chris, nice to hear from you. hope you make right choice about the hair. would be good to all get together for a party, think it would be fun as we all seem to have the same type of humour! some of you are just not fortunate enough to live in Kent! I have one chemo left, a week thursday, and my 18 year old daughter wants to come with me. I tried to put her off, as didnt want her to see me in that environment, but she has insisted, so i have agreed. hope i have not made the wrong decision. maybe it will help for her to see me and understand more of what is going on and what chemo entails, just dont want her frightened by it all. we will see. mouth soreness has not yet been as bad with this chemo, but dried up and lost taste. my worse problem is that for some reason, my mouth produces excess saliva and a water type liquid, which tastes horrible and i have to keep spitting it out. this lasts for about a week to ten days and i have to be near a bucket at all times!! sounds disgusting and is disgusting!!! onc unsure about what to do, so have to put up with it. may look for the honey tho, when get to sains next. thanks for tip. may try freezing the pineapple tho. I am enjoying watching the olympics to. something different to watch when laid up on sofa for the day!
Maggie - thanks for the tip about the juice, will remember that after my op! love pineapple, but never tried the juice, dont know why! will now tho, just not at the wrong time! now ice cream tho, different matter, as this is my favourite food! I love it and find any excuse to eat it!
hope you are recovering well from your op and your throat is better. how are things with you and your treatment?
sandra - hope all is well with you and will be good to keep chatting on this page with you and see how you are getting on. will be thinking of you on tuesday and wish you luck. which hospital do you go to and which doctors? i am at maidstone.
hope you get some good news. like you said, its good to talk to everyone on this site, and just talk about everyday things, instead of bc. hopefully, some of us will be able to get together, as there are some from down our way. we will have to try and sort it sometime!
anyway, looking forward to a hopefully easy week (healthwise) and busy week before next chemo. try to make the most of good time and a busy weekend next weekend with family get togethers, but will keep in touch and should be on line on thursday night, all being well.
have a good week all and speak soon
deb x
Hi Deb Good to hear from you and yes it would be good to meet up with anyone living in area sometime i’m sure we could all find something to laugh about even though we all have a lot to worry about. I had my op at the Alex in Walderslade - my lovely family paid for me to get it done quickly even though by no means rich but parents had some money saved for a rainy day - my consultant is Miss Hassannally who I have to go back to see tomorrow for results then will have chemo etc at Maidstone I think. Have holiday booked with eldest daughter Gemma for 3 nights in Venice leaving Thurs morn so hoping I can still go. Am getting nervous but at least will know what I am dealing with - husband is coming with me to get results. Hope you have a good week doing all the family things before having your next chemo - will keep in touch
Sandra x
Hi Chris - nice to hear about your kids and that your daughter went with you to chemo and has been looking after you (as you said role reversal) - I was so worried about telling mine - my eldest daughter (24) lives in London and she was so upset but has been a great support, youngest daughter (21) doesn’t want to think about it and just wants everything to be OK, she has a little girl (2) my beautiful granddaughter, I was there at her birth and cut her chord - and my son (17 next week) he is just so positive about everything. I had op 2 weeks ago - removal of lump and auxillary clearance as my lymph gland was positive after biopsy, will get results tomorrow and find out stage, grade etc then chemo,rads I’ve been told. Really nervous in case find out it has spread but on the other hand really need to know everything as all this waiting and thinking about it is just sooo stressful you know what I mean! Am hoping to go to Venice on Thurs with eldest daughter for few days will find out if can go tomorrow.
Take care and will keep in touch
Sandra x
Hi Eleanor, thanks for that - grapes sound a good idea.
Deb, I’m glad that you’re coming to the end of your chemo - it must be such a relief. Are you near Maidstone? I was on the verge of moving down to Kent when I got my diagnosis but I hope I can go back to that plan in the future - I love it round there. I agree that after ops, ice cream is definitely the best thing. I even had jelly with mine!! I’m back to the hospital tomorrow for dressings and results.
Hi Sandra
you were lucky going to the Alex for your op. I have private health and pay £70 a month for the priveledge! My policy states that if I can be seen within 6 weeks on the NHS, I cannot use the private health care. As I was seen within 2 weeks from doctors visit, they would not allow me to use it. Very annoyed, considering the amount I pay, but oddly enough, I still see the same two doctors at Maidstone that I would at the Alex or the Somerfield Hosp. Maidstone is lovely tho, and the staff are great, so cant fault them. Hope you have a lovely time in Venice and not let all going on spoil it for you. Sure the break would do you good.
