Ello trapped but cheerful - all of you I seriously doubt youāre on your own.
I did the Sainsbury thing this afternoon - the real thing, not the online stuff I have been doing. Think I shall stick to the online version in future!!! Am dogged now, although part of my brain thinks it will be good for me, for some strange reason.
I hate the idea that youāve all got mangey bits, but Iām so pleased Iām not alone. My eyes are still driving me round the bend (called the opticians this morning and they said to speak with my oncā¦been there, done that). Nails just look a bit off colour - like a well seasoned smoker, although I suspect one or two may well depart at some point. Night sweats are and hot flushes are pretty hideous - isnāt is just freezing when you wake up having kicked off the duvet? However, the old tastebuds are starting to get there.
Really starting to get the hang of live outside the three week cycle (you hang on in there those that are still ācyclingā, cos itās well worth the excitement once you escape it). Got a lovely sociable couple of days lined up with my chums, which Iām really looking forward to.
Hope youāre mangey bits donāt make life too disturbing for you; and hope the SEs for the swampers are manageable.
Not in a position to give any advice for those of you suffering with nails, eyes etc as am only just starting week 2 after 1st chemo. Do more seās arrive as course goes on or do you normally get same symptoms each time?
Helen, I canāt agree with what they said at US conference as Iām sure all of us suffering with this arenāt overweight alcoholics lol. I just think they ask a few questions of the patients and then choose what is mentioned most. They donāt really know what causes it only that we all supposedly have cells in our bodies and sometimes they act up.
Best of luck to all of your starting different treatment.
yes, I agree with you about all the causes of breast cancer. To give him his due, my onc did say that the only two āscientifically provenā risk factors are alcohol and obesity. I think (and I think most of the scientific community also think) that there are many other causes, mostly due to living in an industrialised society, they just havenāt managed to scientifically prove any of them yet. Iām taking part in a trial to look at the genetic make up and possible risk factors of my specific cancer, so there are people out there investigating such things.
Interestingly enough, my breast surgeon practices archaeology as a side interest and says that there is evidence of breast cancer in the remains of pre-historic humans too - who obviously werenāt living in an industrialised society. I think (and this is only my opinion) that there is a built in error in our DNA and cell make up which makes us susceptible to cancers, so we always have an inbuilt risk, and it is certain factors in our environment, be it diet, lifestyle, things around us, pollution etc. which causes our bodyās inbuilt anti-cancer mechanism to break down and let the cells mutate.
Bring on the days when they can work out what the causes are!
leucite - my onc said the same thing - that mastectomies were first performed 8,ooo years ago. Can you imagine those poor women going through that without anaesthesia? Horrible.
Interesting posts ladies - I think the possible faultly DNA is a valid point. I have never been obese but have severely cut down on what I drink - say no more!!
Babs - the side effects on FEC donāt usually change much - if anything they might improve a little. I certainly didnāt have such a fuzzy head on the second and third. You probably shouldnāt get any additional ones, except for the hair loss (unless you are using cold cap). The nails and eyebrows was more to do with TAX which does give different s/eās from FEC (but luckily little or no nausea).
OOoooh - mastectomy or any op without anaesthesia is just too gruesome to think about - OMG mustnāt moan anymore!
Lynn x
Lynn - thanks for details on Fec and Tax. The hospital are a bit vague on saying what might happen and when but I guess thatās because we are all different.
Am still waiting for the hair to start dropping out and have an appointment in 2 weeks to try on some more wigs. Was a bit surprised when went to 1st wig appointment though as no-one at hospital told me there would be a charge of Ā£60.00. I donāt mind this but to some it could be quite a surprise unless on income support in which case it is free. Just thought I would throw this in incase other people havenāt been advised of cost.
Babs, I picked my wig up on Wednesday and it was free!! Didānt realise it would be different elsewhere, surely it should be the same all over and free??
Babs - Like Richo my wig was free. It appears that itās that āpost-code lotteryā thing again, depends where you live (I live in the north east) Wig lady told me my wig would cost about Ā£200 to get a 2nd one, only paid Ā£12 for stand and shampoo.I agree you should be told before you go whether there is a charge. Marli
my wig was free too, thought this was standard procedure on the NHS. A second one would have cost Ā£100+ so I thought this was a very good deal, particularly as I was made redundant and had (and still have) no money.
