I am not looking forward to the PICC line physically being removed, just the thought makes me a bit queezy, I have a card to carry saying how many cm long it is to make sure they remove all of it 
Morning everyone, I found it hard to sleep because it was so hot last night, but like Wildpurl I find once steroids have stopped I sleep fairly well( unless worrying about lymph node biopsy !) I have a friend visiting this morning and son and daughter in law coming with us for a drink at village pub in the evening, so maybe sleep a bit better tonight!
Joan, sounds like you had a restless night, I am still waiting for a phone call re : more chemo, surgeon said the decision lies with oncologist, I feel stuck in the middle of onc and surgeon at the minute! If I don’t then the time frame will be 5 weeks between last chemo and surgery- how long will it be for you? Are you HER+ too?
We desperately want just a mere 2 night away but can’t book because of uncertainty.
Wildpurl, enjoy your barbecue, hope it stays dry for you!
Nellie, lovely to hear from you, it’s nice to keep busy with visitors but can be draining! It doesn’t sound very good at all with your aftercare, my O/H says I have become " chemo dependant " and he is right! Although I hate it, it is a security blanket against the buggar and I feel almost set now in the 3 week routine- how sad is that!!
Cassie, I looked up Leonard’s cove too! It looks lovely, you will gave a fabulous time, good luck too with picc line!
Tijj, rest up before your running around next week!
Jackie, hope all is well with you? Eam, jos, Louise, Lisa, Booksandwine, hope haven’t forgotten anyone - enjoy Saturday whatever you are doing.
Rosie, are you packing your case yet? Or not wanting to tempt fate until the last minute ! Can’t believe the date is now so close, the wedding seemed far in the distance when you first started telling us about it, how time flies( not that we are having much fun!! ) hope you are doing well x
Hello everyone,just had a quick catch up & will post later. Taking my daughter to a birthday party at 12pm. Feeling pretty much bk to normal now!
hope you all havwe a lovely day xxx
Rosie, party sounds good this evening- maybe you should get in some alcohol training ready for the wedding!!
Wildpurl, garden sounds like it’s coming on with your new path, bet it was hot work! Your advice about BCN is very helpful, will contact if I haven’t heard by Monday p.m.
Eam, enjoy the party!
Rosie, yes is think I will go ahead and book a little mini break, maybe Norfolk which is only about 2 hours away from us, explain situation with surgery etc! Need something to look forward to!!!
Thank you yes the party was lovely - they had a big pool for all the children so all adults quite happy mingeling in the garden with the odd splash to cool us all down! Went to our village garden show in the afternoon so was nice to catch up with all the locals & have an ice cream. Little one should sleep well tonight! We are planning to celebrate our daughters birthday properly tomorrow with family at our favourite fish & chip restaurant - so nice to enjoy food again! Hubby made a nice salmon dish tonight which he actually made for my first chemo so thought i would hate it but went down well! Had my hickman line out on fri so a little stingy. Got to wait a week or so for it to heal then i can go swimming etc. All these little things we miss eh?! My nose is the only thing thats really sore inside & running like a tap! Spoke to a mum that has been through all of this 6 yrs ago. She said she went ‘commando’ from the word go & doesnt know how i wear the caps & scarves in this weather! Not sure when to leave them off - feel a bit self concious - whispy baby hair at the moment! She also said she didnt get tired at all from the radio - just the travelling every day.
Glad things are looking up rosie. Hope goes well tomorrow having shower etc
Wont be long before youre on that plane!:). How did you find the reflexology?
Bet your relieved to have less weeks of radio louise - all that fec must have done you some good?!;). Well im not going to change too much - will carry on making the most of my little one & hubby,enjoying work when i go back & making the most of positive,funny people around me. I may please myself a bit more - before all of this i would bend over backwards for people/favours etc. And prob try & make sure hubby & i go out & enjoy ourselves once a month or so:)
As if your garden couldnt get any better wildpurl! It must be like a paradise out there! Hope you enjoyed your wine & bbq - wouldnt have been up for it this time last wkend!
