Good news Wolfee. How were your RBCs?
Look after yourself and rest when the steroids run out.
I know what you mean about not knowing what to eat Mai. X
Glad it went well wolfEE xx
I seemed to finsee that when I don’t know what I want to eat , fresh fruit and veg seems to hit the spot more than most stuff?
Hope you enjoyed your first day of school holidays everyone? How was your train trip treehouse? Had quite a fun day with boys and have had a doubles tennis game once hubby home. Nice to have some fun for a change x
Gosh you guys are amazing. I posted only this a.m and I come home to such reassurance. Thank you so much for your replies and helpful information. I know I will be very scared but I will take the advice on board and stay calm as the drugs are given. It’s a case of face the fear and do it anyway.
Im having the doxytaxol first then the herceptin and perjeta
the next day which is an all day stay.
Will they have drugs on site if you do have an allergic reaction as I really want to carry on with the treatment if I do have one.
Can you take an iPad in to play games to take your mind of what’s going on as reading a book I think will be hard. My lovely daughter, Anneliese is coming with me both days which I’m so pleased about.
Tonight im drinking ginger and lemon tea with ginger nut biccys. Tomorrow I start my steroids lol 4 in the morning and 4 at night then 4 the following morning before chemo. Jeesh I’m going to be flying ?
Thank you all again as you really have given me reassurance for the next week. Xxxxx
You are all such amazing strong ladies and so so positive, it’s a joy to read all your comments xx
Hi Kala glad you have joined us. ?
I have all 4 drugs on the same day. It takes 6-8 hours. They have got faster as I am more used to it. Make them go slow and yes they are ready for any bad reactions. I had chest pains for round 2. They paused immediately took me to a side room for an ECG . It was fine but they continued at a slower rate and gave plenty of saline. They will keep an eye on you but don’t be afraid to tell them if anything feels odd including jaw pain. They know what to look out for.
We had a great day on the steam trains ? lots of giggles and forgotten about C for the day. I did way more than my 30 min walk at the station towns ?♀️Great start to the summer holidays.
Great news WolfEE ???. I hope you’re feeling ok this evening Enjoy the pampering tomorrow Trisha. Glad you enjoyed the ?Treehouse (my son is train mad) and had a day feeling ‘normal’. Big hugs Curlyh, I’m a day behind you with 1st T on Thursday. Hi Jay and Kala, good to hear from you both. I’ve got blood tests tomorrow, I’ve been feeling run down so spent the last 2 days resting in the hope of getting the count up. Mai7 I’ve had the hungry but everything tastes of cardboard thing with the FEC so thinking of you. Hope you get good night’s sleep everyone without early morning ?. X
Morning ladies. I wanted to tell you guys something because I feel that I have joined a really good group here who actually understand what I’m feeling. I don’t have many friends as I have been let down so much n the past and so since my diagnosis I have tried to deal with things within my family. They are great but they don’t have cancer and sometimes it’s difficult to say to them what I’m actually dealing with. The one good friend I have has so many of her own issues that I’m more like her councillor helping her which I love to do but she can’t deal with my problems. I put a few comments on here before but again I felt that I was being too pushy so I kind of left for a while. I looked two days ago and saw that you all write down almost everything and the responses you receive are so uplifting and make me feel like I’m not alone ,even though I can’t see you at all.
There was a time when I thought I’m done here, I’m not able to do chemo no more.
Since then I am ashamed I thought like that and realise I can do this. I’m not afraid of pain of being sick . I’m afraid of not having no one to talk to when I’m feeling it but now I have you lovely folk to talk to.
Mai, Wolfe, Jay, Raitchr and everyone else on this may thread I’m thankful for your kindness.
Now going to take my steroids and go get my bloods done and pray they are okay for tomorrow. I hope you all have a very peaceful day. The weather is not good and when I was in Sainsbury’s yesterday I heard someone say we are getting terrible weather tomorrow so I’m gonna drag out my wellies and long coat as the dogs won’t walk themselves xxxx
Big hugs to kala. We are all experiencing the same issues physically and mentally, so it’s good to talk to others going through the same. We all have good and bad days but here we can pick each other up when needed. Don’t worry what you want to say we get it so get it off your chest!
Everyone else doing ok? Xx
Kala, cancer and chemo is definitely a time to see who is a good friend. Mostly mine were there to start with at diagnosis and surgery time but they gradually got on with their lives. I get it, I did the same to another work colleague who went through BC 4 years before me. They feel guilty getting on with their lives whilst we are stuck in neutral just coasting until the end of treatment. I do have a lovely bunch of friends closer to home than at work and they have been there through it all, the hair loss, the red wee after FEC, laughing at the thought of going swimming with me and my softie boob, constipation, and all my tears in the playground.
Part way through chemo it all got too much and I took timeout from this group and another forum I was on. I just didn’t want to always think about chemo. I came back once my head was sorted, got control over chemo side effects and actually missed the funny comments on here as we share everything.
Just share on here when you need to off load or loiter in the distance when you need to, just know that we are all here for each other.
Best wishes for your treatment, you can do it.
Heather
Kala seriously anything goes here, emotions to bowel motions we get it. ?
