Thanks for sharing this. My planning scan is next Tuesday so it’s really helpful to know what to expect.
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@warmfuzzies amazing you are still working through. I stopped working about 6/7 weeks ago & I’m already thinking about going back, although I think I’m going to aim for a slow phased return in January.
@nelly1 thanks so much for sharing. I have my planning appointment on the 27th & it’s starting to play on my mind now. I won’t have to do any of the breathing as mines is the right side. The tattoos were mentioned to me when I met my clinical oncologist back in August & I didn’t think too much about it at the time but now I’m against having them & wondering what other options could be available.
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Thanks for sharing this, I really appreciate it!
Day 4 and I really am fed up, it’s not so bad really but the mouth stuff is gross and I feel exhausted. I checked my diary from the last one and felt miserable on day 4 but cheered up a bit the next day so I will try to do that and remind myself it’s the last day 4.
Good things: I’ll go with the heated blanket, my fab husband looking after me and you guys being on here x
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Really interesting to hear about the radiotherapy stage. I’ll get there eventually.
Those who are nervous about going back to work - I bet people will surprise you with the compassion and kindness. Some won’t but probably because they lack the tools to express themselves.
I have been working at home full time since this began with treatment days off. I think mentally this has stopped me loosing the plot. But I am looking forward to going back into the office after Christmas. I have been preparing people for the GI Jane look so hopefully they are not too shocked. It’s very hard to hide the chemo look. I have been open and honest with my colleagues and told them what has been going on. I hope this will help them not to feel awkward when I do appear again. I told them all about the hole in my bottom. 
. I realise I am in the minority but I wanted to share a different work perspective. Most people seem able to process it. Some can’t but I have fully prepped them in the mean time.
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Hi All, I started my chemo mid June. I have completed 12 weekly paclitaxel and now onto 3 EC at 3 weekly intervals (1 completed). I have suffered with some side effects but they say I am tolerating it well although the last few weeks I’ve felt pretty rubbish… I am also cold capping and have lost a lot of hair. I developed covid in the last couple of days, my husband has brought it home probably from the shops. I feel quite rough so just waiting to see what happens with my final two chemos. Hopefully the covid will clear up and I can complete the final two, fingers crossed. Then onto 20 sessions of RT. It’s never-ending. Thank you for sharing your experiences on here it has helped me a great deal when I feel low and fed up especially in the middle of the night! Good luck everyone with the rest of your journeys. Sending love and hugs to you all. Sue x
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@moomoo716 you are a real trooper working through chemo and your abscess. I hope you’re fully healed now and back on track. It’s great to hear that your colleagues have been supportive. I’m sure mine will be too-the pressure is self imposed as I’m normally really on the ball at work and right now I just feel like a mess.
@sbb63 sorry to hear that you have Covid. Have they offered you anti virals? They worked a treat with me and I actually recovered quicker than my husband and so was able to keep to my chemo schedule. I hope you’re not feeling too poorly-it’s the last thing you need during chemo, isn’t it.
@runnerjen I hope you’re feeling ok today? For some reason I’ve been super emotional and teary today like the reality of the last 7 months has hit home. It could just be the effect of several sleepless nights with Dox aches plus several well meaning messages telling me that I must be really happy ‘now it’s behind me’. Aaargh! Thank goodness for this forum where you all understand…
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@jenny4 I wonder if there is something in the air today. I woke up late after a bad night’s sleep and just haven’t stopped crying. I feel so weak and emotional, all the wobbles are happening physically and emotionally.
I don’t know what’s got into me!
Just thought I’d share to show you’re not alone.
Xx
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Oh crumbs it does sound like today is not the day for a few of us. I have been in bed most of the day just exhausted, no strength at all. Tingling fingertips, sandpaper mouth and everything aches. I’m not as miserable as yesterday but only because I am telling myself I am another day closer to finishing this stage, even though it feels like a long way off yet. I start my injections again tonight, deep joy. Roll on the last one. I am sick of them! Mind you I need flu, Covid & pneumonia jabs doing soon. Lovely!
