Hi dealdoh you are so right about us getting us through it!
Sounds like you’ve had awful time on t…im now day 6 and was initially fooled i was going to walk it as i always kid myself…but extra steroids now stopped.finally hit me too…but it’s just a phase …just a phase…as you have made me laugh at your Hugh Grant impression because it really is a good feeling when it turns ! Xx
Oh yes never found using heat pads and using a fan at same time so helpful for aches and flushes…sorry shocked least your prepared xxx
Hi Ladies
Dealdoh, have you tried sucking ice lollies or mint imperials to see if it helps? Might be worth a try? Does the T take longer to infuse? Got my first tomorrow. Best wishes and strength to everyone x
Oh Dealdoh, you’re not making it sound fun ? Glad you are feeling better now and hearing about your Hugh Grant impression gave me a giggle ?
Paloma, yes I painted my nails black last night - hope it was worth it as it’ll be a bugga to get off (maybe I’ll just paint over for next cycle)! They did my T over an hour, through picc line. Good luck for tomorrow xx
Wow pakora that’s amazing. I can’t draw anything more than stick men so I’m always in awe of people who can.
Wow ! I have not one artistic bone in my body , paloma that’s amazing x.
Paloma that tiger is so glorious! Amazing x
Sorry to hear crap already dealdoh…i think my side effects were delayed by the extra reducing steroids as they only finished yesterday so I’m lucky and recommend them if they offer them ( it was 3 day reducing on top of the 3 day.)…i didn’t realise how **bleep** the mouth got again too so yep out the lollies and difflam with you! Like you say you never know whether to comment on how **bleep** as want to keep positive but it does help us feel more normal feeling **bleep**! Xx
Ha ha just seen my post edited with bleep sorry.
Forgot to say I too was recommended to paint nails dark due to nail changes so will be joining the dark nail gang x better than watching them go bad if desguised! X
Wow Paloma, that’s amazing! ?
Ha Aliand, you’re not “Hurrah for Gin” are you? ?
Oh no Shocked! I hope it doesn’t get too much worse for you? I’m also not experiencing much sickness, I guess my Dr was right (damn her and her medical training). I’m still gonna take the meds tho after hearing about Dealdoh’s episode ?
So I guess Aliand and I are sitting at the top of water slide (keeping the seat warm for you Paloma) waiting to slip down into the SE sea and swim like crazy till we hunt down that sexy life raft and join the others for a much needed cocktail/mocktail/cup of tea or whatever takes your fancy ?
Hope everyone else is doing ok, Starfire how are you?? Xxx
Morning ladies,
sounds like you are all doing your best despite the horrible Se on T. I can’t really comment because I thought I was on my way out as it was that bad. I would advise taking all the meds available just to get through and drinking gallons of fluids.
i really don’t know what to do right now… I’ve posted on the Chemo thread with what’s been going on and this is a copy of the main gist of the situation I am in.
Emergency meeting called with Onc and my options are: 4th chemo that was supposed to be yesterday delayed.
He suggests:
1 more reduced cycle and then call it quits. He says that my chemo dosage with one more at a reduced rate would be the equivalent of six cycles of FEC. Therefore I would have completed the chemo with just four cycles of Abraxane and Carbo.( must be strong stuff)
or NO MORE. Due to the risk of permanent nerve damage in my hands and feet and this could get worse. I would have completed 75% of my chemo treatment.
i should mention that I am having chemo for a 3% total benefit and if I stop now after 3 cycles I would have added 2% benefit instead of the 3%. So effectively 1 more cycle for 1% extra benefit.
ladies I don’t know what to do? Chemo brain and fatigue dose not help at times like these.
As I also suffer from a rare form of Muscular Dystrophy so potentially my side effects are worsened by this condition and as the onc says I don’t fall into the normal swing of things and treatment due to this. My Muscular Dystrophy consultant will not comment.
