Thank you Sue x I guess it’s just another wait and see then!! But thank you for letting me know what I might expect x
Hi bitterflyfkyfree,
Well a bit of drama unfortunately with my PICC insert. At first the nurse put it on the left side (my preference, as I’m right handed and I wanted to still do the housework with my right hand), she said sometime left side is more chalenging for her to thread the PiCC wire to the big vein near the heart, only because the heart position in our body, but she said we’ll try it…She found nice big vein on the left which is good, I was drinking for England that day…made my vein nice and plump (I probably had 3-4 litter by 2pm)… when she threaded it in I can feel it, it didn’t hurt at all… just felt a bit weird, she said my vein must be very sensitive, but then she couldn’t get it to the big vein, my husband said that she must tried it in and out about 20 times (I closed my eyes all the time) and still no luck after an hour tried. She gave up and start again from the beginning on my right side… although the vein on the right side is smaller but it was easy piecey this time, and I can’t feel a thing. It was done no more than half hour… I had my 2nd chemo today and changed the PICC dressing… it’s stinging a bit from alcohol when it cleaned but no more needle for canulla which is big horray for me. my vein on my wrist is cording already after my 1st chemo and it will be more difficult over time. I woke up few time last night as a bit worry about the line, I did have paracetamol and I didn’t feel anything so far, finger cross !
Sorry too much detail, but just want to let all know I think it’s my best decision to put the PICC line in despite of those pallava (it’s probably only me) and you might want to consider it while we just starting chemo, specially if you have sensitive vein, unless you are brave unlike me, I’m a whimp if it comes to needles business, yikes ! And if you want to have PICC maybe consider to put it on the right side if you can, it’s easier the nurse said, I can choose because I haven’t had my surgery… but it’s your decision of course… and maybe your nurse has better experience than mine. Or Port looks so good too, I have 2 ladies in my ward today using port and looks better without the line hanging on your arm. Xxx
Michelle, I too had heavy periode. Mine start on day 4th after the first chemo and it was 2 weeks early than I supposed too. I felt tried too and headache, I took paracetamol twice after make sure I didn’t have temperature.
Agree with Sue, different people different reaction… let see what happen next month… take car xx
Rhona boat - are we allowed wine on chemo? Oh, I hope so!!!
My hair is dropping out in handfuls today - now that it’s coming to time I’m not sure how I will make that call for head shave…it’s harder to say goodbye to it than I thought 
Though I’m sure once it’s gone I will just get on with it. Wigs and hats ready … maybe tomorrow I will take the plunge!
Ugh. …my hair shedding too…I’m fascinated ans repulsed in equal measures! day 16 for me
Rhona glad to hear you had good sleep…
I still have my hair after my second chemo although I have the accelerate EC. The cold cap must does the job, finger cross. I still haven’t but the wig yet, but had the cap and scarf… have to sort it out Monday…
Casandave, I like you call your wig Maria, lol… that’s cool !
I book myself look good feel better on Tuesday. And there is young woman with event in Guildford end of this month… if anybody here attending ? Would be lovely to meet…
My younger (7) had temperature today, and cold and cough… I started to panic bought myself a box of surgery mask to cover myself, they’ll arrive tomorrow … very sad that I can’t cuddle him and give him lots of kisses as I always do when he’s unwell
Hi all…anyone have some excessive mucous in their throat that needs clearing every five minutes. No sore throat now or anything just the annoying throat clearing…urg…comments and suggeations most welcome.
Vee, thank you for saying about periods…I’ll have to just wait and see! My 6yr old also has a cold, not cuddling her at bedtime is heartbreaking and they don’t understand… She asked my mum if a bad cold or my disease was worse Then she gets angry. I hope your little boy is better soon and you manage it OK. School is a nightmare for this stuff. So hard for Jo too, with a first day and a birthday. We will make it up to them xx
Cath, I was also told a glass of wine now and again is fine…they said it’s the extra burden on the liver they are worried about with the chemo. Have to say I’m usually partial to a glass but haven’t felt like it yet!
Unjoya, I have mucus from yesterday (day 8) but I assumed it was a result of my daughter’s cold. Ive had a sore throat too from the chemo, so maybe the mucus is that too!
Wishing everyone a peaceful weekend, Michelle x
Good morning,
Unjoya and Michelle, I have also had a mucusy throat and watery nose. The throat cleared up after about 10 days - I found gargling the diflam mouthwash helped before bed. Still have watery nose at day 16, and daily nose bleeds.
Well, last night I had a glass of wine and then got my partner to shave my head with the dogs clippers! Feels so much less sore and itchy but very weird having a stubbly head. I kept waking up all night as my head felt odd on the pillow! Trying an outing with wig and hat today - lets hope it’s not too windy!!!
