Essex Girls!

Life after a breast cancer diagnosis Living with breast cancer
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Hi All
Hope you all had a good weekend… the weather shining makes you feel a little better… i think!

Helen, my chemo is on Wednesday morning at 9.30 so I will miss you but, I will keep my eyes open another time. Hope your chemo goes well on Tuesday.

Take care all

Love Debs
p.s. loved the Pam Ayres poemx

Hi Sharon C, I had a mastectomy and then chemo then rads, yes you do feel a bit weird to start with, but believe me you do get used to it and before you know where you are you will be having your reconstruction and then you will look truly amazing again.
Debsx

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HI everyone, thought I had better post otherwise I might get a complaint that I am not posting.
I loved that Pam Ayres poem … brilliant.
Sharon.bas … I feel for you. I had a mx in June 08, then a full auxillary clearance in August, chemo (TAC) and then rads which I have just finished and now on zoladex and tamoxifen (its strange how it just all rolls off the tongue!!). I felt scared at the thought of having no breast but thought of it as getting rid of the beast. Once I thought in this light it made it easier to cope looking at my body in a new light. my email address is **** if you want to email me and then I can give you my phone number if you would like to chat.
Julie, hope the seroma is settling and good luck with the prof later.
Tracey I will see you later for rads.
Helen, good luck for tomorrow and just think half way through, you can do it.
Flora, I didn’t realise you were going away I must have missed that gem at our meal. Hope you were able to relax and recharge your batteries.

Hopefully see you all on wednesday

Sharon2xx

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Hi everyone,
I am feeling much calmer today thanks to the responses.
Debs and Sharon2 thankyou for your support, when i was first diagnoised I was in a mad panic, thought I was going to die and would have done anything to get rid of the beast, but after six months of treatment the panic’s gone along with my hair and mounthly’s and now just feel sad. Not sure how I will cope with surgery and the change of body image. I know that I am just grieving the loss of breast and I know my surgeon’s off hand manner did not help. Love to chat But I dont know how to recover your email address.
Hope you are all enjoying the weather as much as possible, Flora must think she is in Spain again. I manged to tidy up the garden this morning I’ll be aching later

bye for now
Sharon C

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Hi

Wow its good to hear so many people chatting online! Hope we can all get together soon. I won’t be at the meeting tomorrow but if we plan to meet for a meal in the Easter hols, the 2nd week is preferable for me as all being well, no4 chemo will be on 7th April.

Love to all, enjoy the meeting tomorrow
Helen x

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Hi all,

SharonC, glad to hear you are feeling a bit brighter and have been doing some gardening. It’s a shame your surgeon has not been helpful, are you being treated at Southend?

Flora, I didn’t know you had gone away! hope you had a lovely time.

Last rads for me tomorrow, will be so glad to finish but I will miss the staff who have all been lovely. Second Zoladex on Wednesday and then that’s me sorted for now until I start the Femara.

Julie, hope you are okay and that all went well with Prof. today.

Helen, good luck with chemo tomorrow, half way already! and also to Debs on Wednesday.

Daisy and Lily hope you are having fun at work.

Sharon2, will see you tomorrow for the grand finale!!

Love to everyone
Tracey xxx

346

Hi,
Sharon2 and Tracey how brilliant you will both be chopped, pickled and fried by the end of tomorrow. I have to tell you it is very odd when it all finishes and takes a bit of getting used to. All those medical staff are a bit like a comfort blanket and they just all suddenly stop. Tracey hope the stapler goes ok on Wednesday too. Helen perhaps we can make a meet up really early that first week as I am away later on. I also have scarey first mammos on 6 April. We have some time to sort it out or meet twice!! How is the latest chemo going? Hope it is not starting to accumulate. Sharonbas we all know exactly how you feel, it is a real rollercoaster of emotions. Looks like we will both be anxious the morning of 6 April. It will be fine and for most people chemo is more to deal with than the surgery. At least you improve each day and when it is done you can start to gradually get used to it and move on. It takes a while but what a relief when it is all done. Debs hope wednesday goes well for you and not too much hanging around in the unit. Daisy how are your little terrors? Hope they are being nice. Get yourself all the anti bacterial stuff ready for chemo and a decent digital thermometer, Asda do a good one for about £1.99. Flora hope you caught the sun while away. Julie I thought you looked like the other day was hard work at times and really hope things are easing for you.
Hope I did not forget anyone
Lily x

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Hi Tracey,
enjoyed the gardening but suffered later in bed by 8pm last night. I am being treated at Basildon Hospital. Congrates on your last rad tomorrow and best wishes to Debs.
Helen hope all went well today and have a good rest.

may try to make meeting tomorrow, I am going to do a dummy run during the day to try and find my way,

Sharon C

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Hi Everyone!

