Hi there Jo;
Thanxs for your message, yes the staff are really good, its just the conditions that I find so horrid. But like I said to hubby, hopefully its only another 5 times, so I can put up with it!
I haven’t heard about the aromatherapy sessions, but I have signed up for the pampering therapy, which sounds very good.
Hope all goes well for you
Em xx
Hi ladies,
I know just how you feel about LRI chemo suite being cramped but at least it is clean and staff are lovely.I am on number 5 fec on monday 23rd,so i have a nurse with me all the time,which is nice as they usually have something to talk about and usualy involve person sat next to me if they are on a drip. I went to look good feel good,it waas brilliant and good fun, added bonus your goodie bag(no rubbish)really gives you a lift to talk to others at different stages.I haven’t had any sickness only lost my hair.I drink ginger and lemon tea as ordinary tea leaves funny taste and eat ginger biscuits if i am peckish also loads of fresh fruit.Good luck to you all,maybe see some of you on monday.boatgirl xx
Hi ladies
Am off for my first FEC on Friday as couldn’t start it last week. I had psyched myself up for it but alas it was not to be so another week spend biting my nails.
Boatgirl, how do you book one of the Look Good sessions God knows I think I need it now with the disturbed sleep I am getting.
Good luck to all you lovely brave ladies.
Elle x
Hi elle,
I rang Sue at look good feel better,sorry mis-laid phone number but it is on a poster in chemo suite at LRI or ask at the “hat” shop.I would recommend it to anyone having chemo it really does give you a boost.It is only run once a month but by beauty therapist,they give a goody bag and loads info on caring for your skin during chemo and no "hard sell"as everything is donated by the manufacturers.They have a website lgfb.co.uk
Best of luck and hope you get appointment soon.
Also good luck with your treatment.
boatgirl xx
Hi Ladies;
I have rang & booked on for Jan - as the Nov is full & they don’t run one in Dec.
The number is 0116 258 5760 - Sue
She sounds lovely, and like boatgirl says you get loads of freebies! - It’s ladies from the top department stores doing the demonstrations, so top advice. I am quite looking forward to it. Also I am taking my Mum with me, as you are allowed to take a mate, they will not get the goodie bag, but maybe gain from the experience!
Em xxx
Booked my session for Jan 27th by that time will probably need all the help I can get.
Hope everyone is doing ok.
x
Hi Em, Elle - the Looking Good, Feeling Better sessions (or whatever they’re called) are very good- though the room in which it’s done is not very glam.!
I had my session at the LRI this time last year, when I was looking and feeling somewhat rubbish with the chemo … but they even managed to make me look a bit better!
The beauticians are very pleasant and helpful and the bags of ‘goodies’ really are excellent.
thank god other people to talk to!
on my 3rd fec tommorrow- so know that i am going to feel dodgy until monday. this is the harder bit for me as my girls are 1 and 4. but family very supportive. was told yesterday i will probably just stay on fec as it has worked so well.
the wait at lri is very long- sometimes, but dr b is really nice and goes over things well and the nurses are lovely too. dr krupper seems really nice to but won’t be seeing him until next year though now.
i am having chemo first then surgery- but don’t know what happens after that- does anyone know or isit a wait and see what happens??? chemo has worked really well and don’t have a lump anymore, but its hard not being able to get on with normal life.
it would be good to see some younger fols on the chemo suite (you know what i mean!), i am just 30 and usually only see people 60+ not a bad thing but not all of them have my sense of humour! they are usually laughing at me and my face with the needle business though!
this is hard but laughing and positiveness keeps me going
mel
Hi everyone
I’m having my first session of FEC at the LRI tomorrow and went today for the pre-treatment chat. I must say it was a bit of a shock walking into the chemo suite to be faced by the open ward where treatment was being given. What idiot designed that layout? Having said that the nurse I saw was great and went through everything I needed to know. I’ve had my hair cut short in anticipation of losing it as didn’t want great long clumps falling out all over the place although it was a bit emotional. Not expecting to sleep too well tonight and will be glad when the first session is over so I get some idea of how the SE’s are going to get me. At least I will be in week 3 christmas day so may actually enjoy it a bit.
