Hi everyone,
Becky, good luck with the surgery, nearly there. You are right, it does make you realise just how much stamina we have, and just how strong we can be. I cant believe i only have 2 cycles left! Can i ask how effective the chemo has been for you? I am due to meet the surgeon on the 10th dec so will know plans then. Its going to be great having a chemo free christmas, its going to be the best present ever!
take care
anna
Oh Lulu, sorry you’re feeling crappy hon. Not long to go now though, and rads will be a walk in the park compared to chemo!
Sal, glad you’re starting to feel better and that you had a lovely spa day. Have a great time in Blackpool. We’ve got my hubby’s two grown up daughters + boyfriend coming for the weekend; just hope I feel up to it! Still feeling a bit breathless. Will have to record Gok because hubby won’t let me watch such trash!
Sal & Becky; I think I recovered quite quickly from my op. I tried driving after about 3 weeks, but wasn’t quite strong enough to get the car into 5th gear (oh well!), but was ok after 4 weeks. I was able to do basic things like cook/wash dishes etc almost straight away (unfortunately!), but couldn’t lift/push/pull anything too heavy for a few weeks. I also needed help washing/drying my hair and back. Really, any exercise that uses your chest wall muscles (pecs etc.) is going to be difficult for a while. I was also quite weak for about 4 weeks because I lost a lot of blood during surgery so was on iron tablets. The best advice is: DO THE EXERCISES they prescribe and start them as soon as you’re back home. I did them fairly religiously, which I think helped my recovery. You’ll both be fine, just listen to your bodies! Becky enjoy your reiki session, I’ve got one on Friday.
Good luck Al with chemo today. Hope the SEs are manageable.
Lots of love to you all.
Caro xxx
Jayney and everyone else ((((hugs))))
Hi all,
Sounds like everyone is very busy at the moment.
Had second chemo last Monday and feel half human today!! Four to go and counting…
Becky, I found the surgery a walk in the park comapred to the chemo, I had bilateral matectomy, was in for 4 days but think that was more that my surgeon didnt want me coming home and doing too much with a 2 year old and 4 year old!!! Again like the girls say Exercises excerises !! I also have used aqueous cream on my scars and they have healed brilliantly although I wont be having recon till end of next year. I think I drove after 3 weeks but its all a bit of a blur as then had chemo!! I have an automatic car which ceratinly made it easier couldnt drive my hubbys for a bit. I know normal things started doing again pretty quick as you have to when your a mum but lifting my two year has been challeneging onlt last few weeks I have managed it properly which is two months on.
Loads of luck for Friday will be thinking of you.
Hope everyone else is fine, you are all on countdown to end of chemo instead of Christmas it sounds like!! really wish I was going to be done by then but role on lsat one on 19th Jan all being well.
Still sticking with the cold cap but hair is so fine now and have had to start wearing scares to hide my scalp!! Some days think just shave it off, but am certainly not as brave as you lovely lot, stupid no boobs but cant deal with no hair. My scalps stings like hell a lot off the time too!! Its very very cruel BC…
First time on Saturday bumped into someone I knew and I could see the horror on her face as how bad I looked after all the ops and everything its starting to notice now with this flippen chemo.
all your holidays sound lovely, we are thinking of going away in april for a few days to a cottage in norfolk with the kids seems a lifetime away at the moment. Just need to stick to schedule and no delays and hopefully will have had it all with radiotherapy by then as well…
Well rant over !!
Have a good week all and i’ll get back to writing my christmas cards. I will be organised this year for christmas!!!
Love
Nicki
xxxxx
Nicki my scalp stung like hell…and my whole head was red raw! I never ever thought Id have the guts to shave my hair off but the pain was awful and my hair had got that fine that I was having to wear headscalfs anyway that I decided I may aswell shave it…and the relief was instant and it hasnt hurt since…might be worth thinking about…
Caro and Nicki thanks for the mx advice…sounds like you werent out of action for long then. Just gotta remember exercises exercises ! Thats a bit like how I was when I had my lumpectomy! Do you have to have 2 chest drains when you have the surgery? I found the chest drain more painful than the sticthes etc !
