That response to chemo is wonderful and a real boost! Despite all the horrible side effects it sounds like it has done its job. Hope you can enjoy the news before surgery and glad you’ll have support when planning it xx
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Yes you’re right - just the one injection 24h post-chemo, so that’s a perk. Xx
I have the single use one prescribed by my oncologist. TBH I am so glad I only have one injection to do. it does cause joint pain and seems to like to target joints I have damaged from previous sport injuries and fell walking injuries especially my left knee which left me crawling off Shap fell for help. If pain is an issue that cannot be managed by paracetamol speak with the chemo nurse, they may know positions to help ease off some of the pain using extra pillows and blanket rolls to support joints ( I have found this helps untill the paracetamol kicks in) or one of the doctors may be able to prescribed a different drug that helps reduce the pain level to something you can cope with.
I have found gentle none weight bearing mobilising exercises to be helpful too. ONce the pain settles down after a week I slowly restart the weight bearing excercises and build back up as far as chemotheraphy rounds allow.
HOpe your oncologist is able to prescribe the single use pegfilistram injection if you are struggling with the cheaper daily alternatives. ( You may need to help them put together a case to demonstrate why in your case it’s worth spending that extra bit on you from the hospital budget.)
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Thanks - I’ll check the pressure rating…
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This is wonderful news!!! Congratulations @wibbles Well done chemo. It makes it all worth it right?
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Amazing news @wibbles!
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Awesome news @wibbles - while none of the side effects are pleasant, to have such a good response at least means it was for some benefit.
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That’s great news @wibbles . It’s been a long hard road but it can feel a real motivator to get to the end of it when you know that the challenges of chemo are resulting in positive news 
good luck with your boob knitting xxx
Round 2 of Docetaxel and round 5 of chemo ticked off 
. We’ll see how the side effects go over the next fee weeks but came home with a bag full of medication !
It just feels with one more to go that it’s all doable !
Neutrophils still getting back to normal ranges. Red blood count low so they told me to eat more iron but I’m hopeful that and some rest will get me to the end of this !
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Hero unit just called and have defered tomorrow by a week. My Hb level is too low andI needs blood transfusion Drat, that will have a knock on effect on all my other appointments. Trying not to feel like a failure.
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Absolutely not a failure! And you might feel fantastic after the infusion? It’s like a weird mini spa break for your body 
Your chemo has done a fantastic job but its brutal. This isnt a delay its just part of the treatment
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I have my meeting today with a plastic surgeon to discuss my future boobs! Foobs as ive seen them be called? I think this is meant to mean fake boobs? Not sure I like this expression so going to need another I think.
Ive got my questions but if anyone else has any they want me to ask whilst im there id be happy to
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Fairly sure foobs refer to the solid silicon prosthesis provided by the NHS rather than reconstruction from plastic surgeons.
I gather foobs can be heavy, sweaty and tbh I suspect they may have been designed by men…….that is why I am knitting knockers and hope to be able to order a Boost form via the NHS as In my case reconstruction surgery on top makes me go not for me.
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THank you for that, Ìt helps. I suspect not being able to eat the kind of foods that contain both the vitamins and hem irons a body needs for the past four weeks with chemo on top is behind this. Will be chasing what needs to happen next with the hospital later today.
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Hi @wibbles I was looking at post surgery bras today and came across this site on one of the BCN pages -
https://share.google/og1rh3oS48uFfSM8t
I came on to post it to show you and saw your message about a delayed treatment. As @foxgem says this is absolutely not a failure. You’ve lost 12kg because of your issues with food - that can only have had an effect and chemo treatment is brutal. None of us know when the same may happen to us no matter what we do. It’s a sign from your body that you need a little extra help and listening to what our body needs is paramount in treatment. You can’t influence how this happened only what you do with the info. I totally get you’ll be feeling disappointed that this may put other things back a little but better that than make you very ill indeed. You’ve been so proactive in looking after yourself and passing on your advice from your experiences to others but as with other things you’ve needed in your journey this is another one to help you get through - you are in no way a failure. Sending lots of love your way
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Good luck today @foxgem - I hope you manage to get your questions answered. I agree - I’m not sure foobs is a great word. I can’t think of anything to pass on to ask that I don’t think you’ll already have covered - I know you’ll have been researching as I would have been. I just hope all goes well and you aren’t pressured to make a decision in their timescales rather than yours
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Thank you for the link, managed to make a knitted knocker yesterday to see if l could knit on four pins but have since realised l accidentally made an E cup sized one rather than a D to DD (oops) knitting another the next size down. This is definetly work in progress as l have not made anything like it before.
