Morning everyone, and hope you all had as good a night as possible.
I’ve just Googled Jennie Murray, a couple of articles in the Daily Mail, Telegraph, Scotsman.
I believe that chemo can lead to loss of bone density. I believe, but don’t quote me cos I’m no expert, that chemo that includes cyclophosphamide, methotrexate, and fluorouracil (CMF) is the combination which is most likely to cause estrogen suppression. If anyone has concerns they should really ask their oncologist or chemo nurse about it. I understand that there’s a blood test that you can have post chemo to determine whether bone density has been compromised, but doesn’t this all depend on one’s age, general health, and so on.
I tend to agree with Ostrich’s sentiment that I didn’t really need this added concern piled on to everything else, but it was something I raised with my oncologist when I first met with him to discuss chemo so it’s something I have been aware of for a while.
On a lighter note, I am going to wear my new funky wig today! The staring mommies at preschool will have another big shock - Cat with no hair yesterday and a stunningly wonderful funky flicky bob this morning. I shall take my camera to capture their open-mouthed gawping.
Lorna, I keep posting just after you, clearly the chemo is making me take forever to type anything. Love the hedgehog analogy, that’s what my son calls me
Morning everyone and welcome too. Missed logging on to the site yesterday for once and what a lot of new posts. Thanks for all the comments about the CT scan - much appreciated. This site is such fantastic support.
I went to our local BCC support group last night and that was great too - so nice to meet other people in the same situation and those who have the treatment bit behind them and are looking and feeling fab.
Having to wear a hat today to cover all the bald patches and feeling conspicuous, even though it’s cold, except here inside the coffee shop! Very eased with new prostheses collected yesterday - a pleasant and non-invasive appointment for a change
My nxt FEC is 28th Oct too - will be thinking of everyone else sharing the experience - today, enjoying the sun
Tanya - I did a couple of shots of me this morning but I look utterly gormless! Will have to have another go later on. I saw a playgroup mommie that I’d not seen since June and she complimented me on my new hair style now I’m growing it. Made my day that she didn’t know it was a wig.
Have fun wearing your hat, I’m sure you look stunning in it. I’m finding out that it’s all about attitude, stuff the idiots who stare! I’m growing used to the shaven head now, won’t love it any more than I don’t love the mx scar, but I’m getting used to it.
Morning Girls. Glad to see we are all back today. Hi Janet (and Lloyd). I also am on 3 x FEC and 3 x TAX…currently just had my first FEC last Thursday, so you are in the right place to compare notes.
The wig sounds fab Cat - and to all you others putting up with the stares - it will only make us stronger in the long term, so sod 'em! School yards are more for mums nowadays than the kids…I always made sure I never got involved in the schoolground politics - too much competitiveness for me!
Had a weird day so far. First of all the tumble dryer blew up. BANG - right in the middle of drying the sheets which the dog covered in mud this morning!
Hospital appointment where I got my new prothesis which I must say feels very comfortable and looks natural too. Wonder if OH will notice? Even feels warm to the touch which is strange. My god it is heavy though…looks like a jelly fish stuck down my front!!!
On the down side the dog has split open her stitches so she’s back on the operating table for a repair…just in time for our holiday on Friday. Feel so sorry for her, which means I am spending less time thinking about me and more time worrying about her…(I’m the first to admit I’m a real pushover when it comes to animals…).
On a personal note, I am feeling like the old me again…tiredness seems to be gone for the time being at least, but as someone else said, days 2-5 totally wiped me out.
Re: the hip issue. Forget it, don’t worry about what hasn’t happened. Our immediate problem is killing all these bloody cancer cells that could be lurking…chemo (though we hate it) is our only option, so no point worrying about the if’s, why’ and what might be’s. Let’s just get on with it and stay positive. Think Ostrich summed it up quite well.
Hi all,
Sorry to hear about your dog Pheebster.Hope she’s up and about soon. Where are you off to on your hols?
I totally agree about the hip issue, if we worried about every eventuality, my god where would it end! I’m all for the positive!
Have a good day
Caz x
Hi Caz…going to Devon and staying in a lovely cottage, as the dog is coming with us! Typical! Waiting for the vet to call so I can go and get her.
Will pop back later and see how everyone’s day has been. Just put a nice bottle of white in the fridge for later - have a feeling I may be needing one!
