December 2015 chemo

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Hi Sissy, 

 

I think cravings are really normal and are your bodies way of you telling you what it needs, you should go with them, if they aren’t too extreme! ? This is very similar to the various things you might crave in pregnancy, I had one for oranges in my first one and broccoli in my last, along with going right off a few things including coffee! At the moment, malted milk biscuits are going down really well!

 

Tina, patience can be a bit short lately for me too, I don’t watch soaps and it sounds like Emerdale have done a pants job of illustrating what the whole cancer diagnosis, waiting and treatment is really like! I heard the news of Alan Rickman’s death while I was having chemo yesterday! I don’t know what kind of cancer he and David Bowie had, but I wonder, you know with the blokes…did they check themselves, did they report symptoms soon enough? We all know the potential risk we are at but remember that they are pretty good at treating out type of cancer…with the surgery, chemo and radiotherapy we and our medical professionals are giving all we’ve got! Good luck with the wig fitting! If you’re not convinced, try Amazon for cheap wigs so it doesn’t matter if you don’t wear of need them in the end. Anna Bandana have a huge range of scarves etc and are very reasonable and fast delivery too. I don’t like my wig at all but will try again once all my hair has gone.

 

Marina, sometimes you just need to step back from everything and watch a favourite DVD or something you haven’t got round to watching with a cup of what you fancy and so nibbles you crave and forget everything else for a while! Try the Headspace app, too, for a sort of meditation, you get ten free I think.

 

Vicky, how are you today, did you go in in the end? Don’t overdo it and speak up if you don’t feel well!

 

Fredflowerpot (do you have a shorter name? ?) I hope you’re ok today, FEC 2 on top of being poorly is tough, lots of rest and drink plenty of fluids, can’t extol the virtues of drinking plenty of water enough, try about 1½  - 2 litres a day even if it does leave you trotting off to wee rather a lot!

 

Gillian, I hope you arm is ok, as if we have to got enough to deal with, without that happening! Have you phoned the helpline and reported it? I had FEC 2 yesterday, different vein from the first time no so far, all is ok! All I know about T is there seems to be less sickness but more aches and pains. So I suppose the bad/ok/better week rhythm will continue!

 

Love and hugs to everyone,

 

Amanda x

 

 

 

 

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Fec 2 has been done! Just waiting to take cold cap off but already feeling off centred. Sucking on a slice of mango right now.
Just saw that emerdale episode there now…thought it was stupid.
Can’t believe Alan Rickman has died, I loved him!! And bowie! Will always remember being very confused at how I kept being drawn towards his crotch in labyrinth as a kid.
Cravings are crazy - this is why they say to eat what you feel like as it’s your body telling you what you need.
Temper-gosh yes mine is shocking, keep snapping and feel awful for it.
My little sister found out she was pregnant on the same day I was diagnosed, so I find it amusing that we ate nearly going through the same things but for different reasons-difficulties sleeping, cravings, mood swings!
Can feel myself slipping away. Going to crash soon. Which is a shame. Was looking forward to my partners hot chicken baguette

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Oh and what does everyone do to help chill? I watch Disney (inner child) greys anatomy(gives me a good healthy cry) and ncis (addicted). I also listen to music on Spotify. Find those thing’s are good for me when I can’t concentrate fully. My proper shows (Luther, etc) have to wait until better because they mess with my mind

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Hugs hugs hugs to all

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I might be high

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Haha Nadz…you might well be high. Yes David Bowie, I was a young teen in the 70,s in is Ziggy Stardust years, he was so bloody exotic…so we’re lots of other pop stars then, not like today’s boy band types who just like the boy-next-door! You wouldn’t have brought one the those 70’s rock or pop stars home to meet your parents!

 

I love watching Disney movies too, having had four daughters, we have a fairly extensive collection and we do keep buying the new stuff as well! Playing Spider Solitaire or Rush Hour on the iPad

 

Amanda x

 

 

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I live in Kent, btw, have the various treatments in three of my local hospitals. Now haveing chemo at the QEQM in Margate.

 

Amanda x

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Hi Tina, I had that after my operation, and mine was flebitus (no idea if that’s spelt right) which was aggrevation on the vein from my canulas.  I was on antibiotics anyway and it cleared up.  Definately call your BC nurse, could be the same thing and she may suggest you go to the Gp for antibiotics. If it’s nothing, then at least you wont worry about it :slight_smile:

First chemo tomorrow! Been drinking so much water, I’ll probably be up all night going to the loo!

Take care xxx

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Kim, keep up the water drinking, I did 2L the day before, on the day and the day after the chemo, good for helping puff up your veins, too! Yep, you’ll be toddling to the loo a lot but I think it’s worth it. FEC 1 I had terrible nause etc for the first evening, about 5-6 hours but that was it, none this time on FEC 2, day 4, so far anyway!

 

I have had very few side effects to speak of, bit of chemo brain and tiredness here and there, probably due too doing too much as I felt pretty normal, I hope that will last! 

