Jos, really good news about your response to the chemo; it makes it all worth while. Also that you are going to be able to fit in a holiday. Where are you planning to go in Pembrokeshire?
Rosie, that does sound more doable and great news about the effectiveness of your treatment. Your GP sounds wonderful but what a pity you had to go through all the upset.
On a lighter note- or perhaps not if I succumb to temptation too much- discovered this afternoon that the only thing I can taste is chocolate! I was quite a chocoholic before chemo but haven’t felt like it at all since. Oh dear. And there is more in the fridge and husband is out all evening!
I have not had much time to reply to anyone because I have been at work full time for the last couple of days and part time last Thurs & Fri, I left work a little early today though and did not feel up to cooking tonight, maybe I am pushing myself a bit too hard.
Rosie, I sypathise really with the mixed emotions and such a lot to think about, it must be really difficult to know what to do for the best and how you as an individual will cope with the imposed time scale.
I have a daughter who is due to get married next April, thats something to look forward to and a week in Leonards Cove, Devon in August, we must look to happier times when we are feeling low.
I hope in general most of you are doing well, we don’t have much choice though, do we, just getting through each day the best that we can.
I am having my PICC line put in on Thurs pm and hope that I don’t have too many more complications with the 2 remaining TAX sessions. (No more admissions at least)
Best wishes to you all Cassie
Hi all sorry it’s been a while and excuse me if I don’t respond individually to each. Just had a read up.
Honest not feeling good pins and needles still a pain plus blurry vision which when I got picc line sorted yesterday they said to say to oncologist but feel very converbelt at the moment as she brused off all concerns last time. Been struggling to eat not sore mouth but things feel and taste generally pretty disgusting Tried last night to sleep without sleeping pill which I have been on for four other nights had pain killers instead haha in sleep
So today managed a 15 min walk going to call BCN to see if I can understand timings as between end of chemo and surgery I’d like and feel I need a break but have no dates I can work around
Hoping to go into work next week slightly cincerned as seems they may look to second someone in ???
Re yoghurt confess as I liked the idea my partner just bought ordinary not sure if live cultures or not sainsburys one had around a third. Jos go for it re chocolate. Rosie you inspire me with your fight and flights Cassie hats off to you re work. Wildpurl like you always have a plan and list.
I hope to turn corner this weekend re food and energy best to all. Se quite different to last time and I thought tax on fec week was grotty oh well end is in sight
Anyone - along with holiday breaks planning to celebrate end of chemo I’m gonna go with bubbles in county pub will do a spa once picc out but considering a helicopter ride over london never been in helicopter before
Hi everyone, Rosie, hope DH goes on ok with mole removal, agree with everyone else you are a huge support to the rest of us, so you will have the physical and mental strength to recover well from op and be on that plane wedding bound!!
Lisa, glad you are doing well, wistow sounds good, really nice little cafe! Maybe next week if that fits in with you? Any more cupboards to very cleaned today!!
I have walked my dogs and worked for an hour already, energy levels very good in the mornings but rapidly deteriorate in afternoon, lucky to be self employed as can suit myself, cassie admire you working last few days, but it is helpful to be away from illness for a while! Everyone is different I know and we all must do what works for us!
Jos, enjoy your cuddle! Everyone seems to be planning some nice holidays, hope to soon when have better idea of surgery dates etc,
Regarding chocolate and taste, I have been very lucky in not losing my taste, my all time favourite indulgence now is a waitrose pecan and butterscotch yumyum from bakery counter followed by a waitrose hazelnut and dark chocolate bar!! I sneak in on way home from work at least twice a week and gorge on the drive home!!
I am also wanting a glass of red wine in the evening to relax and also because I like the taste! Not sure if you other ladies are having wine/ gin and tonic etc? Feel quite naughty as if it’s a forbidden item!!
Enjoy the sunshine if you are lucky enough to have it, although Rosie you maybe hoping for cooler days in Cyprus right now! Wendy x
Booksandwine, sorry you feeling crap, helicopter ride sounds great though, I felt really ill on Monday, I took antihistimene even tho was quite sceptical, I did find it helped with aches and also can make you sleep a little better, I think we are nearing end of our particular phase of treatment a lot of us are feeling quite down and uncertain.
Thanks Lovewine have taken an antihistermune today for rash.
Re whoever said re deep bath totally agree.
Booksandwine, sorry you are feeling so rough. I have also experienced blurry vision this time, not persistent, just from time to time. Also pins and needles and leg aches though not as bad as last time and I feel very unsteady. Rubbish nights sleep despite sleeping pills and antihistamine so feel like the walking dead this morning. It seems to get harder as we go on. I think it’s a great idea to celebrate the end if chemo, and a helicopter ride sounds amazing. Hope you start to feel better soon.
Thanks for all the encouragement to eat chocolate!
Must lever myself out of bed now, friend coming round for coffee. And there’s the tennis to look forward to this afternoon while reclining on the sofa. I do admire you ladies who are managing to work or doing energetic things like cleaning out kitchen cupboards. I’m pleased with myself if I manage a bit of ironing or light gardening.
