Hello Jude
Good to hear to are improving. Fingers crossed that you are allowed home today.
I’ve been to the hosp myself this morning and my liver enzymes are back down so I can resume chemo treatment and I’ll be having my 4th one tomorrow.
Never expected to be relieved about being able to have chemo…
Hope everyone else is keeping as well as can be expected.
Sue xx
Oooooo - forgot to add. I’ve also been asked if I’d be interested in joining a trial. They are looking at the effectiveness of asprin in preventing reoccurrence? Has anyone else been asked about this?
Hi Sue
I got home at tea time today & cant wait to sleep in my own bed!
That’s good news about your liver enzymes, like you say pleased to be having chemo ?, but I know exactly what you mean
I was asked to go on the add-aspirin trial & I wanted to do it as I wanted to give something back. But when I looked into it as I will be taking bisphosphonates daily for 3 years (starting after chemo) & these can cause oesophagus issues so I decided against it, as I wouldn’t know which drug (or placebo) had caused it
Take care
Jude x
Hello Jude
Great news that you are home - you must be so relieved.
I’ve not definitely decided if I’m going to do the trial - I want more information on taking aspirin over such a long period of time - 5 years seems a long time but like you I want to give something back but obviously want to make sure Im not setting myself up for any other issues.
In other news - I’m reporting back on my dry bits issue. I’ve been using Replens now for about 2 and a half weeks and there is a massive improvement. I’ll be watching what happens with the next round of chemo and if that impacts it but so far Im hopeful. Downside is it’s quite expensive - about £12 for 6 treatments which will last about 3 weeks and the reading I’ve done on it seems to suggest it’s a permanent need. I am hoping that as the initial dryness is addressed I can maybe reduce the frequency of each treatment to maintain things but will see. Will report back again in a couple of weeks.
Nite all wishing you all good sleeps free from hot flashes and middle of the night angst
Sue xx
Hi everyone,
Jude, I am so glad you are home… stay well!!
I start on Herceptin tomorrow, and T (docetaxol) on Friday…
I wish I didn’t even know the H word or the T word… just thinking, this time last year, most of us didn’t.
Had a little wobble this morning when I thought I saw some pus around the picc line entry point. The chemo unit had me come in to have it looked at, dressing changed and swabbed the white fluid? They said they didn’t think it looked like an infection, so I am going ahead with treatment as planned.
Didn’t help that on the way in to the hospital, someone backed their taxi into the side of my car. I got all the drivers details, took a photo of his car and mine, and even asked him to sign a statement to say it was his fault… He was really apologetic, but then tried to say he could ask a mate to fix it if I didn’t use my insurance company etc. No way!!! Not too much damage, but it will need fixing properly. Insurance company was amazing. They are arranging all the repairs and supplying a courtesy car. I have told them my ‘situation’, and that I was not sure I would be home when they pick up my car and bring the hire car.
Could have done without this, but in a funny sort of way, this just doesn’t matter; with what we are going through with treatment, which is essentially saving our lives, a broken car seems like a minor complication.
Goodnight everyone.
Georgie x
Hi Jude,
Fantastic news that you are home - I hope you had great nights sleep in your own bed! Take care.
I start H and T tomorrow but my T is Paclitaxol not Docetaxol hence weekly rather than every 3 weeks.
Interesting to hear that you are going to have bisphosphonates, I am discussing this with my oncologist and just weighing up the benefits versus the SEs…but think I will go ahead.
Hi Georgie,
Sorry to hear about your accident. Not what you need! But good that nobody was hurt and you will get it sorted through the insurance.
Good luck for today – I start Herceptin tomorrow.
Hi Sue,
I’m wondering if you could get treatment for ‘’dry bits’’ on prescription? I’m planning to talk to my Doctor about it to see if I can.
Good to hear that your enzymes down and chemo back on track. I know what you mean about being relieved, I have my end date cemented in my brain so will be gutted if it gets delayed!
Take care everyone!
Cat x
Hello Cat
I was given Sylk on prescription however this didn’t come with an applicator so I struggled to get it where I needed it to be. Not sure if Replens is available on prescription though but worth while asking. Another alternative that im aware of is an estrogen gel that you apply - however they may not let you have this depending on the type of cancer they found. I’m TN and was told not during chemo but we can discuss it afterwards.
Good luck
Sue x
Hi Ladies
Thanks for your support - it really helps
Georgie - hope you didn’t have a bad reaction to the herceptin & hope your T goes ok tomorrow. I’m sure they will check your line out again before treatment.
Sorry to hear about your accident, sounds like the insurance people have come up trumps!
Sue - talk through the add-aspirin trial with your oncologist, it might be ok for you - I do find that the chemo gives me heartburn so I don’t want to make things worse when I start the bisphosphonates.
Replens does sound a bit pricey - talk to your doctor who may be able to prescribe something?
