Well done Rosie. Here’s to a restful night’s sleep, safe in the knowledge that you have achieved your goal. It must feel wonderful to be amongst your family after all your trials and tribulations. Your children and grandchildren must be delighted to see you and give you a big, but gentle hug!
I’m just beginning to feel less crap this afternoon. Still very tired when I exert myself. Had to sit down after I had picked a few runner beans! Hoping tomorrow I will pick up a bit more as I’m getting very bored and frustrated. Managed to offload the kids taxiing so far on my lovely friends, but hoping to do my bit tomorrow afternoon.
Lovewine and tlj yes wonderful ti have achieved goal went fir meal with son getting. mattied and his fiancee and 2 of thr grandchildren was a lovely moment arruving at their front door! Enjoyed. one glass of wine! x
Hello All,
So pleased, for you Rosie and DH have arrived in the UK and have started to meet up with the family, how lovely to be called a super hero Mum 
I don’t blame DH for being worried it is hard not to stretch your back to much and at the same time try not to be too tense, make sure the pain killers are still being taken by DH at reglar intervals, we all know what men are like they put on a brave face then, out of action. You must both try to relax as much as possible before the weding now, have a wonderful time both of you, you have had a long journey in more than one way!
My appointments on Mon all went well, but sods law I was seen early by the oncologist because three previous appointments had not turned up, which in turn meant I had two visits to the cafe one between the blood being taken in chemo dept and the oncology appointment then another one in Tottenham court Road to Nero’s, because I was two and a half hours early for my radiography planning meeting, tatoo’s and CT scan. I did wonder around for a while in the shops and bought a little presy for the chemo Nurse and another for one of my collegue who is leaving from my work place, a delightful girl who has been covering a lot of my work while I have been off. Unfortunately her work permit will run out, she will be going back to India and then on to Australia to work again, very exciting, she has not seen her family for four years, I am not sure I could manage that but she tells me she went to boarding school from a young age, so talks on the phone most days instead! I gave up wondering the shops after an hour or so because not only was I feeling quite tired but the heat was getting to me a bit, UCLH radiography said you do realise you arer an hour early, I acknowleged, yes, but I would wait patiently. All went well at the appointment and also the chemo appointment yesterday, last one and PICC line removed!! Just waiting for the SE to kick in one last time. I went on a bit of an mad one last night after getting back from the chemo dept, cooking three meals simultaneously, Lamb stew, Cottage pie and Smoked Mackerel fish cakes with mixed turkish salad and asparagus, the first two were for the freezer in case I don’t feel like cooking in a few days, I went to bed about 10.40 exhausted, but it looks like my daughter managed to fit all of the boxes of food in the freezer OK, I have been a bit obsessed with making sure we have everything in just in case, I am turning into my Mum, bless…
All ladies finishing treatment and not sure what to do.
With my GP practice managers hat on now, please take any unused medications to your local pharmacy it is there resposibility to dispose of them safely, gp surgeries do not have fthe facillties/collections for medications some pharmacies however do not take needles so best to take them back to the hospital who gave them to you for disposal.
Sorry once more not to name all ladies individually but the memory is still not great and it has taken me some time to catch up with reading the thread after a couple of days being busy.
X have a nice day ladies
Rosie, so,so pleased you made it and will have a few days to recover before the wedding. What a lovely surprise to find that bouquet when you arrived, there’s the medal I said you deserved. Glad too that your husband managed the journey without mishap. Now that you know you are going to be there you can tell us a bit more about the wedding eg church or civil ceremony, venue etc.
Jos, what wonderful, wonderful, news about your lump. And you have finished chemo, got a date for surgery, got your PICC line out and all on top of a lovely holiday and having your sister with you. It’s like having all your xmases come at once.
Cassie, glad last chemo went well in spite of having to hang around between appointments. Most impressed with all the cooking. What do you put in a mixed Turkish salad?
TiJ, good you have been able to offload some of your taxi duties. Glad you are feeling somewhat better, hope you’re back to normal soon.
Nellie, thanks for the gen on vitamins. Hope the side effects are not too bad and short lived. I found with my last chemo that I didn’t get the steroid induced burst of energy (comparatively) so felt tireder than before over the first two days.