However, I never wore the wig as the cold cap saved my hair. Not sure what to do with it now - itās unworn, anyone want a brand new blond bob wig?
Morning Richo - I live near Darlington and am being treated there. Onc is Mr Hardman based at Middlesbrough so may be sharing his services! Had 4th of 6 EC last Wed. so am over half way - hooray. Will need 4 weeks radiotherapy (will be at Mābr) and then hormone treatment. Initially diagnosed Julyā09, WLE Aug, AC Sept. and started chemo Nov. Chemo has treated me well, thank goodness although lots of little niggles no major sickness. How about you?Marli. x
I had my first chemo on 21st Jan, having 3 FEC then 3 Tax then rads/hormones. I actually go to see Mr Hardman on Monday to discuss rads. I had a mastecomy just before christmas. First chemo was better than i thought, only one nights sickness . Bit of a sore mouth at moment but nothing I canāt handle. Did you get a wig from Tony from Darlington??
Hi. I had my first chemo yesterday for fec. Two more of fec and then three of taxotere. After that herceptin which I think I will refuse as the side affects of potential heart failure are horrid. I then have rads and tamoxifen.
Feel okay apart from allergic rash yesterday as concotion of drugs were going in and nausea last night at the restaurant my husband took me and nausea this morning.
It is one of my sonās birthday today - he is 22 and I will be going to my wig appointment today and have a letter from the hospital which means I only pay Ā£60.00 on the NHS for my wig. It is only free if on income support. I live in Hertfordshire.
I too am in Hampshire - had surgery and chemo at Winchester and rads at Southampton General. I was given a voucher from Winchester hospital and was sent to a wig shop in Portsmouth where the wig was free (the wig lady also visits the hospital once a month) - it was a limited choice of the cheaper ranges, but still worth about Ā£110 or so and looked pretty good.
Iām not on income support and I think everyone at Winchester gets this fab service. It must be down to the NHS trust and the individual hospital policy - everything does seem to vary according to the consultants running the department - they have quite a lot of individual freedom within their budgetary constraints to set up the breast care services as they wish.
Hi Ladies,
I am from Surrey and I got a prescription for a wig. However, the prescription was I think about Ā£97.00 towards a wig but then you had to pay Ā£60 or Ā£65.00 for the prescriptionā¦ so infact they only gave you about Ā£37.00 towards your wig!!! I bought 2 because I canāt do bald or scarves and wear a wig everywhere but in the house and then I have to wear a little towelling type turban. Donāt even like to answer the door without hair. I did however get a nice free boob to match by remaining one. So thereās another new topic, do we all get free boobs?
I think Iām more or less over the last chemo SEās except for oral thrush again. Not as bad as last time because I was already taking Nystan. I do think my SEās have been a little more intense and for slightly longer this time but still not too much to complain about. I def think Tax has been easier for me than Fec.
Whereās Karen (Wills), bit worried as we havenāt heard from her since her last treatment same day as mine. Hope sheās ok, I know she had problems last time. Hope we hear from her soon.
Glad to hear you are all well at the moment.
Keep smiling, love to you all,
Jane xx
Heart failure on Herceptin?? That scares me as I have been offered it, but have not looked into as yet as dealing with each treatment as it comes along.
good luck for Thursday Hayz, I canāt wait til Wedsā¦my last one too!! Although not looking forward to it one bit, canāt wait to say Iāve done!!! Hopefully in a couple of weeks from now weāll be feeling much relief at not having to repeat the horrid 3 wk cycle!! You must be shattered after 8 lots, Iām really feeling it after 5 already, tiredness is setting in big timeā¦sometimes you just have to give in to it!!! Waiting to hear from hospital regarding rads start dateā¦ bring on the next challenge!
Good luck to everyone elseā¦youāll soon be finished too!!
Fan-bloomin-tastic, so many people coming to the end of swamping!!!
Itās amazing, but trueā¦we did it! Iām now four weeks post last tax, and it has taken me this long to start to feel a bit more like my old self. I think I was quite sensitive to the tax, so has probably taken me longer than it will some of you. Eyes are starting to improve now, thank goodness.
Hope you all had a good weekend? Iāve got a busy week this weekā¦just hope I can manage it!
Really perky for you all, & will be soooooooooooo good when youāre done with the goo - its wonderful
xxx
I seriously doubt youāre on your own.