I was full on christmas mode yesterday with the die hard movie and boshing a big box of mystery lux chocolates. Out for a visit to friends tonight and then dinner at a local restaurant on xmas eve. Filling my social boots this week. Might need a bit of a rest by boxing day. Cheese board is making an appearance on xmas day too @louise15 which I am beyond excited for .
I’m feeling quite reflective and I think only now I am realising how big a deal this is, you get pulled into just dealing with it and the enormity of cancer, mastectomy and chemo doesn’t hit you until you move past crisis mode.
The book is great, the characters are a little lost in the world so I relate to that, the complexity of friendship and the ebbing and flowing in life and the old computer gamer in me enjoys the frequently revisited concept of renewal and new chances. Probably not for everyone but I’m enjoying it.
Well I don’t know where the last few weeks have gone! I rather underestimated the energy levels needed with a new puppy, but my god he is amazing! Such a wonderful, clever and loving velociraptor . He has kept me distracted and busy although I virtually passed out at the vets 3 days after my chemo 7 and sleep has been rather lacking. But, today I had my FINAL CHEMO and rang the bell with my hubby, mum and boys there with me . Last week I had my radiotherapy planning CT scan and I start that on 12 January. So a very good couple of weeks. I’m feeling very calm, peaceful and thankful so far - long may it last.
So good to see everyone else is getting on well and recovering well from chemo and surgery - go us!
@emma-jayne I’m so sorry to hear about your dad. I lost mine in April 2019 and it’s the hardest thing that nothing can prepare you for. All I can say is that it does get better and the time does come where you don’t cry every time you think of them and at birthdays and Christmas. I would have loved to have the support of my dad through all of this, but also pleased that he didn’t have to witness it. I hope you are able to have a lovely Christmas xx
I really hope everyone is able to have a lovely Christmas and some moments of calm and restoration. I’m gutted I can’t have the mouldy cheese and pate, but a small price to pay. Merry Christmas xx
Just wanted to pop on and wish you all a Merry Christmas . We’ve all had a tough year, and I know we have more to face but we’ve all broken the back of this and deserve a celebration. So enjoy your cheese boards, cheeky wines/baileys/gins, chocolates etc, and have a wonderful time with your families and friends. And thank you for all of your support since August, you’re all a lovely group of ladies and I’m very grateful I have been sharing this ****** journey with you xxx
Morning ladies! I hope you all had an amazing Christmas Day with your loved ones
to echo @bramble1, I’d prefer none of us was on this journey at all but I’m grateful to have found this forum and to have found you all for support. You’re all an amazing group of women, and I’ve found your support & stories so helpful and inspiring.
I’m off out now for a nice Boxing Day walk now before I go demolish another cheeseboard at another family get together today. Fully plan on being at one with the smelly cheeses over the next few days. Also had some chocolate with my first cup of coffee this morning. I love how across the week of Christmas the healthy way I eat the rest of the year just goes right out the window
I hope you are all having a peaceful Christmas. I’ve enjoyed some lovely cheese yesterday and intend to go back for a second go today. Few plans other than my small family, some food that I can actually taste and enjoy and a board game of some complexity for some pleasant brain itching. Still feeling quite tired so I need to not get too excitable and take some time to build back up to somewhat close to normal levels of activity. Might have to just have a little truffle to keep my energy levels up …
Hey ladies I have exciting Christmas hair news! . I washed my hair this morning, the hair that stayed in is still hovering around the 1 inch in length and it is thickening up around the sides and back - I keep feeling annoying spiky new hairs but try not to fiddle with them. But the top has remained annoyingly thin. Anyway, I washed it this morning, and husband spotted that I have baby pale fuzz all over the top of my head . He hasn’t ever commented on my hair regrowth so I am taking this as an encouraging sign . It’s about 1mm long, no colour to it but you can see it against the light! It’s so exciting! I actually feel like in a month I won’t look bald on the top any more
Eyelashes and brows are just about hanging in there, but I really am not bothered about them. Especially if my head is recovering - I can always wear my glasses instead of contacts .
Anyway, off to celebrate with some more unhealthy food and a bit of alcohol. I’ll start behaving again this time next week before radiotherapy starts . Enjoy the unhealthy treats, everyone - we deserve them!
I love how so many smashed the smelly cheeses and I too indulged in cheese heaven. It was awesome! I had family and friends over for a late dinner as my daughter and best mate’s son were working on Christmas Day, so the big feast was pushed back to 7pm. My day still started early though as my 20yr old son woke me at 8am very excited and he woke me with my pug dressed as Tigger as my first Christmas present
I did get a little emosh as the day went on. I was just so happy to be there with them all for a happy reason for once.
By the time they all buggered off at 10:30pm I was exhausted (but so very happy) and spent Boxing Day either eating or sleeping!
