Joan,
I really hope to come in November. I could still be having rads. How did you ladies feel on rads? Not too tired?
Rae
X
Hi Ladies, well first day back at work (well half day anyway) was fine! I wasn’t actually in my office though, had to go to a meeting somewhere else, so the worst is still to come. I went bare-headed, I decided I couldn’t wear a wig, it’s just too hot and uncomfortable.
I also had my HD brows done this morning, and I’m really pleased with them, my brows were still very pale and thin, but she has tinted the tiny blonde hairs, and they now look like proper eyebrows! She has shaped them really nicely too. I think it’s important to say that you want natural looking brows, (definitely no scouse brows!) and I wish I’d had it done later in the day as she did some waxing and threading which left pink marks, but I can definitely recommend them.
Beryl, you must be so frustrated, how annoying! Would you believe I’ve just done exactly the same thing. I pressed backspace to correct a typo and the BCC page disappeared, so I’m now re-typing what I can remember in Word – grrrrrr. What a lovely husband you have – I can’t imagine my husband ever suggesting retail therapy – mind you I don’t need any encouragement! Hope you had a lovely time, and came home with lots of bags! I love John Lewis too.
Rae, so sorry to hear your surgery is delayed, you must be fed up, but it’ll soon be here. Hope you can spend the time doing lots of nice things.
Mary, what a shame that you have to use annual leave and don’t actually get any phased return. I’m surprised the Union reps and RCN allowed such a policy, I’m sure ours would have been fighting that! I don’t know if you can do this, but you could consider taking half days off sick when you feel tired?
Ceej, I’m so impressed that you are keeping so fit – and even considering running! I can manage a walk but that’s all. I will re-join the gym once my rads skin has healed, it’s still broken under my arm, but much better so shouldn’t be long hopefully.
Wolsty, sounds like you had a very energetic weekend! Enjoy the swimming tonight.
KQ, thanks for the ipad information, I’ll definitely be doing that to mine.
Dani, good to hear you’re recovering well, have a fabulous time inCornwall– you might even get some good weather!
Bettie, hope rads went well today, it’s nice to have someone to go with, the time will go so quickly.
Joan, well done, you’re finished! Hope underarm, feet, arms etc are all feeling better today! I think I’ve already said I’m happy with anything, just really grateful for all your organising.
Carolyn, Carmy and Twinky hope work is going ok for you.
Goodness, I must go, it’s 6pm and I haven’t even started dinner – think we might have salad!
Thinking of you all
Caren xx
Wintersocks, yes my numbness is following my mx and the area is still numb (had mx in January), chest, armpit and upper arm. The feeling did come back to a point, but not completely so I dont think it will now.
Rae, rads is a doddle after chemo! I have worked round my appointments and it was tiring at times, but manageable. In all honesty, it took up to 3 hours per day with the driving and hanging about but I was ok with it as I just felt it was so easy after chemo!
Joan xx
Evening,
Joan, just a quickie post…did you manage to drive to Rads yourself? i really want to be able to do that. Xx
Hi KQ, yes, I did drive and it was no problem at all. The hospital I went to is about half hour drive away.
Hope that helps!
Joan xx
Hi everyone, just a quick one unfortunately but I’ve not managed to post for a while so I thought I’d come on and say hi (and at some point read the pages of posts!). I’m nearing the end of rads and am rather tired, I’m not sure whether it’s the rads themselves or the fact I am running all over the county to drop my boy off at friends whilst I have the appointments, seems so much hard work for fifteen minutes of treatment, then trying to get other appointments scheduled around the rads ones and childcare, I will be so glad at the end of the week when that’s it. I also had my birthdayalthough end of last week, not sure a dose of x rays was the birthday present I was after though! Think I’m going to feel lost next week with my boy at school and no appointments!
The meal sounds a great plan and gives us all a chance to chat, am very excited about it 
Will try to come back later to catch up properly with everyone, but forgive me if I don’t manage until the end of the week!
