May 2026 chemo starters

[baldiesrus]

The lovely spiders, provided they are small get left alone in this house…..for now. Nothing more satisfying than the sound of those annoying flies getting caught in a web. provided the spiders stay in their corner , they are left, if they take a walk in my direction, they are evicted….I don’t like spiders.

Glad you are feeling better on Pac than EC, even though it’s weird.

I am to have Zoladex ovarian suppressant (4 weekly) injections at GP’s, and to start (a month later) Letrozole 2.5mg. Seeing Oncologist in October to discuss/start Ribociclib and Zoledronic acid. It kind of blows my mind how much we are enduring and will continue to endure to fight our own bodies…..pushing that thought to the back of my brain, not dealing with that now lol

Shirley Valentine!!! That was the film. Hmmm perhaps that film is why I talk to myself, or perhaps it’s cos men only pretend to listen or they are not here when you need someone to talk to? Hmmmm

[poppy261]

Thats reassuring @bea4 re Letrazole. Like you, Im use to achy joints. Fingers crossed I can cope with it.

Im not familiar with all the other names. Goodness there are soo many. No wonder we get wobbly.

I think you are doing so well at 72 bea4. But yes, it all puts a huge strain on us when we least want it. I hope Pac stays manageable for you.

Shirley Valentine…. What a wonderful film. I remember her “wall”.

Heres to homely homes, lived in spaces, and healthy mind sets that accept homes as homes.

My neighbour just spent £64k+ on a new kitchen. Both retired but by no means well off. It looks beautiful, but they’ve now got rid of their car. Id rather have my car, and money in my bank, especially as Im on the expensive cancer train now. A new kitchen wont pay my bills.

Country spiders can get very big cant they! . But they do eat all the other critters around the house. So I was always told to be kind to them……ha ha ha….. i have got a spider vacuum if needed. Suck them up and pop them outside.

Re all the extra drugs @baldiesrus i havent been given any definitive list yet. No wonder you are apprehensive. I think i am happy to remain in the dark on that front, for a few more weeks. Its such a lot to take in isnt it. . I try and read side effects etc of drugs, but websites have so many listed, I get overloaded with them. So I wait until I get a side effect now, and Google at that point. It helps to keep my stress levels down

Love to all

[daffodil_dream]

Been thinking of you @poppy261 Was so sorry to hear of your delay to treatment - having been there myself I can appreciate how much it can pull the rug out from under you.

As much as none of us want this treatment, you get on a roll with it once you start, so any delays have such a knock on effect. I can only imagine how disappointed you must be I hope you have filled your weekend with some lovely treats, pampering and time with your good friend

Try and keep that chin up; you’ve come so far, and still only have a couple of chemo sessions left Your cheerleaders are behind you all the way!!

[poppy261]

Thanks so much @daffodil_dream thats very kind of you . .

Just taken it easy this weekend, as realised weekends get really busy during the Summer Holidays. So decided that wouldnt be good when my immune system is shot at.

So we are going out tomorrow for a drive and short potter somewhere. I love driving. Plus my car, though old, has air-con so is great in hot weather when I have my wig on. . Great for this next on coming heatwave

Its funny how delays ricochet across so much now. When my second infusion was delayed a week, due to a cold, it didnt create any major problems. I enjoyed the rest. But this time!!! I wasnt expecting it, and goodness, its caused chaos. Plus I just want it all finishing now….. and the PICC out. I even had problems with the PICC over a week (2 appointments) as well, so im hoping im not in for a tricky few weeks. My yin and yang feel abit out of kilter

But as you say, so many of us have had to deal with the unpredictability of chemo/PICCs/meds/side effects etc, and you have all managed to cope and battle the tides of grumpiness and uncertainty, so I too will follow your lead and get through this also.

My go to philosophical quote is “ i cant change the winds, but I can alter my sails” .

Its gone tail up, but some trips out will be nice. xxx

[bea4]

Poor @poppy261 , try to have yourself a ‘ good’ day, with your sails trimmed and the wind blowing through your wig What else can we do? It seems we have so little choice but to soldier on, even when everything seems stacked against us.

Wish I could drive, it would be so great to just get out, but to be truthful I don’ t really want to go anywhere! Not been anywhere at all, except hospitals and the occasional supermarket, for eight months. Good husband would take me anywhere I wanted to go but he does enough for me already and I refuse to put more burdens on him because he’ s all I’ ve got! Most of my friends but one live hundreds of miles away and all have their own busy lives. It can be a very lonely place, cancer.

So, today, @poppy261 , do something for you, that you enjoy, and try - hard, I know - to let tomorrow take care of itself.

Sending you lots and lots of love

[poppy261]

You are one lovely lady @bea4 thankyou sooo much.

