Hi Yorkshire Tyke, I had 4 weeks of radiotherapy at Leeds exactly a year before you are due to start! From mid August 17 to mid September 17. At Leeds, they don’t advise any creams to use, and just provide you with barrier cream for washing with. My skin was mostly fine, though became red, hot and itchy towards the end of treatment and they gave me cooling dressings for that. I would say take your own water, as it’s recommended that you drink plenty, it’s summer, and the water in the waiting rooms by the treatment machines is warm! Well it was last year anyway! Any questions, just ask. X
Hi Yorkshire Tyke
So pleased to read about your results this morning. You must feel somewhat relieved given how worried you were. Great news that you have a holiday planned - something to focus on. Me too!!!
I’m not sure I was ever in denial but it was a great shock, I must admit. Your journey sounds as though it will be similar to mine, although I live in France. I have appointments booked for November including a mammogram. Was diagnosed in February and rads finished 5 weeks ago, so they’re not leaving me too long to relax!!!
In terms of skincare ( and i know it is different from what I’ve read for other ladies on the forum in the UK) i was told not to put anything on my skin other than what was prescribed by my oncologist and surgeon. I was given Avene products which have worked like a dream and absolutely no side effects whatsoever throughout. The products were developed with the advice and expertise of cancer specialists in France and the center Thermale provides aftercare for women after cancer treatments. I know they are available in Boots but not a full range -probably need the website. Would be happy to tell you what I use if you are interested.
Anyway good luck with your treatment and will be thinking of you.
Take care.
Rosie xx
Yes Blue2!!
Drank loads of water too (still do) !! Very important!!!?
hi Jude,
l’m in total denial about the posibility of needing chemo although I have researched ALL possibilities in high technical detail! I, like you appreciate the power that knowledge brings.
Maybe I will have to lose my nipple and have chemo. Neither are the end of the world, I must keep away from catastrophizing. I may know this time next week, 4 weeks after surgery.
I hope tomorrow goes ok for you.
love e x
Just found out the that radiotherapy wil be 6-8 weeks from 1st radiotherapy appiontment, that I wont get till 2 weeks after results, that are going to be at least 4 weeks after surgery that was 6 weeks after diagnosis.
I had plans…that due to denial I thought were possible!
E x
Boots and superdrug appear to stock some of the products which ones did you use
Hi E
I think we have all had to wake up & smell the coffee.
Good luck for you next week, I hope your results are the best possible
Jude x
Hi Ladies
Had my appointment with the oncologist today - lovely chap spent an hour with him talking things through
The upshot is grade 3 stage 1 no cancer in lymph HER2+ ER-, so chemo & herceptin
Having 6 lots of chemo, 1 every 3 weeks
The first three are EC & the second three are T (which is a bit nasty but going for belt & braces approach). They will also start the herceptin with the T & then a further 9 months of herceptin every 3 weeks. This mix of drugs ups my 10 year survival to 85% - decent odds
Appointment with the chemo nurse a week on Friday. Start date for chemo 30th July & got wig appointment through for 1st August!
6 month parking permit sorted for hospital as well
A lot to take in today but we now have a plan x
Hi Rosie
Yes it is good to have a plan, I’ve got next week to get straight at work & then I can rather selfishly focus on myself
My friends & family have been great & my husband & elder sister in particular have been really supportive
I’m pleased that physically you feel fine, I would imagine emotionally that hits more once the treatments have finished. Are you living in France? Do they have any support networks that you can join in your local area. I might contact the Look good feel better local centre to assist with the hair loss / makeup to suit
Look after yourself x
Hi Rosie
Sounds like you have got a lovely set up in France.
I have to say I’ve been treated fantastically by everybody involved in my treatment so far in the NHS - god bless em
I’ve decided I’m going to do a blog whilst I’m going through the chemo treatment, thought it might be good therapy
We all need to take time to smell the roses, get our priorities right going forward & to enjoy as much as we can. Sometimes the simple things are the best
Take care x
Thanks Rosie
If I’m brave enough to publish I’ll let you know!
