Evening everyone
Pat - my godaughter like me?! I’m an elephant with 2 left feet. No one knows where her talent came from. Her mum and dad aren’t much better than me.
I hope that all appointments went well today. Jacqui did you actually get to see someone today?
The sofa seems to be my best friend at the moment. I’m sleeping a lot of the day but not at night. It was the last of the steroids today so hopefully that will change over the weekend.
You’re all talking about food and I’m at the cardboard stage again! Make the most of it while you can. I thought a silver lining of all this would be weight loss but I don’t care anymore. When I can taste good food I’m going to eat it.
Jill it isn’t easy to sleep when you’re worried about the unknown but it isn’t nearly as bad having the chemo as I dreaded. The SE aren’t brilliant but can be controlled. I had my 3rd chemo on Tues and the worst of the SE’s are over now. It’ll be improving now until the next lot. You’ll be amazed how quickly the cycles go. It seems like forever at the beginning but it isn’t.
Well night all, I’m tired and going to try to see if I can get some sleep tonight.
Nicky x
Helloooo/Night night! Well, yes another boring day at the office (clinic). Traffic was all up the wall in East London this morning, took me an hour and a half to drive the mile to Stratford station to park the car, it was rammed every short cut I tried to take. Don’t know why I bother panicking about getting there on time, 'cos I saw the surgeon (more talk of a different sort of skin graft in a fortnight - yawn), then had to wait 'til 1.30 for my oncology appointment.
Anyway, to cut a long and boring story short, all was well and after the oncologist tried to get me to admit to at least one side effect, she jokingly questioned if I was actually having chemo! Er … well … there is a distinct lack of hair. I did ask her the name of the drug that I’d be having after all the chemo, rest of surgery and rads., and she said Docetaxel. Right I said, then afterwards I thought - no, that’s the name of the 2nd lot of chemo. I meant the drug they put you on long term after all that. I’m HER2 negative, so it’s not the normal ones like Herceptin and Tamoxifen. Anybody know?
Oh, d’ya know what, this bit’s all about me, me, me, and I’m too tired to read what everybody else has written to pass comment on. How rude am I? I’ll do better tomorrow ladies - promise. xxx from Placid Jacq! xxx
HAPPY VALENTINE’S DAY! Could only just get through from the hall to the living room after postie had been … I wished! x
well, I just received a dozen long-stemmed red roses! romantic old fool, and after 38 years of marriage too…I’m still bawling,it was a lovely surprise, as we don’t usually ‘do’ valentine’s day.He looked mightily embarrassed and just said ‘you KNOW i love you…and i thought you needed cheering up’…bless 
Morning all
I hope you have had a good night
Jill, not sure if your once nurse shouldn’t get a life. I really enjoyed getting back to glass of wine weeks 2 & 3 after chemo, and need that and a couple of “Kalms” to encourage a good night’s sleep especially prior to appointments!
Jackie, it sounds like you have battle just getting to appointments let alone getting anything useful when you get there, it sounds very frustrating. I think the post chemo drugs are related to your oestrogen and/or progesterone state. If you are receptor positive you may benefit from hormone therapy, drugs like tamoxifen, arimidex, femara and aromasin. There some stuff on the BCC website about these.
2nd FEC yesterday, went with a girlfriend while my hubby looked after 3 of her kids, and 2 of ours! All went well although we had a bit of a wait while a Dr was called to look at an odd patch on my arm ?related to PICC she just said same a nurses and gave the go ahead. It was much easier than being needled, but is still a bit sore to straighten my arm.
Felt ok til about 45 mins after hubby and kids set off for half term snow boarding trip! then very quesy and had massive vomit.Yuk. couldn’t face potential of upchucking all night and couldn’t manage oral cyclzine. So ended up with taxi with friend who’d had too much to drink to drive me! Off to on call GP centre for jab which did the trick so I am now planning next snack to put me on til lunch time.
Planning afternoon by the fire watching rugby, what are you guys up to! wish you all a grand day.
