Good Evening everyone - Tina hope tomorrow isn’t too much of an ordeal - begin with the end in mind as they say! Cat - good luck for tomorrow. Petal and Bev - hope SE’s are manageable - touch base when you can. Cluck - thanks for your kind thoughts. Still no Anne - wonder what’s happening there. Paula - good that no.3 has been kind to you, i’ve found it harder than the other 2. Leah - our little ray of sunshine glad you’re ok. M - glad the first full wig test passed muster. Chemo brain! am i forgetting folks - sorry if so.
Day 10 cycle 3 today - losing a few eyelashes now, not too concerned yet!!! but wouldn’t like to lose more - Paula / Petal you lost any?
No other SE’s apart from the constant weak jelly legs. I’ve found it a quick week this week, hard to believe its Friday again tomorrow. Off for a bath now, not inclined to watch Mssrs Cameron et al…
hi again - Bev must have overlapped with your post - glad you’re ok and through another one. Cat - so sorry about the wee one i’m sure he’ll get used to it. M- sorry i forgot tomorrow was chemo day for you - big hugs.
Cat and Tina, how on earth you are coping with STILL having seromas I really don’t know. I had enough with mine on my left breast after only a couple of weeks!! I couldn’t even lay on my back to sleep it was like a water bed.
Lynn sorry that this round is not good for you, it probably all depends on how we feel at the time and with everything you have on your plate at the moment, it’s probably pulling you down. Fingers crossed that your next one on 11th is kinder.
Eyelashed and brows have gone a little thin, I am getting that spiders legs mascara effect at the moment…oops!
M - well done with getting away with the wig! I am still keeping myself busy with work and glad of it as it helps pass the time for me and keep me busy.
Bev, glad you are able to enjoy your food…I am just the same with drinks, I usually drink things like Pepsi, tea…but have completely gone off it and drink lovely cold orange juice and have bottles of diluted squash all over the house. I have also found that my mouth seems to be much more sensitive to spicy foods? I usually can eat things like Tikka Masala fine, but anything like that burns my mouth?! anyone else the same?
Tina, I keep catching a glimpse of myself in the mirror and I look like a cross between a thug and sinead O’connor! lol
Cluck, I am not sure if I can pull off the pixie look, I have always had long hair…but if I can dye it red and make it funky then so be it;)
Meggy, Petal hope your ok and anyone else I have missed.
Hi
Day 4 Chemo 3 and still trying hard to keep eyes open!
Yes I’ve got the wobbly legs and eyelashes and brows thinning! Great isn’t it. Still I do have a covering of hair on most of my head just the bald patch on top that came after chemo 2 so fingers crossed there.
Emend seems to have worked as I’ve had no sickness this time which has been a real bonus.
Sorry to hear that Cat and Tina are still struggling with seromas. It must be awful for you and for Lynn having so much else to deal with at the same time. Hugs to you all.
You are all such brave ladies coping with young families. My three are all grown up and doing the looking after me. As I am divorced they have taken on a lot in the last few months. I really couldnt be doing all this without their support.
This is my last official day of work - not that I’m there, but officially retired from tomorrow!!!
Petal
Hiya Petal - happy retirement day!!! - you sound like you’re doing ok despite being tired - Well done. I share what you think re the girls that have to cope with young kids - mine are in the middle ie one about to be 18 and the other 11 - it must be very difficult coping with chemo if they’re at an age where they’re highly dependant on you. When i have very scary thoughts re “what if” i think of them as being very young - far too young to lose me, but otherwise i don’t think of them as young. I’m glad your 3 are being such a support to you. This is a holiday weekend for us up here - don’t know if it is everywhere - Enjoy whatever.
Well, another op over and done with, had the portacath in and surgeon decided at the same time to do a scar revision on the reconstructed side. So all bandaged up again up front! They did not want to touch the seroma though. Came home at 5pm last night and cooked roast dinner for all!
Dressings to be off on Tuesday and chemo day on Thursday if healed ok!
Trying to get used to the radical hair look, like Paula always had long hair, sorry Cat, your boys are struggling, mine are doing fine with it but were upset to see me with dressings again, they know now it means there was an operation! Hair is still falling out though, will try the cap again on Thursday. But after the sudden drop off it may a token gesture, however, emailed the paxman people and they suggested to keep going as it may help with regrowth, too.
