, I’m off to take more steroids & to pick my wee Girlie up from Playgroup. She has a nursery visit tomorrow & all going well she’ll be moved into the nursery & settled long before my rads start. That’d be a weight off my mind, as I have no clue how I’ll manage childcare 5 days a week otherwise!
Take Care Everyone
…at 3 o’clock today (bloods permitting) I can finally say I only have one more to go! YAY!!! Nearly there!!
Hi twinkletoes - good luck with your forthcoming Chemo. If you want to ask anything ask away as most of us on here have either finished or soon to finish chemo, so we have lots of experience!!
Helen -thanks for the info re the hot flushes. Will definately try Evening Primrose oil and one or two others you mention.
Lynb - Have a great time in CP’s. It’s great fun there, love the pool.
Anna - was going to ask to re heart/lung damage with Rads too. That had been on my mind too. I’m sure they will just say the benefits will outweigh the risks!
Hazel - OMG you have got enough on your plate without your ‘friendly’ neighbour and what has happened to your close friends. There’s enough stuff going on in our heads emotionally without filling it with anything else. Really hope that you can forget what your neighbour said and get back to your cheerful self.
Loocie - I have been a bit weird this week too. I’ll explain. Thought I had been relatively ok throughout this chemo cr*p, sort of normalish amount of tears etc, but last night I had a bit of a mini breakdown. My kids particularly my daughter has struggled throughout this and has been handling it by blotting it out and quite often ignoring me or just being horrible (she is a teenager!). However it was my son that triggered my outburst last night - I hadn’t heard from him in over 2 weeks, just something small but it triggered an irrational response. After I managed to calm down after crying uncontrollably - my OH and I talked about it. Unfortunately it made him really upset too but he was able to talk and calm me down. He felt maybe that I expected that I would be doing the Can-Can after chemo had finished - it hasn’t been like that, almost an anti-climax, if you see what I mean?? Almost like a culmination of everything that had gone on to date… diagnosis, operations, appointments, drugs, chemo, mashed up hormones etc etc.
I feel as though I forced myself to be stoic and brave going into chemo and now it’s finished all those pent up feelings have come flooding out.
I think we are all so brave to go through this - our heads are so scrambled with soooo many emotions going on, made worse by all the drugs they give us, so I suppose it is understandable.
And again sorry to add to everyone’s troubles - but like Hazel said it’s a good place to vent and everyone has been so great on this site. It helps to express your feelings because no-one understands more than you and I am grateful for you all.
your comments about chemo are so true. I held things together pretty well throughout chemo, laughing at all the side effects and doing a lot of moaning also. But it was the final straw of the hot flushes and the apparent menopause starting overnight that tipped me into the abyss, a pit of despair that lasted a good six weeks. I’ve never felt so depressed in my life - that sort of upset when everything you do or look at or hear starts the crying again. I suppose it’s depression really, only I’ve never experienced it, even diagnosis didn’t create anything such as this.
It’s only now, a few weeks later when I am feeling more human and more alive, once the chemo drugs have moved out of my body and I’m just left with a couple of long lasting effects (and the damn hot flushes of course which I don’t suppose will ever go completely). I’m feeling quite good at present, despite not being able to sit down due the embarrassing problem which hasn’t got better. But at night, when the hot flushes hit again and again I still have my moments of despair - I suppose we’ll just have to get used to it.
My bcn said that everyone hits rock bottom at some point, it’s just a case of when. The only thing to say about it is that hopefully it is just temporary and thing pass and move on, and the future is always looking more hopeful.
Hayz, hope you’re feeling a bit more rested, although I don’t suppose so with your chemo day today. And you’re right, how the hell would your neighbour know so much about your cancer. It’s yours, not hers after all (lol at being proprietorial over our cancer) and none of her business. She’s probably wrong anyway! My breast surgeon said to pay no attention to the mortality figures as they are designed mostly for older women and only look at a 10 year cycle which is mostly irrelevant if you’re under 60 as you want to be around for a another 40 years, not 10. It’s mostly the recurrence and spread we need to prevent, which is why we do all the chemo and radio crap. We’ve probably got the same chance of being hit by a bus on the icy roads.
My stepson age 12 is constantly asking if I am ok and have I got rid of the cancer yet (bless him) although I suspect he has an ulterior motive of making sure he gets to go to Antigua for our wedding in November and that it isn’t cancelled due to my inconvenient death. Lol you can but laugh!
Hope your friend recovers, Hayz, that’s such a nasty situation to cope with. Big hug to you.
Hi everyone, back from the living dead LOL, I’ve just read the latest comments you do make me laugh bless you. Having a bit of a bad time at the mo, but with your help feeling better, to the new lady whose joined us thinking of you it really isn’t as bad as our imagination.
I think!!! I’m into chemo brain at the moment good job I’d read your earlier comments.
Good luck with your rads those who are starting and for us having soup.
Love Kath
Hi Kath - Sorry to hear you are having a bad time.Hope you are getting plenty of rest and drinking pleny of fluids.
