@norts I can’t believe you don’t even watch it! 
That’s really encouraging that you only got a tiny bit pink after 20 radiotherapy sessions. I’m going to keep whacking on that Flamigel RT.
@pennyp Share your artwork! I’d love to see what you painted. I have the arts and crafts skills of a concrete boulder so I’m always in awe of those who can.
POST NUMBER 1000! That’s amazing. What a great bunch! I am so grateful for our support and friendship.
XX
@salbert Well I’m chuffed your first session went well but I needed a lie down after reading how your day panned out !
I hope your dad is ok and that also you are not overdoing it !
SABR is a more targeted rad so it’s kind of next generation , designed to hit the target area better rather than blast surrounding areas with waves that don’t need it .
I’ve heard a lot if people saying aveeno moisturiser is good for radiotherapy areas
I saw my surgeon on Tuesday , She’s been on some podcasts with Dr Liz Oriordan and I’ve always felt very safe in her hands .
She said straight away , let me give you the good news and told me that mastectomy had definitely been the right choice . I had high grade DCIS covering 15 cms and in there they found five seperate invasives , all small … the biggest was 7mm but had I not acted until I found a lump
Is a bit scary . No nodes and no LVI … I’m technically cancer free but with it being HER2 I have an oncology appointment on 21st October to discuss chemo … made my heart sink but I knew it was coming .
I’ve got a sizeable Seroma but she doesn’t want to drain it if she can get away with it as it increases infection risk . I put a heat pad in last night and it’s definitely reduced in size
To celebrate the horrible cancerous boob being gone I’ve dyed my hair for the last time and have gone full on in your face bright red/pink
I’ve also got some fabulous hat wigs … they are amazing … beanie hats with hair attached so easy for winter
@norts sounds like you’ve got a busy time catching up on icky medical stuff although these days smears abc dentists probably feels like a walk in the park , I’ll personally never be bothered by the dentist again !
@pennyp I haven’t had any Covid jabs as I already had heart damage from Covid round one in 2020 and had long Covid and I just didn’t want to risk it , I’m not having it while I’m having treatment , I’m just going to wear a hazmat suit I think as my 14 year old seems to get everything going , she had bone cancer at 8 so I think her immune system is still wrecked
Hi @salbert i’m just a novice painter, i started art classes about a year before all this bc nonsemse and love it. We use all sorts of mediums but my favourite is acrylics. The classes are really fun and the people in class and teachers are lovely, im so looking forward to going back next term, probably could have gone back this term as things have gone well but didn’t want to commit myself and then have to miss loads of classes. @arty1 is the talented one.
@arty1 yes still in two minds about covid jab. I had the original rounds, and felt quite rough afterwards, but havent had one for a couple of years snd not sure how effective they are now with different variants. My daughter got long covid which was made substsntially worse by covid jab, with heart and lung issues and a myriad of other symptoms. Hazmat suit a good idea. I just wish people in healthcare settings would mask, although the chemo waiting room and treatment room did have air filtration. Do you have a hepa filter at home, might be worth investing in a coupleif you are going to have chemo?
@pennyp its hard trying to make choices about medication all the time isn’t it - trying to work out what’s best etc…
I don’t have hepa filters but now you’ve mentioned it I’m tempted to look into it .
Hello
I’m pleased to report that radiotherapy is all going well. I’m off for No. 4 shortly.
@arty1 My dad is doing ok thanks. It’s my birthday on Monday so we have long had this trip on the Romney Hythe and Dymchurch Railway booked for Sunday so I shall be taking both elderly parents and my teenage son. Wish me luck! I also have two drama classes, walking my hip replacement best friend’s two dogs, a Specsavers appointment and a Silver Wedding Anniversary party booked for tomorrow. I seriously need to stop booking myself up so much. Easier said than done, clearly!