Well this group is certainly growing which is lovely because there will always be someone who has experienced what you are going through, so pleased I know about this site.Hello to Sharon C from Basildon.I really feel for you and it will be nice to meet you. I have just had a masectomy only 3 weeks ago! On the 25th Feb I had pain all the time I had the cancer as I had 2 tumors. one was almost 6cm and 1 was 2 >I was very scared and also with the pain as well I thought I was going to die and sat and cried alot All I can say is you will get through this and its such a common thing now ,been told 1 in 8 ladies get it so it is alot! I have had a reconstruction at the same time, although has had alot done suffering abit but told its early days yet! I had a back flap thing done where they take tissue etc from back muscle. I am starting chemo in a few weeks. If you want to talk i will be at meeting tomoorow eve.
Hi Sharon2xx
and Floraxx
I am on the same treatment as you two were on. Tac. and Letrozole after Hormone treatment.Also will have the injections you told me about Sharon2, so may be bending your ear abit.! I start in 2 to 3 weeks,just got to go to chemo suite to look round next, no appointment yet, dreading it all but you lovely ladies got through it ok so will keep thinking positive!
Hi to everyone, hopeless at names but is it Daisy who is starting chemo soon or Lily, frightened I will lose what i have wrote to look! it takes me so long to write anything!
I will send this maybe then check on everyone else,silly me!
love to you all juliexxx

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Hi again
HELEN XX you are half way through ! Good luck and shame i wont see you WEdnesday eve, but will be thinking of you! Went to Head strong yesterday with Nicola, it was quiet good and they showed you or should i say Nicola how to tie a scarf in different ways! I could not even attempt it as cant get my arm above my waist at the momment. Scarves to buy there are only £1.65 each. they are big squares but amazing what you can do with them , although personally not very practical so I would just end up with a normal looking scarf! There were sort of fringes long ones you can order that you tuck in the back of the scarf to feel you have hair under neath and half wigs were you wear a hat on top in the sun, but I thought knowing me I would take hat off and then feel a real twit then! that poem was brilliant by the way Helen, my dad who paseed away almost 2 years ago loved Pam Eyers so I thought of him then!
what do you need to get before chemo? Did someone say themometer and something else?
Tracy and Sharon. Three cheers so finishing your rads today, seems to have gone quick really, although not for you 2 I expect. Are you coming tomorrow Sharon ? I will get a lift there if easier so as you dont need to detour?
Flora ,hope your days in Spain were good, sounds like you had a good time .will question you on Tac tomorrow if you dont mindx
Having a really bad hot flash at moment and not even on treatment yet.
I am sure I have missed saying hi to some of you and wish everyone well, I am going to Hair shop on thursday to look at wigs, is it called studio 2? Nicola taking me. Love to you all again , and hope to see you tomorrowxxlove juliee

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Hi Julie
great to hear from you big coincidence my tumours were 6.5cms and 2cms but had chemo up til Christmas to reduce big one.luckerly I had no pain. I am amazed your up and moving around was led to beleive you were polexed for a least 4 weeks after recon.
hope to make the meeting
Sharon C

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hello everyone,new and old!

for those of you who know me just thought I would pop in with an update.It’s my anniversary today- exactly a year since my mx and recon.Wow where has time gone?? mx recon tac chemo,rads anf Herceptin.OOh must not forget Zoladex too! I look forward to them as I’m an emotional wreck without them.

Just thought I would let you know,from my experience don’t forget the rads are still working a few months after treatment stops.I had a lovely new boob but now looks like an orange-and I finished mine in October!

I had a ct scan yesterday and awaiting a bone scan- Prof told me its just routine as he was examining me- scared?? - just a bit!

Anyway good luck everyone whatever the stage you are on. It feels like an eternity at each stage- but now a year later I am really proud of myself as I didn’t realise how strong I was - as I know all of you are too. Best wishes Jen xxx

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Toxic tits & bits for me with chemo number one on the 27th…bring on the trumpets…I mean TAC!

School has been manic, 2 arrested, arson and theft, one booted out of college and 2 lost their work placements! Am I stressed…no way! It’s my last day Friday, then they will be someone elses little S***s…ha ha

Off to get my wigs on Satruday, and am having Friday night out of the lash with my friends in Bas Vegas! Sharon.bas - come and dance around your handbags with us! I might go when I am non-hairy and scare all the teenagers! Then onto Lakeside to scare all the little, whingy kids that seem to follow me wherever I go! Why do their parents let them moan/whine so much???

Right, time for a large glass of vino I think…

Daisy xxxxxxxxxxx

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Hi all,

Well finished rads today, yipeee!! guess what Sharon and I celebrated with afterwards…yes…food!! only trouble is we had to wait over an hour for it, we were not impressed.

Julie, I will be having Letrozole too once I am menopausal, due for the second Zoladex injection tomorrow. Prof. said today if I tolerate it well I can go on to the 3 monthly ones.

Jennie, really lovely to hear from you and well done on reaching the one year mark all in one piece! I will join you with the scanxiety if I may, I have to have ct scan and bone scan due to ongoing problems with sciatica, Prof. said to me just routine aswell!! so I know how you are feeling. How many more Herceptin do you have?

Daisy, sounds like you are being kept on your toes at work. You do your Essex girl stuff in Bas Vegas, can just picture you!

Hope to make the meeting tomorrow. SharonC, would be great if you could come, would it make it any easier if I met you somewhere first and you can follow me. Just shout if you are worried about finding it.

