Last day of chemo done!!!
Wishing everyone still finishing their treatment lots of love.
Its been very emotional - i feel like the enormity of what has happened is hitting me now. Thankfully I have been referred for counselling now.
Radiotherapy starts mid November but for now I am focusing on getting more engergy back so we can enjoy half term fun!
Thank you all for the support & such lovely words! Xx
Well done @bettyb24. Huge congratulations. Another lovely picture for the June group. Wishing you minimal side effects on this last one 
@wjs you look fabulous 
eyebrows look super!
@pat great article - 2 weeks today since I finished chemo - expectations from everyone including myself is weird! Worked long hours mon -Wed this week and my husband told me off - I was exhausted and wasnt making time for me. He says Iād managed the chemo very well and therefore people - mainly work think itās hurrah we are back to normal - some say the right thing but actually their actions show otherwise. I guess Iām determined to try to be normal but then beat yourself up for being stupid! Itās trying to keep a balance.
@donna_51 I donāt feel very sexy - just a bit of fluff for hair, one dodgy boob, more mascara on my eyelid than eyelashes 
might have to try something else false soon 
- itās hard to move on ā¦. The counselling is good that you recommended- not sure how to normalise everything! Baby steps I guessā¦. The article was useful.
@bettyb24 brought a tear to my eye today - you look wonderful. 
Whhooo @bettyb24 fantastic news that another one has finished. So glad youāre looking forward to half term and having some fun. You deserve it xx
@pat your advice to see light rather than darkness in my CT planning worked!! I forced myself to think positive and not focus on the incredibly noisy machine and the session was ok. Thankyou xx
Yep @collywobbles baby steps indeed but itās sooo hard to remember that when weāre itching to get back to normality. I did a little jog with my youngest yesterday, for about 5 minutes, and needed to lie down when I got home. My mind might say āwhooo Iām backā but my body has other ideasā¦ probably āsit down and eat more cake womanā!!!
Thank you all!
I know a few of us are thinking about when to return to workā¦
I spoke to my oncologist last week and my radiotherapy will start 13 november & run until mod December. I also need to start my taximā¦ in november too.
My oncologist wants me to do a phased return from January-i havent spoken to work about this, im worried what this means for Ā£Ā£Ā£
But i also know deep down im not fit to go back now & i want to be in thr best place i can be for radiotherapy so that i can enjoy Christmas with my children as best i can now.
So i just wanted to say please dont feel pressured going back to work - i know cash is tight especially in the run up to Christmas but chemo has been a MASSIVE thing we have had to survive
Xxx
@collywobbles and @bettyb24 I agree with you both totally. Baby steps and be kind to ourselves with everything. Especially with Christmas coming up as we deserve a nice Christmas where we havenāt flogged ourselves half too death trying to work as well as do all the Christmas stuff! It will take months to get our former energy back I imagine, so we just have to be patient.
@donna_51 Iām pleased your scan went well and that you could āvisualise the positiveā. I now prescribe cake to celebrate
@charlie22 I hope all goes well for the funeral today and that you manage ok. I will be thinking of you and am sending love and hugs 
Congratulations on finishing, what a lovely photo x
Hi
I normally post in July chemo starters but I too still have some blue on my boob from June surgery. It can take months and months to go apparently x
Thank you for the reassurance @kerrylou1. At my planning scan yesterday, the lovely radiographers also confirmed that it can take quite a long time to disappear. I think since finishing chemo Iāve started to really overthink some things. Iāve also noticed that Iāve now got cording in my armpit, so I need to contact the BCN today to find out what I need to do to alleviate that. It feels like the light gets brighter and then dimmer again.
I had my final weekly paclitaxel yesterday 
. Congrats to all those finishing chemo!
Had my picc line out and slept better for that last night.
Still a long way to go as I had chemo first, so surgery next month, followed by radiotherapy and continuing on targeted therapy until august next year as Iām HER2 positive. But part 1 is now done and it feels good to say that.
Anyone recommend any must haves for surgery? Iām having a lumpectomy and ancillary node clearance xx
Hi @rrey. Congratulations on finishing your chemo. Youāve got the hardest part out of the way. I had my lumpectomy first and was dreading it, but it was a walk in the park compared to chemo. Honestly, you donāt know itās happening. I didnāt suffer with any pain afterwards either. I used rosehip oil to massage the scar area as it was recommended by the physio. Do the exercises religiously and get a heart shaped cushion to prop under your arm whilst sitting and sleeping. I got mine from primark. I took the bandages off myself after a week. Donāt worry too much about the shape of your boob straight after as it will fill out again over the next few months and will look better. Hope that helps. Xxxx
@rrey well done on finishing your chemo. I had chemo first too and will have single mastectomy next month. I finished the injections last night as well, which feels good.
