Hi all
Last chemo yesterday - yay!!! Before it started, it seemed a huge mountain to climb but now it’s over. Where did the last 4 months go?
Karen - You’re an inspiration! I’ve been studying for a PGCE with the OU but its on hold at the moment. Hoping to start studying again once I get rads over and do my last teaching practice in the autumn term.
Lilac x
Well done Lilac! I hope the side effects are not too bad and you’ll be able to have a good Christmas celebration.
Me next week!
Love to all,
Amanda
Congratulations Lilac. I finished my chemo a week ago and I know what you mean about where did the last 4 months go. Roll on summer and hair eh?! lol
Hi all
Karen, glad I didn’t go to MK on Wednesday! I do need to go soon though, still got some bits and pieces to get and to take the kids to get their dad a present. Are you close to MK or was it a day out for you all?
Lilac, hope you are doing ok. For some reason the SE’s for this last one for me were really mild, once the sickness had faded, so fingers crossed for you too.
Saw my oncologist yesterday for check up. Waited nearly an hour then took 5 mins for him to prod my boobs and tell me I would be starting tamoxifen in January (duh, well I knew that!). Oh well, see the new onc next Tuesday to find out rads dates. And a follow up appointment with the surgeon in January. Does anyone know, at this 6 month check up is it just a chat and a look how you are healing or do we get mammograms and ultrasounds as well?
I feel like I have missed out on the Xmas parties this year. Missed my work one as it was chemo week. OH work do is employees only. Usually do a local women’s group meal but they aren’t having one this year… You know usually I cant be bothered with them. Need to get out more, definitely.
I have decided that next year we are going to do some great trips. Have already told OH that we are going to Milan for our wedding anniversary in May. Didn’t have a family summer holiday this year, so next year… Something exciting. And make the most of more days out. Theatre, concerts, picnics, trips to London. We deserve it!
I have rambled on enough, hope you all have a good weekend, rest in time for the madness next weekend
Love to all
X
Rusty
Ps Buzzy love the picture, and the attitude. Did you go out exactly like that? Would love to be brave enough!
It’s good to read your posts keeps me positive that you are all looking at normal things like Christmas dinner and returning to work - fec2 for me next week x
are there some MK girls ?
I’m MK- ish, out in the sticks anyway.
Rusty
Rusty that picture was taken when I got home from my works Christmas do. I didn’t go out like that I wore my wig but actually wish I hadn’t! I have a fine covering of hair now and I have been out a few times au naturelle so I’m getting braver by the day!
Hi All,
Lovely to hear that so many of you are approaching the end I had my last TAX on Monday 13th. I normally end up in bed for 3 days but this time was surprisingly perky…I even phoned the chemo unit to check that they had given me the right dose. They assured me they had and said some patients seem to get use to the drugs as time goes on…how odd!
Buzzy I also have a covering of hair now and opened the front door today to the postman au naturelle, he didn’t bat an eyelid and people keep telling me how much is suits me. I’m hoping for Christmas I have more hair than OH.
Karen- you are amazing working through this- I’m out of breath getting to the kitchen let alone going to MK for the day!
Tracey- I also found I culled my Christmas card list and thought whats the point with some people who just have not even been bothered to make contact in the past 6 months, you definately think about who you want to be your friend.
Been having horrendous hot flushes but the homeopath at the hospital has been amazing and pretty much sorted me out- at least I can get a decent nights sleep now. So recommend a referal to anyone who is suffering.
Is anyone going back to work when on rad’s? I Find out on 10th Jan is having lymph removed or rads.
Emma
You look great anyway Buzzy. I only go bare in my yoga class and I love it, so liberating. They were all a bit shocked at first (didn’t know where to look) but didn’t take long to get used to it and now are completely at ease.
I did feel a bit guilty putting them in that position, but I decided to do what felt right for me.
Karen, you don’t wear a wig a work do you? I remember you said people soon got used to it.
If chemo had been during the hot summer I might have done it more.
Emma I am not going to work I don’t think, after a three hour round trip for rads, an hour to and from work, I’d only be there an hour! I know a couple of people who did though, popped out for rads then went back to work.
Such a good tip, hadn’t thought of homeopathy for hot flushes. Will investigate.
X
Buzzy, what a great profile picture. I hope you had a lovely time at your Christmas party.
Rusty,I live in a village just outside Wellingborough which is about half hours drive from MK. We went from lunchtime until 7pm - which was enough!
I have my 6 month review tomorrow at the Breast Clinic, I don’t really understand what they want to see me for? I have my line being taken out on Tuesday, another appointment with Oncology on 4th Jan and my rads start on 5th Jan! It’s all appointments, and I sometimes think the three departments don’t really communicate enough re: appointments. Oh! and Tamoxifen at some point in January too.
