FEC T 3/6 Day 1
Well the third one is now done and so far so good. Fingers crossed for more of the same. FEC and me are now officially over and next time it is the dreaded T! The steroid dose is higher and I am dreading the come down from that…
Zuzy - how did it go today? Are we still chemo day buddies? Hope all is still on track and your bloods were fine.
Penny - They will definitely have AP on my notes - they laugh at my list of questions every time I go. I think they dread me but I will carry on regardless.
FEC-T 3/6 day 1
Hi Dodo, bloods were fine and I’m all done! Can’t believe we’re halfway (sort of) looks like I’m moving to thurs next time cos we’re going away for the weekend so i can’t have my pre chemo bloods til tues and they like a day between, so you’ll be a day ahead of me, I’ll be after lots of feedback! Hope minimal SEs continue for you xx
Hi moonies,
been had bloods they were fine saw a new oncologist today ( very nice lady) she was pleased with me. Said I was doing the right thing with going on holiday and not letting it rule me. 3rd cocktail tomorrow at 2.30.
Also I’ve got appt to se. BC as bought some bras from amoena and the prothesis I have for the one I had before seems too big for these they are the same size so going to see what she says x
Marie
FEC-T 2/6 Day one: Had a slice of NHS life today with a 2 1/2 hour delay and “chair blocking” ie two patients needed special care and one needed admitting to a bed that wasn’t there. All very much like my job so I felt at home. Luckily I had plenty of toys to play with, books to read, and my treatment was not compromised. Best of all I got to talk to people with different cancers, men too (a completely different discussion!)
Meanwhile my OH was sunning himself at Maggie’s surrounded by lovely women! (at least that’s what he said.) They even offered him a delicious lunch! Maggie’s is so cool- I wish there were more of them.
What I learned today at ONC I should have been able to figure out for myself. You people who have PICCs and lines are at an advantage with treatment- you can sew, knit, play the piano, work on your laptop while we cannula people have to manage one-handed. I have to have the drip in my right hand cos I have swelling in my left from my finger amputation 4 years ago. So I have to do everything with my left hand which is not my best hand! Glad to be home and will sink gratefully into the sofa and watch Springwatch before my SE’s kick in…hopefully NOT.
Dodo and Zuzy- I can’t believe you’re halfway there when I’m still on cycle 2! Brilliant!
Well done Penny, it has gone quite quickly I have to say. Hope your SEs are ok.
There was a man cold capping in my unit today which I found v odd, you don’t imagine that men will be so borhered about losing their hair, guess shouldn’t make assumptions!
Hope everyone is well
xxx
Zuzy - Glad all went well. Great news. After this one into the unknown again. Are you having a half way scan?
Penny not quite half way there - need to get to the end of the cycle first but time is really flying. 
Hi guys
Glad you are all doing well, I’m lagging behind still only on number 1 !! My next dose is next Tuesday with reduced dose and injection the following day, wonder if it differs from the day one some seem to have? Any ideas?
Going out for tea tomorrow so eleanor Wigby will get an outing.
Do we have to avoid all yogurts?
Ive had a good friend make me scarf for £5 with cupcakes on v pretty so if you’re stuck
Im on mobile again so wonder what it will post this time?
Take care ladies
Hugs you’re so brave
Xxx
Hi Karen- I’ve been meaning to ask about yogurt too- as I have heard contradictory advice- will ask the chemo nurse when I have my dose on Friday and let you know- I have a large pot of greek yogurt tempting me in the fridge-resisted so far. Well done Penny, Jo and Zuzy.
Hi ladies, well done dodo, zuzy and penny hope everything is ok for you.
good luck tmoz Marie, thinking of you and hope u get bra thing sorted
RE: YOGHURT i read not to have it but forgot and ate some 3 days ago with fajetas and no ill effects but probably best to ask
Went to Norwich with my girls today still going commando and looking like skinhead, had a nice time but sleepy now. My very short hair has started to come out in small clumps today so the scarves will come out soon. OH cooking tea and i’m still thinking about what to do about be asked to resign.
Take care everyone xx
Yoghurt is ok as long as it is not a live one it has to be pasteurised so no yakul or Greek (can’t spell)
mills must have missed something you have been asked to resign? If so why?
