Hi all, glad to hear everyone seems to be on an even keel at the moment. Taran have you been having the injections? I had some side effects from my last one that included a sore lower back and wobbly legs but it has cleared up after 24 hours. I’m still on my mammouth clean and de cluttering of the house, it’s very therapeutic. Also means that I’ve created lots of space to fill over the coming months. Well they do say you should treat yourself ? Xx
Hi all
I am going to see my oncologist tomorrow to find out when I start chemo and the plan for how much etc (I’m a girl who loves and needs a plan!) I was diagnosed in march and have had 3 breast conserving surgeries but nothing has terrified me more through the whole thing more than chemo. I saw my dad go through chemo 7 years ago and It was awful. I know it has to be done and I want it if it improves my chances but I am flippin terrified! I have read up on it lots (all the right sources no random googling) and I like to know the facts, no flowering up for me. I am prepared but so scared. Feels so good to be able to voice my opinion on here and not get the pity face that I get from some in my everyday life x
Welcome Bevvers. Sorry you have to be here, but glad you have joined us. I think most of us on here so far have not suffered as badly as we anticipated. As Sue said, treatments have changed such a lot since your dad went through chemo. There is a real focus now on dealing with the side effects to minimise them as much as possible for every individual. Let us know how you get on with your appointment. Hopefully you will be reassured from it as I think the waiting for news and plans is the hardest part.
Nellie, your “food ordering service” made me laugh. I’m so glad it’s not just me coming out with these things at the moment!! Sometimes it feels like I can’t even string a sentence together. Other times the sentence is there but one of the words is complete rubbish so it still doesn’t make sense. Quite funny at the moment but at some point I’ll probably do it with someone who doesn’t know and it will be slightly more embarrassing!!!
AngeNut How is the hair situation? I’m day 11 now and still waiting. Starting to get paranoid it will all start falling out when I’m on the boys’ school trip next week!! ?
Thanks to all the positive messages and tips on here I am feeling ready for my treatment today at 2pm. Doing a mad clean this morning, especially making the bedroom extra peaceful and pretty. I am having ECHP plus Pertuzumab. EC starts today for 3 cycles, then onto the rest - P weekly for 9 weeks with the H and Pertuzumab every 3 weeks. Funny how you ‘look forward’ to getting on with poisoning ones body - I think it is the relief at end of the waiting. Hugs to you Alex and MadHatter for the delays you are suffering- hope you get well very soon.
Aw Oncewild, thank you for even thinking about me today when you have enough on your mind. Good luck and hugs for later. xx
Hello Ladies, well my chemo has been put back a week, I have cellulitis under my arm which is not very pleasant - feeling rather low at the moment as I feel I have taken a step back. Chemo is due to start next Thursday now, will wait to see how I am at that stage whether it gets done, or, put back a few days. At the minute I feel pretty rubbish, so need to get back to full strength before starting on next journey! Everyone is so supportive on this forum and it is a great place to ‘air our feelings’. We are all on journeys we did not plan for at all. Have had my antibiotics changed as others were not making any difference. I am now on two different types, think they have started to work as my skin is not as inflamed as it was. Enough of me now, hope everyone else is doing ok. Hugs to all you lovely ladies.