Maggie
Dear Maggie/Mel - I do feel for you and especially that you are having to have your treatment in the LRI chemo suite. Do hope your first session went OK Maggie - once you have started at least you can start looking forward to the end. I had 3 FEC to begin with and apart from a ‘hot face’ after the first few days, I really was OK with it- so hope you are the same.
I am sure the actual treatment is second to none (and Dr Biangiu is excellent- small, but beautifully formed!) - but in my view the physical conditions in the chemo suite are really quite unacceptable. I complained - both informally and in writing- about the overcrowding, the long waits and the attitude of some of the staff; it didn’t do much good I fear- but made me feel better! I was told that no-one else had complained - which I knew to be untrue …and anyway it’s surely stating the obvious to say that most folk would hope to have some privacy and ‘personal space’ whilst they had chemo treatment- AND to be able to have a friend or relative stay with them.
I do sympathise with you re everyone seeming rather elderly: it was the same during my treatment (and I was one of the oldies!) - I can quite understand that this is something else to have to cope with. I remember going with my daughter for her chemo in Bristol and thinking how old everyone looked compared with her (she was 34) -…and then last year at this time, it was her going with me …and being rather shocked at the set-up at the LRI…
Hi, my daughter was diagnosed with breast cancer on the right breast and also in the l.nodes.She is also under Dr. Kruppa and with Dr. Ahamed at the Oncology L.R.I. Leicester.My young daughter only found the lump by chance.
I cannot say thankyou enough to the two hospitals for their quick action. She had her first chemo last Thursday. We still cant get our heads round this and are still tearful.
My daughter is already talking about going to work between chemo therapy. She will have 6 lots of chemo between 18 weeks to shrink the tumour and then they will operate or before the 18 weeks.
It is comforting to read your posts. I will keep you all posted of her progress. BTW we visited a healer today and it has been most helpfull.
Hi Ladies
Had my second FEC on Thursday at LRI. It is a bit daunting there due to the lay out etc but keep in mind it is one of the best funded Oncology units in the country and has a 4% higher than average success rate. Sometimes you have to just roll with it an accept that the NHS isn’t perfect but my God aren’t we grateful for it when we need it and not having to fork out a fortune just to get treated. My anti sickness tablets alone cost over £60. Don’t think I would fancy paying that out each month.
Know what you mean about the age thing I smiled at one older woman who just glared at me - oops. However took some sherbert lemons with me this time and asked a few people around me did they want one and we all started chatting (couldn’t hear much as had my cold cap on) but that was nice also showed one lady my lovely wig as she hadn’t had the courage to go and get one but said now she will. The nurses are nice they are just very over stretched, not their fault but typical NHS.
Anyone under Mr Kruppa believe me he is a fantastic surgeon he has done a marvelous job with me, even the lady who fitted my prosthesis was impressed. The Royal Marsdons loss is definitely Glenfields gain, even the BCN’s are impressed with him.
Elle X
Hi everyone
well I had my first FEC on friday, eventually. They had lost my consent form and won’t start without it so appointment ran late. The meds were pushed in much quicker than I expected them to be, about 35mins - is this normal ? Anyway 1am sat night I started being very sick. Then again about 8am and again about 8.45. So rang the hosp and told to go in. Glad I did as severly dehydrated by now. Anyway after an hrs wait to see a doctor I was put on a saline drip and given anti-sickness and steroids through the line. Stayed on a drip for 6 hrs and felt much better at the end. I came home about 7pm, had a snack and went to bed and have felt much better this morning. I’m going to ask for stronger anti-sicknes meds next time as I did warn them I am a very stomachy person. Fingers crossed I have good night and feel even better tomorrow.
Best wishes to everyone else in the middle of chemo
Maggie