Maggie, yes I am over the moon that the chemo is nearing the end. I seem to have been having it for ages and yet each session comes round so quickly! I live in Sittingbourne, about 20 mins from Maidstone. where are you? hope hospital appt goes ok. dont you just feel like you spend most of your life in that place! I do!!!
So glad the olympics is on, am loving watching it. X factor starts this weekend too, something to look forward to. My daughters friend got through to the judges part, so hope to see him on tv. didnt get to boot camp tho.
anyway, have to get some work done now!
good luck for all at hospital tomorrow. keep us updated
ttfn
deb x
Hi Maggie, this is Sandra - read that you are going today for results - hope it’s good news for you. I am going for results of op today as well and feeling very nervous but at the same time want to know everything. Have you been through chemo before having your op? I had lump and auxillary node clearance 2 weeks ago then results today then chemo and rads. Everyone on this site makes me realise that I am not alone and we are all going through similar feelings and emotions and can even have a bit of a laugh together - I am fed up of being sad it’s just not me - in fact at the moment I don’t even feel like me do you know what I mean!
Hope to keep in touch
Sandra x
Deb - I was booked to have op in Medway Hosp - got date 4 weeks from diagnosis but had to wait only 4 days if paying for private op at Alex. Although it was lovely in there (well as lovely as being in hospital can be)! and all the nurses were great the reason for going was purely to get op done quickly as I am sure NHS would have been fine and I would have had the same consultant do the op on NHS at Medway as I did private at Alex.I was actually offered a cancellation at Medway but by then had already booked to go into Alex. Was told that would have to go to Maidstone for chemo so not sure if it is done at Medway Hosp as that is nearer to me. Anyway will be going to get results soon (appt. is 5.30) - will let you know how things go
Take Care
Sandra x
Sandra - how did hospital appt. go? Hope all ok for you, as far as ok can go? as far as I know, chemo is done at Maidstone hosp. they are a great bunch and its a lovely hospital. would have liked to have gone private, purely for the amount we pay each month and get the money’s worth!! cant fault the hosp and doctors I am seeing tho.
Maggie, hope your hospital appt went well too. let us know how it went
may not be on live chat tomorrow as have company coming round. will see what time they go.
Hi Deb, fancy paying all that money and then not being allowed to use private - I would be mad! I’m sure the treatment you’ve had is great but that’s not the point! I’m still in SE London - thank goodness in a way as I know so many people locally who have been fabulous. But in the end, I would like to be around Maidstone/Ashford way which was where I was heading. I come from the other side originally - Westerham - do you know it? So glad you’re chemo is nearly done.
Results not great - not enough margin, sentinel node affected so more surgery and chemo now.
Sandra, I hope your results were ok. There is a group of 4 or 5 of us on the ‘confusing diagnosis’ thread started by Tuesday. We are all starting chemo within a few weeks of each other for the first time and are going to be chemo buddies. Don’t feel alone - come and join us.
Deb - got results yesterday 2 out of 10 nodes involved so that seems to be ok so relieved about that. Had lump analysed and no cancer cells present so had to have scan and I still have the original cancer lump inside me. Have big X marks the spot on right boob and going back to have it removed on Friday.Venice trip cancelled boo hoo but hope to go next year. Glad your chemo is coming to an end it’s a step further to life returning to normal for you (whatever normal is)! Anyway have a good weekend
Take Care
Sandra x
Maggie - sorry to hear about your results but sure you will be fine when you have further surgery - do you have to have lymph galnds removed for testing? I have had that op and also had lump removed - got results yesterday and have to go back Friday for further lumpectomy as tests showed only tissue had been removed and a scan revealed that I still have the cancer lump. Will start chemo soon after next op - will go onto the ‘confusing diagnosis’ thread you mentioned as being chemo buddies sounds like fun although I’m pretty sure it isn’t going to be!!! It helps knowing others are in the same boat and that we can share our experiences whatever they may be
Will keep in touch
Sandra x
Hi Sandra, glad only 2/10 nodes affected. That’s very odd that they managed to miss the lump - what a nuisance. I’ve got to have my nodes out too and a wider excision as my margins weren’t clear. I think we’ll be starting chemo at the same time. Will be very glad to have you as a chemo buddie hon - we can all share experiences good and bad.