So,so glad to hear that lovewine - phew!! At least that is harmless. Just the desicion between more chemo or surgery then. Hope you know soon x
I hope my eyebrows start coming back pretty soon too cassie! Its quite time consuming drawing them on & i was never much of a make up person before all of this! I keep worrying theyve melted off too! Good youve got your ct scan sorted. Mine is on 7th aug. Bet you cantwait for yor trip away!
Nice that youve felt well enough to be a busy bee nellie. Everywhere seems so different on procedure for check ups & scans. Also it prob depends on the individual circumstances of the cancer also.
Hope you are both doing well joan & tlj63
Xxx
Cassie, I’m rather dreading the PICC line removal too although the on ologist sId it was straightforward. I do to think I was given any information Bout how long it is, must search through my stuff. I opted to leave mine in until 3 weeks after the last chemo because there have been several occasions when I had to have intravenous drugs and hey-ho, yesterday was another after my temp shot up. Not neutropenic, like last time abnormally high white cell count due to Zarzio injections so sent home with antibiotics. Hopefully this is the last unanticipated trip to the hospital. It’s getting quite embarassing when they recognise me.
I was rather surprised when t he senior registrar said she had looked at my MRI report and commented that unfortunately chemo sometimes had the effect of making the tumours holey but not shrinking them. She also asked if I had a date for surgery. Made me suspect that my ‘case’ has been discussed and that a lumpectomy is unlikely.
Lovewine, I was told that surgery was usually 4-6 weeks after last chemo so I am hoping that will be the case.
I’m triple negative so it’s just chemo, surgery and radio. just! I sympathise with your need to get away for a few days. Hope the uncertainty resolves soon.
EAM, congrats on getting your line out and glad you’re feeling back to normal, more or less. I have the runny nose issue as well, especially when eating. I guess it won’t resolve fully until the nose hairs regroup. Re going commando I have increasingly done this, especially as the weather has got hotter. You get the occasional glances, especially from children but it’s been ok. I was sitting in a cafe in a shopping mall the other day and another hairless woman went past. I felt like giving her the thumbs up but didnt have the courage. Not sure if she saw me or had a similar impulse. I confess, though, I am a bit anxious about our trip away and in particular the restaurant and wondered whether I should take the sadly neglected wig. But I think I shall just continue and hope it’s ok. Enjoy the birthday meal today.
Nellie, I do hope you don’t get your daughters cold or if you do it doesn’t have. Any dramatic effects. Lunch for 10, I’m impressed. I confess I haven’t done any proper entertaining since starting chemo.
Took sleeping pill last night. Woken up at 12.30 by husband being violently sick. He seems to be ok this morning so hoping a one-off and not bug. Unless he has been secretly gorging we’ve eaten the same food.
Rosie, it sounds as if you are really well prepared. Well done for remaining alcohol free amid all that temptation. Hope you get a decent nights sleep tonight and that all goes to plan tomorrow.
Bit of light relief. My 4 year old granddaughter told her mother yesterday that she had decided she wasn’t going to have children when she grew up because they’re noisy, messy and keep getting into their parents bed at night! We’ll have to save thT in the memory banks.
Joan, sorry to hear your return trip to hospital, hope you and hubby are ok today? Rosie, hope you enjoyed your shower and nice to have your nails done, makes us feel good! Not long now.
Nellie, sounds like you will be busy with lunch, hope it all goes well, managed to book 2 night away towards end of august in a hotel overlooking sea at mundesley, near cromer- will definitely be enjoying some cromer crab!! Hope you avoid your daughters cold, like you say annoying all this time being able to stay germ free and then catching something at the end.
Eam, sounds like you had a lovely day yesterday, I think your life style changes sound just right, definitely more time with your O/H and daughter and just make the most of small things that make you happy!!
I too have a very runny nose and eyes.
I had a very nice evening with 2 sons, daughter in law and hubby at local pub last night, just one small glass of wine for me though, so was very restrained! Youngest son has caught train just now to London for a few days visiting his girlfriend, so be nice just me and hubby, going to have fondue again with French bread!! Have developed quite a liking for it, even bought a proper cast iron fondue set from argos - half price in the sale too!!
Enjoy the day everyone whatever your plans.
Hope the weekend has gone well for everyone. Rosie, I am sending you good luck vibes for tomorrow. Hope your day goes according to plan and you arrive safely. You must be getting excited , as must your family in the uk. We will all be glued to this thread on Tuesday to check that you made it without any hiccups.