At last taste is back to normal so good is enjoyable again. No sign of a period yet, guess its wait and see.
Hope you all feel ok today x
Hi everyone,I saw my sergeon yesterday he filled me in on what’s going to be happening! 6 sessions of chemo over 18weeks,Then lumpectomy and lymph node removal,Then Radiotherapy,then a year of injections 1 a month followed by 10years on tablets? This sound normal? I’m also worrying now that it could of spread knowing my lymph node is affected,surely they should be giving me more tests or scans to see? All I’m having now before I see oncologist is Heart scan as I’m HER2 positive and a clip inserted to my breast as I’m having chemo before surgery ( so lump might shrink ) so please help if you can thanks Sam xxx
Hi Sam
Did you have any CT or MRI scans earlier in the process? It may be that they are sure in your case that they can see everything they need from the mammogram/ultrasound. If they can see that it’s not progressed too far up your lymphs then they may be happy that it’s nowhere else. Once you’ve had your surgery and they do the full tests in the lab on the bits they remove, they will be able to see more what exactly it is and may then chose to do further scans if needed. In terms of your treatment regimen, it sounds very typical. I have had a mastectomy, chemo, radiotherapy and also hormone treatment and think most of the ladies on here are in a similar position - you’re not alone and we all understand how overwhelming it is when you first hear the extent of the treatment. It’s a tough ride but it’s all to make us better!
Geordie x
Hi Geordie… nope not had any CT scan or MRI all I had was mammogram,ultrasound and needle biopsy in lymph node,and 2x core biopsys in breast xx
Michelle & Vee
I had a period on day 4 which was about right but then it stopped and started again with a light bleed for an extra week before stopping. Hoping maybe the upside of all this is no more periods for a few months - just hope they come back afterwards. I’m on Zoladex which might confuse my body about this a bit more than chemo alone!
Geordie x
Thanks and hope so xx
It’s day 17 (have to resist the temptation to add ‘in the big brother house’ to that) and my hair is definitely starting to fall out. I cold capped so am hoping it won’t be all of it :womanfrustrated:
Hi sam. I asked the same question about spread but they said that the chemo will zap everything…
Hi Sam, that sounds similar to my plan, although I’m not her+. 18weeks FEC-T, then mascectomy, then a month of radiotherapy. Hormone blockers will start with the radio (are your injections this and/or related to the her?) then tamoxifen tablets for a number of years. However I think they see how you respond to everything and might change some things along the way. Mine is also in my lymph nodes. They did a CT scan to check it hasn’t spread, but that was on the same day as the chemo and was at the request of the oncologist that I saw the week before. I don’t know the results. Definitely have a list of questions for them. They told me they take out the line of lymph nodes and analyse them to see how far up the cancer has got, so it’s waiting for the mascectomy to find that out.
There are ladies on here with her+, they’ll be able to share their regime and how it differs, I’m sure xx
It helped to have someone attend my oncology appointment with me, I found it’s easy to get overwhelmed with the information and the unknown!
Michelle x
Hi Sam,
I am her positive and my plan is the same as yours, chemo first as it is very effective with her positive lumps. Then surgery, radio, hormone therapy.
I’m on TCH p chemo, with the herceptin going on for a year.
They only do MRI and bone scans if you have any symptoms of spread generally - like a cough, bone pain etc. It sounds like they are confident it’s not gone that far. The most anxious time is before the treatment starts. Once it starts you just go with the flow. Good luck x
Thanks everyone,hope 26th September soon comes round,the waiting game is nearly over xx
Sam,
My treatment is similar, chemo-surgery-radiotheraphy-hormone therapy for 5-10 yrs. mine is ER+, the different mine is HER2-, My lump is 6cms, and they found cancer cells on the lymph nodes too. I had CT, MRI and bone scan, all clear, surgeon like to do lumpectomy as I’m small breasted. I’m waiting for my BRCA test result. my oncologist thinks its good idea to do chemo first while we waiting, beside to shrink the cancer… it will also attract the cancer cells that escape from the nodes that can’t be detected on the scans, I have the marker put inside the lump to monitor how effective the chemo is. But if my BRCA test came positif I will need to have double mastectomy anyway and oophorectomy. Is all waiting now for me, very daunting…
Cathysid, I heard sleeping cap will help. I ordered my self the silk one ready for when I’m bald. I’m planning to have my shave party when my hair starting to fall badly.
Michelle, hope your little one get well soon… and hope your Jo settle well at school and had a lovely birthday. Did you tell the school about your ca ? I told the school the first day they went back and the school said they will keep an eye on our children and make sure they are OK.
Have a lovely weekends ladies !! Xxx