I really hope the chemo ladies have an easy time this week. I will see if I can do anything about the Gok thing, I will keep you all posted!!!
Lisa, I have used the helpline and they were very helpful. I spoke to a nurse and she gave me great information and peer support were very good too.
I am thinking about Sheffield as I will be just back at work and don’t want to get too knackered but I think it is a really good idea and I am going to think on it some more.
I am chilling out this weekend and trying to get my energy levels back to “normal” post chemo!!!
Wow Samina a hair cut how great does that sound , cant wait to be able to do that , might make a night of it we have hotel in shefield ( work not me lol ) might try and get a cheap stay for me an hubby and come to the meet .
yes ladies have a nice pink weekend , great to see so much of it around at the mo …
Love Lisa
Just popping in before the chemo bus hits me tomorrow!
Had chemo 7 on Monday and back Tues for Herceptin. So am now in the Herceptin gang too - No allergic reaction so so far so good! 17 Herceptins to go - yay!!! Surgery has been pencilled in for 18th Dec, with rads to follow sometime end of Jan and tamoxifen to start at some point. Just waiting for the bus to stop, usually tomorrow if last 2 have been anything to go by - let’s hope it doesn’t stop at all this time. The tiredness is pretty bad now, but maybe just the effect of 6 chemos! Managed a large scone with clotted cream and jam this afternoon with friend in local garden centre (definitely counts as 1 of my 5 a day) but could taste it. Mouth is yak!!!
Lisa, I too have spoken about having ovaries removed and my ONC is of the opinion that tamoxifen is just as effective at surpressing the ovaries and removal is not necessary at the moment. This is based on the last lot of trials on clinical evidence, but as you know, science is moving all the time and new evidence is available. So at the moment, he is recommending that I keep mine as ditching them will only put me into an early menopause (with potentially more problems) and no real advantages. Ask lots of questions and try to get to the bottom of where the evidence is coming from and that it will be benefical to have them removed (just my take on it). Hope you are still showing off that fabulous barnet???
Count me on to be Goked as it were - Samina - hair cut sounds great. I read a depressing post that your hair grows back at half the speed when on Herceptin???, but then I don’t believe everything I read on here …
I won’t make Sheffield unfortunately, just a little too far for me!
Heh there lovely ladies, hope everyone’s doing ok. Not gonna make it to Sheffield I’m afraid, just got too much on at the mo. Not that I’m complaining cus it’s great to be getting back to normal. Got a place on a Look Good Feel Better Nails session on the 9th November in Wolverhampton which I cant wait for, my nails are in a horrendous state thanks to Taxotere lol!
How fantastic would that be for Gok to sort us all out, think he’s amazing bless him. Well good luck to all the ladies still on chemo, I’ve just got 1 week left of radio, it’s flown by.
Love to all xxxx Em
PS Very jealous Samina, I cant wait to have an actual hair do again lol
Hi Emma see you in November also havin nails done , hope everyone is well ssp just finished trying to claim for next thing its a right pain will be on phone all day trying to get all the info they want !!! Just had great weekend my baby turned 12 !!!
Lisa xxx
Hi Ladies,
I hope your all well and recovering. I think things are finally starting to get back to the way they were before diagnoses, with me running around doing hundreds of jobs etc.
Emma hope you have a great day having your nails done that Taxotere has alot to answer for, my nails are still crap.
Jayney hope your ok after chemo and Herceptin, and dont take notice of all the horror stories on here, I had herceptin num10 on Monday and my hair is thicker than it was before and growing really quick, put it this way I will have to go for a haircut again so I dont think Herceptin has halfed the speed. I find it gentle to my body, especially after chemo.
I have looked into the Gok thing and there is an application form on the website and a phone number so I have called and left a message and will let you all know when I hear back. I would have thought it would have been right up his street as it involves lots of boobs in different shapes, sizes, textures etc. It could be a whole new experience for him.
I have decided not to go to Sheffield as I will have just started back to work and will probably need the weekends to recover.
The nail thing sounds great, I look forward to hearing more about it. My nails are very ridged post chemo and toe nails are dreadful!!!
Just thought I would drop in and see how you all are??? Really nice to read some of the posts that life is getting back to some normality. Had a rubbish week last week, but turned the corner over the weekend. Have my last chemo next Monday - yay!!! Surely Herceptin will be a doddle after that? Just got to hope that the veins will be good enough for a year. Samina, my hair is growing back, and now have a slight covering all over, bit like a dark brillo pad - v fetching!
Sam - let us know how you get on with Gok and if you get a response!Off to a LGFB session on Thursday so looking forward to that.
Hope you are all doing ok and for those of us still having treatment, keep going girls and those of you out the other end, keep telling us how good it is and brilliant you feel!!!
Jayney
xx
Hi Ladies and Jayne had crap week probs with arm got celulitus again so going to be put on more antibiotics might have to have low does for the forseeable future Great !!!
Had nails done which was nice
And having big party on Friday Im going to be 40 !!!
Going to let my hair down lol
Love to you all raise a glass for me on Friday , cant drink due to strong antibiotics …
Love Lisa x
Lisa, Happy Birthday honey, hope you have a great time.
Jayne - I hope you have a better week
I have just seen my oncologist and he has given me a perscription for some very low dose anti depressants to help with my hot flushes and sweats, does anyone else have these and do they work?
Hope you are all ok, I am back at work part time and it is shattering me!!!
Sorry for the delay in posting on this. Been a little busy with work since the forum. I’m Teresa, from Solihull, one of the midwives!!!
Thanks very much to everyone who helped make my weekend so useful and inspiring. It was great to meet you all.
