May 2024 chemo starters

@budsbails2301 I dont know if this will offer you some reassurance but I found the first round of EC the hardest. I went into my oncologist and cried saying I couldnt do it and she said to me that the first one is always the hardest. This was true in my case. It wasnt an easy ride but it did get easier x

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@glitteryrainbow Aw thank you❤️hopefully that is the way it goes for me.I be hobest Chemotherapy and the injections have not agreed with me at all.I just keep thinking 3 more and im done😁 i weighed today and ive lost 11 pounds in 10 days.Thankfully i have some weight behind me xx

Had my 5th herceptin today and saw my oncologist. Heart scan shows no changes after 3 months of herceptin which is great news. I now have my tamoxifen prescription and need to start taking it this evening. Slightly scared of that, the list of possible side effects is a long one but with all these things hopefully it’s all fine.

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@snoop182 that is great news❤️ you must be so relieved.I dont think we will ever get used to the tests and waiting for the results. Im hoping all goes well with the tamoxifen for you❤️xx

Hi everyone, I’m trying to catch up with all the messages after we were away last week - it was lovely to get away for a bit but I didn’t manage to escape the cancer patient feeling and this week I feel really down and miserable and keep bursting into tears. I think I’m just fed up and feeling sorry for myself.
It’s so great to hear some of you are coming to the end of your chemo, must be such a relief.
@snoop182 I hope you get on ok with the tamoxifen, I’m meant to move onto that after I finish chemo and radiotherapy so very interested to hear how you find it.
@budsbails2301 I found EC side effects really tough for the first 10 days then it was as if a switch flicked and I felt normal again. It meant I ruled out doing anything for those 10 days but then knew I had about 10 days feeling ok before it started again. I think that’s also why I’m finding paclitaxel hard because I can’t get into a rhythm with it - I just seem to be all over the place.
@glitteryrainbow I hope you’re doing ok, I know exactly what you mean about the big C running life at the moment, it’s so hard to try and do normal things with all the risks hanging over us.
@tori123 I hope you’re still resting up and the chemo after effects are easing now you’re finished.

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@dragonk aw im sorry you are feeling down❤️sending you a big welsh cwtch. Thank you,yes i think thats my reality is recognising that 10 days out of the 21 i will be coping with the side effects. It will take you a bit of tine to get used to the change in side effects etc,but hopefully will settle for you soon xx

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Well that weekend without my partner was so horrible :joy:. I sobbed for 3 days straight haha! I used to work as a dog sitter, so thought Id be okay as I used to spend weeks at a time away from her, but i really was not okay haha! I just feel so isolated and alone, so this was highlighted even more by actually being alone for 3 and a half days :joy:.
We went to a wildlife centre yesterday, it was really nice and felt like “normal” life again.
I finally booked into some classes at macmillan this morning and have decided that i am going to visit my local “breast friends” meeting on Tuesday after putting it off this month (wish me luck). I really struggle with anxiety so going to these things arent easy for me.
I am so bored and sick of my house that i have considered volunteering, been googling places today! We will see.

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Aww i am so sorry that you are feeling sad! Its horrible and i can bet most of us have been there, as youve seen from my messages, i definitely have! Just keep thinking, soon this will all be over, even if its in the distance future, but we will get through this and we will have our lives back soon :sparkling_heart:

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@glitteryrainbow, @dragonk sending hugs.
I have definitely been there and know I’ll still go there for sometime.
I do find things much harder when I’m on my own so try and arrange to see friends or family on the days my partner is away, I know that’s not possible for everyone. I’m also so thankful for my dog, as much as she can be a pain in the butt, having her around is amazing.
I’m feeling pretty good now, just a sore mouth and fatigue. I think my bald patch is looking less bald as well which is great.
(Love the otter picture they are so cute)

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@glitteryrainbow A big welsh cwtch for you too❤️I can totally empathise with what you are feeling.Im already dreading my partner going back to work on Monday,even though she has been out and about in the holidays she has still been around.She is a deputy head so will be leaving at 6.45am and getting back the same time pm.I just keep holding on to the fact Chemo hopefully finishes on Oct 17th, if all goes ahead on time. So before the clocks go back,so I can get out and see some daylight with the dogs xx

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How are you coping? Im sure the time will go by really quick. I clock watch which makes it harder haha! I know she finished at 4 so im constantly watching the time until 5 when she gets in :joy:.