Marie
the post i had was only for a year but the same post is needed next year and they have to offer it to me first because it was my contract but boss rang me and told me, also said it would be better for them if i resign because although i can take job and stay on sick leave, i wont actually be on site and they need someone for consitancy and i will look bad to ofsted. he said ‘we wno’t think anything of you if you decide to stay’ and ’ let us know as quickly as possible’ i think its a bit nauty of him to put pressure on me considering what im going through. however i knoe im not ready for work soam going to see if resigning would effect any benefits. anyway gotta think about it, so if anyone knows someone who knows about work law osr benefits system let me know
I would speak to McMillan they may have a helpline that can help? The other thing would be citizens advice? and would there be a job when you feel well enough to go back to work. Be very careful what you decide. Make sure you don’t lose out by resigning.
xxxMarie
Mills this is what is called constructive dismissal and is totally unacceptable. You could have them in an industrial tribunal over those sort of comments. I am a teacher and have had nothing but the best support and encouragement. they have advertised my job on a fixed term contract and have reassured me it is mine when I am ready to return. Playing the Oftsed card is well below the belt. I would definitely not resign. (My mum sits on industrial tribunal cases so if you need further advice just ask).
Yoghurt is ok as long as not got live bacteria in it and is pasteurised. No greek, proactive, natural etc…
Marie - Good luck for today. x
Thanks Dodo. cocktail 3 of 4 today so over half way
Marie
Marie - lucky you! Good luck!
About JABS: There is now an encouraging notice on the walls at the ONC unit recommending we all get flu jabs at any point in the treatment. They don’t say anything about pneumococcus jab for us older patients. I took the plunge last week and had mine on day 15 and no ill effects.
Yogurt: reading labels is a good idea. I got quite fond of Tesco Gooseberry fool as a substitute but when I read the label I discovered it has yogurt in it-they don’t specify whether it’s live or not so I gave the rest away to my grandchildren (no hardship for them!) SO then I turned to Muller rice pudding…and at that point I gave up. Back to bananas for now!
Sarah I’m a bit rusty on employment law but I agree with Jo. Your responsibilty is to keep them informed, theirs to you is to respect the contract. He has an option to apply for hours to cover- he probably doesn’t know it if he’s typical of educational managers (is he a HT?)- they seem to be very isolated from HR and in my authority HR is being run on a shoestring and Occ Health is out-sourced for the most part anyhow. So postponing OH assessments is a way of saving money. 
I’m facing a similar situation where I feel my good nature (!) is being a little trod on. More about this later because as you are now reminding me I need to do a little bit of homework and consult my GP. His senior partner had treatment for BC last year so they are really supportive of me so far at the surgery.
Penny - I have eaten Muller rice puddings - what is wrong with them?
I completed dose three yesterday, and planning to be very sensible this time after doing too much after last dose. After this I have only one more cycle (I think I’m the only Moonbeam on AC), then radiotherapy, Herceptin and Arimadex. Phew!
Still feels weird to have gone from completely fit 59 year-old to 60 year-old patient overnight. And to be on a treatment that just shrieks out to everyone I see, even casually on the street, that I have cancer. So much for patient confidentiality! Practically no other treatment declares itself in this way, does it?
Hugs to all Moonbeams
Jane x
Janey - well done. You are well on your way. As you are having Herceptin have you got/been offered a port? If so what are your thoughts?
I know what you mean about the immediate transfer from being healthy to patient. It is a real shock to the system and just stops your normal life completely.
I too will be taking it a bit more easy this cycle, I think I got a bit carried away last week and was exhausted Monday morning.
Well done jane, after chemo i too go for radiotherapy, herceptin and amoxifen. Can understand totally about life changing overnight. i have gone from being mum looking after kids (albeit they are 15 and 19), job and study to my kids looking after me, no job and incomplete studies. It is one hell of an adjustment and still coming to terms with diagnosis. BUT WE CAN DO IT !!!
Couldn’t sleep last night been up since 3.30 thinking of what boss has given me to think about. i feel that i have enough to deal with and don’t really want to think of this at the moment so i will ring and tell him he needs to give me more time to think about it.
Thanks for the offer of help Dodo and will take you up on that if i need to. My sister and husband said the same;that i should not resign.