I cannot believe thats it finished - oh my god!!! Since July its been such a rollercoaster - but getting to this stage is such a positive mental boost. Hopefully you guys will feel the same when its your turn.
I was not this happy when I finished chemo - cos there was still treatment to go - I cannot describe how I feel. I still hate my body as it is - but just trying to get it into my head that its not forever - hopefully the next year will pass quickly till I can get recon. I feel so much more positive about things the last couple of days - hopefully will stay that way.
Think I will leave my celebrating till the weekend as Iām working tomorrow - oh my god!!
Lots of love to you both
Time will whizz past for you both
Fiona
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Oh Fiona,
I am so pleased for you, way to go girl, Yipeeeeeeeee .It must be a bloody fantastic feeling ,cant wait to join you. It realy is such a blooming rollercoaster isnt it, and to finaly get your life back must be such a fantastic feeling, good luck for tomorrow i know your gonna do fine, wish i could give you a big big hug ,Go celerbrate at the weekend you so deserve it , il be raising a glass ot two to you tonight.
Loads and loads of hugs
Lindiloo xx
Fiona: Sooooooooooooooooooooooo PLEASED FOR YOU!!! You must be elated, you sound so good Fiona, and you really deserve all the celebrating you can do, just wish me and Lindiloo lived near you, you would be out on the town tonight for sure!!! It would be painted every colour imaginable.
I wish you luck for work tomorow, I am sure it will be fine, let us know how it goes. Also send you a huge hug, looks like another wee dram going down tonight in your honour! Cheers and well done, fling the aqueous cream in the bin and go girl!! lol.xxxxx
Lindiloo: How you doing? Soon be our turn too, had a good day today faster than its has ever been went at 1 back at 4.How manyhave you to go? Tamoxifen still going ok, not noticed any side effects, not sleeping too good but thats the hot flushes I think. See my oncologist tomorow for first time since chemo. Wig a bit of a nightmare today with the wind, have your neck of the woods been hammered? Think we have faired quite well up here in the North compared to some places. Take Care Lindiloo big hug to you too xxxxx
Fiona, Got 15 to go, it is going quite fast at mo.Tick em off every night!. Get a break for Easter so that will be good, OH said if I feel like may go away for couple of days so that will be nice.
Love
Jillxx
Hiya girls,
Jill , glad your transport went smoothly today and that your doing fine, ive had nos 12 today got 11 to go will finish 27th march cos of break at easter, il be starting the booster doses on thurs , how many more to go for you? The weather here has been very rough lots of storms and very high winds, i live very close to the harbour and beaches and there had been lots of flooding and roads closed with fallen trees and stuff ,its still whiping up a storm here .luckily i live up on a big hill so wont get flooded ha, though i do love to see the sea rough the waves have been very high and believe it or not some idiots are still out surfing (mad cos people have been warned all day about staying away) feel sorry for the poor lifeboat guys.Im also not sleeping to good with the hot flushes but find it fifficult to wake up in the mornings ive taken to getting my mum to ring me to make sure im up ha.
Fiona, im so so pleased for you, you must be beaming from ear to ear that light is definately there at the end of that tunnel isnt it, brilliant, im so glad that youll still be keeping in touch too, we would miss you otherwise ,and feel like weve all become good friends. Good luck for tomorrow.
Take care both of you
lots of love
Lindiloo xx
Hi Girls,
Glad all went well for you Fiona, been thinking about you today.x
Lindiloo: Hope you have had a good dayx
My day went well, saw the oncologist he wants me to start Herceptin now, which was a bit of a surprise as it was meant to be after the rads, he has asked me to consider a trial which gives the drug over 6 months as oppose to 12, to establish if 6 mths has the same effect as 12. Do either of you know any info on trials? I know nothing about them so I will have to do a bit of research I think before I decide.
Skin fine, hope yours is too Lindiloo.
Have a good day at the office again tomorrow Fiona! You are a Star. Well Done.
Sorry cant be any help on the herceptin front - but am sure you will get info on this site from another thread or you can start another. I hate when they give us choices. Surely he must have more info on it - ie if there have been any trials like this anywhere else etc.
Not back to work tomorrow - its Thursday . Up early tomorrow tho as I am getting double glazing fitted so the guy is starting tomorrow!!
Hiya girls,
Glad to hear your back at work and had a good day, must be nice to be back,well done x
Jill, Glad your day went well, the only thing i know about trials, is the Tact2 trial which i was on whilst haveing chemo, i was on the accelerated chemo every 2 weeks instead of every 3, With the trial i was assigned a trial nurse who looks after you and they record your progress/any side effects ect regualary,the idea is to see if you can have possibly a better treatment or /less side effects/ or a more accelerated treatment . When you sign up for a clinical trial you are watched very closely and you are also followed up for the rest of your life to see how well your doing . Do you know how long the trial has been running? and how many people are takeing part, i expect if you google the name of the trial youll find lots of info on it to help you decide. I was pleased i went with the trial as i though it may help future treatments and it was a phase 3 trial so had been shown to be safe and effective, i was also told i would still be recieving at least the standard treatment but possibly better.Cancer backup has a good section on trials and you be able to find a lot of info there, i guess the good thing about the trial you have ben offered is that it will shorten you treatment time by half, but its up to you how you feel about takeing part .Have a good ol research and ask lots of questions then you can decide , also if you do sign up for any trial you are free to come out of it at any time if you want too.
