Evening all,sorry not got the concentration to reply individually. Had last chemo today! Hasnt really sunk in yet. Will await date of ct scan & hickman removal in next few weeks.
Sorry to hear about all the confusion with you lovewine - how disapointing! Hopefully they will tell you soon what road they will take but like joan says - niether is much to look foreward to! Thinking of you hun xx
Oh rosie more for your poor body to go through:(. At least you havnt been sent home for possible problems to occur. Hopefully this time tomorrow you will be on the road to recovery. Sending strength to you - you have been through so much. Xx
Good luck to all the rest of you lovely ladies - chemos tomorrow etc.
Hoping to watch master chef now without nodding off!
Jackie you are absolutely not being selfish! It is difficult I think for our partners to understand what we are dealing with and experiencing. My OH keeps making suggestions based on logic and I feel like screaming at him sometimes because it is not about logic and efficiency it is about how I feel and how I get through this!
When I arrived the lady on reception looked through the lists for all four rooms and couldn’t find me! I nearly had kittens! But then she looked again and I was second on the list. Phew!
Jackie, you have to do what’s right for you!! It’s certainly not selfish at all, we are all different! I have my injections done by O/h before he leaves for work early morning, but the night before I take 2 hourly staggered doses of paracetamol and ibuprofen, this is quite effective at reducing aches and pains and also clarityn too helps. Hope you are ok today and get a decent weekend.
Lisa, Cornwall here you come, hope you avoid the thunderstorms and get some decent weather!! And yes please have one of everything for me : especially a cream tea , pastie and massive glass of wine !! Enjoy x
Wildpurl, hope you have a drama free last one today, well done, onwards and upwards now! And yes I slept better after the storm last night, but it’s warming up again now, no alcohol for me either for a few days!
Eam, so pleased for you that yours has also come to an end, another stage completed too, the end is in sight now? hope rads can go smoothly especially whilst you are on holiday.
Rosie, hope everything is going well for you and you can return home soon, all the very best for healing quickly now.
Hope yours goes well Joan today and tij all systems go too next week for you too.jos, I know what you mean about the steroid crash, I had the same last time, I was more angry than anything and wanted to rip everyone’s head off and then cry! It’s really not nice especially as you know why you are doing it but still can’t stop it!
Good luck Nellie, cassie, Booksandwine and sorry if missed anyone else in our fabulous group, have a good day??
Well done Wildpurl on last one!! What a relief, hope side effects are minimul and no more steroids in 3 weeks!
Rosie, hope you have a good recovery, when do you think you will be home?
Hello all,managed to keep going all day as normal - think the steroids definitely mask a lot! Glad hubby has just come home now though - getting 10mins whilst he takes little one round the block. Thank you for all your lovely last chemo posts:). Yes it feels great but not really sunk in yet - like a few of you have said - dont think it will feel like the last one untill all the se’s are out of the way! Had a couple glasses of bubbly last night though!
Yay rosie good to hear from you! So good they caught that blood clot - could have been so serious later on down the line un noticed! Sounds like you must have been near the top of the list like you hoped. Hope they continue to look after you well in there & make the most of it wont you!xx
Wildpurl well done on your last one! I dont blame you getting emotional - you dont think this day is ever going to come do you?! Good luck for the next few days ahead.
Joan47 hope yours has gone well too? And you managed to get sense of your results at long last?! I had reflexology the other day too - lovely isnt it & very interesting! Thinking of looking up a course to do in it myself.
How are you doing lovewine? I know you struggle on tax:). Thinking of you x.
Dont you go thinking like that jackie! Of course not - like others have said - you have to do what feels right for you & when you have found ways around things that make you feel slightly better or in control its best to stick that way! My hubbys got a bit ratty at times - he still needs to get enough sleep to be able to go to work & run his business but not easy with life at home so un stable for the last 6 plus months. Agree with wildpurl & it must be so hard to know how to deal with us at times!
Have a great holiday rolicarpit! Sounds brilliant! Im counting down the weeks to mine now! And nice to hear about fewer se’s for last one - we shall see!
