Poor lulu, quite a catalogue of SE’s there 
Thursday is the big day…after first Herceptin on Wednesday
Christine xx
Thanks for the advice Issy,
It is a scary thought going back but I have been off for so long and I feels as if people’s patience is running thin. My surgery was last Summer so I have recovered from that! Sad to hear your lashes/brows have not really come back properly, that is one of the things I worry about! The hair sounds interesting!! Think David Essex is preferable to Kenny Dalglish though.
Thanks for the advice and info.
Liz x
Thanks to you all for encouragement, but especially Cackles and Liz for encouragement following treatment.
After meeting with oncolcogist today, I am now feeling less depressed about the 2 x EC not shrinking my lump, and more hopeful that the Dcoetaxel will do so - first treatment of that will be on Friday. Must say that I am not looking forward to SEs, including from steroids & injections … But I am also helped by the various success stories, especially from people on a similar path but further ahead.
Best to you all
Hi Liz,
It’s good to hear from you, I’ve been wondering how things were with you. You sound so much better now, and that’s great. I had my last Tax 12th Jan, yes I made it, remember how desolate and stressed I felt after Tax 1? This last one hasn’t been as bad as 1,2 and 3, maybe because I knew I didn’t have to go through it again. My taste buds are back, no sore mouth but my legs and feet are sore and achy, I can’t walk uphill and find stairs difficult, I am able to walk on the flat for only 15mins and still breathless, but I’ll get there in time. And it’s all been worth it as my lump has shrunk considerably. My hair doesn’t seem to be growing much at all, I have sparse brows and lashes, and the running eyes, like you this bothers me more than my head hair as I’m now used to my wig, I’m thinking about buying a new wig as hoping to socialise more, I’d like a monofilament one as think it would be more comfortable to wear in warmer weather. I hope you are back at work soon, it will be good for you to mix with your colleagues again. Good to hear you sounding upbeat, and you give me hope. Best of luck Liz, and keep popping back here and let us know your progress. Take care. xx
Good luck for Friday, Mujum. I hope you are lucky and have minimal S/E’s. xx
Cackles, a small world eh? Your son at Leeds Uni, before retiring I worked in the Uni Library. Thanks for your positive words they are reassuring, I’m feeling better by the week, but it’s a slow progress. xx
Best wishes to all Taxers, and if you are still having chemo treatment remember it is worth it!
Libby.
Middle of the night posting again! Think I will pop a pill. .
Just a quick posting to encourage all the Tax team. Today I went for a bone scan and suddenly for the first time felt totally normal as far as energy was concerned. It is not until you don’t have any that you notice when you do. My toes still tingle and my hair is now about an inch… Eyebrows are now an obsession . I look at them on TV…, It is much more entertaining than the programmes. Mine look ok with makeup, but so so odd without. I got yet another new wig, blonde with dark roots. Very Meg Ryan in style -pity my face and figure fon’t match!!! I keep buying them and go shorter each time. I think I had better get a white male cut next…it would be more realistic. I haven"t seen a white one with black splodges though.
I so hope you are all coping with your side effects or recovering well after the last dose.
Cackles
It’s really good you ladies who have come out the other side are still posting as its nice to have a rough idea of when normality returns… No 6 for me next week… Woohoo! Can hardly believe that by this time next week chemo will be all over… The time has actually flown by.
My feet especially my heels and ankles are incredibly sore as are my fingers… The bones and the finger tips/nails… He run out of tramadol and was feeling a bit like a junkie waiting for them to be delivered as the co-codamol I had just wasn’t touching the pain.
Really feel very drained and knackered… Went for coffee with my friend yesterday and spent all today nodding off.
My eyebrows are much thinner but still got plenty… And loads of lashes but very dry stingy eyes.
Both my hands are quite swollen and not sure if that’s a tax thing or a lymphoedema thing… Also seem to be developing cording in my upper arm and armpit…I had it after both lots of surgery before and thought I’d managed to escape it this time but seems that I’m a cording magnet!
