@jenny4 and @moomoo716 its so encouraging to read that you are both getting on ok with Ribo. I’m due to start it in April and I will try to remember about the dark chocolate and exercise
I finished radiotherapy on Monday! I felt so relieved and excited to finally be at the end of active treatment. I keep going from feeling happy that the big treatments are finished to feeling sad that I had breast cancer and had to go through it all in the first place. Rollercoaster emotions all the way. Today I am super tired so I’m just pottering around the house not doing much. The sun is out though and those alliums I planted during chemo are starting to poke their heads through the soil
Wishing you all a gentle day x Spring is on its way x
Definitely the ups and downs theme is pretty consistent between us. Coming up to a year since my diagnosis. What a difference a year makes - what a year we’ve all had. Hope you’re feeling a bit better @cl4reh@runnerjen. Hope the chocolate worked @jenny4. Lovely to see those alliums popping up @twinks77 - a definite sign of us progress/moving forward. Had my first zometa last week - first 40hrs were rough but fine after that. My veins are awful -4th attempt to canulate . Starting abemaciclib on Wednesday this week . Hope you all have a lovely week x
@twinks77 congrats on finishing your radiotherapy!
How is everyone doing with the various drugs we are on? My letrozole makes me feel mildly nauseous, I take it after breakfast but am wondering if switching to bedtime might help. I get hot flushes day and night so I doubt it would make any difference there.
Work has been better this week, it’s my fourth week and despite being really busy I have coped better, less tired after and it’s felt more like my job - until this week it felt so strange, like I was new. I’m sure one of you said it took about 4 weeks before you started to feel it was do-able again - I forget who but I have been hoping it would apply to me too!
I hope you are all doing well and getting out when the sun occasionally shines!
My drugs are going well for now. I take both my letrozole and ribociclib in the evening with a meal. I sleep fairly well although usually have one sweaty wake up then cool down and back to sleep. I plan to try Ribo in the mornings next cycle. This is mainly because I get acid reflex and wondered if it might make things easier but to be honest there is not really a problem. Just trying to find the optimal timings. The Ribo instantly caused mega constipation but I have developed my very own super fibre smoothie for lunch. It basically revolves around 2 kiwis (skin on) and 5g psyllium husk powder. Absolute game changer if you are prone to it like me. I can’t actually believe how much better I feel with the bottom behaving itself.
On the good news front - port comes out on Monday. I can’t wait. I can start Pilates up again with feeling anxious that I might dislodge my port.
I’ve had my 2 week blood test but they didn’t give me the results so I suppose no news is good news.
The letrozole has made me much stiffer although I loosen up as I walk. My lower back is complaining atm but I’m not sure whether to blame the letrozole or running and old age. I’m hoping the Pilates will fix it.
So all in all - I think I am doing well with the side effects.
Great to catch up and read about how you all are getting on with treatments.
A little update, I started Abemaciclib last week which I’ve had some diarrhoea but nothing too bad, I just take loperamide and then I’m okay. I’m keeping my fingers crossed hoping it will settle and not get worse, because the plan is to return to work end of this month if I am okay with Abemaciclib. I also had my mammogram on Wednesday, I now have to wait for 3 to 4 weeks before I get the results. Is the waiting that get’s me. However, there’s nothing I can do but wait. Then see my surgeon for a review in April.
I wish everyone the very best with the new treatments.
I know im not very active, im not great on my ohone, i just wanted you all to know i hold you in my heart everyday, thank you for the regulars for keeping this life line going. Appreciate you all. Hope the next times run smooth and we all find some balance.
I always wonder whether people still want to hear about my trials and tribulations. But I also love the connection of this group.
My latest news - port out Monday evening. It was a bit more brutal than expected and my chest is a little more delicate than I expected. Maybe a result of being on ribociclib? I don’t know. it’s a great milestone though. No more excuses for not being able to do the downward dog.
Every week there are a few more sunny days and a bit more daylight. I hope everyone is enjoying the daffodils. I buy a bunch every weekend to brighten the house.
I love the photo @trix1 your hair looks great! Mine is coming on well now, I quite like the mega short style, I feel strangely bold and confident though I won’t keep it this short!
@moomoo716 congrats on getting rid of your port! Sorry it’s more sore than you expected though. Hope it heals up soon and you can do everything you want to again.
My husband was ill the past 4 weeks with a weird, never ending migraine (it has finally gone about 25 days after it started) but after me last year then him in hospital for a night having tests for stroke & brain issues - it did make us wonder if the universe is sending us a message.