Gill x
Hi all, Happy Valentines Day! Narnia, what a lovely OH you have. My OH arrived home with a lovely bouquet for me and one for my daughter who’s quite poorly at the moment, he’s the sweetest man. Gill, I’m sorry you felt so rough and glad the cyclizine jab did the trick. You just rest and look after yourself now, bet OH and kids are having a good time, where have they gone to snowboard? Jacq, the postie might not have broke his back carrying the weight of all your Valentines cards, but never fear - WE ALL LOVE YOU!!! So, another skin graft, will you have yo go in for long and is it gonna hold your treatment up? You must be sick of it all by now. Docetaxel is Taxotere which I’m starting next week and having 3 cycles. I’m HER2neg and will be having Tamoxifen. Next time you see onc get them to clarify it, this whole business is hard enough without not knowing what treatments you’re having and why. Jill, I agree with Gill, if the odd glass of wine or other alcoholic dring can help you relax, how can that hurt. As I said before, the time around the actual chemo might not be the best time but then everyone’s different. I believe we have to take out pleasures where we can find them. Hope everyone else is doing okay, having a nice Valentines day and putting their feet up, off to munch a pot noodle - it’s like being pregnant, I keep getting these cravings! Well, that’s me for now. love and big, warm hugs, Pat x
heck…he’s been to have his lovely long(ish) hair cut short as a show of sympathy.He said it didn’t seem fair to have his hair like that while I am sitting here bald! If he surprises me with anything else tonight lord knows what i shall do, but i’ll be sitting up to my knees in tears!! ( I just thank goodness he didn’t decide to shave it off, he’d have looked awful…but what a lovely thing to do!)
Hi all. Pat, what a lovely old man you have. Me, I’ve always been lucky at cards!
Anyway, if I do have to have the eternally talked of skin graft, he reckons it’ll be done in-clinic with a local and that it’ll be very sore (after local’s worn off), I reckon it will - after having skin taken from 12 different places! Anyway, I’m definitely not letting them do anything that will hold up any chemo treatment. Think I was Jack the Ripper in a previous life!
Pot Noodle - oh yuk! No wonder you reckon stuff tastes like cardboard, you really are eating it! Weird how our tastes alter though, 'cos I was on the brink of joining the AA (no, not the breakdown service) before all this malarky kicked in, and now I can’t bear the thought of anything alcoholic - nobody who knows me can believe it! I was terried when I had to have the body scan in case they ran screaming from the room having spotted a ‘functioning’ body without a liver in-situ. Couldn’t believe it when it came back normal.
Hooray - well, you know what I mean Pat - somebody else HER2 neg. I thought I remembered them saying that I wouldn’t be having Tamoxifen. Like you say, I’ll have to get it clarified - will ask on Monday in Chemo Clinic.
Anyway you lot, enjoy the rest of St. Valentine’s Day … read your cards (and strain your eyes), eat your chocolates (and get fat), sniff your roses (and sneeze) and then make mad, passionate love (and lay back and think that your bedroom ceiling could do with a coat of paint).
Jealous? Moi? Not really, lol, the tv remote is mine - all mine! xx Jacq xx
I was ‘terried’? blimey - sorry about that Terry, can’t say I noticed!
Hi
Jacq you’re not the only one the postman forgot about this morning. For some reason he didn’t call here either!
I hope you enjoyed the rugby Gill. I would love to say I did but I fell asleep during the 2nd half of England/Wales - the very game I wanted to watch. Now I probably won’t sleep again tonight. The dogs seem to be getting a bit fed up of my nocturnal wanderings when they just want to sleep.
My sister rang me up today to see if I wanted to do the race for life with her and 2 of my nieces in June. I would give my eye teeth to be able to but it’s the day I start my last cycle of chemo(fingers crossed there are no delays). They’ve offered to push me around in a wheelchair borrowed from the hospital where I work which is next to the park but I don’t think that that would count.
I’m determined to do the Moonwalk next year. I was going to do it this year but entries opened 2 days after i got my dx and I realised that I probably wouldn’t be up to the training! I’ve done it in the past and the atmosphere is fantastic.