Food it is starting to taste normal which is good news cos I’m out for lunch with my BC buddies on Saturday and want to be able to taste it!
I’m not sure I’ll wear my wig when I go back to work as it gets so hot and feel like whipping it off all the time… Will see nearer the time… Doc has just signed me off for another two months so at the moment I’m due back at work on 1st of April but will depend if I need any more treatment and how I feel at the time.
Take care ladies
Super to get your upbeat progress Lulu. Cording is foul. Soooo sore. You will need that time off after all of this. The problem with the NHS is the pay cut after six months. It isn’t long enough for Ca breast. Hopefully the hand swelling is Tax. I remember feeling as if I was about to burst with oedema at one stage. Probably the low blood pressure could cause it by slowing up the kidneys.(only my theory and uneducated guess) have you a lymphoedema nurse you could contact easily - just in case?
I have to take my elderly mother shopping tomorrow so must try sleep or the 100 mile round trip could be tiring.
Take care…lI love your posts
Cackles
Don’t envy you your 100 mile round trip… Thankfully these days it’s my mum who takes me shopping but that’s about a 2 mile round trip as she lives just down the road.
Yeah will be down to half pay on 1march but I did hear that you can request they pay you full pay as they have discretion to ay it up to a year… Not sure if it’s in A4C or what but I have vague recollections of somebody mentioning it after I was on half pay for 5 months last time.
Will need to do some investigating or find out about ESA as can’t remember how that works again either lol
I do have an LO physio so might give her a call and see what she advises.
Enjoy our shopping trip
nanite xx
Hi All
Lulu, had to laugh this morning when I logged on and went to the Latest Posts section (the only way I can find anything) to see you name attached to loads of them - late night!?! You are a one-woman support machine 
Liked your comment about whipping off the wig. I went to see a patient on one of the GI wards yesterday where it was incredibly hot. Ended up doing a bed bath as they were so short handed and then I had to go and sit outside in their courtyard area in a short sleeved t-shirt and wig-less to cool off!
I’m hoping I can ditch the wig in 3-4 weeks as I think my hair will have come back enough by then (last TAX was 18/11). It’s funny the way it grew back - sides first followed by back and I’ve got a good covering on both so you can’t see skin peeking through. The top is taking a bit longer and the front has only just started coming in. It’s still a bit grey and fluffy but don’t care. Given that I’ll be on and off chemo for the rest of my life, I’m planning to have some fun with the hair I have left. Don’t think I’ll get away with purple in the hospital but there is a girl on one of the wards who has that funky gothic red which I think would be OK…
I didn’t have too much trouble with fingers and toenails during TAX but since it has finished I’ve lost 1 toenail with three more threatening. My fingernails are more ridged and thickened and break easily. I also keep getting those horrible little paper cuts at the side of my fingernails which hurt like hell - am very careful when I put on alcohol handrub LOL
Must be feeling better as I’ve agreed to take 10 12year olds to Lazer Maze for my daughters birthday tomorrow, then back to ours for homemade pizza, cake and a film then 5 of them sleeping over. See you on the other side…
Love to all
Laurie x
My goodness Laurie you are truly a glutten for punishment. I had my last Tax on 10th Nov and I couldn’t consider performing anything like your schedule and going back to work still makes me tired just thinking about it. I am having rads now every day though and it’s an 80 plus mile round trip.
I suffered with sore quicks on my fingers though too and my finger nails look like those of a decomposed corpse!
Jan
x
Go for it Laurie, what about colouring the eyebrows too???
Cackles
Hi taxers, just home after 1st tax, switched from EC early because it didn’t shrink the b*****, although the onc said there was some evidence of cancell death. Hoping that, like others on this thread, the tax will be more effective, and hence that it will be worth the SEs. If after 2 Tax there is a positive MRI scan, I will be given 4 more, so still quite a road ahead.
