May 2026 chemo starters

[bea4]

Sensible approach, @mssteel …a day at a time, you’re absolutely right. I’m finally learning patience, which has never been my greatest personality trait. Hope you’ll start to feel a bit better soon.

I am such a PRAT. I’ve just sat here for 2 hours, mobile clutched in hand, awaiting the phonecall from Rad…waiting…waiting…immobilised…waiting…nothing by 12.30. But the letter does say they over-run so a morning call can still happen by 13.00…so…hanging around like cheese at fourpence as my Gran used to say…and then the penny dropped and I realised today is the 6th, NOT the 7th! The phonecall is due TOMORROW What an eejit. And what an utter waste of a morning! You’ve got to laugh…

@baldiesrus …I’ve just managed a bacon bap, wasn’t too bad! I used to love peanut butter and jam but not currently. Not sure about the crisps though! Lemon curd is yummy, must get some, but digestives as well as other biscuits are tasting pretty horrible now. Rye Dark Ryvitas are okay, but that’s as much as I can stand in the wheat/cereal stakes at the moment.

Am going to go and try to make the best of the afternoon, after my embarrassing gaffe of earlier! Husband says to stop blaming it on ‘chemo brain’ and accept that I’m just a bit of a dope at times! He does have a point

[mssteel]

The irony of learning patience and the waiting for a phone call story is priceless.

I’ve never been one for being patient either, but I will say this cancer journey often really leaves you little choice but to learn how!

[bea4]

So right, @mssteel ! Ironic wasn’t in it! At least my ( lack of ) patience has given us a laugh today. Not been enough of those around lately!

[poppy261]

Oh no @bea4 sorry to hear you had the wrong day . What a pain. Thats something I can easily do, even if I have it in my diary . Definitely chemo brain. . Hope tomorrow is more productive. To date RT has been fine. Im always cautious as anything can happen, but my stretches are helping, and Ive had no rashes. But yes, the travelling is a bind every day. But doable so long as I wake up . I have nice chats with people in the taxi, so its quite a social event in truth. .

Sorry about your ongoing foot problem @bea4 . I cant even remember how to spell that one. Is that the same problem as the one @alannah172 and @baldiesrus are having ? It seems to be connected to chemo treatments seeping out into nearby tissues, causing the redness and swelling. That makes sense. . Absolutely awful to have.

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Love your peanut butter etc sandwich @baldiesrus . That is such a popular combination, but one I could never dare to try . Now lemon curd…had that in a lemon cake last week. It was absolutely delicious. I couldnt taste the cake but I didnt care as the LC was wonderful.

Re my phone…i do all my internet and emails etc on my phone. Its so much easier than a laptop. But its an old phone. I actually sat writing down all my phone numbers at RT today. (Well some of them, there were loads!!!) Thought a hard copy was best. Not sure about the Cloud as sometimes that boosts up the costs of the contract. Plus anything at that level gets me really fuddled. . Laptops are the same. They’ve all got abit too fancy and complicated now. Oh how I long for the older, easy, basic models of both technologies. .

But I worry about losing text messages etc. Goodness we rely on these things too much dont we.

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I agree with your philosophy @mssteel . . . But it can be a tricky road to travel when we want the train to go faster. It reminds me of the “hare and the tortoise”. Slow and steady gets us there faster. On my worst days, I just slept. . It helped a lot.

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Hope , @dcfc84 , @maystarter are doing OK through RT still, and hope @daffodil_dream you are still fine after your RT.

Getting so close now for @linz1314 @elastigirl and @alannah172 completing chemo . Weeks are flying by.

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I have a feeling @want2beme you should have finished your chemo now . Am I correct??? If you have, I hope it all went as well as it could. Sending you a big shout out from May starters, as we dont want to miss you.

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Hope ALL you lovely ladies on this Forum, sleep well tonight, and have a better day tomorrow. .