Rollicarpits, glad you enjoyed your holiday and made the most of being able to eat nice food. We are having a few days in West Sussex, staying at a very nice small hotel where the food is superb. But also managing to top up when out. I fear the weight I lost while on FEC will soon be regained now that taste buds have recovered. Re other people responding to your bare head I was at a historical site yesterday where there was another woman with spiky hair and a PICC line. As we were going out of the room I said hello and that it looked like we we’re snap but other than saying yes she didn’t really respond. So I felt a bit rebuffed. Good look with the rads.
Lovewine and Jos, it looks as if we"re the only ones awaiting surgery, plus Rosie who just had it.
It looks to be another hot day out there. After breakfast I am planning to spend a couple of hours sitting on the summerhouse in the hotel garden with my feet up, then potter into Arundel for a look round and lunch, followed by a visit to a roman villa.
Have good days everyone.
Cassie, your cooking sounds lovely, you had a very busy day! You must be relieved now.
Rosie, still not getting very much sleep! Try and rest if possible in day! How lovely to arrive at your family’s doorstep- must have been a lovely moment. On our yearly trips down to fowey in Cornwall we stop for food at the travelodge at saltash- just on other side of tamar bridge, is that the one you are staying in?
Joan, enjoy your break- sounds lovely! I too experienced the rebuff of a lady obviously going through chemo a few weeks ago when I said a similar comment to her- she just ignored me!!
Off to work now, have a good day everyone.
Morning all, Rosie you sound as though you are settling in and I had a tear in my eye about your flowers to superhero mum. Well deserved!
Glad you are enjoying your holiday Joan!
Thanks for the info about disposing of meds cassie, I will take them to my pharmacy. I did wonder who was responsible.
I guess different people react differently to being approached by someone they don’t know and having their condition talked about. Some people may prefer not to discuss it while others would be pleased to have support. It hasn’t happened to me yet so I don’t know how I would react.
I am at work today, taking it easy though. Wasn’t sure I would be up to it but feeling OK so far. Much less fit than previous cycles, only just made it up the stairs to the second floor!
Good days everyone
Hi wildpurl … I think the last is hard I found I had been pretty patient with the SEs throughout annoying but knew they were par of the course but just wanted last one over with … U will get there … Be kind to yourself, working from home tomorrow sounds a good idea, last leg !
Wildpurl. I have also had an upset tummy today too, also find my energy levels hit much worse after chemo 6, I am facing at least another 1 it seems!! Am quite annoyed today, have been waiting since last Thursday since I saw surgeon and had all clear on armpit lump for oncologist to ring me to decide whether I am having two extra chemos or proceeding with surgery on 29th august, I don’t know whether I need to have bloods done next Tuesday and start taking steroids on Wednesday! Anyway rang medical secretary today and was told no information on computer about my chemos!! She said have bloods/steroids as if I am having chemo as usual on 7th august and see oncologist on 6th august!! She was trying yo speak to my doctor today and ringing me back- she didn’t!! So still in limbo.
Rosie, hope you d D/H get more sleep tonight, hope you had a nice day today too.
Lisa, don’t worry about Thursday, I know after last few weeks it’s good to catch up with appointments for things you can’t be bothered with during chemo! Will be in touch about next week if that’s ok, not sure if I am having chemo on Thursday!! Maybe the following Thursday provisionally?
Cassie, recipe sounds really nice, am going to try it too.
Joan, hope you had a nice relaxing day too.
I also had an upset tummy a few days ago. Spent the whole afternoon on the loo. In fact, I was so exhausted I think I fell asleep on the loo with my head resting on the loo roll. How sad is that! I thought it was due to over doing the laxatives, but maybe it was more of an upset tummy. Wildpurl, I agree with you, getting over this last one is taking its time. Are we just being impatient or is it really taking longer?
Lovewine, it must be very frustrating not knowing what’s going on. I hope you get some news quickly.
Rosie and everyone else I hope you are having a relaxing evening.
Hi everyone, thankfully my upset tummy is a lot better today, Wildpurl hope you make it out with your friend tomorrow, so nice to have little treats! Rosie, enjoy all your family getting together for the rehearsal, your grandchildren must be such a joy to you! They will look lovely in their outfits. Have a nice say today.
