Thank you both - another year older!
Angie I’m amazed you’ve managed to work at all so far- you are SUPERWOMAN. work just seems like another life that used to belong to someone else. I can’t even imagine findind my way there 
. My pay has just gone to half and I can’t see me being back this year to be honest. My ‘nil’ pay date is January- sso I suppose that’s it… but at least I’ve had that. I know lots of people get nothing.
Mel
Ps people did look at me a bit strangely when stuck the thermometer in my ear in the cafe.
mel happy belated birthday, I’m a bit like you obsessing with the temperature, I’ve just ordered an in the ear thermometer as I have 3 thermometers but they’re all giving me different readings.
It’s strange how this week the round fat face and lack of eyebrows is really getting to us all, I’ve really noticed the shape of my face and the amount of fat and how it protrudes on my body. It is quite depressing as I’m looking and wondering if I will ever go back to my normal shape again. ive had to buy a new bra yesterday as the ones I bought a month or two ago no longer fit as I’ve piled on the weight.
i don’t feel depressed but my son has said I’m very grumpy and snappy at the moment. I’m still all aches and pains, my legs hurt that much that im even looking up the symtoms of deep vein thrombosis. I’ve got an oncology appointment tomorrow for the tumour measuring, so I’m gonna mention the leg pains. My veins have collapsed and are bright red and itchy right up my arm where the docetaxel went in.
i just hope that come the next cycle my body has learned to adjust to this poisen.
hope you enjoy Michael buble, I’m sure he will be fantastic Moira, I’m just watching him on tv.
A good thing that happened today, we met a homeless man while walking the dog up at sewerby hall this morning, he has been walking for 327 days now raising money for help the heroes, he lost his job and everything last year and has been on the road since. He had two soldiers walking with him for a few days, but to hear his story was quite humbling and it does make you think that no matter how bad things are, there’s always someone worse off than you are.
take care ladies, big hugs to you all
Hi angels, I have my first doceltaxol tomorrow. Could someone remind me when do I need to start taking the Paracetomal to ward off too many se’s. I remember Linda explaining when to start. Also either the hospital forgot to give me the steroid tablets or ive lost them, so I have to have steroids via infusion before the Herceptin and Docetaxol. Absolutley bricking it for tomorrow. Can my poor system take it all do you think. Hope your all feeling a lot better soon. Lv and Hugs, Sandy xx.
Hi sandy, I couldn’t remember when Linda said to take them either but I think I started on the paracetamols the day before the chemo. I don’t think I felt the full effects of the docetaxol till the fourth day, that’s when the aches and pains really hit. Good luck with it, hope it goes ok.
Hi Sandy,
Are you getting any steroids at all today? Iam due Tax 2 tomorrow and have justala taken 4 steroids and have another 4 to take later, I have the same dose tomorrow but one via infusion before tax. The steroids help with the s/e so maybe you should try n get some today if possible. I was relatively ok first cycle and didn’t start paracetamol/ibuprofen until day 3 when I started getting a few twinges, the expected pain never really materialised just really tired and furry mouth. Everybody’s different, try not to worry too much, we can compare notes this week. Hugs xxx
Hi Sandy,
I take the Paracetamols starting the afternoon after chemo (immediately after I have the single Neulasta blood boosting jab). My onc told me to take 2 x 500mg tablets every few hours up to but not exceeding the maximum dose on the packet for 3 days. Then stop. I tend to take the tablets 3 times a day evenly spread. All I can say is that it has worked for me. I’ve had no bone pain and haven’t needed any further Paracetamols or Ibuprofens. However, if you need to take the anti-sickness drug Metoclopramide be aware that it may interact with Paracetamol. I haven’t felt or been sick at all on docetaxel so haven’t needed any anti-sickness drugs other than the one they inject at the same time as the chemo. Make sure you have some Imodium in stock, and remember to take your temp before taking the paracetamols!
Good luck, Linda xx
Sandy I lost my steroids prior to docetaxol so they gave it to me as an infusion on the day, just before my chemo. Good luck.
Mel happy belated birthday.
Angie - don’t worry about having to give up work for a bit. I think you must be Wonder Woman for managing this long. I’ve not worked since my mastectomy and the thought of it tires me out. I’m finding it hard just keeping on top of my housework. Enjoy the rest while you can get it 
Judy - I hope you get your legs sorted out.
Mel xx
Morning Angels,
Not been on here for a few days so just catching up with all your posts. Lots of love and support to all of you on the ups and downs of this journey. I can relate to many of the comments yet do feel a bit of a wimp as docetaxol regime seems so much tougher than the FEC that I am on. Had FEC 4 last Thursday and so far has gone better in terms of s/e s than FEC3 - my chemo nurse used a larger vein, and this seemed to help enormously, and i got a prescription for Ranitidine which has eliminated completely the horrific indigestion I was experiencing. Due to a paperwork mess up ended up doing my own neutrophil boosting injections, rather than relying on the district nurse, and it was ok despite managing to get quite a bruise from the first one, just unlucky
I feel the same re work - couldn’t even contemplate getting there at present, never mind getting the job done - just got to let go of that for now. However, with such a shift in what constitutes day to day existence through illness (not just work but general functioning) my emotions and perception of myself are definitely a bit all over the place and that’s a challenge. Living on my own has plus points when I want to lie around and ignore the housework but at other times its easy to think about things a bit too much. However, spent this morning lying on the sofa listening to the radio and don’t feel guilty, sad or lousy - just making up for a restless sleepless night and being gentle to myself.