He’s 60 & I’m 51, so the urge to quit work is strong. I think this year may be my last, although he does like his job more than I do so he may carry on a bit longer.
Grateful for being able to consider quitting work, husband getting better and my hair growing back. Take care all x
@bc0225 hope the abemaciclib has calmed down and good luck with the mammogram. Good shout getting used to the medication before you start back at work. I went back and then started taking it, not the best idea. I’m currently on a pause and will probably have it reduced, due to daily diarrhoea which I’m finding knackering. I am going down to three days a week temporarily while I decide whether to retire properly or flexibly. I think I went back to work too soon because my health keeps changing and I think I’m not doing a good job. It’s hard trying to keep a clear head.
@trix1 cracking head of hair there. @moomoo716 great news on getting the port out. Personally, hearing other people’s day to day experiences is good because I don’t feel alone. @runnerjen sorry to hear about your husband’s health issues too -as you say, may have caused you to reassess the future which isn’t a bad thing. My hair was curly before chemo and it’s coming back extra extra curly. I have what looks like an old lady perm now, so I’ve started tying scarves around my head.
I love hearing everyone’s updates. I know we haven’t met but it feels like we’ve been through so much together and there’s still a lot going on for all us.
I’m doing ok on Ribo & Letrozole though am still having issues with my neutrophils and my joints seize up whenever I stop moving. Returning to work has been a positive for me as it’s a good distraction, but I am fortunate to have a job I love in a very supportive team. It would have been a completely different story in my old job! I’ve also dropped some hours to have a better balance.
Like many of you I’m reaching the anniversary of my diagnosis which feels really weird. In many ways I still can’t believe it happened. I’m definitely planning to make the most of spring and summer this year as they were a write off last year…
@jenny4 i agree its nice to hear the updates and the journey together. Its lovely to come together even though the invdivual plans are unquie to the person.
My hair is now black,/very dark brown, it is different to before but so am i. Im embrassing the new.
I had my zometa infusion and it knocked me off my feet,hoping today to be able to potter in house and go for a drive. I too feel i cant believe a year of diagnoisis and op is already around the corner.
I pray we can all feel well enough to find some joy and peaceful times this spring and summer.
I used to have so much hope and optimisim this journey has taken that,the councelling has helped and im sure the sun will too,i felt wrong as so many stories or conversations were about peoples sudden sense of making the best of life etc it hit me hard that that feeling was taken from me,now i have accepted the ‘lesson’ and one day at a time…just realised im blurting out..apologies.
@everyone.. thank you and have a feel good positive weekend x
Ps wprk is hard..reading so many have adjusted hours i may need to discuss that..so thank you for sharing and the support
Hello hope everyone is having a good weekend. I wondered whether any of you are planning to do the Pink Ribbon Walk at Chatsworth on 17th May? I think I am.
Hi @nelly1 I got excited then as Chatsworth House is less than 40 minutes away. And then I realised it is Chatsworth in the Peak District at 2 hours 48 minutes
Thanks and sorry for the late response. I’ve had few episodes of diarrhoea but I’ll say so far it hasn’t been that bad. I’m hoping it gets better not worse so I can start work as planned. I will be on phased return for about six weeks so will see how I get on. So sorry to hear you’ve had severe side effects, I wish you all the best moving forward.
I’m ok generally but today I’m fed up. I’m frustrated by the fatigue. I’ve more energy than I used to have but I’m not at pre cancer levels of energy and it’s dawning on me that I might never be because of the medications. My joints ache and it’s all annoying. The cancer has gone but we’re left with so much crap to deal with. Sorry for the moan, I’m not normally like this. People don’t realise what we have to deal with.
I’m due to start Ribociclib in April and I’m aiming to go back to work in July all being well.
Good things…. I’m booked onto a cancer exercise rehab course starting in April, I’ve got Moving Forward course in may, a holiday to the seaside in June and several theatre trips book.
Like some of you have said it still feels surreal that we went through what we went through last year.
That could have been me yesterday @twinks77 I was so tired in the afternoon Mon & Tue after I finished my work hours that I dozed all afternoon. Had no energy for doing anything. I really was fed up. Using all my available energy on work is miserable.
But today was better. I did my work and got out for a walk. I made time for a bit of self care (scar massage) and booked some days off work to shorten a few weeks. I do feel better for all that. The fatigue is a bit unpredictable and when it hits it still surprises me. I’m trying to be patient and hopeful that it gradually improves this year. Hopefully it will for us all.
. Starting abemaciclib on Wednesday this week 
