I was stunned at how good with needles the chemo nurses are. I hate needles and hardly felt a thing.
The heart scan was fascinating to me. I’d actually take a trip up to the hospital to do it again just for fun… honest. But then I am fascinated by how things work. The night before my mum said to me… Don’t worry about the heart scan. I’m sure you’ve got one
She was right of course. You do have to twist a bit so they can see the heart under your lungs and rib cage. It’s just ultrasound so nothing invasive. That’s assuming it’s an echocardiogram you’re having done, I’m pretty sure that’s what they do everywhere now isn’t it?
It’s an ECG and i’ll get injected with isotope and the scan takes up to an hour. Is that the same as what you had?
You think i would be ued to the needles by now but i still hate them - well that depends on how god the nurse is that does it.
I think it’ll be interesting to see my heart on t.v. so to speak.
When i got injected for my bone scan my OH was in the waiting room and heard me scream in pain, it was that sore i thought i was going to faint.
She couldn’t do it and had to get a more senior nurse to do it who done less painfully.
So lets hope i get a nurse thats good with needles
Vodka you poor thing - sounds painful. Ive had an ECG but no injection so not sure what this is.
Im totally the same about needles, have a major phobia but the nurses in the chemo ward are great and after anethesist couldnt get mine in and 3 other people prodding and poking was scared witless. Bowl of hot water and the nurse had it in first time
Hi
I hate needles too and they just make me anxious if I know I have to have one. So really fed up that they won’t take the blood tests out of my port and still have to have those done the usual way. The isotopes are very small injections and so fine needles usually. I have been injected with radioactive isotopes twice now and neither were memorable so hopefully you have just been unlucky. The one for the sentinel node imaging was first. The nurse made the mistake of telling me she was injecting into my nipple and I was almost out the door on the spot, but it wasn’t!! Stupid woman. The bone scan one they got in without me hardly noticing, I think it is down to the person on the other end of the needle. Did you look when they did the early biopsies? I did not but my friend’s husband went in and said it was the most enormous long needle ever. Glad I didn’t look! Really hope you have more luck this time, thinking of you.
Lisa, really sorry to hear the H is going so quick now, are you wearing your wig or hats? At least it is a bit cooler to cope with them this week. I am relly looking forward to the look good thing, are you?
Keep smiling
Lily x
HI Ladies,
Sorry haven’t been on in a while and there is sooo much to read. I got my appointment through so will see onc for first time on Monday (9th).
Guess what I am a teacher too, I teach Biology with science mainly, only first year BT and have spent this year teaching DA Physics and Chemistry and SA all 3. My school have been great, I have been off since the week before my first op. Only thing is as I am on 1 yr temp they have advertised my job as permanent and I’ve had to reapply. I love the school and all the staff bar my HoD, she is awful. Well no that’s not fair, she can be the most supportive person in the world when you are doing what she wants but my principal spoke to me about an issue 1 day she said I wasn’t to talk about and she flipped, I ended up going off for 5 weeks with stress and fatigue, found my lump the week before I returned to work. I have applied for loads of other jobs so fingers crossed I get something. Oh I live in N. Ireland.
I have to say I don’t hate needles, I get a wee bit nervous when I know I have to have them but usually I am grand, even in hospital when a trainee dr was told to take my bloods and she was visibly shaking I was OK, they have to learn on someone I suppose. I still don’t know what way my treatment is going to work. Over here we go to the Breast Surgeon first and once the surgery is all sorted then we get referred to the onc if needed, so hence not having a clue what to expect.
I had a radioisotope injected for my SN removal and it stung a fair bit, right on the nipple too, they could do it now and I wouldn’t feel a thing, I had WLE so its still there but I have absolutely no feeling in it what so ever.
I’d love to go to the look good thing but not sure we have it over here, but then I suppose I don’t know what way I’ll be effected.
Hi Leeloo,
Nice to talk to you but sorry you are here at all with BC. Someone else I talk to is a science teacher, oh the brain, will have to read back to see who it is. It is right on the tip of my tongue. Idiot! Good luck with the job, that is reall bad timing to have this when you need tor reapply. Don’t forget you come under the disability act once you have had cancer so that might be beneficial jobwise and worth looking it up or asking the union. You need to pull any strings you can. I went back and worked up to my op but it was the first day after the hols so lucky to get some extra time paid. I will go down to half pay before I finish chemo and it looks like I will be away for betwen 9 months and a year, depending on how fast I move through the chemo and rads. They have already booked me into rads because there is an 11 week waiting list in this area and I said I will have to go without it if I can’t get on the list now. I am the same as you, had surgery, then moved on to oncologist. I am on a research trial which meant everything speeded up dramatically at that point as they have to start within a set number of weeks. I had my first dose of epi on 20 May and get dose 2 on Tuesday, having the cold cap to try to hang on to some hair if I can!
