Can’t breathe in the sodding mask!
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From experience of wearing an FFP2/N95 for working in a school for 8 hours, I know it can be difficult. I also asthmatic. They filter the air like wearing a scarf on a cold winter day. The masks do allow you to breathe through them but it takes time to get used to it. This is why so many say they find it difficult. The stress of being poorly and being in a busy A&E will make it feel so much worse.
Try some mindful breathing, deep as you can and you will be surprised how you can breathe quite easily.
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Home x got antibiotics, bloods good and chest X-ray clear thank goodness. Hospital was amazing x
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Thank goodness how scary you poor thing 
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Thanks @emsd2025 xxx
So happy to hear you are home @story1 and bloods are good and x ray clear. What a scare on top of everything. Hope you have been able to sleep and the antibiotics kick in quickly. You are so close to the end. Two left? Out of 16. You are nearly through it and then this part will be over. Take it easy – you will be fed up of hearing people say that! Keep going and get through the next few weeks, you are nearly through this.
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@story1 how scary for you. I’m so pleased you weren’t in for too long. Let’s hope the antibiotics kick in quickly.
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Happy New Year all. I hope this year is wonderful for us all, coming to the end of chemo and heading into the next stages of treatment.
I hopefully have my last Chemo tomorrow. And its the strangest feeling. I’m excited for it, but apprehensive because I know its 2 weeks of feeling bad. But happy its the last time. I have a phone appointment with my oncologist on the 8th, mri the following Wednesday, heart echo the day after, results of the mri the week after, pre surgery appointment the week after and surgery penciled in for the 10th feb. Another phesgo injection booked in before that too. Feels like the build up to chemo all over again. Happy that its going somewhere.
Tastebuds are somewhat better but things still dont taste right. Heard it can take about 8 weeks after the last round to fully get better. My legs are so weak, I look forward to starting a nice workout after this last one and building my muscles up again.
Neuropathy got a little worse. Finger tips have stayed numb and my toes, also get constant tingling up and down my legs. Last round is a reduced dose.
But otherwise I’m ok. Managed a couple days in work again.
I’ll post separate to reply to people 
xxxx
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Jane @bellbert sounds like it was a lovely relaxed christmas. Glad your last round was ok. Ive been getting the same lovely purple mark on my leg from the phesgo aswell. Hope the radiotherapy discussion goes well. How have you been creative wise during all of this? I feel like its taken a hit. Hoping to do a little painting course to get myself back into it. Kinda want to do a little bit of pottery aswell.
@anim4l glad you and your daughter had a lovely christmas. Sounds like you have a good plan of action underway aswell. Ive been thinking about travel insurance too. I havent looked into it properly but its been popping up on my socials recently. Think Mr phone has been listening in and seeing the words cancer and my holiday bookings and put 2 and 2 together aha
@poptart I hope your antibiotics have been helping and that your feeling better soon. Sorry about the delay on your chemo.
@dizzy3 almost there for you aswell hope your bloods are ok for Wed. Glad you had a lovely Christmas seeing your mum and sister. Also hope you get a date soon for surgery.
@emsd2025 good news on no Ec. And good news on the surgery date aswell Glad your mum is doing so well. I understand how your are feeling too. Feel like I have so much life to live and dont want to be worried all the time, and the same feeling Erin wise.
@buggeringon congrats on your last Chemo and glad you had a nice Christmas and new year. Ive always wanted to do a sage burning, may give it a go once this next 2 weeks is dont with. And well done giving the boxing day sales a go aha. My step daughter did the Next sale and said she wants to go next year, she said the same as you about other people but said the deals on the kids stuff is a good draw to go back. Im going to join her next year hope you have an amazing relax in the bath as soon as your port is out.
