Thank you all for your support. I realise now I have to have the scans - I think it all got too much - everytime I go to the hospital they seem to give you bad news! I will try to keep a lid on it until Monday and hopefully start chemo next week. Good luck and lots of love to all of you going through what is truly a shitty time. Jaynexxxx
Welcome to all the newbies! 
I’ll have to start writing everyone’s name down now otherwise will get in a right muddle! Know a few of you have mentioned the forgetfulness etc and I am the same.
Hope you manage to get some sleep tonight Martha, what time is your appt so I can send positive vibes to you?! xx
night night all…xxx
Hi Jewels,
Well I’m glad I’m not the only one then that is losing their memory I’m constantly forgetting things lol.
Well I was having a wee chuckle at the posts on here bout eyebrows and wigs(rug).
Martha. You really suit your hair short so no worries there for you
Tomorrow I have oncologist appointment in the afternoon, will she do any tests on me tomorrow? or is it just to talk about the chemo?.
Good luck for anyone who has appointments this week.
Deedee xx
Hi Maxie - I’m down for my cocktail at 10am.
DeeDee - I’ve got everything written down on a post-it and I’ve tried to put everyone’s dates into my diary, but I think I’be lost track lol
Well, I’m off to bed for a hopeful good nights sleep xxxx
Martha - loving the hair, I’m too chicken to go that short, a bob is about all I can handle tomorrow! I’ll be thinking of you and I’ll make a toast to your ‘cocktail’ treating you well xx
i need to write everyone’s names down as well but even if I don’t know you all by name yet, I love you all just as much x
Keep shining - Chelle xx
Morning all Jewels,
Good luck to Martha this morning. I’m sure you will handle it brilliantly. GO TEAM MARTHA/JUNE JEWEL.
Hope everyone else has a good day. Will check in later as off to get my boob checked as still having a bit of trouble.
Faye x
Hello Jewels xx
I’m Kittyqueen from the March 2012 thread… Just wanted to say hope all goes well for you all and reply to the ladies worried about starting Herceptin. I had 4 xEC and 4 x Tax and strated herceptin along with the tax. I just had my 17th Herceptin yesterday and I know it seem like the treatment goes on forever but honestly it has flown by…can’t believe I only have one more to go. Herceptin has been good to me with no se’s that I can think of. xx
Love
KQ
Good morning Jewels
Sending positive vibes your way for this morning Martha!!
Maxie xxx
Go Martha go Martha…good luck lovely lady, hope it passes quickly and you manage to keep smiling…nuke those little buggers. xx
Good luck Martha and be strong. You need to come back and tell me it was easy because with just 24 hours to go before I go in I am depending on you to persuade me I can do it.
Hair is coming off at 4.30 this afternoon and then I am going to get my horse and disappear in the countryside, undecided whether to come back or not.
Back from the breast clinic, boob ok. Not infected just still damaged from the op. It’s funny how now I just take my top off (even before they ask) and lay there with my boobs out for all and sundry to see and feel, like its something normal like doing the weekly shop!
Welcome JollyJane, Mandes and Jan34 (plus anyone I’ve missed).
Kittyqueen - thank you for your reassurances regarding Herceptin.
Deedee - hope all goes well at the onc today. When I had mine yesterday it was just to tell me the plan, don’t think they will do anything today (maybe only a blood test but I didn’t even have that)
Cress - so pleased you got clear margins
Chelle - have nice day out with your mum at the hairdressers - have a bit of pamper time
Janey - sorry to hear about it being in your nodes, but this doesn’t mean it is elsewhere, they will be giving the scans etc as a precaution - you are in safe hands and will be getting the best care and what you need to make you better
Mar13 - are you starting chemo today??? If so go and blast the B***ards. You can do it.
Martha - thinking of you now sat getting your chemo. Hope it’s not too bad.
All other Jewels have good day.
Faye
Morning Jewels. Tired droopy eyebrows this morning!
Welcome aboard Marion (hopethe s/e’sare minimal)Jane, Mandes and Jollyjayne. Jane good luck with the Picc fitting.Let me know what it’s like as I’m having one too.
Faye Keep us updated on the boob!
