Les53, thank you for that and congratulations on completing your last chemo! ? 
It must be a great feeling. Good luck with what ever treatment follows (if any) and for the future xxx
Jan, that is good news!! I’m pretty sure I’ll be going up a dress size with my non-stop eating!! Hope the radiotherapy goes well - how many are you having? Definately keep in touch
Claire, I’ve just started using Aveeno Daily Moisturising lotion on my body which I’ve seen recommended elsewhere, but had a sample in a magazine the other day, and I really liked it. It’s fragrance free, but smells nice (odd, I know!) I’m still using clinique products on my face (Dramaticallly Different Moisturiser for dry skin) I’ve always suffered with eczema, so rarely change products once I find something that doesn’t attack my skin.
I’m sufferig with a sore, stiff forearm from the chemo. It’s not infected and looks completely normal (had my Gp look at it this morning when I went for my 7 day blood test) I’m pretty sure it’s because the vein is hardening. I cannot straighten my arm at the moment. I’m hoping it will ease over the next week - anyone else have this? I’m putting a wheat bag on it which helps a bit.
Kim xxx
Well done Jan with getting to the end of chemo. Claire, picc line is in the morning, anxious but it has to be done. I’m feeling quite tired and achy as was awake until 4am feeling worried. I haven’t been moisturising much, which is very bad of me. I do my hands a lot, usually use l’occitane hand cream. Kim, I have the elbow thing happening, can’t fully extend my chemo arm, it’s quite sore as well. Xx
Hi everyone, just back from the lymphoedema clinic rocking my new compression sleeve! It’s only mild and been caught early, which makes it easier to control apparently. Going back again after chemotherapy has finished and before radiotherapy starts to see how it’s going. One of the more pleasant appointments! Xxx
Oh Blimey Mechele! Just noticed your post when I posted mine!! Can’t believe your bad luck - hoping the new injections do the trick next time!
I have 7 days of injections, starting on day 3. I also have to go for a blood test on day 7 (although it’s occurred to me I’ve been going on day 8!!) What were you having previously?
Hope you start feeling better soon!!
Xxx
My symptoms were puffy hand and arm. Started the 3rd week of 1st FEC when I started doing more. I’m pretty skinny so my lymphoedema arm looks nice and normal whereas my good arm is bony! It comes and goes depending on how much I use it and aches mildly when puffy. Elizabeth, I’d definitely speak to your BC nurse to get it checked out because if it’s left too long I believe it becomes more troublesome. I was surprised how seriously they’ve taken it considering it’s quite mild and certainly didn’t expect to come home with a compression sleeve!
It’s my chemo arm that’s giving me the most problems at the moment tho - I can’t straighten it as the veins are really tight and sore. Although I think there’s an improvement today - fingers crossed!!!
Xxx
Hello all, picc line all done with no problems, only felt the needle with anaesthetic and took around 10 minutes. Back to the hospital tomorrow though for chemo bloods in readiness for Monday’s first T. Isn’t there someone having T this week? Mechelle sorry to hear you’ve had another hospital stay, I had my injections on days 5-10. I think they’re over 7 days on T. Xx
Hi all
I’ve been for my bloods today ready for my first T on Friday!! Starting to feel anxious, it’s all the unknowns again! Just remembered I need to start my steroids tomorrow morning too. I have 7 injections and start them on day 2.
Hope everyone is doing ok.
Debbie xx
Claire, same here - says 4 twice a day (but doesn’t sat how many days) starting the day before. I was in 2 twice a day starting no later than 4pm the day I had FEC, so just one dose that day.
Got an appointment with the oncologist next Thursday, so I’ll find out more then xxx
I’m taking 4 steroids twice a day for 3 days, I took my first at 7am and I’m going to take the next at 12, earlier the better! I was on 2 twice a day for 2 days after FEC. I’ve got such an awful stye on my eye today has anyone else suffered this?
I’m off to the hospital for a free massage with the therapist this morning, treat before T!!
Have a good day.
Debbie x
Hello everyone, thanks for the dry hand tips. It sounds like nothing (and is nothing compared to neutropenia) but it’s still annoying and I have a painful bleeding finger because of extreme dryness so I will definitely get the E45 to use instead of soap and the A-Derma exomega to use thanks Ellie and Elizabeth.
Mechele I really hope the injections work for you. I didn’t have any the first time, but then after the second I was given the one to take 24 hours later that I had to keep in the fridge as my neutrophils were at 1.2, which doesn’t sound low compared to others. They said it should be at 1.5. I have been trying to find out if there is something we can eat or do to improve white blood cell production but I can’t seem to find anything online. I will ask the oncologist when I see him as I’d much prefer to take as little extra meds as possible for side effects. I was given the 4 steroid tablets 2x per day for 3 days after each FEC treatment but am going to ask if I can reduce this as it does stop me from sleeping well, although the upside is that it gives me a lot of energy.
