Having had IBS most of my adult life I’ve had to find the ‘bush of shame’ a few times before so can certainly empathise! Definitely the best thing to do it laugh about it and grab the imodium. 
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Evening ladies, quick update, am on stronger antibiotics now, which I have to take 6 hours apart 4 times a day, which I’ve worked out means 6am, 12pm, 6pm, 12am… as someone who likes a solid 8 hours sleep this week is going to be tough, not helped by the news that apparently I have to remain upright for 30mins after and take with a full glass of water, I’m going to be a zombie I fear, what with the waking up sitting up and toilet trips in the early mornings and late nights!! Being positive though (because you have to be) it’s only for a week and if it cures the infection it’ll be worth it, so I can resume chemo 
yay… thank you for the well wishes though 
@tori123 fantastic news about the lump, such a relief!!
@snoop182 you have my sympathy with the entertaining the kids in the holidays (that definitely don’t feel like holidays 
) my youngest left school last year and so grateful not to have to deal with that anymore 
sending you lots of strength for the coming days!!
@hopefulheart godh can’t believe you’re hearing about radiotherapy already, for me that’s sort of become a signal to the almost end of this journey, and feels so far away for me, but is reassuring to see that it does come round! Although I read with some anxiety about your lymphoedema… I had 10 nodes removed and have the FEAR about ending up with this too, and didn’t know there was a risk with paclitaxol. I do hope it settles down for you (and the diarrhoea!! Meantime stick to the routes with plenty of shrubbery 
)
Spreading the love to everyone 
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@snoop182 how fab to be looking forward to a holiday after all the rubbish nof the last few months - I hope you have a lovely time 
and by the way I think you’ve definitely earned first dibs on the hammock!
@kiltie cellulitis is nasty. I’m glad you’re now over that distressing experience - just at the time you want to feel that you’re in capable hands! - and the two week delay, whilst frustrating, gives your body the time it needs to recover 
As @glitteryrainbow said, you are important! and always need to put yourself first with everything you’ve going through during the treatment, even if it’s not what you’d normally do!
With regards to lymphoedema symptoms - like you I was so scared ten years ago (first time around) of the potential of being affected - I had awful cording and nerve damage. But all this time, nothing - and there’s only minimal swelling to be fair, I’m sure it’s temporary and will not be an issue once I’m not having poison pumped into my body every week!! And as we know, everyone’s story is different, I’ve been luckier than most with side effects/infections.
I’m currently sitting in the combined day unit having my infusion - I have so much admiration and fondness for the nurses I see every week, they work so hard and have such a lot to think about, but they always manage to have a little laugh and joke with us all - we’re all singing along to the fab eighties tunes on greatest hits radio at the moment! It’s the small things that help us get through 
xx
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Is anyone having paclitaxel? If so are you having it weekly or two weekly. And also what side effects have you had?
I’m having 9 sessions of weekly Paclitaxel @rosa1 and I know you have been wondering what that might be like - I’ve had no nausea, sickness or brain fog, it’s been so much more tolerable (but so many hospital visits/appointments!) I’m not sure I’ve seen anyone on two-weekly treatments 
is that what you are being offered?
Difficult I know but you might want to try and park your worries somewhere for a while until you have given birth 
you and the baby are the priority right now 
We’re not going anywhere so don’t feel pressured into planning too far ahead xx
@hopefulheart ive been offered either 2 weekly or weekly. Weekly is a lower dose but means more visits and being away from the baby. I’m glad you’re not getting much she de effects.
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@rosa1 thats a tricky one - it’s not for long but it feels like a long time whilst it’s all happening, and it’s a big chunk of the week dedicated to treatment. My oncology discussion is now over the phone so I just go in weekly for bloods then chemo. The treatment appointment itself can last up to four hours for me (that was the longest, the quickest was two hours) - there’s usually a small delay, then 30 minutes for saline and premeds (antihistamines, anti sickness, IV steroids) then the hour infusion and then a 10 minute saline flush.
I’m not sure if a two-weekly visit would mean a longer infusion - but I just wanted you give you an idea of the time involved xx
Thanks for the reassurance about lymphoedema @hopefulheart keeping my fingers crossed for both of us 
feel like I’ve had so much bad luck recently that I’m due some good luck - unfortunately it’s not arrived yet, as this evening I discovered what feels like a large lump in my forearm on the picc side!!! I’m like aaarrggh wtf now 
going to phone oncology team in the morning (as I said it’s always a Friday 
) and hope it’s not anything serious 
crossing of fingers and toes!!
@rosa1 i have no experience of paclitaxol as yet since my chemo was paused, all I wanted to add though was I was originally supposed to get 4 doses every 3 weeks (as per EC) however oncology team changed it as they said that weekly would be easier on my system. It feels like another of those really awful decisions that cancer forces you to make, where there is no easy option for you. It may be the only decision you can make is the one that feels not best exactly but more endurable for you I hope the birth goes well for you when it comes, you too deserve some positivity and happiness with your newly extended family!
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I’m having paclitaxel weekly, have had 2 sessions so far. I don’t feel like I’ve got into a routine with it yet which I did with the EC and I think I might be expecting too much from myself. So far the day of chemo I have come home completely wiped out and sleep for the rest of the day, then I don’t sleep that night as the steroids wear off. I haven’t felt any sickness but my bowels don’t know what they’re doing haven’t had actual diarrhoea but am very loose - I started taking omeprazole again to help with acid reflux, don’t feel as tired as I did with the EC and haven’t had any problems with things tasting disgusting. Yesterday I felt great in the morning, dropped my son off for a dance class then went for a walk round the park then completely crashed in the afternoon - went to bed sweating and aching all over and that was it for the day. Have woken up feeling much better today but not really sure about how much I am capable of currently and how I’m going to know which are good and bad days.