Jayne, I hope you are feeling more assured today. Sending big hugs your way xx
Ann, Good luck with the haircut and you better blumming come back, there’s a battle to be fought!!
Lins and Spurs, how are you?
Oh Faye our posts crossed! Glad all ok with said boob. You can put it away now!
Thanks to all those who’ve popped in. It’s so reassuring to know it’s doable. And so much better to hear it from those who have been there than some well meaning person who hasn’t got a clue what it’s like being part of this club. Oops! Sorry went into a little rant there :@
Well Jewels, I’ve done it, I’ve made a list! So here goes!
- Marionblue - Marion 24/5
- MarthasSos - Martha 29/5
- March13 - Ann 30/5
- Jan34 - Jan 31/5
- Jollyjayne - Jayne 3/6
- Fimbo 123 - Joan 5/6
- Melrose15 - Emma 13/6
- Suffolklady - Cress 21/6
- ChelleB 15 - Chelle
- Flip Flop - Faye
- Glasgowgirl -Fiona
- LinsLleisio - Lins
- Artemis17 - Vicki
- Maxie - Maxie
- Deedee 215 - Deedee
- Spurs79 -
- TaylorJ -
- Jayney 234 - Jayney
- Mandes -
Sorry if I’ve missed anyone.Feel free to shout at me if I did or add any dates or real names. Xx
Thanks for the list Emma. Have been doing one on a bit of paper but then end up not being able to read my own writing.
My boob is firmly back under wraps!
x
I have read about neutrophia, or something like that. My house is a blooming health hazard. Just turfed the fridge out and miltoned it and I found, in no particular order ! chilli paste circa 2009 together with bottle of ginger 2010, tomato paste 2011 and wait for this…vanilla essence 2005 !
I have worrying about whether I will be able to get around the horses whilst I am on chemo - looks like the house is a bigger problem !
Emma, did the list too last night, but like Faye I scribbled in a notebook…There’s lots of us now arent there?!
Faye know what you mean about getting boobs out for appts etc, just not bothered at all now, bizarre when you look back a few weeks/months and see how much our attitudes to things have changed. Glad your boob is ok and all sorted! xx
Its great when peeps from other threads come here to offer advice & encouragement, long may that continue In the months to come, its really appreciated!
Having a lazy day today, feeling sluggish, tired & a bit down, no idea why 
Even the offer of a shopping trip with OH isn’t working! (Must be bad!)…Might just do some eyebrow shopping online, that might do the trick!
xxx
FEC X 6 - Cycle 1, Day 1
Good afternoon Jewels - Thank you all so very much for the wonderful good luck wishes 
Marie - Good luck with you hair appointment. I’ll be posting below what happened today so you’ll have a bit of an insight My daughter has her riding lesson on Sunday and I’m dubious about taking her. I was going to get my OH to go instead but if you’re an actual rider Marie then I think it might be tricky - I’d speak with your chemo nurses first.
Emma - Thanks for the list. I also had my own on a post-it, but was running out of room lol. I know it’s awful having everyone here, but is good at the same time
Well…I arrived at the hospital at 9am (1 hour early lol) so I sat in the cafe and had a ham roll and a latte. Then at 9:30am I casually strolled along to the chemo unit and buzzed to get in. No sooner had my trembling finger hit the buzzer my eyes filled with tears. My 2 nurses came through to reception, gave me a hug and then took me through to the chemo ward. After all the parafinalia of checking & double checking I was who I said I was then I was given 7 tablets to take. 5 were for anti-sickness and 2 were steroids. After a few more teary moments, I was given a little blue pill (now known to me as my special friend) - A little sedative to take the edge off.
I was introduced to a lovely lady to does Indian head massages, foot massages, aromatherapy etc etc and then I had blood pressure taken etc. There was a lot of waiting around as my meds hadn’t been delivered from the pharmasists yet. So they fitted the canula (not a problem) and I just sat, waiting and waiting lol
Finally, my cocktails arrived. the E part of the FEC was administered first - The nurse plugged it into my canual and delivered it over 5 mins, then in went another E part (there were 3 syringes with the E part) and then I had another 5 syringes after the red stuff to go in. If the red stuff goes in too fast, you can feel a little tingling/burning sensation, but that goes away immediately as soon as she slows down feeding it into the canual.