Xx
Hello ladies
Wow turn your back for a day or two and the posts have multiplied, loads to catch up on. Went back to work yesterday and so far good. Manic few days and slept like a log yesterday, think I definitely needed stimulation of work after this long. Even better day today know what I’ll be doing every day now that I’m not actually having my own class, and I get the best of both worls teaching from year 1 (5 year olds) through to year 6 ( 11 year olds). I think it’s going to be a good year and I’ll get to know so many of the children.
Glad today went well Caren, very liberating to go wigless, it gives us back a bit of normality.
Seems like quite a few of us are returning to work this week, it seemed so long away when we were going through chemo, now it’s September and life getting back to normal.
Dani I too had a few stitches that seemed to cling forever, but they did eventually go, so I would just get your BCN to check it to put your mind at ease.
Huge congratulations to Megsmum, do keep us informed about names etc. I love babies, the girl I worked with before all of this is expecting, due November I’m so excited!
I hope you’re ok Kitcat, can’t believe that’s happened regarding letter from radiologist. I hope you’ve managed to get some answers, I bet the thought of chemo was horrendous. Hoping you get your strength back quickly. I know what you mean about gettinginformation from docs etc, I only seem to have got about 5 or 6 copies of correspondence and I know there must be more. In fact when I went to doc to get repeat prescription for Tamoxifen my gp only had a copy of a letter I gave them when I was diagnosed, so I had to fill her in and luckily she gave me my repeat.
Great to hear your getting on so well Wintersocks, it’s a great feeling when the drains come out. On the real recovery road now. We won’t go anywhere and will still be here for you during your rads, I mean where else can I talk to so many fellow crusaders at the same time. I’m going to keep with Wintersocks for now as I’m hanging on to the cat returning.
What a jet setter you are Beryl, and obviously a great mum doing all that for your daughter, they never stop needing us though which is fab.
Again thanks Joan for your organising, the place next to the hotel looks great, so much to choose from. How are we going to pay our deposit? Do we do it direct to the restaurant, or is someone collating it? It’s all so exciting I can’t wait. Great to hear rads done for you, I too had redness under arm but just found slapping on aqueous cream helped, and like you had a little raised bit but I put some Sudocream on it ( the stuff we used to use for babies nappy rash in a grey rub) that helped and now 3 weeks on from last rads all is good.
Carmy glad your dilemma has been resolved about the brachytherapy thing. As far as I know over here the last sessions are boosters so stronger, I had 18 in total the last three being boosters. Very interesting to read what Chascat said about difference between UK and abroad.
I fully understand about the hot flushes Ceej, I too get mega hot, one consolation though is I was talking to one of my colleagues yesterday who’s a year older at 49 and she’s getting flushes naturally from age, so it made me think well lots of un bc woman are also suffering like us Tamoxufen induced woman. It’s such a Wierd sensation though, the heat seems to come from inside like being microwaved, but I suppose at least it doesn’t last too long.
hope you had a great birthdayMarie, can’t wait for mine next Feb as it’ll be a bc free one, although also a year nearer 50! Id love a surprise pressie like yours as well of £500 lucky you.
Lovely to hear from you Hippo, seems such a long time ago that we were having conversations about cleopatra wigs! So hope you are joining us all in November.
well off to ring sis in law, decided we might visit her in Worcs. this weekend as weather predicted to be nice.
Apologies if I’ve forgotten anyone. It’s great to be moving on and getting life back.
Hugs to all still recovering.
Love Carolyn xxx
Hello lovely MMs!
Just a quickie, as I was hoping to have an early night tonight. So today was my first day at work too. After 5 months, phew! I felt a little nervous before coming into the office, and felt self-conscious at times with my head scarf, no bra, glasses instead of contact lenses, extra kilos… but my colleagues gave me big hugs and soon after a catch up it all seemed quite normal again, like before. It really made me feel of all of us women diagnosed. It’s like they take our lives away from us for a while. Massive HOORAY to all of us for fighting to get it back. *group hug*
Chascat, wow, that’s very interesting, what you were told today about brachy. It really puts my mind at ease so thanks a LOT for that! I’m glad marking you went fine. Hope it goes just as well tomorrow! So close to the end now!
