Morning all thank you for all your good wishes for my Mum, she is coping really well says she is being positive like me.
Hi Pauline I am the Lynn from Stobhill, it was speaking to you last Wednesday that made me try to get back on to this site, I have enjoyed all the banter, and even have had my baldy out in the open. Where did you get the scarf you had on it was fab.? You fitting in a holiday before your radiotherapy, how much have you to get?
I had my 3rd FEC on Friday, had a great Saturday weather was glorious. Yesterday sun did not come up til later and neither did I felt just awful most of the day, neck shoulder pain, tummy upset, everything was just an effort, I was in bed again by 9pm must say though feeling much better this morning and slept most of the night. Onwards and upwards.
Welcome to you Carol, a bit of humour goes a long way.
Angie glad you did need to do the whole hospital thing, and are feeling better, no vinegar smell but cooking smells sometimes put me off, although Im still overweight must be the chocolate.
Amber im with you on the Vino just got a delivery from Virgin Rioja cant wait to feel like a drink.
Lynn x
Lori, have you tried washing your wig yet? I found mine fitted and felt much better after. X
Lori, I also found mine fitted much better after I washed it. xxx
Hi everyone and welcome Carol.
Angie the physio really helped, though I’ve only been twice. Well done to your girls for completing the race for life and raising all that money. 
Lori - I’m with you on the wig thing. Everyone I know knows I’ve lost my hair anyway and I don’t find it very comfortable. I generally just wear scarves and hats and put my wig on if I go out somewhere nice like a restaurant.
Lynn I hope the SEs fade soon and you start to feel better.
I feel like my energy is starting to come back now thank goodness. It seems like its been so long since I’ve had any. I really don’t know how you ladies who are still working can do it.
We’ve just booked a holiday in Hampshire in August - 3 weeks after last chemo. The idea is to take the kids to some theme parks around London, but I’ve been a bit worried about whether I would have the energy. We’re going with my brother,his family and my mum. I feel better for discussing my concerns though as we’ve gone for a caravan, which means I can be as active or inactive as I need to be. I’ve also made my hubby promise to take the kids out even if I’m not up to it as I don’t want to spoil the holiday for everyone else by limiting them. I think it will be a welcome break though and I will definitely be glad to get away from the house for a while!
Morning ladies,
Hope you are all looking forward to a new week. I have bloods tomorrow and first of 4 Paclitaxel’s on Wed, not sure what to expect but hopefully not too many SE’s.
Carol - I had a MX in March, had too many tumours to be able to have a lumpectomy but was happy that after the op all my cancer had been removed so now chemo and rads is ‘belts and braces’. Not sure why some people are given chemo first then surgery and some the other way around. If you have any questions about the MX and recovery please feel free to PM me.
Holidays - they seem to be a good new topic for us all to start discussing! We had to cancel a trip to Cyprus in May but hope to get there later in the year as the weather generally stays warm until late Oct but it does depend on insurance! We are hoping to do a week in Cornwall between chemo and rads but as I haven’t got any dates yet not sure if that’s going to be possible. Hope everyone gets a relaxing break at some stage during their journey.
Wigs - I’m generally the same as you Mel, wear hats/scarves most of the time and only venture out in my wig when I’m going out in the evening for dinner or to the pub! I do sometimes think I should wear it more but can’t be bothered as my favourite hat is so easy and doesn’t move!
Have a good week and hope everyone getting their next cocktail has minimum SE’s and nice nurses to administer it!
Kate
x
Ah great its not just me then sounds like Kate & Mel you both feel the same.
Thanks Linda & Funki for the advice re washing the wig. I have two but only washed one so I will try washing the other one and try it again.
I am having trouble finding hats I have quite a small head. I did manage to get two from suburban turban who were very quick to deliver.
Lori xx
Kate some people are given chemo first to try and shrink large tumours before operating. X
Hi Angels,
TCH cycle 3 day 21.
I haven’t posted for a while, but I am still here and reading all your posts. I notice some of you are planning holidays. We have one booked a few weeks after my chemo finishes, but I also wanted to let you know that we went away last week for a week in a cottage. It was week 3 of cycle 3 for me and I wasn’t sure whether we should go or not, but I’m so glad we bit the bullet and went. Glorious Mediterranean weather and a whole week of feeling cancer-free and normal. I had no nasty side effects and managed lots of strolls with lots of sitting on benches in between the strolls! I can recommend it for those able to get away last minute. I came back with re-charged batteries ready to face session 4 tomorrow.