I wish all of you,that are still having chemo and herceptin,the very best of wishes! And to let you know, that although it doesnt always seem like it, there is an end to the tunnel!!!
Im now 15 months post chemo
& radio, and 7 months post herceptin! Im back at work, going the gym (which I never thought Id get the energy for!), and loosing that excess weight gain!!! Plannin my wedding next year and a 9-12 months travelling around the world!!
It feels a bit like 2008 never happened!!! Its amazing how well we get through these things. Still tierd alot, and taking tamoxifen can have its down sides, but i think overall im doing well.
What a positive post to read, a herceptin lady that has reached the end!!! I am just starting my journey, 2 down and 16 to go!
Well girls, had last chemo on Monday so just waiting for bus to stop at my stop… get this week out of the way and next and hopefully will start to feel a bit more human. Lymph node clearance is booked for 18th Dec and will be in for 4 days (groan) that means hubby will be cooking the turkey! But just want to get rid of those nodes…
Lisa - hope you had a good 40th???
Love to all.
xxx
Hi Ladies . make the most of being looked after Jayne
Thanks Teresa think we all needed that post Had great 40th thanks really let my hair down lol !!!
Party was fab I had the mike in my hand most of the night …
Had some fab presies think everyone was a bit more generous due to whats happened but mom said its cause im speacial lol
Even had vochers from halfords I really want a bike to get rid of the extra stonessssss .
Come down with a bit of a bump … think ive stayed so positive I had to come down arm playing me up and get results from bone scan soon checking for osteo …also having scan on stomache all the tabs seem to be causing probs oh well onward and up wards ,
Love to you all be back on soon
Lisax
Hi all, hope everyone is OK and coping Ok with this cold weather!
Lisa, Jayne, hope you’re feeling well(ish!?) - Sam, how are coping with work, not too shattered I hope?!
Had my latest visit with the oncologist a couple weeks ago and all is fine. Have my next appointment the end of Feb and learned that the hospital can’t be cancelling any more appointments (had previous 2 cancelled before the October one!) as they need to be doing paperwork etc on a regular basis as I had my chemo as part of a clinical trial - let 'em try now!
Carrying on with Tamoxifen and Zoladex and although I get hot flushes, aches and pains it’s managable - better now that I reduced my working hours down a bit so can fit in housework a bit better after work! (or not!!)
Had a message left by my doctors surgery asking me to arrange an appointment to have the swine flu vaccination - wondered whether anyone else had had this? Have read another post on the pros and cons but opinions seem to vary! I’ve not had a cold for ages (random sniffles or sore throat is all) and considering I work in a nursery with all the children getting bugs etc, I think thats quite good going! But would it be tempting fate not having it? Have to speak to my doctor anyway so will see what she thinks but in the meantime…!!
Something to mull over I think!
Take care, Jackie xx
Hi all, hope everyone is OK and coping Ok with this cold weather!
Lisa, Jayne, hope you’re feeling well(ish!?) - Sam, how are coping with work, not too shattered I hope?!
Had my latest visit with the oncologist a couple weeks ago and all is fine. Have my next appointment the end of Feb and learned that the hospital can’t be cancelling any more appointments (had previous 2 cancelled before the October one!) as they need to be doing paperwork etc on a regular basis as I had my chemo as part of a clinical trial - let 'em try now!
Carrying on with Tamoxifen and Zoladex and although I get hot flushes, aches and pains it’s managable - better now that I reduced my working hours down a bit so can fit in housework a bit better after work! (or not!!)
Had a message left by my doctors surgery asking me to arrange an appointment to have the swine flu vaccination - wondered whether anyone else had had this? Have read another post on the pros and cons but opinions seem to vary! I’ve not had a cold for ages (random sniffles or sore throat is all) and considering I work in a nursery with all the children getting bugs etc, I think thats quite good going! But would it be tempting fate not having it? Have to speak to my doctor anyway so will see what she thinks but in the meantime…!!
Something to mull over I think!
Take care, Jackie xx
Hi Ladies how are we all , lost 8lb so far on diet and had my bike , having a dark day today but been strong so far so I think its only natural .
Hair coming on a treat really thick.
Lymphadima really bad at mo
Sorry to post a downer …
Hope everyone else is more upbeat
Lisa x
Well done on the diet Lisa - good for you.
Wish my hair would come thick and fast, as you can see by the lastes photo I have a good covering now - but I am impatient - afterall it is only 2 weeks after last chemo!
Sorry about the arm, is there anything else that you can do to help with the pain. Have you tried the tape that was mentioned??? Supposed to have good results…
I’ve been really tearful since last chemo, really bad some days, far worse than when going through chemo! Perhaps reality has dawned on what I’ve just been through… also worried sick about every ache and pain, think it’s spreading. Be glad to get these nodes out on 18th Dec - let’s hope there has been no further spread - keep everything crossed for me!
Hopefully you’re feeling a bit more chipper today???
Hi to all you loverly ladies!
x
Sorry its been a while since my last post but I have been shattered with work. I am only working mornings at the moment but I am having to rest when I get home and then I just feel shattered all the time. The venlaflaxine didn’t work for me as it made me really sick and Oncologist is being crap at coming up with an alternative, if anyone has any ideas I would be grateful.
Lisa I am on a bit of a downer as well, it could be the change in the weather but I know how you feel hon and am always available for a chat if you want to. I am really glad you had a great birthday
Jayne I know what you mean about your hair, mine is growing back but I want to be able to go out without wigs etc …
Teresa it was great to hear such a positive message
I just want to send you all lots of smiles and big hugs xxxx