EC cycle 1 day 14
Hi Angels,
Just a quick one as about to set off for the North East.
Welcome Carolanne and welcome back NicolaJane. Can’t think of a better place to be in the circumstances!
Kate, thank you for mentioning the Scarf Hut site. They have some lovely hats etc and I like the ethos behind it. Sounds like the LGFB sessions are worth cheching out too. My nearest is Leeds - you too, Kim? BTW saw some serum in Boots (while I was buying the false eyelashes, just in case,) that was £30 odd which I thought seemed rather expensive!
Mel and Nora enjoy your weekends away. Weather looks decent. Skye is so beautiful. Lori, I’m quite envious of your trip up to Bamburgh - love it up there. With a bit of luck, I’ll manage fish and chips in Tynemouth!
Judy, didn’t realise you were in Brid. We used to go there once a month to take the dog (Harvey the Irish Setter) for his bath/long walk along the North beach up to Sewerby and back along the top. I miss it alot but he is 14 now and has arthritis and couldn’t negotiate the pebbles and would seize up in the sea. Wouldn’t feel right going there without him either. Our next visit has already been planned. When he’s dust in a small box, some of him will be swimming out to sea off the steep steps at the far end of the beach.
Still got hair. Will probably leave it in Malmaison on Newcastle Quayside 
Enjoy the sunshine - long may it last,
Moira xxx
EC Cycle 1 day 16
Morning Ladies,
Today we are taking advantage of the beautiful sunny day in Yorkshire and having a pub lunch in the beer garden. I will be wearing one of my scarves as my hair is really falling out with a vengeance and I’m leaving a trail of hair wherever I go, and I don’t want to get hair in my food lol
Karen thanks for the tip about the wig, they are a bit shiny aren’t they
Moira - have a great time in Newcastle
Kate and Karn good luck today
Everyone else, take advantage of the lovely weather while we can 
Kim x
AC cycle 2 day 1
Afternoon to one and all,
I had my chosen cocktail this morning with no problems and have been home for a few hours with so far no SE’s. My bloods were fine, neuts 3.88 so no problems. Its glorious weather here and I’m sure that will make me feel good whatever - long may it continue! I’m now 1/4 of the way through my chemo cocktail menu and looking forward to it finishing!
My hair is coming out in handfuls today so I’m expecting to have non by the weekend, I put a hat on earlier and when I took it off it was full of hair so I’m not wearing that again until its got too thin to survive on its own!
Hope you all have sunshine today and minimal SE’s
Kate
x
Hi everyone, Well the chemo has had to be abandonned today after 2 separate Anaphylaxis episodes! I was given anti-sickness before the Herceptin and was ok for about 10 minutes before I had the reaction. Nurses were fab and stabilised me fairly quickly and after a short time on saline tried again with Herceptin successfully. Next came the Docetaxel and within about 4 minutes, reaction number 2 came, only this was a bit different from last time as I had terrible bone pains across my hips and shoulders. I can’t believe I’m having so much bad luck! So next step is to see the Oncologist next week to discuss what he is going to do next. At least I get to feel ok at our friend’s wedding on Saturday - might even be able to have a little drinkies! (that’s if I can taste it) Only thing is, all this is only prolonging my treatment so I hope they come up with a solution next week! Karen xxxx
Oh Karen, this is awful for you, and so frightening at the time. To be allergic to both Herceptin and Docetaxel is a real bummer for you. Blimey, just 4 minutes and you got the awful bone pain. That is more than bad luck. I hope there is someting the oncologist can do - and we both know how brilliant he is, so I’m sure he will come up with something. I wonder if it could be the lack of a port? I did read that the because the ports deliver the poison straight to the very fast flowing central vein, it disperses vey quickly giving less chance of a reaction. Fingers crossed for a solution, and have a fab time at the wedding. xxxx
Oh no Karen that isn’t good news, hope they get you onto a new cocktail that you don’t react to soonest. enjoy a few glasses of wine for me at the wedding! I’m sure there will be some wine or even other alcoholic drinks you can taste …have fun checking which ones taste best!
Kate
x
FEC-T cycle 1 day 13
Still have the spots, but the itchy head is feeling much better, my main problem today, is terrible wind, I don’t know if its because I am eating more than normal and trying to eat a healthier diet or what, my son thinks its hilarious as I’m normally the only one in the house that’s never suffered from wind. I’ve managed to do a bit of gardening today, plus some sewing and some ironing. I’m an artist but painting just doesn’t hold any appeal at moment. I finished one of my creations just before I had my first cycle but I have still to box it up ready for shipping.
