Good luck with number 5 Sal, So wish I was there with you at number 5 seems like a lifetime away at moment. Have number two on Monday and totally dreading it! But then third of the way there!!
Going to enjoy this weekend with the family as after my first experience know the first 10 days will be written off, but hey ho might be a bit easier heres hoping.
Have a lovely weekend all
Love
Nicki xx
hi all had my second chemo yesterday mine maps out that i have one on xmas eve just to add insult to injury. Without tempting fate ive been pretty good on my TAC. Wig is fab but head gets very cold when going commando its amazing what insulation it gives. My onc was very impressed with me and the lack of side effects but i just cant help but think i will suffer at some point-prob the xmas eve one. When they took my bloods prior to the chemo yesterday my white cell count was 20 normal range upto 10 and my neuts were 19. is this usual i have no temp and feel fine certainly not carring an infection!!! has anyone else had the same?? My onc still sent me home with white cell injection which hubby has reluctantly given me just now.
Take care all my kids are off next week half term so i have no time to be ill!!!
Love to all Helen
P.S my facebook is helen taylor
hi everyone - Helen I sympathise my last nuking is also Xmas Eve. I have had three FEC and then have option to switch to TAC but am dithering because feeling not too bad ( so far) on FEC.
Bloods were low but still got fecced yesterday. Want this bit done now cant wait till Christmas.
Good news about the shoes Caro - if they had been stuck in the post you would have to cross the picket line for those!!! I would.
Had cold cap again yesterday but lack of hair now makes it very cold and uncomfortable although the nurses think it has worked and then how lovely and curly hair grows back UMMMM…
HAve a good weekend all
Denise x
Al im surprised you got injections for neuts of 1.8 day before chemo… mine last neuts were i.64 on chemo day (0.83 the day before) and i didnt get anything… no antibiotics no injections…
my second one was 1.75 the day before and they just gave me it anyway… but since then my pre chemo check has always been under 1 so i get bloods checked again on chemo day and most of the time they are over 2 again… i cant believe how much they rise in once day… it was just with the last one i had No 6 which didnt make over 2 on the day. no 7 is next week and feeling truly knackered so will see how they are… hope i make it through the last two without any problems seeing as iv made it this far.
Helen i had really bad heartburn and tried gaviscon and remegel etc but never really helped much but the chemo ward gave me omeprazole 20mg which has been great.
awww sal your little girl sounds adorable how sweet of her hope your feeling OK after no 5
becky hope you and your family are all on the mend soon.
jayney hope your doggie is better now and that your ok for your next swamp juice.
caro thats hgreat that your organising a support group for young women… the maggies centre at my hosp runs one every month which is nice but its but i also meet up with a few folk off here in edinburgh every two or 3 weeks.
my 7th chemo is due on thurs and last due on 19th nov… i have seen my rads onc and got a date for simulator and tattooing on 8th dec and rads start on 10th but will go on til mid jan… not long till its all over… woop!
love and hugs to you all.
Lulu xx
Hi,Lulu i want to say well done you it has been long long jurney for you long chemo so nearly there and i wish all the best till the end i will start rads-20 on wedn have been given tamoxifen to start i know you had tamoxifen …i am bit scared …will start it 1.11 …hope no SE with as i feel normal again so dont want to think sickness again…all the best Christina
Lulu, that’s made me feel better knowing I’m not the only one not getting the boosting injections! I only bother getting my bloods done on the morning of my chemo now, which means a bit more hanging around but potentially one less blood test! Had my 4th FEC yesterday and my neuts were 3.1; they’re normally only 1.7!! Felt totally crappy though all day/eve, on the verge of throwing up etc. Still feeling quite nauseous today; can’t believe I’ve still got two to go 
Good luck for Thursday hon, nearly there!!
Jayney, how did your swamping go yesterday?? Hope all went ok and the bus misses your stop this time.
Denise and Helen, so sorry you’re getting swamped on xmas eve, you’ll just have to make up for it next year and have a blast! Luckily my last chemo is due on Dec 7th; just hope I’m feeling ok and recovered for xmas… Helen, I spoke to another lady on here who had really high neuts without signs of infection. It transpired she had hidden ear and throat (I think) infections which eventually manifested themselves… Enjoy half term.
Nicki, how was no. 2 yesterday? Hope it wasn’t as awful as the first one.
