Beautiful xxx
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@cridders - you look fantastic!
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I had my 2nd dose dense EC chemo today - I took hot water bottles with me and it was much more comfortable than last time. I wore my George Asda adaptive hoodie so was nice and cosy. I went with my sister who advised washing everything that I had worn and the blanket I used as soon as I got home - I think for infection control.
The chemo brain has hit so I used chat GPT to make me a tick off checklist of when to take what medications - I’m on steroids for the next 2 days, and filgrastim for 7 days, this time I’m taking Loratedine 10 mg from today until I finish the injections in the hope that eases bone pain. I’m also going to keep on top of the paracetamol for the headaches
Have a lovely outdoor weekend planned with my 10 year old -meeting friends at a local art gallery tomorrow and at Warwick castle on Sunday - just local and a couple of hours while the children play but excited to see old friends outside.
Then chat GPT advises me next week mon - Fri will be tough and I’ll be immunocompromised so going to take it very easy and focus on getting my veg and my steps in -
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Well done!! Great planning❤️ Hope you enjoy your outdoor weekend, I love Warwick Castle x I think the little tips we pick up along the way are the game changers. I’ve been taking Cysta Purin and my bladder has behaved this week💥 I love the little wins, I call her Sister Purin and thank her for purifying my wee🤣 The daily antihistamine has been brilliant and I’ve swapped from paracetamol to ibuprofen to take a bit of pressure off liver. No headache this week so far. Steroids stopped today so I might get some sleep!
Take care everybody
Rachel xxx
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Well the steroid insomnia is real - managed maybe 4 hours sleep tonight which is not enough for me but I’ll be up and out today anyway. I have just taken dompeidone as I feel nauseous and paracetamol - although will switch to ibuprofen for the sakem of my liver - thanks for the tip @story1
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Have been in a bit of a weird place for the past week (2nd weekly taxol Tuesday- non herceptin week).
Side effects from week 1 mostly mitigated:
Bowels being reluctant- mega hydrated day before and before going. Plus had overnight oats and eggs on toast before we left for unit.
Neuropathy- had only had vague, sore toes but am worried so soon into treatment. Made sure morning had flaxseed in the oats, plus the eggs as omega 3 supposed to be helpful for nerve health. Also wore the suzzipads for longer before and after infusion (1 hour). Feet better this week, but rest of body not so good 
Had very little nausea - ate little and often, gallons of ginger tea.
I now have fragile nose - bleeding a little.
Neuropathy in arms and legs - am going to add compression stocking to suzzipad for next treatment.
Again on day 5, am feeling emotional. Fucked off with the whole thing. I think I’ve been in semi denial this week (the weird place) and yesterday I perhaps did too much so neuropathy gave me a bit of a kicking in the evening. Oh, and that filling fell out - so I’m going to have to loop between services to try and get it dealt with again.
Overall am really struggling to balance self care - being active/ exercising, good frequent nourishment, polybalm on nails, boob exercises, mental wellbeing etc. with doing a smidge of work. Basic housework and being well rested. I guess I’ll get better at the balancing act as I go on.
I did cheer myself up this morning with the thought that today I’ve had 1/6th of treatments and on Tuesday it’ll be a quarter, which sounds much more.
Hopefully some tips useful above. Sending love to you all. Hoping my next post is more positive xx
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Also, just wanted to say you guys rock! Am in awe of many of you and I feel very grateful to be part of this forum xx
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@buggeringon - I’m so sorry about the neuropathy - it’s such a worry . I have got a lot more info from this amazing forum than the chemo nurses who have told me there is no evidence that icing hands and toes helps with neuropathy. I have ulnar neuropathy already (pins and needles when I wake from lying on them funny), and as my job is on the computer and my hobbies are crafting I really need my fingers and toes to be working!
I have not seen any ice packs for arms - but you could fashion something from those frozen wine coolers that Velcro around perhaps?
The chemo nurses said they see more people using compression socks and gloves - I’ll start palclitacel in 6 weeks and I’ll be icing and compressing - I’m not taking any chances!!
- I’m feeling the same difficulty balancing being active with rest, self care, house work (even though I have a cleaner!), time with my 10 year old daughter …and I’m only 2 weeks into treatment - I have 20 weeks to go…
It’s a lot to deal with, I was quite euphoric after the first treatment as I was so very worried about the side effects, but I’m realising it’s going to be cumulative and last cycle the weekend after my treatment )so days 8 and 9, as I’m ok fortnightly on Fridays) were really rough and I struggled to care for my daughter, so I’ll be taking it much easier on days 6 and 7 this cycle - and resting a lot more and keeping on top of paracetamol for headaches and loretadine for bone pain from the filgrastim.
I’m thankfully signed off work - speaking to friends today and struggling to find the words I would be a liability at work…
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@anim4l thank you lovely.
I had a little walk today in the morning and have basically rested all day and things have eased. So I’m going to prioritise rest and self care at top of list.
I got quite euphoric earlier in the week because the side effects this week were better than the week before. So bounced around doing stuff and eased off on some of the self care.
Lesson learned. So back to minimal chores and work etc. hello to extra healthy foods, drink, mild exercise and lots of pampering. And rest!