Feeling a bit whacked, but I think that’s a function of worrying about tax, the steroids and having to chase community nurses to ensure weekend visits for injections - eventually done by excellent chemo nurse at Bexley Wing - they really are treasures. Oh jsut cam back from stocking up with food, in case we get snowed in on Sunday as forecast. We’re high up on the North side of teh Aire Valley, so it drifts here, and we have a longish drive on to a busy main road - so better to avoid unnecessary journeys during snow if we can. Yet today has been gloriously sunny - but bitterly cold.
I certainly feel the cold on my head now - hair much thinner, but still just about OK enough to delay wearing the wig or scarf - woolly hats very needed outside, though! I remember reading Mo Mowlam’s autobiography, when she described being able to win any dispute with either the nationalists or loyalists, when she was Sec State in Northern irelend, by whipping off her wig and saying it was too hot when she was trying to solve a problem. How she managed that job, while undergoing chemo, I simply don’t know …
Cackles, Leeds is a great student city - but the problem is, they don’t want to leave when the graduate so we seem to be stuck with lots of bright young people - quite a good trend for a city, I think!
Good to see the “old girls” helping with their experiences post Tax - that’s really helpful. Hang in there, all others!
LOL Laurie rather you than me with the housefull of 12 yr olds…
And yup had a bit of a sleepless night until the wee small hours I usually go to bed and lose my signal but was snuggled on the sofa so just stayed put.
Jan you must be knackered don 80 miles a day for rads… And my fingernails sound similar to yours but toenails all still present and correct
Mujum I haven’t had EC but having tax and carbo no 6 next week… it’s hard going doing 6 and I’ll be glad when it’s all over so good luck with it.
Lxx
Laurie, great to hear you sounding more upbeat. Your hair is growing super fast, faster than grass! Enjoy Lazer Maze with the girls (wink!). It will be a lovely day and night for your daughter and her friends.
BBB, poor you, an eighty mile round trip every day must be tiring!
Mujum, as you mentioned the nurses and staff at Bexley Wing are marvels, we are lucky. Now I’m back in the care of LGI where the staff are also wonderful. I’m dreading the prospect of predicted snow, but we do live in a low area, I have memories of being snowed in every year when we lived higher up in Cookridge.
Today OH and I went to choose a new wig for me. My NHS one is scratchy, uncomfortable and hot, and as I hope to do more socialising soon I decided I need a lighter wig. The wig shop are ordering two for me to try on Tues or Wed, I’ve gone for a monofilament, it is expensive but I’m sure it will be worth it, and what I’ve saved/will save on hair dressing bills will cover the cost. I get £50 off as no VAT to pay. I tried one on today but didn’t like the colour, however it was comfortable and felt light on my head.
Tomorrow we have friends coming for supper, I’m looking forward to it as haven’t seen them for a few weeks. It’s my friends birthday on the 10th, I’ll give her her present tomorrow, I got her a fabulous present in the Harvey Nichols online sale which finished last Sunday; they had 60% of everything and I got a clutch bag reduced from £95 to £38, I know she’ll love it.
Lulu, I hope you sleep well tonight and aren’t awake with the ‘Up all Nighters’
Wishing all taxers a good weekend with little discomfort. Wrap up well.
Libby x
So many posts looking forward, despsite SEs, well done all!
My lump already feels softer and less defined after yesterday’s Tax, hope I am not imagining it! It’s amazing how the b***** has changed since dx in November, since to begin with neither I nor the consultant could feel a thing (symptom was sudden discharge), then a few weeks later, just a blobby feel, then gradually more defined, almost hard edged, although as onc said last time we saw her, although “free-floating” - and now a move back to blobbiness, which I take to be a good sign …
I have just taken advantage of lull before Tax storm, by making tuna and basil dip - the specialist dietary advice is eat basil, parsley, celery, broccoli, cabbage, saffron and turmeric, to aid tax effect - so have been trawling recipe books for suitable dishes. Godson coming tomorrow for supper - has an appetite which always empties the fridge, so need to ensure that something cooked today to heat up tomorrow. Poor OH knackered after tax assessments, so he deserves an easier time …
Have a good weekend and let’s hope none of us get stuck in the forecast snow - and that all our SEs will be little ones - or at least, well worth the outcome.