Booked a holiday to Antigua at the end of January, so really something for me to look forward to! Also hope the SEs from Tamoxifen aren’t too awful though. Has anyone been suffering from night sweats btw?? Recently I’ve been waking up in the night drenched in minging sweat. Nurse said it’s probably menopausal symptom but I’m still having my periods?!
Love to everyone, Caro xx
Hi all
Doggy on mend thank god - won’t know if drugs are working for another 4 weeks, but signs are good. Cried buckets, really didn’t think we would get her home and she is my life line at the mo.
Sal - you are getting through them now - well done. I wore a normal swim hat, but check with your ONC or unit as they may be dead against you swimming…
Caro - well done to you too - you have your last chemo on my birthday! Yes I have just started to get night sweats and still getting periods. Spoke to ONC yesterday and he said the chemo will be surpressing my ovaries and I may experience some menopausal symptoms but usually they stop after chemo is over. They are horrid aren’t they, I wake up dripping! I am also planning a trip to the carribean in March to celebrate our 5th wedding anniversary, was going to be Seychelles where we got married, but a little too far. Not booked anything yet as want to get into the swing of herceptin and get surgery and rads out of the way first. But hoping we will be out there for 25th March! Antigua will be lovely and well deserved!
Lulu - good luck this week honi - my last chemo is 16th Nov so only a few days behind!
Nicki and Brighteyes - it must seem like you have a long way to go, but the time does go quickly, enjoy your good weeks, that’s what I have done and you get through it.
Hi to Al, Reemie and Becky and anyone else I missed. Hope you are doing well girls.
xxxx
Hi everybody,
Hope all ok at mo - keep forgetting who I have caught up with as so many of you on facebook as well.
How are you feeling Nicki?? Hope all ok.
Lulu - I really don’t understand the neuts thing at all. They just said mine were low and would go even lower with the 2nd lot so prescribed the injections to prevent that happening. Doing the injections was actually fine - will be interesting to see what number my neuts are on Monday. Will be thinking of you this week hun!
Am feeling well as its week 3 and half term. My daughter and I have spent the afternoon making Christmas cards after our trip to Hobbycraft yesterday - they’re actually quite good!
Am now acclimatised to having no hair - the first week I had to wear a hat in bed as I was so cold, but now I feel hot if I put anything on it. Am sticking to scarfs and have got quite adept at crafting different styles.
Hope you’re feeling a bit better Caro and Sal, I know you’re at the horrible bit at the moment.
Jayney - a trip to the carribean - good for you!! Not jealous at all!!!
Love to all
Al
xxx
Hey Jayney, we also got married in the Seychelles!! AND it is our 5th wedding anniversary on 21st April this year! You were obviously just a month ahead of us in the beautiful Seychelles; small world! Where abouts did you get married btw? We got married on Denis island and spent a week there, then flew to Praslin for a week. We were also planning on spending our 5th anniversary back there but it turns out we’ll be in South Africa for it instead.
Al, I was also confused about the neuts, so I asked my onc why I wasn’t getting the GSCF injections. He said it wasn’t necessary as long as I was feeling well and had no other underlying conditions. He’s actually written a paper on it if you’re interested:
Prevention of febrile neutropenia: use of granulocyte colony-stimulating factors
S Kelly, D Wheatley
British Journal of Cancer 101, S6-S10 (15 September 2009)
Good luck next week.
Feeling a bit better today, not quite as nauseous.
Love to all you girlies. xxx
Caro
What a small world! We got married at L’archipel on Praslin - just dream like, really beautiful. We spent 16 nights there and took day trips to see some of the other islands. A magical place. We did quite a bit of scuba diving too which was fab! Distant memories!
You have 2 nice holidays lined up, well done, it will keep you going. Where are you staying in Antigua?? I have really missed my holidays this year!
Hope this FEC not too bad for you, take your time. Just waiting for chemo bus to stop (probably tomorrow), but been out today for a large scone, with clotted cream and jam (something I never eat), but hey I could taste it - just! Mouth is horrible on Tax…
Nice to hear from you Al, sounds like you are having a good time with your daughter. When is your next chemo?
Sal - are you away this week or have I got my weeks mixed up? Sorry we missed eachother in Brum.
Hi to all you lovely ladies.