I’ve had a fairly uneventful weekend. I have tried to take it easy. We had 2 extra boys for a sleepover, but they were no trouble, in fact it kept my 2 entertained, so everyone had fun. Far too much xbox, but as it’s the holidays I don’t mind and my older son will be at surf camp all next week, so he’ll get plenty of exercise then.
Feeling slightly achy today, but not too bad. Hoping to begin to get my energy levels back as the week progresses, with the thought that all being well I don’t have to go there again. Taking great delight in throwing the empty drugs cartons away. On wards and upwards.
Rosie, yes we will all breathe a sigh of relief to know you are in Bristol at holiday inn!! I think we have all been willing you on all the way , you have done so well in such a short time too, will be thinking of you , I too can remember my 2 boys loving Thomas the tank engine, their bedrooms had quilts, lamps , curtains etc, I tried to knit a jumper too, but gave up and shoved it in a cupboard somewhere!!
Tij, must be so satisfying chucking away all those boxes, have a good week without wearing yourself out too much!
Wildpurl, hope you managed some knitting! I know what you mean having a project on the go, I find it hard just to watch t.v without doing something else at same time.
Am very much looking forward to my little trip to Norfolk, if things go to plan it will be 4 days before my surgery, so will be a nice distraction!
Hi EAM hopefully all this fecing chemotherapy will be worth it i am lucky that my cancer was confined to the breast so the masectomy and the radiotherapy should put paid to.this horrible disease.
I am now bald and proud i have given up with the scarves etc its too hot and I never have them on straight
Hope weather holds for your wedding Rose
Sounds like everyone is doing well
Hello Ladies,
Rosie good luck with the journey, you seem so have a never ending list of challenges, I am sure this one will be fine as DH to go and take a seat or nip off to the loo sh he won’t be tempted to lift the cases. I will be willing you both on your way to the wedding.
It’s really nice to hear about sleep overs and all the normal things in other peoples lives it is really admirable, I know that we have all been given no choice in having BC but it seems to me we are made of the right kind of stuff to deal with it and manage to do as much as we can in our day to day lives, enjoy what we can and have a good time.
I am in the process of getting ready for three appopntments today and 6th the last chemo and PICC line removal tomorrow. Have a good day ladies
Rosie, I would hope there would be someone on the airport staff who could assist with getting cases onto the weighing machine or if not I’m sure another sturdy passenger will help. And at the other end, getting your cases off the carousel. Hope your husbands wound doesn’t present too much of a problem while you areaway, you deserve a smooth ride at some stage after a distinctly bumpy one so far. I’m off on hol this morning so in case I can’t catch up with your latest Bon voyage and Have a wonderful time at the wedding, you deserve a special toast for the Herculean efforts you have made to be there.
Nellie, as I understand it the Zarzio stimulates your bone marrow to produce white cells but because it is an artificial stimulant the immune system can be over efficient in reacting. I don’t think it is a problem in itself but high white cell counts in a normal patient would be an indicator of infection so they can’t rule out that that is happening. Hence the antibiotics.
Given the amount of antibiotics I have been given during chemo I am wondering whether once it is over I should take some vitamins. I have a vague memory that B6 is good. Anyone know about this. Also, I stopped taking multivitamins at the outset. Anyone know when it is Ok to retake?
Nellie, yes, I am reluctantly inclining to the idea of a mastectomy, in the event I am given a choice. So have started looking up stuff about surgery and reconstruction. So much to get my head, and my emotions, around. What have you been able to find out about triple negative? In terms of follow up I was dismayed to be told it would be an annual check, but I haven’t enquired further. My appt with the surgeon is August 6. Unfortunately it now clashes with a funeral want to go to… Am gg to try and see if I can change the time but unless they can offer me an earlier date really feel indeed to stick to the day to resolve the uncertainty.
Re medicines, I was wondering what to do about all the unused ones. Presumably your surgery only takes unopened packets or will they take anything.
TiJ, hope the side effects subside soon. As you say, it’s a wonderful feeling to know that, as you start to climb out if the chemo hole you aren’t going to be dropped back into it the next week.