So sorry to hear you felt so low again jos:(. It really does make you feel awfull & lost doesnt it?! Hope the doc has helped with youre mouth? I have been using difflam mouthvwash & just discovered ‘gelclair’ - its a really think gel to coat your mouth for a minute. I got a small free sample from their sight so showed chemo unit & doc & got a prescription for it. So can use it in abundance this time & see if it will work! Its a shame you dont always know about these things untill it is too late!
What a productive afternoon wildpurl! Am hoping to get more green fingered but havnt got a clue! My sister said she will help me get some things established in our garden which will be nice. I managed to get out this afternoon after the nurse had been for injection & take my little girl to the park. Then cooked chicken & pineapple with new pots,rocket & watercress - didnt taste that great so maybe mouth is going already?! Shame as was hoping to fit a takeaway in before the se’s kick in too! Xxx
Morning jos,what a horrible day for you - i really feel for you! The thrush must feel awfull - the sore,dry,tasteless,food feeling like glass in your mouth is bad enough! I hope after all that waiting the doc gave you some really good stuff & advice. My friend used to be a dental nurse & suggested eating mousses last round which went down well so have got some in for this time. I also made up a fruit smoothie too. Was thinking id be liquidising my sandwiches next!
Iv not heard of that operation before jos. How soon do they want to do that after chemo? Its so hard to get your head around things when they have told you one thing at the start then change things! A few ladies going through this sort of thing on here at the moment - almost better if they dont say too much in advance if theyre not completely sure! I have found you do need to keep on top of them a bit - i have an on going note book as quite often go to appointments on my own - theres things in there like scans & genetic testing that they said they would do at the start & not heard them say since so i keep pestering them with my little book - bet they love me! Fingers crossed everything will be more clear for you soon & your se’s start easing up,hugs to you.
Rosie with everything youve had back to back im not surprised you havnt been on. Hope you are getting all the rest,good care & advice you deserve.Thinking of youX
Hope everyone else doing well & manage to have a fairly normal weekend xxxx
We must have been all typing at the same time wildpurl & nellie! You both sound well though and you are both making me feel very hungry! Hope you both enjoy all your plans for the weekend:) xxx
Hi everyone, jos I totally relate to you regarding uncertainty, after my oncologist appts all seemed so positive earlier on, it now seems my once clear nodes are now not, so full node clearance and my lumpectomy is looking like a mastectomy!! I dread my appointments because each time everything changes and never seems to be for the better. I too am very small with hardly any spare fat to distribute, so apparently that’s not helped for my mastectomy either! I am one of those people when stressed that just drops weight off, which isn’t always that useful in this case! Am thinking of you and hope things turn out not to be as difficult as you fear, your sister will be a great help to you though, and enjoy today, sounds good fun!
Eam, my Tax effects are not too bad so far, I usually feel crap by Sunday/Monday, how have you found the last 2? , hope you have a lovely day with your little girl and O/h! it can be hard for them! I know my hubby gets a bit ratty too at times! not to mention how ratty I get!
Wildpurl, how nice to have home grown garlic, we tried one year to grow, but not at all successful, I am also addicted to banana bread after reading one of your recent cookery posts!! I use nigel slaters recipe for choc and banana one-,delicious!! I so enjoy reading your cookery / gardening posts and think you could have a second career in sharing your lovely recipes and growing fruit and vegetables, it makes a light relief from all the worry we all live with!
Nellie, your ice cream sounds lovely, yummy blueberries, sounds like you have been busy too! Have a lovely Sunday lunch tomorrow with your family! And thankyou for your kind words about my possible extra 2 Tax, I am sadly resigned to it now, which I think we all seem to do when faced with changes in treatment etc,enjoy your weekend!
Rosie, how are you feeling today? Am thinking of you , hope you are on the road to recovery.
Jackie, how are you feeling today? It must be difficult for you and Eam and jos who have younger children too to keep looking after, you keep doing what’s right for you, hope your temperature has stabilised, I have stopped taking mine now- unless I feel off colour, I found the stress of worrying about it too much. Have a good day.