Hi ladies so sorry so many of you are feeling lousy and congrats to those of you who are nearing the end I am jealous. I am wondering if anyone can help me. I am on Fec and my fecing veins are so achey. Does anyone have a cure or anything that helps? Thanks xx
Hurrah for chocolate! Louise, my veins were very sore on Fec, but not too bad on Tax, I found a lovely product as Wildpurl was saying about lavender: it’s tisserand lavender hand or the body cream, really lovely and soothing and natural too, you can order from amazon or I ordered from tesco and opted to pick up from the local store as I some vouchers!!( tesco direct)
Rosie, hope Dh has good results on mole, my dad and myself have had ones removed and everything was fine! Will keep everything crossed for him!
That’s nice! I love my ipad!! And a rum and raisin idc cream for me!!
Hi all iam due to start fec chemo 17th july I am very nervous of the unknown but I know its for my own good longterm what are the most side affects people suffer xx
Rosie, what a lovely surprise. I bought myself an I-pad air just after I was diagnosed and I love it.
I am feeling guilty about starting off this chocolate fantasising but at least it won’t be just me who gets fat. Home made raspberry ripple sounds delicious.
Real raspberries!! Wish I lived near you Wildpurl, your food and homegrown produce makes my mouth water when I read what you are making/ cooking! I have some gooseberries and black currants in my garden almost ready to pick, am looking on good food website for recipe ideas, can only think of gooseberry fool or jam! Any ideas gratefully received!!
Hi ladies thank you for the suggestions re lavender bought some essential oil at Boots hoping this will ease my veins. The more posts I read it is obvious that there is no straight answers to our questions. I have only met my consultant once to shake my hand and no one will discuss anything re reconstruction until radiotherapy has been completed and then I am looking at a year. My thought is that do I want to go through reconstruction ? Once all this is over do I want to put my life on hold again? Also my employer has paid me but will they continue to do so if I go through reconstruction as this is not life saving surgery Hmmm the plot thickens you think you have it sussed then you get a moment to think.
How annoying Rosie! I hate it when people ring later in evening and leave voicemails! You are going to need your rest before all kicks off with surgery etc!
I do agree with you and Louise regarding reconstruction etc, not sure I want s massive operation next year either, so implants sound less technical than flaps and dog ears whatever! Louise your employer should pay you tho as its hardly a choice you had for cosmetic reasons, but a result of cancer, all this never seems straightforward!
Kels welcome , we all had different side effects and some of us not too bad!! FEC I found not too bad , mainly felt sick, but meds mainly took away, I would definitely join a July thread to get support and have a laugh too with others doing chemo at same time!! Good luck with it!
I agree about the implants- it’s not like you walk out in public with your boobs out is it! I know some ladies are very concerned about their lack of boobs- I am small busted so have not been that bothered about cleavage, although I do realise I will feel differently I am sure at an obvious loss of feminity, I find I am more upset strangely at my loss of hair and eyelashes which is such an obvious sign as a woman, Wildpurl I agree that as long as you can look fairly good in your clothes with implants that would be good enough for me, but that’s just my opinion and I know other ladies feel much differently, each of us have to decide what’s right for us.
I also see my oncologist every 3 weeks the day before chemo, it seems a bit varied from region to region!
Cassie good luck today!
Have a decent day everyone and it looks like it is going to be hot- particularly London and South East- so get that ice cream at the ready!! Yum yum x
Yes rosie! Hope you get more rest today!!
Sorry about your bad night Rosie, hope tonight better. I slept better but still feel like a zombie today and like you very unsteady, with jelly legs. I think although the tailing off of the steroids has helped with the severity of the aches and pains it has also prolonged the period of feeling grotty.
Did anyone else have peeling hands and feet from their previous TAX? If so, did it clear up before your next one. Mine are still merrily peeling away and since my fingers and toes are all tingling and numb again I’m wondering whether it will clear before it all starts again.
Cassie, hope all goes well with the PICC line insertion; it doesn’t hurt and should make the process less painful.
Wildpurl, summer pudding is my absolute favourite. We don’t grow our own fruit though so it tends to be a once in a season extravagance.
I see an oncologist every three weeks. So far seen one consultant once, another twice and the senior registrar twice. But I’ve been very happy with all three and never felt rushed. The only slightly irritating thing is that they book the assessment for 8 days before the chemo which means I have to arrange to have bloods done at the health centre. But it does leave week 3 free to get out and do things.
It’s.now lunchtime and I can’t think of anything savoury or nutritious I want to eat. Chocolate washed down by raspberry sorbet perhaps?
Finished up with a bacon sandwich with loads of HP sauce. At least it tasted of something. Saving the choc and raspberry sorbet for tonight.
Rosie, sorry that you also have the peeling but also glad it’s not just me. My fingertips are also a bit numb.
I know seem to have a cold, not just the usual runny nose. Does anyone know if I need to do anything about that if my temp doesn’t go up?
Nellie, in principle it seems a good idea to systematically monitor side effects through a survey. But what a pity their list is so restricted. Hope the munchies have subsided.
I see there is a programme on ITV tonight at 7.30 called Beating Breast Cancer. It says it is investigating what is being done to reduce the risk of breast cancer and how women can save themselves from it.
Hi everyone, I seem to have escaped peeling feet and hands so far(TAX 2) although I do have restless foot and sometimes fingernails feel like they have been trapped in a door, list of side effects oncology team doing seems a good idea, but they have no idea it seems on various common effects we all seem to have in bone pain, sleeplessness etc, I also have increased appetite and eat almost continually throughout the day as keeps nausea Away, so far haven’t gained any wright, so assume I am fretting and worrying the weight off!!
All the best to everyone who isn’t feeling that great, hope you all improve.