For some ladies who had surgery before chemo, this bill end the second major stage of your treatment and you will presumably be going on to radiotherapy. I know some of us eg Rosie, Lovewine, started with chemo, can you remind me who else is in the same position.
Joan, have a lovely break, where are you going? Rosie, have a safe journey, hoping it’s hassle free and you can get help with suitcases, certainly don’t want any issues with D/H and his leaking mole hole! All the very best!!
Nellie, I had a cast iron fondue set in 80s like you got lost in house moves , I found an exact cast iron one at argos, but amazon I think do them too, I spotted in waitrose a fondue pack in the cheese aisle which is the block of cheese- it is a cheese called emmenttuelle/gruyere, it makes life easier to buy it in this pack, we then just bulk it up with normal cheddar, it’s heated up in saucepan and then you light the tealight under fondue pot and it keeps the fondue warm and not stringy! You then use those long thin forks to stab your crusty bread in the lovely warm cheese!! ( these forks come in sets) yumyum. Sainsburys also do those packs .
Wildpurl, hope you manage some work and not tempted by your garden!
Cassie, all the best with last one tomorrow!!
I am off to work in a few minutes too, have a good day everyone, I have another 80s meal lined up tonight- home made French onion soup!! All I need now is my big eighties hair( any hair would do!) and big shoulder pads and would be right at home !
Nellie, although I am not triple negative a understand where you are coming from re being ‘institutionalised’. I had a chat with my oncologist and he said it was very normal to feel a bit abandoned when your course of treatment comes to an end. We all get used to the support network of the breast care nurse and the oncology nurses and suddenly they all seem to withdraw. He warned me about being over zealous with constant monitoring as emotionally it can take its toll. He said people can get very worked up every time they are due a follow up appointment which if it is say, every 3 months can get very emotionally draining and rarely changes the outcome. I think that is why generally, annual mammograms are the normal way to follow up and just keeping on top of your general health, ie. if you get extreme bone pain or a persistent cough go to your GP as opposed to just ignoring it. I know my MIL used to get very twitched whenever she was due a colonoscopy after having bowel cancer, that was over 14 years ago now. Constant monitoring seems to be a double edged sword, initially it is probably reassuring and then there comes a point where it stops you being able to emotionally move on.
Jos, good news about your lump! I think there is myself, Joan and you of course with surgery still to come- not sure if there is any one else? Pembrokeshire is lovely, we used to stay near st David’s in a village called trefin, loved it.
Lisa, sounds like you had a lovely time in Cornwall and Dorset, bet you feel better for a change of scene, how was radiotherapy? If you can manage Thursday this week that would be lovely to catch up? If it’s more convenient to meet you in leicester after radiotherapy I can do that?
Wildpurl, yes I feel quite tired too now after a few hours working, not sure how I used to do it all!
Rosie, all the very best on your trip, hope to get updates when you can!
On mobile. so can’t read threads will catch up with you hopefully tomorrow . at paphos airport we are rather early as came straight from Limassol as Dh had to have a couple of stitches in back great! Dh just told me flight dekayed until 11 pm i Wii l be so tired hopefully. will sleep. most of flight !
Morning all, just dropped my car off at garage for MOT so stuck at home , doing a bit of work and maybe light housework!
Rosie, hope you are ok and enjoy your visit with your old friend, how nice it will be to catch up with her.
Nellie, hope you can find good recipes for cucumber soup- maybe the River cottage recipes? Enjoy your day, I think my housework will wait and probably be on sofa too!
Cassie, fingers crossed for you today, hope all goes smoothly.
Jos, I know solva very well, particularly like the shop called “window on Wales” used to sell really nice things, I presume it must be still there.
Pp
Yippee!! Great news Rosie! Have a fabulous visit, hope all goes well with you both, take care and enjoy your glass of wine tonight! ??when is the wedding? And are you travelling on to Plymouth today? Xxx
Aah Rosie, how lovely, and they are right you are a superhero after all you have been through!! Your family must be so delighted to have you and D/H there for such a special occasion, enjoy the week and make the most of it!
Jos, you are right to want to cut back on working, I am certainly going to cut back on my workload too, priorities certainly change after all we are going through.
Hope everyone is ok and doing well, cassie hope today went smoothly.