Your posts do make me smile! KTK - just loving the food combo… what matters most is if you can taste it go for it! I’ve tried all sorts… I ate a whole packet of bourbon biscuits and couldn’t taste a thing but still ate them anyway! I’ve tried marmite, peanut butter, jam, honey… all of which are passable but not great. Although taste buds pretty much back now, but a bit slimy still. The Vit C tablets fizzing on your tongue do help a bit though. Mash potato tasted the worst, which is a nightmare because its one of my favourite things. I did find soup a god send though, it slipped down and didn’t taste too bad, added lots of pepper too.
Lisa Marie - oh dear quarantine for both of you then. You’ll be fighting for the thermometer! Glad you are feeling ok, fish pie sounds lovely… making me hungry. I’m feeling back to normal now but unfortunately chemo 5 on Monday so it all starts again. I have the injections this time too so wondering what extra problems they will bring. At least I only have 3 weeks until the last one… can’t wait to walk out of there.
Whilst I was waiting for my Oncology appointment on Wednesday I heard somebody ringing the bell for the end of radiotherapy and everyone was clapping and it made me so emotional… I am definately gonna ring that bell long and hard when I get there!!!
Just done T number 5, as usual slept through most of it. Finally realised why, cos they give me, among other things, a piriton infusion to counter any possible reactions. That stuff always knocks me out.
The Piriton infusion did make me fuzzy for a while which was nice. The nurse said it usually knocks the men out!! Had a nice day today. Picked son up from his travels then out for lunch. Very tired though. Love to all Kx
I’d never had piriton at all up until a couple of years ago when I bought some for an allergic reaction (it’s a thing I get that swells my eyes once a year) while on holiday. Went fishing with my husband and sat down to read while he fished. He said he was talking to me, turned round and I was snoring my head off. I knocked me right out I’ve not taken it enough in the intervening period to build up any sort of tolerance to it. Luckily my chemo unit was pretty quiet today. They put the Paclitaxel on, I go to sleep and they wake me up an hour later when it’s done. At least it’s stopped my gnat bites itching.
Ktk, must be nice to get out for lunch. Did you have anything nice?
My daughter is bringing her dog Milo round later. I forgot I said I’d have him for the weekend while she’s at her friends in Fleetwood. He is young and full of energy and he runs my Ruby (10) ragged. Luckily she’s bigger than him and will tell him off when she’s had enough. We just have to split them up at bedtime.
I’m finally home ladies! Exhausted but home. Have a number of horse pills to take which I need to get my head round! Have to say I’m almost scared to take my temperature again!
I’m convinced this was all caused by DH having a cold last weekend and me picking up enough germs to raise my temperature but not enough to come out in a full blown cold. Please be extra careful if the rest of your household pick anything up.
Good morning ladies
I hope everyone able to enjoy the weekend. It is our niece’s wedding day today which will be the perfect way to take my mind off surgery on Monday! ? I plan to drink champagne and dance till ooh at least 8pm! ?
Happy Saturday ???
Jacq x
Happy birthday LJ nd glad you escaped Casa NHS! im startting to worry about nsxt T on Monday but have lovely jndian meal tonight with family so going to focus on that for now.
Not sure if i get Piriton or not, certainly doesnt make me sleep if i do, shame woukd love a kip jn chemo!
Have a fab day everyone, now off to hospital for pre chemo bloods. Fingers crossed neuts back up!
Enjoy the wedding jaq and party til at least 8.30… be a devil
Thanks everyone for the birthday wishes. Managed .lovely day with family, despite hot flushes which seem to come with starting steroids also had hit n miss sleep last night but parr for the course. Had a lovley chat with my fellow breast cancer pal who is 2 years clear and she spurred me on to get chemo done, .
jen thanks for the positive news about 5 & 6 cycles, hopjng I get the mouth undr control this time. Ktk sorry tk hear the toilet issues are persiting ill be on the loom out for that this time round. Now just waiting for the expected phone call to say neuts low… but fjngers crossed its all ok a d ca .get this done.
Have a good day all
Xxx kip
P.s. juju … Havent Havent heard from you for a while… Hows things?
Just got my first call to let me know my bloods aren’t up to par pre first TPH (PH to be today, bloods permitting, with T tomorrow). And this time it isn’t my neutrophils – it’s my liver. I guess my little half pints of 3.8% ale while my sister was visiting may have been a mistake… Live and learn, as they say. Fingers crossed that they have improved since last Wednesday.
Well, phlebotomist didn’t call me in for bloodwork til 11:30am, despite my arriving at 10:15. Because they won’t get results til 1pm or so, they cannot proceed with chemo today as first Perjeta + Herceptin takes a long time to adminster – plus a lot of time to observe whether you might be having an allergic reaction. So I have been sent home.
Hopefully, the results this afternoon will allow me to go ahead tomorrow and Wednesday; if not, I’ve got to reschedule a bunch of work calls on Thursday. Grumble. And I won’t finish up chemo before our 10th wedding anniversary. Grumble x2.
