Such a happy photo of you and Mr Gromit, Laura! Well done on the chemo AND the house! Welcome to Somerset soon!
I’ve never felt knocked by you posting about your running. I’ve been in awe but it certainly hasn’t ever made me feel bad about my journey. Your half marathon was an actual half marathon whereas my half marathon was hoovering the dining room and kitchen. The end result was the same. Exhaustion! 
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@isthisreal i had a lumpectomy, I asked my surgeon about having a mastectomy instead and he advised me that the outcome would be the same but that I would be avoiding major surgery and in his opinion I should go for lumpectomy but that I could choose a mastectomy if I wished, I went with his advise and had a lumpectomy and slnb, the hospital I went to did not offer the option of having the lymph nodes tested during the surgery so I had to wait for the results which luckily were clear, I had the wire guided op, it was pretty painless to have inserted after the local anaesthetic but was a little painful as the anaesthetic started to wear off before I went to theatre, my surgery was completed before my chemotherapy,
@gromit12 massive congratulations on completing your chemo 
and also the completion on your new home, what a day for you and your husband, celebration drink well deserved 
lovely photo 
Had a few appointments this week and I’ve been told my radiotherapy should be starting next week, they think it will probably go to mdt meeting on Tuesday so possible to start on Wednesday, I’m now waiting for a bone density scan for my hormone treatment, I will be having letrozole and zoladex injections along with zolderonic acid every 6 months, I’ve been told I need a dentist appointment for dental clearance, I’ve been given so much information today that I feel like my head might explode, trying to get my head around it all, has anyone else been advised they will be having similar treatment going forwards ?
Hope everyone is feeling well and doing ok xx
@gromit12 Congrats and what a wonderful photo! It make me think of the unsung heroes like your other half supporting you all the way through this.
What a milestone and an appropriately large glass to accompany the occasion! Well done to you both, you look so happy.
@gromit12 Morning Laura what a lovely post to wake up to! You have done so well and I’m really pleased your house has completed and that you can now focus on the next chapter xx ooh and your hair looks great too!
@ivy-cat I’m so glad you managed to get some more support Emma it sounds like they were really kind and supportive which is exactly what we need when going through this!
@isthisreal I was the same as @belle1 and @elle16 i had 2 tumours one invasive lobular and 1 x ductual both around 2cm but as I was a J cup they suggested a lumpectomy, I also had the wires inserted pre op in the morning. I had a full node clearance at the same time as my node had come up on a ct scan so before surgery I had a biopsy and it had come back cancerous which is why they removed them all. I was told for me lumpectomy was the better option as I am large chested mastectomy would have been a bigger operation and they didn’t see any difference in my survival long term.
I hope everyone is feeling brighter this weekend at least it’s warmer! I ticked another chemo off on Thursday only 4 to go now. Really struggling with the neuropathy hoping they don’t have to reduce my dose but we will see.
I think this is the hard bit now as we are all coming to the end and all feeling pretty worn out but we have nearly done it whoop whoop!
Big hugs everyone, it’s hard remembering everyone’s names!
Helen x
Hi @elle16
I have exactly the same treatment going forward as you do. I start 10 days of radiotherapy on Wednesday (5 standard and 5 boost). I have my first Zoledronic acid infusion on 8th August. I had my second Zoladex injection on Thursday. Chemo didn’t stop my periods (sorry if tmi) so once I’m definitely in menopause I also start Letrozole. Do you know how long your hormone therapy will be for? I’ve got 10 years……sounds like a prison sentence 
Hope you are getting on OK after completing chemo. Everyday is a step closer to normal life, well the new normal!
Feel free to message me with any questions. With so many different treatment options it’s nice to find someone on the same plan.
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Hi @emmaxoxo i haven’t got a start date for injections they just said after bone density scan, I was given so much information yesterday that I don’t think I took it all in, been reading through the info they gave me and trying not to focus on the side effects,
They told me to start the tablets which they gave me yesterday on the same day or day after first injection, and if they told me how long my sentence was I didn’t take that in either 
Yes I agree it’s nice to have someone that’s doing the same and I think our dates will be very similar. How you feeling about it? X
Ps periods stopped after second chemo x
Well that was probably utter madness - I’m blaming it on the steroids - but I have just done a half marathon 2 days after finishing chemo!! How could I resist a run for ice cream race which included a 99 
Wow Laura, you amaze me, I just don’t know how you do it!!! Well done you and what a way to celebrate 
There is so much to take in isn’t there, just when our brains are full of chemo mush! I’ll be on Zoledronic acid infusions too, 6 monthly for 3 years. Also letrozole (maybe for 3 years but I’ve heard that is often extended) and Abemaciclib for 2 years. I’m anxious about the side effected and the impact that will have on getting back to “normal” but it’s all to prevent recurrence so there’s not much choice. I’m not sure how quickly these start but think the suggestion was letrozole will start at my next oncology appointment and the others after radiotherapy?
We were supposed to be celebrating my sons 30th birthday this weekend but he’s got covid so that scuppered our plans…. And I’ve baked a huge cake, just what I need to help put on a few more pounds!!!
