Hi girls,
Oh Snoogle, you sound like me this time… I’ve had a tough one too, was wondering if the heat had a hand in it too. Or maybe it’s just because it’s no 3. Really bad flu and achey bone symptoms, couldn’t get out of bed, Just started to pick up a bit today. Trying to drink tons to keep the tummy loose but I’m so hot I think it’s all leaving via my pores!!! I sucked ice cubes during chemo and don’t think it has made much difference, thrush is maybe a bit better but Still got horrible thick white tongue!!
Roll on this time next week, hopefully a full week of normality!!!
Best wishes
Fiona xxx
Hi all,
Steroids kicked in half way thru night despite taking last lot around lunch time yesterday. I have been pottering about, watching rubbish night time tv and surfing the net. My face has the lovely steroid red glow. Still, with this weather it looks like i overdid the sun.
Well im going to be at hospital for at least a couple of hours so might grab some kip then, we shall see. I did spend a lot of yesterday on the sofa dozing. My youngest who was home on an inset day really wanted to go to the pictures but i was just too tired. I said i will see how i am on Thursday. School closed for polling day.
Awful when yu have to let them down through this.
Fiona, Have yu finished yr treatment now or are u n a bigger cycle?
I will be finished today and then have rads.
Anyway going to go and make a cup of tea while i can still enjoy it.
All the best
Linda
hi Fiona n linda - fi what day are you now then - 6 for me, tired…mary x
ps linda good luck for today - last one - wayhey!!
I have just completed 3 x FEC and start taxotere on 9 June. Has anyone good experience of this, FEC was not so bad and I was still able to work part time / from home, has anyone managed to do this on taxotere? Barbara
First strawberry of the year from the garden. I am sure it should have tasted better than I just tasted it. 
Hi linda, Mary & Snoogle,
Well day 7!! Just been to carvery for lunch, all I managed to taste was the saltyness of the ham!! Looked lovely though!!
Well done Linda, last one. I’ve still got 3 FEC to go then rads.
Snoogle, you should have froze the strawberry till next week!! Ha Ha. Not fair this is it?
Mary, I’m not so tired but I’m starting to waddle and look like I’m 7 months gone, and I puff and pant!! I’m up to the next trouser size. Thank heavens for linen ones, I ditched the jeans 3 weeks ago!! I wonder why my belly has gone like this? I’m hoping it’s water (who am I kidding!)
Hugs
Fiona xxx
Fiona, I was very bloated from about FEC#2, and it def got worse when I was on the TAX. Felt heavy and very uncomfortable but found that 2-3 weeks after finishing it got back to normal. Well, apart from the few extra pounds I’d gained! The steroids def made me eat more as my appetite isn’t as big now, thank goodness.
Hope you’re all managing to enjoy the weather - which is turning tomorrow so make the most of it. Snoogle, how lovely yo grow your own strawberries, you’ll soon be able to enjoy them fully. I really appreciate being able to taste things now, even water is nicer, sludgegob is nasty!! Take care ladies and you’ll soon be done, love and hugs Pat x
Hi girls
Back from last taxotere, actually was done in two hours, they were brilliant today. I gave them a pressie and a card as it cant be easy. Had a spot of probable bad news which i suspected. It looks like i have lympoedema. My arm has been slightly swollen and i spoke to the doctor about it last week but she thought it was cording, this was more my fault because i didnt push it but I dont think doctors know as much as nurses on this subject. Spoke to the nurses today and they think it is. They rang the lympoedema clinic but they cant see me until end of June. i am going to ring them myself tomorrow and badger for earlier, but if not consider going private. I think in this weather it could swell up quicker unless i get prompt treatment.
BC - I think fec and tax are relatively the same but because, in most cases tax is second and the effects of all chemo are cumulative they seem worse. For example the eyes watering gets worse, but i had that on FEC. I have been on sick leave since i started chemo as i am a teacher and did not want to risk picking up an infection and the stress levels of the job would not have helped. However, with fec i was able to go in unofficially when i felt like it and do a few jobs helping out. Cannot now, i am really too tired most of the time.
It was my last chemo today so (big huge whooooopeeeeeee) i hope even though i am doing rads next, my energy levels will increase. I used to be a strict vegetarian although i had introduced small amounts of meat into my diet over last couple of years. However, i have been eating loads of steak, i am sure my body is craving it to boost iron and red blood cell count which is what is debilitating me. Spinach just doesnt hit it the way steak does…
Fee - have been a lard bucket for last couple of years - i think going through peri menopause caused me to put on weight. However, my weight has stayed roughly same through chemo and think this is down to tax, sore gob stops me eating much and sludge gob stops me wanting much. I do go to the gym regularly, always have but i am not a fitness freak, just enjoying working out with a mate.