Hello all, everyone seems quiet over the last few days … Hope you are all keeping warm - it’s sooo cold! At least most of the snow has gone.
Now 5 days on from 1st dose of Docetaxel, and beginning to see a pattern. 1st 2 days OK apart from horrible lack of taste - but boy, did it hit, evening of day 2 and on day 3, when joints and body ached and I felt lousy - didn’t get dressed and was miserable all day. Yesterday and today, pain has been better, but managed to get dressed, still weak and wobbly. Paracetamol with ibuprofen seems better than cocodamol, which gave me a raging thirst. Last GCSF injection tonight, which I am doing myself, and hopefully after that, I will begin to climb up again. At least now, water does not taste like sewage, although I am not hungry and the only tastes I seem to have are sweet; normally I much prefer savoury.
What a strange journey this is …
The lump seems to have become less defined and is softer. And I’ve had some twinges. Has anyone else who’s on pre adjuvant experienced this? It would be nice to think that the b***** is getting zapped … and that it’s not just wishful thinking!
Hi mumjum
Good to hear that things are OK with you. When it hits on day 3 - I remember that feeling well. Watch out for the cumulative effect - unfortunately I found I felt exhausted for longer with each one although the aches and pains didn’t get any worse. The taste thing is really lousy isn’t it? I know some people put on weight when on chemo, but I lost 2 stone - just couldn’t face eating as everything tasted weird. Hopefully the dreaded stuff is doing it’s job and zapping the little blighters. Stupid cancer.
You will get through it - honest!
Laurie x
Mujum, I am so glad you can feel a difference in the lump, it makes the yuck feel worthwhile. I too had the set pattern of side effects almost to the day. A day of Tax trotts or I eould call it Tax Sprint happened at day 14 on my first course but not after that. You will get more fatigued as the last session comes up. Hold on when going downstairs . The legs can suddenly give way. Not often but it does occur. I wear socks in bed to stop the electric feeling when lightly brushing the duvet. It is probably all in the mind that socks help but who cares!
I think you are so good doing your own jabs. I let my poor husband take over that role and only did it when he wasn’t about. I must say I became a needle phobic because of the efforts to put a cannula in at my first FEC., and the Hickman.
My hair has gone from the frightened baby monkey look to Gloucester Old Spot it is flatter and I am fatter. Tax now only bites occasionally. The tingling big toe ends and slightly tender finger nails. Radiotherapy in contrast is so easy. Just slap on lashings of Aqueous Cream at night really thickly and let it soak in.
I so hope you continue to cope well
Take care
Cackles
Mujum thets exactly the same as me… I get chemo on the thurs sleep all day, feel fine and dandy all day Friday till sat night and then my mouth starts to go and by Sunday I feel poop. I pretty much spend mon tue and we’d in bed in my pjs. Can’t manage the stairs and even going for a pee tires me out… So I just listen to my body.
The taste thing I found that chilli is good as can almost taste it, and not too difficult to chew or swallow, need lots of extra salt in my food even on crisps, ice pops are soothing, pineapple s good for some folk I never found much difference to my taste but does nip my mouth a bit… More than chilli does! What I do love and can taste is minty and tangy orange things, minty club, orange club, minty matchmakers, orange matchmakers, vicounts, echo, aero, after eights… No wonder Iv put on a stone!!! Don’t like minty toothpaste or mints like polls as they are too minty… I’m such a fuss pot lol
I got bad constipation each cycle but have lots of meds to help but did have the tax trots on three cycles but not the last 2, get indigestion and feel a bit sick around day 5.
It’s not pleasant but it’s only for a short period of time and then your free of it with only minor effects in comparison.
Just in case it slipped everybody’s mind … No 6 today!!! Woo hoo!
Love and hugs xxx
No 6 - Go Lulu!!!