Rads still going ok for me too ,gonna start the other brand of Toxoxifin tonight so keeping fingers crossed no blooming side effects .
Take care both of you
Lots of hugs
Lindiloo xx
Hi Girls,
Lindiloo: Thanks for your advice, I am going to do as you say and find out as much info as I can. Met the trial nurse today she gave me some leaflets to read through, and my OH is coming with me next week when I see the doctor. Glad your rads are still going well, my skin feels a bit sore tonight and a bit on the tight side but not bad at all really so far. How did the Tamoxifen go? Hope no side effects.x
Fiona: How did the double glazing go? I have been meaning to ask you who won the bet you or your Dad when you went bowling? I woke up thinking of that this morning!!! Forgot sorry that you were not in work till Thurs, hope it goes well.
Well girls I am having a early night as I was tossing and turning last night, so bit knackered now. Hope you are both ok, thinking of you.
Love to you both
Jillxx
Hiya girls,
Fiona, hope you had a nice day and the double glazing went ok, have a good day at work tomorrow.
Jill, Glad you got a bit more info on the trial, do you think you might go for it?
Im fine still pink but not too sure at the minute, im counting the days now ha, got 9 to go so into single figures, its tireing though isnt it ,the traveling every day but mustnt complain its a doddle compared to chemo isnt it. I had an early night last night as had a bad headache, am not sleeping too good either always wake up with the hot flushes trouble is i think you get into a pattern of wakeing up at certain times after a while.Pleased to say ok with the new Tamoxifin so far but only had 1 so still keeping fingers crossed, glad your doing ok with them too.
Well take care both of you
Chat soon
Lots of Love
Lindiloo xx
Jill - mmmmmmmmmmmmmm about that bet - dad won!!! - AND Suzie and my neice both beat me too!!! - think I had done too much in the gym or arm is weaker because of mast - or some weak excuse like that!!! I did offer him the fiver but he wouldnt accept it - shame.
Double glazing going fine - he did 2 bedrooms, bathroom and little vestibule windows. Dont know when he will be back but more than happy so far.
Work going fine too - not back till Monday now but that will be my first 12 1/2 hour shift - OH MY GOD!!
Lindiloo - single figures now eh?? - It will soon be over - yipeeeeee.
My skin has been fairly itchy last couple of days - especially where bra strap rubs and in middle of chest (was gonna say in between boobs but dont have boobs now just boob - lol - you gotta laugh!). Itchin ok when at home but not so good at work in the middle of the ward!!
Got another counselling session tomorrow - my 2nd one.
Also phoned genetics today so I have an appointment with them end of April - I just want to know whats happening.
Fiona; Never mind about the bet as you say obviously way too much in the gym!! I will sleep easy tonight cos I know the result! . Glad the double glazing going well, it makes such a difference. Hope your counselling goes well tomorrow. I am halfway tomorrow, tonight I feel a bit more sore and a bit swollen under my arm but the other girls I go with are the same so not worried. You will breeze through the 12 hour shift I am sure, and hope the itching keeps at bay. You did make me smile Fiona, its is a good job we still have our sense of humour isnt it! x
Lindiloo: How has your day been? Hope its going well for you. Your are right about the travelling it totally knackers you. I have not decided about the trial as yet, see oncologist again on Tuesday so will discuss more then. Part of me says Yes and then I keep changing my mind. It also depends on whether you are accepted for it, hate decisions like this!! Brilliant that you are down to single figures I will be on Monday, I will soon be having a tot of the hard stuff to toast you finishing, ( bet you girls have me down as a right boozer!!! lol) Wont be long now, you have done really wellx
My day went fine, went at 12.30 back at 5, I was done and dusted by 3, but the rest of the time was just waiting for the other people in my car, sometimes it is me holding other people up if I have not finished, you just have to be a patient patient in this game!! The drivers are great though and you do have a laugh.
What is genetics Fiona? (Showing my ignorance). Is it were they test for family history etc?
Well girls have a good day tomorow
Love and Hugs to you both
Jillx
A sense of humour is a must - and patience being a patient is another must! Glad I will help you sleep better tonight.
Dont have you down as a right boozer at all. I would sit at home most nights and have a wee dram - am trying to cut back tho - its just out of habit and boredom - it was only a couple I had so not worried - and certainly not having it for brekkie - YET - much more stress in my life and I might.