Well done & Congratulations on your retirement, petal! Good news that the sickness held off for you. My chemo nurse really pointed out to the take anti sickness meds before feeling sickly and keep them topped up. Will have to give myself the neupogen jab myself now 24hrs after chemo, too. That really makes your bones ache.
Lynn, I hope you are doing ok with the stressful times with your dad & treatment. I think all ages of children facing their mums being poorly is a tough challenge for them, especially as BC and treatment changes you so physically as well. The mechanics of dealing with the daily routines maybe makes life a bit harder when you know you got to get up and going for the school run and keep their life as normal as possible.
Hope the se’s are managable Marguerite & Cat and Bev. Thank Good it’s bank holiday weekend!
Leah, hope all is well for you, too. Not heard from Anne for a while and hope all is well there, too.
Everyone else please feel included and have a peaceful weekend. xxxxHugs, Tina
Chemo number 2 done. Had some vein drama. Found a vein first time but it started to swell around it so the decided to take it out and try another one. 3 attempts later… Nurse sugessted we see how it goes next time but I might have to consider a line. This is not easy.
No vomiting this time but still very nauseous, tired and headachy.Movement and drinking seem to trigger the nausea.
Even though I know it is temporary and over the next few days will start to feel better, the thought of having to do this 4 more times is depressing. I have never taken so many drugs in my life.
Hope everyone else is doing well, thinking of you all and congratulations on your retirement Petal. I hope the school are going to throw you a party when your treatment is finished!
Cat
Hello everyone,
Well I am now day 11 chemo 2 and finally feeling better(apart from very sore mouth,that feels like it has been rubbed with sand paper)Can’t wait to enjoy chocolate and coffee again.I seem to feel sicky for ages (not actually sick though).Bought really comfy bandana with hair attached to wear at home.I tie my own scarf around it to 'fatten 'up the head and its really comfy .
Is anyone else starting Tamoxefin after chemo?are there better more expensive drugs on the market that anyone is aware of.I don’t know about any of the drugs ,but want to make to make sure I have the best one for me.
Hope everyone is doing okay
Hi all - Tina, glad you’ve got that over and done with - shame they couldn’t zap the seroma at the same time. You’ll be hoping chemo is a breeze from here on in. Cat - glad you’ve got no.2 done and dusted, i experienced the exact same thing with no. 3 - large lump and had to find another vein. i could see lots of veins and asked the nurse why she didn’t choose them - she explained curly, wavy sideways veins are no good they should look for a vein that’s straight as possible. Cluck - sorry about the mouth, my mouth was terribly sore after the first one but thankfully the thrush, mouth ulcers and sandpaper have never been back since so there is hope. M - hope you’re doing ok after yesterday. Petal / Bev / Paula - hope all managing to enjoy the holiday weekend and all SE’s have gone. Off to have a glass or 3 of cava and watch rubbish Sat night TV.
ps. Cluck - meant to say, not sure whether its true or not but i was told by my consultant, tamoxifen is the drug for all women who haven’t reached the menps. yet - she said there is no other! not sure if she was being literal or metaphorical ie saying "its the best one "
Hi - hope everyone is enjoying some of the holiday weekend despite the different time scales to all our treatments.
Tina good that your op is over and I do think that you are wonderwoman coming home and cooking a roast dinner!
Lynn interesting about the veins. I was wondering why they kept going for the same ones. I had the swelling on chemo two but no problems on three.
Cat yes they are planning a big event later in the year but probably before I finish chemo so not sure what I will look like! They wouldn’t let me just slide away as I have been head there for just under twelve years.
Has anyone got any good suggestions for drinks when you have that awful metalic taste? I find it really difficult to keep fluid levels up as everything tastes so foul.
Off to join you with the rubbish Sat night TV Lynn but not the cava just yet - maybe a couple of days…cheers anyway.
Petal all I can drink for at least the 1st week after is cold orange juice, don’t know if that will help?
Tina, well done for getting the op out the way and good they could do your tidy up procedure too, I’ve got all that to come!
Cat, hope you’re feeling ok after chemo #2, I think my veins are on the verge of collapsing, my veins hurt down my arm…just hoping they hold out.
Lynn, hope you’re enjoying some much needed Cava…can’t seem to face alcohol very much at the mo, might have some Bailey’s tomorrow night then a nice bubbly bath.
Cluck, I will be doing the Tamoxifen as my cancers were very hormone receptive. I have asked about having the ovaries removed though rather than 5 years of tablets, but they worry about Osteoporosis etc…so we will see.