Im up at 5.30 am tomorrow for an early RT appointment, so off to bed now in the hope I can sleep. Tricky as I slept for 4hrs this afternoon.

[maystarter]

Thank you for your well wishes!

I have my last RT tomorrow! I can’t believe it! I must admit I am quite nervous about completing treatment.

I hope everyone is getting on well with their treatment and nearing the end.

Thank you everyone for all the advice and keeping us all going. Xx

[poppy261]

Yeh, good luck for you last RT today @maystarter .

[baldiesrus]

Good luck for today…Big whoop whoop in advance

[baldiesrus]

Good luck for today @poppy261 What an early start. I got up at 6, if that helps at all Keep going with your gentle exercises. Hope your skin is bearing up.

Having all your phone numbers written down is a good idea. People lose, or break their phones all the time…sometimes the phone breaks itself ( mine did that). On my older style phone, I got to choose if the contact details were stored on my phone or the sim card…somewhere on your phone…possibly settings, you hopefully will be able to check that. If your phone is a contract jobby, and you have a local shop, you could pop in and ask the staff members…tech blows my mind at times, and the younger folks(including my teenagers) seem to know how to do everything!! You can still buy some phones for about £80-£100 btw… I buy my phone outright( a network free one, that does what I need), then just stick my sim in it. I am very good at dropping my phone, so hate spending too much on a phone!

@bea You are not the only one to get your days muddled. I check my diary and the date on my phone to keep track…I struggle to know what day of the week it is at times…My phone alarm gets me up Mon-Fri…except today…Hmmm messed with my phone and had to reset the date and time…stupid women that I am, entered the wrong date…my phone told me it was Saturday today. Just as well I hear my eldest get up lol.

If it makes you feel better, I keep taking my phone everywhere with me…especially when in the bathroom…cos you know it will always ring when you don’t want it too. I am waiting for my RT planning CT scan appointment to come through. I am week 6 post chemo now…getting stressed by it all to be honest. Just want to plan other appointments. I did ring them, to make sure I hadn’t missed a letter. A very nice lady did say that they will ring, not just send a letter, so that was good. She also said I’m on the waiting list…which down here is very long. I really don’t want to be going into the town/city for RT in December as it’s going to be heaving…it’s always busy anyway…but the public transport gets packed…so stressed by it all. I wish I lived in Scotland now

I hope every one is doing well today. If you are having a bad day, rest and watch something to make you laugh. If you are having treatment, I hope it goes well and on time. If you are on your recovery cycle, rest, don’t push yourself too hard. Everyone needs to treat themselves to something yummy…Have a good day

[mssteel]

Morning all!

I’ve been sprinkled with a little of that day 6 magic today having completed my last EC on Friday and am feeling much more like myself today. I have my appointment this afternoon to discuss further surgery, which is a little nerve wracking but I’m also glad I’m not having to wait too long to find out what’s next.

Hope all goes well with your RT today @poppy261 and congrats on your last one @maystarter

[bea4]

All the very best for your last RT @maystarter !

[bea4]

And @alannah172 too! Hoping everything goes according to plan for today.

I must say, it feels very odd to be sitting here at home, instead of in the chair at the chemo unit, which is what I would have been doing at this time of day.

Rad Doc ringing at 11.00, or thereabouts…now, remind me …this IS the 7th, isn’t it?

@baldiesrus , no…no…you’d not want to be living in Scotland in December! Last year we were snowed in and completely cut off for 5 days, and I had to cancel a hospital appointment and very nearly, in January, my surgery! I’d love 6 weeks ‘off’ before RT just to start to feel able to cope with it, but the thought of travelling in winter up here terrifies me. It’s not the most hospitable of climates.

[poppy261]

Great to hear you are starting to feel more like yourself @mssteel .

How did your hospital appointment go? Have they got a firm plan for surgery? Hope it gave you the outcome you wanted. . Its a tough road to travel isnt it. Xxx

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Hope your RT phone call went well today @bea4 . Hope you didn’t have to wait too long for it. .

