Good luck Rosie and Jackie. Hope all goes smoothly today.
Good luck Jackie 09! Yes I think all our posts have given a good idea of what’s to come but take heart that you should feel better by day 5/6. Then just have to be weary of bugs - anti bac gel is my new best friend! I felt awful 3hrs after mine - so would advise to drink plenty,eat well & get to bed in that time. Let us know how you get on:) xxx
Hi all
Terrible day yesterday… waiting for my onc appointment and got speaking to the lady next to me, her appointment was before mine and they were running late. After two hours she came out and came straight to me and told me she had been diagnosed with secondaries… 
I really did not know what to say and was numb…when I was called in I was in a state of shock and scared.
Anyway they proceeded to tell me that the results back where inconclusive on the second node and a decision had still not been made as to whether it was micro or macro… they have decided to take tge side of caution and class me as two nodes positive and treat me with a strong chemo called TAC, not to be confused with TAX I was advised. They advised this chemo does not have much success with the coldcap:( dont knowwhether to bother now and also the other SE are stronger than most…
Another thing mentioned was the tumor was showing vascular invasion which has scared me witless, this was just mentioned in conversation and when I initially asked after my pathology report came back I was advised there was none.
Sorry to put such a negative thread on but need to release it all I think.
Ps writing this whilst in the waiting room for my smear test !!
Onwards on upwards is what they say… xx
Oh Lou you are going through it today, it must have been awful for someone to tell you that as you were waiting to go in, not today it’s her fault of course I just mean you were probably already nervous. I don’t really know the difference between the macro and micro thing but one if have reason I’m having chemo before my rads is vascular invasion. From what I’ve read the cold cap just seems to delay rather stop the hair loss but you just need to do what works for you. We are all going yo gave sh#t days and weeks even, the while point of the forum is to be able to express our feelings to people who are in ‘similar’ circumstances and not worry about hurting loved ones or be judged or ridiculed for our thoughts and fears, if you can’t do here babe you can’t do it anywhere!! We all have breast cancer but our complete diagnosis and treatments are slightly different, we live in different geographical locations and different medical histories, some people’s stories will resonate with us more than others but im sure have a common respect and empathy. My way of coping is to work and keep life as normal as possible, im not being blaze about it or don’t think any less of those who chose or have to go off sick, but if i actually took the time to think about the what ifs it would go bonkers. EAM fair play to you taking control of the hair situation, I am planning in shaving when it starts going but not brave enough to do before, think I’m kidding myself it may not happen ! On a positive note day 4 of senekot had been successful ?def getting something stronger next time ! Lou it doesn’t rain but it pours, hope the smear was ok xx
Auw loulou1262 what a crappy day! Like Suzie & wildpurl say - its better that they are being cautious & going ‘overkill’ on it. Have they given you any info on that type of chemo,maybe worth looking it up if not - or ring this helpline about it all - I’m sure they would put it all into perspective for you. I got my smear done too in Jan & up to date with dentist,eyes - felt it was worth having an MOT! Hope you manage to get things sorted hun.
Thanks Suzie I hope I’m doing the right thing?! Its just each professional keeps telling me & has told me from diagnosis day that it will defo fall out with chemo so don’t see the point in waiting for it to happen! You’re right - got to try & carry on as normal,that’s why my little girl still goes to her childminders once a week - so she thinks I’m off to work! Glad the senekot is finally working:) have been pretty OK with that side of things. Just a really sore,red mouth now - so now that I finally feel like eating it blooming hurts! Perhaps I should just eat ice cream everyday as I sure as hell won’t feel like it in 2wks time!
Hi all hope all you lovely ladies are doing ok
This morning woke up feeling really good am on my way to work Thursday a no go strange how days can be so different. Anyway this happed 5 mins ago you might find funny
Buying some daffodils at tesco for the team at work who have been supporting me woman on till “oh I want to go home”. I was so tempted to say “and I dont want to have cancer” - held myself and here’s my happy I can get to work
Have a Good Friday
hi all, booksandwine - I get the same feeling all the time, people moaning that they dont feel well or how crappy their lives are sonetimes you just want to scream at them. I had my picc line put in yesterday ready to start treatment Wednesday, and have my routine smear this afternoon. I have had a cold sore come up in the lay few days, I am assuming it is just because I am run down? wondering if they will still start my treatment ? hope so. my bcn had advised me not to work throughout treatment as I work in a children’s nursery, so feel I am going to go stir crazy - ashley xx
Well done jackie09! Sounds like a good start! I didn’t get much sleep the first night either. Hope you continue to cope with it well.
I went to the pharmacy & got some proper mouth wash & am using my little girls bonjela! Not sure what’s happening about my wig - the girl that’s dealing with it not in till tomorrow so can’t see her fitting me in then!
Glad you’re fighting fit kirstie77 even though you’re restricted!
