Hey team I’m really sorry I’ve been away for a while (again!). Been sorting out children (again)!!! Sounds like you’re all the other side of your last dose (albeit not the 3 weeks) - have I got that right, is anybody still waiting for their last chemo? I’m sorry to see some rough times being had and I will make a point of coming here every day now. Facebook def better for me - HETTI NANTON Been reading your posts. Like you lots and lots of aches, my hip is still bad at night (will get MRI results Thursday when I see onc but I can’t believe it’s anything sinister or he would have called me earlier ??. Walking up hills - no way!! I’m also managing about 6000 steps but I’m thinking of finding a PT who can devise some kind of wholistic recovery plan because I feel I may have a chance then. I’ve started tamoxifen as u know - SE largely seem to be ongoing aches - I feel about 90 in evening - and I seem to feel permanently cold, albeit interspersed with sweating at night. Night time is my bad time - pain in hip, boob, arm (veins from chemo), sweating but cold mostly, and last night to cap it all I woke up with bad heartburn. Re tamoxifen I’ve heard if u take it at night and swap brands til u find one which works, it’s ok. I listened to the You me and the Big C podcast from end August re pain. I found it REALLY helpful!!! Albeit deeply profound because it was the last one Rachel Bland made. Xxx
Hello lovely ladies,
I have just finished my last chemo and rang the bell at Velindre Cancer Centre.
I have been there 5 hours as I had vein access issues but Amy saved the day and treatment was completed. I have a 3 week break before 15 rads bit it’s a great feeling to be done the chemo. Fingers crossed that the side effects are manageable. ???
Well done Tracey Mac ???Another one over the line ! Rest up now
Hope hip scan all fine Hets
Jem , its been definitely the worst of all cycles and can’t work out why but today I managed to get dressed and make it downstairs which has not happened for three days . I feel very weak from not eating for a 7 days other than porridge or weetabix . I have definitely noticed more mouth changes this time like my inside cheeks are burnt . But hopefully turned a corner today . I also got good news in appts have come through for my scan and surgeon appts both for next week which has been quick so hopefully a plan in place soon.
Glad your pre rad scan was ok and a massive symbol of chemo ending with the picc line going . When do you start the rads ? ?
Hi Jo
Pleased you made it downstairs today - step forward and another step away from chemo ?. I totally agree side effects worse with this one- cumulative effect I think. I woke up this morning and just felt so much better??
Taste- awful, feeling your pain. This time for me if I try and eat anything with butter it just tastes like my mouth is full of lard??. But today I ate the same dinner as the rest of the family.
This is the last time we need to go through side effects ???
My rads start on Monday 24th for 3 weeks.
Do you know what surgery you will be having ?
Take care, each day another day further away from chemo?
Jem xx
Well done Tracey Mac I hope the SE are proving manageable.
JemPD sounds like ur coming out the other end, you’ve done it!!!
Jo have u tried popcorn? Another favourite of mine through chemo was watermelon.
My scan was clear!!! Still get a lot of pain at night onc said if it gets a lot worse let him know and ‘we’ll go back to the drawing board’. But I’m not expecting to. Gp has given me some painkillers.
Next step is next week when I have the implant in my belly to stop my ovaries producing, and then I come off tamoxifen and onto the other one (can’t remember any names!). But I’m hoping that combo will be no worse than tamoxifen from which not only do I have achy bones, but feel cool most of the day and night time is just a nightmare of continuous sweats and then chills. I even bought myself a cotton nightdress yesterday in the hope that would be more bearable. Not much. I’m not going to have any alcohol tonight asive heard that can mean u get less sweats as well. Any tips gratefully received!
Hi all,
TraceyMac, well done and welcome to Greece.
i’m on day 10 and also struggling with tasting food. It’s just like something is missing every time I eat something. Just had homemade roasted tomato and red pepper soup though and it was lovely. Hopefully that means it’s coming back.
Otherwise feeling ok now, gradually felt better since day 7 so hopefully over the worst, fingers crossed.
Sorry that some of you are suffering more SEs…I hope they decrease soon.
Still have three weekly infusions of Herceptin and permuzutab till next year so still in that cycle of three weekly events but will just have to deal with that and hopefully can do done at home if I want to. At least it’s not chemo!
Rads a few weeks away yet…hope you all get on ok.
Sarah…how are your rads going? I think you started this week. Hopefully all’s good.
Hope you’re all enjoying your weekend. Glorious here…all helps.
Tropic_al X
Thank you all for my welcome to Greece.
It’s a good feeling to be finished chemo, just gotta ride out this bone pain which started a few hours ago, typical day 5 for me and the coated tongue now resulting in goodness knows how long of not tasting food.
We are doing so well getting through this, the fact that this too shall pass is keeping me going this time.
I will start 15 rads from October 9th so I have a few weeks to recover from chemo then move into the next phase. One day at a time.
Happy Monday ladies, here’s to a better week ???
<Empty imported post>
Well, I just posted a long essay, only to have it disappear into the ether 
I’ll post again in the morning xx
Hi all
Am I correct in thinking we are all in Greece?? If so ??? we’ve done it!
Tracey - I hope se are better today.
I’m doing ok but agree with many of you the muscles aches ?. Also the fatigue just hits me like a bus but improving.although after such a busy weekend chn and OH exhausted too!
A few questions
- anyone started Tamoxifen - how soon after chemo did you start? What are the se so far? How soon did they kick in- as you can see I’m a bit worried.