Really happy to hear that your surgeon has given you good news. And it really is good news. I always think we are so lucky that they can catch this bugger of a HER2+ bc and blitz it with treatment. We’ll see you through chemo.
I’m thinking of dyeing my hair a radical colour but not sure what. I also had a blue beanie hat with hair that I wore solidly. They are really great.
Your poor daughter and poor you having to go through bone cancer at 8 years old. You would think cancer would leave your family alone after that but we know the pesky little **** doesn’t work like that.
@pennyp What a really wonderful thing to do, joining an art class. I have started Dance Fitness class and it’s just so much fun trying to learn these funky routines and attempting to jete through the air! Nobody takes themselves seriously so we have a lot of fun. It’s really important to do all the things that make us happy and distract us from the ongoing bc stuff. It’s like sticking two fingers up to it which is a major positive.
Happy Friday everyone. I’m going to eat a pasty and hit the road to Marsden.
Salbert
xx
I’ve chosen to take the Covid and flu jab when offered. I’ve had flu since 18 being asthmatic. They adapt to new variants and each year the update flu vaccine helps reduce the severity of flu. In all these years I think I’ve actually caught flu 3/4 times, I do get colds and chest infections but there is no vaccine for them.
I have family members that have been floored by Covid and then suffered long covid. One lost their job with a government agency because they caught covid at work and was ill for 5 weeks with 2 lots of steroids. I think Covid is worse than the vaccines myself.
As a cancer patient and chemo recipient you are also entitled to Shingles vaccine, you get 2. I had them earlier this year, 3 months apart due to low immunity.
I agree the hospitals and GP surgeries could do so much more, like open windows for ventilation, wear masks especially if someone is presenting with respiratory illness. The last time I visited it was full of coughs and sneezing. So I always mask.(FFP2)
I’m having my Zolendronic acid next week and will take my portable HEPA and battery pack for my infusion as I get placed in a ward for possible admissions. They take Covid tests, or they did last time, but you can sit for hours with the same people in the room who then test positive. My mask will be in my bag and if someone is actively coughing I will pop it on.
My cancer centre have eventually put in HEPA filters in the outpatient department but not in every room.
I read the chemo threads and hear so many are now choosing to mask to protect themselves (Prof Trisha Greenhalgh who co wrote The Complete Guide to Breast Cancer with Dr Liz O’Riordan has done extensive research at Oxford Uni about both parties benefits from wearing masks.
I used the HEPA when nurse came to do my Herceptin and opened windows for ventilation at home. I even took it to the dentist.
Hazmat suits would be great but a bit cumbersome😆
There is no judgement here, just saying what I think and my experience.
I think i am a bit of an anomaly, being both a covid cautious person andcovid vaccine dubious, but i expect i will take the vaccination. When i went for my flu jab there were hoards of older and disabled patients queing all through the surgery, i was the only person with a mask! Having read a lot about what covid does to your body and with a daughter with long covid who has had to give up her job and life in London and stay at home i really don’t want to get it. I will contact my GP about the shingles vaccine.
Penny
I know exactly what you mean @pennyp my surgery was exactly the same. I think many older people are just well I have to live with the time I’ve got left, if I catch something and I die it’s my time. I know we have some older family members who are now, I’ve had so many vaccines why do I need more. I’m 55 and think I have a lot more life to live so also want to be cautious about not catching covid.
I’ve only caught it once, I masked working in school and only took it off outside or to eat lunch. I sat in what I thought was an empty/spare room for 30 minutes at lunch with a window open to find out that it had been used by small groups that morning, with a Covid positive person. For me it shows that it can linger in the air.
I’m so sorry to hear about your daughter, I hope she is getting some support. My family member did get to an NHS Long Covid group but his workplace (mainly HR) are not supportive to the recommendations. Company policy is this that and the other and there is no leeway. Or if we do it for you everyone will want it. They threaten to terminate their contract because of sickness due to Long Covid. Luckily the line manager is a bit more supportive.