I’m sure they’ll start you wed ashley97 - my bcn said as long as you’re bloods are fine they pretty much go ahead. I know what you mean - not working! My bcn advised me to take 8months off to get through everything,I did argue with her but as I work as a support worker for adults with learning difficulties theres a risk of infection & I don’t want to let them down from one wk to the next! I’ve been off since end of Feb & not found it too bad,go on lots of walks,cleaning,declutter house,see friends,going to brush up on my sign language & may look into a book keeping course.
Auw sorry you feel a bit worse this time round rosie14. Hopefully youll get through the worst of it over the wkend & be ready for Mon!
Xxxx
I chopped up strawberries, kiwi and grapes to take with me to hospital this time and it seems to have sorted out the constipation problem!
Hope you all had a good night’s sleep, it was goood to be in my own bed last night even though I got out to the loo 4 times. This happened the first time round too, all the liquids they put in me working thier way out!
Woken up with the metal taste and can feel the nausea creeping in so will be taking a pill before breakfast. I don’t seem to be so tired yet!
Not very impressed with my hairdressers! Rang this morning as picked out wigs last sat & she said prob fit them 2day but heard nothing since! She said they haven’t arrived yet & has had to order different ones as a couple that I picked where marked in the book as NHS ones & they where marked wrong! Let’s hope I like what she’s picked & that my hair hasn’t started falling out before they arrive!
Blimey kirstie77 you really are going through the mill arnt you?! At least you where in the right place,how scary! Hope you’re on the straight and narrow before you’re next one.
Glad you’re still going well rosie14:)
Youre right wildpurl - our health comes first,no point in pushing ourselves. I used to do aerobics every week before all of this. Was thinking of going back on my good weeks but not sure about catching bugs?? I’ve heard swimming is out of the question!
Xxxx
Thank you ladies:) yeah Rosie 14 I shouldn’t think my hair will fall out before they arrive just hope I like one of the ones she’s chosen as not much time to change now! If it just thins I’ll be fine as my hairs quite thick anyway. But yep kirstie77 maybe I’ll be pleasantly surprised & you’re right - in the circumstances I thought they’d be a bit more organized & compassionate!
Sounds like aerobics maybe too strenuous then. Will have to see if there’s a yoga/Pilate’s class around. I’m not very green fingered - I guess this could be a good time to learn!
I haven’t got a clue about Facebook so if I joined I’d have to get someone to show me what to do!
Has anyone else got a runny nose? (not a cold)
Xxxx
hi all just thought I’d check in, I know I havent started my treatment yet (I start weds) but reading all your posts is keeping me really positive. I have just got in from taking my little boy out for our ‘easter day’ as he is going to stay with his grandparents from weds morning till easter monday to give me some time to
see how it all affects me. we spent the day in the new
forest then drove across to portsmouth harbour to
play on the amusements and have dinner it was a
lovely day, made me forget everything that was going
on I hope you can get home soon kirstie77 and
sorry to hear about your hairdresser and your wig eam28. I had my picc line fitted yesterday and going for blood test monday and to pick up steroids ? havent actually been told what they are for, just been told to take them 24 hours before treatment?
just wondering if you are allowed to take drinks into chemo with you ? will I want to ? or is there anything anyone recommends i take with me ?
Good morning to you all! Hope you are all feeling well and positive.
I am now on day 3 round 2 so still feeling delicate and fowl taste in mouth. My husband is not too happy about our forthcoming trip to UK tomorrow night so I am going to have to present as normal as I can tomorrow! I will rest up again today didn’t do too much yesterday. After tomorrow you may not hear from me until Friday 25th as when we get back from UK I am straight back in for round 3! This is not ideal but I had booked the trip back before I was diagnosed with cancer and I didn’t know I was going to be having chemo every 2 weeks for the first month. Apparently the tumor was 6cm, but the good news, I should have mentioned before, is after round 1 of chemo the oncologist said it has started to shrink! So I must hang on to this.
We are flying to Manchester tomorrow don’t leave here until 10.35pm get into Manchester at 1.30am which will be 3.30am to us as we are 2 hours ahead. Hopefully I will sleep on the plane. Not keen on flying and usually have 2 big glasses of wine pre flight- obviously will not be doing that!!! I have a face mask to wear and have been instructed to start injections the day after! Staying on the airport when we arrive at Premier Inn. After breakfast a leisurely trip up th Newcastle to see our daughter and 2 young granchildren for 3 days. Our daughter and husband are giving up their en suite bedroom in their new house for us! Then travelling down to midlands, should be back to normal by then, to see my sister and 93 year old father. We aren’t telling my dad as my mother dies 27 years ago from cancer! Following this we are going down to Plymouth for 3 nights to see youngest son and his family. Then returning back up to Manchester. We are not venturing over to France to see eldest son! So this is a tall order but one that has kept me going.
I maybe able to use my daughter’s i pad to get online and touch base. I am going to take my wig with me I just have a feeling that hair may start to come out as my head feels prickly when I touch my hair!