My breast care nurse signed me an exemption form (which I need to send off) for free prescriptions - it covers anyone who has or has had cancer - so you should all be exempt from paying regardless of circumstances
Cat - slept better at home than in hospital! Hope your H & T went ok & you didn’t have any bad reaction
Jo - Ive not had any red face issues but I had taken some hay fever tablets for a couple of days before T as I’d been sneezing. I’ve got intermittent tingling in mainly my fingers but I’ve got shellac on my nails so not sure what they are like underneath!
Take care all
Jude x
Good evening lovely Ladies,
Had my first herceptin yesterday.
The nurse kept telling me there are no side effects, but they were keeping me for 6 hours 'in case… ’
When I got home I felt really sick, had a sandwich, which I forced down, and went to bed. Was very nauseous and had a temp as well, plus diarrhoea so stayed there until this morning.
A friend came to me to pick me up for T chemo round 1, and said that I seemed really breathless again.
Got to hospital, but they were not happy with how I seemed. Onc decided I might have a chest infection… so no chemo for me today. Ended up with 2 litres of fluid, and oral antibiotics to go home with. Was given the choice to stay in, which I declined politely! Had to promise to go to A and E if I wasn’t feeling any better over the weekend.
Love to all
Georgie xx
Hi Georgie
What a bummer, obviously the herceptin hasn’t agreed with you
It’s a shame that you couldn’t have your chemo but far better to be fit before you start it
Did they say when you can have it?
Hope you feel ok over the weekend
Take care
Jude x
Thanks Jude,
how are are you doing now?
I am going back next Thursday to try again. Xx
Hi Georgie,
Sorry to hear you had a bad reaction to Herceptin and your chemo is delayed – not what you wanted but better that you are well enough before you carry on with chemo. Take care over the weekend.
Hi Jude,
There was a change of plan today and I only had my first T (Paclitaxol). I’m having Herceptin next Friday and after I’ve been monitored for several hours I will have T (Paclitaxol) again on same day. They want to see how I react to T first which seems to makes sense. So far so good, no SEs yet but it’s early days!
Hi Jo,
I will buy some anti-histamine tablets tomorrow so I am ready just in case! Sounds like other than that you are doing well on T. Good news.
Hi Sue,
Thanks for the update, let us know how you get on at the docs.
Wishing everyone a safe and relaxing weekend. Take care!
Cat x
Hi Ladies
Hope you are all doing ok
Georgie - hope the antibiotics are kicking in & you are starting to feel better, good luck with the T next week, hope it all goes ok
Cat - hope you keeping feeling ok & have minimal side effects - good luck with the herceptin
I’m still on antibiotics until tomorrow & I keep monitoring my temperature. Have to say I’ve been so tired, I’ve had to go back to bed twice today but am still managing a little walk everyday.
I’m back to see the oncologist on Tuesday, not sure whether he will tweak my treatment or keep it the same, I’m just hoping it doesn’t get delayed as I really want to keep on track so I can get my radiotherapy completed by 21st December
Sending hugs & love to all
Jude x
Hi Jude,
Thanks, so far side effects haven’t been too bad, mainly general aches and pains, headaches and tiredness.
Good luck with the oncologist tomorrow and fingers crossed you stay on track to finish before Xmas ?. Are you having a break between chemo and radiotherapy? I’ve been told I will need a 3-4 week gap.
I hope everyone else doing okay too! ?
Take care, Cat x
Hi Cat
That’s good news if you aren’t suffering too much with ses
I’ve seen the oncologist today & gone through all issues / side effects from last cycle. The decision had been made to keep on track with chemo scheduled dates but reduce the dosage by 20-25% as the effects will be cumulative over the next 2 cycles - hopefully it will all go ok
Re radiotherapy- the consultant had said a 4 week gap from chemo, but as I wanted to finish before Christmas she agreed we could do 3 weeks ?
Hope everyone else are doing ok
Jude x
Hi Jude,
That’s a great result, pleased for you that you are still on track! ?
Hugs to all ? Take care everyone.
Cat x
Hi Ladies
Hope you are all hanging in there!
Cat - hope your H & T go ok today - fingers crossed!
Georgie - hope you had your T yesterday & it all went ok & you are not feeling too bad today
Jo - happy 50th birthday! You’ll have to have a big celebration once all this treatment is over - something to look forward to. That’s good that you’ve got the strong pain killers & the mouthwash is a must - I got 3 ulcers & that was whilst I was using it! It does taste quite disgusting though. It’s goid to have your plan for radiotherapy, it feels that you are making progress.
Hope all ok
Jude x
Hi Lovely ladies,
Jude, thanks, it’s tomorrow that I have my H and T…but pleased to report that the SEs after my first T last Friday have been minimal ?. The cumulative effect may change that but for now I will make the most of it!
Jo, Happy Birthday!! ? 50 is young! I hit that milestone…decided 50 is the new 40! ? I hope you managed to enjoy the day.
Hope everyone doing okay, take care all ?
Happy Birthday Jo. Enjoy the bubbly. You deserve it! ??. Kxx
Sorry Cat - hope all goes well tomorrow! I’m blaming chemo brain ? x