Enjoy the weekend too, cassie, Joan, Booksandwine, rolicarpit( pasties etc!!) tij, sorry if I miss any one off!
Am going to dodge the rain and walk my dogs- have had to drink 2,strong cups of coffee to get some energy!!
That’s good news Rosie, focus on the wedding! You will heal pretty quickly now I hope, hope you gave no more setbacks!
Jos, just managed to dodge most of the rain and then a quick dash to the shops myself, very hot and sweaty tho now, regarding my surgery, because I may have to have node clearance after all, and am small busted, there apparently won’t be much to pack up my hole from lumpectomy, my lump is right above my nipple too which makes it harder! So won’t know really until see surgeon next Thursday, which like you say just adds to the stress and uncertainty, am on my grist day too post steroids, so like you find too my mood just dips very low until about Monday! Have look good course though on Tuesday so hoping my bag of goodies will cheer me up along either my newly dolled up face!!!
Jos i hope you managed to go to the cinema with your daughter & the street party despite your mouth feeling so uncomfortable! There are lots of things to worry about through this whole journey - they do one thing to help but often seems to bring on other problems aswell! I had my lumpectomy & some lymph nodes out back in feb this year (had two ops to get enough clearance). You will be very closely monitored for things like lyphoedema - i was measured before the op & have been to clinics since so they should keep a close eye on you & nip anything in the bud. Both scars have healed very well - i only got a bit of fluid build up which was normal apparently & was drained every week. You will get your head around it all. Will help to discuss it with your partner,sister & professionals when you can to put your mind at ease im sure.
Lovewine im glad so far so good for you. Like you say you know you will prob feel it tomorrowmon so hopefully you have made the most of today. Sounds like you had the energy to walk your dogs so thats good! I got up at 7.30 & went back to bed at 11am for a few hours. Popped out for a drive,fresh air & ice cream with hubby & little one just before the big rain drops set in! And am knackered again now! I can never get over how tired i feel! Having a little lie down now so that when little one has gone to bed i will have the energy to make a start on her birthday cake - she is 2 on monday!:). Hope you have a nice eve & lets think to this time next week when we will prob enjoy a glass of wine & feel a little more fresh!
Good to hear from you rosie! Even though you have been through such a lot it sounds like progress being able to be out of bed & go to the toilet etc. Hope you have a good nights sleep & feel a lot brighter by monday. Yes homemade ice lollies in the freezer - my daughter keeps wanting them for breakfast! Perhaps i should put some of wildpurls garlic in them that would put her off! Take care xxxx
Hi everyone, Eam , a birthday cake, what kind are you making? My two boys used to like caterpillar cakes when little, although youngest was 23 a couple of weeks ago and still wanted one! Hope you have a lovely day with your little one and a successful cake! Sounds like you are doing well with your side effects is far, long may it continue!
Rosie, you sound like you are doing well, have a good sleep to tonight!
Wildpurl, yes I too like nigel slater , I have made his banana and choc cake again today and a great success, even for a non cake baker like me!
Jos, hope you managed to have a good day too? And everyone else!! Xx
I am making her a mr tumble one lovewine! So far made little coloured moulds of cake to go into the middle of the actual cake that i will hopefully make tomorrow,then decorate in the eve - fatigue permitting! Auw catterpillar ones - they always look fun - im not surprised your 23 yr old wanted one! xxx
I-pad now functioning again so able to catch up more easily. Other good news is that no allergic reaction to (last) TAX this time . Only complication was that they put the rate up to the top notch the drip stopped working. It happened to several others that day and they wondered whether the excessive heat on t he ward was the problem. Eventually sorted out. I was very relieved to have taken a hand-held fan in.
The surgeon eventually left me a message on Thursday evening, a whole week after I had had the confusing MRI report and I went in to see him just before chemo. The news is not as good as I had hoped in that the overall size if the lumps remains the same although they have become less dense (described as patchy). So it will be up to the surgeon to decide on lumpectomy or mastectomy. Disappointing, and of course still uncertain but it makes sense and I now know I need to look into the pros and cons of each and what will be involved. The oncologist said my particular surgeon always tried to conserve as much of the breast as possible but I don’t want to go for a cosmetic option at the price of safety. Has anyone else faced this dilemma.
