Judy - Great you’ve started painting again - well done, that’s brilliant!
Kate (love your new pic!) & Angie good luck tomorrow.
Will let you know how I find the Taxatore Train…
Thinking about you all - take care Love Lori xx
Fec-t cycle 3 Day 15
Onc appointment went well today, he’s pleased how I’ve reacted to chemo so far. He wants me to have a 4 week break before Tax as he originally planned. His reason is there will be less Fec in my system and my body will be stronger to cope with the impact of Tax, he doesn’t want to jeopardise the good progress I’ve made so far. So I have another week of freedom with Tax due 11/6 now. He also said my ovaries have shut down so I will have another bone scan after Tax.
Pauline, I think the sicky thing must be a build up I’ve been fine today but had a few days where I’ve felt like that and it didn’t happen in previous cycles. The emotional side too kicked in, had a few teary days this cycle but it does pass.
Angie, Kate and Lori, good luck for tomorrow, Lori keen to hear how the first Tax goes.
Judy, a new painting, that’s fantastic it’ll keep your mind of the s/e
Mel, I often fancy a glass of wine but when I get one can’t really taste it properly
Kim, enjoy your wedding on Friday.
Kate sounds like you had a fantastic weekend
Wishing you all minimal s/e tonight xx
Happy Birthday Lori x
happy birthday lori , good luck with the tax, hope it goes well for you 
angie xx
Happy birthday Barbara and Lori. I hope it goes ok for you tomorrow Lori. Have you got over your cold now? I’m starting to pick up now and finish my antibiotics tomorrow. I also have my bloods taken tomorrow ready for round 3 on Thursday, so Ihope I’m good to go. I’m with you Amber - the sooner I can get off this chemo coaster the better so I don’t want any delays.
Sandy, I hope you start to feel better soon xx
It’s nice to see some of you are enjoying your hobbies again and I’m glad you had a nice break Kate.
Good luck to everyone with infusions this week. Hope you have minimal SEs. Xx
Hi Mel,
Thanks, like you I am on the mend, and thankfully before start of Tax, although if I’m honest I’d like another week to feel normal…maybe Tax will be kind! I dont finish anti biotics until Thursday.
I am getting a bit annoyed that I have no contact with my oncologist, met him before I started and that was it. Don’t get me wrong the Onc unit and nurses are fab but he’s the one making the decisions so think I’m gonna ask for some of his time for a chat. Also I only ever get my bloods checked the morning of my chemo…seems different to most?
Also worried about my left arm still extremely painful after last session it took 3 veins and over 4 hours to get all the gunk into me. Heaven knows what tomorrow will bring? I dont anticipate much sleep after my 8 steroids today but I will sign off for now and not rant all night!
Sleep tight everyone, love Lori x
Hi Angels
AC cycle 4 day 1
I’m busy doing the ‘halfway happy dance’ mixed with the ‘end of AC dance’…I move on to Paclitaxel(Taxol) for my next cycle and have 4 of those to go. My bloods were fine, neuts of 3.87 so I seem to be doing okay on AC…just got to start all over again with working out what Taxol will bring. I’ve been out for lunch with my OH since getting back from hospital, it was 2 hours in total today and everything went smoothly.
Lori - I think you should be getting to see your Onc at least every other cycle if you want to, my ONC said I could see him every cycle if I wanted to when I did see him but that he’d be keeping track of me even if he didn’t see me so I haven’t bothered and will only see him week after the first cycle of TAX.
Hope everyone else’s SE’s are reducing now in preparation for the next cycle. Angie keep sleeping, that’s how your body deals with the bad stuff so you do need to rest to allow it to do its work - your snug does sound lovely!
We have rain again down here - hope you’ve still got some sun in Scotland for those up there!
Kate
x
FEC 3 day 1 (last fec hooray)
hi angels,
hope its all good for the day 1 girls today, mine went smooth, ive got good platelets, ( i think that sounds like a compliment!) just waiting for the sleep to kick in. zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz 
So nothing so far to complain about. I did get a bottle of 24 steroids for the docetaxol next time, 8 a day for three days, which is a bit startling when the nurse said my weight gain is probably due to the steroids! so what will i be like after that lot! Ive already gone up a size.
Kate - i got a sausage roll from tesco, not quite the same. Yes, the sun is still here, told you iwas keeping it! 
Lori - ive met my onc once, in fact it was the consultant onc, not my named onc. Dont know why i never see mine but i suppose they know what we’re up to. I know what she looks like because there’s a photo of her in the unit!
So hi all angels, hope you’re day is good.
angie xx
Angie - I’m a little jealous of the sausage roll…although I’m having toad in the hole for tea so I shouldn’t be really! The sun must be on its hols in Scotland this week, hope you are enjoying it while you can! Are you halfway too now? 3 FEC and 3 TAX? Again I wonder why some people have 3 doses and some have 4…hope the ONC knows what they are doing!
