July 2017

Hi North East ladies and everyone else that replied to my hair thinning concern yesterday… my hair is still shedding especially on crown and sideburns…! I’m wondering that maybe the cap just wasn’t touching that bit as well as I thought it was although the nurse said I would probably loose the sideburns as the cap dosnt touch them…no bald patches…so maybe its the normal shedding we all seem to get if were cold capping…as it says on Paxmans website…keep persevering, even though you think its failed… I’ve still got lots of my hair that feels well secured …just not on my crown…lol !! I’m washing it tomorrow so I bet I get a few stray hairs bunging my sink hole up …!!! But if it goes then I’m sure I can work some magic with my headscarves… think I’ve only lost about 5% of hair so far…so I’m not panicking yet… good job I’ve got a good head of hair…!! Hope your all well and not having too many side effects , cant wait to get chemo No. 2 done with on Monday …time seems to be dragging this week… bloods on Friday so I hope there OK…!! Xx hugs to everyone

Hi feel the fear yeah good hand hygiene is probably the best!! I’m looking forward to no constipation too I’m with you on that one haha! And yeah I’ve more or less been eating what I like as long as it tastes good!! Which don’t know about everyone on here but some things I used to love I now hate!!
Yeah chemo is our friend as much as we like it or not it’s only like you say 9 more weeks well 10 for me! I’m a week behind you Heather!
MISS keep persevering with your cold cap! If you can keep your hair it’s worth it think I had a dodgy cap! But I have also heard some people get some hair growth on the top bit so I might have a buzz cut for Christmas!! Well have a wig in mean time for any Xmas nights out can’t wait!!
Look at me talking about Xmas but the girls by we are done with chemo and our rads it’s going to be then!!
Annie pleased you are breezing through the rads not long now till you ring that bell!!!

Sue and Miss got your messages wrong way round duh yeah Sue good lock with the hair and Miss I’ve heard the EC isn’t too bad like FTf says it’s the first bit which causes some of us problems I know cos since mine was reduced in dose this time I’ve been good!! Bye ladies!

Hey Tat good luck for the bit on Fri feel isn’t far behind you! I’m approaching my good week yeah! Then my time on the 11th a week behind you ladies can you believe it we are halfway done already!
Had a lovely phone call from my manager last night checking in on me how I’m getting on, it really touched me to hear how much my work mates are rooting for me and miss me x
You kind of find out when you go through something like this who friends are interested have had some very pleasant surprises as well as the opposite!! Going out with daughter again today. A king the most of it she’s back at work on Monday going to miss seeing her every day! Mind it’s only for 3 weeks till she starts her maternity leave, I’m not scared of the T bit as I hear you don’t suffer as much with nausea we will see eh but at least girls we now know the drill pants for a week then gradually feeling normal again someone I know who has been through her treatment said she found the not too bad so fingers crossed xx

Morning mishy. Hope you have a lovely day out with your daughter today.
Morning tatyana. Good luck with T tomorrow. You’ll be starting steriods today? The worst I’ve heard about T is joint pain. Hopefully, if we get that there’ll be meds to take the edge off. I’ve got my oncologist appointment tomorrow, hoping bloods come back okay. First T is Tuesday. I try my best to take info on possible SE’s with a pinch of salt. No good worrying about maybes.

Angela x (although I’m sure my hubby wouldn’t mind if I was feely instead. ?)

Hi Angela/Feely! They didn’t give me steroids to start today so I guess it’s just the IV ones before the main meds tomorrow. But what do I know?!
Had bloods taken this morning, hopefully all will be well for tomorrow. Feeling great today, have spent the morning at my circle dancing group and didn’t miss a single dance ( which is not to say I got all the steps right, but you can’t have everything!).
Feeling better about starting the docetaxel now, just want to get on with it. Thanks to everyone for your encouraging vibes!

Hi all, how is everyone today? How did you get on yesterday Tatyana?
Final tax/carbo done with! Super thrilled but absolutely shattered today. Glad I only have to go back every three weeks now.
Actually had my hair cut yesterday! I figured it might still all fall out with the EC so might as well keep it short until chemo is finished. Plus it was starting to look like a mop and that isn’t a look.

Morning miss a. Congratulations on getting through your intense round one. Here’s hoping breeze through EC. I know what you mean about the mop look. I went out for a birthday last night and tried to out some small curlers to give mine a bit of umph. I ended up looking like my late gran. ?
My bloods came back normal yesterday so I’m all set for Tuesday’s T.
How did you get on tatyana?

