Great news Cassy ?? Well done ??
Last time for side effects, hope they are kind in you ?
So today I’m definately feeling a lot better. Last I be ruin was yesterday, so no aches and pains today and I’m feeling human again! Still tired and my tongue is still sore and white, but even that feels like it’s improved. I’m so looking forward to the day I enjoy a hot cup of tea again!! 4 more days of antibiotics until I’m chemo drug free.
Having got excited about my hair growth, I’m pretty sure it’s thinned again but I think that could just be hair that was naturally going to shed anyway and I’m telling myself not to stress over it - bask in feeling well instead! I have considered the Nioxin starter kit, but I think I’ll stick to the gentle shampoo I have and see how it goes for now. I’ll be interested to see what you think Cassy tho cos I may consider using it a bit later on. I was hoping I’d be wig free with short dyed hair my September for the new school year but I that might be a bit hopeful?!
Ellie - is it your last one tomorrow? If so good luck!
Xxx
Ah so I got it wrong, not Ellie then! Sorry!
Loads of good luck for tomorrow 
xxx
Congratulations Fiona on your last chemo, woo hoo!!! Hope everything went well today, 1 more set of SE’s and that’s it over!!!
I’m feeling a bit better every day, still very tired tho and I’ve got heavy legs too, especially at night. My eyes and nose are constantly running, I have a covering of baby hair, eyebrows and eyelashes are sparse!!!
Hope everyone is doing ok. Big hugs.
Debbie x
Congratulations Fiona ??? It is such a good feeling isn’t it!! I hope the side effects are kind to you
I had to stop reflexology because my feet were too sore and blistered after first T, but I’m keen to get back to it as I’m sure it helped with the side effects. Looking forward to having Indian head massages too now my hair is growing back (very slowly!) I go to The Haven and still have 6 free sessions to go. I’m off to Bristol later today, my daughter is running the Bristol 10K tomorrow to raise money for The Haven and has raised an amazing £1005! It’s going to be emotional I can tell! My husband has gone to Lyon for the weekend to watch the rugby (arranged well before BC hit our lives) My diagnosis and treatment appears to have fitted neatly between the rugby World Cup and this weekend’s European rugby! So I have a weekend on
my own and it feels good to be well and independent (although it’s the first time I’ e bad to make my breakfast in months!!)
Well Elizabeth, we are all cheering you along to the finish line. I will have a look back on this thread and try and work out how many weeks you have left. It’s great your side effects aren’t too bad on weeklies. We may all reach full fitness at the same time!
Have a lovely weekend everyone
Xxx
Morning all,
Well done Fiona, it’s such a good feeling when you get to the end! Debbie, I’m also suffering still with the heavy legs and watering eyes, the eyes seem to be worse in the morning. I still have some lashes left at the moment, approx 10 on each eye so I still am able to put some mascara on if I’m heading out. I still have eyebrows, they have thinned and gone really fair, but they’re still there and give me a base to work with!
Claire, I’m so pleased you’ve booked a holiday. Italy will be fabulous. My dad went to Positano a couple of years ago and went on a day trip to Capri, he said it was well worth a visit.
Kim, enjoy your weekend, it’s so nice to start feeling more normal! Cassy, I hope your SEs aren’t too horrendous. Ellie, I’m glad you’re feeling better as well. I’m feeling pretty well apart from the tiredness and my feet feel so sore and achy, and are still tingly from the neuropathy. By now they’d usually be feeling better, so not sure what to do about them! Love to anyone else I’ve forgotten xx
Hi! Well day 14 like Claire and have taken my last antibiotic so I’ve officially finished all my chemotherapy related medication!! The side effects I still have that are bothering me are the horrible taste in my mouth, streaming eyes and tender finger nails although they’re not painful. Since having the T cycles, I had never fully recovered before having the next dose like I did with FEC, but because of taking steroids the day before, I was always energetic on the Monday. Also my lymphoedema is always at its worst this week and goes down a few days after the next dose and I wondered if the steroids helped with that. Also my chemo arm is usually at its most painful and stiff at this point too.
I have been taking advantage of the good weather and been out for walks everyday and I think that has helped with my heavy legs and also my mental state!
Think it’s going to be a few weeks until we notice a real difference - I’m just hoping the hormone medication doesn’t set me back once I start that!!
xxx
Hi all,
I’m day 25 and I’m still tired with heavy legs!! My eyes and mouth are a lot better but my nose still sore. I do feel a little better each day but then I’m getting hit with surgery on Thursday. Any tips please, I’m feeling really nervous, I know it’s only natural, just wish it was over. I’ve got loads to do before I go on, it’s hard leaving husband and 3 kids to themselves, when they are used to me being there to sort things!! I’m dreading seeing my scar from mastectomy, how did everyone else feel? How soon can you shower after?
Hope everyone is doing ok. Fiona and Elizabeth hope side effects aren’t too bad for you.
Who is the first to start rads?
Debbie xx
Hi Debbie, good luck on Thursday, hope it all goes well
I had immediate reconstruction, so I was in hospital for the week and came out with a drain, so couldn’t shower for 3 weeks until that was removed. But survived by using baby wipes and shallow baths. I healed really quickly and my scar is very neat. I don’t mind it at all, although I was very nervous looking at myself for the first time.
