I’ve got the foul taste too Dorabel, it seems to have got worse after each cycle and now like you it is putting me off eating. I am however pushing through and trying to eat as much as possible just to keep my energy levels up. I have found alcohol free lager good to drink when I can’t even stomach drinking water and am sick of sweet drinks. I think because it’s bitter tasting. Also the sweets refreshers help for a short while especially if I’m out and just want to sit with my mouth open because it tastes so vile!
Gygi how did the herceptin go? I have my first as an injection on 10th and have heard it is not just a quick in and out and can be stingy. What did you think?
How are you doing Christine and Fiona? I hope your rashes and numbness are improving Christine. Fiona I hope you are keeping well and tucking off those cycles.
I have my first appt with the surgeon on Thursday. It can’t come soon enough. I know I am still in chemo cycle so obviously not well enough for surgery yet but I just want to get on with it. I’m even starting to worry that it is growing back! How do you stop the paranoia?!
Hi Michelle. i am still stressed and yes the paranoia is all there for me too. I can’t wait for the breast to be gone as i too keep thinking the cancer is lurking. I spoke to a replacement breast cancer nurse this morning about my rash and she asked me if there was any new tenderness and that has me worrying as everything feels tender at the moment. she has got me to book an appojntment with the breast surgeon to check it and put my mind at rest. I feel like i am worrying constantly about something or other.
I have had two herceptins now as injections and it didn’t take long. The liquid is admistered slowly but not much more than 5 minutes max. the first part does sting and i was told this was due to it ahving to be stored in the fridge more than anything else. I did have a red circle that formed on my leg for about 48 hours but wasn’t reaally sensitive. The first 48 hours was also when when my joint and muscle aches were at there worst. I didn’t really have any other reaction but there are a few on here that say they have other simptons.
Glad you seem to be able to move a bit more Dorabel. Paclitaxel left me tired and did increase as the cycles went along but i didn’t have the length of fatigue the docitaxel seems to do. My second to last one seemed the worst and i was afraid the last one would be the same but lucklily it wasn’t so bad…
And with regard to hair loss, I lost all my pubic hair but that has started to grow back and feeling a bit itchy. My eye brows are not great and i still seem to be losing them. My upper lashes seem ok but i have very few below my eyes so I hope these come back in time.
Thanks Christine that is all very useful especially regarding the herceptin. Since I was told it was stingy I’ve been building it up in my head so at least I can set myself straight on that. I guess the paranoia we will have to learn to live with for a while. That and it being the last thing I think of at night and the first thing when I wake up.
I’m also itchy down below and using the exfoliating glove every day, but mysteriously no actual hair seems to be appearing! Perhaps it is on its way!
It seems the nice weather is back, I hope everyone has a good day xx
Hi guys yes sunny morning here too. Went and had Herceptin yesterday but I’ve still got my port. Took longer than expected as they sent me for an emergency scan on the blood clot in my arm. I told them it’s a bit swollen and I have tingling in my fingers. Well the tingling is unrelated (pactlitaxel) and the clot hasn’t gone but it hasn’t got worse. Was quite good to get it checked anyway. Really tired in the afternoon as slept. I want to start swimming but forgot to ask the nurses if it is a good idea mainly hair and skin. I think immunity wise will be alright but will the chlorine affect my hair. Last thing I want is that. Heads a bit itchy hoping that means it’s growing and will soon have to shave my legs whoop whoop NOT! Lol eyelashes and eyebrows in tact too. On Friday met ladies from a Facebook group in London and they said the hardest thing was losing their hair. So holding off the swimming going to exercise and eat well instead.
Oops pressed post too soon. I haven’t really any side effects from Herceptin just still building energy levels from chemo. Still taking it easy really. Hope you all are too have a good day x
I’ve not had Herceptin, sorry Gigi…do you have any ondansetron that might help with the sickness?
I saw my oncologist yesterday and it was timely as my foot pain has become really intense. I already have morton’s neuroma so the nerves on my left foot were already inflamed but now have gone crazy and its so sore to walk ! She’s lowering my dose for Thursday but if it doesn’t subside, which both she and I are doubtful of, then this will be my last chemo. In some ways I’m ecstatic and in others a bit anxious of finishing early. I know though that it wouldn’t be suggested if she didn’t think it was okay to do it. I suppose quality of life is the key and if I can’t walk pain-free then I’ll be absolutely miserable! I don’t think I’d have managed to remain positive about this whole period if I hadn’t been able to have my walks most days tho I’m at 30mins max at the moment before fatigued.
We did talk about next stage of treatment, endocrine, and the possibility of adding monthly injections of zoladex to the daily tamoxifen but I’m not sold on it at all. I don’t know how I’d manage to move on if i had to go to the doctor for monthly injections for possibly the next 5 years … Anyone else going down this path at all?
Hope you feel better soon Gigi and Michelle, I hope your appointment goes well today, I’ll be thinking of you.
Hi Gygi. After my first injection i did have a couple of days of feeling very queasy to the point i took an anti sickness tablet. I never was actually sick and it didn’t happen after the second one. It may be a case of wait and see and I do hope you feel better today.
Also my taxol was reduced and the final one cancelled due to my feet problems too. It cot to the point where i would normally walk the 25 minutes to the hospital and back but i could only do one way and took the bus the other. On the up side they are feeling fine now except for a slight numbness down the side of my big toes. I was very depressing as like you I did lots of walking. The reduction of the dose and cancellation of the last one had me feeling the same as you. Glad it had finished but was it ok to have less than i should. I was reassured that it was fine by my oncologist so i think we have to accept they wouldn’t do it unless they were sure it was the right decision.
