Glad to here you got out to your exercise class Dorabel. i have a port rather than a picc and really the ony thing you can see is a small scar and a bump but i did chose a top that completely covered it. Don’t think i am up for a spin class but a gentle session does give normality back to life. Did feel tired in the evening but it was worth it.
Bit of a panic this morning when my port wouldn’t work to take blood. After the third attemp and a few different nurses givint their advise it finally worked. Had visions of needing it to be removed or repalced but apparently blips happen and it was working to accept saline so will be finde for chemo tomorrow.
Manged a coffee with a friend and a walk to vote so lots packed in before the routine starts again tomorrow.
Hello everyone,
Hope everyone is feeling ok and looking forward to a sunny bank holiday weekend! Welcome Blissie, I’m at the end of week one, cycle 2 and generally feeling ok apart from feeling tired today. I’ve probabky over done it, I was out walking for 2 1/2 hours today. It was good fun though, so worth it!
Is anybody else eating lots? I seem to constantly be on the look out for food, and I’m almost craving some things!
I love the sound of your breast cancer haven Fitful, I’m not usually the airy, fairy, mungbean type either but it sounds good! I’m in Cardiff and we don’t fave one here but it made me think I need to have an ask around about what is available.
I collected my wig yesterday. It is a surprisingly good likeness to my hair although I’ve gone with a messy look as I thought it looked more natural but now I think it just looks messy! I have also bought a bamboo cap and started messing around with a few scarves, so I’m getting there with the acceptance of the inevitable!
Good to here we all seem to be getting out and about and doing a bit of exercise, it must help. Let’s hope we all see the sun this weekend, although if you do don’t forget your factor 50! X
i am finding during my weekly cycle my appetite and types of foods i want vary. i do have a box of bisuits that i graze on and i am also eating alot of cheese. i can’t eat a big though as it seems too much. i don’t think i will be one of those people who loose weight during chemo…
My daughter is coming down to look aftet me next weekend and i had a 10% voucher off Thorntons so i just had to order the Loads of Chocholate bundle. Hopefully we will not eat it all and i justify it as i am really not into alcohol at the moment.
Chocolate sounds like a good idea. I was told very firmly to maintain my weight - if chocolate helps that’s great. Thornton’s stuff is lovely; hope you and your daughter enjoy it, Christine.
In the week after chemo1 my weight quickly went down. I tried to stuff the food down (like stuffing a cushion) but it felt like indigestion all the time. Now, by day 11, I feel almost normal but it’s still a struggle to keep my weight up.
Michelle, I’m full of admiration for your long walk. I’m sure it helps recovery, despite the tiredness.
Thanks, Jencat, for the encouraging info about hair regrowth.
Morning ladies, this will probably be a long one as i I’m pleased to report that round 2 chemo went well , my port worked though needed a tiny bit of sharp adjustment but then it was excellent - I was reminded that it’s a baby port so still settling down.
I am also feeling a million times better than 1st as they’ve found an sickness that I’m not allergic to so that the my experience this time has been far better. Its really amazing when it actually does what I expected and stop the sickness rather than heighten it as before. I felt so much better that yesterday I had a lovely day of garden centre in the morning and a 2hr dog walk in afternoon . Figured I’d get out while I felt good as expect I will get tired in the next few days.
I also made the decision not to cold cap any more and as I’ve thinking about for 3 weeks that it felt such a weight off my shoulders and I’ve made the right choice for me. I’m going to have my chin length Bob cut very short mid week and take it from there. I feel I’m able to take control of just this one aspect of the experience and as I suffered such terrible migraines after the first cap it just didn’t seem worth the further pain and what was becoming a constant worry of how much will fall, so with my turbans, I am going to" style it out" as my neice says!
I think Not working during this time makes the decision easier for me but mainly, I think that not having my hair will help me look more like I feel at this stage, rather that outwardly like the pre chemo me and that when my hair comes back it will be a signal that it’s over.
I’ve been really overcome by the positive support my family and close friends have given since I told them. After I made my decision I was Introduced to a lovely lady at the clinic on Thursday who was on the exact same path as me but 10 weeks in front and had aslo made the decision at the same stage as me and seem to have made it for the same reasons as me. Gigi, she was wearing your namesake suburban turban and said its been her favourite! She looked great in it.
As for eating, which I couldn’t last time for about a week but I’m able to eat again which is so nice though perhaps the 2 ice creams were a bit much!?
I did however have a terrible nights sleep with insane acid reflux burn despite all my ranitiden and omaprazole so I’ve woken feeling a bit groggy this morning but hubby brought me tea and toast and I’ve take my first anti sick of the day so it’s passing quickly. Again, a makes improvement on round 1
I’m hoping to get out into the garden again today.