Are you having day surgery or in for longer? Xxx
Hi all, I went back to work today, managed to get through my three hours. It was for a late shift that didn’t start until 3pm so I was able to take my time getting ready. My healthy eating and regular walks are paying off, lost 2Ibs last week, which motivated me to go out for a walk along the seafront this morning.
I’m still suffering from tiredness and tingling fingers and feet. I took of the polish on my fingers this morning and noticed that a couple of the nails on one of my hands look to be purple and bruised underneath. I really hope they don’t fall off. What is everyone’s thoughts on eyebrow tinting? My brows are still in place, but have thinned a lot and are really fair. Do you think it’s too early to have them tinted? I’d have a sensitivity test done first just in case.
Debbie, good luck for your mx. Make sure you get some nightwear that buttons up at the front and also some tops that button up for a couple of weeks after. I wore tight fitting shoe string strap vests instead of bras for a week or so after as well. It took me a good few days before I’d look at my mx scar. I had the nurses, my sister or my husband help wash me so that I didn’t have to look. I think a week after my op I was on my own and had a proper look, it just looked strange being so flat next to my remaining breast. Because I had an ANC as well I wasn’t prepared for the numbness and lack of sensation. It’s been 6 months now and I’m quite used to it, though the scar is still in the process of flattening out. I wasn’t in too much pain after the operation and managed to get by on paracetamol and ibuprofen xx
Hi Kim, I’m going to stay in until Monday, hopefully my drains will be out by then. I don’t really want to come home with my drain in as the kids might knock it and not very nice for them to see! When you were in hospital did you just stay in bed clothes all week? I’m trying to work out what clothes to take? I’ve bought a couple of nighties with buttons all the way down. Xx
I took in front buttoning pyjamas but stayed in the hospital gown all week!! I had a drains and carried them around in an NHS pillowcase all week. I also wore shoe string vest tops until I felt comfortable enough to wear a bra, the bras I wear now are the M&S super soft surgery bras which you don’t have to pay VAT on so work out quite cheap.
Sissy, well done for getting through your first shift at work! I’m dropping in to school tomorrow lunchtime for a catch up but really looking forward to starting back after radiotherapy finishes.
Xxx
Hi Sissy and Kim,
Did you wear the stappy tops with built in support? Just I’m a 34E and I keep wondering how I’m going to support my remaining boob until I can wear a bra?!!!
Well done Sissy on going into work and loosing a bit weight, I can’t wait to loose some and get back to excercising. I’m not sure about eyebrow tinting, mine are really fair too!! My head hair seems to be growing quite well, I’ve got a good covering of baby hair now.
Debbie xx
Debbie, my remaining breast is a 34gg. I just bought cheap vests from primark, they didn’t have built in support, but then I wasn’t concerned about being unsupported as I stayed in the house for the first 10 days. I’m still wearing non wired bras now from m&s, it isn’t a specific bra for post surgery, however it’s full cupped so holds the prosthetic in well. I was going to buy some other bras but as I’m having the second mx in August I didn’t think there was much point!
After the operation I spent the night in hospital and had my drains removed before being discharged, which made things a lot easier. On day 5 I was able to sit in a shallow bath and wash the bottom half of me, the top half had to be done over the sink with a flannel. I think a shower was day 10 onwards. Also, invest in a v pillow if you don’t already have one, I found mine helped a lot with getting comfy xx
My rads start next Weds - 25 May and finish 15 June. Got a rota of friends to take me as I haven’t driven since early December and it’s over an hour away.
my first 3 appointments are 10am so I’m hoping I can get the rest at a similar time so I have the afternoons to get out and about!
Xxx
I definately felt worse on the last one came down to earth with a huge bump after the first couple of days when I was so happy it was all over!! There are some people I’m honest with how I’ve been feeling - mainly those who like to tell me how bad their cold is!! But on the whole my standard reply is “I’m fine” too.
I can’t say that I’m suffering, but I generally feel "meh’ the whole time. Still got the metalic taste in my mouth and I’m slightly achey. The most annoying thing really is my tender fingernails - I can’t open cans and tins with ring pulls without using something to help lever them open and opening packets is difficult too. I can’t even scratch an itch! I’m generally feeling positive though - can’t wait until I can get back to work! Phased return is planned for 22 June as I’m signed off until 21st. That’s about a week after radiotherapy finishes, so I have time to enjoy not having to go to the hospital each day, but I’m sure I’ll be bored and frustrated at being at home still!! I am concerned about the side effects of whichever hormone blocking tablet I’ll be given - just hope that any of us due to have them don’t suffer any!
Cassy, I hope you start to feel better soon xxx
Thank you all for your kind words. I’m up and just had breakfast, nothing now until after op. I’ve got to be at the hospital for 11. Feeling nervous but just want it over now. Not sure if I’ll have wifi in hospital, so it might be Monday before I can do update!!!
Take care everyone. Cassy and Fiona hope you are feeling better soon. Debbie xxx
Good luck Debbie , thinking about you and look forward to hearing from you , best wishes and sending big hugs Mechele X
Yikes my finger nails have started showing signs of falling off!!
Oh crikey - Discoloured or actually feeling loose ?
Good luck today Debbie! Hope it all goes well, I’m sure it will. My fingernails are tender and faintly bluish but feel secure (at the moment!!!) are yours actually lifting ??
Xxx