We are all in this together x
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@Jenny4, I was meant to start Letrozol, I have also been on ovarian suppressant (Zoladex) since June. However, my oncologist decided to start me on Tamoxifen instead until I have a blood test to determine if I’m in menopause before I can start Letrozole. I will be starting Abemaciclib after radiotherapy which is likely to be in December/January.
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I had my first one today and its so much better without the pre meds isnt it!
Hopefully hair will be ok 
Hope the neuropathy improves for you.
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@runnerjen agreed, it does feel as though we’re all in this together and it’s an odd but comforting feeling.
I was advised to go to the dentist before having radiotherapy so I’m going tomorrow. Was anyone else told that? Same happened before chemo.
I’m booked in for COVID and flu jabs on Friday. Oncology helpline said to wait seven to ten days after the end of chemo.
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Morning ladies, thanks for making me feel less of an emotional wreck yesterday! I think i needed to get it out of my system. Today I’ve been inspired by the bulb planting up thread to do some low energy gardening. I think too much time inside ruminating doesn’t do me any favours. I hope you’re all doing better today too?
@nelly1 I wasn’t asked to have another dental check before rads but they did want my dentist to sign a form to say that I didn’t need any invasive work done and that he knew I was going on bisphosphonates.
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Ah sorry yes it’s dentist before zoledronic acid isn’t it.
Ahh this is confusing. My oncologist said it was ok to go ahead and have the jabs and I have 5 weeks left. He also said that maybe the jab wouldn’t work as well but something is better than nothing. Oh, what to do!
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I’d do what your oncologist advised.
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I’d quite like to go and live in a bunker until it’s finished tbh. Child 2 has brought yet another lurgy back from school.
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Yikes for all the bugs. I think I’ll be wearing a mask for 5 weeks. If I get a bug it goes straight to my chest for at least 3 weeks. I know I’ll need to do the breath hold which will be impossible if I get ill.
@jenny4 I feel much better today too, emotionally that is, and I agree I think Ive been locked up for too long and just had a meltdown.
Im reading a book at the moment about about how we can affect 40% of our happiness… I haven’t quite got to the bit about how that works but I’m gathering that its scientifically proven and therefore possible even if we are living in shit street!! I’ll persist and report back if it doesnt sound like nonesense!
Today I am grateful that I dont feel like I did yesterday. AND that my sense of taste is starting to return. Its early days but I no longer want to spit everything out because it tastes so foul.
No sign of being strong enough to play padel yet but I did go for a short walk.
xx
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@moomoo716 sorry to hear about the germy child-I really hope they don’t share it. It’s so hard to avoid germs when you’re living with kids, isn’t it?
@warmfuzzies I’m so glad you’re feeling brighter today too. I’m sure you’ll be back to padel soon and this time for good!
My positives from today are that I dragged myself to a barre class and the music was 100% Abba remixes. Not what I’d normally listen to but great anti-moping music! I’ve also found that there’s a Flat Friends group in Cambridge so am really looking forward to meeting up with them.
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@jenny4 well done for getting to class. A great achievement. I joined Flat Friends too. They are fabulous. I have to organise symmetry with an onco who doesn’t really see it as a priority. But that’s a problem for another day
@warmfuzzies you are doing so well. Things happen and you deal with it and continue to share and help the rest of us.
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Hi all, I’ve been lurking in the background for the past few days. I’m on day 8 of my 7th chemo and the side effects haven’t been too bad this time but today the fatigue has hit big time.
It so good to see that some of you have finished chemo now, 3 weeks time and I’ll be in the same position. It feels surreal!
I’ve had a few messages this week from people at work asking how I am and I’ve found my self writing this a few times….
“Plodding along and getting through it. Final chemo at the end of October and I can’t wait. It’s been a long slog these past 5 months “
To sum it all up in 3 sentences is such a massive understatement and I feel like I’m minimising everything I’ve been through. But of course you can’t really explain it fully to people who haven’t experienced it themselves. Life carries on around us when we are going through a life changing experience. I think when I get to the end of the big treatments I might just need to scream to let it all out.
Really grateful for all the lovely Autumn colours on the trees.
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