Wishing you all A very happy and healthy 2026!
A very quiet Christmas and new years for me - barely got out of my pjs but that’s the way it has to be just for this one year - planning a lovely Christmas 2026
@poptart - hope the iv antibiotics are working, I ended up admitted for iv antibiotics for cellulitis. I was ok in hospital but really exhausted for a fortnight afterwards so had to pace myself back at home.
@cathie2 - I had horrible mouth ulcers on EC - icing my mouth during the infusion helped a lot! I was also prescribed difflam mouthwash and gel clair which is a liquid like bonjela which coats the sores to allow them to try to heal ..
Thank you so much @cathie2 im taking it easy these first few days, got a bit if a sore throat but temp stabilised this morning after jumping up to 37.7. Up and dressed but snoozed a lot. Even managed a short walk. The Famous is a standalone, as well as The Rich so you don’t have to wait for Dark Game, hope you enjoy it! Is it surgery for you too after EC? We’ll be going in mid march maybe? That’s still time to start to recover for an August wedding even though it’s not quite the prep you anticipated x just 3 weeks rest after EC and I started to feel more like me. I know you’ve been here before you know much more than I do. Trying to be positive and hope that by August we’ll both be feeling much more ourselves again! We’ve been talking about holidays, I want to go to Istanbul. Hubbie wants to drive round France.
Freddie was too pissed to have a chat on New Year’s Eve and I think he’s slept all day today🤣 wouldn’t have it any other way. Tilly rolled in about 3am. I love that they’re busy x
@emsd2025 the anxiety surrounding the disbelief that we’re ok is real xxx look forward and yes fuck cancer xx time to enjoy your wedding and have that party xxx
Hi Jane, glad to hear you’re doing well. Poppy, our terrier, freezes and shakes through fireworks. She was on my bed for a cuddle NYE poor thing. Phesgo sounds rough hope it’s not too painful. The nausea only lasted day 1, now on day 4 and the steroids and anti nausea meds have kicked in. I take them days 2-4 and last time was fine after that. It’s the weakness I’m dreading which came in around this time with the last one (Saturday to Tuesday were my worst days x (shaky legs, sleeping a lot) but I’ve taken things a lot slower this time so I’m hoping it won’t be as bad. Xxx
Love this, do you do any sage burning? Thinking I will when this is over xxx
Good morning Rachel, so pleased to hear the nausea has passed, fingers crossed the weakness may be slightly less this time round. The Phesgo just gives me heavy legs and the nasty looking discolouration. I don’t actually mind the injections - surprise to me. Poor little Poppy, Bella is the same, her breathing is so fast and hard, I worry about a heart attack! Luckily they were fast asleep by midnight, I was wide awake ( steroids) but I didn’t actually hear any fireworks. The worse thing is the lead up to Nov 5th, people around here start a week or so before, random days and times. I shall keep everything crossed for a good week for you this week. Jane x
Hell yes to wedding party and holiday this year! Istanbul looks incredible, i’d love to go! We’re (well I’m) thinking Greece for Ellie’s first abroad trip - with lots of lovely food and a smidge of wine!
Yes. Opened up doors and windows just before midnight and saged right through until just after midnight.
I used to sage quite often, enjoyed doing it on nye - so think I’m going to just do it whenever I fancy now
I went to Istanbul ( ex husband had won a trip, with work), it was fabulous, so colourful. Loved the bazaar, although the guide terrified us and said ‘ don’t stop, don’t catch anyone’s eye or they wont leave you alone!’ I walked through the bazaar at a fast pace of knotts, looking at the ground, so missed most of it! Oh and avoid going to a carpet shop, I came home with a bright orange, silk rug. Cost a fortune and looked hideous when I got home with it !! :)
I’ve also loved Istanbul - a highlight was dinner over looking the Bosporus at night, I also found you couldn’t catch anyone’s eye and actually had my party blocked to force me into someone’s ship which was annoying- I absolutely loved the monument’s thigh and would go back I. A heartbeat.
I have surgery mid march, radiotherapy starts mid April for 2 -4 weeks, then tamoxifen and a CDK 4/6 inhibitor. I’m expecting to stay in the UK this summer but hoping from autumn 26 to be able to travel again- I’m really missing it! Has anyone else looked into travel insurance post treatment? I’m planning to stick to Europe in 26/27 and then travel further afield when my insurance prices reduce. After all this has settled I want to take my daughter to Disney in the states but worried about the cost of insurance to the US.