Mmmm travelling in Winter is not my idea of fun. Not when there is loads of snow. Surely they would let you sleep over if that was going to happen? They have units at my hospital for people to stay overnight, if travelling it too difficult. May be worth asking if your hospital has that option. they can only say “No”.

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The main side effect Im experiencing is fatigue. Nothing new there . Ive slept for a good 3-4 hrs when I get back home. It would be very easy to think I was fine, and do too much. But I have to remind myself its a serious treatment, and to look after myself whilst it is happening. So Im happy to sleep and let my body recover.

The tightness and pains have reduced, after doing my very very gentle stretching. I do them every day now, regardless of feeling any tightening or not. I just stretch my arm out, and relax into that position, and remain there for ages. Watching TV. So i’m not doing aggressive stretches at all.

I get minor aches in my chest, and arm, but nothing that needs pain killers.

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I will need to do a bloomin course on Mobile Phones @baldiesrus .. I hate the way they keep pushing us into technology I dont want. With chemo brain still lingering, ( thats my excuse anyway ) I really cant be bothered with it all. But at the same time, I need my phone. Catch 22.

I really do hope you get to hear about your RT soon. But at the same point, it may be good to have a break, in the hope that your feet improve. Your journey on the bus and then a walk to the hospital, could be hard for you. So use this time to nurture your feet.

I agree with your idea of watching something funny . I watch Ghosts most nights. Its very gentle humour, and has a nice caring edge to the characters. Perfect for lulling me off into slumberland.

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Sending hugs, love and anything else that helps get us through all this treatment.

[want2beme]

Hello all, Sincere apologies I have been missing for a bit and there are hundreds of messages - the group has exploded with chat and thats brilliant, but Im so out of the loop now .
The paclitaxel has given me too much headspace to overthink, compared to the brainfog of AC where I just lived day to day. I needed to switch off from any cancer topics or conversations for a bit for my own mental health. I had been so positive after surgery and even during AC. Chemo. The Pac has hit my emotions hard!! I had my last chemo a week ago, after a reaction on my 2nd pac and a headcold ment 2 delays. That put an extra 5 weeks onto the treatment time Had my radiotherapy planning appointment today and even that felt emotional as im a bit claustrophobic and it took all my willpower not to jump up off the CT scanner bed!

I keep telling myself that the reason i feel like this is the hormone depravation and its not me, its them . I will be applying for councilling at my local cancer centre soon.

I hope all is well with everyone and I will read back through messages as I can to see whats going on with ye all. I admire each and everyone here for powering through this rollercoaster ride!

[mssteel]

Hey @poppy261, thanks for checking in!

Considering everything that has happened in my pathway so far, my surgeon has recommended a mastectomy as the best option for me in terms of reducing risk of recurrence in the breast. My BCN stayed behind after my surgeon left to chat it through some more with me and they’re giving me a week to mull it over then contacting me to confirm next Tuesday. A surgery date of 5th November has been pencilled in.

In terms of how I feel about it, not only do I agree with my surgeon, but I feel weirdly ok about it too, which I didn’t expect. It was first mentioned to me as a possibility at the start of chemo over five months ago now and I’ve met and spoken to so many fabulous ladies in the time between then and now who’ve had mastectomies that it maybe doesn’t seem as scary as it maybe once did.

[poppy261]

Well done @want2beme for getting through your last chemo.

Huge shout out from May Starters. . You have done so well.

Pac seriously catches us out doesnt it. For some, they have had no problems at all with it, but for others, it has been a tough and confusing treatment, that has needed doses reducing. So we can completely empathise with how you feel. It can really knock us off guard. Especially in the last few weeks of treatment. Its such a relief to have it finished.