You are right JIll - genetics is when they think I am a carrier of the gene. The pathologist who examined the tumour once it was removed strongly suspects I will have the gene - it is something he has seen in the cells of the tumour or how they were behaving or something like that - all very complicated - but when he has seen whatever he saw before - he is usually right. (no family history before by the way). So I have already filled in a huge big form where they will form a family tree - they will look up any relatives who have had cancer before (there is a cancer registry) - and when I see them they will take blood from me to look for the genes - altho I think this process will take a couple of months. If I am a gene carrier they will strongly recommend I get other boob off and ovaries out too as there is an increased risk. Also if I have the gene - they will test Suzanne later in her life and start monitoring her from her mid to late twenties - if she had the gene she would then have horrible decisions to make about whether to get preventative mastectomies and ovaries out - I am not going to worry her about all that just now - she is far too young and she does not need to worry. As I said , no family history of breast or ovarian cancer, but I suppose it has got to start somewhere in a family. I just want to know what I am dealing with.
Nearly single figures for you too then Jill - thats excellent. Hope your skin holds out ok.
Hiya girls hope you are both ok,
Glad its the weekend again, ahhhh a break from the rads eh, i started my booster doses today so only 7 left now, have to lie on my side for this one (very uncomfortable) am in an awkward position but it doent take quite so long to do.My skin is quite red and tender now it extends up under my arm and slightly below my breast ,but they said they would expect that so must be ok , Hows was your rads today Jill , hope you didnt have to wait too long for transport home, your halfway there now , time does seem to go quick doesnt it ,thank goodness.
Fiona hope your enjoying work and getting back into the swing of things, im sure youll be fine on monday with your first 12hr shift,take it easy though, glad your double glazing is going well too.
Well have a nice weekend girls chat soon
Take care
Lots of Love
Lindiloo xx
My skin seems to be getting worse every day - quite itchy at times and really red and irritated and almost breaking where the bottom of my bra rubs - will have to steal some dressings from work to put underneath cos I will never manage 12 hours with my bra on - itchy and sore at the thought of it.
Hi Girls,
Hope you have both had a good day.
Fiona: Thank you for the info on genetics, I found it very interesting. There is no history either in my family. Do you request the testing or does the oncologist recommend it? Think like you say it is best to know what you are dealing with. Very wise not to worry Suzie, she is only very young. Sorry you are sore and itchy Fiona, dont know if it would help but I bought a bra expander just clips on to bra fastening at back but makes such a difference to the tightness of your bra, not expensive either and gives you that bit extra on the band, maybe worth a try? Even if you just wore it for work it maybe more comfy. Is the aqueous not helping? My mate at rads told me to put my cream in the fridge and boy does it make a difference, so cool going on.x
Lindiloo: Only 7 to go, bet you cant wait, I dont have any boosters on my sheet so not sure if any planned, will check. My skin is going redder but I am using cream prescribed by dermatologist mainly made up on Parrafin (Sounds awful!) but I am not allergic to it and it seems to be working .e. cooling things down. I find its worse in bed as I like to sleep on my left side so I bought a very soft small cushion and tuck it under just takes pressure off a bit. I have two 4 day weeks now with Easter break so that is good.x
Well girls, no real plans as such for weekend, take it as it comes. Maybe a spot of retail therapy always does a girl the power of good i reckon.
Hope you both have a great weekend.
Love to you both
Jillxx
No probs re the genetics - it is not something I requested but they strongly recommended it - better to be armed with the right info - if I need to get ovaries out and other boob off then I will cope - I would rather that than this blasted disease come back and have to go thro chemo etc again - that is for definate!!
I had a very productive morning - had to wait in for someone coming so tidied cupboards and drawers , stripped beds etc. Think my windows and doors will be getting finished Tues and Wed so that will be loads of mess but well worth it. Went to gym this afternoon. Bought myself a bottle of champers (not xpensive) - gonna celebrate the end of my treatment - unfortunately on my own as all me mates busy but what the hell!! Will toast you girls.
Have a nice weekend whatever you do - retail therapy sounds good
FIona
xxx
Hiya girls ,hope you are both doing ok,
Fiona, you have been busy good on ya, hope you had a good celebration last night with the bottle of champers ,shame you had to be on your own but like you say what the hell (all the more champers for you ha) good luck with your first long shift tomorrow.
Jill, Hope your still doing ok with your rads ,and not too red or sore, im pretty red now all over breast urghhh still got 7 to go but like you only have 4 next week cos of easter so we get a 4 day break, i go back tues for final 3 then thats it for me apart from the Tomoxifen and the regular check ups, im still doing ok with the CP pharmaceuitals brand so hopefully itll stay that way. Jill, have you noticed any hair loss with the Tamoxifen? the hair on my head is growing back fine but i seem to have lost it again from legs, arms and eyebrows urghhh , not sure if its the Tamoxifen or what? , Have you had any more thoughts on the trial? sometimes i think it would be much easier if the docs just told us what to do dont you.
Well girls hope your haveing a nice weekend
Chat to you both soon
Lots of Hugs
Lindiloo xx