Good to hear your wig outing went well Cat. My daughter (10) has asked that I don’t go to the school without hair when I end up bald so I will have to hope my wig looks unwiggy!
Hope you have a lovely weekend in Devon Pheebster, I lived in Exeter for 25 years before moving to Weston Super Mare so I know Devon pretty well - whereabouts are you going? Hope your dog is okay.
I have been to see my surgeon today who has discharged me with an open appointment to go back if I am concerned so hopefully I wont see him until chemo is past and can then start talking about nipples and uplifts of “good” boob. My fluid has decreased dramatically (50%) on last week so he doesn’t want to drain me anymore (though I have to say I felt like I was swollen up like a balloon) but has said I can make an appt to see the BCN or him via them if I want draining again. Thinks my last bits of wounds that haven’t yet healed will do so by themselves so he decided he wasn’t going to pick the skin/scabs off (thank goodness!) Need to work on my arm movement as can only manage 70% and think I have some cording. Have also been told I can massage my side where the big clot(s) are following my bleed to get them to disperse!
It will be so nice not to have to get my boob out every week and talk about blood, leakage etc but also a bit scary as have kinda relied on my weekly visits for him to tell me things are going okay and kinda expected to be seeing him regularly until I have proper scars and no fluid!
Hope all you ladies who are currently on your chemo are due for good days but best wishes if you aren’t! Its odd to think a week from now I will be on day 2 of my first FEC. Its kind of like school this BC thing, you pass out/graduate from one bit (surgery) and move into the next (chemo).
Pheebs, haven’t you had a day of it so far! Hope your dog’s OK. Brilliant news that you’re feeling like yourself again, it makes such a difference doesn’t it:-)!
Ostrich, glad to know things are settling for you and that the fluid’s reduced and to be discharged by your consultant. Gosh, don’t we all know what it’s like getting our tops off for random strangers to appraise. For exercise, have you got something from the physio? I have a couple of book of exercises and stuff which have helped me. One is called “The Breast Cancer Survivor’s Fitness Plan” by the Harvard Medical School (£9.99, Amazon) and a yoga one but my chemo brain has kicked in and I can’t for the life of me remember the name so will find it later if you think it’ll be useful. My oncologist told me to put everything that I use regularly on high shelves to keep me stretching and mobile.
I’m just back from acpuncture with a new acupuncturist. Oh my God, ladies, if you do nothing else, do this. I’d forgotten how brilliant and energised I feel afterwards. We did a good history of who I am and how I feel, then Joy (aptly named) targeted liver and spleen and ares to help me relax and slow down. She’s doing a home appointment on Friday lunchtime to help me cope with the nausea and constitpation caused by Thursday’s chemo. Quick note on the loo front: she worked on this today and I was lucky to make it home in time, I suddenly had the urge to go! So if you’re suffering from constitpation, forget Lactulose, have acpuncture, it works, fast!!! I have to dash off to hospital afterwards on Friday and Joy has offered to drive me because it’s on her way home. It restores your faith in human nature when a stranger can be so kind and considerate. She’s told me off and says I have to slow down, so I think I might fancy a snoozerall this arvo.
Hi girls, missed you all
just a quick one now - just back from my second FEC and it’s kicking in, and feeling sleepy. Everything went very smoothly, I was so pleased.
I see that lots of people got the prostheses - I got mine as well yesterday, looks much nices than the softies…
the big news is that I’ll (probably) shave my hair of today, didnt have cold cap today - I’ve still got lots of hair and no patches, but this constant worry annoys me and it so unpleasant to leave hair everywhere and unable to touch your own hair without losing a clump. My wig arrived yesterday, looks great - black and red bob, something I had last year, though still have to try to wear it outside. Mums at school (at least some of them) are really nice and supportive, so i hope i won’t have jaws dropping when i show up there in a wig. My son though it;s very funny that my hair is coming off and thinks my wig makes me look ‘like a stylish girl’…
And one more word on acupuncture as well - it is working so well on me as well, and definetely helped me after last FEC.
Ok girls, hugs to all, sorry for talking about myself only, too sleepy. Be well,
tato
Tato, so glad your second FEC went smoothly. And hoorah, new prostheses for you, too! Good on you deciding to go for the big shave. The worry of hair falling out is rotten, so go for it. Glad that the acupuncture worked:) Take care and hope the side effects don’t get too bad.