Rachel @story1 Hope your feeling better soon and the antibiotics kick in soon for you. Sorry you haven’t been feeling to well this round. Your wig looks lovely. My eyebrows are thinning and eyelashes too. Had my eyebrows microbladed on so they dont look too bad at the moment. A little faded. Your children gave you lovely gifts for christmas
Kim @cridders hope your doing well and had a lovely Christmas and new year. Your eyebrows look fab. I havent attempted to add anything to mine yet. Worried about making them look funny aha
@naughty_boob hope you had a good christmas and new year aswell. I struggle with masks aswell, but mostly because my glasses steam up and I cant see anything 
Xxxx
Morning all, I am off to Paclitaxel number 8 today, with an incredibly itchy, rashy bottom, thighs, arm and face. My bum is driving me mad with the itching!……
Morning @cathie2, never heard of hair fibres, so going to look them up. Bicarb is brilliant at stopping things developing in your mouth, I use it regularly.
Morning Rachel @story1, so sorry to hear of your trip to A & E, but pleased you got released with anti biotics. I got a cough and an infection after EC 1, so had to have anti biotics, hoping they do their thing quickly for you. Your wig looks amazing, never would know its a wig. Good luck with your oncologist appt today. x
Morning @dizzy3 Fingers and toes crossed for your last chemo on Wednesday
Morning Ailsa @molly.m, pleased to hear you are doing well and looking forward to trips ( to shops and holidays ). Good luck with your last chemo today and the MRI and heart scan. Great that your surgery is already booked. Nearly there ! No, I haven’t done anything creative since starting chemo, aonly making and packing up orders, but we are really busy Autumn/Winter with orders, so I rarely paint then anyway. I did do a pottery course ( adult education Centre) years ago. I waltzed into the first session and the teacher asked what I wanted to make ( expecting me to say a bowl or something), so I said ‘ a bust of my son’. That’s rather ambitious she replied. Anyway I was shown the rudiments of it all, given a large amount of clay and left to it. Complete fail, so I ended up making an arched outdoor mirror frame, in 5 pieces, with ivy climbing up it, a very very large sculpted bowl and a ball water feature. We did have a life model and so we all made sculptures of her, mine was ok, not quite Michelangelo!! Anyway, perhaps I should think about it again, I think I would make animal sculptures nowadays…something for the future perhaps. I want to do some lino prints this year, so that is on my to do list. Nice that we are finding things we want to do
Good luck to everyone for this week, hope you all stay well. Jane x
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Yes I wear glasses as well. I generally had 2 pairs and find one better than the other with steaming up. I have tried many tricks such as cleaning the glasses with washing up liquid. The best thing for me is FFP2/N95 mask with a foam piece over the nose.
Christmas was good with the family, two years after finishing chemo and a year from finishing Herceptin. It was lovely. There is light at the end of the tunnel for you all.
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@molly.m it’s exciting to have the end in sight isn’t it but I’m with you also a bit scary as we’re leaving the routine we’ve become used to and entering the next phase and unknown territory!
My bloods were all ok yesterday so I’m good to go for my final chemo tomorrow. I also saw the oncology registrar and he chased the next stage for me. I thought I’d be waiting for the Friday MDT before I’d get an appt booked with the breast surgeon about what and when.
However, I had a call this morning and that appt is happening this Thursday. So this week is going to be a mega one:
Last chemo, PICC line out, more info on what surgery & possibly an idea of the date for surgery.
The oncologist also explained that in 3 weeks I’ll have bloods as usual on the Monday followed by an Oncology phone consult to check all is ok post chemo.
I’m doing ok symptoms wise apart from lack of energy and stamina but I’ve become used to that and am managing it with much lowered expectations!
I’ve currently got another bout of chemo acne, not lots but spots that take ages to fully clear. When I walked in to my appt yesterday the first thing the registrar said was “what’s this” and pointed at my face - how to knock a girl when she’s already feeling self conscious! No advice just confirmed it’s chemo related so I’m hoping that means it’ll pass in a few weeks max. The spot on my lower eye lid is the only one that’s actually hurting. I’ve felt it brewing for a couple of days but it’s now appeared. Not pleasant but I know it’s a transient thing so I’ll just tolerate it.
Good luck everyone this week.
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Ringing the bell. it was emotional at the end and I thanked the nurses for all being amazing and making whats a horrid thing to have to go through, so lovely with there talks and smiles. When I first started Chemo I didn’t want to ring the bell, because why ring it when it doesn’t mean the cancer is gone. But as it went on I realised I wanted to and was excited to because it marked the end of one of the hardest things I’ve had to do and put my body through. 