Keep goin!
x
oh im definitely planing a holiday around feb or march… would love to go to the carribean but have never been there and would be a little worried to try it out so soon after treatment… maybe that can be on the cards the following year… im thinking more like the canaries for feb.
caro that paper sounds really interesting will try and look it up through athens when my brain is able to read and take things in better… however i think i know why Al is getting the gcsf and we are not…
she had an infection after the very first chemo which meant that she was much more liable to becoming septic on subsequent ones… so i think it was more to do with than the low bloods… lots of people have lowish bloods and never get an infection so dont need the jabs but those who have an infection even if they have good bloods would be more likely to have the GCSF.
kris i was on tamoxifen for 3 years and for me it wasnt too bad at all… def nothing anywhere near as bad as chemo… although obviously is longer term but you kinda get used to the symptoms more because they are more regular as you take it every day and not have differing symprtoms over the 3 weeks like you do on chemo.
i have also been expereincing hot flushes… and have whip my hair/hat/scarf off cos im boiling and sometimes feel cold to the touch aloyugh hot inside… id dont have periods though as iv got a mirena coil so not sure if its menopausal.
i got no7 today although neuts only 1.28 but got to take ABs next week for 7 days to help prevent getting septic. ONLY 1 MORE to GO!!! woop woop!!
anyway my spelling is majorly crap and cant be assed to fix my typos so please forgive me.
hope everybody else is doing ok with their chemo
love and hugs to all you wonderful people
Lulu xx
Well feeling a lot better today; just scarfed down another bacon sarnie and managed a big dinner and half a bottle of wine last night! Now off for a complimentary reiki session.
Yeah it sure is a small world Jayney. We’re staying at Sandals in Antigua, been there before and was very nice; especially the all inclusive champagne and cocktails!! I’m really lucky that my hubby gets 10 weeks leave a year, so we always go to South Africa for 3 weeks (cos I used to live there), America for 3 weeks (he’s AMerican), a week or two somewhere hot in Jan and then a couple of weeks in Europe during summer - really looking forward to all that next year! Hope you’re not feeling too bad today hon.
Lulu, best of luck with chemo today. Can’t believe you’ve only got one more to go!! Think you’re right about the GCSF injections btw. Just hope I don’t get ill enough to have to take them, as I’m a real wuss with needles!
Oops, just noticed time, must dash. Love to everyone. xxxx
lulu do you ever sleep, congrats on one more chemo to go, you are nearly there, I have booked a wee week in Lanzarote, going mid November, so looking forward to it as I was booked up to go to the Carribean this year but was in hospital for my op, no difference!!
I am even taking the kids out of school, cant see what harm 1 week out will do and it will be nice to have some family time, we booked a villa as I am so self conscious of the weight Ive gained since my diagnosis!! the joys
take care
Carol xx
hello lovely ladies… !!!
have not been ‘around’ much these days, i have been a bit low but am better now. just to let you know i’m in for my bi lateral mastectomy this friday (6th) and i’m cacking my pants!!!
just wanted to wish you all lots of love and to say that most of you must be coming to the end of chemo now!!! well, i no longer wear headscarves!!! had my last chemo 29th august and have about 1.5cm of hair… no baldspots! no grey! but… i do look a bit like a dyke. but it’s hair so i’m not complaining…
love to you all, and keep strong. you are all amazing xxxx
hi,just jumping in to say good luck, hope it goes well. My chemo finishes 6th december and surgery in january so you are a bit ahead of me. Very best wishes to you though.
take care
anna
Becky, good to hear from you! Best of luck for the op. I was also cacking it but it was a breeze compared to chemo!! Are you having immediate recon…? If so, that’ll make it a bigger op than mine but you will be absolutely fine hon. I am feeling really rubbish after my 4th chemo; really weak and breathless, dreading the next two! How were you after the 4th, 5th and 6th?? Encouraging to hear your hair’s growing back already!!
Anna, you finish chemo the day before me! Just hope I feel well in time for xmas so I can well and truly celebrate.
xxxx
Becky - good luck for Fri - thinkin of you.
Hope your chemo ok Lulu
Feeling rubbish, got a stiking cold on top of the dreaded TAX SEs
Hope you are all doing ok, rest up girlies, we are getting there.