Jos and cassie, hope you soon see the end of side effects, no more to come!!
Nellie, hope you have recovered from all that cooking, it does make you tired even doing small things now doesn’t it.
Joan, have a nice day whatever you are doing today, hope you have sunny weather.
Have a good day everyone. I am hoping to hear from oncologist today, really don’t want to have unnecessary blood test and steroids if not having chemo!! It would be nice to be told what’s happening with my own body!!
Am going shopping into the city today for the first time since chemo began, almost as a rebellious act as to what’s happening!!
Can I get opinions please? I started on taxol last session and I had a reaction while getting it. Nurses responded immediately and it was all fine and I finished the dose. A few days later I had the most awful pains all over my whole body which lasted 2 days and then eased. It is over a week now since I had the taxol and while I feel ok, I am still feeling some discomfort. I rang my oncology liason nurse and told her all this.
She rang me today and said I could have Dosetaxel (sp?) instead of taxol (which I seem to be sensitive to) which has less side effects but each session is 3 weeks apart instead of 2 and I only have 3 sessions to go.
I am not sure what to do. I want to be finished asap and there is no guarantee that dosetaxel will be much easier. Does anyone have any experience they can share?
Thanks Louise and Rosie, I feel a lot better after your reassurance, didn’t buy a bra, bought a nice linen top instead!! Still no joy with hospital, had letter come today from oncology dept, saying appt next Wednesday and I suppose then I will find out if had bloods/ steroids needlessly or chemo the next day- it’s not an ideal situation , but resigned to it now.
Rosie and DH, I am glad all is going well with your family arrangements, sounds lovely, I hope your pain subsides.
Lovewine, what a quandary we all keep finding ourselves in, we wish for things to be straight forward but they never seem to turn out exactly how we think they should, I hope the Hospital hurry up and put your mind at rest.
Jos, I know exactly how you are feeling just marking time and feeling crappy, I am on day four of my last chemo and have aches and pains in my throat and a terrible mouth, furry no taste etc, I barely could keep my eyes open yesterday for moe than three hours at a time, it’s really frustrating and boring at this stage, I just want to feel better and get on with things as usual.
Lets hope for a happier healthier day xc
Wildpurl, have a lovely day today, Rosie, how lovely to be all together at last! Keeping my fingers crossed it stays dry for the wedding tomorrow, I know rain is coming tonight, let’s hope it clears up!
Nellie, I am the same as you with my dogs- 2 very active collies and I also babysit my son and daughter in laws collie cross rescue dog quite a lot too!!
Jos and cassie hope you have a better few days to come with side effects.
Yes, I am living in limbo- chemo or no chemo next week?! I am getting nowhere with ringing up, all I am told is my oncologist will review all my notes when I am there on Wednesday for my usual appointment!! Which means I am going to have my bloods done and start steroids too!!
Enjoy your Friday everyone!
Oh dear. Back home after a lovely break away but I feel rather down in the dumps. Fed up with looking a freak, wondering how people are going to react, feeling exhausted and getting in a bit if a state about what the surgeon is going to say next week and how I will cope if he decides on a mastectomy. I know several of you lovely ladies have gone through it, and Rosie is coping amazingly with a double, but I think I have coped with the diagnosis so far because, although the surgeon was originally talking about a mastectomy, he the n said he was pretty confident it could be shrunk with chemo. So I think I have been in cloud cuckoo land so far.
On a lighter note, I do t know whether I can put this down to chemo brain but having gone to have my nails painted this afternoon I realised that I had come out in odd sandals. And not just slightly different ones either!
A bit of a touching story. My 4 yr old granddaughters pre school teacher was I’m impressed with her reaction when another child told the group, at circle time,. That her grandma was poorly and the medicine had made her hair fall out. Katy piped up and said 'it’s ok, my grandma had that, she had a wig but she doesn’t like to wear it, but it’s all ok. The teacher said it was lovely because it mDe it quite normal for all the children. And this was the child who screamed and hid behind her mum when she first saw. Me without a hat.
Sorry my last post was all about me. Just had to get it off my chest. Come to think of it that was either a very appropriate or unfortunate comment.