Morning @anim4l . Oh yes, we had a private evening boat trip down the Bosphorus, fabulous. They also closed off part of one of the palaces and we had lunch in there. There was a group of us ( all from Norwich Union) and no expense was spared. If I went back, it would be so different on my budget! So pleased to hear that you have your full treatment plan, nice to be able to plan ahead. I am seeing my Oncologist on 21st to discuss radiotherapy, it’s the intensive 5 day course I think. I had surgery first ( the easiest bit!). I don’t travel far these days, only to local ish, holiday homes, as we have 2 dogs, who we take everywhere, so I have no idea about travel insurance etc. Perhaps after the dogs go ( they are both 10 now), I may venture further afield! I did take my son to Disneyland in Paris, years ago, that was very good.
Hope everyone else is managing to have a good weekend. We had a lot of snow that laid yesterday - looked wonderful, but a bit slippery taking the dogs out last night. Jane x
Hello All Hope everyone doing OK. A quick question – has anyone used Hair Fibres for thinning hair whilst on chemo?
My hair is now very thin on top but I am sticking with it and hoping I can get through to late Feb when I finish chemo but it is looking grim. Somebody told me to try hair fibres. I’ve never heard of them before, I’ve them up but there is some info on them with chemo but not a huge amount. Just wondered if anyone here has come across them?
Thanks @anim4l Fortunately what I thought were starting as mouth ulcers and tongue tingling have not developed into anything nasty so far. Not sure if the bicarbonate soda and salt gargle is helping or they just have did not develop.
@story1 hope the fatigue has stayed away if you have taken it a bit more easy this time. You are like me, love the fact the kids are doing their thing and living their lives, its great to see. No point in this C stopping others plans.
Yes surgery for me should be late March hopefully. I am hoping to see my surgeon very soon. I will chase next week if appointment has not come through as I want to have everything confirmed i.e. know what surgery I am having and make sure it is all lined up well in advance. I know I will be having radiotherapy afterwards but not sure how long for etc that will be the next appt to line up once the surgery is sorted.
Did you get sent home with steroids and anti-nausea after the EC? They told me they don’t give steroids and anti-sickness after EC. I think they said they gave me more steroids during the treatment and I just use the anti-sickness they gave me right at the start to take as and when needed.
For travel insurance there are a number of companies that specialise in travel insurance for those with pre-existing medical conditions. It can be very hit and miss. You might get a really expensive quote from one and a reasonable quote from another so it is definitely worth shopping around. MoneySupermarket used to have a comparison tool for pre-existing medial conditions. Here are a few ones that specialise that I have seen but there are plenty more:
All Clear Travel Insurance: https://www.allcleartravel.co.uk
Good luck to everyone having treatment this week. xx
Yes @cathie2 i get 3 days of steroids, 3 days of sickness tabs and pegfilgrastim to take home in my goodie bag. Good news is I haven’t crashed this time but my hair has finally left the building and Mike and Tilly buzzed it yesterday! Very soft and fluffy! At least now I’ll get the wear out of my wig!! Yesterday I had a meltdown, I was constipated and I have a chesty cold, team is pretty sure it’s viral and not chemo. Ready to throw in towel. Seeing oncologist on Tuesday x
@story1 Rachel, I’m so glad to hear you haven’t crashed this time but sorry about the constipation and cold. Hopefully those symptoms with pass soon. Sorry to that your hair had thinned further but the wig looks great.
I’ve got bloods tomorrow morning for my 6th and final Wednesday chemo, so everything is crossed that my neutrophils will be 1.5! My downwards trend suggests that I may be below that threshold but if it is I’m hoping they give me a bonus Filgrastim - that did the trick for cycle 2.
My Oncology appt is tomorrow afternoon so I’m going in with my list of questions about the next step.
I chased last week about a date for my consultation with the breast surgeon but still nothing so that’s top of my list!
@cathie2 its great to have an idea of what’s happening next isn’t it but like you I’d like more firm details! So many unknowns to work out. Good luck with getting the info you want.
@story1 so glad you haven’t crashed. Wig looks fab!
Oh girls I’m in bloody A&E. Coughing up cottage cheese so team said come in. Masked up absolutely packed but straight into majors and triaged and bloods immediately, absolute superstars. Waiting for results xxx
Take care. Fingers crossed they get you sorted soon. Glad they have prioritised you.
Keep masked. So many viruses and flu about you don’t want to catch.