Yes, cancer can be a very lonely place. I completely understand you not wanting to go out when you feel awful. Im exactly like you on that front. And you’re so lovely with your husband. Cancer is a lot for both of you.

Some days Im happy to curl up and sleep, but because I live on my own I have to force myself out some days to get shopping etc. which isnt a bad thing, as it forces me out in the second week. I cant do anything in the first week, im not safe driving.

My friend doesnt drive. He uses a bike. But hes very kind. We ring each other daily, if we dont meet up.

He too has a serious health condition, so, like you, I dont like to push him too much. We get to an age where most people round us are ailing something. Its important we are always mindful of our limitations.

Its a tough world now when people live so far away. I remember how life was so community based, everyone knew everyone else, and doors were left open. Where did all that go. It had its down sides, but people rallied round. Sadly in many areas people dont know their direct neighbours, and many areas are plagued with Holiday Lets and Second Homes. Which has ripped the heart out of communities. Thats awful.

But Im grateful for Forums like this that connect people in such a kind and supportive way. It makes cancer more manageable for everyone.

You take good care of yourself lovely lady. . Give your husband an extra special hug…. You both deserve one. Xxxx

[alannah172]

I’m going stir crazy these days with having to be at home so much and not enjoying the normal things I tend to do!!

I can tell as I’ve discovered something called extreme day trips where you take the earliest and latest flights somewhere and go for the day! I’m planning one to Alicante in December when radio is finished

I’m a real Shirley Valentine as I’m on my own and have few friends who would holiday without their partners, but I’m used to it now. I think I might just start planning little overnight breaks to get me through the next 10 weeks of chemo

I think life will be easier once this heatwave breaks don’t you think?

I’ve read up on the next non active treatment, and I have to say, I am nervous of those side effects too.

I’m also concerned about going back to full time work as I worry about my energy levels, but I certainly couldn’t afford part time with UC top up either, so god knows how that’s going to pan out! I’m 52 and I should have years left of full time work to go, it really is a concern. Sometimes being solo is a real bugger

Anyway, these are things to come, let’s get through the present with the usual strength we all do you lovely warriors

[poppy261]

Sounds like a good plan re extreme days out @alannah172 . Never heard of those. Something to look forward to.

But in the short term, nights away are equally good. Ive often used the YHA for nights away or cheap breaks. They are great. Then every so often i get an expensive hotel for a night as a treat .

It is harder financially when we live on our own though. But there are ways round that. Ive been on my own for years now. And like you, friends only go away with partners, so I got use to going solo, which became quite liberating in truth. I can go where i like. Friends are my daytime coffee and cake buddies

My close friend is a home bird due to poor health, so weve got use to days/ mornings out. Which in truth saves all the packing, airport queues etc, and made us value our local beauty spots more. Britain is so beautiful when we look closer. So many places to visit.

I understand your nervousness of future treatment paths. I think its hard to look at a life of side effects from drugs. But then i hear of people who have minimal problems, so perhaps we have to learn to live more in the moment, and not worry about something that may or may not happen.

During chemo, thats how Ive got through my days.

Yesterday I went for a lovely drive to a beautiful river with my friend. Had lunch at a garden centre, then home and bed .

In time I will access Art and Crafts activities again. I love day classes in everything and everything….pottery, felting, stained glass, fused glass, painting, woodwork, anything really.

Perhaps our walls could become a Splash Art Project where we throw anything at it, as well as scream at it, to feel better , but it could become like a Van Gough in time .

Work is a tough one when we live on our own. But it is equally hard for young families.

I learnt to value the things I could do, and not worry about the things out of my financial reach. At one point I even rented rooms out to students so I could pay my bills. I met some lovely people.

Now I dont worry about having a perfect house. I am just happy to have a home.

We learn to adapt to a different normal. It is possible with a bit of creativity. In 10 weeks you will be like a dolphin released in the sea after being in captivity….it will be like a new beginning.

[bea4]

Great idea about the day trips, @alannah172 ! Whatever gets you through , eh? Go for it! Having spent a lot of my working life hanging around airports, flying long- haul, being shunted hither and yon due to delays, baggage-handler strikes, cancellations etc I can honestly say if I never see an airport again it’ ll be too soon! But some wee trips sound exactly what you need to brighten your days.

What I miss is gardening! Aka ‘ Outdoor housework’ ! We have a big garden and this year it’ s just reverted to wild! It’ s a jungle of weeds now but I can’ t do anything about it….no going out in the sun….low energy levels…blasted osteo arthritis…..lovely husband keeps the grass cut and hacks back the excess growth here and there when it’ s not raining…..a rare occurence up here in Scotland! We’ ve had none of your terribly high temperatures, and our grass remains resolutely green! I’ ve decided to call it a ‘ wildlife friendly garden’ and stop beating myself up about it. Very difficult.