@bellbert sorry about the horrid rash, hope it goes down soon and hope all goes well with treatment. Yes, one stage done and onto the next. Aha you sound like me with the clay ha but what you made sounds amazing. I’ll be happy if I can make a pot I think . Been watching lots of pottery throw down aha. Im going to book myself on a wheel throwing 90 min taster at the end of Jan I think. I love working with clay, I’ve made some small dog sculptures before out of polymer. I need to make one of my dog Maximus who we lost a couple of months before all of this. And it is isnt it, looking forward to the ‘after this’ ohh lino. I havent tried that but seen some lovely work people have done with it.
@naughty_boob my glasses work there way lower down my nose as I try to keep my breath from hitting them aha. That’s fab to hear. Glad you had a lovely one
@dizzy3 fab news on your bloods. Hope all goes well tomorrow. And yes. Im glad I have so many appointments coming up so I’m not just sat waiting. Feels like things are progressing rather than no more chemo keeping the cancer cells at bay. What a lovely thing of the registrar to say. Hope it clears for you soon, they are painful arounf the eyes arent they. I remember getting it really bad all over my face, neck, shoulder and top of my torso on my first round. Been lucky that thats one of the side effects I only got once (touch wood) glad your symptoms have been ok for you. Same I’m just used to walking slow now aha and lots of rests.
Xx
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@molly.m well done that’s chemo ticked off for you. Like you I’ve been thinking it doesn’t feel right ringing the bell as I’m not cancer free yet.
I’ve been considering ringing the bell once all the targeted therapy is done but as you say finishing the chemo chapter is monumental and probably the most impactful on our bodies!
I like the wording “last chemo” on your hospital’s bell. I’ll have a look at the one at Frimley Park in the morning.
My usual friends aren’t available to pick me up tomorrow, so one or both of my boys will come and get up. It’ll be good for them to see where everything has been happening. I’ll see what they think about the bell.
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Good afternoon all, well chemo number 8 of 12 done. The rash is a bit less itchy and not quite as red. Feeling fine at the moment,
Hello Ailsa @molly.m , well done on finishing chemo and ringing the bell! I love the pottery showdown, especially when Keith cries, it makes me cry too! No way could I go on that programme though, I forget my name when I get too stressed Love the idea of a wheel throwing taster session, will have to think about that. I have made a few things in Polymer clay myself, inc miniature dogs, I turned into necklaces and sold through a local shop. Gave some clay to my sons fiancee, she has turned it into a career, she got approached by a book publisher, who had seen her on Youtube and wrote a book with them; Miniature cake creations by Maive Ferrando. You see, you could have a whole new career open up for you with clay. Louise Brown is with my art publishers ‘The Art Group’ and she makes animals in clay and sells to all galleries, very clever ( and nice lady, with lurchers). So pleased you are looking forward to the future and all it holds, I found myself downloading pictures of short bob hairstyles yesterday, for the summer/autumn I hope x
Hello @naughty_boob So pleased you had a lovely Christmas, thank you for supporting us all and cheering us on
Hello @dizzy3 Hope your final chemo went well and good luck for tomorrow with your meeting ( hope the picc line removal is nice and easy as well). I was given hydrocortisone cream for my Paclitaxel rash, they keep it in my oncology room in the cupboard, so perhaps when you get your picc line removed, you could ask them if it would help clear your spots a bit quicker?
Good luck to everyone else having treatment this week and hope the rest of you are staying as well as you can be. Jane x
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Great to see some bells getting rung ladies!! Feels ever nearer!!
I’m grumpy today - am heading in to work tomorrow to start planning out my return over the coming weeks and was feeling really positive.
But had an email today moving my surgery consult back by two weeks so won’t know next steps until 17th feb now. I so want to just have a clear treatment plan beyond chemo so I can start planning things like a no more chemo party or even just working out what I can commit to at work… 2 weeks more to wait for this has really annoyed me!
I feel sorry for whoever my oncologist is on Friday as they will be getting both barrels!