I can completely understand how you needed some head space. Dont ever worry about reading all the Posts. We all understand that some days we may only get to read a couple. Or some days we just may chip in to say “Hi”, without reading any. Its important everyone goes at their own pace. Chemo/cancer is tough. The side effects can be grim. Its important we do what is right for “us”. Some just want to read the Posts, some just send hearts, some dip in when they feel they can cope. But, we are all here through the good and the awful, in whatever shape or form that may be. .

Counselling is so important for Cancer. Its such an emotional rollercoaster. We need time to unravel the layers of emotions, treatments, impacts etc. Its a huge life changer in many ways. You will find it really helps..

Well done for getting through your RT planning meeting. Thats hard when you have claustrophobia. The actual RT sessions are easier, as you dont go into anything, the machines go round you on the outside. Its very “open”.And the sessions only last 10-15 mins. Ask if they will give you some Flamigel-RT. Ive got this free. Its special gell for RT. Ive been using it straight after each session and , touch wood, (along with other moisturising creams) Ive had no rash to date.

Sending you love, hugs, strength and hoping this next stage of treatment is kinder to you.

[poppy261]

Glad your meeting today was productive @mssteel .

That must have been a huge relief to have a plan with possible dates.

Re mastectomies, as you say, there are many of us who have gone down this pathway, and have had no regrets. I think if you are well informed, which you are, you can make more secure decisions. Though saying that, I had 4weeks from diagnosis to operation, but I still have no regrets. My scar is neat, and I am glad to have the main cancer removed. In truth, I never notice my boob isnt there. My scar is just “part of me/the new me”. If that makes sense. .

So I hope you continue to feel as comfortable as you do presently.

Sending you love and strength for this next stage of treatment.

[mssteel]

Hey @want2beme

I had a similar thing where the treatment change hit me quite hard emotionally and mentally except for me it was moving from weekly to 3 weekly treatments. When I was on the weekly I was either at chemo or getting over the effects of chemo just in time to prep for more chemo. Then on the 3 weekly, I found there was just so much time and not much to fill it so my brain did way too much thinking. The devil makes work for idle minds as well as hands apparently!

I can’t recommend applying for counselling enough. I’ve been speaking with my counsellor for months now and she’s been a godsend. She’s been through treatment for breast cancer and we hit it off straight away so it’s been extremely beneficial in processing the feelings that come along with this. I hope you’re able to find someone you can work well with and I wish you all the very best for your adventures in radiotherapy. x

[mssteel]

So I don’t want to make too much fuss in case I scare them away, but my brows and lashes are returning. Shhh.

[bea4]

Congratulations @mssteel , on the eyebrows and lashes - sshhhhh-front. Good, too, to hear that you’ve got decisions in place for the next stages in your treatment.

Lovely to see you @want2beme and to hear about your progress. Yes, Pac can tear you to bits and spit you out. Many of us are finding that. All the very best for the next steps in your treatment, too.

Well…quick catch - up. Rad Doc rung early yesterday. Nice man. Upshot, the rest of October ‘off’ and then preassessment for Rad - if he can arrange it - on the same day as my oncologists appointment, to save us having to travel in twice. He says just 5 sessions, as 15 would make scant difference in life expectancy at my age and with the type and grade of cancer I’ve got. I’m very much on borrowed time anyway, so I’ll make do with that. He didn’t phrase it in those words, but that’s my interpretation. He was far kinder and more positive.

And then…the bloody heating boiler broke down. Am seriously hacked-off as it’s our only source of heating a very cold, draughty old house, apart from a wood burner that warms just one room. So I’m up early yet again, ready to ring the heating engineers who fitted it and service it annually, see if they can get out here today to have a look at it. I hope so, I’m frozen to the bone. At least it’s heating the hot water, just not pumping it round the system. Might be a simple fix, might be a b@$tard.

All carefully laid plans for the day out the window. I only have strength for one thing at a time.

Hope today’s Rad goes well, @poppy261 , nearly the weekend! You’re doing so well!

[mssteel]

Sorry to hear about the boiler @bea4. I know this might sound mad considering what we’ve all been going through, but that’s actually my worst nightmare!