Sorry I can’t send individual messages tonight, will write more tomorrow. Sending you all big hugs and hope you all have a pleasant night with sweet dreams and no night sweats.
Carmy xxx
Gosh what a lot of posts! Your weekend sounds really exciting. I finished rads yesterday - it does feel weird. There is an interesting article in good housekeeping about breast cancer.
I bought the shoes to go with the outfit for my daughters wedding today - I won’t be able to walk in them!!
I am not going back to work until November when my pay would have stopped. I decided Iwould rather enjoy the wedding and not be exhausted. love Georgie xxx
Morning all our lovely ladies
Another lovely day here in Glos and today we are off out to walk the dog (Digger) at an Arboretum (spl?) not too far away. It’s good to get out to see different places and it feels a little bit like being on holiday.
Nice to read that everyone is getting through their treatments and getting nearer the end. Having lost all my typed messages last night I’m going to have to get my head around what I want to say to everyone when I get back on the Forum later.
Joan - Having our evening meal at the hotel restaurant sounds fine to me and will be good for anyone wishing to have an earlier night than others. Do we just phone up the hotel to pay deposit or is the restaurant independant? I haen’t been on the website to investigate the venue or menu yet to see what is on offer.
Got to finish now and get the washing out on the line before getting on the road. Will be back on later and typing my long post in Word (should have done that in the first place) so I don’t end up losing it all again, Joan I know you have been doing that for a long while and it’s not the first time I’ve lost my messages, when will I ever learn?
Bye for now and love/best wishes to all.
Beryl XX
Hi March ladies,
sorry to butt in on your thread but just needed to ask you as you may be in the know !! I have just finished rads ( Monday ) and am wondering if it would hurt if I went swimming at the weekend as going away for a few days, do you think the chlorine would affect me if just a quick dip with grandson ?
Its so lovely to read posts so many finishing active treatment and moving forward ,
Love and respect to all , Janice x
Not playin! lost all my post this morning as soon as I press post the website cannot be found!
Hi Lottie - i just started rads yesterday and she said that the chlorine would sting, but I would think you’d be ok
Afternoon All
Back from our long walk at Westonbert National Arboretum which was lovely and the dog behaved himself. Have to say that that was the longest walk I’ve done since start of treatment and I couldn’t have done it about 3 months ago. Just goes to show how we improve going through this.
Going to try and repeat my messages from yesterday where possible…
Calmy – The news from Chascat looks encouraging and will hopefully help you with your decision going forward. I had to have 15 normal rads and 4 booster rads because of the type of cancer I had (type 3) but no lymph involvement. My consultant told me the boosters were to treat the tumour area only and to make sure they mopped up or words to that effect. Glad to hear that you are now back at work and all going well. Before you know it you will have finished your rads and through the other end of treatment. If it were me and I know it’s easy for me to say, but I doubt that I would have gone for the other treatment given all the things you have already been through so far. It looks like the booster sessions will do the job given the info from Chascat’s Onc. Wishing you all the best whatever your decision.
Megsmum – Sorry but forgot to congratulate you before on becoming a grandma/nan. I do hope mother and baby are doing well, do let us know his name and how they are. Hope you are getting plenty of cuddles.
Twinky - Back to work for you and hope that everything is going well. Not surprised that you needed a sleep in the afternoon. it will take a while to get stamina levels back to what they were and you have your gigs to contend with as well. It’s nice that we will be able to spend some time with you before you have to leave for your evening gig.
GeorgieB – Nice to hear from you and it won’t be long before the wedding and then a holiday to look forward to. Rads now finished for you too and we’re all slowly getting across the finishing line. Now don’t you go falling over on the new high heels and end up in A&E! What edition of Good Housekeeping did you see the article re BC? When I was at Addenbrooke’s Hospital waiting for rads I’m sure I read an article and it was in GH, if it was the same it was very interesting but I don’t think it was a resent mag.