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Hello wonderful people!
How is everyone? I feel pretty pants, the steroids dont agree with me and make me feel like rubbish :weary: but all i keep thinking is “LAST ONES!”
I went to my local yoga class at macmillan this morning, which was really lovely. There was only about 5 of us but felt nice to be out! Im going to visit my local ‘breast friends’ tomorrow aswell, hopefully will make some friends! I cant believe Ive only got two more treatments to go.
Had my ‘end of treatment’ MRI last night and meeting with the breast surgeon on Thursday so excited yet nervous for that. Im more nervous about the surgery than what i was for chemotherapy.

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@glitteryrainbow aw been a long day already :rofl: aw wow bet you cant wait now to get this chemotherapy over and done with. I can imagine how you feel about surgery but you are strong remember that.Ive got my next treatment thurs then 2 left for me too​:grin: it seemed so far away when we started in May.They are not going to give me immunotherapy this cycle to see if that is causing any of my symptoms.My BCN was not happy that the ward didnt call me in when my side effects were so severe as she said you could have had an infection even without a temp.So she has told me to ring her now,obviously mon to fri as such.Glad you have been out and some things that you enjoy.Its like Autumn in Wales today,rain,wind xx

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@glitteryrainbow ,just wanted to say thinking of you and hope the appt tomorrow with the surgeon goes as smooth as possible xx

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Ladies it’s been a while, and I can see there’s been some good things for people - congrats to everyone now finished or finishing their chemo! And the inevitable bad things too on this difficult journey - much love & strength to all who need it :heart: I have been having some difficulties of my own and have been in hospital twice with my cellulitis and then allergic reactions to the antibiotics. Picc line also had to be replaced as with all the activity on it, it migrated 9cm!! All good now though :sweat_smile: so much so that they’ve decided to resume my chemo, so rather than being at the end of my chemo journey I’m still sitting at the halfway point, about to commence 12 weeks of paclitaxal… my question to those at the end of the journey is; was there anything you did that you felt was really helpful? Or indeed anything you wish you had done? Was reading with concern about your experiences of neuropathy in particular.
On a different note having not had chemo in over a month I’m now sporting a wonderful fuzz on my previously bald head that I’m going to miss, strangely reassuring at how quickly it comes back!! but will be glad to see the back of the fuzz on my legs again :joy:

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Also forgot to add that ct scan was clear, which was a HUGE relief!!! Greatly appreciated all your well wishes with that as it was a very low point for me :heart:

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Thank you, im feeling super nervous about it and unsure why!

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Congratulations on being able to resume chemo! That must be a relief. Im glad you are on the mend. In terms of advice:

  • as soon as you feel any changes to your hands and/or feet, mention it to your team.
  • Ive heard wearing fluffy socks helps but I didnt try this.
  • youll need someone to drop you off and pick you up from chemo as they give you a really strong antihistamine which makes you sleepy (within 10 minutes of having it, Im asleep for the whole treatment!). The nurse actually told me that they have to inform the police if I was driving myself.
    For me paclitaxel has been more tolerable, its just when i have Carboplatin and Paclitaxel together where i struggle for the week but on paclitaxel alone, i feel okay and able to do stuff.
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Thanks @glitteryrainbow very helpful to know (& now have the fear I’ll be snoring in the oncology unit :joy:)
I know we’re all different but having had my surgery first, although I opted for just a mastectomy rather than reconstruction, I found the experience and recovery more straight forward and with less side effects (cellulitis aside as it happened 3 months later and was not related to my surgical recovery) All of which to say is I hope all goes well for you :crossed_fingers:t2:

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@kiltie i am sure i snore the whole time and even the tea lady says to me “oh youre awake!” When she sees me at the beginning of my treatment :joy:.

My appointment went really well! My MRI has shown a complete response to treatment and I have no tumour there anymore. The surgeon was really happy with it and said Ive got the “good triple negative” :joy:. However, this news has been overshadowed by the fact that she offered me either a lumpectomy or Mastectomy. I was completely taken aback when she said i could have a mastectomy as ive read that people have had to fight for this. Im now left with the decision to make. We spoke at length about the different % of reoccurrence and she said that theres some research that suggests that having a lumpectomy with radiotherapy is better than having a mastectomy but also there is a % difference. Im so conflicted and have come home and cried.
A lot of our decision making has been taken away from us throughout this and now i feel like i have to make a really big decision :sweat_smile:

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