Sorry me again! I have just slept properly for the first time since pre chemo - perhaps a half marathon is required post chemo!!! Legs aching like hell- probably the filgrastin but I can blame the run!! We’re off to see Starlight Express as a surprise for my husband’s birthday - never thought I’d get there so close to the end of chemo. And so pleased I perservered with cold capping - it was hell but so pleased with the results. Bit nervous about train and big theatre- a first- but have high grade mask. Is this really a " normal day"
Hi @gromit12 i’m so pleased for you. Well done! Here’s to more ‘normal’ days. Have fun at Starlight Express and keep masking.
Long may it continue Laura! I found the 15 days post-final chemo to be the worst - fatigue, aches and neuropathy all at their peak. Things have definitely improved over the past few days though and although nowhere near normal, I’m certainly feeling a bit more like Enjoy the theatre 
Looking amazing as usual hope you had a lovely evening at the theatre 
@elle16 we had a lovely time thank you. Starlight Express was just awesome. A really happy day. Exhausted today though!!! Xx
Wow @gromit12 love the photo and I bet you had a fantastic time!
@altoan it’s really interesting to hear what the next steps are, I’ve still got 4 sessions of chemo left so haven’t had a full discussion with the oncologist. All I know is it’s radio, hormone therapy and Abemaciclib. I’ve tried not to Google too much as sometime the side effects just seem really endless! I hope that you are feeling OK and not too overwhelmed by it all. It’s a shame your son had Covid I hope you were able to celebrate virtually not to mention your lovely cake xx
@elle16 and @emmaxoxo im really interested to hear how you get on, my radio and all the other stuff won’t start until September. Like I said before I’ve stopped reading some of it as it seems a lot! I started my chemo on the 4th April on one hand can’t wait to finish it but feel a little apprehensive about what’s to come.
@ivy-cat hope you are OK, thanks for mentioning about the counselling Im particularly stressed about recurrence so I think I might speak to someone, I’ve never had any counselling before but maybe how’s the time!
@isthisreal i hope you’ve had a good weekend and that you are not feeling too stressed about your surgery. Don’t be scared to ask lots of questions as i can imagine it must be really hard when you have to make the choice. X
To all the other April chemo gang not long now until we’ve all finished!! Big hugs 
Helen x
Thank you everyone for your advice and own experiences about surgery xx
Well done April chemo ladies - we have hit 2000 supportive messages!
Hi all, hope you are all well and doing ok, just a quick update, hospital rang and I’m starting radiotherapy tomorrow, feel like it’s really quick as my last chemo was 5th July but not complaining, happy to get on with it, no news on bone density scan and can’t get a dentist appointment till 16th august so not sure when I will be stating medication,
Advice I’ve been given so far is moisturise 3 x a day , get my boobs out to let the fresh air get to them for an hour a day, drink lots water, rest and use simple shower gel xx
Oh my goodness. They’ve totally sprung that on you! It’s good though to get it over and done with!
For others on Abemaciclib, I’m starting it after radio and was in chatting to Sonia, my oncology lead, today and she said that most tolerate it fairly well but the diarrhoea is a massive issue for some on 150mg. The efficacy of 100mg is identical to 150mg so she said to speak up if struggling and they’ll adjust the dose instantly and that most people find it much easier. Because they’re using the data for the trials, they have to start everyone on the 150mg but it’s totally normal and fine to drop down a dose and better than quitting it. Apparently some people just stop taking it rather than speak up and adjust the dose.
We’re getting sorted to go to Spain next Friday before my radiotherapy and I thought I’d feel anxious that I’m not currently doing a single thing to fight cancer. I’m just still recovering from the last Docetaxel. I’m not in any way anxious though. I’m really welcoming the break from everything which is so unexpected and nice.
They’re waiting to start my Zoladex because the chemo stopped my periods and it’s very unusual for them to return quickly so they’re leaving me very drug free for 6 weeks which hopefully will help me feel like my muscles are not made of jelly and have no strength.
PICC Line is gone as of this morning and I cannot wait to swim!! My chest and back are so tight after the mastectomy and being so bedridden and I think swimming is going to be a game changer. I tend to wake at 6am so I’m planning to swim as much as possible in our pool on hols before the kids wake up. I checked my photos from last year too and half the pool was in shade at 4:30pm so I can do lengths then as well too.
Weather is in the mid-30’s which I’m a little worried won’t go with the intermittent sweating of menopause but hey ho! There’s always air con and a good book.
The enormity of what we’ve all done this year really hits home at the moment. I hate people saying “Oh you’re so brave!” We had no choice but to hang on for dear life to the world’s crappiest rollercoaster. I can’t help but feel that it’s left an unhealthy dose of trauma, being swept along on this journey we didn’t choose. But we survived and if a recurrence happens, we can and will do this again. I finally feel like I could cope again. I don’t want to but I will. That helps me feel a bit less anxious about the stalker who is staying with me for life. It probably helps that I don’t have the energy to even try to control it or freak about it. X
