Not much slap and tickle going on here either, which made it all the more ironic when I had to have a pregnancy test yesterday as part of my radiotherapy planning meeting!
So RT is all set to start on 26 November. We don’t have a unit in Swindon so I’m off to Oxford every day - it’s only 35 miles, but because of roads and traffic it takes about 1hr 15mins for 9.30ish appointments. Factor in the time needed to find a parking space and you’re looking at leaving about 7.30 if not before. Oh well.
Have the next Herceptin injection on Sunday and should find a prescription waiting for me for whichever hormone therapy I’ll be taking. (Had a blood test on Monday to determine menopausal status.) Had hoped to have a bit of a break before starting, but oncologist wants me to start straight away.
Had a long conversation with her about the role of weight loss and exercise as adjuvant treatments for BC. She did say that probably as oncologists they should probably do more to promote it. Anyway, she left me feeling I that was something I could control rather than having it done to me, so I’m trying to get into some sort of walking routine and am getting my head backs into Slimming World. I’d be up for some diet and exercise sharing/support too. Need to shift a stone to get me back to where I was pre chemo and then there’s a couple of stone still to go after that!
Have good days ladies, may there be only tears of laughter.
Great news Linda and LJ, both moving forward onto the next part of the journey. Seems we all are in need of weight help, I blame the chemo brain… I kept forgetting the 10 biscuts I’d already eaten :smileyvery-happy:
I have dressing change today and possible removal of drain, although its still way over the 30ml they want, so perhaps I am stuck with it for a while longer. Then results of ANC next week, dreading that one, but I guess as they are out whether they had cancer in or not shouldn’t make a difference really? Just want to get moving onto rads and hormones.
Linda - sorry just seen your query about PICC line removal. Mine was removed by the same people who’d been doing the dressing and flushes. I believe they are all sized (like small, medium etc) and each size is the same length, there’s just a variance about how much is inside and how much outside. Anyway, because the girls knew how much my outside length was so they could tell for certain whether it was out or not. Just as an aside, mine ‘stuck’ slightly coming out but lying with my arm down and a warm compress soon shifted it - that’s apparently quite common, so no cause for concern if it happens to you.
Just had a lovely mini break with OH. After RT yesterday we went to stay at a hotel and enjoyed a tasting menu and wine flight! We went for a nice autumnal walk by the Yealm, the most exercise I have done for weeks!! We even got a room upgrade to a suite!! Then back for RT at lunchtime today!!!
Glad you had a niche time with your daughter Georgie. Sounds like the right decision re chemo.
I was given little cotton bags to carry my drains in by the BCN. She also gave me a heart shaped pillow to put under my arm. I was lucky as the drains were taken out after three days. One came out really easily but the other one got a bit stuck for a moment.
Sounds like you had a lovely break KTK. I am finally free of the drain. The surgeon decided that it was 9 days post op and needed to go even though it was still draining. It came out easily but the nurse is concerned it will leak a bit, so have an XXL plaster on it at the moment and have to watch out for swelling. I han an awful bag to carry mine in this time, the strap was made from curtain heading tape ( the bit you put your curtain hooks in!!)…dreadful. Now back home with a nicely healing wound, just need to keep fingers crossed for the results next Thursday then hopefully moving on to Rads.
After my 2nd surgery one of my drains was leaking g sp they took it put early. I used to just tape or put in my top a couple of absorbant dressing pads (you can buy a pack of 100 from the chemist ). That worked pretty well to absorb the leakage.
Yes I’ve been given some very large dressings to use if it leaks.
KTK - I am hoping to start Rads fairly soon, they were hoping to get them done before Christmas. I guess that depends on how many I have (they have mentioned 3 weeks) and how long they take to get sorted. I presume there are some kind of guidelines as to how long you should wait between chemo and rads? Until I see ONC next week for results I won’t know anything much. Lots of questionsn at the ready.
Gosh Cdc sounds like you got a lot of answers and are making good decisions. I woukd want to get all the surgery done now rather thsn hsve to face it at a later date. If you need extra tummy fat therea plenty goimg spare here!
Sorry for short reply OH just brought me brekkie in bed
Hi Reddi, oh dear in my opinion and from experience i would call hotline today and then they can hopefully prescribe something for you. Its best to get on top of it quickly, i left mine a day and it wss horrendous and thats the week i ended up in hospital. I was given fluconozole to take one a day and also nistatiin for my tongue. I got this every chemo cycke afterwards to prevent it happening again.
Clare my surgeon said to keep in the picc line if possible. Still got to wait for fish results to see if HER2. Was tested before and was negative but when borderline best to double check so hoping it will be negative as asking if picc line can be removed tomorrow when its due to be flushed. You do have alot of problems like me (with the cannula).
The surgeon just said the size hadn’t changed alot (42 mm and was 51 mm max on mri) but it wasn’t as hard and that 85 to 90 % of cells were dead. He said it’s unlikely for me to get a complete response due to type of tumour. I asked what would be expected - he said it’s a good response. Not sure what that means re recurrence but will ask when get fish results. Was so nervous was just glad I got clear margins and that my wound was ok. Had some gunk (blood etc) that hardened when dressings were removed but it’s gone now.
My surgery was going to be 4 weeks after chemo but due to my bloods it was 6 weeks 5 days after chemo.
Yes I am so grateful to my surgeon. I am sending him a thankyou card to say how amazing he is and that he’s the best from his no. 1 fan! I think he thinks I’m mad but he did say it’s normal to be worried about results.
No follow ups are necessary at all.
I just need to decide if I want surgery on the other side and let him know. He said see how it looks in a bra. It looks lopsided in a sports bra which is comfy as my back has been hurting. I think I am not straightening up my back. Not sure if a padded bra will be better. I did try some old ones but need to try again under a top. He did say as my breasts are dense the radio will have less effect and radio can effect the size by up to 10%. We will see.