My steroids for TAXOL don’t change, still 4 for 3 days after chemo…although I did reduce to 3 last time on AC with the ONC’s blessing but will revert back to 4 for the first of the new cocktail just in case!
Hope everyone else has a good day with lots of sausages (rolls or toads!) 
Kate
x
FEC-T Cycle 4 (Taxotere) Day 1
Hi everyone,
So far so good, started on 8 steroids yesterday in preparation (8am/2pm) although ended up being late with second dose 3.30pm. Slept ok eventually bit longer to drop off but nothing to complain about.
Had no problem with infusion this morning, bloods seemed better than usual - maybe something to do with birthday drinks last night, maybe Captain Morgans and lemonade should be on prescription!! I have been advised of all possible side effects so will just see how it goes. Late taking second dose of steroids this afternoon…4pm might be a late night!
Hope you all progress well on your next cycles with minimal side effects.
Best wishes
Love Lori xx
Fec-t cycle 2 Day 20
well I’m well and truly cracking on with the painting, don’t think I will get it finished before Friday when I have my 3rd dose of FEC but I’m doing something, it sure feels good to be creating again.
Glad it went ok for you angie, Kate and Lori. Lori I don’t like the sound of all those steroids for the next session, it will be interesting to see how the TAX effects you, hope you all manage to get some sleep.
Kate you do look healthy and happy in your new photo.
MelA I’m like you, I have my bloods taken at the doctors the day before chemo, but I don’t know if they’re ok until I get to Scarborough for my chemo the day after.
Weve got the rain here in bridlington, but it’s supposed to be really nice of Friday.
Hi everyone, I started chemo at the end of April I’m on fec-t, I’m due my 3rd Monday! I have been reading all your posts and its lovely knowing I’m not alone in this! My hair is falling out even though I have used the cold cap twice so trying to face up to the hair loss is hard but getting there slowly! want to thank you all for your stories they keep me going xx
EC cycle 2 day 21
Well I’m back in God’s own county after a lovely, if tiring, few days in London. Since there’s not likely to be a decent summer holiday this year, me and OH are packing in as much as we can in short English breaks. So this weekend we’ve been to the Palladium for A Chorus Line, then the following night was Jersey Boys and finally, last night, we went to the Royal Albert Hall to see Mark Knoppfler! I’ve arrived home feeling shattered but I’ve been to have my bloods taken at the GPs this afternoon and hopefully when I turn up at the chemo unit tomorrow they’ll be good enough to get on with number three.
Judy, glad you’ve rediscovered your creative streak. Is that one of your paintings in your profile pic? Like you I’ve had the drippy nose. Bought some Clarityn - made a bit of a difference. Pounding London pavements means sore feet, aching back and twinges in my hips. Sorted that lot out with neurofen. I’m getting very blase (no accent available) about taking over the counter meds!
This last week before chemo my taste buds have returned. Just never appreciated how wonderful any old food could taste. Oh, and sharing a bottle of Pinot Noir…
Kate, your mini cruise sounds just like something they should offer us all on prescription! Glad you had such a lovely time. Love the new photo, too!
Looks like there could be quite a lot of changes going on with the s/es now that so many are changing over to the tax. Hope it’s kind to you all. Tax is the black nail varnish needed stuff, I believe. I’m stuck with 6 rounds of EC and since it’s the E that does the most vein damage, I don’t kow how I’ll manage for the rest of them. Took 2 attempts to get blood out today so heaven knows what it will be like trying to get anything in tomorrow 
Happy belated birthday to Barb and Lori. Hope you both managed a little gentle celebration xx
Enjoy the wedding at the weekend, Kim. You should be fighting fit with the extra few days recovery time!
Seems that when it comes to seeing the onc, it’s different for all of us. I have another appointment scheduled for 6 weeks time, just before cycle 5 - if I’m still standing!
Thanks for the positive comments about the wig, Angels. Think when it does grow back, not only am I going to treat it much more considerately, but I might even have it coloured/lightened professionally rather than the Nice and Easy. And, it would seem that day 19 is my hair loss day since any that was hanging on has now departed and I am very shiny on top! Thinking of venturing into our very private side garden to get a light tan on it - that’s if it ever stops raining!
Wishing youall painfree infusions and minimal s/es
Moira xxx
Moira it sounds like you’ve had a lovely time in London, make the most of the good days. I had to chuckle over your hair, mine is the same, I think if I hadn’t have shaved it off I would be like a bald man by now as I have no hair showing at all on the top of my head and yet I’m getting a dark shadow around the back. I’ve been in the garden earlier in the week and fort a tan on my head and it looks so much better . I’ve already got my appointment through for 10 days after the chemo to see the oncologist, again to measure the lump with there little plastic ruler. I just don’t know what they’re looking at, as there’s nothing to see. I know the chemo is working though as the breast is no longer hard and its gone back to looking just like the other side so I am really hopefull that the chemo is getting rid of it.
