This is amazing to see, you look so well & the body art you do looks brilliant! I’m the same as you I feel wiped out at the end of the day If I push myself to go out. Your wig looks fabulous! It’s really refreshing to see such a positive post 
x
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@flojo After challenging my oncologist on why he’d moved from 15 to 5 for full breast (40mm lobular) and nodes in collar bone (not armpit because I had a clearance) he was adamant that was all I needed. He said most oncologists have now adopted 5 higher intensity fractions based on the fast forward study though the NICE guidelines haven’t caught up. He said he would only now recommend 15 if they were also treating the nodes by my breast bone. He was happy to do that if I felt strongly about it, but it wouldn’t normally be recommended given the location of my cancer, and was higher risk for my heart. I decided to go with his recommendations.
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Thanks. That is useful to know. I haven’t spoken to anyone on the radiotherapy side yet so it will be interesting to see what they say. I am at a regional cancer centre which I feel lucky to have close by - eight miles away. X
@shelbylou81 - In my industry lots of us have had breast cancer and they d been such a source of hope to me . At the event I was at , there were six other painters who have had breast cancer , can you believe it . All have moved on and are enjoying life and I’ve clung onto that … That wig is definitely my favourite !
@flower5 it’s interesting you say that as I think they prefer to use SABR radiotherapy now as it is more intense and can be directed at specific areas .Obviously left sided breast cancer presents challenges with the heart but breathing exercises can “move” it out of the way . I think you are taught to hold your breath , I’m assuming SABR would be better when left sided BC is involved
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Round 5 done, only one more to go!
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Nearly there!!
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had round 5 (and a half) on Tuesday, 3 more to go which brings me into April. 1st round of EC, and still figuring out how I feel. currently high on steroids, could have sobbed when they told me it was 3 days of steroid… Must resist the urge to go online shopping 
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Round 15 done. 1 left, hopefully in 2 weeks and the additional highlight of getting my helpful friend the Picc line out. (12 paclitaxel, 3 EC so far).
Lovely to see other people going through or nearing the finish line.
I’ve already had my operations (ended up having 3), so it’ll be on to zolanadrex infusions once I’ve had my chemo teeth fixed.
Hair is shedding so I’m living in caps as I have to keep lint rollering myself and the furniture. I have my nhs wig voucher and have approached the locally recommended wig service for an appointment.
@couchpotato trying to resist the online shopping along with you.
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I hear you! I have spent a fortune in the last couple of months! Good luck with the steroids and side effects. X
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Number 5 of tchp for me 1 more to go!
Number 4 was tough with my chest tightness and i felt emotionally drained 
I hope this time is a bit kinder 
Hope everyone is doing okay xx
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Well done ladies ! @flower5 @brambles1 @couchpotato @shannon27
We are getting there ! X
I had my fifth herceptin today and first time without chemo but it’s not plain sailing . I have to have pre meds (steroids and piriton) still do had to be cannulated and hooked up to a drip for half an hour after the pre meds . Then the injection. Then watch for half an hour .
I’ve been told I may be having be having subsequent herceptin by infusion and I still need pre treatment bloods because I’m having steroids …my life is going to revolve around that hospital until November 
Ahh well …
Currently riding the steroid high wave too … 
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Is herceptin the drug for HER+? I feel like I’m in for something similar with two years of Abemaciclib, which although it’s a tablet, still requires monthly blood tests to monitor toxicity, and apparently causes unexpected diarrhea (joy)!
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Me too!
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@flower5 yrs it is , it can cause heart failure so I need regular heart scans 
I’m clearly very allergic to it ., I need steroids before hand and the rash I thought was a chemo rash … is a herceptin rash . I’m covered in it 
Upset tummy sounds tough though … the things we put up with is yours a hormone blocker ?
No, its a CDK inhibitor, I understand it disrupts the ability of any remaining cancer cells to spread. I’ll be in for ovarian supression and hormone blockers too. x
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@flower5 ahh a bit like the herceptin . It stops the over expression of her2 in the cells … it would be nice if our cells could just behave !!!
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Sorry - moan alert…it’s been a week since my last round of Docetaxel and this has been a terrible week. I ache, have no appetite, no energy and I am sick of my mouth tasting like the bottom of a bird cage! Please tell me things will improve soon! Normally, I would pick up a bit by now, but this seems to be dragging on - I guess because I’m wrecked!
Added to which, for some reason, people I speak to seem to think last chemo…done…rather than last chemo…side effects! Anyway, sorry for the moan. I think my other half is getting bored of me moaning to him! And breathe…xx
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Hi Flojo,
Feeling like a moan myself been doing so well on Paclitaxel 12 rounds just had first round of EC and this is the first time I’ve gone off food, having a feeling of car sickness on and off then going from red hot to cold. I’m taking the anti sickness but I just don’t feel good hope it gets better in the next day or so.
Feeling like a Debbie downer today 
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Sorry to hear that @stevie-puggle. I found the first EC floored me for a couple of days but by mid-week, I was on the mend and the second and third round were ok. It’s grot feeling sick though. My hospital gave me a bucket load of anti-sickness pills - I think three different types, so maybe they can offer you something extra. I certainly feel like I’m digging deep into my bag of resilience at the moment. Fingers crossed things pass quickly. xx
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