I think wed all agree if you can get through the chemo (which we all are) then we can pretty much get through anything !!
xx
i had the head pain too… which they told me would feel a bit like a ponytail pulled to tight but mine was worse felt like spikes in my head and kept waking me up… was so relieved to shave it off…
although had episodes of spikiness when it started growing back in but nowhere near as bad.
also had the signs of male pattern baldness at first with waht looked like a receding hairline but it has started growing back there now.
been feeling much better today and even got my art stuff out again and did a nice pic of edinburgh castle which was a view from my hosp bed when i was in for surgery… still cant get over the fact i can draw and paint since starting art therapy LOL.
have tpo start my ABs on thurs for a week to make sure i dont get any bugs but feel like my bloods are really good at the mo… although my mums coming to do my hoovering tomorrow as i have to fight with it on the carpet.
Al hope your doing ok… iv been doing your weeding and scaring your crows on your farm so take it easy. LOL
love lulu
Hi Ladies
Sal,The pain from the drain when I had the lumpectomy was horrible and couldnt wait for it to come out. BUT i mentioned this to my consultant before the Bi Lateral MX and he said something about it was probably touching a nerve and he would put a nerve block in this time?!?! Whatever he did worked as the drains were in for a week and really didnt bother me to the extent that after 4 days they siad they could come out but if I could stand it another day would be better, another day it was as they didnt bother me! Yes there was a drain each side which was a tad interesting when going to the bathroom - balancing comes in to play!! Ask them for a pillowcase to put them in if your kids come as they look quite bloody! Hope this helps xx
Lulu did your hair start to grow back before chemo finished?!?! Really am starting to try and get my head round this bit.
Thanks for all your advice about the scalp I think this next week is going to be decision time I have a Wig on standby!!!
Love to everyone and hope everyone else has woken up to the gorgeous sunshine today. Amazing what puts you in a good mood.
I also booked Bon Jovi tickets last night for next June and has really given me a boost just thinking about doing normal things next year!
Also watched the Danni Minogue interview and ended up actually liking her a lot after it! Think that will do her some favours in the popularity - Have gpot Gok to watch this morning!
Im off back to bed as kids at nursery today as I should be at work!!! (They wont even talk to me about going back yet till after 3rd chemo) Suppose its because ive recently had the surgery too but for once in my life im not actually missing it. Back on my own with kids tommorow Yiipppeee I can be mum again without a babysitter for me too (well for 12 days !!)
Have a good day everyone
Love
Nicki
nicki
the chemo im on is epi-cmf and its the epi that makes the hair fall out so after i started the cmf part it started to grow back… think this is the same for people who are on fec-t but if your on fec all the way through because your having epirubicin each time your hair wont grow back properly till you finish… although i know some people whose hairs starts to grow back a wee bit a few days before they get their next epi although its very fine and fragile.
hope you are feeling a bit better now… just take it easy when you can and relax when you get the opportunity to it… its so demanding running after wee kiddies when your well but when your under par you need a bloody medal.
love Lxx
hi, just butting in to say that as lulu says, my hair is growing on the docetaxel. It was a nice surprise!
Hi everyone,
Not been on here much - guess i’m feeling a bit sorry for myself!! Hope you’re all coping with the crap!
I had my final FEC (hooray) last week and am just getting ready to go see my dad and sister in Wales. Be nice to get away for a bit and get a change of scenery. I’m not sleeping too well at the moment. Too many things going on in my mind.
I have been a little down as I had my herceptin result back and it was positive - means more needles and more treatment. I realise now that it’s for my own benefit, but whenever I see the consultant I always get a knock back. Is anyone else having to have herceptin?
Also, anyone started Docetaxel (Taxotere) yet? My veins are killing me and just wondered if it gets any easier?