Hugs to everyone, Linda xxx
hi lori - i wear my wig all day at work and it comes straight off as soon as i get home. ive discovered at the back of mine there is a thick slightly padded tape and i think thats where the nasty smell is coming from, its the tape. i dip it in baby bath every couple of days and its like new again. i have a soft cap from maggie’s that i wear all the time, i just love it, and its got a twenties kind of look. The wig is itchy and i’m always messing about with it, but like you say, everybody knows so i dont worry now.
LNMcG - i get a lot of off putting smells too, thats why i cant really trust my nose, so i just ask, theyre all getting used to it now.
What a glorious day in scotland today, hope you all get some happy sun
angie xx
ECMF cycle 3 day 11
Hi all
just beginning to come out of the cloud now. Am finally sleeping through the night, still can’t taste though and eating like a horse. you’d think not tasting would put me off but doesn’t seem to work that way!
Wigs- I’ve decided I really don’t like my wig so I only wear it when I’m going somewhere ‘public’. i wish I’d had a shorter one now- going from bald to longish makes my head feel really big! It’s a bit loose, and uncomfortable and I’m always adjusting it. also I get my glasses stuck under the edges every time i take them on and off. Wig winging !! Haven’t washed it yet- It may have a little swim tonight.
Having problems finding sun hats that are small enough without hair- any ideas?
I’m planning a holiday too, inbetween CMF1 and CMF 2. We go to cornwall every year with a big group of friends and all the kids etc in the caravan. I’ve been determined not to miss it from the start, and didn’t want it spoiled for OH and kids so I delayed radiotherapy for a cycle, and it’s all booked. I have no idea how I will feel, as it’s after 1st CMF, but even if I can only lie in a chair and grunt I WILL BE THERE!! I asked chemo nurse if I can have my line flushed in cornwall and they’re going to teach OH to do it for me. My main worry is getting ill and ending up in hospital there on my own, with family back here. Still it’s not the end of the universe!!
love to all
Mel xxx
Mel - I wear a scarf that has an elasticated band attached under my sun hat which means I can take the sun hat off but keep the scarf/band on…my OH suggested it as my sunhat is ‘scratchy’ on my bald head and this solution solves both the worry about the hat blowing off and the scratchiness! 
I got the band/scarf from scarfhut.
Angie - you seem to be getting all the sunshine up there! We have cloud again down here in the south…
Kate
x
Hi ladies
EC cycle 3 day 8
I feel really well today, the constipation, heartburn, sickness etc, have gone and just feel a little more tired this cycle. I still have the loss of taste and the off putting smells are driving me mad this cycle ! I am constantly sniffing and wrinkling my nose.
Wigs - I am with you Lori, Kate and Mel - I just wear it when I’m going out for a meal, pub or special occasion now as I’m far more comfortable in my scarves. In fact I don’t wear anything on my head around the house…especially in this lovely weather.
This last week I have cut out as much rubbish food as possible and have eaten plenty of fruit and veg and I have lost 4 lbs… I’m suitably impressed with my efforts and lets hope I can keep it up so that I can have my hip replacement before Christmas.
We are looking to get away for a few days before my next cycle and have a holiday somewhere warm after rads. May have to seriously look into the travel insurance.
Yesterday I went to watch 6 of my friends run the race for life, it was humbling to see that they were running for me…was just couldn’t stop crying. Having BC has shown me how much my family and friends think of me and how much they all mean to me. I have also become so much more emotional since I started chemo, Ii used to be quite hard, I never cried, just got on with things, now I cry at the drop of a hat…even tv programmes !
take care everyone and make the most of this weather whilst it lasts
Kim x
Hi Ladies - who stole the sun???
Lynn - glad you found the site, nice to hear from you. Got the scarf a while back, think it was scarf hut (online) I have a few of that style, really confy and lovely colours. I’ll need to update my profile pic as have my wig on but never wear it. Lori - I have never got over the itchy head with the wig so have never had it on since the pic was taken! p.s. Lynn - holiday is being planned for after raidio, got my dates last wed at stobhill so should be all done by 20 September (assuming no chemo delays) so hope to get away the following week. Not been so desperate for hols this week though given the lovely weather…come back sun 8)
Bras - I have been wearing the Ahh Bra for months now (even before BC) they are kinda like a sports bra -so comfy, no digging straps or fasteners. You can get them online or shopping channel and think asda do similar ones now. Bit of a passion killer though as not very sexy however, they go very well with the shot puttert look 
I don’t think I could wear a converntional bra again!
