Hi lisa and hi all,
Massage is private, If you want one, go to lymphoedema network and look for MLD specialists in your area. Your lymphoedema clinic might be able to recommend one. Its not cheap 50 quid my first appointment, but it is supposed to help keep it down. My gp did say she would refer me so NHS would pay so i need to send her a letter with the address. (I am taking this with a pinch of salt, as i know this doesnt always happen as it should) i am prepared to pay if i have to.
I am hormone positive so yes, if you have not fully gone through menopause u start on tamoxofen (chemo has put me in menopause, no period since march) but i will stay on tamoxofen for a while then switch to arimidex. Rads, i have to have 25 so five weeks starting 27 july 2009. It is going to be really inconvenient for me, all through school holidays. i am going to have to leave the boys alone for a couple of hours while i go.
I defintely have differing moods which i didnt have prior to BC. I am really up and buzzing one day, down and lolling around doing nothing another. I havent got angry but have felt frustrated and isolated. GP said i could ask cancer bacup about counselling if i felt i needed it. I might consider it.
With the tamoxofen, the bone aches are a bit of a problem but not all the time, its when you get up or bend down that they hurt. You know what you feel like when you have exercised for first time in ages, the day after everything aches. Well thats what i feel like.
I am glad i am off chemo now, dont envy you that feeling Lisa, Oh and by the way, i have a prescription for two more arm stockings, so why cant you just pick them up from the chemist?
All the best
Linda
Thanks Linda sound great as long as there american tan
!!!
Not been on a bit of a black week and dont have many so not beating my self up over it …
Fridge frezzer broke again and think some one has tryed to break in front door ( good job I didnt catch them the mood im In )
So now on s sick pay and were having to find more money then ever must ring round and see what we can claim for hubby has always worked so prob not get much but must admit it is a worry dont think ill be back and work as soon as I hoped .
Linda there has been mentioned I may only need 3 weeks of rads and mine had gone to 15 out of 16 lymps I know we are all different and sorry to question you on it but were your lymps involved the way I look at it is if we have to have it bring it on …Lol I know Ill feel different in morning but just got a postiv vibe lol
Hi Daisy hope your not on here because your to busy getting on with normal stuff Its graet when we have days and this crap dosent come first …
Ladies need to ask My eyelashes have come out on tax and eye brows are following did you both have same hope not its made me look and feel more ill that I did …when I look in mirror now I see a chemo patient no matter what I wear on my head …
Hows it feel not beening tangoed the red glow is also getting me down big time sorry need a rant and hubby put up with loads
Watched a programe on sky 1 which didnt help but oh well
Be in better mood next time on here
My offfice are doing a 8 mile walk weekend for cancer research so really what to get upbeat to see them all off oh and meet them at the pub half way lol
Lisa xxxxxxxx
Hi Lisa,
Lets make you feel better. First i had 19/23 lymph nodes involved - scary huh!! so i think thats why they are giving me five weeks on a super duper booster ray gun. I have lost all my eyelashes, most of my eyebrows and at present not showing any sign of growing back. This is causing my eye problems because there are no lashes to protect them. Yes i look rough, also have had a massive breakout of zits which i hope is hormone related and will disappear quickly.
So I do feel a wreck, but if you want to feel good, just ask your kids and they will, very sincerely, tell you that you are beautiful. Works every time, especially with boys.
However, upside, no sign of hair growing on the legs yet!!!
i watched that programme and it was a little disappointing. skirted over the treatment and didnt explain the mechanics which i think would be a good idea. Also, Lymphoedema? where was that mentioned. the woman who had the mastectomy/recon was private, where is that like most peoples dealing with this?. I would just like to see a programme explaining it honestly and openly and covering all the bases.
Money hasnt been too much of a worry for us, i am due to go back to work on Monday, for last week of term and then its school holidays. i will be having rads during hols and then going back to work in September. I think i am up to it, we shall see.
Off on hols in a week, if you hear reports of pink whales swimming off coast of Isle of Wight - its me LOL
All the best
Linda
Hi Lisa
Just looked again and although i have had more removed we are actually similar in amounts of lymph glands involved. The reason i think i am getting more rads is because i had microscopic margins.
Linda
Greetings all - last chemo tomorrow! YIPPEE…
My chillow is fab, got mine off Ebay…oh bugger. Forgot to take my steroids…back in a mo…All done, I can now look forward to being alert all night! Might get fruity with the hubby, that will pass ten minutes or so!
I watched that programme, my jacksy mammograms how up lumps 18 months before you can feel them! Mine didn’t show up the day I was diagnosed!
I have 20 rads coming my way. I only had 1 lymph node infected with just a few cells, but they whipped the rest out anyway. Not sure when I start though. Planning is 28th, so I should start Aug 10th (my 40th)…fab.
I still have lashed, but thinning eyebrows. Plus I have had to shave my legs. Arm hair never fell out and the lady garden looks like Gardeners World have been in and given it a winter pruning! I can see some very fine peach fuzz on my head, which No6 will probably take care off.
