Hiya sandy, good to read that your getting over the worst of it. I know what you mean about the surgery, it’s rattling me too, I’m not looking forward to it. Im having a full mastectomy, I’m not really sure why as originally nothing showed up on the mammogram, ultrasound or MRI scan but the doctor wasn’t happy with the shape of my boob. At that point I couldn’t see any difference from one boob to the other, but once they started taking biopsies and squishing it here there and everywhere the boob just got well out of shape and within about a month the tumour had grown so much it was covering the top half of my boob and was quite obvious. It’s lobular breast cancer and it’s in the lymph nodes as well. I was told I would have a mastectomy within 31 days but then the next time I went they had changed it to chemo first then mastectomy. When the oncologist measured it last week with his little plastic ruler he couldn’t see or feel any trace of it but he said it will still be a mastectomy. I think it’s cos it’s lobular which doesn’t show up on any scan but im not sure. I know my mum had breast cancer 15 year back and had mastectomy.
ive got my appointment with the surgical team on the 12th, I suppose that’s when I will find out more. I’ve got some cool cotton button up pajamas ready though cos I don’t think it will be long.
mums appointment with the Parkinson’s specialist went great, at least I feel like they’re doing something and I didn’t have to be all “bouncer” with them kim, he’s a lovely doctor, he seems to know what he’s talking about.
This bloated feeling is awful today, the mouths starting to fur up too and I’m constipated, just started on the fibrogel, don’t you just love chemo!
Hi All,
I think the aqueous cream is just really, really gentle and during rads we need to make sure we use nothing that will irritate the skin. People say its like sunburn, but it clearly isn’t and is doing a lot more than the sun would! I’ll avoid using anything that might irritate my skin for several days before so as not to upset it (I have pretty sensitive skin at the best of times). I will take Ann’s advice & shave beforehand though - I have 5 weeks of rads and will definitely be sprouting at the end!
Judy - hope your son is better now, good to hear your Mum has a good specialist - it makes all the difference. If you don’t understand why your treatment is being done in a particular way, ask loads of questions. I found that after discussions with the surgeon, we got a second go for questions with the nurse - they’ve always been really good at finding out if they don’t know.
I’m mostly horizontal at the moment. I thought I’d got the hang of chemo yesterday, but the aches set in overnight and my energy disappeared. I also seem to have twisted my foot a bit on one of my nocturnal trips so I’m limping a bit as well! Looking forward to another 2 or 3 days of sofa-surfing before I start to feel better…
All the best,
Ros xx
Last Cycle Day 14
Went for a Reiki session at Clan so feeling a bit horizontal, what’s new! Managed a trip to Asda this morning but knackered afterwards so back to online shopping. Tasted my first slice of toast this morning in ages because it was spread with lemon curd, lovely. Another newbie to suss out the taste buds is cloudy lemonade, stocked up on a few bottles.
Angie Iam blaming you cos I’ve just eaten a tin of semolina with raspberry jam and loved it…it’s like being pregnant again all these food fads. I think we’re all struggling a bit with the weight thing, I’ve put on 1.5 stone and hate it. Had full intentions of healthy eating and exercising by now but that just isn’t happening I’m so tired. Anybody know how long the effects of chemo and steroids are in your system? My throats still a bit sore but temp staying down so fingers crossed it disappears soon.
Judy, glad your Mums appt went well and hope our son is feeling better. Kim, where are you, we’re waiting?