I shaved my head before I started chemo so I’m quite used to the GI Jane look lol. I have little patches at the back. The funniest thing is mum sort of forgets I have no hair and asks me if I want her conditioner or shower cap - tee hee. x
Rx
Reemie - Just think as Herceptin as another string to your bow as it were. I’m a Herceptin lady and so is Sal, so you are not alone. I had my first one with my chemo last week, so we will get there together. I have also had 3 x TAX and have 1 to go. Have a look at the thread “advice on taxotere”. For me, my veins are much improved on the TAX and even the bit of thrombosis I have has settled down. Get yourself a stress ball and use when it - it does help to keep the blood pumping through the veins.
I’m having a tough week, my cold wasn’t getting any better and the spots weren’t either (apparently its the steroids). On top of that, blisters in mouth and on tongue and really sore throat. Phoned the chemo unit and they wanted to see me to check the bloods (which were low 0.4 neuts but they would be as this is my low week). So ONC thought it was an underlying infection, although had no temp and generally felt ok. Gave me a GCSF injection and had another one today, 5 days of antibox and have to go back tomorrow for them to re-check. He did say that if I had a temp, they would have kept me in. Let’s hope these injections have nipped anything nasty in the bud and the bloods pick up a bit. Really annoyed as only have 1 chemo to go!
The pains from the injections are horrid, but this is normal apparently! Be glad when this is over now! Sorry for the moan! Fingers crossed for tomorrow…
Keep goin girlies
love to all
xx
Good to hear off you Reemiechick…had been wondering how you’d been getting on!!
Sorry to hear you’ve been down…you should have come on here and had a rant…I couldve joined in with you! At least you know the girls on here understand where your coming from! I know exactly how you feel about seeing the consultant…I hate going to see mine for the same reason…I feel like I always get a little knock back ! Everytime I mention having the bi lateral mx they feel they have to remind me its no guarntee of it not coming back full stop…why keep reminding me ? Theres no guarntees about anything and it just knocks me back when they are so not positive when Im doing my best to stay positive ! I know they have to be like this but it just gets me down…
Anyways I just wanted to say Im on the the tax and Herceptin…and its not too bad. The herceptin is supposed to be much kinder than the others…and if it does its job then be glad that your getting it !!!
Jayney…just saw your update and apart from having the low bloods (but Im on the injections to stop that) you could be writing it for me. Ive had a real lousy cold and cough for about 3 weeks now. Think thats why my last chemo really knocked me about because I had it on top of being ill anyway! I’ve got my last chemo a week Fri and just really hope Im better by then…otherwise Id better take to my bed for 2 weeks ! So annoying when your last one is in sight!!
Try and keep smiling hun…not sure of a reason why when were feeling so shitty but try 
xxxxx
helloooo girlies…
thanks for the advice caro and nicki, i’ll always trust you lot before i take in what the professionals say!
sorry you are down reemie, we all have those low and scared times so you are not alone. lots of hugs coming your way (((()))).
anna, to try to answer your question i was not having chemo to shrink the lump before surgery if that is what you are asking? i already had a 2.8cm IDC removed my lumpectomy in april 09, and this surgery is my wish for maximum disease control. we will however find out if i need radiotherapy from the pathology from this tho. after my lumpectomy i was told i definately needed rads as the tumour was only 0.7mm from my chest wall and DCIS was between the invasive bit and the edge of the margin! so i guess we’ll see…
well just a quickie before little one wakes… just wanted to send you all lots of love. this time tomorrow i’ll have no boobs… oh my god i can’t believe i’m going to do this! … xxxx
Redcell…sent you a pm
Sorry girlies, only got time for a quickie; Becky I just want to wish you good luck for your op tomorrow. YOU WILL BE FINE!!! I’ll be thinking of you and sending you positive cyber hugs. Get back on here as soon as you’re able to let us all know that you’re ok. Lotsa love, Caro xxxx
Becky,
Loads of luck for tommorow thinking of you
Love Nicki xx
Becky - sending you loads of cyber hugs and positivity. I hope that the surgery has been trouble free and you are resting up.