Am adding daily marmite for B vit as am vegetarian and b bits are important for nerve health. Will also speak to team re b vit supplements- although my team are pretty clear they don’t recommend any supplements. We will see.
Thinking about it - left leg and right arm were the two parts of body best blanketed during treatment and the most alarming pain sites……so might forgo the blanket too. Hmmm
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@buggeringon @anim4l agree self care really important I got so excited this morning with more energy that I walked to Tesco twice (both cars out, son at work and husbands dad had stroke😕) not far but forgot something. I woke craving carrot cake so I made my first ever one! It is yum, photo below, very proud of myself. However I’m now wiped out but it has been a good day xxx no steroids today to hoping for better sleep xxx
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Good evening all. Feels like forever since I’ve popped anything on.
Ive had a good week really. Managed to get back into work for 4 days. They have popped me full time in the warehouse so I’m not in the shop. They have been absolutely lovely about all this.
My hair started falling out 2 days ago and i have some lovely bald patches forming. Giving the pup a run for her money with the trail of hair I’m leaving everywhere. My head is so ichy.
And I’m worried about next week. Got my next round on Tuesday. Really hope these new tablets keep the nausea at bay. And I understand how your feeling @cridders about the looking like you have cancer. Thats where my head is at the moment.
Your all doing brill with eating well, and I’m over here eating cheese butties and katsu curry aha. Going to try some smoothies if I can.
@story I hope your father in law is ok. ooo that looks ace. I had a craving to make some school cake which I may do. I’m just worried it wont taste like I want it to. My taste buds have changed. I cant really taste sugar or salt properly anymore. Chips taste too potatoey (if thats even possible)
Hope everyone manages a lovely sleep, I seem to wake up more tired and looking like I havent slept a wink
Xxxx
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@buggeringon @anim4l after my 5 th week of pac I have now got painful nuropathy in my heels. It started with numb toes in week 3 but now the heels on both feet are burning when I walk on them. Have been trying compression socks the last two weeks but they were just basic ones so have forked out for some medical grade ones and some cold socks to see if I can stop it in its flow. I have oncology on Friday so will see what they say about dose change. This cancer malarkey is expensive!
I managed to make it out the house today - powered solely by steroids to finally go pumpkin picking with the kiddos - it’s was fab but am shattered so having a bath and an early night.
Love you ladies!
Xxx
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@story1 that looks like a very impressive first !
I’ve guess we need to try and do a bit less than we feel able to for a while. Our bodies are working really hard at the moment, without us doing much at all. So being gentle and kind to ourselves will help our bodies cope better.
Complete sidebar - other half nipped into an m&s today and I’d asked him to pick up some jellies/trifles and individual ice creams for next week post chemo - easy food for sore mouth and fatigued times (that’s my excuse 
). He found some dinky cool bags there for 2.50. Brilliant for taking treats to chemo session.
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@molly.m lots of people rate moo goo products for scalp/hair during chemo. X
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@cridders - yes cancer is expensive! You be just forked out for a blood pressure monitor and oxygen monitor on my sister (who is a GP)’s recommendation after my racing heart on day 8 post EC chemo last round. In addition to the fancy brain in ear thermo, the private Covid jab, the stock on blood sugar monitor (I’m a well controlled type 2 diabetic but chemo may worsen matters),
I’m also buying anti histamines, pain killers and Movilcol and dulcoease over the counter, vitamin D and Floradix for my iron (I’m vegetarian - the oncologist says no supplements except vitamin D but I’m also doing iron and b12 - at my own risk
The suzipads are another thing to buy, and my skin is already so dry and the corner of my lips cracked so hand cream, lip balms, foot creams, changing to bland skincare and have care - it all adds up! In addition to loss of pay (I expect to be off work for about at least 8 months…
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@cridders - sorry to hear you are having such a rotten time with neuropathy- I hope the ice socks help
@buggeringon - I’ve been advised to pace myself energy wise - but then the medical advice is also a 30 minute lift cardio/ fast walk per day minimum and 3 strength training sessions if at least 30 minutes - so I’m prioritising exercise over chores. I’m not letting anyone except my daughter and my cleaner (who wears a mask) in the house until chemo is done so there is no one except me to see standards slipping!
I already look a bit rubbish - I now have teenage acne, despite cold calling I’m expecting to lose the hair on my head - I’ve been looking on Etsy for a cashmere beanie or head cover to keep me warm (my head is cold in winter and I wear a hat usually when it’s cold) - I haven’t found anything good so would welcome recommendations if anyone has them?
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Glad you had a lovely time pumpkin picking. Sorry about the neuropathy. Hope it eases soon for you. I got numbness in my hands for quite a few days and a strange tingly feeling. It comes and goes now but not as bad as chemo week.
Have a lovely sleep xxxxx
Sounds like a wonderful excuse to me. Enjoy the ice creams 
and yes Ive seen people mention that so I may give it a go, my head is so dry.
Xxxx
I had the same as you with a high heart rate when I went to the doctors. Was thinking of fireing up my old Samsung watch so I could get reads to monitor. It really is expensive isnt it. All the things to keep and eye on and things to help us through it all, wigs, hats, moisturisers. I spent a small fortune on new skincare products because of how bad my skin went after my first round. Plus all the treats that my brain says I need because …well… I have cancer and I deserve a treat aha. Hope your doing ok xxxxx
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