Parsnip – Not long now before you finish rads as well but you are having a lot of arranging to do with childcare and support, which sounds a bit of a nightmare. No wonder you are feeling tired and I would put it down to a combination of both. I know going through rads that I needed a little nap in the afternoons to top up my battery. I’m sure you will be very relieved when it is all over but with little one back at school you will feel a little strange with no appointments to think about and your time, for the most part, will be yours. A very belated Happy Birthday for last week!
Carolyn – Good that you are now back into the swing of things at work and all is going well. My wig has now been put back in her box but she served me well considering I couldn’t get on with her at first. I’m not wearing anything on my head now unless it’s hot and it needs protection. We came to our daughters and I realised that I’d left all my headwear at home, so we had to go and buy something when we were out yesterday. Decided to buy a baseball cap in beige so that my husband can wear it when I’ve finished with it. I’m not a hat person and didn’t fancy looking for something a little more girlie that wouldn’t get worn much. Have to say that baseball caps are a bit butch looking but what the heck it does the job.
Socks – So pleased to hear that your drains have now been removed and you had a nice caring nurse to do it, which must have made you feel a little less anxious. Sorry to hear that Socks has not made an appearance yet but you never know. Don’t worry about us not being around whilst you are going through rads because we wouldn’t do that to you.
Mary (Peanut) – Hope your soreness is settling down and medication they gave you is working. Not long now before you start your phased return but it makes me wonder why the Trusts don’t all work to the same guidelines with regards to benefits etc. I didn’t buy any clothes at the shops yesterday because I couldn’t be bothered to try anything on. I did get a new mob phone because my old one won’t allow me to access the internet and my contract allows me to do that. Hubby took me out to lunch which was nice and we enjoyed out time at the shops. Sorry to hear that the Tamoxifen is making you feel a bit emotional but it will very likely settle down. My sister was on that for years and I remember her saying it took her a little while to get used to it. She is still taking a daily anti cancer drug 21 years on but the one she takes now is an all purpose one and not just for BC. I guess that when you are insured up to the hilt in USA and they agree to pay then they will keep you on them. I know that they keep a close watch on her even now.
Joan (Patchit) – Eating at the hotel restaurant sounds good, think I’ve said that earlier.
Chascat – Just the boosters to go and you will be over the finishing line as well – well done.
Bettie – Not the sort of thing you want to happen having your first rad delayed and very frustrating. Good that you now know someone going through treatment at the same time and you will hopefully get to meet up each day. They will soon be done and you will be over the finishing line too.
Dani – Enjoy your holiday in Cornwall which I’m sure you will. We went there last year for the first time and loved it. Glad to hear that you are recovering well from your surgery and getting out and about. It will be interesting to hear about the clinical trial when you have been for your appointment later on in the month. Keep us posted on that one please.
KQ – How are your eyes now? One of my eyes used to either get very dry or runny, but I had some false tear eye drops from the Optician in the cupboard and they seemed to do the trick. Can’t remember what they were called and I’m not at home to check. I’m sure that your chemist or local Optician will be able to advise.
Ceej – Losing you posting is very frustrating and happened to me yesterday as well. Now typing away in word because can’t bear for it to happen again. Hope it won’t be long before you can get back to normal with your OH, whatever normal is. How are things on the home front with your temporary visitors? Hope by now you have some space and peace and quiet back.
Raechi – Good that you are considering coming to our get together in November and it will be nice to finally get to meet us all. I know it won’t be long before your surgery and they are getting things in place at Addenbrooke’s for your operation. It’s good to know that they are going to take care of you there given everything that you have already been through. I found them very good when I went for my rad treatment so I’m sure you will be well taken care of with everything in place.
Not heard anything from Dulcie, Amylou, Jayjay, Angelherts, Pargayan, Poppyd, Gary and many more for quite a while and I do hope everything is going OK at the moment. Hopefully we will hear from you soon with an update.
I’m going to finish now because this is all getting so long. Take care all, thinking of you and best wishes. Beryl XX
Sorry forgot to sayt to Lottie - You are very close to finishing rads and have to judge by how your skin feels around the treatment area. Perhaps if you could slap on some cream just before it will help to protect it but other than that I don’t know what to suggest. If it starts to sting or not feel right when you are in there then get out, take a shower and slap on some more cream. Give yourself some more recovery time before trying it again. Regards Beryl.
