Hello
I just joined Strava to track my progress post chemo recovery phase. Sometimes I forget to turn it off so the car journey home is also tracked - hence the big fast ‘walks’! Ive followed you. Your dog is beautiful. Mine is a pointer springer cross. Good luck with your recovery x
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Yes!
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Hi@cheche I had to swap to abraxane after my reaction to docetaxel- a really bad rash that blistered, and I have to say it has been better- no steroids required- I am still having neuropathy pain but my hair seem to be growing rather than falling out
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I’ll look out for you 
. Ive still got quite a few treatments to go. Good luck
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Hi all, lovely to catch up and read about some of you reaching the milestone of finishing chemo/moving on to radiotherapy. Grateful for your tips on radiotherapy- so useful. 2025 hasn’t been kind to us but we’ve come a long way. It’s been a long time since I’ve been on here but glad to say everything’s settled after the throat closing in reaction on pacli. No issues on abraxane although my body fared better on EC - possibly cumulative effect as well. I’m slightly behind due to the trust only able to provide abraxane on 3 weekly not 2 weekly so three weeks left now before chemo no 8- last one. Cumulative effect has really kicked in - I’ve walked quite a bit throughout up until this week-struggling now. @rfmeh similarly to you I’ll be going back for full axillary clearance before radiotherapy. Pre op appointment with surgeon on Monday, op 3 weeks after last chemo. I’ve just bought a Benefit brow powder Ka brow - it’s good. I had lost quite a lot of my eyebrows but growing back a little now. Hair on the other hand is falling out more on Abraxane despite the cold cap but again could be cumulative and stress of allergic reaction. Probably have a third left. Hope you were ok @warmfuzzies during week your husband was away and hope last chemo went well. So sorry to hear about your cat - so hard especially now - they are so intuitive and great comfort - sure ours knows when I’ve had chemo. @mandymoo hope you’re ok. Covid on top of chemo sounds horrendous for anyone one affected by it.
@nelly1 @twinks77 those alliums and tulips will be a sure reminder of how far we’ll have come - a new beginning. Anybody know what’s the timing on starting AI? Do they usually start them before or after radiotherapy? Hope you all have a nice weekend xx
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Today is the day I’ve been longing for, for at least 6 months. This evening, when I have taken my last jab marks the end of chemo for me. I’m coming out of the side effects and this time I can hope that strength will return for more than one week.
My brain still can’t quite believe it but maybe I’ll feel differently after the jab.
Side effects have sucked really. Ive been in bed most of the week. Partly because I couldn’t face being downstairs and missing our cat, I just wanted to hide and have a pity party. Also because Ive had really bad pain in the ball of my foot so I could only limp around. Ive had a blister on my elbow too (random) and my mouth this time has been way worse.
Nothing tastes like it should, everything tastes horrendous. I have all the medicated mouth washes and nystatin and although my tongue is no longer white and lumpy (TMI) my taste is way off and its making me miserable.
Does anyone know how long this takes to come back? It never really recovered between sessions. Well maybe close to normal for a few days before the next infusion, but mouth stuff has knocked me sideways.
Still, this is the end of having to go round that rollercoaster ride and I know it will get better eventually.
Good luck to everyone finishing, whether you are done or have some weeks left, its so close to the end. And lets hope we never have to do this again.
Onwards and upwards xxx
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Re. AIs, I’m starting Letrozole a week after radiotherapy finishes. I don’t know if that’s standard-my ovaries have been suppressed since starting chemo back in June so I got the impression that I could have had a longer gap before starting AIs.
I’ll then start Ribococlib in the NY-my consultant didn’t want to do it before the Christmas break as you need v close monitoring at first.
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That’s such a milestone, congratulations! I’m so sorry that you’ve had such a rough week though. Time to focus on healing without being knocked back again.
I’m still waiting for the side effects to kick in from Thursday but am delighted not to have to take more steroids or wear that awful cold cap again…
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Lots to catch up on here today, sorry for those struggling through. Chemo is just grim and relentless. Well, until it ends, which it will for us all before too long.
My last chemo session yesterday, it took 3 attempts to get the cannula in a good place, I don’t know how I coped as I hate that bit, but I was strangely calm! I think knowing it was the last time helped. Apart from that it was fine, and I felt quite emotional at the end, I gave the nurse a thank you card for the team and she gave me a hug.
I got home to two bunches of flowers and a hand drawn card from the neighbours children which set me off a bit, saying congrats on finishing, so I felt very lucky. Still got the jabs & side effects to get through but I’m overjoyed now that last infusion is over. I’m thinking of you all as we crawl to the end of this stage x
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Reading these posts today has given me a sense of perspective for which I’m grateful. I’m impressed that some people have kept their hair. I went completely bald as soon as I started EC but my hair started growing back as soon as I moved on to paclitaxel. I think it might go again when I start abemaciclib…
I have neuropathy in my feet and my fingers and I think it may be getting worse, which is upsetting me.
Ive been told to start taking letrazole two weeks after chemo finished, so in about ten days. Then I think abemaciclib is after radiotherapy finishes in November. I start zoledronic acid infusions in about six weeks. I’m surprised at how many friends and family are surprised when I tell them what’s coming after chemo.