Jayney
xx
becky hope all goes well with your op.
i am feeling well and truly knackered after no7 didnt help with bloods still being on the low side and flu jab… been in my jim jams all weekend feeling tired and achy but too uncomfortable to get a good sleep cos hot flushes and aches… feel like an old lady.
have almost 1 cm grey fluffy hair on my head and lady garden and arm and thigh hairs a bit shorter and no sign of my sturdy brows and lashes yet but will just make do with my wee wispy ones meantime… better than none.
jayney and caro sorry your both feeling poo too… be glad when its all over… my last one is due nov 19th… wey hey!!!
just have to put up with getting fried 25 times after that.
love to all xxx
Girls just catching up with your posts ! Fantastic as always to hear how your all getting on!
Becky…fab to hear from you! Im one step behind you…Ive got my last chemo on 13th November…whoo hoo!! Then Ill be like you waiting to hear when my bi lateral mx will be! Am dreading it but want it done at the same time…thanks for your comments about the Op Caro…hope I have the same experience as you! I cant have immediate recon because I need radiotherapy. I think my op will be the beginning of Dec…before Christmas…did it take you long to get back on your feet after the op Caro?
I must admit my 4th and 5th chemo have been awful…each one is taking more of a toll on me. The sickness, nausea and tiredness have got worse…and the last 2 have wiped me out for 2 weeks instead of just one. But that said I have had a lousy cold and cough on top of them !
My periods stopped with my 4th one…so Im not getting hot and cold flushes…day and night! I can handle them its the nausea and sickness that get me down cos I cant comfort eat or drink !!
Im just feeling well after an awful 2 weeks! Had a lovely SPA day yesterday…the first time Ive felt ‘normal’ in ages! Off to Blackpool with the girls for the weekend to see the lights. They are so excited! Really need a nice happy time away with them…was too ill to take them to trick or treating and had to miss out on the Bonfire and fireworks display. They really wanted me to go and they had such fun…it was horrible to have to stay home cos I felt to ill to go!
My hair is growing back too…I have a 1cm spikey look going on! Bit concerned I have 2 little bald patches at the moment…am hoping these are temporary and trying not to panic about them too much!
Al- Hope your chemo goes ok today! Enjoy your mornings with Jeremy!
Jayney - How are you feeling hun? You’ve had a rough time of it with your dog being bad and feeling lousy! Hope your on the mend!
Caro - are you feeling any better ? You make me smile still managing your wine! Mine is shopping your is wine!
Lulu - One more chemo to go! Ive got the Herceptin to still have but the SE’s arent no where near as bad! Then like you say just gotta get fried next!! All good fun eh…not!
To the rest of the girls…hope your all doing ok and still managing to smile! For those of you who like Goks how to look good naked…hes on tonight with a bride to be whos had BC…just incase you fancy watching!
Love to you all xx
hey girls, thanks for all the well wishes. i’m sure it will all be fine! yes, i am having immediate recon (becker implants) and will probally need radiotherapy after (depending on pathology). have been warned that radiotherapy may affect the cosmetic appearance but i really don’t care that much about how it all looks when i’m naked to be honest. i wasn’t even concerned that i had immediate recon but my fantastic surgeon says he can and he would prefer to do it this way.
caro, yes i did get more and more tired as the chemo went on, and it’s only now that i truly feel the chemo fog is beginning to lift! sometimes i can’t believe i got through chemo and sincerely hope with all my being that i never have to go thro it again. isn’t it amazing what we have and still are putting ourselves through? it astounds me what we will tolerate to treat this bloody disease. i think we are all amazing. a true test of stamina! how long did it take you to feel ok after your surgery? ive got a hectic (and heavy!) toddler to deal with!!! hpw long do you realistically think it will take me to recover and drive/ be a mum/ cook dinner/ etc again?!!
lulu, jayney sorry you are both feeling pooey… nearly there…
caro and anna… you will have an extra special christmas with chemo out of the way. what a good reason to get all warm and cosy and eat loads and be merry!
sal, don’t panic about bald spots just yet… i had loads of patches of hair and bald bits but can promise you mine is starting to recover. i’m positive yours will too…xx
well ladies (hugs to all i have missed). my wonderful hubby has booked me a 2hr reiki/ full body massage treatment this afternoon to mentally and physically ‘prepare’ me for surgery (i love him so much, he is such a sweetie). i am really looking forward to it. my sister is coming to look after little one, and i’m having some me time. YEY! will also sink into sofa with bottle of wine to watch gok tonight… thanks for the reminder sal, much love to all, beckyxxx