Good luck today Ali xxx
Hope you’ve got ice for that G&T!! Could always use it where they’ve been stabbing you by the sounds of it?! Awful that you were but through that stress before you started - not what you needed. Makes me more detemined to pull on those brave pants and get PICC line done. Had meltdown for a bloodtest so a tall order! Relax now and imagine the lasers zapping away doing their worst (or best if you know what I mean!) Scotty x
Lol Emily T, I read it as booze too! I think I’m missing my G&Ts. It’s been a dry Christmas this yeat but I did get a G&T sampler kit from my daughters so might just have to give it a try. My eldest has offered to help me out ?
So I’m home. Was back by 2.15 and I’m fine.
It was difficult to get a cannula in, took two goes and hurt more than usual. But I’m having a PICC line done before the next one, so not a problem. Interestingly they didn’t offer this. But I said I wanted one and they agreed straight away though, so definitely worth asking.
The rest was drama free. I had EC and I’m not cold-capping, so I was out in less than two hours. I have a bit of a headache but not so bad that I’d take a paracetamol. I came home on the tube, my husband came to bag carry but I didn’t want him around for the actual chemo.
One tip-which I’ve posted over in the January chemo thread. I was a bit worried because I fainted when they injected me for the MRI. No idea why, I’m not squeamish at all, although again she had to have two goes at getting it in. Anyway I know that if I’m feeling lightheaded a cold flannel helps. So this morning I put a clean wet flannel in a plastic bag with half a dozen ice cubes and sealed it. This was great as it stayed cold. I didn’t feel faint but it was nice to know it was there and I held the bag against my forehead when the headache kicked in. Didn’t need to take it out of the bag, it was just nice to have something cold to hand. Might be something to take when you have your PICC line done, Scotty. I’m definitely going to take that each time.
Didn’t really need all the chemo bag contents there, but all good for now I’m home. The nurses were with me for all but 25 minutes so they chatted all the time. I am lying on the sofa trying to look pale and interesting.
Good luck with everything, all of you.
Ali
xx
PS when they say be careful about infection, I’m assuming that the cat shouldn’t be drinking from my glass of water. I wouldn’t have known, if I hadn’t caught him when I came back into the too .
Glad it went ok after that nightmare start. Good tip about the flannel. First dose of don’t be such a wuss tablets tonight and another dose at lunchtime. Hopefully by the time the line is being put in I’ll be too stoned/ chilled to notice! Take it easy tonight Ali. Scotty x
Of course you can, Zena. PM me anytime if that’s easier.
Xx
Glad you’re home Ali. First one down now!
Just had a giggle over people misreading booze for snooze - I just read stru’s comment about Charlo being keen on a tipple, as Charlo’s keen on a nipple!!! Well it would be topical!
i know what you all mean about the Christmas bubble - January always feels a bit dull after Christmas and I suppose we all have a reason to feel more blue than usual (and no, not talking blue boobs!)!.
I Work in a primary school, and they are back tomorrow, but I had a phone chat with the gp’s surgery on Friday and they have given me another sick note. I have decided not to work during my radiotherapy, as the hospital journey is a two hour round trip, and that’s without traffic. My job is also very full on, and can be quite stressful at times, and emotionally I think I would really struggle with it. But I’m sitting here this afternoon feeling guilty. OH has just said I need to be number 1 priority, but I think when you are conscientious and know what has to be done in your absence it’s difficult.
Strudel and Emily - my breast was hard and very swollen until yesterday, when it suddenly went soft and much smaller than my other one. This seems to be since I’ve been doing the exercises the Physio gave me last Thursday. It’s as though the fluid has gone, although the tightness under my arm and the pain over my ribs is no less yet.
Susan - I’m sorry to hear about your dog - he must be enormous, especially compared to my little do who weighs less than a stone. Hope he has stabilised now.
Sounds like big hugs are needed all round today.
love Jane X
Emj60 when we’re you given your pathology report I haven’t got one x
Thanks Strudel and Emily,
Ok booze. So if you have been drinking within recommended limits, I understand the best estimate is that it increases your risk by up to c 25% compared with a teetotaller. That sounds a lot, but if 8 women in 100 get breast cancer it’s putting the risk at maybe 9 in 100 for ‘drinkers’ cf maybe 7 in 100 for non-drinkers. Still bad luck really.
I’m posting this because I’m an academic and I worry about how stats savvy people are. (I promise I’m not judging people who aren’t just don’t want them to over worry). Also because I think all of us who like a drink will feel some residual guilt. I’ll add in being overweight. Though I offsetted with years of breastfeeding!