Hope it the start of a good week for you all, Carol x
ECMF cycle 4 day11
Hi all
hope you’re all having a better day today.
I do actually feel a bit better today- I think because I finally slept for a few hours last night without waking up. I’ve managed to get up, showered, dressed, downstairs and have cleaned the fridge, and done some washing and someone came to fix a window for me. these things now seem like major achievements. Going to sit down and rest now though for pm and then try to cook tea- or maybe not. My temperature was up to 38.1 again last night but has finally returned to normal ( for the moment) so I don’t know what’s going on there!
DEBRA- how’s your CMF going?
Mel x
morning girls,
i’m feeling better today, got a sick note for a month, starting to make some rag dolls and clothes, got my hair on and joined the dots on my eyebrows, what a paint job!! I think these bad thoughts come and go as quick as all the other s/e’s, by the time we get use to it, its gonna be over and done with.
Mel - i hope youre keeping an eye on that temp? medal for cleaning the fridge, i dont like that job even when i’m well, glad youre feeling better. maybe its the lacl of sleep thats making us ratty?
CazP - ido my injections too, its easier than waiting on nurses, you should put your feet up this afternoon and catch up on some sleep, its awful when you cant settle at night isnt it.
Mel A - Yes ive given in to the sick note, went to the doctors to order it, she rang me just now because she wasnt sure she had been given the right message, she is so used to me going in to work, so i opted for four weeks. Feels good.
Amber - i’ll be keeping an eye on your 2nd tax to see if its better than the first, it floored me so i’m hoping it might be better. Lucky you not getting the bone pain. hope it goes well for you.
Sandy - i was told to take paracetomol the day before to start to build up a bit of a barrier for the possible aches and pains. we all seem to get different advice, maybe you would be better to give the unit a quick ring. Hope it goes well for you.
judy - hope your onc appointment goes well.
angie xx
Cycle 4 docetaxel day 4
Morning Angels this seems to be affecting us all differently I started paracetamol and ibrofen yesterday afternoon as legs were achey. Had to go onto co codamol today as pain in ankles knees and legs in general is much more severe, also glands are swollen and the furry mouth. Sorry for being a moan. Hope it does not last too long.
I have not been to work since my first op in February don’t know how you have managed it so long, can’t imagine getting up and out for 8am ever again.
Good news today though my rad appts in start 09/09 all finished 03/10 can’t wait.
Have as good a day as you all can.
Hoping Andy Murray’a game is good today , and come on wee Laura you are doing well!
Lynn x
Just wanted to share some nice news. The school where I work organised a sponsored run in sports week for the children and raised over £2600 for cancer research
Well done them! Thats a lot for a school to raise. X
WOW thats amazing 
Hi Girls,
Had 8 steroids today so Iam on a high, the housework will get a blitz shortly, can’t sit on my bum for two minutes. Neuts were 5.00 today the highest they’ve been which is crazy since they were only 1.7 last cycle. Anyway that’s me on track for number 5 tomorrow, Sandy will be tuning in to you, what timcharge you on the chemo train, Iam booked for around 9.
Mel A, you must be so proud, what an achievement to raise so much money
Carol, good to hear from you, can appreciate the living on your own thing, my oh works away and is only here every second cycle
Angie, so glad you’re feeling better and signed off work. That’s something less for you to think and deal with for a while, enjoy the rest.
Lynn, hope the pain doesn’t get too bad, keep popping the pills. Good you have a rads date, it allows us to plan ahead, I start 19/7 for 19 sessions. Well done Andy!
Hope you all have a peaceful night xxx
Hi ladies,
I am so sorry to hear you are all suffering since changing to Docetaxel, I must admit I have found it worse than FEC.
I wanted to check with you as I remember a few of you have suffered from round red face. Did it feel very hot and were your glands ok. I have really warm cheeks but my temp has been ok, not sure if its a SE or maybe something else, its been 3 days now and just taking anti-histamines and paracetamol. Not sure whether to ring unit or not with temp being ok??
Mel that is a huge amount of money raised - brilliant!
Angie glad your off for a few weeks i am sure you will feel the benefit, take it easy.
Hope you all start to improve soon and hope those about to get some more have it easier this time round - good luck!
Love Lori x
Hi Lori my face feels numb around my jaw bone, glands are really tender and sore too, think it is just the docetaxel kicking the cancers but. I hope so as it is Making us feel miserable, just need to think that if we feel like this bad cells are being killed off for good x hope you all have a good night x
Thanks Lynn…that sounds quite similar - Yes its the best way to look at this treatment that its kicking the cancer into touch. It will all be over soon!!!
Good Luck for tomorrow Linda, just realised you’re on number 5 too xx
Just wrote, a right long post and it’s vanished, so I will just say, my oncologist appointment went fine, everything is as it should be and the chemo is kicking the cancers butt.
good luck for tomorrow Amber and Linda, hope it all goes ok.
Mels school… You Rock!
Hope the s/e armi managable for you Lynn
Angie, make the most the being off work and rest.
take care angels xxjudy