The support on here is immense
Take care x
Hi Jude good luck tomorrow re results- we’re all with you, hugs Jem xx
Hi Jude - sorry previous message should have read appointment on Friday - blaming chemo exhaustion!!
Blogging sounds a good idea
X
Hi Jem
Thanks for the good luck messsge, I’m expecting the chemo nurse will go through the nitty gritty bit of chemo so should have a better idea of what to expect on Monday - gulp!
Hope you are coping ok with your chemo, what cycle are you in?
First blog complete, if you have a spare 2 mins give it a read
Take care x
dancingwithchemo.wordpress.com/2018/07/24/why-blog-about-chemo/
JUDE1962. Sorry to read your going down the chemo route. You are being so brave and I look forward to reading your blogs going forward. Moving towards the last stage of active treatment but will keep coming back on here to see how you are doing. Fingers crossed your se are minimal. Love and hugs Chris
Hi Jude
Just read your blog!!! Well done you - love the title and I so enjoyed reading it. Thanks for sharing on here…I will be thinking of you, as I said but it will also be good reading your blog posts too.
Sending love and hugs and you’re so right about the great support on the forum.
Take care.
Rosie xx
Hi Jude. Hacve just read your blog and it is bang on to how we feel well was for me anyway however I did tend the chemo as had opposite er and her2 to yourself. Couldn’t have worded better myself. I am now 3 weeks post active treatment and feeling pretty good. Still have the thought occasionally of it coming back and did they
Manage to take it all in the first place it supposethis is something that will get easier as time moves on. Think I might even type something up myself so can give to friends and even family as thinking would maybe help them understand also. Brilliant reading. Good luck with your chemo and hoping not to many side effects.
Jude just read your blog absolutely bang on well done and thanks for sharing xx
Jude just read your blog - so well written and puts into words how I, and in no doubt many others feel.
Like you I rarely cry but somehow plod through all this rubbish . I have chosen carefully the people I needed to tell and how my wonderful friends have been has reduced me to tears, family and friends have been awesome and I have become a lot closer to each one of them- feel so so blessed to have them in my life . Then there is everyone else- I hide it from most people and thus has caused me to reflect why. 1) my children (12,10 and 7) have wanted to be normal and they have selected which members of school staff I have told - this has given them some control over this. With a picc line it is noticeable and they and I have wanted to keep this covered with long sleeve tops and cardigans around ‘everyday’ people eg school playground. I also gave chosen to wear my wig out of the house at all times. Inside I wear scarves.
2) think some of the above helps me have some control over what is going on. I choose who to tell and who to smile at and ask how they are. 3) with my wig -Audrey - I have felt a fraud when people complement my new hair style , slightly blonder colour and lots shorter, some have even asked where I had it cut- I just say thank you.
With all this I don’t need everyone I see or am acquainted to know- don’t need their well meaning looks, pity, comments that you popped into you blog. So I am happy with the choices I’ve made, it has allowed my children to be ‘normal’ at this horrid timeI, I’ve not been the topic of gossip or people saying the wrong thing and upsetting me.
This doesn’t mean I won’t tell other but I don’t need to at this point in time.
Gosh I didn’t know I was going to put this all into words - but thank you Jude for promoting me.
Chemo wise I had cycle 4 out of 6 yesterday. New drug this time - docetaxel- was terrified after reading others experiences. However I’m 24 hours in and doing amazingly well. No ‘swiimy’ head today, no bond or joint pain. Went out for a walk with my mum to my beloved foreshore- 19 swans were still there, birds, butterflies and sparkling sea. This might all change over the coming days but am smiling at the mo.
When you meet the oncologist ask all the questions you have - I had loads - they are the ones with the knowledge, I asked the nurse for a minute by minute run down of the chemo day- this really helped me, look round the ward etc. Then when you start take 1 cycle at a time and then break down to each day - makes it so much more doable. Awful days will just be that 1 day or 2 but the rest of cycle different.
Take care, we’re all rooting for you xx
Love you Jempd. So well written and inspiring. You are amazing.