I’m sending all of you merry festive vibes and really hope you all had a day of happiness rather than crappiness xxxxxxxx
@bramble1 The Peach Fuzz has arrived! So exciting and it is a sign that some kind of normal is not too far away for those finishing treatment. I wonder how many of us will have a different hair colour or texture when it returns. Mine is coming in almost pure white, still only about 2mm long and a little patchy on top but definately more fuzzy than bald now. I just had turkey curry and chocolates for brunch. I think I need to go to the shop to buy some vegetables today…
@toad starting at 7pm was a bold decision! An excited 20yr old son is pretty sweet and the pug xmas suprise is adorable. I was soaking it all in this year after a belter tough 2025. Sleeping it all off on the 26th sounds like a good decision was made right there…zzz
@schwartzwald my longer hair has been gradually going brown again (I was a sort of mid brown before) so I’m hopeful the fuzz will go the same way. Though I suspect there will be more grey/white than there was before this all started unfortunately. But hey, it’s hair so I’m not complaining! Hubby commented on it again this morning in a different room, so it’s obviously getting more noticeable by the day woohoo
We’ve sensibly just stocked up on more cheese and chocolate biscuits for New Year . I’ll start behaving next Friday, I think . I’m just a bit frustrated I still have to maintain my (too heavy) weight for radiotherapy. I’m itching to start trying to lose a bit now that chemo is done and dusted. But I have lost 3kg since August so that’s not to be sniffed at in the circumstances. I think it’s just the “almost the new year, treatment almost done (apart from the pill popping) and it’s time to get my life back” mentality - I’ll have to try and pace myself so I don’t overdo anything
Hi all, I too have some fuzz beginning to grow on my head again. I can feel it when I run my hand over my head, its going to be either white or grey, but as long as its back I don’t care what colour it is. Such good news that a lot of you have finished chemo and those horrid days of waiting for the next cycle are behind you. Not that I’m counting but I have 15 days left to my last chemo and Picc line removal. Just trying to keep myself healthy until then. Did any of you have the filgrastim injections after your last chemo, the nurse who did my chemo last time seems to think I won’t have them again, so just wondered if she’s correct. Sending best wishes and hugs to everyone. Take care xx
Hi all. Love the stories of festive fun. I have made it 3 weeks post chemo and have a little more hair but still in the main my head is shiny and bald.
I went back on 24th to my first patient facing shifts. It was lovely. More shifts this week.
Im now half way through radiotherapy and so far feeling OK. Just not looking forward to the aromatase inhibitors…
Hi @pips12 I had the filgrastim as normal after my last chemo, I figured it would do what it had always done and help the white blood cells recover. I then just took my sharps box back when I went in for my radiotherapy planning scan
@outdoorsy I have (after radiotherapy) abermaciclib for 2 years I believe (targeted therapy I think that is) and letrozole (5 years) to look forward to. So lots of pill popping. I’m not looking forward to abermaciclib, the side effects don’t look particularly pleasant but I keep telling myself you only hear about the bad cases, and there’s probably lots of people coping just fine on it
Hi @bramble1 thank you for that information, I wasn’t sure if my chemo nurse was talking about two different things, think when she said I wouldn’t need it/them she was talking about the PICC line being removed. I was confused, and it doesn’t take much these days xx
EC - I wasn’t terribly well on it. I felt like I never recovered between rounds. I became anaemic too, so tachycardia, breathlessness, fatigue and they reduced my last two doses.
On to Docetaxel. Oncology told me that they wouldn’t even attempt a full dose and my first dose was reduced to 80%. Jeez, I was ill afterwards, I’ve never known anything like it.
So they reduced it again. I went in for my second dose today. Veins kept collapsing in my hand so it took lots of attempts to get the cannula in, but we made it eventually and the Docetaxel started.
FOR 3 WHOLE MINUTES until I had an allergic reaction and it was immediately stopped.
Oh @preferablywithfood what a nightmare. Big hug from me, I hope they find a way to help you cope with it, or with something if they’re still adamant you need more doses xxx
Has anyone else been feeling “puffy” post chemo/steroids? I have just had to take my wedding ring off for the first time in almost 30 years and put it safe in a box - fortunately hubby knows it’s not because I’m out on the hunt for a newer model . I know I have weight to lose, but I do weigh less than when all started, so can only assume it’s chemo/steroid hangover for want of a better explanation? I’m also still drinking lots of water (a lot less tea and coffee, I mainly drink plain water these days) and am still less active than I was so guess that probably has an effect too. I just wondered if anyone else has noticed anything similar?
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. He has kept me distracted and busy although I virtually passed out at the vets 3 days after my chemo 7 and sleep has been rather lacking. But, today I had my FINAL CHEMO and rang the bell with my hubby, mum and boys there with me 
. We’ve all had a tough year, and I know we have more to face but we’ve all broken the back of this and deserve a celebration. So enjoy your cheese boards, cheeky wines/baileys/gins, chocolates etc, and have a wonderful time with your families and friends. And thank you for all of your support since August, you’re all a lovely group of ladies and I’m very grateful I have been sharing this ****** journey with you xxx
An excited 20yr old son is pretty sweet and the pug xmas suprise is adorable. I was soaking it all in this year after a belter tough 2025. Sleeping it all off on the 26th sounds like a good decision was made right there…zzz 
and put it safe in a box - fortunately hubby knows it’s not because I’m out on the hunt for a newer model