Love to everyone,
Tracey xxxx

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Hi all of youxx

I had a call this pm to say coming to chemo suite on 1st of April for a look round and have assesment! Then start on the 3rd! Two days later! Oh well suppose sooner it starts sooner it finishes! Really nervous! Thanks for support Sharon, nice of you to call mex
Flora thanks for offering me lift. Do you drive passed my turning? its opposite the globe in Rainsford road? Maltese Road, not sure if i already mentioned that, Sharon kindly offered too,I will see you all or some tomorrow,silly lump on back again! Thanks for mentioning Tracy thst you will be on Letrozole later too, at least I feel good someone s heard of it! Cant believe how much I have wrote on here today. very sore arm now! silly me

love juliex

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Hi girls
it was great meeting some of you tonight, thanks for the warm welcome it means a lot. I enjoyed chatting to you Tracey, Sharon, Julie and flora. not sure who else was there as it was a sea of faces. forgot to ask how often the group meets.

hated driving in the dark its been a while got home safely although ended up in a Sainsbruy’s car park at one stage.
thank you all again

Sharon C

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Hi,
sorry I did not get to see you all at the meeting and missed you all. Hooooooray Tracey, all done and dusted and no more jaunts down the A12. I don’t think I want to go to Colchester again for a very long time, do you? Glad you had a good time
Lily x

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Hi everyone
Nice to meet you Sharon C , glad you made it, really nice to meet you tonight, sure you will be ok and and we will give you alot support whenever you need it.
Also nice to see you all, Sharon, Tracy. Sheila and Angela and everyone , nice to chat to you all tonight and good luck to you all and good wishes. love juliexx

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SharonC, sorry I didn’t get to say goodbye last night! think I was busy chatting to bcn when you went. I have now come out with a stinking cold and hope I haven’t given it to you lot! Can’t believe I got through months of tx without being ill and as soon as I finish, I am!
Had 2nd Zoladex yesterday and if no problems will have the 3 month one next time, which is even bigger, think I might be asking for a local for that one.
Hope you are all well and those on chemo are not havin to rough a time.
Tracey xx

359

Hello everyone

Sorry I missed the meeting last night, I didn’t feel too bad and half thought I might be able to make it, but fell asleep until 9pm! Well I’m halfway there - thank God!!! Had a nightmare with my veins, after 4 attempts and then siting with my arm in a bucket of HOT water and four hours later they finally found a vein and gave me the chemo!! Chemo nurse wasn’t very cheery either - miserable moo, think I was a major inconvenience to her! They changed my anti-sickness drugs but they just made me feel awful and I wish I’d have just done the usual throwing up thing for a few hours. Anyhow it’s all done now, next one is on 7th April all being well.

Congratulations to Sharon & Tracey for completing the rads! Bet you will steer clear of the A12 for a while?! Hope you enjoyed the celebrations after.

Julie, you seem like you are doing really well. Glad you enjoyed the Headstrong thing in Southend, what a bargain those scarves were! One of the BCN mentioned getting Headstrong to one of our meetings, wonder if she had any luck with that? Would be interested in getting a couple at that price. Good luck for the assessment at the chemo unit, I know once I’d had a look around I just wanted to get started and get it out the way. The Wig place is called Studio Nine, 9 Queens Road, Southend, if you park in Sainsbury’s car park it is only 5 mins walk away - the lady Chris is lovely.

Daisy, sounds like you need a rest after all those lovely little darlings at school! Good luck for your first chemo on 27th. Enjoy the vino while you can, I haven’t touched a drop since starting chemo, can’t bear the thought of it - not sure if that’s a good thing or not, I usually love a drop of red when I’m cooking!

Hello to Flora, Lily, Angela, anyone else I haven’t already mentioned - and of course the new ladies on-line, hope to meet you all at the next meeting or if we meet up beforehand.

Lily, I can do anytime the second week apart from Tuesday 14th as it’s my Mum’s birthday and seeing as she’s been looking after me and my little’n during the chemo weeks - I hope to take her out. Look forward to hearing from you when something is arranged.

Love to all, keep well
Helen x

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Hi,
hope you were mostly able to enjoy the sunny weather. Daisy just wanted to say good luck and thinking of you next week when you start chemo. I never got any side effects until day 4 but others get them quite quickly. Hope you manage to sail through this bit, some people do. If you note down when the side effects start and any problems, it helps you to feel more in control on the following ones. Simple stuff like knowing when you need to start eating tons of fibre or not depending if you get the quick drying cement trouble or the trots! I had both, fab! Anyway try to stay calm if you can and everystep is a step towards finishing it. Helen so sorry you felt yuk on the new tablets.I can’t do the second week, we might have to have 2 meets. I also have annual mammos and an appointment with the genetics clinic nurse in the first week, so a bit busy. Tracey hope you don’t need a fire extinguisher to put your chest out and that your cold soon goes. Sharon2 hope things are working out as you planned with your job.
Hi everyone else, Sharonbas, Flora, Julie. Hope you are all keeping well.
Lily x