Have been a lady that lunches this week, making the most of feeling good. I have been sneezing a lot this week, I just hope my counts are high enough tomorrow. Son is sneezing, headaches and feeling very tired. If he has glandular fever he is being either fostered or hospitalized for the next 3 weeks. He is seeing the ‘main’ doctor at our surgery Saturday morning. I will mention this to the chemo Dr tomorrow, he may say start antibiotics or give me more injections, who knows.
Will check in with you again soon, fingers x this one will be a breeze like the first4 were.
Love to everyone andh happy holidays.
Daisy xxx
Hiya all,
Good luck tomorrow Daisy. I am feeling better as each day goes on now and have far more energy. I am having a few aches and pains from tamoxofen but hey, it was never going to be perfect.
Hope your son is ok and enjoy the steroid induced madness, i loved that bit!!!
My hair fuzz seems to be mostly white (boo hoo) nothing that nice and easy wont take care of in a few months time.
Linda
Oh yeah baby!!! All done…canula went in first time, and I was out in world record time, by 3pm.
Apart from the usual back ache, I feel fine. Drinking lots of water and keeping my fingers crossed for a kind last chemo batch of side efects. My rosie red chops are back big time, so the chillow will be put to good use tonight.
Despite the steroids, I slept like a baby last night, that was until the dog decided to bark its bloody head off for no reason!
I mentioned to the Dr about my son, he said just be sensible and follow the usual guidelines, keep an eye on my temp etc and ring if worried.
Just had my yummy chinky washed down by a pint of water…yuk…
My peach fuzz and odd straggly hair is also white! Not sure it will survive this chemo or not though, if not I will be hitting the hair dye too!
Hope everyone is well and take it easy people.
Daisy xxxxxxxx
Hi Ladies Im so glad I came on I always feel better after reading up on you two I think cause we are following each othere in all this it helps loads ,
Linda yes you did it , im feeling better I too look awful got great eyebrow pencil boots nb 7 in blonde the more you use it the darker it goes but looks really natural …
yes like you I think I too will need extra rads oh well bring it on …
Face is like a big balloon lips are now tinggling need popping …
Still not got sleeve oh joy …
doc wrote pres wrong …
Glad your feeling better long may it last xxx
Daisy Im raising a glass for you ( water tHAT TASTES LIKE NOTHING )
lAST CHEMO WOWWWWWWWWWW
hope your son is feeling better I must admit my lads has been quite up and down with me through all this think it might be in sympathy Bless and when I look after him he always says Thanks Mom xxx Boys dont you just love them …
You have done well with your hair Im a fluff ball …
Sorry Ladies but friend of mine about a month ahead of Linda and she has come back with a head full of white hair WHITE …
No way Not white im not doing that
Girls from work did 8 mile walk today for caner reasearch I was there at start and meet them at half way point for a shandy lol
They all did me proud in Pink
So tired at mo and look like a red sweating blob
Be back on soon xxx
Morning all
I am in love with my ‘chillow’. Would marry it tomorrow if I could! I used it for the first time last night on my lobster face (whole face now, not just cheeks). Popped it inside a pillow case and it was sooooooooooooo cool. I tried it without the pillowcase and it was like laying on a squillion ice cubes, way too cold, but total bliss! I got mine off Ebay and am thinking it will come in so handy when my breast is BBQ’d or the flushes come my way. So, invest in one if you can!!!
Two jabs done and all is well, but I have had to take an extra sicky tablet for the first time as I felt queasy yesterday, but that’s settled now.
Am resting up today and taking it easy, no doubt the bone pain will kick in tomorrow, so am not going to add to it.
Hope everyone is well, I can’t believe…NO MORE CHEMO!!!
Love to everyone…Daisy xxxxxxx
Hello girls,
Must look out for this chillow. So far with tamoxofen, hot flushes are the only thing that are not really giving me problems. Bone aches, constipation and zitty face are my little annoyances.
Great news about the end Daisy, its a great feeling. I hated my last one but got through it. Now waiting for rads. Also trying to avoid anyone with sniffles etc… as swine flu is in area. My son and oh both have a cold and i am getting the familar tickle in throat. Well i can stand a cold.
Went out Friday and had a meal and a few beers. First time since this crap started that i have really enjoyed alchohol. Life is starting to get back to normalish.
i have resigned myself to white hair although there are few stray dark ones round the side. But the minute its long enough to take the wig off, the dye is going on…
Catch you later
Linda
Chillow pillow here I come Im getting hot flushes all night real pain is it the chemo thats putting us through the change I thought they gave us same thing after the chemo to sort that out ?
Just saw on here there is a 2 day forum in Brum in Oct might try and get a place on it , might want info on reconstruction then never know
!!!
Have got a place on look good feel better end of July think thats name of it anyway …
When is hair ment to come back after treatment ?
God not finished last session yet , (RUN BEFORE I CAN WALK OR WHAT ) must be getting positive vibes from you …
ENJOY THE SUN
ONE WEEK LEST THEN NO MORE SCHOOL RUN !!!
Hi Ladies
Hope this is ok to post…on Ebay, item number 290330677166
Super fast delivery, clear instructions and heaven in a pillowcase!
