So is that 7 weeks left of chemo? That doesn’t seem too long, you’re almost halfway through. ? I’m having a mastectomy too after chemo, but I don’t know about reconstruction yet as I haven’t spoken to anyone about it.
The amazon river sounds amazing, I haven’t been to South America, there is a lot to see there. I’m thinking of Borneo to an orangutan sanctuary and Vietnam. I don’t know when we will go because I’ll be on herceptin for 12 months starting next cycle so presumably after that.
Thanks Wildshell, it’s really helpful to known of other people’s experiences. Sorrry to hear this is the second time you are going through this horrible process x
Hi everyone I had a mascetomy with immediate diep reconstruction on the 2nd Feb too. Got an appointment with my plastic surgeons (all women I love them so much!) on Monday to check progress. Hope you all have a lovely day.
Thanks Michelle can’t wait till this afternoon although I love my classes today #lastworkingdayoftheweek
Hi everyone.
Glad you’re all doing well.
Had my 2nd FEC on Tuesday and am feeling pretty good. A bit bleugh yesterday but nothing awful. They had huge problems getting a cannula in so I now have a PICC line in, which will make it all easier - just an extra hospital visit each week to get it flushed.
Also now have my wig and love it. It feels much more secure than I thought and I’ve had loads of compliments.
Gygi I can’t even begin to imagine coping with Ofsted stress on top of all this, so hats off to you!
Enjoy your day everyone. Sarah xx
Absolutetly dreading going through the diep surgury and the long recovery but everyone seems to be pleased with their results. i had a mastectomy 17 years ago but didn’t reconstruct due to other health problems taking priority. i was referred to a surgeon a year ago and approval was given for the single diep but the death of a close friend meant i wan’t in the right mental state to go through it. obviosuly this was followed by cancer in the other breast and the choice of radiotherapy or a mastectomy. To minimize the chance of a recurrence i have opted for the mastectomy so went back toe the surgeon who said the double would be possible with only slight reduction in breast size. i do want to go back to being able to wear a normal bra again and feel more normal. i know there will be scars and i will not look like i was before but i am only 54 so i think it is worth the pain and discomfort to get some sort of normality back. I did discuss the implant option but was told the old mastectomy skin that had undergone radiotherapy may not give a good a result and a number of procedures would be involved.
Its good to hear you are happy with your Gygi. I have seen some horror stories on here but we all know there is a risk.
And yes i am due to have herceptin after chemo but i understand it is three weekly by injection so shouldn’t stop plans for a holiday.
Sun shining so far and i am off for my blood test now and chemo tomorrow.
Do hope things go well for you, Christine, and I hope the reconstructive surgery is a brilliant success. You’re right: getting back some sort of normality is worth it. Sending hugs.
I was badgered into agreeing to take on something I really didn’t want to do yesterday. Explaining my cancer treatment didn’t help. I weakly agreed but, thank goodness, later sent an email saying I’d changed my mind. It’s the first time someone has ignored what I was saying about cancer - weird and upsetting but fixed now.
My hair is falling out in clumps now. Time to shave my head.
The picc line must be an improvement on the cannula, Noah&Willsmum. I asked for a picc from the start as I had been forewarned about cannula problems. Chemo2 on Monday. That’ll be another one down.
Hi Christine, I also had a mastectomy and immediate diep on 28 Feb and like Gigi I too have been very pleased. I’m 43 so was very worried about how it would look but mainly about the extent of the surgery, especially as you just only tend to find horror stories but my tummy scar has healed amazingly and my reconstructed breast looks great. I was very worried about it but so pleased. If I hadn’t been referred unexpectedly for chemo after the mastectomy I think I’d be almost back to my pre cancer/surgery self!
Great news on the wig Sarah, so good to hear.
Michelle, are you thinking about Sepilok for the orangutans ? I went about 15 yrs ago and it was amazing!
Dorabel, I’m biting the bullet tomorrow and having it all cut off… Gigi, I’m not brave enough for your DIY approach…
Morning all,
my day off today and it’s sunny! In bed with a cup of tea. Washing on already. That’s what happens when you have a partner on shift work lol. Feeling v rested after a bit of a week! Looking forward to today as meeting up with friends later. Christine good luck for chemo today hope it goes well. Fiona hope you like your new haircut. I feel 12 again. My new silk hairbands are lovely and hides the grey that is starts to peep through. Cooked a fab dinner last night. Lamb chops in baharat spices with a great salad. Wed when I go for my bloods going to pop into borough market and go get some new spices. Anyone got any recommendations. I think with the T tastebuds go a bit and spices can help but we shall see. Not there yet. I am so looking forward to my swing chair tonight as my present to myself for chemo arrived last night. Solar lights!!! And a step planter. Going to buy some herbs and lavender. Lavender to keep flies out of the house and herbs for my taste buds. Bought some mint to make mint tea and parsley for fish tomorrow. Again if you have any recommendations? I received a lot of compliments from the girls at school this week about my hair but they are on to me a little. The year 10s are so fab! I love teaching them so much. Have warned them I will be off again and we’ve been deciding what they will do when I’m off. So unfortunately loads of planning to do this weekend …For next week and then the week after. I wish my fec side effects were like yours Sarah seems like you are feeling ok? Hope that continues. Dorabel glad you were able to email and not go. People are so selfish and we need to be so careful with our “spoons” (article I read about saving our energy for when we need it) I’ll see if I can find it.