Oncology secretary has called me back to ensure l have an appointment for a blood spa day……booked for Sat at 8am in the chemo / infusion unit and not the hospital AMU. DDWarned me to check that the request had gone from oncology and not surgical.
DD did say 70% of chemo patients on my drug regime end up with one or two delayed chemos due to low HB or low white blood cells and it is not my fault as she knows l really have tried to do all l can to help myself within the limitations of gut side effects.
ONcology Secretary is so helpful as she remembers me from three adverse reactions landing me on the extra care needed list.she hopes that having a week extra lets my body recover enough to get through the final two rounds with minimal side effects. Have to say the zapping the site of the HER+ tumour can continue though.
Feeling a little less stressed by it all compared to how l was this morning.
Managed to persuade surgical secretary to speak with surgeon about moving appointment to the following week. Pointed out if they did not the surgeon would be talking to me through the loo door, if it’s the surgeon they said that my DD likes to work with he will have laughed and rescheduled his planned clinic for the day to fit me in.
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Hope you went okay today @foxgem . I was in to see the breast surgery consultant today - not my usual one because he was on hols and it seems as if the appointements sec got their wires crossed. But actually it was a really helpful appointment. Hope nobody minds if I brain dump here a bit to you all - it helps to write it down, and I’d value any reflections from you all, fellow chemo journey crew.
My chemo has been neoadjuvant so I have yet to have any surgery. Only my right breast is affected and so far no evidence of lymph node involvement. But because it’s lobular not ductal cancer, it forms slightly differently and it is over quite a large area. So, depending on final imaging - and even if there has been good response from chemo - there is a chance that the area is too large for a lumpectomy. I also got the impression that clear margins are harder to achieve meaning more likelihood of additional surgery, and again raising the chance of a mastectomy being needed. Still unclear though as we have to get those last ultrasounds and mammograms. She did also confirm I’d need radio. If lumpectomy, it seems likely I’d be offered a delayed rebalancing surgery after radio once the affected breast has settled and we can see what size it is to match to the other side - two smaller, probably perter, boobies at the end, which I’d not be sad about. If mastectomy, I’m left with the decision on reconstruction, which I think I am leaning towards. I’m 36 (well, I’ll be 37 by a few days on surgery day!) so (hopefully) have a lot of time left with this body, and would I think prefer to have a boob than not. The surgeon today suggested I might be a candidate for DIEP which I will discuss with plastics next week, then back to the breast surgeon the following week for a final consult on surgery options, I think. I didn’t think I would be so it will be useful to discuss that with her. The time off and recovery from that is daunting though.
I’m supposed to be working but I am sat here stewing and googling. I need to go and read all my leaflets. I know I’m lucky to have any choices to make so I’m trying to think carefully.
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@foxgem hope the appointment went ok for you today. So much to process and consider. Thinking of you
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Sounds like a Big Day has been had by all - @felineoptimist lots to compute and think about. I love a brain dump to organise my thoughts. @wibbles loving a crafty approach to breast problems/shaping - what skills. I too am trying to perfect some knitting skills and have attempted knitting in the round with this extended period of convalesce! @foxgem i hope you manage to get answers to your questions and can make your own best decision for the way forward for you. I am finally rejoining the real world but feel like I am absolutely spaced out and achey. Had Sun-Wednesday hocked up on pain meds with a call to chemo ward on Tuesday just to check I wasn’t overdosing or needed to do anything different. Aparently “surprise” my body does not like Taxel chemo. Anyway I am having a review with my consultant in person next week and today I have mostly been reclined and resting with a lot less pain meds in the system. Really felt the pain in my hips, lower legs and feet this time. I mentioned to my husband it’s reminds me of continuous contractions, at one point high on meds I advised I may be birthing a new toe however I doubted I’d be able to breast feed it… a new low on the high on pain meds with dark sense of humour jokes!! 
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