Good luck with yours and keep us posted about what treatment you are given
Lily x
I intend to try everything. Have heard about the travel bands. Does it work as well on only one arm though. I am stocking up on gingernuts, pineapple juice etc. I have also heard its a good idea to drink loads of water first few days to flush it all out. Thats if I can get it down. I too have heard some terrible horrible stories.
This week I have had a tooth out! A massive infection had set it. Dentist said best to take out and pointed out that at first chemo ok but as you get nearer the end immune system is very low. So best to keep away from any bacteria. Does anyone know about flu/pneumonia jabs? Can you have them on chemo? Would they help? My treatment doesnt finish until November. I am on 4 FEC and 4 taxotere.
Apart from an ECG and a blood test i havent been asked to go in beforehand. Which I find strange. How do they know i would like cold cap & hickman line? Does it make any difference going straight in?
Everyone says I am brave but what choice do I have? No one has said my prognosis which I take to mean is poor. Its all so scary.
I am just goin to get highlights put in hair today. Dont know what to do for best. I have very thick curly hair dyed blond. Am thinking of getting real hair wig. Anybody any thoughts on this.
I was worried about all those things last week, I’m now day 5 after first FEC and am more relaxed than I have been since I was diagnosed back in Jan. The sun’s out. I’m not feeling sick, Steroids have finished for this round so hopefully you’ll be enjoying yourself more than you expect too.
As for no one saying what your prognosis is, have you asked. I was told by several people who’ve taken the BC journey that the onc’s like to take a lead from you and some people don’t want to know so they may not be saying anything for that reason. I’d almost bet on that actually. So if you want to know do ask
I did and I didn’t like the numbers at the time personally (I asked for the percentages from the database system they have) but have managed to adjust to them now. Remember that it’s not a prediction it’s just statistics at the end of the day.
Hope your tooth gets better fast, wise dentist you got there. Back to work for me.
I’m starting chemo on the 9th June. I had a WLE - lump was 25mm with clear margins - and a SNB no nodes affected. I thought I was doing great until I found out yesterday that I’m HER2+++. I know I can take Herceptin and that reduces risk etc, but I was SO prepared for everything to be “done” this year and be on my way, and now I have to have Herceptin for another year after that. I feel selfish moaning about it, but I’m just narked off today. What an introduction to me - sorry all!
I’ve had a portacath put in as my veins are messed up by earlier ops (nothing to do with cancer), and it’s already driving me mad. I can feel it when I turn over in bed, and the bit on my neck catches on my seatbelt. I suspect the portacath will become the symbol for the end of treatment - when it comes out I’m all done…
As to the hair thing - well I had it cut myself, I’m damned if it’s coming out to chemo - I’ll get the clippers out when it starts falling out properly. I can’t get to grips with the wig idea, I might go out with my sister and have a play with some fun wigs for a laugh
Hi everyone, I’ve been away at some exam markers meetings for the last few days so had a feeling of being ‘normal’ for a little while. That is until I received a phone call late Thursday afternoon from one of BCN’s to say that my op for puting in the Hickman Line on Monday was cancelled. They wanted me to come in today (Friday) instead. Well I couldn’t as I was about 100 miles away with no way ogf getting back until late today!!! Obviously I was very upset as I thought it would delay the start of my chemo (wed 11th June) again as it’s already been delayed for 4 weeks because of a wound infection. Anyway an hour later another call came to say that she had managed to persuade another surgeon to put it in on Monday so it’s going ahead after all. All that upset for nothing.
Getting nervous about the wee op even though others on here have said its nothing, I can’t help feeling anxious.
Going to have a really good weekend as I’m not sure how i’m going to feel after Wednesday. Aaarg it’s all getting too real. I think I’ve been able to kid myself up until now as nothing has happened for the last few weeks and I’ve been feeling better and better after my op. All of a sudden I realise this is happening to ME.
Hi all,
just in from a hen party and no I aint drunk.
I know what you mean Jackie I feel exactly the same, the last 3 weeks have been great as no appts or ops or treatment and now it is real again.