Hope you all have a pleasant day. Take care Gigi
Hi after my last chemo (no2) they reported that my white cell count was low so they prescribed some injections. Has any one had them? were the any side effects?
HI Sally I’m not sure it’s the same but I’ve been given a white blood cell booster the day after both my EC rounds. The only side effect has been that limbs felt a bit achy but it passed within a few days but nothing more that some ibuprofen didn’t take the edge off. Hope it helps get you back on track x
i haven’t had that problem this time but 19 years ago i did and had injection daily i think for the four days before chemo. they were a bit uncomfortable going in but other than that there was a small amount of joint/bone pain. i don’t remember it being a big problem. things may have changed so someone with more up to date information may post a better reply.
Hi everyone I’ve had a busy week.Getting jobs done before chemo 2on Thursday.Had My stitches out today on my Hickman line, the nurse said I can shower just put cling film around my Breast haha I tried didn’t work so just baths to the waist for me.My hair has started falling out my daughter cried which upset me loads. The only time this has got to me.Been a strange day.Hope everyone has a good weekend.
Hi Linda I guess you need to follow their advice but I was told that going to the cinema in a matinee when it is quiet would be fine, then my oncologist said I could work. I’m a teacher in a school just have really good hygiene hand washing etc. The second week is the lowest your immune system is which is the week just gone for me so next week I’m planning a cinema trip and going out to dinner to celebrate my daughter’s birthday. Then chemo on the Friday which is my daughter’s birthday. As for injections I will have to learn to give them myself for the T (not looking forward to that at all) The injections apparently keep your immune system up. They talked to me about it last time I went to check bloods. Wildshell for one of my surgeries I wasn’t able to shower and get my underarm wet so I wore a black bin bag lol what do you think? X
It’s interesting how differently we’re advised/treated even on similar regimes, isn’t it?
I’m on FEC and have to do daily GCSF injections from day 3 to 9 to boost my bone marrow. They seemed to do the trick.
I’ve been to the cinema when it’s quiet. As long as we minimise risk with good hygiene I’d think it’s ok.
Ladies. I am from May 2017 group. Has been of tremendous support and I wish you all well on this horrid journey that fell upon us.
Any group are in fact meeting up today in London!! Unfortunately I can’t make it tho. I lost my hair and bought a wig and have tried to sell it with a percentage to go to Breast Cancer Care. It’s blonde straight and just past shoulders. Have shampoo conditioner little hat’s etc so if anyone interested you would be welcome. Just pay the postage. I am in Axminster Devon if any of you are local. Sending you all super big hugs xx
Hello!
Yes it is interesting the different advice and treatments given. I was told to carry on living as normally as possible and told the phrase it has to live with you not you live with it. Having said that I have become a little paranoid about certain things, I avoid supermarkets and busy shops, just touching money for a few seconds has me reaching for the hand sanitizer and I have replaced all of the hand soaps in the house for anti bacterial. But I still attend my choir 2 our if the 3 week cycles and that is a room full of people and all their germs! I have also been to the cinema but it was pretty empty so intend to do that regularly.
With regard to white blood cells, like Fiona I have an injection the day after chemo which I could give to myself if I wasn’t such a wimp! So my daughter or friend does it. It makes me achy for a few days but it’s not unbearable.
I went to a meeting of a local breast cancer charity that I found online yesterday. I was a bit disappointed when I first arrived as everyone looked about 15 years older than me, however once we sat down and I chatted to a few it was good. Most of them had had bc over 5 years ago but in a way that made me feel hopeful about my future. Even though since having bc everyone I speak to seems to quote someone they know who has recovered from it I don’t know anyone who has been through this. They also walk once a week and more people turn up for that who are having treatment so I might try and get along for that one week.
I bought a brilliant cookbook this week. It is the Royal Marsden Cancer Cookbook. It has loads of great advice not just about different nutrients but recipes which are high/low energy, for if you are nauseaous or have a poor appetite and for sore mouths. My next cycle of chemo is T and as Gigi says that is the one that weakens the taste buds which makes you want to eat less however this can impact on fatigue so I really want to do all I can to keep myself eating!
I’m going to friends 50th birthday party tonight (another room full of people and their germs). I am looking forward to it but I woke up ridiculously early, think I’ll have to have a snooze later I think!
Dorabel- Good luck with Monday x
Thanks Trish, I already have a wig and have decided to stick with my usual brown locks! What a shame you can’t make the meet up of your group. I suppose it is impossible to get a date everyone can do. I am loving that we have the April thread, everyone here is so supportive of each other and we can say stuff that perhaps we wouldn’t want to say to friends/family. It is also interesting reading everyone else’s treatments/side effects to see if I am ‘normal!’
It would be great if when our group is through this that we could all meet up!
I wish you all the best Trish x
Thanks Trish I took have a wig already. Yes it would be lovely to meet one day. Yesterday I had lunch with a friend I made from a bc group. We realised we are having very similar treatment (I’m a little ahead of her) and we live near each other and every started off with the same consultant. We went cafe rouge and had a lovely time.