Take care
I’m going through identical treatment at the moment. Did your Phesgo injections start 3 weeks after your last chemo and did you still have to shield. Also were you able to fly 
. Sorry so many questions. I hope you are doing well now 
My phesgo injections started part way through chemo when I was still on Paclitaxel. They are every 3 weeks with 7 done so far. I don’t have blood tests while I am on then so no idea how much they knock my immunity. I did ask last time round as I am unclear how careful I should be. The message was that they do reduce immunity but typically there seem to be less consequences to this. That doesn’t really answer your question I’m afraid and it didn’t really answer mine. I’ll ask again at the next appointment.
Thank you 
Morning all
I’m supposed to be getting the Covid and flu jab this weekend but think I will rearrange as we’ve got the chance to get away instead and I now prize quality time above all else.
Hi @daisy9 I started Phesgo during Paclitaxel like @norts and am now halfway through. I think some people have flown but as I’ve heard it, it’s the travel insurance that poses the biggest problems, as in it costs more if you are in active treatment. There are definitely some good recommendations on the BCN forum for travel insurance if you do a search.
In other news…it’s my 54th birthday today!! Never have I been so glad or grateful to attain another year. I have celebratory radiotherapy!! 
Happy birthday 
I was supposed to have 4th cycle today, but due to very low neutrophils, ended up with an infection. 2 trips to A&E over the weekend with a temperature of 38.4 and a heart rate of 116, it’s been delayed for a week. On antibiotics for a week and so far so good.
Enjoy your trip away.xx
Hi all,
Just wanted to update. I’m now on day 10 of my first Kadcyla and it really hasn’t been too bad (other than the cannula palaver)! Funny taste at start, dry mouth ongoing, and generally tired. I also have conjunctivitis for the first time in years and sure enough it is there on the side effects list as a common SE. The pharmacist has said they can’t give me any drops or meds for it as it all is contraindicated with Kadcyla, so just warm salt water on it.
Also started Anastrozole a few days ago and so far nothing from that.
Hope everyone else is doing ok! X
I had my flu jab last week and got nothing other than a bruise where they did it.
I’m intending to have the Covid jab but am a bit nervous as I know it gives side effects and I feel like I have enough going on! My oncologist suggested to have it just before a Kadcyla round when my bloods will be at their best. But don’t want to go into a round feeling crap because of the Covid jab - ah well it feels a bit like between a rock and a hard place!
Happy Birthday @salbert 
@bigpickle im so sorry to hear you’ve been unwell, hoping the antibiotics do the trick.
@isthisreal. I finished Herceptin mid September and had my flu and Covid jabs 3 weeks later. I had a sore arm for a couple of days and a bit of a headache ( on top of my every day aches and pains with Letrozole). I took a couple of extra paracetamol and it seemed to do the trick, I had my zoledronic acid infusion today, took a couple of paracetamol before as advised, so we’ll see if I get flu like side effects after this.
Hope everyone is doing ok.
Happy birthday. It was my 51st on Saturday.
Happy Birthday and I wish you well fire future
Hello and thanks for all your birthday wishes. I’m a very happy 54 year old!
@bigpickle I’m so sorry to hear that you’ve been so ill. It really is luck of the draw as to who gets a bad reaction and I’m sending you love and strength to climb back up again and fight back. Everyone here is cheering you on.
@isthisreal Great news that you are ploughing on with the Kadycla and coping well. I don’t blame you for being nervous about more side effects. I’ve brought my Covid and flu jab forward to this afternoon but I’m not coping with chemo at the moment so am hoping for the best.
@naughty_boob How is it going with the latest zoledronic acid infusion? I’m told that the body doesn’t react as strongly to subsequent ones so I’m hopeful regarding that as it floored me!
@norts Happy belated birthday, my fellow Libran!
Radiotherapy number 6 of 15 today. My false boob has developed a dent! 
Salbert
xx