Angie - I’m still taking hot flushes so my baldy is sweating quite a lot at the mo, still not sure if it’s chemo or menopause - either way, not the best look…
Mel A / hols sound fab, gather you are not having rads straight after chemo then? Mel - glad you too have got a holiday sorted, sounds lovely and Linda really good to hear from you, your trip sounded fab!
Kim - well done on the weigth loss, that’s brill. I had a good cry earlier watching The Impossible (about the tsunami in asia back in 2004) OMG, great film and really pulls at the heart strings. Having a duvet day (aka lazy sod day) today so might now watch Denzel in ‘Flight’
Out from dinner tomorrow then bloods on weds and first Tax on Friday - kind of feels like back to the start as not sure what s/e’s will give me pleasure this time!
Hope everyone is doing well oh and welcome Carol
Pauline xx
oh and meant to mention Insurance - has anyone made any enquiries? I’m failing to understand what the added risk is? If treatment is all finished what on earth is going to happen, related to BC, during a 2 week holiday? Thought I’d ask as maybe I’m missing something but cant get my head round it!
Pauline xx
Pauline
Unfortunately the travel insurance is loaded due to having had bc even if you are not being treated currently, some companies just exclude it from the cover, i.e if they can put anything that goes wrong down to bc they will - Amex do that. Example, If you got an infection whilst on holiday and had to have treatment they may not cover you if they can link it to the fact that you recently had chemo/rads/surgery for bc. There are a number of specialist companies that do cover bc and on one of the posts on this forum Eurotunnel seem to come out as quite good, I used goodtogoinsurance.com for my short cruise a few weeks ago as Amex my annual insurance wouldn’t cover me!
Kate
x
Pauline,
I am also at a loss to understand the added risk for travel insurance. Only thing i can think of is there is a perceived higher risk ofinfection after treatment. However, apparently most travel insurance companies will not touch us with the proverbial ‘barge pole’, those that will increase the premium and specifically disclude Anything that could be breast cancer related…I have free travel insurance with my current account, I Will ring them this week to see if I am still covered. If you have a look on the forums here euro tunnel seems to give the best deals as long as your doctor agrees you are fit to travel.
Kim x
Fec-t cycle 3 Day 11
hello ladies, sorry ive not been on much lately, ive been reading all your posts. I’ve been making the most of this lovely weather and have got quite a nice suntan. Everyone keeps saying how healthy I look with the extra weight and the suntan, I’m happy with the suntan but the weight I can do without.
The side effects have been the best yet with this cycle. I’ve had my measuring appointment with the oncologist again today, he’s measured the lump and is pleased that its shrinking. I have to laugh cos I can see nothing but the oncologist must have X-ray vision. I found out today the I’m ER receptive, so I guess that means I will be on some drug or other once ive finished with the chemo, surgery and radiotherapy.
the oncologist warned me of the side effects of tax ready for next Friday. He said, probably no sickness but the mouth and the heartburn could still be there along with the runs. I’ve collected my steroids as well today ready the Tax next week… 8 a day, I may as well just move into the fridge! I read the side effects and it mentions in there the round face… that’s the Russian shot put look which m OH says is cos I DON’T STOP EATING!
good luck everyone that’s starting another cycle this week, hope the S/e are miminimal judy xx
I am also at a loss to understand some insurance companies. About 10 or 11 years ago my mum (then 84) had a single mx and 15 rads. No chemo. After that she was discharged other than routine mamogramms etc. and was declared clear. The following year she came with us to Lanzarote. We all had a continuing annual policy. We contacted the company as it needed renewing and were told mum needed to pay a vast amount extra in order to be covered for any BC symptoms. This amount was in the thousands. I contacted some help lines, was given the names of various companies to try, including SAGA, and they all said the same. This was nothing to do with her age as she already paid a premium for being over 80. In the end we used our existing company and excluded the BC from the cover. From memory it cost her about £40 for the year.
Hi Pauline,
I have put for you below the link to the area of this website where holiday insurance is discussed.
and also the link to Macmillan’s page on travel insurance.
macmillan.org.uk/Cancerinformation/Livingwithandaftercancer/Practicalissues/Travel/Companies.aspx
Hope you find this useful. Take care.
Jo, Facilitator
thanks ladies for comments on Insurance and thanks Jo for the links, I’ll read them over the next few days.
I’ll make some enquiries ladies and let you know how I get on but to be honest if all goes well with treatment and no signs of any issues, I’m tempted just to keep quiet about the BC and go as really think the risk of something happening which is BC related must be minimal. I too already have holiday Insurance with bank account so don’t have to shop around and tell any fibs!!
will keep you posted xx