How awful for you Karen , it must have been quite frightening, hope your oncologist can come up with a new plan for you.
Kate , pleased to hear you are doing well with your second dose, I hope it stays that way for you. Sorry your hair is coming away in handfuls, are you going to shave it off?
kim a pub lunch in the beer garden sounds the perfect day, with the weather we are having.
Moira we do that walk every day with the dog, we park up in sewerby and walk along the cliff top, down to the beech, usually we have a coffee on the beech at the north side and then walk back up. It’s a lovely walk. So sorry to hear your dog is getting too old for it.
Sandy hope you feel better tomorrow, did you feel this way with your first cycle? You certainly know a lot more about your cancer than I do about mine. I thought I didn’t have the answers s I’ve not had surgery yet, but it sounds like you havnt had surgery either. I best of luck with the s/e. i’d never thought about sewing a bandana scarf, I’ve had a look and found a pattern that looks really easy, which I might have a go at.
http://www.daydreambelievers.net/2012/08/updated-chemo-caphead-scarf-tutorial.html
Mel, I too have ordered some scarfs today from Anna bandana, I’m only on day 13 and no hair has fallen out yet but i thought I’d better get my butt in gear as start getting some things together.
best wishes to everyone, judy x
hi angels
counting down to cycle 2 in one week. just been catching up on all your posts and they all sound very medical, i’m having the docetaxol after 3 fec, and it sounds as though it might be not very nice. has anyone had it and been ok?
poor Karen, what a day!
kate, glad all went well with you.
judy, i sew, i’m half way through a winnie the pooh quilt and i just cant focus, what do you paint?
sandy, hope you pick up quickly.
kim, i’m a yorkshire lass, living far away, pub garden sounds good.
my girls at work who look after me like a baby said that if i wanted to make a scarf into a turban, like the land girls used to have, they will all wear one with me so i dont feel different, isnt that the sweetest thing !
good health ladies
angie xx
Hi Angie,
I am on docetaxel - day 2 of second cycle. You have to watch the prolonged neutropenia period (I got it and was in hospital 3 nights) but apart from that I have been well, felt good and normal. Some mild side effects that really are nothing worth mentioning. It hasn’t affected my normal daily life at all - again apart from the neutropenia. But as long as you are very vigilant taking temps several times a day, and ring in as told if it hits 37.5 for an hour or more, all should be well. It is all very personal, and we get the luck of the draw I suppose.
xxx
hi lola
whats the prolonged neutrapenai period, is it different to the fec by lasting longer or is it something different altogether?
yes i read your posts, a wee bit scary? i did take my temp more because of it.
thanks, angie xx
Hi Angie,
It just means your white blood cell count starts to drop sooner than it does on other chemo drugs, normally about day 5. Worst days are 7 to 10 (I was taken in on day 10) from then it normally gets better but slowly. Not safe to assume you are safe until day 14. Or so I have been told by my chemo unit. It just means extra vigilance with temperature taking and avoiding infections. Yes, scary, but do-able.
xxx
thanks lola,
i was having a bit of a freak out - okay now though
angie xx
Judy…yes I am going to shave my head, the hospital reckon if it doesn’t fall out when I wash it tomorrow it will get sore and itchy over the weekend so OH is ready and waiting with hair trimmers!
Angie…I’m a Yorkshire lass too, you can take a girl out of Yorkshire but ou can’t take Yorkshire out of a girl! I still have a bit of an accent even though I haven’t lived in Yorkshire for about 17 years…and that was only a return of 4 years after I’d left for about 10 years the first time. The weather down here is a little better most of the time!
Pub lunch in a beer garden sounds lovely, I’m hoping the weather holds so I can do that at the weekend when my OH isn’t working…although he seems to think clearing the garage out is on the cards for this weekend, not sure I am tempted by that as much as a pub lunch!
hope you all have a nice evening and a glass of wine or two for at least some of you! Jealous smile!
kate
x
Not looking forward to the docetaxel now Lola , thankfully that’s not until cycle 4 so theres plenty of time before i need to worry about it. I think I’m on the same as you Angie , 3 FEC then 3 docetaxel. Angie I have the concentration of a goldfish at the moment, I enjoy sewing, I have made a few quilts over the years. I paint watercolours, mainly pet portraits. But I also make monkeys… this is my website http://judysrebornnursery.webs.com/petportraitartist.htm. Since this all started in march though, I have done one portrait and that’s it, I’m hoping that as time goes by things will get back to normal. We’ve just moved my elderly parents to Bridlington in march too so we are at there place every day taking care of them.