You’re right, I didn’t bother with a wig. I got a selection of hats and wore them out and about at times like going to Tesco or down the village but didn’t bother in the classroom at work. I had no bother at all. The students were so accepting of it and I was willing to be open and answer all their questions as they came up. It really took the stress out of things I think, for all of us! I don’t bother wearing hats at home or around the Close. I figured baldness was the least of my problems! but I do know that it’s very traumatic for a lot of women. I suppose it’s down to the individual.
I went to my works ‘do’ on Thursday and wore a silver sparkly hat LOL! I also got very drunk, sang VERY loudly ‘Little Donkey’ to one of the PE teachers (it’s was a long standing dare!), ate far too much of the delicious Italian meal we were served and then wet myself in the street on the way back to the car coz I was laughing sooo much!!! I REALLY DON’T CARE, I’m nearly 48, have been fighting BC for the best part of 2010 - DOES IT MATTER??
However, was slightly poorly Friday morning and had to go into work and try to be sensible, difficult while wearing Reindeer earrings and a Santa hat for Xmas Mufti Day!
Rusty - I’m guessing you must be close by to me then?
Sorry I’ve gone on and on but I think it’s important to show that WE fit BC around OUR lives and must’nt let the b*****d take over.
I hope you are all doing ok and looking forward to Christmas and the New Year.
Karen
Karen, I laughed out loud at your shenanegins! And a teacher too, well really! (cue shocked and disapproving expression on face). I’m also very impressed you made it in on Friday. If I’d got plastered enough to sing Little Donkey to a PE teacher (was that as in “hung like a”? You’re going to have to explain what the dare was!) I’d have been flattened with a hangover the day after. Thanks for making me smile.
To bluddy right Karen WE fit it in around OUR lives! BC must never BE our lives xx
PS you sound as if you had a great time
How is everyone doing?? Busy with Christmas, not chemo I hope!
LIF- think you are starting tax just before me- good luck,
Tracey
Hi Everyone,
Not been on for a while as you say Tracey think everyones busy with xmas but as i’m stuck at home snowed in i’m not going anywhere! haven’t finished my shopping either !
Fab to hear some of you are finishing your chemo and going on to Rads be great to how you all get on as thats my next step having chemo is Rads in Feb/Mar i think, seems a long time away but we all get there,
Karen sounds like you had a great works Doo !
LIF your right about IT fitting in around US although it does feel like i lost most of 2010 so roll on 2011 for all of us a new start of doing more treats for ourselves and living each day to the MAX!
Shell x
Hi Shell
Just posted on the rads section on a thread I’d started about tattoos. Only read if you don’t mind a rant.
With you on living each day to the max - snow or no snow!
Lilac x
Flipin heck girls…slid in to hosp for bloods yesterday…details of adventure on pink thread!!! Slid into work today…looked like the frozen north…in mid Devon! Only thing missing were polar bears and penguins…
We finished the job in hand…talk about living to the max…it was like bob sleigh at times!
Hosp rang to say neutrophils 0.98…need to be over 1 so back again tomorrow for repeat ready for Thursday…they assure me they will be up by tomorrow!
Am worried by tax but onwards and upwards!
Thanks lilac I will have a read sounds like fun ! …tattoos !
LIF hope your bloods are up soon.
Keep wrapped up to all !
Shell x
Got my rads planning appointment, hooray. It’s today! I have to go to Oxford, thank heavens It has defrosted a bit out there.
I am so worried about how I am going to manage if the weather continues like this in the new year. I couldn’t make it to work on Monday for Christmas lunch because the roads were so bad, and the journey to Oxford is much worse, cross country 40 miles, longer if you go on main roads. I know there is no point worrying till it happens but I cant stop thinking about it! Anybody know any B&B’s near the Churchill?
My daughter was funny, she said why don’t you and dad stay over there and have a holiday, like when you went to venice for you wedding anniversary? Four weeks in Oxford?, daily radiotherapy sessions? Not quite like a second honeymoon in Venice. But very sweet!
X
Rusty
Hi Lilac,
Read your rant. I know what you mean. I ended up in A&E at the weekend, and you feel like a piece of meat waiting to be processed at times. It would be nice to be able to make some of our own decisions again wouldn’t it? Was interested about the tattoos though, rather than bothered- I have so many freckles and moles, that I don’t think I will notice. It seems like a long way off for me though, as ive got my mastectomy to go first.
Shell- hope you’ve got the shopping done. Cancer, chemo, snow aside, there are no excuses! Speaking personally, the disappointment of a couple of teenagers and a five year old is terrifying!!
LIF - hope your cell count up. That is some timing for your first Tax isn’t it? Mind you, when I think of the hangover I had last Xmas eve…Mine is on the 4th - so I will await your updates with anticipation.
Rusty- hope you are ok in the snow. It is mad isn’t it? I’m lucky being in the city. Got my fingers crossed for you.
Off to look again at weather now - see what my chances are of getting to Scotland for Christmas…
Tracey