Oh reddi how annoying. Thankfully my bloods were fine,. Neuts aere back to 3 nd liver ok again, she said its all the drugs its dealing with. 2nd T went well, no problem with veins, anothsr nurse who agreed dont let doctors try to take bloods! Leave it to the nurses. She even said my veins were good!! All administered jn 1.5 hrs and back home with an ever growing goody bag, steroids, anti sickness, more steroids for next chemo, jabs, oral thrush tabs and anti biotics!!! Just got to work out whats due when!!
She did say that as i sufferedwith mouth issues last time i am likely to again but hopefully hit it eaflier with meds and get it sorted!
Hope you get it started tomorrow Reddi a d dont have anymore delays
@Kip I didn’t have any mouth issues on FEC, for which I entirely thank my breast cancer nurse, who suggested the following regime: immediately after all meals and snacks, swish water around mouth then brush teeth – using kids’ sensodyne toothpaste (anti-acid) and a baby or toddler extra soft toothbrush used gently. Then follow with either Corsodyl (5 minutes after brushing teeth) or warm bicarbonate of soda / salt mouth washes. I tend to do latter when I have time – full 8 ounce mug with 1/2 tsp of bicarbonate of soda and about 1/8 tsp of salt. I brush teeth, gums, cheeks, roof of mouth, and both sides of tongue (as possible). And I very gently floss when needed.
My nurse also suggested a brand-new toothbrush every week, which I couldn’t stomach (I have seen albatrosses choking on toothbrushes). So I bought 2 bamboo-handled toddler toothbrushes which I boil-sterilize on alternate weeks.
As I said, this worked for FEC, despite neutropenia. It may not work on T, but I am going to keep it up.
Hi ya Kip. Sorry havent been on here for a while. I have my last weekly chemo tomoz so thats 12 weeks now! Switch to FEC next week which im going to have in Stowmarket as they have an outreach clinic there. These first 12 weeks have gone quick so hoping next lot go just as quick!! Had good news last week, my tumor shrunk from 6cm to 2.8cm in ten weeks. Delirously happy with that. Long way to go still but at least some gud news amongst all the crap we have to deal with x
reddi thankx for mouth tips, i started salt wash on Saturday so will see how that goes, apparently T does seem to affect mouth more than Fec.
Juju glad to hear the tumout has shrunk that is fab makes uoj feel chemo all worth it hey. Good luck jn stowmaket.
Ktk … i have the usual steroids (8 a day foe 3 days then 4 a day for 3 days) anti sickness for 2 days, 5 days of jabs, flux stuff for oral thrush (10 days to start as soon as mouth starts gettjng sore) anti biotics for 10 days startjng day 5, as and when sickness tabs although havdnt needed any ao far on T, a d paracetamol is needed for pains! Got to try to remember what to take when.
cdc … Writmg your complaint down is the right way to go. Gettjng everything out will ensure uoj know exactly what you want to say and you should bw bw able go request new onc, its your body and this is a time uou need the best support and to feel you are bem g looked after and can put uour trust in the doctors. You have already been let down in the past, dont let it happen again. Patienta have rights!!!
So far T ok, did t sleep well, hot sweats and steroids combo but otherwise ok so far. Jabs stsrt tknight so will wait for the joys of that.
Have a good day all, im working so hopefully stay awake!
Hi all, just had to say the sad news story regarding the lady with breast cancer… Rachel something… Has really rocked me… So wanted to send big hugs and positive vibes to everyone. Tryjng to remain upbeat and remember we never hear of the good news stories do we? They are
So day 3 of 2nd T… So far ok, constipation again but lactulose sorting that, sleepness nights as usual… I spent a good few hours going through the alpahbet trying to remember the name of some crisps… Turns out they are Tyrrels… No idea why i needed to know that but my brain wouldnt stop! Had first injection last night, so far ok, no pain. Bit of indigestion so slurped some gaviscon znd now eating breakfast ready for more steroids but down to 4 a day today. Salt water washes after every meal too so a lot to fit in…
Hope everyone doing ok. Ktk hope the toilet issues rectifie and cdc hope the sickness sorted too.
Oh no Reddi How frustrating. I think we all just want to get chemo finished as soon as possible so any delay is a real blow especially, as in your case when the chemo is neoadjuvant and you want the tumours to shrink as much as possible . I have similar issues with regards to date for my mastectomy as I’m unsure whether I’ll have it before or after Christmas. My OH has a business trip to SAN Francisco during half-term in February and I have relatives there and love the place so I’m hoping Surgery will be done and dusted and I’ll be recovered enough so my daughter and I can accompany him.
Kip it really is such sad news regarding Radio 5 presenter.
I got an appointment with my GP yesterday to discuss issues regarding my dissatisfaction with my onc. She was so supportive!! She composed a letter to the oncologist we would prefer to see and she said she’ll get it typed up urgently so I can pick it up today and hopefully I can start the second half of my chemo afresh. I let my BCN know too and she says she’ll ring me today. I’m wary of creating a fuss but my OH is also unhappy with my current onc. She acts like I’m talking gobbledegook when I try and explain anything even though I think I’m pretty articulate. My OH also feels this way when he’s come with me and considering he spends his working days talking and advising medical specialists and consultants including some of the UKs top oncologists I don’t think it’s me just not explaining myself properly!
At least it’s stopped my gnat bites itching.