During the red part, I was offered to suck on an ice lolly, but I had brought my own. This keeps your mouth cool when it’s going in. Not too sure if I was supposed to feel anything as I didn’t. But atleast I got to enjoy my fruit ice lolly lol.
For the remaining part of the treatment the F & C - Again, these were just fed through by the nurse. She said that I may get a sensation at the back of my nose which is likened to breathing in pool water. I didn’t have that, but my nose did tingle and it felt like I’d sniffed pepper. Also, I felt a little light headed.
So treatment was over and lunch was being served. So I had a chicken sandwich and then my pineapple cubes. Now I’m at home, doing some work and eating toast/jam (I’m starving).
At the momet I feel great but…I have been told that the SE’s (nausea) generally kicks in around the evening time, so I’ll keep you all posted on how I go. I’ve got plenty of meds here to stop myself from being sick, but if the inevetible happens, I’ll call the doc to come to the house and give me an injection.
Drink plenty of liquids - Around 2 litres will flush it out, but I’ve been drinking more lol.
Ann - It is definately the fear of the unknown. Trust me, it was so relaxed and fun and I met a lot of wonderful ladies. This sounds a bit sad, but I’m actually looking forward to my next one hahaha
Take care my Jewels, I’m off for a wee rest, but I’ll be back shining bright later
Martha xxxx
Hi everyone,
Martha, Your hair looks amazing. I was determined to use the cold cap but then I thought it was crazy to go through all this and leave a bit of my body unprotected. Probaly got my hair for about another 10 days. My hair used to drive me nuts, I looked like a dandelion clock most of the time but it does seem to be part of your personality, who you are. I know I will hate to see it go even if I will look tidy and organised not like I’d put my fingers in the electric mains.
Jayney, So sorry about your news. But as everyone says, you really do need to know what your dealing with before you make any decisions. You will find strength you never believed you had.
I am having Herceptin at the same time asw TC, evry three weeks. It will take 54 weeks if my maths is correct (very unlikely). Seems an awfuly long way off at the moment.
Day 5 of my first course today and I am feeling a bit brighter, more like me. Still got really bad acid reflux though.
Still not able to inject myself, I’m getting really annoyed, I think yes I’ll do it today, but no. Ho Hum.
Going to buy some Gavescon now to see if that helps
I hope the Jewels staring chemo today don’t have too many SE’s and can get a good nights sleep.
Love to everyone.
Marion
Hopping over from the Vals thread just to say to Marion that I am also on TC plus Herceptin. I’ve had 3 cycles so far and wanted to say it has been quite kind to me. I’ve needed very little medication, no nausea or sickness, all side effects manageable. The worst one is diarrhoea, which can last many days and is not good. My onco prescribed Loperamide tablets, which are identical to over-the-counter Imodium, and if taken properly immediately after the first episode they work well. Days 5 to 8 have been my worst days as far as tiredness goes. I hope it is as kind to you as it is being so far to me.
Linda xxx
Hello Jewels
Got my hair chopped but only braved a bob but I like it and I am trying cold cap so will see how it pans out. They were lovely at the hairdressers when I told them about chemo and gave me some styling products to use so I can just leave my hair to dry naturally (if there’s any left!)
picked 1 wig in a long bob but its going to take about 10 days to arrive as they had to order one for my huge head! But I quite like it so that’s a bonus! But had a lovely day with my mum which meant a lot.
I have my cardio gram tomorrow and pre chemo assessment so hopeful I’ll find out start date then.
Anne - I’m going to do my big house clear this weekend but think of the positives … If you’ve survived vanilla essence from 2005 then chemo will be a walk in the park and if you run away we will come and find you - you have been warned!
Maxie - don’t know if you watch The Apprentice but I keep expecting my eyebrows to arrive and me end up looking like Alex Mills!
Faye - glad you are ok and that you’ve stopped flashing your hooters at everyone lol
welcome to all the new ladies looking forward to getting to know you all.
Hoping Martha is doing well, can’t stop thinking about her.
We are off out tonight for a meal with some family so expecting lots of tears. I need a t-shirt doing with ‘I’M FINE’ printing in large letters!
Catch you later Jewels xx