Happy Valentines to all of you who like me aren’t lucky enough to have a romantic OH.
Nickyx
I have posted this on behalf of new user Lucy
Regards Sam (BCC Faciltator)
hi this is the first time i have been on line regarding my breast cancer had a masectomy 4 weks ago then had to have my lympnoids removed starting chemo on the 9 of march still got a drain in don’t know if there is anyone out there going through the same stupid thing to say theres bound to be but just wanted to say hi and happy valentines to everyone Lu
hi lucy - I had surgery on 28th for lumpectomy and node clearance, didn’t have a drain but 2 incisions which not everybody seems to have and I’m now on second lot of antibiotics for infection - had enough of it now and want it all sorted!! I see the oncologist next week so will start chemo after that probably…hope you’re resting as much as possible…do you have kids? Mine are 10 and nearly 16…and hello to all you other ladies too - have been reading your posts and kept meaning to say hello…mary x
Hi Everyone, and welcome Lu and Mary. Sorry about your infections Mary, it’s bad enough having the surgery without getting infection on top, hopefully this second lot of antibiotics will sort you out. Hope the onc appt goes well, I’m like you and had lumpectomy, they then had to go back in to achieve clear margins, which was successful) and I had node clearance - 10 of the 18 were affected so that’s why I’m having chemo. There’s a great bunch of ladies on this thread which Lou started (we’re all loopy except Jacq who’s the quiet, shy retiring Placid one!!!), and we’re all here to support you. Lu, best of luck with your chemo, you’ll be okay I’m sure, it’s daunting beforehand but once it starts it’s not too bad. Have you checked out the ‘top tips for chemo’ thread - it’s packed with loads of useful hints and tips, well worth a read. How’s everyone else doing - all had a good night I hope? I’ve started to get a bit nervous now as see onc tomorrow and start Tax on Thursday, sure it’ll be okay, again it’s fear of the unknown. I went on another thread where there are 2 other women starting Tax next week so am gonna check in that one regularly, too. Several women have posted on there that have had Tax and been very positive so that has helped. Well, off to prep lunch and lovely daughter bought me a dvd ‘Tara Road’ for Valentines (I’m a huge Maeve Binchy fan) so will settle down with that this pm. All enjoy your Sunday, will check in later. lots of love and hugs, Pat x
Oi, Pat…I would say something, but I need to build up my confidence, you know how shy I am. Hey facilitator - think I’m being bullied! lol
Hi Girls and welcome to the new ladies! Oh Jacqui you never fail to make me laugh, and given what you are having to go through that is fantastic. I am NOT going to say you have the right attitude because if you are like me at all I am sick fed up of people saying that to me. WHAT is the right attitude??? You can’t just bury yourself under the duvet for the next 4 months-life has to go on and if it’s having a laugh that makes it more bearable then bring it on!!
I have just spent the day shopping cooking and ironing-AGAIN- though not quite as frenziedly (is that a word?) as last time as I don’t feel nearly so anxious-only thing being there was a message left on callminder by onc nurse to phone the ward on Friday night following my review and blood tests-didn’t pick it up until last night so now wondering if there is a problem… Hope not as I don’t want any set backs either!
Gill hope you are feeling better?
And all you lucky ladies getting Valentine flowers and things-my OH doesn’t have an ounce of romance in his soul-mind you I would have wondered what was wrong if he had done something…!!
Anyway, he is taking me out for a walk to spend QUALITY time together before younger daughter gets home!(She got a D&G watch from her boyfriend…where did I go wrong??)
Will check in later,
Hugz,
Lyn xx
Hey everyone!
Sorry not been posting here, have been mostly sleeping!!!
how tired am i? and i suddenly have a feeling i want to watch horror films!,mmmmmmm, Omen on Friday evening and Halloween last night!never been one for them in the past but now…
Blame the drugs, i put most things down to that…
Hope you are all having a good weekend? welcome new ladies, i’m sure we can all help each other loads - this is a real lifeline.