Hope s/e are minimal for all and good luck to all on the train this week xx
good evening angels,
having a better day today, the pains have been the worst this time, i even burnt my leg where i had a hot water bottle soothing the aches! must have fragile skin. so i wont pretend that i know what youre all up to, i am quite confused, confusing and a wee bit forgetful just now, but ive read everything and updated myself. ive been getting some gripes in the ribs, not chest pains, more like indegestion, anyone else getting this, a lot round the mastectomy site too.
i went to work to take a note in and got myself a piece of lemon pie yum yum, i had 4 fishfingers and a chocolate mousse so far. i am a bit hungry though.
my hair is coming on well, white, speckled and soft - but its hair, so i keep taking it outside for a bit of a blow. had a dodgy eyebrow hair like a twig?!?? and i need to shave my leggies - oh what fun to be saying all this. and ive been sewing, making applique cushions, now thats concentration for you!
have a good night girls, i hope you stay as comfy as you can possibly be.
angie xx
Cycle 5 docetaxel 2 day 18
Evening Angels i have had a sore eye since Friday. Woke up this morning and it was a mess could not put my lenses in. Went to Opticians he says it is not infected he thinks it is the chemo he says my eyes are totally dehydrated he prescibed me special drops I had to take letter to docs to get he says they will give me instant relief here’s hoping I hate wearing my glasses with a scarf or a wig not a good look. They stick to my bald head too. Took John for a birthday lunch up at the forth and Clyde canal just had a light lunch today. Hope all your s/e are minimal take care Lynn x
Hi Angels,
I too am still on the train until the first week of November, so will be alighting with Mel, Roz and Debra!
Keep taking the pills Debra. I have just taken my last 4 tablets before my " tab free week" Those last couple of days nearly kill me! I sit staring at the tablets for ages wondering if I should just throw them away, then I think well, I’m only letting myself down if I don’t take them and I NEED TO SURVIVE this, I’ve got too much living to do yet. I am now halfway through and I must admit, this last cycle has gone quite quickly so hopefully the next 4 will do too.
Looking forward to my holiday in France in 3 weeks. Found a local cancer support network where our house is and have been in contact with a lovely lady who has given me her number to phone if I am unwell over there. She - or one of the 14 volunteers will come to the hospital with me and translate if necessary! It is reassuring to know that I have the support there if I need it. I feel much more confident about going now.
I said to my daughter that I couldn’t decide if my hair was growing back blonde or grey. She paused then said “no, sorry mum, it’s definately grey” Thanks for the confidence booster Kerry! Actually quite like the really short hair and it is so easy, might just keep a little pixie crop for good!
Sleep tight everyone, Karen xxx
good morning angels
had to ring the doctors today, the sickness has got me, but as per last two cycles its thrush and easily sorted. i thought it was a s/e and put up with it the first time but as philomena saaid, it doesnt have to be visible on the tongue it can be further back and causes this awful sicky feeling and affects taste and stuff
just thought i’d let you know in case you are having the same, not trying to diagnose anyone, just sharing the experience.
where is everyone, am i the only person with nothing better to do hahaha
angie xx
Morning ladies, the aches are coming in today, plus more fur on the tongue, yuk! But our Ryan’s feeling better, and I think I’ve got my bowels back under control. Still gotto sort out this awful bloated feeling, I don’t think it helps that I can’t stop eating. I think that’s down to the extended steroid taking this week, but the steroids have helped keep the aches away a bit so they’ve been worth it this time.
Glad you’ve got your thrush sorted Angie, along with you ipod ready for inverness. I use the iPad which is so annoying on here as it changes text all the time, but easier than dragging the laptop out.
Karen we will wait for you on the fat train till November, it’s a long way off, don’t envy you. I think we’ve all ended up with grey hair comng through but I have read that it can change colour from what comes through originally.
Lynn, hope your eyes are feeling better.
Kim, good luck today, hope everything goes ok for your last dose, ive got m flag out, waving madly on the platform, shuffle up ladies, make room for another.
have a good day ladies, take care, x
Good morning everyone
well I have finally got off the train and on to the platform yeah! the veins definitely didn’t want to play today and it took 5 attempts to get the cannula in as the vein either popped or refused to part with any blood! One of my sister in laws came with me this time and she was fascinated with everything that was going on In the unit. My Oh is on nights at the moment so I will be breaking open the champagne went he gets up later this afternoon
Angie - hope your medication sorts out your thrush. I use my iPad and agree with Judy about it changing words randomly, it is a bit annoying
Judy - hope the aches and pains subside soon,
karen - my hair has started to grow back it is fluffy and I have a two tone thing going on grey at the crown and darker at the back, worryingly I have very little growth at the front! My eyebrows have also started to grow back and they are very very blonde!