- fingers- does anyone have sore fingers? Esp those on docetaxel- all nails ok at the mo, not numb but sore.
- tomorrow I’ll try to email each of you re Facebook page - any suggestions on name??
Trying to have a ‘normal week before rads start next Monday . I think I’m coming out of chemo fog as I’m looking round my house wondering how and when it became so disorganised! Trying to pace myself and sort 1 room a week- that will keep me going until Christmas!!
Jem xx
@TraceyMac…congratulations on finishing chemo!
@Tropic_al…rads is fine, a walk in the park after chemo, although appointments are all over the place!
7.45am yesterday, anytime between 9am and 5pm last week and this week all before 8.30 in the morning.
6 down, 14 to go…
The only downside is I thought I saw a familiar face
there last week, had it confirmed on the weekend…the daughter of a near neighbour who I taught in primary school is one of the radiographers!
The idea of her drawing on my boobs with a marker pen and monitoring my breath holding…I’m sure she’s wonderful but I’d be really embarrassed
Luckily, she hasn’t been on my team yet but I change machines for the booster week!
@JemPD…I started tamoxifen today was really dreading 10 years of pill popping a hormone tablet.
Shocking night sweat tonight, but not sure if that’s coincidence as I’ve had random sweats throughout the chemo, but this feels different.
A month out of my last docetaxol I’ve still got muscle fatigue in my legs, particularly the thighs, and especially when walking up even a slight incline.
And they’re definitely feeling stiffer when bending.
But on the plus side the oncologist said my bloods were recovering well and signed me off appointments for two years!!!
Hoping everyone is doing well and sending a big hug,
Sarah xx
Hi Jem
Sadly I’ve been left at the airport!?
I’m on the ROSCO trial so my treatment has been split starting in May whith 4xT followed by surgery then 4x FEC. I’m recovering from my op at the moment and will re-start chemo in October. If you should create a FB Page I would love to join to keep up to date with everyone.
Enjoy the beach girls, I’ll get there eventually ?
Jacq x
Well done guys, can’t beliefe we made it to Greece! Jacqb we’ll save the best bed by the pool for you ??.
Re tamoxifen, I’ve been on it now for nearly a month. I have really struggled with night sweats and bone pain, but I honestly think it’s trial and error (people get affected differently by different brands for example). This week I will be transitioning away from tamoxifen and onto zoladex (monthly) and anastrozole. Slightly dreading that because I think it makes night sweats even worse ?
@Hets67…night number one of tamoxifen and I had two dripping hot sweats!
And really dizzy getting out of bed, but that could have been from lack of sleep.
Feeling fine now, buf dreading popping another of those shiny pills of doom later on!
Sarah xx
Hi Sarah, I know I got to the point of dreading going to bed and that has always been my favourite place. Try not to think about it - itis v possible that the sweats u got last night were because of chemo. I’ve got 100% cotton and silk nightwear now which def helps. And not drinking any alcohol, although boring, also seems to help me.
Hi everyone
Hope all ok
Re tamoxifen… I was on it for about 6 months before chemo. The night sweats were very bad in beginning but eases off slightly. I was advised to take them in the morning rather than the evenings.
I will be back on them again soon and I already suffer with night sweats.
Xx
Jem, I don’t do Facebook. Please all pop on this thread from time to time and let me know how you are getting on, you are all beautiful amazing ???ladies Jacqb, you’ve parachuted out over Italy, captain costas will be picking you back up after op and getting you to Greece safely soon ???
jem, get your girls meet up arranged, it’ll give you all something to look forward to and it’s amazing when you do all meet up 
A proper big celebration. A few of us are looking to do the walk through the night in London next year if any of you want to have a think about it and let me know ??Shi xx
Hello ladies hope everyone is ok and se improving for everyone. I’m on day 2 of rads and agree with u Sarah it’s a lot easier than chemo. The breath and hold is going fine. I have 13 rads to go and then an appointment in November with oncologist. No tamoxifen for me so all being well will be discharged in November. I have now lost every fingernail and two toenails which makes opening things a nightmare. The pain in my thighs are getting a little better but walking uphill is still so hard. Well done Tracey on finishing chemo hope you are feeling better. Look forward to seeing everyone on Facebook
Well am day 15 and getting some thigh pain but not too bad. Still loose when go to the toilet but taste is coming back. Had my pre op yesterday over the phone so just need to arrange a blood test for when my picc line is flushed on 26th as my neuts should be ok then. The hospital said best to go to docs for it but makes sense to get it done with picc as long as the results get to the other hospital before op. The hospital here said they would look out for them and make sure. I ordered a new dressing gown which arrived today from White Company and am waiting for expander from Japan I ordered a few weeks ago for new sports bras. Hope you get answers and good results tomozJacqb. It would be good to meet up after op and rads so I will be done in December all being well. Take care all and thanks. Must cancel my dentist appointment in 4 weeks and rearrange maybe in Jan. X
Hi Linda, dressing gown sounds lush Good to treat yourself, get a pair of sliders too because they will stick a pair of flight socks on you after op that you need to wear for weeks after and get a spare pair in from boots too. Take lip balm and hand cream in with you too your hands and lips will dry out and some antiseptic wipes with alcohol just in case you get ?after the op it can happen and the brilliant nurse that was with me stuck one of those under my nose and it stopped me ?so just wanted to pass that truck onto you ???to everyone Shi xx