Xxx
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@dizzy Thank you. I hope all went ok today. I had my mum and sister with me. My partner is unwell with the flu, so were currently sleeping in separate beds aswell. It was nice to have my sister there, we havent really spoken loads since chemo started even tho she works at the pub I live at. I think it was a little too real for her that I have cancer. So it was nice for her to come and see the process. And it was a nice day again full of laughs and smiles. Did you ring the bell or will you wait?
@bellbert glad the rash has gone down for you. And thankyou That’s fantastic I’ll have a toot. I love seeing what others make. I love making things but when making commission type ones I over think and stress myself out, so I think I need to just do things for the enjoyment. And if people want to buy them then thats a bonus. This is one I did for my mum one christmas of our family dog Flossy after she passed. She was a cross with a spaniel and a mix of lots of others aha. Looked like a corgi mix. She was fab.
And thanks, its giving me things to focus on and look forward too. Even just before surgery. Oh lovely on the hair front. Im very much still bald so I look forward to having a buzz cut again aha. Hope your ok over the weekend.
@cridders sorry about the delay with you appointment. Have you a date for surgery yet ? Hopefully its closer to this appointment date than further away. But I understand what you mean in wanting to know what plans and such you can make. A no more chemo party sounds amazing! I hope Friday goes well and that they may be able to prize some answer out for you perhaps.
Im knackered now. Had a busy day and know the chemo symptoms are in the works now. Ears are ringing lovely and loud (I realise I never told the nurses that symptom aha) I have my first phone call with my oncologist tomorrow since chemo started so shall see what they say.
Sending love to you all. Xxx
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Today went well. Phase 1 
Lovely to think:
No more cold cap - assuming they don’t throw post surgery chemo into the mix!
No more PICC line - I’ve been told to keep the smaller dressing on for 48 hrs so the big soak & scrub will have to wait until Friday night. I can wait for that, I’m just loving no worry about knocking it or the need for my heart cushion to get comfortable for sleep, I can touch or rub my arm as much as I want! The removal was really simple. I didn’t even need a cough to help the line removal - didn’t feel a thing. The Securacath removal I did feel but it was just a very quick discomfort.
and of course no more chemo infusions. Hopefully that means only a few more weeks before my energy levels start to improve and if I’m lucky I can start to reintroduce dairy into my diet.
I’m realistic, I know I’m not going to suddenly get back to normal. My aim is to be back on the hockey pitch in some capacity for the new season in September. But for now my goal is to build up to an hour long dog walk without being out of breath within minutes and after that to be waking at a more me, brisker pace. Running can wait!
I decided not to ring the bell - I’ll wait until I’m a bit further along my journey. I’ll chose a day when I’ve not been wearing a cold cap & mask for 5 hours! Also I ended up walking out to the main reception for my son to pick me up so I didn’t have friends or family with me for any celebration.
Maybe when I’m done with radiotherapy at Royal Surrey Hospital, or targeted therapy at Frimley Park Hospital, or maybe both!
@bellbert good idea about cream for the healing acne. I already have an assortment of steroid creams I use when my ezcema flares up so I’ll try one of them.
@cridders so annoying that you have to wait so long before your surgery consult. Too many unknowns for you until that happens.
@molly.m I love the dog sculpture, it’s so realistic. For years I’ve been thinking about finding a pottery class, I’d love to have a go with a potters wheel. I really enjoyed the ceramics I did for O level Art but I’ve not done anything artist since 1987 apart from helping children with the occasional coil pot at school!
Keep strong ladies, we’ve got this.
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It was so liberating to wake up lying on my PiCC line side! I must have turned over in the night and not recoiled due to it hurting/feeling awkward!
I’ve fed the dog early, hoping he’ll now left me get a bonus hour or so of sleep before I need to get up and ready to go for my consult with the surgeon. I won’t take my steroid until my proper wake up!
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Hi @dizzy3 I’m a November starter, observing your thread, and this was such a great post to read. 
Really helps to see light at the end of the tunnel. Thanks so much for posting this!!
Congratulations on getting to the end of chemo, and wishing you all the very best with your next steps xx
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