My next treatment if I have it has been delayed for two weeks by my request to see if the Peripheral nerve damage calms down.i am doing twice daily checks on the nerve damage. Yesterday I was walking round the shops with the sole of my right foot numb…
thanks for reading and lots of love xxx
Paloma thats beautiful x what a talent you have.
Chemo fog has lifted thank goodness. Back to the stage of feeling human again. Had such a good day yesterday. My step mum babysat for me so I could actually get out the house and see one of my bestest friends while my OH was working nights.
Had an amazing night just chilling in my sofa talking bout everything and eating Chinese food (which I could actually taste…OMG!) Felt so content. Then had a good time when I got back reminisising with step mum about dad. We have decided to place a bench in our local park in his memory so the kids can see it everytime they go to play xx
So peeps…reading your posts some of you are now on T rather than FEC… is that the same as mine? My ONC calls it TC/H (I know the H is herceptin which some are having some arent). Well i have been on it from the start…and for me the side effects kick in day 2/3 and mainly it’s fatigue and chemo fog, oral issues are a biggy and start your constipation tabs the day after chemo. The steroids play havoc with my sleep and emotions but are a necessary evil. I now take a zopiclone the night before chemo so I’m not on the back foot tiredness wise. Anti sickness wise I have Emend, ondansatron and metoclopramide and touch wood have had no sickness issues - just more nausea. SE for me lift after about 10 days.
I’ve got my LGFB session on Tuesday - I’m reading mixed reviews from you ladies so will be interesting to see how it goes!! Also going to book in to have my hickman removed the day of my last chemo (end of April) . My ONC suggesting leaving it in 6 weeks after, but I’m electing to have it taken out - I hate it being there and when it’s gone it will help me out all this crappiness behind me I think. I know it’s been a real benefit not needing to find veins etc, but it is a constant reminder for me of being a cancer patient, and it need a to go ASAP!!!
Puppy update - defo going to happen once chemo is done. We are going to get a Pug, and if it’s a girl she will be called Leia (star wars fan alert!) And if it’s a boy he will be called Otis ( after Otis Redding!!)
Longest post yet lol, can tell om feeling better!!
My ideal life raft would be crewed by: Thor, Gerard Butler and perhaps a certain Mr. Christian Grey could be interesting company!! ?
Starfire, what a decision to make.
I think you need to balance the benefit of continuing with the potential long term damage.
Forgive me as I can’t remember - is you chemo belt and braces preventing reoccurance or for shrinkage/direct treatment?
If it’s preventative, are you high risk/gene carrying? Is it in your family? You need to consider your quality of life.
You have been through so much already. You’ve been an absolute trooper babe really and I think I can speak for all of us when I say how proud we are of how you have coped through it all this far.
Think it through, don’t rush your decision. Listen to your gut.
Sending big hugs lovely xx
Hi CT,
IT’s preventative belt and braces. Had two surgeries. Grade 1 17 mil, er + her - 1 of 2 sentinel nodes positive with macro and VI.
I always seem to be the odd one out health wise because of my MD. I was really hoping to be more normal when it came to cancer treatment but yet again I’m now the outsider 
on my own shabby rowing boat ?which is a worry xx
Starfire remember babes we are always here to help you paddle xx
Starfire thanks for bringing us up to date you are always on our minds. Please don’t feel alone throw us a rope from your raft and we will pull it alongside then pull you in. We are here for you. And you are amazing. Look how much you’ve coped with so far ! As she would say you are ??? And despite the ? you will soon be ???.
I wish I could tell you what to do but it really is a decision only you can make we all have bespoke treatment I suppose but there’s more advice for most of us. If your MD consultant won’t comment maybe find another. Is there an online support group for MD you could tap into and ask around. It might even be worth travelling for a consultation. You’ve a couple of weeks to mull it all over. ?
Great you are getting out.
I’m doing ok a bit weak tummy doesn’t fell right but I’m not sick and the tongue is tingling so I’ve started mouth care already.