I just got a call from the hospital to say that my WBC is low and that the neutraphils (sp?) are rock bottom so they aren’t prepared to do my FEC tomorrow. I told the nurse I’d had acupuncture and she said to go over tomorrow to get my bloods redone and see if there’s any change. I am massively cheesed off because I’ve been doing everything in my power to stay as well as possible. She said the injection to improve the WBC wouldn’t work in time for chemo tomorrow. Makes me wonder why they don’t get you to have your bloods checked earlier so that they can prepare for such an eventuality.
Quick one form me as I’ve been a dirty stop out all day…! Been to the Haven for a Shiatsu massage to prepare me for next Tuesday - great but rather weird because it’s so intimate - got the giggles at one point so maybe I won’t be asked back…?
My hair’s starting to go - strands coming out - feeling sad but want to hang on until Friday so can go back after half term in Wiggy and no-one will notice!
Eyebrows coming out! I have Alistair Darling eyebrows and have always had to pluck re-growth every day, which is literally a pain. This morning they fell out when I touched them with the tweezers so I now have the much-longed-for perfect Nigella Lawson eyebrows. How do i keep them like this? Stick Sellotape over them?
Good to hear your news. Jealous of you all getting your proper prostheses. BCN reckoned an appointment was on its way last Friday when I saw her, but still no news. I’m fed up with being lopsided and feeling it needs pulling down a bit all the time!. I agree the proper ones do seem heavy - I was shown one before my op. But then my path report did say that what was taken away weighed the size of a large bag of flour! That was my significant weight loss for that week!
Pheebster have a good time in Devon with the dog - What type is it?
Ostrich - glad to hear you’ve finished with the draining. I am still going back. 100 to 150ml drained off last week. Next appt Monday. When did you have your surgery? Mine was Sept 8th. I have oedema in the skin left around the wound but that has to be left to sort itself out as well as the seroma that can be drained.
A bit weary today (Day 9) and still struggling with sore mouth. Ventured out to a cafe at church to meet some friends. Possibly taking a risk, but need a change of scene and some company instead of the 4 walls here.
‘Bumping’ the thread means posting something on it, adding your comments, so it goes to the top of the list of that particular forum. Some useful threads get buried way down in chronological list on a particular forum so are bumped up by people to raise their profile.
This was happening to the ‘Top Tips’ but it has so many ‘bumped’ messages on it that Ostrich has kindly edited it and hopefully it’s appear in a new format at the top of this chemo forum so that everyone can find it and read it more easily.
Hi to all …
Good to hear from you guys… Hannah, Pheebs, Tato… and Bella…
Sorry to hear about your bloods Cat! and for some reason I thought it was Thursday already… just don’t know what day of the week it is anymore… must be chemo brain… sending your white cells strength!!!
O… no longer that Dandelion fairy getting blown away (the hair on my head)… have joined the buzz brigade! SAD … but liberating all in one ??? Taken a little control Back! looking very patching mind… not the need Demi moore look I imagined :o)
Hope the dogs on the mend Pheebs ! and you manage a good break away :o)
I’m afraid I don’t know how you ladies feel re the Mx… as only had a lumpectomy… + sentinel nodes… tho have 3 scars now that look a bit like spaghetti junction as I had previous op for benign lump before… have got to go for genetic tests at Guys next year tho ( when Mind is ready to deal with options Oncologist said)
Just burnt dinner so better go and sort something else out !
Evening Girls…How did the wig go at school collection tonight Cat? Just keep those bored housewives talking girl - big hug to you and the little one. So sorry to hear your treatment is off tomorrow. I was told blood counts could change over night, so lets all keep our fingers crossed that things will change before tomorrow.
Ostrich: We are staying just outside Okehampton in Petrockstowe for our holiday. Have just checked out the nearest A & E (just incase) and it is the North Dewvon Hospital.