Just pasted this from another thread to keep you all in the loop. Yesterday was my worst day ever - 2 GCSF injections (one on Wed and one yesterday) and I was in absolute agony - the pain was taking my breath away. I have never had pain like it. 6 tramadol later and it started to ease a bit. Anway, bloods have shot up today so they did the trick, but I think the hosp was being over cautious. Told ONC that I am NEVER, yes NEVER having those injections again. They are worse than the chemo! How have you guys coped that have had to have them all the way through??? You are so brave. It was a truly horrendous experience.
Hope you are feeling a bit brighter Reemie - keep chugging. Tax is do-able and on the plus side no sickness or nausea whatsoever. ONC seems to think my spots are down to he steroids so has reduced my dose for my last chemo - let’s see what happens. He also said that the Herceptin increases the toxicity of the chemo so more nasties to deal with, hence more spots - great eh!The blisters on my tongue are not blisters but inflamed taste glands - yuk!!! Cold is still loitering but thank god I am not in any pain! So now have a week before my last hit. Sal when is your last one - think you are a bit ahead of me??? Thanks for your words of support.
Hope the rest of you are doing ok?? Al, Nicku, Lulu, Caro (and anyone else??)
take it easy girls, we’re getting there…
Have nice weekends
xxx
Becky - just wanted you to know that I am thinking of you loads and loads and hope you are making a good recovery. Sending you loads of hugs and love.
Am feeling pretty low today, feel like my neck is swollen and my upper back and back of head are sensitive to touch - a little bit like when you have a sore head when your hair starts falling out - oh and the same around the tops of my shoulders. It’s not unbearable, just a new thing. Anyone else had similar?
My eyes are all stuck together, have no taste at all and just generally feel weak and tired. Sorry to come on here and moan and groan, going to go back to bed and see if I can find some positivity at the bottom of my duvet.
love to all
Al
xxx
al,when i was on fec after about a week my chest,neck,jaw,shoulder and top of back hurt to touch like a really bad sun burn,after about a week in went but had it every time i had fec hope this helps xxxdawn
must be something in the air i am having a low week too 
on antibiotics this week cos my bloods were low when i got chemo and just feeling generally achy and knackered.
becky hope all went well with your op and your on th road to recovery now.
al ask your chemo nurse for hypromellose eye drops i get very sore puffy dry eyes although they water like mad and they are worst the week before im due chemo… my eyes are virtually glued shut byt the eye drops do help but also getting new eyedrops too called lumenere (sp) which is like artificial tears.
i have lots of pain in my neck head and jaw not sure if its from chemo or other meds but think its due to grinding my teeth which i never used to do… it also causes ringing in my ears from the tension… and mouth stretching yawns which annoyingly wake me up when im nodding off to sleep!
since my hair has started grow back iv had itchy skin with a burning sensation and feels rough like goosebumps with all the hairs just waiting to ping through the skin.
jayney hope your getting over your gcsf jags they sounds awful… heres to me you and sal who are all down to our final one… wont be long till the rest of you girls are there too… i cant believe and week on thurs and chemo will be behind me its actually gone in really quickly and feels like its been the quickest 5 months of my life
reemie enjoy your weekend away and hope it lifts your spirit and you start to feel a bit better and that you find the tax more tolerable.
love and hugs from under my duvet
lulu xxx
Hi Dawn,
you’ve described it exactly - although this is my third FEC and the first time I have noticed it. It’s nice (in a weird way) that someone else has the same - hope it goes away soon though.
Lu-lu - thanks for advice on eye drops, they’ve got a bit better now, just think everything is mounting up this time and I’ve had a cold and chesty cough as well. Temp is fine though so not worried.
Hope all ok.
Al
xx