So sorry to hear about the lymphoedema, and thanks for the tip about getting it looked at sooner rather than later Kim. I’m due to have my surgery in June after all the chemo so will make a note to stay on top of any slight swelling. I also have the tight sore veins, but not as bad as yours sound. Did they suggest anything you can do about that apart from using the wheat bag?
Debbie and Elizabeth, good luck with the first T, I hope it goes well, have you got the dark nail polish on to save your nails? I was told that would help to keep them on, which alarmed me a bit, but I still have another FEC on Friday before I get to the delights of T and all of the new potential side effects. Fiona. X
Mechele, yes injections do cause bone aches and pains, mine feel like they’re vibrating! It tends to hurt more on the last two injections. I make sure that I have them before bed, I take my temp then have a couple of paracetamol xx
Been to hospital for pre-chemo bloods, thought it would be quick and easy especially with my sparkly new picc. Over four hours ive been there, ultrasound on fore arm as they were concerned about a red mark and soreness and that the anti biotics hadn’t made any changes. It turns out there’s an old thrombosis probably from the cannula of chemo 2 which was 6 weeks ago. They asked why I hadn’t had any meds for it, but I didn’t know that There was anything wrong?! Got to have those blood thinning injections now for the next 6 weeks. Today has been a bit stressful xx
I’m back from chemo no4, 2/3 of the way through! All went fine, easiest one yet, as it’s a infusion I was in for 1.5 hours. I’m hoping I’ll be better on T, nurse told me to take ibuprofen before paracetamol if pain gets too bad.
Fiona- thank you for reminding me about dark nail varnish, I put it on last night!!
Hope everyone is doing ok.
Debbie x
Well done Debbie! Hope you’re able to manage the new sude effects well, will be interested to know how you get on. I’ve been advised against taking nurofen as I have chronic kidney disease (sounds worse than it actually is!) so I’ll be asking my oncologist if there’s an alternative they can prescribe that I can take away with me in the day.
11 days to go until my first T (or 10 clear days!) Been out for a walk to the local shop in the sunshine which is the first time I’ve purposely gone out for a walk since FEC 1!! Definitely need to do it more often, but I have generally been spending my time sorting and cleaning when I’ve been up to it, so it’s not been all daytime TV!!
The December ladies are starting their 5th and I imagine very soon last doses - that will be us before we know it, it’s so good to read
Take care everyone! Xxx
Have any of you January ladies used the cold cap. Wanting some advice about how you know if the cap is fitting right. I’ve read that some ladies end of bald patches on top because the cap didn’t fit properly. Any advice appreciated. I go for me fitting on 21st March. Thanks Helen x
Hi Claire, sorry for late reply to your reply about double mastectomy. Thank you for sharing with me. I’m still considering asking for double mastectomy with no reconstruction, I really can’t bear the thought of extra surgery, I’ve got 3 young children and j just want to get my life back to normal as soon as possible. Do you where your fake boobs all the time or do you go out flat? I’m a 34E at the minute so it is a drastic change for me, but I think I’ll get used to it, I definitely don’t want to be lopsided and if I don’t want reconstruction I think it is my only option.
Debbie x
Day 2 of chemo 4 and have felt great, not sicky at all which is fantastic, I’ve had my fair share of sickness over the last 3 cycles!!! I’ve heard aches and pains kick in day 4 so hopefully tomorrow won’t be too bad either. Started injections today too, I’ll be so glad to see the back of them.
All seems quiet today so presume everyone is doing ok, it’s been lovely weather in the north-east today, I’ve never stopped- that will be the steroids!!!
Enjoy the rest of your weekend.
Debbie xx
Yes Mechele that’s my first Tax ticked off, 2/3 off the way through. Are you having Tax next too. Sounds like you have had a busy day entertaining.
I’ll keep you posted Claire, when is your next one? Where did you get your fake boobs from? Do you get some from NHS?
Debbie xx
Hi all, need to start taking steroids tomorrow in readiness for Monday’s first day of T, I know I need to take the first set quite early, but not sure what time to take the second set, don’t want to be awake all night tomorrow! Have been out today buying some supplies in readiness, not sure what to get though. Husband is working late turns as of Thursday so I’ll be fending for myself, going to get a food shop delivered with some ready meals! How is everyone else getting on? I feel a little excited at the though of being 2/3 of the way through on Monday. Just hope it’s manageable! Xx