Hello Marchies
Well had a manicure on my finger nails yesterday, and they look heaps better now, the manicurist said that she could see new growth devloping at the nail bed that looked quite strong, so fingers crossed I will eventually have nice nails again.
RAECHI sorry to hear that you had a change of surgery date at the last minute, hope things go smoothly from now until the 11th.
GEORGIE glad that you to have now crossed the rads finishing line. I guess you now have the complete outfit for the wedding. Not long until your holiday.
CARMY glad things are ok for you now you have gone back to work, I think often what we anticipate is often worse than the reality.
CAROLYN lived your description of the hot flishes microwaving us from the inside, guess could be cutting down on the winter heating bill !!!. Glad all going well now you are back at work.
PARSNIP glad that you are nearing the end of rads, it does seem strange that you do not have to be tied with medical appointments when you first finish but you soon get used to that nice feeling.
TWINKY glad that you are doing ok now you are back at work,I guess it is expected that we will continue to feel tired for sometime yet.
CHASCAT glad that normal rads are finished today, so only a few booster ones left for you to then you will have crossed the finishing line.
DANI hope that you have a lovely break in Cornwall, and that you will get some answers to your questions re your trial.
KQ hope that you will manage to get your watery eyes sorted, I suffered with them whilst on the Tax but after some drops it sorted itself out.
WOLTSY hope that you have recovered from your weekend and the trip on the ZIP WIRE!!!. Hope you enjoyed the swimming last night.
CEEJ hope that the hamstring resolves itself, and that rads are going ok. I cannot believe how cold I felt on chemo, now like you I feel warm all the time.
PEANUT sorry you didn’t get any different answers from HR.
CAREN glad all ok so far now you are back at work and that you got on ok with Occ Health.
JOAN you are a star sorting us lot out for November. Hope you enjoyed your celebratory meal last night.
WS glad taht you are now drain free. I like Joan had right MX earlier in the year, and I to am still numb on parts of the upper arm, armpit and chest area. It often feels like I am carrying a rolled up newspaper under that arm. I think it will remain like that now. I do avoid repeatedly using my right arm, so use left arm for ironing, gardening etc, and I don’t carry anything heavy in that hand. The post op arm exercises are really helpful, even if we don’t think so at the time. Sorry Socks still not come back.
LOTTIE the rads will keep working for another 2-4 weeks after treatment finished, maybe worth checking with your bcn nurse what they advise.
BERYL hope you are enjoying your little break, and that the animals are behaving.
Hugs to everyone else
Jane
XX
I had a fantastic time at paralympic swimming last night but wow it was hot in there!! Combined with my hot flushes was a bit tough to deal with. But the atmosphere was brilliant and to see a British girl win a gold medal was so exciting and very moving standing to National Anthem. Tired when I got home!!
Met a lovely lady for lunch today (Franoli - who use to contribute on this site). It was so good to be able to talk to someone who is going through the same thing. Makes me realise how much we will all talk in November.
Jane - I am carrying a rolled up newspaper too.
Jane xx
Lottie,
since its just one visit why not cover your affected area with vaseline - it will block out the chlorine - like the swimmers who cross the channel. Goose fat might work too but you could attract looks from the smell
Clare
I hit send by mistake there.
I start planning for rads on Monday and then rads from wednesday onwards. Its about 30 ins away by car.
At the risk of annoying everyone - I got a haircut today It was just a trim at the back of my neck with the clippers to straighten out these wispy stray hairs. BUT IT STILL COUNTS as a haircut, as far as I am concerned.
have a good evening ladies.
Clare
Hello All,
I missed a call and got a message on my phone from my BCN informing me that ‘there might be some results’ in for me on Friday (following the mx) and that we ‘need to discuss a plan’.
I don’t know what she means by this and it is freaking me out. I feel quite distressed and tearful about it. I have asked my partner to ring her as I just don’t feel I can face any more ‘news’
I don’t feel like it is ever going to stop.
WS