Lovewine, like many others in this group I am appalled at the continuing uncertainty you are, which seems to indicate such insensitivity to what it means to have to face the possibility of another chemo and having to start on the steroids. I know they are very busy but surely, apart from the effect on you it is inefficient to start the whole process when it may not be necessary.
Wildpurl, glad you managed your trip into London. That’s quite something.
Nellie, Cassie and Jos hope you start feeling better soon. I think the final chemo hit quite a few if us harder than we had expected.
Rosie, have a wonderful day tomorrow. It sounds as if you are being really sensible about not doing too much, tempting though it must be. Hope the weather behaves. Glad husbands wound is holding together. Hope your stitches don’t play up too much tomorrow.
Apologies to anyone I have missed, husband is asking what time I am planning dinner.
Joan, I don’t blame you for feeling a bit low. I’m finding this last cycle hard going to recover from. I had my mastectomy before chemo, so in theory I have finished my treatment . The thought of building myself up to have surgery after chemo, is understandably daunting. You just must want it all to be over. If it helps, I’m very pleased with my mastectomy and reconstruction. It looks pretty good, the perky boob of a 20 year old. Sadly, the other boob is still that of a 50 year old although my lovely surgeon is keen to do something to it to hitch it up so they are a better match. Personally, right now I just want to be left alone and not prodded anymore so I won’t be considering any more surgery for quite some time if I can help it.
This cycle does seem to be taking its time to recover from. I feel loads better than I did 4/5 days ago, but still far from normal. The skin on my face has gone all spotty, sore and itchy, I look dreadful and it feels really uncomfortable. Hoping this is just going to be short term and will get better in a few days.
Rosie, thinking of you and your family tomorrow. Hope you all have a wonderful day.
Lovewine, can’t believe they haven’t decided on next chemo or not. Surely, they have to make up the drugs in advance, so they must know the day before at the latest. Hope you get it sorted.
Thankyou everyone for your support and empathy at my chemo farce, even my breast care nurse can’t seem to get anywhere either! I will just have pre chemo bloods on Tuesday as usual and steroids Wednesday and see what oncologist says at my appt then, I am going to let him know how hard it’s been not knowing if I am to have the 2 extra!!
Joan, sorry you are feeling deflated, again with you like me it’s the uncertainty that gets to you, I also don’t know whether it will be mastectomy/lumpectomy either, I think after being away too, when returning to reality you feel flat. I hope you get some answers next week at your appointment.
Rosie, glad you are managing to rest,you will need your energy for tomorrow and all that boogieing,drinking and general great time!! Will be thinking of you at 5.00p.m
Wildpurl, sounds like you have had a lovely day in London, my sister went to the v&a wedding dress exhibition and said how good it was. Hope you enjoy your nice glass of chilled wine and olives, sounds very nice!
Tij,hope you start to feel better soon, I think by the time we reach chemo 6 it becomes harder to get over it, god knows how I will feel if have to have 2 more! My appointment on Wednesday will be the day before the mystery chemo so I will know 24 hours before whether am having it or not! Unless of course I get a phone call on Monday which I doubt very much.
Cassie, Nellie and jos, hope side effects are improving.
Hope everyone has a nice weekend.
May I add to wildpurls best wishes Rosie! All the very best for a lovely day!! Hope it all goes well, enjoy time also with your father, it sounds like you have all done the best thing and you certainly couldn’t look after him with all what you have had done!
I am sorry to say I am also joining the fed up club today- obviously fed up with chemo/no chemo issue, and also like Wildpurl, fed up with being unable to do what I want, no energy, upset tummy and the list just goes on and on! I get up and always have plans to do nice things and then when it comes to it I can’t be bothered or no energy to carry them out!
Moan over!
Hi ladies
Rosie have a fab time at the wedding hope the weather is kind and you make some lovely memories.
Lisa lovewine Tji wildpurl sorry if I miss anyone so sorry you feel pants it’s a much harder journey than any of us could have imagined. I think it’s made worse by the lack of information and uncertainty.
I think we are entitled to a bl**dy good moan after all this is serious life changing and endangering stuff. As women I think we like to put on a brave face and be very up beat for everyone else but sometimes its just very hard in fact almost impossible.
This is not forever we just need to keep looking forward. Onwards and upwards and be kind to yourself ladies xx