Wow Moira that sounds like a busy weekend! Glad you enjoyed it and hope you feel ready for the next cycle, hope your bloods are okay and they find a vein easily.
Judy - great news you are back in to your painting, long may it continue on your good days.
Judy/Moira - I have the same problem with some ‘old dark stubble’ on the back of my head, if I hadn’t shaved I think I would look like an old man with a comb over gone wrong!
Lori - I think if they’d suggested 8 steroids to me my OH would have left home, he thinks they make me hyper, I thought they made me okay!
Thank you all for the lovely comments about my new photo, it is one that was taken at dinner on the first night on the cruise by an official photographer, my OH said he thinks I should stay bald and wear the wig as it suits me so much! He loves the photo too!
I’m off now for toads in the hole…hmmmmm. Hope your SE’s are minimal for tonight and you all get lots of sleep at whatever time it comes (Lori!)
Kate
x
hi angels
hi to fleurgirl - i just gave up and shaved it off, hair taht is, one less worry, it doesnt take long to get used to having no hair. Not that its easy, or nice, but you do get a grip eventually.
judy - ive also got the shiny top and the dark shadow at the back, like a monk type style. my nose is drippy too, when you think about all these things we keep posting, its a wonder we haven’t all gone stark raving mad! Well done to us for taking it in our stride, dont we think.
moira, what a busy few days. hope all goes well.
I was chatting to a fellow patient today while i was getting done and she has just had her 3 docetaxol so she showed me her nails, they were tatty and broken a few but not that bad. She said that her friend had some splits and things in hers but nothing drastic. mine have startted to show up little dark crescent shaped patches at the cuticle area which is like tree rings, shows from when chemo started apparantly, how about that! So after seeing her nails today, i’m not too worried, she looked fine, no varnish or anything.
kate - you do look radiant on your photo, can you taste food on day 1? mine goes almost straight away. Your toad in the hole sounds like home !!
good health girls
angie xx
Fleurgirl - welcome aboard, always room for another
Lori, Kate & Angie glad all went well today, hope s/e are minimal. Lori loads of steroids, do you feel hyper?
Discovered that Ribena do a plus range for intense immunity and also one for bones, bought some to try it out.
Seems we all get different variations in treatments etc. I see my Onc every other cycle with a phone appointment in between. My bloods are always taken the day before chemo.
Just bought Platinuim tickets for Rod Stewart as a post chemo/rads treat
Wishing you all a good night with minimal s/e xxxx
hi everyone
Moira - sounds like you had a very busy weekend, we saw Jersey Boys last year it’s great isn’t it? Lucky you seeing Mark Knoppfler. Good luck tomorrow, hope they find a vein ok. Like you my worry is that 6 doses of EC might not be possible with just a cannula, due to the damage it does to our veins.
Judy - I’ve had the drippy nose as well although not sure if it’s a se or my hay fever kicking in. I use the cheap non-drowsy antihistamine tablets from morrisons for my hayfever, they are the generic form of Claritin and about a quarter of the price.
Judy/Moira/kate snap about the dark stubble at the back and shiny on top. Mine looks a lot better now that it’s had a bit of fake tanning This week i’ve been wearing my wig most if the time so that i get used to it ready for Friday. Only trouble is I keep checking that it hasn’t moved, It hasn’t but i’m paranoid that it has moved and looks stupid. i was telling one of my sister in laws that I would have to be careful if it was windy at the wedding and my 14 year old nephew told me not to worry as he will be on ‘wig watch’ ! I can just see him chasing down the road after my hat with wig attached 
Kate- love the new photo. Glad you had a good time in the mini cruise.
Lori - don’t think I could manage the 8 steroids, 2 is enough for me.
Fleurgirl - welcome to the angels.
Good luck for all you ladies having your next cycle this week.
Kim x
kim
ive been out on some very windy days and my experience with wig and wind is that when you have a hat on with your wig, people think you are holding your hat, if you dont have a hat people wonder why you are holding your hair.
hope you enjoy your wedding 
angie xx
Kim - wig tape (or the same thing from a lingerie shop) its like double sided tape that you can stick to your head and wig to hold it in place.
Angie - I don’t have a problem with losing taste, just fancy things and nothing else will do! I do eat quite a bit of licorice though which apparently helps the mouth as well as the bowels! The toad in the hole is definitely a back home/childhood meal! In fact my OH is better at making yorkshire puddings than I am and he’s from County Durham rather than Yorkshire!
I was told to wear dark nail varnish or clear nail hardener for all chemo, and the rings you can see Angie are something I have expected but haven’t had yet. I will be continuing with dark varnish for the week of chemo and nail hardener for the following week in the hope that my nails don’t turn to chalk dust. The splitting is a SE and nail hardener supposedly reduces this effect so I’m hoping not to have that SE either! I know I’m being lucky so far but I’m also trying to follow the things I’m being told in the hope of minimising SE’s of all types.
Hope you have a good nights sleep with minimal SE’s
Kate
x