I didn’t reply before but the last week has seemed to go without me realising, and I’ve been a little emotional mainly because have not been able to get out due to snow.We live on a steep hill that does not get gritted as much as it should and hubby’s car does not do icy hills so he has my car, and we live 2 miles from family and shops. You can just get too much of your own company! No.4 on Wednesday all being well , hope my veins are ok as at the moment my arm really aches. Take care .Love Marli x
Sorry to hear that some of you are feeling down at the mo. I had one of those days last week. Could not stop crying and I mean Crying, big sobs, could not get my words out for sobbing. All I could think about was cancer coming back and how I would deal with it and the thought of dying young. I have no doubt I will have many days Like this ahead of me but Im sure the good days will outweigh the bad, in fact Im going to make sure they do!
Last chemo next week (thursday) side effects have been awful again this time, really has wiped me out to the point that I have not had a ‘good’ day yet.
I agree with you Lyn. Everybody has been great on this site. You have all been an amazing support for me and reading your posts has helped me so much. Thank goodness for this site!
Take care everyone
Loads of love
Karen xx
Hi girls,
What are we all like, there must be something in the water! We have all been feeling so low over the last week. I have had very little side effects as usual from this last tax but this week couldn’t get out of bed on Monday and slept all day, nothing I could put my finger on just felt very off. Did have really bad pains around my right ovary area which I convinced myself over 2 very tearful days was ovarian cancer and not wind which is what it probably was. I do wonder if it is also my girly bits finally packing up after several years of being classed as ‘menopausal’. Still don’t feel completely right but at least I am not crying every five minutes now.
I hope Trumpet got away, I assume she did as we haven’t heard from her since Sunday.
Lynb hope you have a fab time at CP at least you shouldn’t be snowed in.
Karen, we’re both up for next Thursday, I’m 10.30 again, then we are also joining the ‘no more swampy club’ yay!!! Sorry to hear that you have not felt too good again.
Twinkletoes once you get your first chemo under your belt the time will fly, I can’t believe how quick it has gone.
Marli, my veins hurt more to start with than they do now and since I have been on tax I have had very little discomfort, although they did have two attempts on my last chemo. My husband has nicked my car too because it is a 4x4 but I didn’t really want to drive in the snow so I didn’t mind. Can’t remember when I last drove!!
I bought the Jane Plant books last summer just after my dx, I couldn’t really get my head around them then but probably need to have another go. I’m not sure I could commit to her lifestyle.
Hope you are feeling better ladies, we must have put up the sales for tissues!!!
Take care,
Love Jane xx
What are we doing to ourselves this week??
Karen and Jane too - really sorry that you have both been having a tough time too. You’re both at the final hurdle now - hooray and you will be joining us very soon in the ‘good riddance chemo club’. It’s brill coz the club is getting more members - Yay!
Can’t remember Jane when I last drove either - the car is still snowed in on the drive. I think being indoors so much with our thoughts surely doesn’t help matters - getting a bit stir crazy now, definately need to get out!
Lynn x
I’m all excited! We have no snow. Yesterday I drove my car, I wore proper clothes (2nd time this week) and i spent a couple of hours at home, furthermore my cat still likes me. Hurrah;0
Actually on a serious note my GP said to me the other day that anything other than lying in bed is a bonus (I was really feeling stir crazy at the time). At the time I wasn’t so impressed but can now see it is true, bless him.
Hope you’re all feeling a little perkier now after such a low week? The elements conspiring against us really didn’t help did it - just kinda rubbed it in a bit!!!
I’m having a lazy morning so that I can enjoy…yes enjoy some washing and ironing this afternoon :0)
big hug to you all on this grey, rainy, chilly but snow free day
xxx
Glad to say I’m feeling a bit more upbeat now! Chemo fuzz & steroid munchies have kicked in, which may be helping!
I also sobbed all over my chemo nurse again & she gave me a right good talking too & made me feel a whole lot better!
I’m so jealous of all the ladies who have ventured off to centre parcs this weekend. I would definately have joined them if I had finished chemo. Monica (daisyleaf) who posted on here at the start is looking to see if anyone fancies doing the same thing in a couple of months. Any of you fancy it? I think it would be the best counselling session you could have…lol…a weekend with ladies who know exactly what you’ve been thru & share your hopes & fears for the future!
Loocie…WOOHOO! You up & about now…that’s fab! Hope the SE’s have completely gone for good!..that’s your LAST LOT!!! Just a bit of sunburn & fatigue from rads & you’re all done & dusted…the end is in sight!!
& to the new ladies who have just joined us…apologies on the timing of our wobbly posts! We’re usually very upbeat on here, but I think we’re all just hitting an emotional time coming out of chemo. It really is very doable…we’re all proof of that! This forum has been a Godsend to me & these wonderful ladies have kept me going!
Hope everyone has a fab weekend…I’m off out tonight to celebrate my 11th Wedding Anniversary (it’s on Monday, but I’ll be tucked up in bed in a TAX coma by then! LOL)& it’s my eldests 10th Birthday on Tuesday…although I’m sure he thinks it’s his 16th! ;o)…hopefully a couple of nice celebrations will cheer me up & give me a wee kick up the butt!!..Ooh…and my Baby Girl starts Nursery on Monday too…that might be a tearful event tho!
Good Luck to anyone having Chemo…or RADS!!! this week
I’d love to go to CenterParcs - is there a thread about this somewhere? Haven’t been away since I started chemo back in Sept so could do with looking at something other than these four walls of my house.
And those that are CPing this weekend - have a wicked, wicked time.