Hannah - my dog is a weimaraner (her name is Phoebe so that’s where I get my user name from as we call her The Pheebster). She came back this afternoon thorougly peed off but sewn up again and a bit drowsy. She’s sleeping off the after-effects as I’m typing. The lovely vet didn’t charge me, and whilst I was there we saw the most beautiful litter of bulldogs come in for their first imms so we spent a long time having cuddles with the pups…OH wanted to bring one home but at £2K each I’m glad I talked him out of it!!! Don’t think he realised how much they cost!!
Redhead how your feeling after 2nd FEC? if you are anything like I was you will be buzzing til tomorrow and eating out the entire fridge by morning…hope it goes well hon xx
My jellyfish (aka prothesis) is now under the bed in it’s box…so bloody heavy. I think its’ going to take some getting used to.
On top of that I have just polished off the ENTIRE bottle of while that a stuck in the fridge earlier so am preparing for a massive head in the morning.
Enjoy your night girls and I hope everyone feels bright in the morning
xxxxxxxxxxxxx
PS: Heart is racing like a nutter - must be the chardonnay!!
Just posted on the other thread re the chemo top tips and how I am feeling right now. Confused as to who is on what thread and which each one is about. No chemo yet so can’t be chemo brain… ah! Must be bottle of wine brain! Stocking up before Tuesday and feeling c**p.
No additional news than whats on other thread, feeling low re BC, arranged to take OH to pub on Sat night to get a lot sloshed (he wont drink at home and is in a typical male way “carrying the burden of it all for all of us” on his shoulders and therefore totally knackered and physically had it - heading for a heart attack if he doesn’t chill (he has high BP and cholesterol and has done for 10+ years!)
Pheebster - don’t know that place but went camping in the rain in a field in Okehampton when I was 14 and saw my first fox. Can’t recommend anything then unless you are into wet fields and foxes! Hope your hangover isn’t too bad, not sure how mine will be but after a bottle I will most certainly be snoring in a very unlady like way tonight!
Hannah - I had my mx and immediate LD recon on the 22nd Sept so compared to you I am doing good it seems! Did you have the same kind of surgery? Every time I feel down about my odeoma (sp?) like breast and small areas of unhealed scar and necrosis I read of someone who isn’t doing so well and feel better and bad! Louise79 was operated on by the same surgeon as me a week after me has serious necrosis and a major hole in her back scar so deep you can see the inner stitches and is complaining of smelling like rotten flesh!! I am so lucky I keep telling myself as I sit here oozing 4 weeks after surgery, apparently due to my major secondary bleed 10 days post op. I have been told I can go back if and when I feel the need for draining and though today was only 50mls I have to say by about day 6 post draining I feel misshapen and swollen and want to be drained. Will have to be a big girl from now and hope my body will get a move on with the re-absorbing! Isn’t this disease pleasant??
Lorna - hope you enjoy the liberation! I know Demi Moore and I were definately NOT separated at birth and I am going to look awful without hair but am trying to muster up the “its nothing to be ashamed off” approach now whilst I still have hair!
Bella - loving the image of the eyebrows! I have to say I have already brought false eyelashes as I (think) I can cope without eyebrows but as I never leave the house without mascara and look awful without a fringe let alone hair am determined to have “statement” eyes! but I hadn’t even though about the eyebrows!! Don’t want to end up one of those “badly drawn” people. Let me know if you find any good stick ons!
Love to you all, thanks though for letting me join you, I regularly moan on my other friends thread of “mastectomy 22nd Sept and totally terrified” but since I am a saddo virtual reality person these days more people to chat to is great!
Hi everyone,
Sorry to hear about your blood results Cat, will keep fingers crossed that they recover.
Pheebster - glad your dog is ok, hopefully you’ll all have a lovely time in Devon. I love it there, specially this time of year. Hope you don’t have to much of a sore head in the morning, I still haven’t taken the plunge and had alcohol yet, hate hangovers at the best of times.
Haven’t heard anything about my prosthesis yet, am a bit jealous now. lol Might ask on Monday when I go for my CT.
Night all
xxxx
Glass of red wine (only one) last night to comiserate with myself for hair drift and guess what? Major, major headache at 5am, loads of Neurofen later still won’t shift. OH has it too so it must have been dodgy wine. The rest of the bottle is going sown the sink, I can’t cope with this again.
On a brighter note, hair Down Below also shedding!! A perk I think as I’ve never been brave enough to get waxed so I’ll view this as a bonus!
and you were feeling so well weren’t you?