Morning all! Missy, congrats on reaching the end of that phase. You’re getting there!
My bloods were ok yesterday so I had my first docetaxel, they gave me a nice big dose of IV steroids and some antinausea beforehand, and more to take home, but they thought I probably won’t need the antinausea tablets as it’s much less likely to happen. Well, so far I have had no nausea whatsoever, which is great, compared with the fec when it was a constant struggle to keep it at bay!
So far I’m feeling fine. I know the SEs are supposed to kick in on days 3-5, so I’m trying not to get complacent, just enjoying feeling well. And the sun’s still shining!
Have a good weekend everyone!

Well done getting the first t done here’s hoping the SE are bearable for you x Miss well done for finishing the weekly treatments not long to go now everyone all at the halfway point of chemo which is slowly but surely reaching the finish line!!
Hoping everyone else is well today it’s been a nice day, went to coast yesterday with daughter and aunt it was lovely had a picnic then cherry pavlova ice-cream from cicerellis it was delicious x

Morning tatyana.
How have you been this weekend?
Angela

Morning Angela! I’ve been pretty good over the weekend, no nausea or tummy trouble so far, which is great! Taste buds are a bit numb so food doesn’t taste great, but this is quite mild so far. I keep saying"so far" because everyone says the SEs kick in on days 3-5, so fingers crossed. But I had a good weekend, and at the moment every good day is welcome!
Hope you have a good week too, and all the best to everyone having treatment this week.

It’s good to hear you’ve had a good weekend tatyana. My chemo ward class the day of infusion as day 1, so you’re already on day 4. When I first started fec so many people said the SEs would be at their worst between days five to seven. I worried myself sick all week waiting to be knocked off my feet, but it just didn’t happen. I’m hoping it’s the same for you (us) with T. ?

I’m so pleased you are feeling OK with your T tat yes we all dread the side effects of the chemo some of us gave been lucky with them so far my last one has been much kinder than first 2 and I’m hoping will have an easier time with the T it’s good to hear you have!
Good luck for today feel the fear hope you are OK too with the mine on Monday
Round 4 means it’s nearly over thank God then on to the rads!!!
Hope everyone else is feeling OK looks like summer is officially over today time to get the warmer clothes out might have to swap headscarf for a hat hahaha!
It’s great to have my appetite back I seem to be losing weight! Don’t know if it’s because I’m not eating rubbish any more I was told I would probably gain some!
Bye for now everyone xx

Morning Michele.
Yes, I really feel like I can see a light at the end of the tunnel now. At least for this year. Healthy boob off and recon to look forward next year.
I’ve gained about 4lbs but think it’s down to having no kitchen, so eating take aways or eating out every night. I’ve always eaten very well prior to any of this, but the junk food is taking its toll. Yuk.
I had to start taking steroids yesterday. 2 x twice a day, so I’m rocking a very tanned face this morning.
Roll on 3pm.
All being well last chemo will be oct 15, so hoping to have rads out of the way for xmas. ?
I’ll be using the daft as a brush bus. ? Can’t wait.

Tatyana, how are you feeling today?
Hope everyone else is doing well too.

Good luck for today, Angela! And same to anyone else who has treatment this week.

Angela sorry for asking but Are you opting for the double mastectomy on advice of your med team, I was never offered a mastectomy but it’s now playing on my mind especially as I’m Tneg I feel I wasn’t offered a choice to make an informed decision xx would have liked to have been given more info regarding this as I would def prefer prevention rather than a recurrence xxx
Keeping everything crossed for you xc

For your first T today I’m sure you will be fine you were great on the Fec xx

Angela, we crossed in the post! I’m ok today, thanks for asking. Didn’t sleep well so feeling a bit droopy, and there are some rumblings going on in the gut, but nothing too dire. It’s day 5 so I am expecting to feel a bit low, what with the steroids wearing off. This miserable weather doesn’t help!
All the best,
T.

Hi Michelle. My consultant is happy to take off healthy boobs if that’s what you want. If yours isn’t, and it something you want, you can always ask for a referral to someone who will do it.
I’d rather just get it off and try to limit the chances of having to go through this again. I’m not at a higher risk than anyone else of it coming back in the other boob. If I don’t do it, I’ll spend my life obsessing about it. And at least my new boobs will both look the same. Hoping for a diep.
Good to hear you’re doing okay tatyana. I think we’re always knackered from all of the drugs by day five.
You’re so right about the weather. Amazing how blue skies make everything seem better. Here’s hoping for an Indian summer. X