Hi Maggie - do you have a date to go into hospital for next op? you will have the same op that I had last time, wide local excision - I was very scared about surgery but it wasn’t that bad and I recovered well. I must admit that I wanted to try and use my arm very soon for usual things like washing etc ( without overdoing things) and I have been fine, just had bruising a bit of soreness and numbness and tingling at top of arm which is still there but otherwise ok. Hope it all goes well for you - what hospital do you go to? I have to go back tomorrow for lumpectomy - my family paid for me to go private and have op done quickly and I still have the original cancer lump inside me which I find hard to believe but will have it removed tomorrow. Think we will be having chemo at the about the same time so will be good to be chemo buddies
Keep in touch - Take care
Sandra x
I’ve just got the date - 1st September. I wish it were a bit sooner but their lists get so full and given that they did offer me the next day, I can’t complain! They are going to take all my nodes out and widen the last excision. I’m going to Guys which makes me very happy as I started my working life there and it feels very familiar and I absolutely cannot fault the care I am having. Where are you Sandra? I still can’t believe that they missed the tumour you poor thing. Good luck for tomorrow hon. Let me know how you are when you’re up to it.
Hi Maggie
Guys is a great hospital so you will be in good hands and 1st Sept will soon come round. I live in Chatham in Kent, had op done at The Alexandra (Private Hospital). My lovely family paid for me to get the cancer out quickly so can’t quite believe that I still have it in me but at least it should be out today (I hope)! My eldest daughter Gemma who lives in Clapham is coming up today to stay for the weekend, the two of us should have been in Venice now as booked ages ago but had to cancel. Oh well never mind we will go next year I hope. Anyway will keep in touch, we are all sailing in the same boat so have to keep our spirits up together.
Take care
Sandra x
Hi Deb
How are you doing? Hope you are feeling ok - are you having your last chemo soon? You must be so glad chemo is nearly over though you still have a way to go with op but you are on the home straight. I am waiting for results of last fridays lumpectomy - still feeling a bit sore and arm still numb from node surgery but doing ok. It’s my sons birthday tomorrow and am going to see High School Musical with the kids and will take them for meal in London. Eldest daughter works at Canary Wharf so she will meet us there, it’s nice to go out with them all, just hope the tube isn’t packed. Have just joined facebook and joined bc group The Lymphamaniacs - are you on fb, if not why don’t you join up.
Take care, bye for now
Sandra x
havent a clue how facebook works! both my two are on it tho, so will take a look. had quite a day today. saw onc this morning and all going well, so last chemo tomorrow. this afternoon, i saw doctors and lump reduced yet again to about 1cm which is good news. they are now sending me a date for operation, which will be after 19th sept, as taking chris to uni that day. had op explained, bit frightening, as having reduction aswell and lots involved. had all explained about sentinal nodes removal etc and what will happen after depending on whether cancer cells present or not. pretty scared about it all now. mind playing mental games, but just want it all over with. so much to take in but will take each step at a time.
hope you have a lovely day tomorrow. will do you good. i went to howletts yesterday with my two and my mum and a little girl she was taking out for the day. first day out like that for months and really done me good, although very tired at end of day!
anyway, sorry but have to go. will be on as soon as i can after tomorrow.
hope everyone is doing well and be in touch soon
take care
deb x
Hi Deb
Good news about lump gone down to 1cm and you are coming to end of chemo. Hope you are feeling ok as you must have had last chemo by now and prob feeling crappy but hopefully you wont need any more after your op. Did you have a biopsy on your lymph nodes when you first went to the breast clinic? Also you say you are having a reduction, that is a big op but sure you will be fine and will be good to get it done and a step forward to recovery for you. Which hospital will you go to? Went out yesterday with kids, had meal and went to see High School Musical - got tickets really cheap and to be honest it was more for younger kids but had nice time anyway - going to see The Lion king next week so looking forward to that. Guess I just want to carry on as normal planning days out etc. even though things in my head are far from normal but like you said one step at a time, think it’s the only way to deal with everything otherwise the mind goes into overdrive. Anyway just going to look on facebook, hope to see you on there.
Take it easy
Sandra x
got my son to sign in on facebook and look for you, but couldnt find the link anywhere! how do i go about finding you all?
had last tax for time being last week. feeling tired and bit achy and preparing myself for the week ahead!! glad all over tho and have few weeks before operation, so will try and make most of them. getting son sorted for uni, so will be busy! most of eyelashes gone now and eyebrows and head getting very dry skin, so OH gone to get baby oil from shops! wish me luck for a fairly easy week and will be in touch soon.
take care
deb x