Mai how is the red face today?
Jay & Mai diarrhoea is a side effect but it must be managed. I get it 2 or 3 times near the end of each cycle. I have loperamide hydrochloride which is Imodium from goodie bag. I take it after first bout. That usually sorts me out for a few days. If it lasts more than 24 hrs call the help line as it could be a sign of infection. My onc is quite strict with me on this. Don’t just wait for it take its course .
MJK good luck with bloods today. Let us know how you get on.
I am seeing surgeon tomorrow to talk about what next ( I also have an appointment through to see gynaecologist in October re ovary removal) Trying not to think about it today but I think it might be another thing to keep me awake tonight ?
Hi…WolfEE got my daughter to do injection…she was quite pleased she is training to be a children’s nurse ATM…so is very helpful but can be quite straight to the point sometimes when in nurse mode!! Just back from hospital getting my Picc line fitted…it went well the lovely man doing it said the swelling I have is superficial and definitely not dvt so fine to go ahead…arm achy but fine so hopefully first doxetaxol will be straightforward tomorrow…bloods fine, must get the Epsom salts you have all mentioned…Kala I know what you mean, my friends have generally been great especially at my operation time but during the chemo I think people find it difficult, and sometimes it is difficult for us to put on a happy face and be interested in all the fab things other people are able to do while we can’t…hope your bloods are fine MJK for your treatment thurs…and hope everyone’s se manageable ?
Really glad the picc line fittings are going well. I can understand anxiety but all you brace ladies have said it has been better than expected which is great.
Mai yes I am soft and quite regular which my bottom is thankful for. I found the first treatment gave the most severe side effects. I still get them but half as bad. Unfortunately I have not last any weight, I have put on over half a stone. No point trying to deal with that until after chemo. I am eating whatever my body demands especially to combat nausea week 1.
Any advice or words of wisdom from ladies who have already had surgery please. Trying not to freak out but I keep leaking today ?
Good luck tomorrow curly and Kala. One more step closer. X ?
Busy bee. Really interested to hear you mention a trial with aspirin. How do you feel about taking part? What information have you been given ? No one has mentioned trials to me but I expect there are strict requirements. Keep us informed of your decision. I find that really interesting but with my science background I get excited about the MRI scan lol.
Treehouse, re surgery I had single Mx no recon in March and it was straight forward, quick recovery as did exercises from physio. What kind of info do you need so I can help?
Heather
Just had my results from genetic tests and it’s negative for any genetic reasons. So relief.x
What kind of information do you need treehouse? I had a mamoplasty in March and reduction on other side. My surgeon went through options and what he thought was best. I also had decision to have reduction on the other side at the same time. The breast nurses also go through in depth your surgery and show you pictures etc. I was more worried about chemo than surgery as at least I knew it was gone. Suppose your surgery will be more complex if discussing genetic implications. Just remember it’s another step on our journey. Chemo is the hard part , you can totally do this xx
Hi Treehouse, I had a single Mx with lymph node clearance in April. It was all straight forward and I was up and about within a few days. Doing the exercises are important to get arm movement back. I was back to normal in a month apart from some numbness in the upper arm from the lymph node clearance. I would recommend getting crop tops 2 sizes too big as you won’t get into your usual size for a bit, I put them on feet first not over the head. Button down the front tops are also a good idea. Emotionally, the biggest feeling was relief. My lump was the size of an apple so I have a 10 cm scar but it’s faded a lot already. X
Blood test done but feeling wiped so not sure. Oncologist appointment tomorrow morning. X
Great news Katie. X
Thanks ladies I knew I could count on you. I was initially told that the cocktail I am on has a good chance of completely disappearing the lump so they wanted to just do a lumpectomy to remove clip and surrounding tissues. However I have tiny boobs so not much tissue to move around and fill in the dent as lump was high up near cleavage so scar and dent would be visible in any low clothing. I I’m not too bothered about that.
HOWEVER now I have positive genetic test results I just want a double mastectomy with reconstruction. No flaps as I don’t want any other bits of my body messed with.
What if they don’t want to do both?
I am terrified of having to go through all this again . My mum did it 3 times and I have often questioned why they didn’t just take it all away the first time or the second…
Also with the position of my lump I want to know if I can have nipple saving surgery. I know you can’t answer all my questions.
Ladies can I ask what is your nipple situation??
I think I will really miss them in the intimate moments if you know what I mean. Sorry if I have taken this forum in a new direction .
Treehouse, I’m sure you can insist on double mx with your genetic results. Think that was discussed with me when I went for testing.
As for nipple. Mine was saved. My lump was high up too so that’s why I had a mamoplasty. It’s an upside down t shape that starts under the nipple and goes around under breast. It would have disfigured mine too much with lumpectomy. But guess if you go ahead with double mx it won’t make a difference. Just make sure you state what you want to.
Thanks so much for the shower cover wolfee. It arrived today very quickly. Might have a bath tonight. Hope you are feeling OK?
I had my bloods today, love with a picc line the district nurse comes to me for bloods. Lol! All set for no 4/9 weeklys tomorrow! Xx