@warmfuzzies glad you’re now done with chemo and I hope the side effects melt away. My taste is coming and going but everything near my mouth smells disgusting and I don’t think I can taste anything at the front of my mouth. I also hope none of us has to go through this again. Bloody impressed we’ve all got this far.
@runnerjen how lovely of your neighbours! @jenny4 I’m in awe of anyone coping with the cold cap. I couldn’t even contemplate it.
Scrabbling around for good things today to be honest. I had an MRI head scan yesterday and I can’t stop worrying about what it might show.
No PICC line in, that’s good. And a cousin I haven’t seen for years sent me flowers.
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Ahh @nelly1 you’re right that this group gives a sense of perspective. My husband has just arrived back in time for my jab after the dinner he’s cooking for us.
I know! I’m very grateful for my husband who loves to cook and does it all.
So in the middle of this post, we had dinner and did my last jab. Then I had a massive cry. It all came tumbling out which I’m quite relieved about as I don’t feel I’ve had any real emotion about finishing.
I suddenly feels absolutely fantastic.
Dinner tasted like compost rather than petrol so I’m hoping that’s an improvement too.
Keep going towards the chemo finish line, it’s absolutely worth it 
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@warmfuzzies the epitome of optimism is you saying your food tasted like petrol rather than compost and seeing that as a good thing . Glad you’ve been able to let out your feelings, and your husband sounds like a star.
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Bravo for the last jab @warmfuzzies, for the fantastic husband and a wonderful attitude towards the taste of dinner! Love that positive spin!!
I’ve been more emotional after my last infusion, feel like anything could set me off and I know the last injection will do it for sure. I’m sure it will do me good to get some of it out so will just go with it.
I got my radiotherapy schedule through yesterday, week of 17 Nov, so I have a few weeks to rest up first, which I’m thankful for.
Have a good day if you can and rest up if you need it xx
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I don’t know about you but I really feel the cold more being bald! I’ve got a beanie on but added a neck warmer thing, then still felt like my neck was cold so added a scarf. I’m also now under that heated Dunelm blanket from my lovely in laws. I hope you’re all keeping cosy!
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@warmfuzzies yay for the last jab! I’m on 10 days of them so have my last one tomorrow. I can’t wait to be done with them!
I didn’t quite know what to do with myself last week having no PICC line care appointment but I’ll take it. This last chemo has been making itself known with side effects & I pretty much spent the start of the week in bed but my energy is on the return now thankfully.
@runnerjen I’m the same! I’ve been going to bed with my head wrapped up. Need to hunt out my winter scarf supply for my neck.
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Morning. @runnerjen that’s a good break before starting radiotherapy, enjoy. My head is cold sometimes, but not at night really. I did wear a woolly bobble hat in m and s yesterday 
.
My feet, on the other hand (neuropathy related, I think) just can’t get them warm at all. It’s my toes mainly. I have a physio appointment today and will see if they can help. @warmfuzzies I hope the better mood continues.
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Thanks for all the support everyone. Back to work today, my husband and I run a business and while he shoulders the load there are admin things he can’t do which get stored up over my week off. It’s ok as I don’t mind doing most of it and we are looking to sell so I can retire but I’d much much rather be doing anything else if I’m honest!
Anyway, something to be grateful for @nelly1 my dinner last night tasted earthy rather than composty and it was definitely bearable. I was the most amazing piece of salmon and veg that didn’t taste like it should. I’m taking that as progress.
Every day there is a small win.
Are you guys wearing masks when you go into crowded places?
I basically don’t leave the house for the first 2 weeks but then I integrate fairly normally after that. There are so many bugs around that I’m worried about getting ill before radiotherapy where you have to hold your breath.
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I’m impressed you’re working. I’ve been off since February! Desperate to go back but I work on a project and it’s really hard to get back into, especially since I hear now it may be being paused 
I’m wearing masks when I’m out and about. Feel as if I’ve taken some calculated risks but my MH is rotten and worse if I feel hemmed in.
Glad your food experience is improving!
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Wow, yes, I’m impressed that you’re working too! I’m aiming to go back after radiotherapy but already worrying about how I’ll cope with brain fog & fatigue.
Another vote for heated blankets-I spent most of yesterday (while husband & son were away) tucked up under one binge watching Riot Women. Slightly depressing that one of the central themes of the show was how fab HRT is given that I (and probably lots of us?) won’t be allowed it. I’m allowing myself a few hours of glum wallowing today with the last of the Dox pains: back to looking forward tomorrow…
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Hi I thought I’d share my experience of my CT planning scan for radiotherapy treatment which I had today. Radiotherapy starts on 29th October for three weeks. Following an introduction and some questions from a senior radiotherapist, and an optional outline of the side effects (tiredness and skin issues seem to be the main ones), I had a coaching session where I was taught how to hold my breath for up to twenty seconds. Apparently that’s because my treatment is on the left side and there are more organs to avoid. That was fine.
There were four women in the room including a student. Took about twenty minutes or so and I was talked through it all, lying down on the scanner bed with my top exposed so they could work out where the treatment needs to go.
Then I had the planning scan which took only a couple of minutes and was loud but ok. And then I had three tiny tattoos to identify where the treatment will be. Probably less than an hour in total, all very calm and painless, slight prick for each tattoo. I know others might have different experiences, just wanted to share in case it helps anyone.
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