Good luck for today once wild. The anticipation is the worst by far. I’m now day 4, bit of a wobble last night as temp went up but didn’t go over 38 so didn’t need to call the unit. Today it’s ok but feeling washed out which I guess is pretty par for the course at this stage? Last steroid today too. I guess it’s see how I go time. Have any of you had high temps at any stage of cycles? Xxxx
Bevvers, can totally relate to your fear of chemo as I went through this with my Mum too 9 years ago and swore I could never put myself through the same but the treatments certainly have improved and in the end I’ve accepted that if in my best interests to go for it despite the fear factor. Keep strong and good luck with the oncologist xxxx
Rather disappointed this morning when I woke up after an uncomfortable night with low back pain/pelvic pain. Everyday since Day 2 I have got better and better, side effects gradually disappearing and feeling back to ‘normal’ and dare I say it ’ on top of the world’! But not today, Day 10, the deep pain in my back and pelvis is only just under control with paracetamol, my spark seems to have slipped away today. It was my last day of GCSF injections and apart from a couple of shoulder pains no side effects until today. Food doesn’t really interest me at the moment, I’m still eating small meals/snacks every 2 hours, not because I feel like them only to try and build me up. District nurse has suggested fortified foods, cheese, cream, quiches, eggs, rice puddings, full cream milk, butter etc…to add to my diet. Under normal circumstances that would be sheer heaven! I have high cholesterol and have been on low fat diet for a few years! I’m not depressed or emotional either just don’t feel like my usual self. Weighed myself today and have lost 5lbs since starting chemo, in a way I should be secretly pleased, losing weight has always been a bit challenging, but I’m not. Any ideas anyone? Or is it just a blip?
Ok so am I the only one that finds it hard to keep up with the thread? haha
Thank you for your comments, it’s lovely (though awful at the same time) that we all have this forum to chat to people that understand. Following my oncology appt today I now have a plan, I am a girl that loves a plan! I am having my picc line put in on monday because I have ‘difficult veins’ anyone have any experience of this, I’m not great with needles but concerned about how this will affect my day to day activites too? Though at the same time I am relieved that I won’t have to go through the drama of them trying to find a vein on a regular basis!
Anyway my chemo starts next friday. 3 x EC at 3 week intervals and then 12x Paclitaxel at weekly intervals accompanied by Carboplatin at 3 week intervals. These are all random words to me just now but have lots of info to read through and digest over the weekend, lucky me! I have an appt next week with headstrong too in the hope they can help me decided between wig or no wig? Hope all of you are well, or at least smiling (or grimacing) through it all. Welsh cwtches sent to all that need them.
Bev x
Ah Bev, I didn’t realise you were Welsh too!! Which part are you in? I’m from South Wales ?
Oncewild, have been thinking of you and hoping everything has gone well today and you are feeling ok so far.
Nellie, I’ve been having lower back/pelvic pain the last 2 days, along with funny knees. Much better today than yesterday though thank goodness. I only had the one gcsf injection though, the day after chemo. Thinking it is just coinciding with the time my cell counts will be at their lowest and hoping it will continue to improve as they do over the next few days.
Madhatter, I’m sorry your chemo has had to be put back. But definitely better to get yourself sorted before starting. Fingers crossed those antibiotics do the trick for you quickly.
Hope everyone else is having a good Friday and has something to look forward to this weekend xx
Oh, and Bookworm it’s very normal to feel washed out now. I definitely felt that way around day 4-7 and then would say things improved a lot quite quickly. Can’t help with the temp though as mine has been fine whenever I’ve checked it.xx
Hi all and Bevvers it’s not just you, if you miss the thread for a day or so it’s really hard to keep up with whose where ? I’m blaming the chemo. I had a friend visit yesterday and I thought it strange that she hadn’t commented on how the chemo had gone till later on in the conversation it turns out she had visited me on day 5 and I have no recollection of it…and here’s me thinking everything had been tickity boo. Well chemo is the gift that keeps giving and today it’s thrush!! Quick trip to pharmacist and hopefully it’ll be sorted soon. Bevvers I have a picc line and once the initial uncomfortableness with it is over I now don’t notice it that much and carry on daily activities. You get a waterproof sleeve for showering. Only downside is the tubi grip to cover it. I only tend to put it on when I sleep and leave it loose the rest of the time to prevent any sores. Nellie I hope your feeling better soon. Unfortunately no weight loss for me, I haven’t eaten so much in years though I am trying to keep it healthy but where oh where did this chocolate craving come from, I never used to like sweet stuff. Oncewild I hope it has gone ok today and your feeling ok. Hope everyone else is doing ok xx
That’s not far from me Bev, I don’t live far from Pencoed (RCT side, not Bridgend side though). How long have you been in Lincolnshire? I love how Welsh people always give cwtches, even when they don’t live here any more!!