Daisy x
Ladies…
Sorry not been on for a while…but my LAST CHEMO SE were pants…just about feel human again after a week of not being able to do diddle squat…but hey its finished YYYIIPPPEEE can’t believe it…
Bum is got 9 weeks till surgery cus of school holidays and not being able to get both breast and plastic surgeons in together…Then a break before RADS…its going to be end of October before I get nuked!!
Its great to hear you are all getting through.
Going to get a chillow…they recommend it at our hospital. think they even have a few on the cancer wards as well as a couple of Wii’s to keep us cancer patients fit!!
Still got 15 more Herceptins to go…that will finish next May!!
Ordered my new set of boobs with the surgeon…He looked 12 not sure he would know what they are supposed to look like!!!LOL but he’s the best so the BCN say…going up a cup size or 2…am little…
So got temp recon 9th sept. with expander bag…keeping skin intact and they are puttin in pig colligen…YEP PIG…helps hold the expander inplace as the skin is thin after taking the breast tissue away…cost about 3 grand for a little strip of it…but the surgeon says what ever he needs he gets…I am excited…ooohhh boobs…
loads of hugs to you all
Barbara
XX
Hello girls.
Lots of sympathy Barbara with last chemo, mine was same - worst of the blooming lot, only just recovering from it. Still have tingly fingers and toes and it was about seven weeks ago.
I went back to work today, not teaching just getting stuff ready for September. I woke up with sore throat and streaming nose. I have a cold. Still didnt find it too taxing. Although, did have a couple of hot flushes. Funny, i never get them at home but go to work and thats it…
Four days to go and then off on holiday to Isle of Wight. I am looking forward to swimming with a hat on and a false boob stuffed in my cozzee LOL Actually not that bothered now, after being bald and one titted for six months i have kind of got used to it. Still wish my hair would grow a bit faster (apart from my legs, stay bald there please…)
Ciao for now.
Linda
Barbara sorry youve been feeling rough but chemo finished
,well done im really pleased for you .
I know the 9 weeks will be hard to wait but it will give you time to build your strength ready for the surgery ,new boobs how fab when im ready for that stage ill be calling on you for loads of info …
Daisy great thanks Im going to go on and order my chillow pillow …
The nights are the worst …Its like some one flicks a switch and puts the heating on lol…
Ladies any info on herceptin sorry think thats what its called meet someone today who asked if I neeed to go on it ???
Lisa
Sorrry Barbara just seen that your on it sorry im the one who still has chemo brain lol only one left !!!So any info on herceptin as Ive never heard of it .
Lisa
Linda a holiday that sound fab , we hope to go to wales next week to parents van if I can get line flushed at hospital there .
Hope the sun shines for you
Lisa xx
Hello Ladies…
Lisa Herceptin is for cancer that is HER2 positive. I have both oestrogen and HER2+. The Herceptin targets the cells which have the HER marker on them and kills them off… Used to be for Secondary cancers only but here they give you a year on it of primary. Its given through my portacath in my chest once every 3 weeks like the chemo. SE’S are very minimal from what I can gather…At least no hot flushes, thank god. The down side is your heart can suffer so have to have an echocardiogram every 3 months to check its ok. If not they just stop it and the heart recovers and off they go again…
Linda…holiday sounds fab, make sure you shock as many people as you can…LOL I love doing that…got the postman again today…
All take care now
Barbara
xx
Posted on behalf of new user Kayleigh.
Regards Sam (BCC Facilitator)
Hi. I’m just new to the site. I’ve just read comments so far. I’ve three cycles of FEC and just started Taxotere for three cycles. Got it on the Wednesday and woke up on Saturday morning and even the tip of my ear was sore!!!. Totally wiped out for two days. Then to make it worse i got my granocyte injections on the Saturday. They kicked in on Monday. So more bone and joint pain to contend with.
Do these injections put your cell count really high? Was in hospital last Wednesday because my temperature was really high. I had been for my white cell count that morning at the cancer centre and everything was normal. When i went to hospital that night my white cell could was 20. Was kept in overnight because of this. The docs couldn’t make up their mind if this was because of the granocyte injections even though i had an injection before i had gone for my cell count and it was normal. They gave me the injection anyway the next morning in the hospital and the cell count was up to 30. They sent me home with no explanation. Maybe i an super sensitive to the granocyte.
Also i feel like killing somebody at the moment and am very tearful. Is this a side affect of the taxotere?
Hi Kayleigh - wanting to kill people is totally normal and understandable! Even your loved ones!
I have no clue about what counts should be, I just jabbed away and didn’t ask any questions. My advice is lots of massages, baths and hot water bottles until the cripling pain passes.
Sadly chemo knocks you for six and there is bugger all you can do about it. Come on here and rant with the rest of us. We area friendly bunch and pretty much anything goes topic wise, I don’t think anyone is easily offended!
My burping is now getting silly. Gripe Water is doing the trick, but, it is getting on my nerves now. Finished my last ever jab today, andf eel ok, stired, but on the mend.
Off to see Morrissey on Sunday, in the disabled section of course. Will have to wear my scarf, and maybe a bandana around my mouth to avoid germs - I will look like a Mexican bandit!
Take it easy everyone!
Daisy xxxxxx