Off to jolly old hospital Monday, blood thingy going on then all being well more chemo Friday! suddenly feeling a bit anxious about it - again! comes round so fast.
Went to do some retail therapy today, got half way round and felt shattered - did manage to get some bargain books (i love reading)just to keep me going.
well, thats me for now, hope you are all enjoying the weekend? big hugz to all, back later,
Love Lou x
Hi Lou,
Just thought I would do a quick check before I go back to skating-am quite hooked on it-how sad is that? I have been feeling tired too but I suppose you just have to go with it. Also beginning to feel anxious about tomorrow and thinking I might take a sleeping tablet as I don’t want to be up all night! Got a friend taking me in tomorrow so hopefully she will keep my mind off things on the journey in then OH coming in later to collect me. That’s one of the drawbacks of using the coolcap-it makes your app soooo long-far too long for one person to come in and wait.
Anyway off to get ready for bed then see who gets sent home tonight-my money is on Ray to win-he is amazing!! I def need to get out more…
hugz,
Lyn xx
Hi all, Lou, I know what you mean about sleeping, I’m wondering if it will change when I start the Tax on Thursday as you have to take steroids twice a day, I think. I’ll make sure I don’t take them late. Lyn,hope all goes well tomorrow, how long does the whole thing take? Off to write my list to talk to onc about new chemo tomorrow, I think the main thing that concerns me is the possibility of an allergic reaction but I’m sure she’ll put my mind at rest. Hope everyone is okay. love and hugs Pat x
Hi all, hope you’re all okay. I saw onc today, bloods were all fine so all systems go for Thursday when I start Taxotere. I’m armed with steroids for before and after chemo plus an injection which district nurse will apparently call on Friday to administer. My onc said, if I want to, I can do the injections myself after the first one - not sure about that. It goes into tummy and boosts white cells as the drug affects them and risk of infection is greater. Also got painkillers in case achey joints so they’re being pretty thorough. Onc also said Tax is must better on gastro system so nausea shouldn’t be too bad, that’s a positive as I don’t think I could take those ondanstrom (or something like that!) again after the constipation saga. Thanks to Movocol, and nerves due to appt and upcoming chemo, many, many eagles have landed Lou so all is well! Lyn, hope appt went well, get some rest if you need it and warm your poor head up! I njoy Dancing on Ice too and I think Ray will win as well, he’s so cute! How are things with you Jacq, how is your back? Really hope the skin graft happens and works for you. Is the chemo interfering with the skin healing - apologies as I’m sure you’ve already explained it but My brain has trouble keeping up and memory is virtually nil at moment. Will check in again later, love and hugs Pat x
AARRGGHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!
why oh why can i sleep all bloody day then at night… wide awake - been awake today since 2.15am! just as well i have a good book to read!
Been to hospital today, i thought for bloods ect for Friday(?) silly me, no blood taken just asked what SE i’d had this time, going to give me something for the indigestion and MORE antibiotics to take on day 5 after chemo so i can avoid another water infection.
Glad all is well with you Pat, sounds like thyre covering all the bases for you later this week which is good xx
Jacq, hope the back is ok? lets hope the skin graft happens for you.
Hi Lyn,hope everything went ok for you today? It’s a big relief isn’t it to get another treatment under the belt? i’m no.3 on Friday, 3 down, 3 to go - then the next saga,but hey, i’ll tackle that when it happens.I hope Todd Carty’s out of the skating now - he was awful!!! ( can’t watch the programme at home,have to catch it at Mum and Dads!)
Well, i have been the neighbour from hell today - the house behinde us is rented and newby’s arrived just on Christmas - WITH LOADS of rubbish which has steadily mounted up in the back garden.Yesterday afternoon, what should arrive?? But a HUGE great storage container, they had to take the fence down to get it in, presumably to store said rubbish?? anyway, it’s huge and it’s right outside my bedroom window!But not for long!!! like i said in an earlier post…lovely lady, but slightly psycho at the moment!! Lady Macbeth in waiting!!! lol!
Right, off to sit for a bit while i plan my next move!
Love to all, back soon,
Lou xxxxxxx