The hospital rang yesterday and my radiotherapy planning meeting is on Thursday 15th August, so looks like it is all systems go for radiotherapy at the end of the month.
Have a good day ladies
Kim x
Good Afternoon Angels,
Well done Kim. You must have been first in the queue this morning - all done and dusted before lunch! Have you managed all 6 in one arm? Hope the s/es don’t attack too strongly and just remember whatever you go through now won’t be happening again in three weeks time
Been to collect my new wig this morning. It feels all soft and real. Felt like I’d just walked out of the hairdressers. I’m still wearing it now. Don’t know how I’m ever going to take it off again.
Stomach is playing up big time today and rear-end not too good because of the constipation. Do feel that this cycle has magnified all the worst aspects. To think the oncologist offered me a reduced dose and I said no!
Reading some of the posts from the last few days has made me think about what I’m going to have as my first real post-chemo meal. At the minute it’s a toss-up between a dressed crab salad or a big pot of mussels in white wine with crusty french bread. Well thats the fantasy - back to the bowl of lentil soup.
Moira xxx
Well done Kim, glad it went ok. I too am still baldish at the front of me head so maybe that’s the last bit to grow.
lets see the wig then moira, it sounds fab, bet its nice to feel hair there again. I’ve started taking senekot for the constipation and it works much better than the movicol, mind you I had home made veg soup yesterday with 7 different veggies in sp that helped I guess. Still obsessing over food though, I’ve got a one track mind at moment… What’s my next meal and when.!!!
this cycle is definitely the worst yet, not looking forward to tonight as I’m now on half dose steroids, the aches are working there way through, mind you it might be nice if I don’t wake up every hour instead,
Hello Angels,
Went to see my oncologist this morning - she concluded immediately that the ‘hump’ is common side effect of the steroids and will probably sort itself out. Wish I hadn’t bothered with the day at the hospital now, clearly they were not aware it was common. She also said I was to have 3 weeks not 5 for radiotherapy (good news, lets see if that is confirmed later) and that I will need at least a month after rads before thinking about return to work. Thought I would share that. Also got prescription for Tamoxifen - told that first 6 weeks are worst, as you get used to it. A few people can’t tolerate it and need to stop but otherwise should settle down. I do hope that the next 5 years can be as much like pre BC as possible. if anyone has more info or read any good threads about this can you let me know?
Stopped off in Leicester for a bit of shopping on way back. Several hours later and more bags than I can carry i am back home. Bank balance suffering some what but have new skirt, top and shoes plus my next project that hopefully i can manage over the next 2 weeks whilst s/es kick in - everyting i need to knit a hat and some wrist warmers in lovely Rowan wools. Haven’t knitted for 30 years so thought I would start easy
Carol x
Hi Moira I love the new hair I was first in the queue at 9.00 this morning, I was even a little excited ! I did a little dance, well more of a shuffle because of my arthritic hip, much to the amusement of my sister in law
Judy - glad the senakot is working for you, I have real problems getting the movicol down, not sure why because it is not that unpleasant but the mere thought of taking it makes me queasy
My first post-chemo meal was abowl of pea and ham soup. Once my taste buds come back over the next couple of weeks my meal will definitely be seafood of some description, Moira the mussels sound like heaven, followed by a selection of blue cheeses with a nice glass of merlot
Cycle docetaxel 2 day 19
Afternoon Angels. Kim congratulations on reaching the platform, will not be too long before you can enjoy some seafood, the mussels sound great and not forgetting the cheese and merlot.
Moira your wig looks fab you remind me of one of my previous managers and hers was not a wig well she never let on if it was.
I got my eye drops this morning eye feels a lot more comfortable although still a bit blood shot.