Bella boo, that’s crazy you have no recollection of your friend visiting!!! I wonder how many things the rest of us have forgotten happened but have never had a reason to realise it!! xx
Bevvers, welcome to the July thread. I’m just catching up on all the posts and yes, I agree, hard to keep up with what’s happening to who if you miss a day off forum!
Hazel, you haven’t posted since day after your chemo. I hope you’re doing ok.
Hugs to everyone else too, along with a good nights sleep! x
Phew. One night down in Round 1. Chemo went fine and headed home clutching a cache of drugs. Head was a bit woozy so took to bed with my daughter to watch an episode of Sewing Bee. Before halfway through the nausea hit, and lasted till midnight. After that I slept pretty well for me. Took meds this morning and they seem to have worked. Horribly dry mouth and a thick head so I am dozing in bed. Raining ++ outside anyway.
How do you all manage the daily injections? I am feeling a big wuss about giving them myself and my hubby is a bit squeamish but says he will learn how. District Nurses will come today to show us how. Do you all do your own?
Hope you are all ok. Have scanned the posts but it’s not going in just now.
Hi once wild. Honestly, honestly injections are ok. Nurse will show you but I do them about three fingers away from my tummy button (horizontally outwards). Grab a bit of blubber if you have any and pop the needle in while still pinching hold of the skin. You honestly don’t feel a thing and I’m not brave. Good luck. I felt exactly the same on day one. I’m now day 5 having had first EC on Tues. for me yesterday was the worst day. Had a temp so called unit and I popped in for a blood test but all was ok. Just tired today and heady and not so wired now the steroids have stopped. I think it’s a day at a time thing for us newbies isn’t it. Take care and rest lots xx
Hey July starters, i’ve been on holiday so missed all the action. Start my chemo on Friday, i’m for an app with the oncologist and nurse on wed to find out what kind. Just wondering when your symptoms started after the 1st session???
Getting nervous ? Aj xxx
Hi Oncewild, how are you feeling now? Hope you’ve been managing to sleep a bit and aren’t feeling too grotty.
AngeNut, another Welshie!! Lovely picture, I’d feel really confident too. You look fab ? I’m still waiting for the great shedding to start. Day 13 now so I know it’s going to be any time now. Actually expected it a lot sooner because I have fine hair and that is meant to go earlier. Must have strengthened it up when I have the big pre chemo chop!!
Hazel, sending hugs and hoping the side effects start to ease for you soon and you get your head back. The foggy brain feeling is hard going isn’t it!!
AJ, welcome. Try not to get too nervous, it’s not been as bad for any of us as we were anticipating so take comfort in that. I felt really quite fine the first few days after FEC. Then days 5 and 6 were grotty, but improving again from day 7. Now, on day 12, I feel well enough that I spent yesterday having a massive sort out. Have so many bags for charity of clothes the kids have outgrown, house is tidied, ironing up to date etc etc. I went to bed last night feeling very accomplished!!
Hope the weather is better for you ladies than it is here. So much for summer!!xx
Hi Everyone, hope you’re all feeling ok. Sorry I can’t keep up with all the new posts on the thread either, but I do love how vibrant and chatty this group is!
Welcome AJ, I haven’t started therapy yet either (I’ve decided to shorten it to ‘therapy’ rather than ‘chemo’ as it just sounds more positive : ) so am feeling nervous like you. It’s like I have a big exam coming up and not only have I not revised for it, but I’m not even sure what subject it is!
I’m going wig shopping tomorrow and am half looking forward to it and half dreading it. I’m worried that nothing I try is going to fit as I have such a pin head and also I tend to look like a man in drag whenever I’ve tried a wig in the past…on top of that, my own hair, for the first time ever, has been behaving perfectly over the last few weeks and is shiny and curly rather than crazy and frizzy. It’s like it knows it’s all going to go and is having its final hurrah!
Wishing everyone tiny side effects and lots of energy,
Px