Yes we can 
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PICC tips update! Don’t buy a cheap waterproof cover - they generally need 2 people to get them on and feel like it’s going to chop your arm off. I’ve just got a Mightywell one which has neoprene seals and I can get it on and off by myself! Small things, but being able to shower when I want to rather than when there is someone to help makes me feel much better 
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Does your PICC line do your head in when you try and sleep? Or not notice it? I think at pre chemo appointment tomorrow they will ask if I want one (or perhaps a port?) as doing 6 full months chemo. I’ve had both recommended to me. Not sure I can cope with having a port put in. Maybe I just need to put my big girl pants on
I have breast mri results appt on Wednesday and my chemo start date has been pushed back a day to Thursday 
Just difficult when you have a start date in mind.
And freaking out about appointment for mri results, but should have been expecting one really I suppose. Just got an expectation now for more and more bad news!
Sorry for being negative. I actually went into the office today as was feeling so much better. 
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Picc line was uncomfortable for first few days, but quickly settled. I’ve worked out how I like them to dress it - each nurse will have a different style- and I just ask them to do it the way I prefer now. Main thing is that they don’t pull the dressing too tight.
Sleep is not disturbed by it at all.
I will however be glad to be rid of it - it limits things like having a bath, lifting, repetitive movements and blood pressure reading has been fun (op on other side).
Would still rather have it than be needled 24 times at least in 3 months.
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Sleeping hasn’t been a problem at all - I found cuddling a pillow helps keep it in a comfortable position at first. I was very aware of it the first couple of days but barely notice it most of the time now. Showering has been a faff but that should be better with the new cover. Only irritation currently is I seem to be facing a mild reaction to the dressing so taking an antihistamine to stop it itching too badly - I asked for hypoallergenic dressing but was told they had to try this one first so will not be letting them use this one again!
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@letsdoit Wishing you all the best for MRI results tomorrow, and I’ll be starting chemo with you on Thursday. Here goes !!!
I don’t seem to have any pre chemo appointment to discuss or not discuss PICC line, just straight in there on Thurs!!
It’s hard to keep negative thoughts at bay all the time, and I think normal to have ups and downs. Being at work will have distracted you and made you feel a bit normal for a while. I’ve just had some friends staying for a few days and felt good and normal, then burst into tears when they left!
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Hi all, just catching up with messages.
Sounds like people are all having mixed experiences. They do say everyone reacts differently to chemo , and there’s no way of
predicting as it doesn’t seem to depend on age, fitness or anything! I’m just trying to presume it will be awful and then if it isn’t that’ll be a bonus…
@jenhopeful sounds not too bad so far although the constant headache must be horrible…
I’ve heard varying reports on whether subsequent cycles are the same or different as first 
But I second @Kara re advice line, I think if in any doubt it’s best to call , and they will rather you called and it was nothing, than didn’t call and it was serious.
I’m with you @Kara on the A&E worry. My partner doesn’t drive and it’s going to mean big taxi bills … I have friends who have offered help, but not easy at short notice and most don’t live very near.
Re low feelings, I think it’s so hard to stay upbeat when you have too much time to think. We have all probably spent lots of time recently rushing around to appointments, and trying to get everything ready before chemo starts but then it starts and there’s nothing to distract our brains any more and this forced immobility means we can’t avoid the feelings and thoughts taking centre stage now. I guess we need strategies, mental distractions to replace the physical ones, and I certainly think the BCN line is a good port of call if you need support xx
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@emilyxxx I do feel for you with all the waiting for results / MDT meetings, it’s just so hard to manage the uncertainty. I felt such big relief after getting last lot of results , I felt so light I was floating, and hadn’t realised how weighed down by it all I’d been. I’m out of that phase personally now, but sadly my partner was also diagnosed with cancer a few months before my BC so bloody bad timing. We’re now waiting on his latest results/MDT meeting right now. It’s all going on here!!!
Anyway , wishing you all the best xx
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Such a lot isn’t it . Sending love x
So sorry about your partner. So tremendously hard. Have had an ugly year with family news including my dad getting prostate cancer diagnosis, but other complicated, heartbreaking stuff. I think his cancer is under control but it’s multilayered and he isn’t forthcoming about things. He only really confessed it was confirmed cancer when I needed to know family history!!