judy, your paintings are amazing, what a gift you have. they are just brilliant. yes we are getting the same traetments it seems, almost same days too in the cycle. i’m not too worried now, i think the aches and pains will be the problem for me with the docetaxol but its got to be better than the sickness of fec!
kate, my accent mysteriously returns when i’m with yorkshire folk. i’m in scotland now, not lived in yorkshire for 30 years, but its still there because people up here always know where i’m from!
angie xx
I’ve just spend a lovely day out, trip to my folks and a pub lunch, then met the OH at the local for afew drinks beofre heading home, to top it all its been a beautiful sunny day…couldnt ask for more.
I’m day 13 Cycle 1 minimal side effects except for runny eyes, nose and spotty skin (going to have to try clearsil I think…!!) i did have a temperature spike last Wednesday and was told to go straight to A&E, which I did, they took me through to major incidents, threatened me with admission, but after iv antibiotics they released me :o)
Karen - I’m on Docetaxel and also had extreme pains in my hips and shoulders…it was an awful nagging pain I’m sort of hoping it doesnt return in round 2…but we will see.
I’m cold capping (not pleasant but my hair is dark brown and long, if at all possible I’d like to hold onto some, if not all of it), I’ve noticed over the past few days its starting to shed it I touch it, I’m hoping its a temporary thing and the shedding will slow down but that remains to be seen, I have a beautiful wig and headscarves from Anna Bandana and Scarf Hut, so I’m ready should it happen.
I’ve followed all the posts and read them avidly even though I havent contributed that much, I’m working through chemo (having the week following chemo off and working the following two, with time off for hospital appointments so time is limited for me.
Hope everyone is doing well, take care Laura xx
Love the paintings Judy, I don’t have a dog but the paintings look so realistic against the photos you’ve shown. Hope you get back to wanting to do it again soon. The monkey’s look very real - and Maxwell looks like a cheeky mischievous one!
Kate
x
fec-t cycle 2 day 7
hi angels, wow everyone had been busy since i posted last. I had round 2 last week and apart from the night i got home from hosp the nausea has been minimal The only thing i am struggling to cope with now is my mouth, its not sore just tastes vile, i feel like im constantly brushing my teeth and using mouthwash!
I had an intoxicating tea party with some friends at the weekend and really enjoyed being out with the girls and being "normal"My DH came home yesterday for 9wks and we are going away for the weekend to our caravan with the kids, can’t wait. Peace, quiet and Baxters pancakes!
Hope everyone managing to cope with their s/e, take care
Christine
E CMF cycle 1 day 13
Hi Angels
Got my wig today! Not sure what I think about it- bit tidy, I’m more of a dragged through a hedge backwards kind of girl. Doesn’t seem to be possible to mess it up much- it just falls back to perfect! My 15 year old daughter has tried it on and is quite taken with it, so it will get worn but not necessarily by me. I’ll post a picture when I work out how to do it.
Debra I don’t know anything about cmf yet other than the side effects in the leaflet I was given, which seem to be same old ones, sickness, hair loss, sore mouth, nail problems, but which ones we get seems to vary. I’ve painted my nails dark purple, but I only got that from here, no one has said anything about nails at the hospital. I think all the side effects are thankfully temporary, and everything should return to ‘normal’ when treatment stops, although this can take time. I have a friend whose toe nail suddenly fell off weeks after her last treatment! Cmf is given on day 1 and day 8 then 3 weeks off so far as I can make out, although this could just be because I’m having radio in the gap. Hope it doesn’t make me so sick- don’t think i can face feeling this bad until November.
Karen so sorry you’ve had such bad reactions to the drugs. Hope they get you sorted soon, thinking of you.
Judy I too have been f***ting for England and my teenagers just roll about laughing. I have no credibility any more! You’re pictures are lovely hope you get back to it soon.
Going to try and post a picture of wig, sleep well all, Mel x
Aaarrggggg!!! long post lost so just a quick check in. Bloods done today in prep for cycle 2 on Friday. Getting better stuff for mouth probs this time round so hopefull of minimal s/e’s as long as I dont pick up another cold! also very spotty so will try the clearasil stuff - thanks ladies
Karen - nightmare, keep your chin up, we’re all with you xx
thinking about you all and hope s/e’s are minimal
Pauline xx