Rosie, what a time you have had, you will be finding your way into the medical textbooks. Good job they found the. Clot so quickly,even at the cost of another op. Glad you are making progress and getting some precious sleep which is so difficult in hospital. Hope you get to go home soon and start making oreparations for your trip.
Morning ladies, a lot cooler here too, so a better nights sleep, nice to hear from you Joan, glad you have ipad fixed, would be lost without mine! Am sorry your results are not as you had hoped, I face a similar dilemma regarding surgery to you, it is so very disappointing to find out that tumour hasn’t really shrunk, or as well in my case that I have a new lump in my previous clear nodes! Nothing now is straightforward it seems- one step forward and two back I think.
Rosie, hope the drains come out tomorrow, what a relief that will be! Fingers crossed too for good blood results, at least you are able to keep in touch by Skype with your children, hope D/h is coping well running the home and dog!
Wildpurl, hope you have limited side effects after a Tax, I have a small crop of ripe gooseberries ready, any good recipe tips for maybe a gooseberry fool or similar?
Eam, birthday cake sounds lovely, I’m sure it will be a great success!
Jackie, hope all is well with you, cassie, Nellie, tij, jos, Louise, Booksandwine , rolicarpit, hope you are having a lovely time and sampling the local crab sandwiches and cider etc!!xx
I have not been able to post much recently because I am glad to say I have been feeling well enough to go to work, I apologise in advance if I miss our replying individually as this thread is so active.
Rosie what can I say lets hope this latest blood clot is the last of your setbacks and you can put it all behind you, I am pleased that your sleep has improved with the help of sleeping tablets. My sleep has also been better I was managing 4-5 hours a night with 1 tablet until last weekend when I had visitors, I forced myself to stay in bed because I did not want to disturb them, then hay presto I have been sleeping for 6-7 hours although still a bit disturbed, looking at the clock at regular intervals. but then going back to sleep again, its as though some wierd body clock has been switched.
Eam28 It’s really nice to hear about your cake making and it brings back memories I have made flowers, teddy bears and football pitches and various other gateaux over the years, it is really nice to absorb yourself in something artistic and tasty at the same time.
Unfortunately I cannot grow anything as I live in a flat with no garden, it would be lovely though, I have had a go in the past in my parents garden with tomatoes and strawberries in grow bags it worked well, I don’t think the soil in the garden in London was much good its too clay based.
Keep cool ladies, it was 31 degrees in my living roon the night before last and 29 last night, it feels just right at the moment at 26.
Morning everybody, hope everyone is coping today. Joan, when I was first diagnosed we discussed a lumpectomy, but in the end I had a mastectomy with an immediate reconstruction because of the position of my 2 very small lumps. Mine were on the cleavage side so the surgeon said it would have left a big dent in my cleavage side of my boob, which would have been difficult to hide. He told me that if it had been on the lateral side it would have been easier to ‘shift things about’ so you are not left with a big dent. I’m really glad I had the mastectomy because a friend of mine who is about 3 months behind me in this journey ended up with 3 trips to theatre to get clear margins. She started off with a lumpectomy and ended up with a mastectomy. Nowadays the surgeons do like to conserve as much breast tissue as they can, but only if they can assure themselves they can get clear margins. I think it also gets more tricky if the tumour is near the skin surface and/or the nipple.
Rosie, glad you are feeling clean and refreshed. Hope the second drain is removed tomorrow. You will feel liberated when it is gone. I’m assuming the hospital is air conditioned so you are keeping cool.
We’ve had a trip to A&E this morning. Not me thank God. Younger son fell off his skateboard last night. He has an enormous graze on his lower leg. We just didn’t have anything big enough or suitable to cover it. He was seen by an apparently stunning female SHO. So he was very brave whilst she was sorting him out. It would have been a complete drama if mummy or daddy had tried to do it!
Hope the sun shines on everyone’s gardening activities. We were going to the beach but have decided that getting sand in my son’s wound would not be a good idea. So staying at home and having a BBQ with some friends later.
xxx