One of my friends said the universe has got its allocations wrong and life feels like that doesn’t it. One brutal thing after another sometimes. I feel like I am holding onto a shield, really tightly, while the storms rage.
Thinking of you and happy to share my shield (that sounds twee, but it’s hard to convey these things).
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@nib32 oh my gosh I’m so sorry you are both going through this… life seems so bloody unfair doesn’t it I’m sure you are a great support to each other
The waiting has definitely been the hardest part so far since beginning of Aug when all this started, surgery was the easy bit as I felt things were moving forward now the wait for my chemo plan it’s amazing how many different regimes people have so I can’t even guess what mine might be x
x sending you lots of love x
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This is my first post, I’m not sure if I should join here or the August thread. I’m triple negative so I’m having chemo first, already done the taxane cycles but dreading the EC on Friday! Hope everyone else is feeling well and managing ok x
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Gave myself first filgrastim injection tonight (the one that stimulates white blood count).
Well my partner did. Almost forgot entirely, was so exhausted and going to bed, and didn’t take paracetamol long in advance so we’ll see how it goes. Feels a bit sore and I know can cause bone pain etc. have seen others take loratadine… Ironically usually have some for antihistamine use but not at the moment!
Will see how it goes. Had a bit of a cry. Not really over the injection tho . Just overwhelmed.
Think I need to start writing out everything somewhere. I get tired writing long hand but could start a journal on laptop. I think it will help me process.
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I think you can be wherever is most helpful to you on this forum… Nice to meet you @zebramoon
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Thanks, nice to meet you too 
I’ve had a few rounds of the injections (always done them in the morning as I’d rather be painful during the day than risk losing sleep), I’ve found 2x loratidine an hour before and I’m barely aware that my bone marrow is doing anything. Blood test tomorrow morning will see if they worked but they did previously. My oncologist is happy for me to take loratidine throughout as it has cancer fighting properties of its own but you could check with your centre if you’re worried. Hope you find a routine that’s as easy as possible x
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Thanks @emilyxxx yes you’re right about supporting eachother, we certainly can empathise! Agree with you about the surgery, and also easier to understand it’s effectiveness. So hard to understand how chemo works, and accept this horrible poison being put inside us to make us better! I felt the wait for a chemo plan seemed interminable but then suddenly it was all systems go , and I barely feel prepared for Thursday !!! At least having followed the October thread, the names of drugs and side effects were already fairly familiar and not such a big shock when I was told all about it. Love and fingers crossed for you re results Nic Xxx
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Thanks @Kara yes it does seem like we’re being battered by one of those perfect storms sometimes, doesn’t it? Sorry for all your rubbish family stuff , thanks for sharing the shield, much appreciated, and I’m sending support from the reserves of strength that I luckily seem to be finding in myself these days xx
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Hi @zebramoon , and welcome! I’m triple negative too but I think doing EC first and then Docetaxel. I had surgery first as was quite a small lump. Start chemo on Thursday. How did the T cycles go for you? x
My taxane cycles were pretty easy, no side effects for the first couple then lost some of my hair right before 3rd infusion (I’d already chopped it but shaved it at that point to save picking it out of the drain), nasal congestion on and off, had one delayed and one missed due to neutropenia (felt fine but bloods were low), slight nosebleeds if I blew my nose a lot, fatigue (but I have long Covid)… started to feel not sick but not like eating anything heavy the last couple, very mild immunotherapy skin redness on my wrists but not crusty / no papules. Basically I felt how you feel after finishing a cold - pretty good but knackered if I actually did anything, fatigue was worst day 3, often woke up either day 4 or 5 feeling great like it’s out of my system. My imaging has been a bit of a mixed bag but the surgeon who examined me before I started said it’s got loads better, I can hardly feel it myself and it was like a satsuma in August plus my last ultrasound the doctor said it’s all looking a lot better. I did have a couple of mild reactions to the carboplatin (itchy hands) but stopping and restarting it was enough for me to have the whole dose and I have a lot of underlying conditions.
Hope your first one tomorrow goes really well x
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