I’m sorry @gromit12 and @elle16 , my comments might have seemed critical of you, I absolutely didn’t mean that- in fact, I agree that a consultant to consultant referral should cover it. There will be some nonsense about budgets or waiting lists, we have that within Therapy, but with your diagnosis this shouldn’t happen should it.
@gromit12 nipple biopsy during my mastectomy showed cancer cells in the stromal tissue, so that has to be removed. This time hopefully the biopsy will show that chemo has killed them off but the only way to find out is to have the surgery. It’ll be quick and far more straightforward than I’ve already had. The Surgeon was lovely today, telling me how well I looked the old charmer!
2 Likes
@altoan don’t worry I didn’t see them as critical at all 
and I’m sure NHS treatment in Taunton will be fab too once I’m in their system!!! 
2 Likes
I really didn’t see your comments as critical , more that maybe mine were , and I didn’t intend to come across ungrateful, 
Hope the surgery goes well for you, 25th will be here before you know it 
1 Like
Just wanted to share this, it’s been recommended to me twice now and I’ve ordered some off Amazon, it came today I will let you all know how I get on with it xx
2 Likes
@altoan So pleased everything is moving in the right direction for you. You are doing amazingly.
@gromit Good luck with the move, I used to live in Finchampstead and had both my children at the Royal Berks Hospital in Reading! I hope you manage to swap some of your treatments over to a hospital close to your new house as that’s a lot of travelling for you.
I’m back home from my chemo today 5 more to go 
Fingers crossed for a sunny weekend.
Sending everyone a hug I’m rubbish with all the names 
Helen x
5 Likes
What a week you’ve had, another one done, well done, hope you manage to get lots of rest this week and you are feeling ok x
1 Like
Sounds as though so many of us are struggling right now! I’ve certainly fallen into an emotional black hole this week and I can’t seem to get out of it. It’s not helped by feeling physically really unwell too. All of the side effects from the docetaxel have kicked in hard - horrific stomach ache, sore mouth, streaming eyes, aching joints etc. it’s so hard to try and be positive when I feel so ill. Hopefully once I start to feel better my mental health will improve but right now everything is spiralling downwards 
.
What a miserable post - sorry! Hope everyone starts to feel a little better soon, small steps…
Emma x
6 Likes
Emma, this is the place to say how you really feel! It’s hard isn’t it as you want to try to appear brave but at some point we can’t be we have to accept that our chemo whilst coming to the end is often at the worst point as it’s cumulative so we are weaker.
I hope that the side effects lessen over the next few days.
Try not to be too brave to the people around you let them support you.
Sending love
Helen x
3 Likes
Sending you lots of love Emma, please be gentle and kind to yourself , I think sometimes it takes so much energy staying positive and reassuring loved ones we are ok that when we need those extra reserves to help us through either feeling so ill or sad that unfortunately we’ve already spent them and it’s so much harder to fight back, but you will get through this week and hopefully feel a little brighter next week, the sun will shine through and you will get there, just like you said, baby steps
Hey everyone,
Reading the updates made me remember when I used to read the month ahead’s posts to see what side effects were like and what to expect.
Anyone reading us lot will see the full spectrum of side effects and they’ll certainly be well prepared for this giant brick wall we have all seemingly slammed into head first as we come to the end of chemo, one by one.
See! Our misery is providing an educational service. Aren’t we nice! 
I’m on Day 11 now and I still have a horrible stomach ache (but less diarrhoea than previous cycles) but the mouth pain and taste issues are starting to subside a little and my joints aren’t randomly screaming in pain so much. Still just very tired but my son has been a nightmare at school this week which probably hasn’t helped. I didn’t like 15 year old boys when I was 15 and I’m not sure it’s changed much😂
Had a good therapy session on Friday about moving on after chemo and she got me in a good head space to be able to start to open the can of worms that needs unpacking.
I hope everyone is enjoying their weekend and getting some peace. I can’t help but think chemo and menopause would have been a bit better in the winter (love a woolly hat!) rather than a sweaty summer! Oh and hot flush should be banned as a saying. I’m firmly calling it a hot flash because it literally feels like a petrol fire has been lit next to me at times. Bought a neck fan from Amazon and it’s now my favourite thing ever! X
4 Likes
Hope your stomach ache gets better. Hot Flash is a good description I seem to be ripping off my headscarves when I’m out now and I don’t even care!
Some people have glasses in every room I seem to have various fans, the neck ones are particularly good!
I’ve dosed myself up with Imodium today and it seem to be working, I’m really struggling with neuropathy. I’ve got a lot of pain in my jaw, teeth and fingers.
Does anyone have any advice on anything to do or is it a case of just suck it up! And take painkillers.
H x
2 Likes
@hc1973 I’ve added codeine to ibuprofen for jaw / bone pain- and that can cause constipation so helps the diarrhoea too!! Immodium is my friend at the moment despite the oncologist telling me the opposite!! The oncologist wants me to see the dentist again because of my jaw pain. I’ve got some fab hand fans from John Lewis and they also stand up. Laura x
1 Like
Hi Laura, yes I’ve got codeine too. They said the same to me about the jaw pain, I think it’s probably down to the zoledronic acid infusions I think that’s how you spell it! I don’t know what I’d do with out all these hand and neck fans!
When people said they were having a hot flush I never realised how it felt! I was watering the plants yesterday and had to strip off mid water !
2 Likes
@hc1973 I haven’t got as far as the zolendronic acid! They wouldn’t give.ut me as I’m vitamin D deficient and am on supplements now. And when I said how bad my jaw pain was it was a real no no!! Laura
1 Like
Sorry Laura, I’m being confusing 
I meant that I was told I would have to make sure I had an extra check with the dentist re my jaw pain prior to starting the zoledronic acid if that makes sense!
I have to have my radiotherapy first which if everything goes to plan will be mid September.
I hope your jaw pain gets better x
2 Likes
@hc1973 they were planning to start my zolendronic acid with chemo 5- it’s amazing how our treatment plans are all so different. Another reason for not wanting to transfer to Somerset half way through!! Hope you get your pain under control xx
2 Likes
Thanks for all your lovely comments. I’m feeling a little better physically today which helps. The awful indigestion and stomach pain has gone and perhaps most weirdly, I have not had diarrhoea this time which is definitely a bonus! I did meet a rather bossy neighbour on my walk this morning who insisted on recounting various awful cancer stories of people she knows which led to a bit of a wobble mentally but then when I got back home I made an appointment to have my PICC line removed on Thursday - I literally cannot wait.
Hope everyone is doing OK? It feels weird to be out of the 3 week cycle of chemo and knowing that I will just generally start to feel physically better in the coming weeks and wont be battered by another session. That said, I have my surgery in 3 weeks so I don’t get much respite, Emma x
5 Likes
Hi ladies, just catching up here sorry to hear some of you are having horrible side effects. I had terrible jaw pain for a while and Dr said it was Neuralgia and gave me Amitriptyline which did help as nerve pain in different places has been one of my biggest side effects.
Today is my last of Radiotherapy, I’ve been feeling a bit low this last week, don’t know if it’s fatigue or just realisation what has actually gone on this last nine months.I also think tamoxifen could be making me feel like this, hot flushes and menopause are real. To all that still has to get radiotherapy I’ve found it ok, fatigue and some Nerve pain has been the biggest side effect ( no sickness)
Hope everyone has an easier day, sending hugs to you all
Pauline xxxx
5 Likes