I have been in a very bad mood today (lymphoedema news) but have brightened up a bit now. Rang my sister and ranted at her, think she was upset because i was moaning so much so had better ring her later and tell her i am alright now. She didnt really know what to say but you will get over this, i said no i wont not now not ever!!!
Later i spoke to someone who also has breast cancer and we were comparing crap, made me feel much better. Thats why this site is so great.
all the best
Linda
Hi all,
here it comes…day after tax and sludge gob is just about to land. Have been stuffing my face whilst I can still taste things, but looks like all that is over for a week or so at least we know it does get better.
Linda…your grumpiness struck a cord. Got accused by hubby of being aggressive at times but he decided to let me sweat all day after I said something very minor this morning. I know I can be off hand occasionally but it is more out of frustration…letting kids down (can relate to that one as well) being hungrey but not being able to eat, seeing all the jobs that need doing but not being able to do them, feeling like you are putting on others to do the things I can’t…need I go on?
As you say this is why this site is so good, I can rant on here and get it out of my system with those who understand. I am usually really positive but sometimes it can be hard.
Rant over…off for another drink of hot water which actually tastes ok and settle down for another restless night.
Nearly there girls
Julie XX
PS…hubby and I back on speaking terms, I have got to learn that carers often have a hard time coming to terms with this as well. It only because they care and for that I am eternally greatful.
Hi all, Hi Julie,
I am a bit less grumpy today as my arm seems to have gone down so maybe the heat contributed to making it swollen. Still think i have mild lymphoedema and spoke to a nurse today. I said my concern was that i would start radiotherapy with no protection for arm and it would get worse. She thinks it unlikely i will start radiotherapy for about 4/5 weeks from now as they give you a bit of extra time to recover from chemo before proceeding. I want to get it over with so thats not great news but i suppose it gives me a bit of time.
My hubby just listens or pretends to when i rant. Dont actually rant at him, just my situation. He sits and smiles sweetly. Probably right thing to do as we dont row about it or anything. i find i am being a lot more honest with people who enquire. But when they say you look so well, I used to say ‘i’m fine, just getting on with it’ but now i say (still being a bit of a diplomat) well its awful but at least i am near the end of it.
Loads of people who saw me yesterday said i looked well. haha steroid red face - looked like i had been out too long in sun. I pointed out that i would be brown not red if i had been in the sun and a red face does not look great. It just looks like you have not been sensible which i have. Factor twenty five, sitting away from sun, no more than half hour - not between hours of 12-3. Done it all.
My symptoms wont kick in until around friday. i will be fine then will get the sore mouth, Saturday when i start the marrow booster jooster will get sore muscles and joints and stay in bed till around monday/tuesday (only going to have 3 not 5 marrows this time). Then will get sludge gob and food will taste horrible. Then i will slowly pick up and in about 2 1/2 weeks will feel chemo normal. But its the last so i know that next set of symptoms will be related to rads.
Eyes will cry for about a week and nose will run. Sorry to anyone starting tax but we are all different and you might not get the same.
I have been drinking lots of ice water. Have been putting bottles of water in freezer and drinking from them. This is supposed to help with sore mouth. Worth a try, tastes ok and wont do me any harm.
When i read this back, doesnt actually sound like i am less grumpy but honestly i am. Going to take a walk around to Sains now whilst i can still enjoy food and have a look for what i fancy.
All the best
linda
Hi all. Absolutely right, if they didn’t love us they wouldn’t care. Had a really good conversation with my kids yesterday about me not wearing my wig for the school run any more. I felt like I was going to pass out yesterday I was so hot in it. It was positive for us to express how we felt and to listen to how they felt about me wearing my headscarf instead of my wig and how they would respond to things that may be asked of them. I was also able to reassure them of the adults/help their school has in place to help them when they need it. I was actually surprised how their attitudes had changed over the last couple of months.
Feemac I am sure this one was made tougher by the weather. Can’t believe how much fluid I have consumed and lost. Thank goodness for Robsinson’s fruit and barley! This was 4 for me but 3 was much worse than either 1 or 2. Not sure if it is the build up of the drugs in our systems. ALso have just gone up a trouser size, but weight fluctuating so much I have gone for drawstring and elastic waists.
Hope things improve for you Linda.
Wishing everyone a lovely day.
Snoogle
x
Hi Girls,
Just a quick question. Now I’m finished with TAX, can I ditch the dark nail polish? Or should I wait? Don’t think anybody needed it on FEC did they?