Just had Laura Ashley delivery of furniture ordered after my first cycle. Room smells of new wood.
Also got boxes to open of garden furniture ordered last time round.
So what’s for this cycle I wonder ?
Like the analogy of sitting at the top of the water slide Amy it really does feel like that. But I can see the raft so I know where I’m heading. Can someone pot some Epsom salts in the water for us. And I’ll have some Tanquery 10 please when I get there. Poured by Mr Darcy -Bridget Jones version. But I’m not looking up anyone’s shorts God may have made man but there’s a good reason woman buys shorts for man ?
Thank you ladies for your much needed support xxx
Hi ladies…crikey where to start!!!
Aliand the looking up the short thing made me laugh out loud!!!
Everyone is sounding so strong at the moment it’s like the mid Chemo low is passing a bit…
Shocked I had 2 T and tried prolonged steroids and sudden stop. My preference was the sudden stop for some reason prolonging it gave me all kinds of freaky steroid dreams and the SE hit either way…but that’s just me.
One word for T ladies and that’s Marshmellows. I don’t know why they settle your stomach, taste normal and I found they helped loads. You will get a week of taste back before the next…
Starfie…you aren’t alone at all but as Dealdoh says there are parts of this journey that only each individual can deal with in their own way. If you’re not sure go back…tell them you need guidance. In theory as my Tdidnt touch my tumour…in fact it grew during the T when I’ve finished chemo all I will have had is 3 FEC, that’s it and they are happy that’s enough. I’m going with blind faith and also desperation to finish chemo and get to surgery. If they told me it was my decision if I had 1 extra cycle I don’t think I could make that myself because I hate chemo and feeling crap and that would cloud my judgement. My point being if you truly can’t choose then tell them you can’t…I hope that makes senses. You’ve been through so so much and I think you’ve been incredible…
On an exciting note…strangely exciting!!! I got my surgery date. 14th May is bye bye boobs day!!!
i found my tumour on holiday at the end of last October so by the time they cut it out I will have been walking around with it for almost 7 months…that scares me a bit but I will be ecstatic when it’s out. And two new boobs for the price of 1 ?
I wont need to keep swimming after that, my boobs will keep me afloat ?xxx
Shocked…who knew!!! We were both somewhere completely random enjoying a holiday with no idea our lives were about to change so dramatically. I can’t wait till it’s gone, I hate it being there…
WHO WATCHED THE LADIES BARE THEIR BOOBS FOR BREAST CANCER?
Oh I cried xxx
I can’t watch any cancer stories at the moment so I’ve avoided it. I watched bake off on record so I could fast forward through the stories.
Think I’m an ostrich !!
Day 3 of first T taste well and truly gone. Let’s see how the next few days go. Still feel not too bad but I’m expecting that to change.
How about you Rosie ?
I’ve still got my lump but I’m ok with it while I’m on chemo. I expect I’ll feel different incechemo is done. Dreading surgical changes to my body too and especially how it will affect my sex life.
Hey ho. Today I’m swimming
??♀️??♀️??♀️??♀️??♀️??♀️
Hi Aliand, you be an ostrich as and when you need to be, think we all have an ostrich costume in our wardrobes that get an airing from time to time, we are human and not robots and anyway sand sparkles in the sun so alright to shove head in anything that sparkles for a bit, so when head comes back out it’s sparkly 
the BCCF helpline is there if you need it post op for support, getting used to your body post op is another water Shute on the journey, for me growing up with a gran who survived bc and is still alive today - 44 at diagnosis and she will be 94 later this year, to me it’s always = life, so for me the changes to my body are what they are and being alive is everything. You’ll take little steps and get there I promise. I got my husband over any awkwardness post op by asking him to just check something out for me, so he felt protective and helpful, and there was no problem after that, it’s about gently getting them to look when you feel they are ready, you’ll know when time is right. ??shi xx