I so wanted a swing but London terraced house gardens don’t quite have the size to fit it so we brought a new non swinging bench instead and I’m hoping to spend a day pottering and sitting looking out in the sun… Definitely with factor 50, my face was really hot last night after my walk even with a hat and factor 30!
As ever I’ve been inspired reading your progress and support of each other, and me, over the last days and welcome to the new joiners too … I really am so very thankful to be in this group and I hope that you all have a good day… Xx Fiona
Good news for you, Fiona! Must be such a relief when the sick feeling goes. Perhaps with better medication the reflux will stop. Hope so because a bad night makes the following day very tiring. Hope you have a great day in this gorgeous sun. About hair loss, I feel better just being prepared for it.
Planted some geraniums I bought yesterday. The garden is bursting with life. Hope you are all having a lovely day.
Thanks Dorabel and it’s so lovely to see the gardens coming into bloom. For me, One silver lining of having to slow down is being able to take time to enjoy the garden as I’m usually to busy with to really enjoy! Enjoy your gernaiums!
X
I’m so pleased the anti sickness meds have worked for you this time round Fiona, it must make the world of difference. I was really interested to read what you said about your hair and I totally get it. I particularly love what you put about your hair loss will look more how you feel at the moment and when it comes back it is a sign that it is over. What a lovely way to think of it.
I am sat in the garden watching rather than doing but it is nice sitting between my 2 daughter’s who are both revising for exams. It amazes me how well they have adapted to this situation, although I can tell they are worried, particularly the older one.
No Christine I don’t think I’ll be losing weight either! I am eating little and very very often! I’m fancying foods with stronger flavours so maybe my taste buds are a bit off. I also find a bar of mint aero goes down well in the evening! I really fancy some strong cheese but think I have read to stay away from unpasteurised or veined cheeses, has anyone else read that?
Enjoy your geraniums Dorabel!
For me an afternoon of pottering in the garden, I might even sit and read my book, you’re right Fiona there is a silver lining in there somewhere! X
It’s great that you’ve had a better experience of chemo than you expected. I know I terrified myself imagining how awful it was going to be. Hope your courses of chemo follow the same pattern. If complementary therapies help, thank goodness for that.
Thanks Annie. I think when you’ve got off relatively lightly with side effects - as I have been really lucky to have done with my first FEC - it’s easy to be lulled into a false sense of security and forget just what is going on inside with immunity etc!
Well - I got my husband to shave off my hair last night, ably assisted by my 4 year old who thought it was very funny! It was coming out in handfuls and my head was really sore so I decided to take the plunge. I hadn’t cold capped as for me it wasn’t that big a deal (and that’s not to say that I totally get why for some of us it is).
I don’t actually collect my wig until Tuesday so I’m now practising with all my scarves etc. At least now when I get my wig the lady can show me how to put it on to my bald head so if there are any problems I can sort them there and then!
It’s another gorgeous day here. Just got to take the little one to his Rugbytots in an hour then the day is free.
Enjoy the sunshine everyone. Sarah xx
Thanks For confirming Annie, so much of what I’ve been told seems to have gone past in a blur and like N&Wmummy says when you feel ok it’s easy to question if you really were told that. I bought a reserve Gruyere instead which seems to have sorted the craving!
Well done on going for the shave Sarah, enjoy your turban tying! Good to hear you are coping well too x
Hi guys there is a booklet from breastcancercare called diet and chemo. Basically it is the things you wouldn’t have when you are pregnant that you need to avoid: raw shellfish (I was also told to avoid smoked salmon) blue cheeses and brie camembert etc live yoghurts actimel bio etc … don’t defrost meat in microwave grapefruit for some chemo not all. The booklet explains it all really well. I also was told to avoid takeaways unless I have total faith in them.
Hi Gygi. i am still confused as i can only find a booklet called diet and breast cancer(bcc98) that does talk about chemo but not any exclusions of foods. Is there another one that i am missing? i am not sure if it varies depending on the chemo you are on. Most of you seem to be on the stronger drugs with a three week cycle which may affect immunity more than me on a weekly less strong cycle. My white counts are fine each week too. May be i need to ask next week when i have the next chemo dose. May be best to avoid the cheese my husband bought as a treat for the weekend…
Sun is shining and i am feeling unexpectedly good so a day to make the most of it.
No Christine sorry I wrote without having the booklet in front of me. It is just general information and I suppose it depends which chemo drugs you are on. The things I’ve written that I’m not allowed are from my chemo nurse.
don’t worry gygi. I think it is safe to say we have all had different advise and from different places. This may be specific to other aspects of our cancer or treatment and it is all worth reading as it is relevant to someone.
Have you spoken to tour medical team about how you are feeling Gygi? Is it still your sore throat? If you haven’t already seek advice, let me know how you get on xx