Sounds very tough @wibbles . Hope things ease for you soon 
It does sound tough for you. I’m so glad they are helping you with lots of medication, care and sounds like understanding. It’s still very crap for you but hopefully this will really help to feel you have some control over this. Sending much love
@foxgem all thoughts and prayers with you right now, this is not easy news to get and process especially in the days following an EC cycle.
I don’t know where you live etc but I saw an excellent geneticist (Dr Angela George) at the Royal Marsden who was brilliant at explaining the different gene mutations, what it means in terms of risks, options, decisions for yourself but also for you children etc etc, she was the best doctor I’ve seen throughout this whole process.
But like people have said, you have time to reflect, gather more info and make informed decisions. X
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Steroids = awake since 3:20am. Laid there for 2 hours and just been to get a decaf tea. With an extra 2 days of steroids to combat the delayed allergic reaction, I’m thinking it’ll be Monday night before I get a full night’s sleep 
Post treatment fatigue coupled with steroids insomnia is not fun.
I have a friend visiting today, she’s lives 90 mins away, really looking forward to seeing her 
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Very broken sleep here also, I tried to stay in bed as I felt exhausted but I didnt sleep more than 2 hours at a time really. All to be expected. I have steroids for a few days also and it does get a bit easier to sleep on then, though probably not a full night’s sleep.
Lovely you have a friend visiting
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I live in Essex right near the coast. Thank you for sharing that. At the moment I feel strangely relieved, like a weight has been lifted. I saw the pattern with my mum but the doctors and nurses said it wasnt enough to be tested. Thankfully they recently changed the criteria and because I was under 40 at diagnosis (just!) They agreed to test me. So as scary as it is, it means I needed extra after all this and I am going to get that now. Ive heard people say throw the belts and braces at it, well now I can throw belts, braces, extra buttons, hooks and zips!
It’s hard to know how to navigate this next part so that I get the best treatment, the best outcome after surgery. The BRCA2 surgery waiting list is nearly 2 years away which tells me it’s busy, and a busy NHS is a cheap NHS. I might be doing a real dis-service to all but thats just how I feel. Private isnt an option for us. So I’m not sure on my next best moves. Nothing will happen quickly so I think I need to get my thoughts back to the now. Chemo round 3, day 2. Once active treatment is done maybe thats the time to think further ahead.
Sorry for the rambling everyone 
I’m thinking out loud as per usual
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I think l may be the only one who got any sleep last night. For one thing its 2mg dexamethosone 3 x per day on nab-paxitaxel (allergic adverse reaction x3 to previous used taxels) as opposed to the 8mg x2 a day they gave to keep trying ducataxel and secondly compared to that b.a excema flare from what they think was coupled with a delayed reaction to even nab the steroids make my skin calm down and stop itching so intensely. Hoping they can also calm down the nausea, dynorod, aches and pains but in either case l plan on spending the next 5-6 days resting as much as possible, eating what l can when l can and drinking at least 2.8 to 3l per day as on the days I did that last time l did not feel so ghastly. 2l is not quite enough to help my body cope with chemo drugs Ìt is not keen on. I have even had a go at trying crochet using pure cotton yarn. I normally knit but my skin is sulking over acrylic yarn. Dh has arranged to work from home for the next week to make sure I get food and drink and ‘just in case’ of an allergic reaction.
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Well done on the liquids, this is where I fail. Ive started introducing some coconut water to mix things up a bit but it is pricey. Husband always give me a look haha
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I am really glad people here suggested adding Greens and Belvoir cordials to flavour water so it’s palatable during the water tastes awful phases. I cannot use most of the commercially available ones as they contain aspartame but these ones use sugar instead which l can have. Still to find any form of tea type stuff for tea also tastes foul phases other than ginger cordial in hot water.
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I was really bad at the water early last cycle then I freaked myself out about not getting enough and getting bladder issues so I’ve been pushing myself. Seems to have helped though, especially with my veins being better and not sore for the cannula this time. Coconut water sounds like a good shout! Glad to see you’re feeling some optimism about the genetic testing results but howling at the moon is also an acceptable response in my view. My genetics are due back any time in the next couple of weeks and I’m definitely having some dark moments about what they might say. Trying to steer far from Dr Google. X
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It’s just another part of mapping our treatment It is pants but there’s nothing I can do about it. You are no more in control of your genes than you are what colour hair you are born with. Its just part of us. I hope yours is negative, it does add complications but recent months have told me to keep firmly looking forward. Im not letting it be the end of the world. No what ifs, only what is and manage it
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How long did it take for your results? I had mine taken just before starting chemo so wondering how long until I get the results. The hospital have been a bit vague in timescales as it goes to a different hospital to be tested.
It was about 7 weeks. Might be closer to 8 actually
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The BCN said 6-8 weeks for mine, and they were taken 18 Feb.
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Round 3 EC, day 3 and my nausea is much less that it has been. Is it possible our clever bodies can adapt? I usually wake up needing a sickness tablet but not today (I still might pop one anyway haha)
Feeling hopeful about the steroids crash days and dreaded days 5-7
I was very lazy yesterday, my sofa dent definitely increased so I’m going to force myself out for a small walk today
Big hugs to all
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Has anyone used or been recommended a saline nasal spray to help moisten the nose and minimise bleeding during chemo? If so did it help?
The highlight of the past ten hellish days has arrived.
I can finally wear something comfy on my leg. I had forgotten how good their clothing is to wear on eczema as it been 10 years since l last had to make use of it. Going to order their knickers and fold back scratch mitt soft cotton cardi top that I take into hospital for a mastectomy and lymph nodes removal post chemo. Hopefully that will protect my skin from hospital laundry detergents.
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@foxgem how are you doing after the genetic information? That is big news for you to process alongside everything else. But as has been said above, knowledge is crucial. Especially for your relatives / children too. A plan can now be made to protect you in the future. That will not be immediate so just take one step at a time. Thinking of you.
Heading into EC#4 next week. With the third cycle I found the first week harder (I think mainly mentally as my hair is now covered in bald patches all over the scalp and I have about 20% remaining). But the second week has been excellent (sun maybe helping) as I’ve forced myself to do lots of things over Easter etc to keep busy. Latest side effect is ulcers on my tongue!
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Angela is absolutely phenomenal! Are you having your treatment at the Marsden?
@jululemon no but she was one of the 3 geneticists covered by my insurance so saw her regarding my genetics test. But I agree, she is fantastic. For the ulcers have you tried salt water and bicarb rinse?
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