Hugs
Fiona xxx
Hi Fiona, not sure about ditching the polish just yet. Other ladies have reported losing their nails weeks and months after Tax. Are your nails okay, any loose or split? I’m 9 wks post-Tax and still wearing black polish. My nails are quite loose but I had a nail problem b4 Tax so not sure whether Tax is responsible. Bcn or doc should be able to advise you better. Congrats on finishing anyway! Pat x
Hi Fiona
Just to add, I to am 9 weeks post TAX and my first nail dropped off today! 2 more on the way! They split crossways about 2/3rds of the way down and stay like that, very sore for about 2 weeks before they actually fall off! There is a new one underneath though. I’ve kept dark polish on all the way and it’s made no difference whatsoever! On the upside though, my eyebrows are coming thru thick and fast, wish I could say same about my hair!
You maybe one of the lucky one’s not everyone looses their nails!
Good Luck
Jo X
Hi Girls,
Heading into good week now… yeeHaa!!! Tounge returning to normal size, just waiting for taste buds to return…
Thankx for the info Jo and Pat… Have continued to paint nails. 3 of the nails on my left hand have started to chip and flake, hope that’s all they do… Last thing I want is nails falling off later on as hoping to get back to work once chemo is finished and hairdressing with missing nails isn’t going to be nice!!!
Hope everyone else is doing good…
Hugs
Fiona xxxx
Hi everyone,
Well last taxotere and i have been very ill this weekend but dont know if it was that, gcsf or something else. Hubby and son had a 24 hour stomach bug earlier in week and i wonder whether i had that. I was sick for the first time ever on chemo and had the trots. I probably should have called the chemo line and took myself off to hospital but by the time i had thought about it, it was all wearing off. I have visibly lost weight now which i should be pleased about but we all know when you lose it quickly it just comes back on.
I feel a bit stronger this morning, I have eaten a little scrambled eggs, I am at the food tastes bad stage so really dont want to eat much anyway. At the moment For the first time in my life, i have really gone off eating.
I have been reading about the nail varnish. I have only done my toes, they are a lovely metallic grey shade at moment and look a treat. I havent done anything with hands apart from moisturise and file. They dont look so good. I like my feet to look nice but not so bothered about hands (weird huh!!!) Also nail varnish on toes lasts soo much longer.
Anyway, i hope that i am now on long road to recovery. I feel perkier this morning. Now lets hope i can go toilet…
Linda
ahhh ((((hugs)))) linda - sorry you’ve been feeling so crappy and hoping it passes off quickly. Like you say, last one coming soon but all I think is that ok but I still have the aftermath of it to get through - will do a 10 day crossing off poster me thinks…you rest up and take care…mary x
So sorry to hear you’ve felt so bad this time around Linda. At least we all now it passes in time. Hope you start feeling better soon and can look forward to all that yummy food once your taste buds are back to normal.
Snoogle
x
Good to see everyone starting to pick back up now. Feeling a bit better today, each dose seems to take one more day to come out from behind the moon.
Went with my youmgest daughter to a hockey tournament yesterday and found out that one of the other mums ( ironically who has twin sons born half an hour after my daughter at the same hosptital) is another survivor, four years on. She also had TAX but at the time it was quite new. She said however that that was the drug that blasted her cancer and gave her the best chance for longer term survival. She also looked great but well remembered the bad days of chemo. Might not seem like it at the moment but good to know that this is just a passing phase and things will get better.
Still only 7 days on from last dose so crossing off my mental 10 day calendar before a can rest a little easier.
Good to see you seem to have got over the stomach upset Linda, probably as you say you picked it up from the family.
Enjoy the good days girls…well done to those who have got to the end and to those who are nearly there.
Julie xxx
Hi Girls,
There’s always something isn’t there??? Swine flu at my son’s school!!! Havin a nervous breakdown! there’s been a cluster not far from where I live, creeping ever nearer the last week or so. They are advising only the year affected should stay off and they have been given Tamiflu… my son is in the year above, so the question is whether I keep him off. His girlfriend’s mother phoned the school worried, and they were very nice, said of course they’d understand if a parent kept a child off. Then she mentioned her concern for me and again it seems to be left up to the parent? They can’t say who the patient is so my son doesn’t know if he’s been in close contact with him/her… 1200 pupils at the school, all mingling about at break and lunch… in and out of the same classrooms!!! Help!!
Think I’ll just be keeping him off anyway… Paranoia will get the better of me I know it!!!
Fiona xxxx