I have my bloods tomorrow so got pork chops broccoli and asparagus for dinner. Hope they are ok, and all goes ahead as planned On Friday. I have my sister, brother in law, two nephews and the dog coming to stay over just for one night on Thursday on their way to Islay for a weeks holiday (told her to pack the waterproofs) will need to go make bed up in spare room. My job for today.
Ps my fluffy hair still has not fell out, cant see eyebrows or lashes growing back yet though. Take care Angels Lynn x
Wow - all this talk of delicious food. I can’t wait to lose the manky mouth for good and really start to enjoy nice food again.
Well done for reaching the finish line Kim.
I love the new hair Moira. It suits you.
Mamakaz enjoy your holiday in France. It must be so reassuring to have that support available whilst you are there. Have a lovely time.
Carol I’m glad you’ve got your eyes sorted out. Another lovely SE!
Judy I’m glad your son is feeling better now. My daughter had a sickness bug last week. I felt even more sorry for her than ever, having had my own head spin like the girl in the exorcist whilst on FEC.
Carol thanks for sharing the info about returning to work. I did wonder how long it would be after rads. I’m actually very nervous about going back to work. I’m not feeling very confident at the mo and I don’t want to ever let work take over my life again like it did before, though at the same time I am looking forward to a bit of normality.
I hope those who are suffering recover quickly. xxx
Good afternoon Angels and welcome to the platform Kim,
well I have had a great 36 hrs with my cousin and talked for at least 30 of them. If talking and sleeping were Olympian events I would be a true athlete ! Unfortunately I have now lost my voice completely
I went for my rads mapping this morning and was delighted that they will continue. I was really worried because of the cardiac changes. I now have 3 tatoos, so proud to get tattoos at 54, feel very young. Start on 19th.
its my last injection tonight so hoping I will then be finished soon from all the s/e, hope all you angels soon reach that place soon.
Sandy and Judy, it must be very confusing re mastectomy after chemo, and having gone through all this chemo first, but just write down all your questions and have them ready when you see the surgeon and continue asking until your satisfied with the answers. Always remember the first part of the Hippocratic oath is " do no harm" .
Moira is the picture of your new wig, it is great love the hairstyle.
Just a bit of advise please Angels, I know a few of you are teachers! Next year Im going back to Oz for a month and will take my youngest who will be in yr 8. I know the rules change this september and say you can no longer take kids out of school during term time, but I am enrolling her into school in Sydney for 2 weeks, do you think they will allow me?
anyway must make me self some lemon and honey drink and try and get my voice back as I know my OH would be really upset if I couldn’t speak…xx
Kim, welcome to the platform…it’s sure getting busy here!
i had a lovely weekend in Southend, including afternoon tea with prosecco to celebrate end of chemo. Southend, if you haven’t been is a proper ‘kiss me quick’ hat type of seaside, quite tacky but we had great weather so walked miles and miles and slept lots too! Yesterday my parents arrived for 24 hours on their way to Winchester for a short break. I wasn’t looking forward to it as they don’t understand how I’m dealing with all this…and sure enough my dad told me the short hair I have is white or grey so when it grows a bit I’ll look even more like my mum…yeah just what I wanted to hear!
Today I have been to see my lovely good looking cosmetic surgeon, he filled my implant a little more and is keeping his fingers crossed that rads will not affect it too much.
i start Tamoxifen tomorrow so I guess I’ll start getting those side effects over the next few weeks…hopefully not too many of them. I did make a cup of sage tea yesterday and it did seem to reduce the hot flushes during the night so I’m going to make another today and I’ve ordered some tea bags…as I’m sure it must taste better than using fresh sage!
Carol, I was told to wait 2 to 3 weeks after rads before going back to work and to try to go back on a phased return including working from home some days as I have a 60mile round trip on top of my days work. The ONC gave me a sick note that includes the 2 or 3 weeks depending on the start date of rads.
hope you all have some sunshine again today, we do and its lovely as there is also a bit of a breeze.