I was due to have zoladex (ovarian suppresant) but argues against it and they agreed that as long as my ovaries didn’t start working again then it wasn’t needed. they will check hormone levels after my op. and only add it if needed. I am due to have letrozole and not tamoxifen as they are not comaptible with other medication i am. When i had zoladex before i had a 3 monthly one rather than the each month and that was less intrusive but haveing herceptin every 3 weeks and zoladex every 4 would mean so many appointments it would really interfere with any sort of normal life.
All the best for your appointment Michelle. It would be good to plan this final stage and see where the end will be.
Thanks guys I have had some toast after antisickness tablets feeling nauseous but not been sick.Phoned last night and they suggested fizzy and to focus on liquids not food. The foot thing sounds far worse poor you Christine and Fiona. I really feel for you. I was glad to finish early Fiona but I understand how worrying it is. And Christine sounds like you are in control of your treatment although very complex decisions to make.Thinking ahead to September and work: if all I get is sick a couple of days I can handle that. Good luck with your appointment tomorrow Michelle. Hope all your questions are answered. Going to take it easy today coz of yesterday. Hope your energy levels are up Dorabel. Take care everyone xxx
I had a really good appointment with the surgeon today. After a trip to radiology for a mammogram and ultrasound he told me there is now no need for a mastectomy! The tumours, (I had 2) have shrunk down to nothing. He said he is going to remove the areas where they were and the size they originally were. So after a lot of time spent thinking about recon it turns out I won’t need it and they would have offered a delayed recon anyway! I will still have the full lymph clearance. Surgery might be on 13th or 23rd, which would be great as I want to get on with it now, although I don’t actually finish my chemo cycle until 10th which doesn’t give me much time to recover! Hearing that the tumours have shrunk down to nothing makes the chemo feel worthwhile.
Obviiously I’m really pleased, whilst remembering that things can still change.
Fiona sorry to hear about your foot pain. I understand you worries about finishing chemo early but I guess it’s one of those times you have to trust in the professionals. Im not on tamoxifen or zoladex so can’t give any opinion sorry.
Gygi sorry to hear about your sickness I hope you are feeling better and that you don’t have that experience every time.
Dorabel I hope your radiology appointment and your LAST chemo goes well on Monday! Nearly done!
Great news Michelle about the shrinkage in the tumours. You must be so relieved. Surgery does sound soon after the chemo but i am sure you will feel so much better to have the lumps removed that the sooner the better. Hope you have something nice planned for the weekend as a small celebration for how well you have done.
Michelle that is the best news… Really wonderful to hear that.
Thanks all for your kind support with this pain and Christine, that’s really helpful on the endocrine experience, thanks. As the nurse said yesterday, it’s your chemo and it’s preventative for belts and braces but if it’s impacting the healthy me then I should go with the onco and stop as I’ve had a lot already. So, that’s what I’m going to do.
Next stop radiotherapy then endocrine.
Hope the sickness has subsided Gigi and enjoy the wedding jencat… It’s a lovely day for it
Have good day all and thanks as ever for being such a great group x
Thanks everyone! Enjoy the wedding Jencat and meeting up with the Oct ladies.
Christine to celebrate we are planning to go to the Cotswolds on Sunday for a peruse around the shops and lunch x
Yaay!! Last chemo today. Even though I know what’s coming, I still feel euphoric. Picc line gone (I’m grateful for having it but glad it’s out). Am already wondering when my hair will start growing back. It’d be nice to look in the mirror and recognise myself rather than the hairless hobgoblin I see at the moment.
Great news Dorabel, it’s a lovely feeling starting to get yourself back isn’t it? I hope today runs smoothly and the next couple of weeks too.
I have been given 16th August as my date for surgery. This is the worst date for me as my youngest daughter will get her A Level results then. She’s already had to go through revision and exams with me going through all of this.
Ive managed to delay being admitted from 7.30am to 9am so if she gets into her chosen uni at least I’ll know beforehand but if not I will be leaving my husband to sort it all out, and my daughter will be upset. I will just have to keep my fingers crossed tightly.
Other than that feeling good, I even went for a run on Saturday. I did a local parkrun. I couldn’t run the whole 5k but didn’t do too badly. I will try and run a few more times before 16th. Even though I managed to run I have noticed I’m a lot more tired this cycle but hopefully that will get better.
Winter is a long way off Dorabel, get through the next 3 weeks and then everyday you will feel a little bit better and a bit more like you again. You will be wearing boots for winter! Is chemo the end of treatment for you? X
Great news Dorabel. Time to move on from that time and get your body back to being more normal.
Michelle as far as i remember the UCAS site allows you to access the University acceptance before the results are provided. My daughter did hers a few years ago so it may have changed but all the best anyway. Always a traumatic time and i hope it is good news. That will also give you something to concentrate on other than the surgery.
I had my pre op assessment today and all seems good. Lots of waiting around and I also I had to have a before photo taken on my breast and tummy. I was going to do that for my own records anyway. It does make everything feel very real and I am already having the nightmares and sleepless nights but it is raining so perhaps cold weather help. I have a blood thinner to inject which goes into the fat in the top of my leg. I guess i will only know when i do it how it works but it is not easy to pinch enough fat to inject straight down. I am sure i will sort it. Looking forward to getting rid of the port too.
I thought blood wasn’t suppose to be taken from my arms but two hospitals have now insisted on doing this. Anyone else had that?
Good that your pre op assessment is done Christine and that it all went well. I hope you get to grips with the injection. I have my pre op tomorrow, I feel a bit nervous, I don’t know why, probably because I still don’t feel comfortable in hospitals despite the amount of time I’ve spent there in the last few months!
You are right Christine UCAS do release the university acceptance early, usually by 8am. That will be great as long as she gets a good result. I just have to face there is nothing I can do about it now.
We have all had our last chemo’s now and are coming out the other side. Three great big cheers for us! HIP HIP HOORAY!! X