Hello everyone,
Thanks for the info re Tamoxefin.Tina,just saw your comment about cooking a roast dinner-wow you must be some sort of legend!Cat ,hope your little one is coming around to your hair.My 5 yr old would not come near me without a wig on at first,but she’s okay now .I know exactly what you mean about the thought of another 4-groan!I don’t normally take any medication,but the last couple of months I’ve taken so much,I’d probably sound like a rattle if I jumped up and down.
Petal -wow,it must feel amazing to retire,I’ve got another 20 years before I have that pleasure.
Lynn,I can’t face alcohol at all whilst doing chemo,but intend to have a very expensive bottle of bubbly to make up for it ,once its finished.
My mouth feels a bit better today(lots of spray and mouth wash).To everyone losing eyebrows/eyelashes,I bought an eyebrow makeup from benefit ,which looks quite good(it has a wax and powder in the compact)You can also buy eyebrow templates from boots,to keep to the shape.I’ve also ordered fake lashes and temp. eyebrow tattoos from trendco.They do them in all diffrent colours to suit your colouring.I don’t know what they look like on yet,as mine are holding up at the moment.It’s very expensive this cancer business.Hope everyone enjoys the bank holiday as much as possible.
Claire
Hello everyone - hope you are all having a good bank holiday weekend or making the best of it.
Day 5 of second cycle and feeling a bit light headed today. Was ok yesterday, apart from when I washed my hair and lots came out, well it seemed like lots to me, although people are still saying it looks ok. It does feel a lot thinner. Eating ok but with others with what to drink. Nothing tastes good apart from really cold fruit juice, nothing seems to quench my thirst.
Glad you got through the op Tina hope things are going well and that things will be ok for you to have your second lot next week.
Cluck - where did you get the bandana with the hair attached from? That sounds like a good idea, I saw in a book they do scarves with fringes attached and as I have a fringe I thought this might be a good idea too.
Hope you’re ok Cat and not too many se’s. Marguerite - let us know how you are too, hopefully got through the 2nd ok.
Going shopping now and hopefully out for a meal tonight. No alcohol for me at the moment can’t stomach the thought of it, hope you enjoyed the Cava though Lynn.
Hi, also been told that there is no alternative to the Tamoxifen which seems to wait for us at the end of this bit, thinking about the ovary removal as alternative.
No let up on the hair (or rather stubble) falling out, wonder if there are any supplements to take when chemo finishes to accelerate hair growth?
Happy they did the scar revision, seroma stubborn though! Wonder when they will do the nipple construction?
Dressings will come off on Tuesday and hope all ok for no.2 on Thursday.
Beverley, I drink a lot of fennel tea, maybe that may help?
Claire, I agree, this is costing a lot, going back and forth to the hospital, hats and all the other bits and pieces soon mounts up, also I always buy a little thank you gift when my friends have been looking after my kids for me!
Petal, must feel odd, knowing there is no work to go to next week after so many years in your school! Hope the SE’s are not too severe!
Lynn, Saturday night telly is rubbish…!! Nothing which would remotely take my mind off the current situation!
Kind thoughts to everyone else, have a quiet bank holiday.
xxxTina
Still not feeling great today. Nothing in particular but not helped by lack of sleep. I could not get to sleep last night and now feel exhausted. Have the bad taste in my mouth like evryone else.
Some good news my 4 yr old has finally come round to my new look and is back giving me hugs and cuddles!
Cat
Oh Cat I am so pleased your little one is more used to the changed look. It must be so odd for them, I catch mine looking at me, I hope they are not worried! Hope you get some sleep tonight, your seroma still being stubborn, too?xxxTina
Lynn, I am so very sorry.
My heart goes out to you and your family. It must leave such a hole for you all but as you say he is not suffering any more… He is at rest. I sincerely hope you will manage the first few weeks with support and allow yourself to grieve, the later stages will follow but for now please take the greatest of care.
Hi Lynn
So very sorry to hear your news, my Dad died 3 years ago, after suffering from Alzheimers for 8 years, it is like many, a dreadful disease, to see him suffering was unbearable. At the end l was almost ‘happy’ to see him go, not for me, but for him. Just wanted to see him at peace.
It took me a long while to remember ‘MY’ Dad, the last 8 years has stayed with me, but now l try and remember the years when he was ‘MY’ Dad, I have some fantastic memories of him, obviously you don’t forget the dreadful ending or the run up to it. But l hope in time you will remember the very good times.
Hope you are keeping well
Take Care
Sandra XXX