Glad you have decided how to proceed with surgery as I found that very stressful. The sooner it’s all agreed the better from my experience altho I went back before the last chemo and had an us and mammogram.
All the best,
Linda
Morning all! In spite of the weather yesterday I had a great day. I went on the last SWFFL fishing trip and caught a 2lb trout, which we had for tea!! Also had lunch out with the fishing club. The weather held while we fished but then the heavens opened!
All in all I have had a great week. Just about to leave for RT. I am leaving extra early to find somewhere to park.
Hope everyone is well this morning. How are the nails after T? I have two discoloured toenails but my fingers look ok I think. Still have black sparkly varnish on so a bit difficult to tell!! Kxxx
Morning all, just had a good read through all your posts.
CDC - good news for your brother… what a relief, now just fingers crossed for clear margins for your cousin.
Reddi - I didn’t realise your chemo hotline wasn’t manned at the weekend, ours is 24hour. But definately speak to your GP and he can prescribe fluconozole or something else. Get on top fo the mouth before it gets on top of you… its was the worst SE I had I think.
KTK - my nails look horrible without nail varnish. they haven’t fallen off but look discoloured and have large ridges on them, they are quite brittle too, so have cut them short and kept a pale pink nail varnish on just to make them look better. My toenails seem to be pretty much ok though. Actually my Tingle thumb is feeling a lot better now, probably 90% back to normal, still numb right at the end but much improved, so hopefully your toes will do the same CDC!
Linda - interesting how they could tell how much the chemo had worked. Thats amazing.
I get my results from the ANC on Thursday and starting to panic…I hate being back at the hospital but I need to know what happens next… hopefully the RADs soon and the hormones… I will be asking how they know which to give me. I am like you CDC, I was pre-menopause before this started but have only had 1 period since May so who knows whats happenign now. I am, however, having hot flushes still? Another question for the ONC on Thursday. I’ll let you know what they say!
As for my wound… its leaking a little bit, but I keep a dressing on it and it still feels so numb and swollen… although it isn’t too swollen. I think it feels like your face when you have had a tooth out and it feels like you face is 10 times bigger! I am trying to get the arm movement back, having some success but it is stiff and painful in places… when I put my arm down I feel like I have a ball under there, but there isn’t. Definately found the masectomy so much easier than this op. Must remember its only 2 weeks ago and its early days, very impatient to feel back to normal in the arm department again.
Reddi how are you darling? Hope you’ve been seen and got some fluconzole, keep safe ??red rose have you selected any favours yet, it was lovely news you shared about the wedding. Georgie gee, don’t be a stranger and keep in touch on here, If I’m right there will be a lot of us wanting to keep in touch Kip hope you’ve been pacing yourself and are doing ok. Keep ???Ladies you are all amazing ???Shi xx
Well, apparently I’m post menopausal!!! I’m not sure when that happened, I must have missed it! Does kind of make the pregnancy test I had to have as part of my rads planning meeting redundant though! I think the oncologist was as surprised as me cos she’s made a note on my file to say if I show any hint of starting a menstrual cycle I’m to get in touch at once! So I shall be starting on Anastrzole as soon as I get the prescription. Was expecting it to be waiting in the unit when I went for Herceptin jab yesterday but it wasn’t. Shall phone the BCN line tomorrow. Most common SE seems to be joint pain, so what with that and the Herceptin I’m doomed!
Anyone experiencing sore leg muscles post their last T? Mine are like I’ve just done exercise for the first time in ages!
My fingernails look a bit yellow partway up and then have white ridges on the other half - presume that’s the effect of two different drugs showing. Look to have healthy nail showing at the base so I’ll just keep clipping them short and watch them improve!
Have a hair appointment on Thursday and I’m hoping to have some unsuitablly coloured streaks put through the fringe area where the hair is strongest - can’t stand this unbroken grey much longer!
On the subject of hair - is anyone taking Biotene to help with regrowth?
Hi LJ i had and still do have sometimes the leg aches. Thats exactly how i felt like id walked miles and miles! In fact my calves ache quite a bit today too, ita SE of T i think! Fancy being post menopausal without knowing! Wow!! Let us know how the pills go.
I thijk j may have a seroma… hard lump under arm whixh dowsnt really hurt as such more uncomfortable to put my arm down as it feels like an orange there. Any ideas?
Hi kip, ring your unit and get that checked out, sounds like something meesh had post op, just get it checked, we are all guilty of going oh i’ll Leave it a day or so but we shouldn’t it’s all about keeping safe and your teams would rather see you every day if you want than to leave things Keep safe otherwise the honorary gold hot pants will need sending back kip and i’ll Have to tank drive and you don’t want that ???I’m like Cher from clueless ???Shi xx
Kip, definitely call tomorrow… sounds like a seroma, but let your team check it out ?
Shi, thanks for reminding me to keep in touch; now I’ve ‘finished’ all of the chemo they can safely give me, I’m suddenly having a planning meeting for radiotherapy next Monday.
I took a peek at a radiotherapy thread on here and I am quite reluctant to start it all, plus 2nd herceptin this Thursday. After my first herceptin I wasn’t well enough to have docetaxol the next day. Had temp, nausea and diarrhoea. I’m so hoping it doesn’t happen again. I feel like if I have one more side effect, I will explode!
Even with only 75% docetaxol, I’ve lost all my eyebrows now.
I was talking to an occupational health person today from work, and she told me that radiotherapy can be ‘worse than chemotherapy’… I haven’t heard that anywhere else.
Then also a relative asked me over the weekend what my new ‘prognosis’ is, now I’m not having any more chemo. I haven’t answered, because I found the question a bit insensitive - is that wrong of me? I just felt upset…