Have a good day everyone and do enjoy the good days! xx
Auw you’re going to have a busy time rosie14! It will be nice for you with what’s going on & I’m sure you’re husband will enjoy once the flight is over! Wow that’s good & very encouraging that you know the chemo is already working!:). When you touch base on the 25th I will just have had my 2nd round!:). Hope you have a lovely time with you’re family & take care xxx
Glad you had a lovely time with you’re son ashley97:). Good idea,we’re going to have a bit of a day out next wkend just before my 2nd round. Like rosie14 says we all have slightly different regimes - I was not given steroids before. Had to take an anti sickness tablet 1 hr before treatment,followed by more anti sickness just before the treatment went in. Was sent home with anti sickness tablets & steroid tablets that lasted about 3 days (to be taken at regular intervals)& another pack of anti sickness to take if required. I just took a bottle of water so was swigging that & they made me a cup of tea. I didn’t bring any books/mags but the nurse was really chatty so didn’t need to! A notebook would be handy - personally I take it to every appointment! Drink plenty of water on the way home to flush everything out! Will be thinking of you xxx
Kirstie hope they have finally let you go home what a nightmare for you. Rosie hope you have a good break and well done in getting through no2. EAM nightmare about your wig hopefully they will sort it before you need it. Welcome Jackie, I took books puzzles etc and a couple if ltrs of water, I didn’t even need the books as was in and out in 1.5 hours. All of us who have had our first did much better than we expected and for me the SE have been minimal so far and I even managed a couple of glasses of wine and a take away madras last night which was day 12 for me, although dud regret it at 3.00am as I had the writer heartburn which I’ve never had in my life. The unknown is the worst part but the chemo itself was a doddle but I do have quite prominent veins. Personally I am going to avoid carbs for a few days before and after my next session as I had terrible constipation and I really don’t think they helped. Have a good week everyone x
Hi everyone. Hope you don’t mind me posting on behalf of my mum. My mum is 54 and diagnosed in December 13, had lumpectomy January and mastectomy and all lymph nodes removed from under right arm in Feb. She has her first chemo in the morning at half 11. She will be having fec-t, 8 doses every 21 days and then rads and then hormone tablets. Chemo sounds so scary for her but I have been reading her posts on here and it has put her mind at rest a little that it is doable and that if something does go wrong ie infection the drs can fix it. Mum keeps saying she’s going to join too but I think she’s finding it all hard to talk about still. I hope you are all doing well xxx
Hi ladies hope your all well. I feel really good at the moment so making the most of it But must be slightly mad have been to work fir and mon will be in also tomorrow
I have a full in day wed I joke generally I am h for home or h for hospital. Wed h for hospital blood tests picc line wig pic up and then oncologist. Second fec is Tuesday. Ashley you didn’t say much re picc line so I am assuming no pain.
Had a fab complementary aromatherapy massage at my centre highly recommend if any of your centres offer same.
Susie hope your feeling better I got some prescriptions to help with constipation and it has helped
EAM I hope your wig issue is sorted. Also just to say found an amazing woman on u tube and net who is amazing with scarves and makeup eyelinerher Recommend a look
Rosie look forward to hearing how you hot on with trip when you are back I would have had my 2. Fec on. 22
Bumble girl. Please tell your mum I’m thinking of her and yes it’s a massive life change and s lot of info but there is a vast array of support and advice out there I’m happy to be pm if she wants someone to speak to.
Kirstie are you home yet hope your doing ok
To all. All the best c
Wildpurl did not mean to leave you out hope your week is good
I’m also doing a headstrong course on Thursday will let you know how I get on
Hi bumble girl, I looked on here for months before I joined, it soubds like youre giving her lots of support and we are here if and when she’s ready. Good luck for Wednesday Ashley xx
Well, it was all going well. Had a lovely day on Sunday over on the Gower peninsula. Walked on a beautiful beach then had a delightful lunch (and managed to eat all of it) overlooking the bay. Knackered after it but worth it. Was looking forward to a week with only one, minor, medical appt and being able to get back to doing some work (I work from home). But Monday morning my left arm was swollen and red. Had to rush into the BRI where they diagnosed a blood clot triggered by the PICC line So now have to have daily injections of a blood thinning drug! Hey-ho. I had wimped out from giving myself other injections but having to go to the health centre every day at the same time for the next 16 weeks would just be too constraining. So plucked up my courage and said I would do them myself. And in fact it’s OK although my husband is fussing about making sure I Inject in a different place each time and has drawn a diagram of my tum to record each one. If allowed I think he would like to use a biro and draw little ‘xes’ on me to mark each site, along with the date! ! Never realised before that at some point I would be grateful I have ample flab in that area!
Hoping my hair doesn’t fall out before my grandson’s birthday party on Sunday. Are there any other grannies out there?
Joan
Joan