 

Next bloods and assessment 2nd Feb, Onc appointment 3rd of Feb and FEC 3 on the 4th Feb, all being well.

 

Keep on trucking ladies!

 

Amanda x

 

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Decided against cold capping, I can’t bear the cold or having headaches and as I wouldn’t be able to have my hair dyed I thought I’d be needing to cover the roots up anyway as the grey grew through!  Had my hair cut short, bought some nice headgear from Annabandana and I’m OK about my wig now too so I think I have it covered!

Thanks for all of your support and advise :slight_smile: xxx

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Good to hear we’ve all got the SE sorted. I too am feeling better although have a streaming cold again. Tina hope you get yr problem sorted and cleared up quick. You are having bad luck.
Cyber hugs to all and good luck with chemo this week ladies.
Marina

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Good luck tomorrow Claire, I guess you’re at Kent & Canterbury like Sissy?

 

It’s good to get the first one under your belt. I hope you will be relatively free of side effects!

 

Amanda x

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Hi. Not doing well. Day4. Struggling. Miss partner. Can’t focus on screen or much.wish all well. Hate chemo

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Day 6 and feeling wiped out, bad sleep last night and feeling a wee bit sicky but not too much.

 

Eagle hasn’t landed for a few days now, going to try some figs later!

 

Hope you’re a bit better today Nadz, chemo stinks and is even worse if your on you own and missing someone! It will improve, don’t you forget that! Thinking of you and sending big hugs.

 

Amanda x

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Thanks for the advice Gillian and Tina, I’ll see what tomorrow brings, I do eat a lot of fruit but probably haven’t drunk enough water in the last couple of days. I was ok on FEC 1 so thought it would be the same this time…silly me!

 

One more FEC and then I’ll be worrying about the T! I guess you can ask in the earlier monthly treads to find out what the difference may be. I’ve heard that you may be less nauseous but there are more aches and pains. It seems lots of hand and nail care will be needed, and keeping on nail polish!

 

Amanda x

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Hi ladies. Sorry I haven’t been on for a while. I went back to work last Friday. I was so so tired after that I crashed not long after the boys. It did however knock me back into a good sleeping pattern.
My stomach finally today has allowed me to eat more normally. Good job too as was getting fed up of pasties.
Those of you feeling angry irritable I know how you feel. I stayed off facebook for a few days as it was all rickman and bowie things. Yes it is all on the tv too and not your imagination. So many cancer adverts. Don’t watch the soaps but sounds like Emmerdale has done a very bad representation. Might have to check it out just to complain to itv!
I cried over something really silly today at work. That’s not me.
Yesterday I went to mdcu for a picc flush and dressing change and met a lady who has 3 kids ranging from 6-16. She asked my story and I told her. She then proceeded to tell me hers. She has been having chemo for over a year and is terminal. Once this chemo stops working on the cancer they only have 1 more option at the moment then they can do no more for her. I really felt for her and her young family. Came out feeling like the luckiest person in the hospital because I can be cured and won’t have to face knowing I won’t see my youngest to adulthood. So ladies we are all very lucky as we aren’t terminal.

Someone asked about what we do to relax. I practice guitar, listen to music (Newton Faulkner is my favourite), my favourite tv show is 24 (on season 6 episode 9) which I watch with Leo (fiancé). My boys keep me pretty busy too.

As for how I am now. Feeling ok but this evening the aching in my picc arm I had today, which I put down to laying on it in the night has turned to a thobbing about 9 tonight. Had a look at it and looks like it is a little swollen and tender. Tried mdcu but no answer. It can wait until the morning right? Was reading the info and could be infection maybe or clot in the line. No temp or reddness or anything else.

I am in West Sussex receiving chemo at Worthing hospital.
I go up to Kent regularly to take my boys to see their dad and to see my family.
Where is everyone else?

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Hi all, tonight had my 5th immunity boosting injection, hadn’t suffered too much with the bone aches until tonight. I feel as if my bones are throbbing and can barely move from the sofa, I take it this is normal? Thankfully my injections are over for this cycle! Xx

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Hi ladies, I’m fine now but my mouth is constantly dry and my lips sore.
Now I"m confused who is Delly??
And don’t complain about having to take pills after treatment, they keep hormones in check to prevent it coming back. I have Triple Negative which is not hormone related so can’t take anything after. Wish I could… but hopefully the chemo will zap it.
Night night
Marina xx

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Forgot to say my eyelashes are falling out!!! I think I’ve aged about 10 years with chemo and now with few eyelashes I really look like a sick cancer patient. Awful.
Yes have read about the cannabis Vicky but I am trying juicing as my alternative therapy.
Re bone pain, I have pain in my hip on and off. In fact am waiting for date for bone scan just in case but I think its the effects of chemo and nothing more sinister.

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Hi all, 

Thank you for all the support shown by our users on this thread - it is great to see!

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