Bloods done yesterday, so now I’ m thumb-twiddling, awaiting a phonecall or not, to see if tomorrow’ s chemo is cancelled. I wish they’ d just send a text message or something, so we didn’ t have to waste a day with a mobile clamped to our hands! I daresay they’ d leave a message if I didn’ t answer the phone, though.

Bit of a shock yesterday, at the Bloods Hub. Sitting waiting in reception when a lady wearing a surgical face mask said hello. Took a while to recognise her, but the penny dropped once my brain kicked in. Local girl, works at a big indie department store in the town, known her to chat to for years and years, over the counter. Diagnosed with leukaemia last Christmas. I don’ t know why it shocked me, but it did. We know perfectly well that we’ re not the only ones going through this crap, and yet it still comes as a shock to discover yet another soul shouldering the burden. Thank heavens for forums /fora like these which serve to remind us that we really aren’ t alone. Hope there’ s something similar for leukaemia patients.

Hope you’ re all as okay as you can be today, and not suffering too much if the sun’ s beating down on you. I can send a bucket of rain, if you’ d like some? Form an orderly queue, please, no shoving…..

[alannah172]

Oh some rain would be fabulous @bea4

I’m just about to go in for round three of pac. My hospital use an old hospice for chemo, they moved here during Covid and never looked back. The gardens are just lovely and are so well tended, it’s a joy for any garden lover to visit

Yes this cancer shenanigans is making me realise I just want to get out and see things, be places and not ever take it for granted again

[poppy261]

Bucket (s) of water sounds perfect @bea4 not sure about the orderly queue Who can run the fastest!!!

My next door neighbour has a “wildlife” garden. Literally. . She loves hedgehogs and birds, so shes left her front and back garden to nature. Totally overgrown, but it’s becoming rather “trendy” now to do that. So embrace your weeds.

[poppy261]

Hope round 3 of Pac is kind to you @alannah172 . Xxx

[bea4]

Seconded, @poppy261 ! Hope all is well @alannah172 .

No phonecall, so I’ m ready for Pac cycle 2 in the morning!

Have peaceful, restful nights if you can, girls, sending love xxx

[alannah172]

Good luck @bea4 You’ll be one step closer to the end of it all

[elastigirl]

@bea4 no phone calls for me either today , so pac 2 tomorrow too !! I don’t know whether anybody heard about the Polar study that was done recently , about wearing compression garments as well as - or instead of - using cooling for your hands and feet to reduce peripheral neuropathy. So I’ve been wearing a pair of those those sexy stockings you get for surgeries and a pair of compression gloves I bought off the Internet as well as hilotherm cooling which my chemo unit luckily has. . Got to try anything I guess and so far so good.!!
Lots of big brave girl pants for tomo @bea4 and all you other warrior gals

[poppy261]

Will be thinking of you @elastigirl and @bea4 tomorrow.

Hope Pac is kind to both of you. Xxx

Re compression socks etc elastigirl, my Oncology unit refuses to support either compression, nor cooling aids for PN, so Ive just had to hope I will be OK. Research seems mixed so you just have to do what feels right. And if your Team can support you….even better.

[bea4]

Awww thank you, @poppy261 I just came on here to wish @elastigirl all the best for her Pac 2 today, too!

Same here, @poppy261 , the chemo team at the hospital I attend have never even mentioned the compression stockings and gloves, nor the ice ‘treatments’. Clearly both are a bit controversial for some reason, depending on the Health Authority/Trust you’ re in. As @poppy261 says, go with your own feelings and instincts on this one!!

All the best for today, lovely ladies xxx

[mssteel]

I really relate to this @alannah172.

I’ve been a lot more weepy than usual recently and I think the cabin fever could be starting to get to me. I also feel quite smothered by the heat this summer and its just something else that’s contributing to making me feel a little hemmed in.

I’m hoping moving to the 3 weekly treatments this week will afford me a little more breathing space after the treadmill of it being every week for the last 12 weeks.

I want to break free!

[bea4]

You’ ve given me an earworm now, @mssteel ! No matter, I liked Freddie Mercury!

Back from Pac….now that WAS weird! Not during the steroid and antihistamine phase, and not during the infusion either, which were fine! But when I stood up to go home my feet and toes started tingling and prickling madly! Like hot pins and needles between each of my toes! Peripheral Neuropathy? A taste of what’s to come? Or just pins and needles from sitting still for 2.5 hours?? It wore off within about 20 minutes. Anybody else on Pac had similar? My hands were okay.

How did you get on with yours today, @elastigirl ?

[mssteel]

On a very positive note, I finally received my genetics test results and they are negative. Phew!