Hi all,
Just found out i do not carry the Brac 1 gene😁 I have TNBC.I ha e had 4 cycles of abraxane, carboplatin and immunotherapy, my lump has only reduced by 2mm so not theresponse they would have liked.Starting 4 cycles if EC from Aug 15th so hopefully that will blast it xx
Great news about not carrying the gene!
My surgeon said that they can’t confirm how well chemo is working until surgery and pathology as it can break down the tumour from the inside, so fingers crossed thats whats happening for you. On the other hand EC is fierce so hopefully you’ll see some response from it x
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Hi Tori123
Thank you🥰,yes the shrinkage i know is not the be all and end all.So keeping my fingers crossed that its doing its thing.They have said that the EC is the big guns😁.Reall gd news with yourself too xx
Today is 100 days since I started chemotherapy and I’ve hit my first big problem- diarrhoea. Struggling over the last 24 hours so rang the nurses this morning and my chemo tomorrow is now cancelled , I’ve got an appointment with the oncology unit tomorrow to make sure it’s not an infection and is just a side effect of the paclitaxel before they prescribe me something to keep it under control. Feeling a bit deflated 
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Hi dragonk,
Sorry to hear you are suffering with the side effects of Chemo.They are really careful with diarrhea as it can indicate an infection.They wouldnt want to give you chemo and make your white blood cells drop even more.Fingers crossed it is just a side effect which they can give you medication for.Its hard to miss chemo,i know how we all feel when its cancelled.They will add it on if they feel that it is needed.I was supposed to have 12 weekly chemo and have only managed 8 through infection etc. They said they factor this in as its common for our bodies to react.Wishing you all the best for tomorrow and hope you are feeling better soon xx
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Oh no I am so sorry to hear this! Its always upsetting when they put off chemo. I ALWAYS have a fear of being told I cant have chemo when i get there on the day. Like on Friday, they almost didnt give me it as my infection marker was at 11, I had a high heart rate and a slightly high temperature but felt absolutely fine in myself so have no idea what was going on! Was told that “im probably brewing something” and told to keep an eye on it . Useful.
Try to see the positive, you have an extra week to recover💖
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Hello everyone!
I hope everyone is okay and enjoying this lovely weather as much as they can.
I went to the beach yesterday with my family, my dad hired a beach hut and it was lovely just sitting down there watching the world go by! I had a great time… and then cried the whole way home haha. I felt absolutely ridiculous, sobbing on the motorway and my poor girlfriend didnt really understand why i was crying. I tried to explain to her that i just got overwhelmed and want to have more days like that but the dreaded “gloom” thinking took over. It was so silly and when i got home, i laughed about it. I wanted to ask, does anyone else come over with these emotions? Ever since starting treatment I have been 100% more emotional and thats saying something as I cried a lot before hand but I dont want every ‘good’ day to be ruined by me crying thinking that my days are numbered. Its a ridiculous thought to have and i know that its far from the truth but its just a thought that creeps into my head and i cant help but cry
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Hi @glitteryrainbow ,
Sounds like a lovely day with family🥰.I totally have those moments.Usually when im really happy then you appreciate moments like maybe you wouldnt have given a second thought to before breast cancer.As in a strange way we had not been forced to face our own mortality before then.We are decorating the house,I was crying as i had an awful thought will I be here to appreciate and enjoy it when its all done,tbere is no reason why I wouldnt by the way.I think everything we feel is only natural.Ps lovely to see the sun in Wales,its like finding Hens teeth🤣xx
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I definitely have had moments where I’ll have a good cry. Maybe not so much now that I’ve had my op and come to the end of chemo but in the beginning. I remember two weeks after my op I had to have a bone scan as one of my markers for cervical cancer had been raised and on a CT scan of my pelvis they found a lump on my spine. I spent two weeks convinced it had spread to my bones while I waited for the results. Cried at everything, thought I wouldn’t see my kids grow up and worried that I had no life insurance and they’ed all be destitute. Of course I was just a random lump in the end and I then felt so silly I’d worried so much but then all our bodies are analysed and it’s hard not to think the worst. My op part was the worst, afterwards when they said I needed chemo I took it more in my stride as I knew the worst had been removed and I think it must be much harder for those of you that are pre op and waiting for tumours to react and shrink so it’s understandable.
On a superate subject has anyone had nose bleeds whilst on chemo? I had a very sniffly nose on Tuesday and then weds, Thursday was very sneezy - thought it was another cold but could have been bad hayfever I guess - but my nose started bleeding during that - and now if I blow my nose or sneeze it restarts a little. It’s not a gushing nose bleed or dripping out but I can feel it there and it does stop but doesn’t seem to want to heal very quickly. probably blew too hard or made my nose sore but we can’t help worrying about. Am trying not to touch it or blow but my nose is very itchy.
Off to Wales on Thursday (I’m hoping it might be cooler than South of England right now which is hot hot hot) so I kinda want my bloomin nose to sort itself out before then.
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@glitteryrainbow I could have written your post.
Since I was diagnosed I cry so much, I’m welling up a bit thinking about what to write now, so I’ll keep it brief!
A tip I’ve been given by the counsellor I’m seeing is when you feel your brain starting to go into this spiral start to write and write for exactly 10 minutes. You can write anything just keep writing for 10 minutes then stop, don’t read it, just tear it up and move on with your day.
I’ve found it does work, not every time but enough xxx
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@snoop182 I’ve definitely read about people having nose bleeds but not experienced it myself. (Glad your “random lump” was random that must have been a horrible few weeks)
I can confirm its still flippin’ hot up here, I’m not quite in Wales but close enough! Enjoy your holiday!
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