Of course drinking more than 14 units a week raises the risk further, but I know plenty of near alcoholics who haven’t got BC. We have been unlucky.
Sorry to sound serious. And of course everyone should do what they feel comfortable. I’m going to cut back myself, but not stop completely. After all daily champagne is good for you according to recent research!
Ali xx
Having a major wobble today ladies. Can’t drag myself out of bed. I just want to sleep and for it all to go away. I’m so scared of going to my appointment tomorrow and feel like I’ll never get back to any normality. Is it just me that feels like this. I feel awful that the kids see me this way but am so very down and scared today.
Good morning ladies and thank you for your best wishes for Lincoln, my dog.
He is still in hospital, so I’m anxiously waiting for the surgeon to call. Hopefully, the antibiotics will have started working and he can come home.
I received a letter today that confirms that I had a 47mm grade 3 invasive Ductal carcinoma with medullary features. What I also got wrong was that it was my ER & PR status that they were still waiting for. I am HER2 negative.
So reading up on what a medullary is - these are often triple negative. So now I’m sitting here worried about my dog and whether I’m going to be able to have hormone therapy or not. Also this can be a sign of the BRCA1 gene, so am now worried for my daughter and sisters. Now the 17th can’t come fast enough.
I hope everyone else is o.k.
Susan
Jo - you are not on your own … I spent the majority of yesterday in bed and my results aren’t until next Tuesday … it’s horrible this waiting, I can’t stand it …
I think we wouldn’t be normal if we weren’t worried or anxious … have you had any results at all yet? xx
I had mx an sentinel node biopsy as was thought to be early stage and LN didn’t look involved in ultrasound. Both sentinel nodes came back as being involved. I’m just terrified now. Feel like my world has just come crashing down.
Hi silver, fingers crossed for Lincoln today and that he can come home xx
Can I ask, had you had any results at all before your operation. I had had the results before my op of ER positive, PR negative and HER2 negative … if I have got results next Tuesday, I’m wondering what results? Surely things can’t have changed too much … I suppose I will find out about lymph nodes, as I had a sentinel lymph node removed for biopsy … I’m so confused how some people get results before surgery and some after xx
Yes I found out I was her2 - and Er + after biopsy.
Oh jo, that is the result I’m waiting for and the one I’m dreading most too … do you have to have another operation to have lymph nodes removed … I’ve read somewhere that lymph node involvement makes no difference to treatment these days and overall prognosis xx
Yes I am having axillary clearance but think I’m starting chemo first. Not completely sure yet.
Sorry Sarah, I meant to add that all I was told after my biopsy was that it was grade 3 invasive and that it was hormone receptive.
Hi Susan,
Fingers crossed for Lincoln, too.
Try not not to worry too much about the chance of a genetic link if you are triple negative. I went through the same concerns when I was found to be ER- & was waiting for my HER2 status. There is a link with the BRAC1 gene, but I understand it’s only found in about 15-20% of TN cases.
I hummed and harred about whether to mention it to family and decided not to. I didn’t really think it could be genetic, there’s been so little breast cancer in my family, but of course I was glad not to have to go through the tests. Mind you when the surgeon (who I don’t like much) told me I was HER2+, I said chirpily, that’s better than triple negative isn’t it? And he said no, smiled pityingly. TN would be preferable. So I don’t think you should worry too much even if you are TN. I realise that the prospect of daughters and sisters being vulnerable is the worst thing about this, just cling onto those small odds at the moment. I did tell myself that if we had the gene at least they would be forewarned before they developed cancer. I believed I even used the phrase I’d be taking one for the team! (Ah, if only cheerleading had been proposed as an Olympic sport in my youth).
Hope that makes sense, I’m a bit light headed from yesterday. But no nausea, no aches, no anything really.
I feel a bit a bit of a fraud having a sofa day.
Ali x
Hi Susan,
You may need to ignore my last post. I’m wondering if this is an admin cockup. (And in a month I’ve had four).
I’m sure you realise that if it’s hormone receptive, then you can’t be triple negative. It’s possible they’ve changed the diagnosis, but seems unlikely. Maybe you should email/speak to the Consultants’s secretary and ask for your pathology reports. Flag up that you’ve been told two different things about your hormone responsiveness. Receptive and not known… I’ve learnt already not to assume the worst when it might be incompetence.
Ali xx