Kate
x
Hi ladies, think I am over the worse now thank f**k - excuse my french but the last week was bloody awful! Managed to get dressed and go to local shop today - ‘wow’ I hear you say - it was a big effort Thanks for all your good wishes Got my CT scan on Thursday and Rads planning session on 12th then a couple of ‘free’ weeks before rads start on 27th - hope to get away for a couple of days before rads
Kim - welcome to the platform, hope your last s/e’s are not too bad Moira - love the hairdo, really suits you Kate - saffend sounds fab, I used to be up and down quite a lot with work and had a few good nights out - even got a knock back from a pub once - don’t ask!! Judy / Angie - hope the nasties are keeping at bay, the last one really is a buggar. I just had to relent and listen to my body and sleep most of the way through it. It’s really hard to do if you are used to being up and about. Philomena - sounds like you had a fab time with the Ozzies, I’m not a teacher but hopefully you won’t have too many problems, what an experience for your daughter - hopefully it will work out Amber - hope you are feeling better too, the fatigue is quite overwhelming at times. I struggle when one day I feel ok, I think that I should be ok from now on, then WAM you are hit again with aches or fatigue etc. It really is one day at a time!!
Weight - I too have put on about 1 stone. My plan is to get over this week and if I feel quite good next week start on a healthy eating plan. As for exercise, think it will be a while before I can do anything (actually can’t even contemplate it at the moment) but I do intend to get a month’s worth of sessions on the Power Plate at local sunbed place. No excersion whatsoever but get’s every muscle in the body moving and really good for toning etc. - That’s the master plan anyway, will let you know how I get on!! Food - haven’t eaten much at all recently due to sore mouth so will try and keep off the cakes and sweet stuff when I do begin to eat again (see weight plan above!) There’s not really much I am craving but really looking forward to some nice meals out, accompanied by vino of course, when things are back to ‘normal’ Our get together - haven’t done anything with this recently but will get on it over next couple weeks. Def looks like Manchester next April and will prob be a weekend. Given our numbers and personal preferences etc I think we should try and book a hotel with a Spa and arrange to spend say Saturday afternoon there together. That way those who want treatments can arrange and the rest can still lounge around in fluffy robes but don’t actually need to get treatments or go in pool etc. I’m also guessing we’ll go out somewhere nice for dinner and have a proper knees up!
Take care Angels, hope the s/e’s are minimal and the sleep fairies are kind
hi girls
i got my thrush pills and i feel better already, i have eaten boiled rice with curry juice and apple crumble and cream - how good is that!
i feel like ive turned a bit of a corner today, everyone at the docs congratulated me for surviving the chemo, all was lovely, and after a slepp this afternoon i have to say i feel a lot lot better.
Pauline - glad youre out and about, ive not had the same, my first nearly wiped me out, this one is so much kinder.
kim - welcome, feels good eh?
moira - loving the hair, very nice, welcome, you did go today? brains not brilliant at the moment. my ipod wont recognise your name it makes me put moors.
philomena - fancy talking that much! tattoos as well, are you after judys bouncer job?
kate - where might the sage tea bags come from and who told you this?
Mel-A - This mouth thing is quite hard isnt it when you need to eat foor strength but you cant and then you fancy something but it tastes awful… hate that bit.
I have a freiend WEIGHT LOSS PLAN PEOPLE who told me that when he had chemo a couple of years ago that after he finished he started to get cravings like a pregnant person and started eating again! dont know how true that is but he was very serious about it. gonna have to be strong if that happens!!
i have done a mental move on today, got all my cards and papers and booklets and anything to do with chemo and wrapped it up in a little pink bag, then put it away in a closed box, with my other saved memories and bits and bobs. it was very empowering, i’m a rads girl now.
hope you are all at your best and if not soon will be,
angie xx
the veins definitely didn’t want to play today and it took 5 attempts to get the cannula in as the vein either popped or refused to part with any blood! One of my sister in laws came with me this time and she was fascinated with everything that was going on In the unit. My Oh is on nights at the moment so I will be breaking open the champagne went he gets up later this afternoon 