I’d say my hair will go as the hospital I am in don’t offer cold caps but I had short hair for years and I’m booked in on 23rd for a great pixie cut and then will probably shave it all off one it starts to fall out, but then again we may be lucky and hold onto our hair. Suppose we’ll have to wait and see.
Going to spend tomorrow afternoon at home with the kids and do some family stuff, going to paint the hall and living room this week coming as i want some sort of order before it all kicks off.
I keep having bad dreams about chemo, I’m sure that once this starts I’ll be fine, but the unknown is always horrible. I can’t wait until Monday now, just to get this over with.
I had nightmares about it for about 2 weeks (I had to wait for a month before I started it but knowing I was going to blurgh).
It helped me to analyze what I was scared of then I could rationalise it eg the needles, hate them. But I’ve had so many since I was dx and they weren’t as bad as I thought so I’m probably worried about nothing.
I had to tear apart each of the fears and really think my way through it but it worked for me.
But I am sure it will pass after you’ve started. I’ve had a great week since my FEC on monday, Odd I know but it’s true.But then everyone did seem to say that it’s not all horrible all of the time.
Hi
hope you are all enjoying the better weather. I am really not sure about sunbathing though as it tends to bounce off me and I have to seriously toast myself to get any sort of tan. Is it worth even getting a tan, things look a bit different this year from last! Might just stick my legs out for a bit.
I haven’t asked for a prognosis either, just in case it is below my comfy can cope level. After all will knowing change it? A bit of a personal decision I think. I just jokingly asked early on so I’m going to be around for a while then and he gave a good grief yes jokey answer back, I left it at that point, no point pushing your luck.
Caron, my portacath drives me mad sometimes too, yes the seatbelt every time! I have been forced to sleep on my back since the first op on 1st April and it still annoys me, but with the port I cannot even lean on either side at all, or I wake with sharp pains in it. I don’t know if it is pulling against the stitches to anchor it or just pinching the skin. They could not even access my port first time ( missed it )so they still had to use my vein, a real fiasco. I am back in on Tuesday to see if they have more luck second time around. Not looking forward to it at all and it should be really easy with my port in. Just unlucky I guess. Breaky good luck on Monday at least they can see the end of the Hickman line so that won’t be a problem for you. Will be thinking of you. Mine is buried under the skin and a new type they have not used before. They can use them straight away so at least you will be getting on through the treatment now. It is good to have one done and dusted and on your way.
Good luck everyone, my second dose of epi is on Tuesday. I am fascinated to know all my blood counts but apart from that dreading going in again. It wasn’t even that bad but will be ill on my daughter’s birthday and Fathers day next weekend. I have lost my lovely Dad but we celebrate with my hubby and all go out to eat. So going out this week instead. I worked out I will be ill on everyone’s birthday this year and my anniversary too, what bad luck!
Hugs
Lily x
Well it’s finally here. Line went in on Monday and getting my chemo at 11 30 today.
Feeling very apprehensive. Know that getting it in will be OK because I now have the line but really worried about what will happen after that!
I keep telling everyone that I don’t plan to be sick which is true but my body may have other ideas. Oh well I’ll soon find out
Will post as soon as I can afterwards and let you all know how it was.
I get my first FEC at 2.00pm today Like you i’m really nervous about it. i feel a bit unwell at the moment but i’m just putting it down to nerves. as fo rthe sickness i’m not planning that either but the way my luck goes i’ll be pucking for ages. : (
good luck and keep in touch.
I felt queasy while I was waiting, but then had a massive craving for a sausage and egg muffin just before my FEC so I did.
The dosing was painless and a little boring actually and then I came home and nothing really happened.
Hope it’s as uneventful and boring for both of you too
Good luck, let us know how it goes. I’m day 10 and off for a nice long walk now (walking about 5k per day as I have done since the start of the year, the FEc hasn’t put pay to that yet.)
Good luck Jackie and Ann. I’ll be thinking of you both today and will be back later to see how you’ve got on and how you’re feeling. I do hope you’ll be well enough to post and get on with life - just as Angie has been able to do.
I’m having my hair cut at lunchtime (probably only as short as chin length - it’s quite long at the moment and I need to go shorter bit by bit!) and then off to the hospital for a blood test this afternoon ahead of my first FEC this coming Friday. Then this evening, my hubbie is going to take me and my new hair-do to see Sex and the City - reading other threads, the film seems to be a popular choice as a pre-chemo outing!
Angela
