Not having a great week and it’s only Wednesday! My first T was due today but has resulted in everything being delayed a week as I’ve got a cough and a cold and they didn’t want to risk giving me anything today. It’s a bit disappointing as wanted to finish chemo before Christmas, and now last one will probably be after the New Year, but it’s probably for the best.
Also found a lump in the one boob I have left on Monday … totally in shock as mammogram was clear 4 months ago! Feel like I’m right back at the start again. Trying not to stress but it’s so hard. Called BC nurse and she said to get referred by docs as will be quicker to get results so got appointment at breast clinic on 15th! Hoping and praying it’s better news this time.
Hope everyone is doing ok this week … love and hugs Xx
Meeting with oncologist ok thanks Galigirl-she doesn’t say much! It looks like the lump is getting smaller but my armpit is still swollen! Sorry for the delay Lisa-T? My son picked up a random hair band from the playground and presented me with it this afternoon he said ‘this is for when your hair grows back mummy’ ??
Lisa: Try to stay positive - at least you know this lump hasn’t been there for long and it’s been spotted. But yes, you must be in in complete shock, I’m so sorry. Good they’ve given you an appointment quite soon; the waiting and not knowing is one of the hardest parts of this whole horrible progress. I’ll be thinking of you - and do use us all here to sound off and share your thoughts, it helps!
Aley: how sweet of your son. It’s the thought that countsm:smileywink:
Had my MRI scan today, so now have to wait for the reults next week. Also had another lot of Paclitaxel. Interestingly my cough and breathlessness are slightly improved since I had some treatment from my amazing cranial osteopath on Monday. She was horrified at the tension in my ribs and the lack of bloodflow to my lungs, so worked on that and it seems to have helped. I just hope today’s chemo doesn’t have too much of a negative impact. It’s so nice being able to breath a bit more freely and not to be coughing every 5 minutes.
Lisa-T that’s devastating for you to have found another lump, but they say the majority of lumps found are non cancerous so everything crossed for a good result???
I know u are at the same stage as me. I’m due my 4th chemo tomorrow. I have had one lot of Docetaxel and side effects were manageable tbh better than FEC for me. Also following a CT scan one does has shrunk my tumour from 6cms to 4cms…whereas FEC made no difference…so has worked well for me so hopefully will do the same for you.
Loving the stories about the hats/hairbands. I took a photo of me with my daughters long blond curly hair extensions under a scarf. My friends believed it was as my latest wig! Considering I am 52 and my normal style is a shoulder length bob I thought they would have gueiwas a wind up…but they all fell for it hook line and sinker!
Mornin’ everyone! Off for my FEC…last one at last…I started this process at the beginning of August! Feel strangely anxious for the first time but then I suppose I sort of know what it is going to throw at me and no one in their right mind would be joyous about getting another 4 huge syringes full of toxic stuff! Can start researching T now…and will be reading all your advice.
My son is slightly less charming…and just walks into the room and rubs my head…with the warm welcome of ‘hello Fuzz Head’ ?
Hope it goes well Galligirl, I just had 3rd FEC…so far ok! I had the injections last time which seemed to help, got them again this time. Sending positive vibes to everyone ?
Just wondering: is anyone having problems with their eyes? Mine are dry, I constantly feel as if I had something gritty in them, I keep getting annoying twitches in my eyelids, and all the lights in our house seem duller than usual. Very odd and rather irritating. :smileyfrustrated: I’ve lost a lot of my eye lashes which may account for some of these problems, but I’ve still got a reasonable amount left, especially on my eyelids.
Hi GabyF I’m having problems with my eyes and have been given some eye drops. More blurry than gritty for me and more in the right eye-the bc side ?this made me paranoid of brain mets for a while! Mentioned it to oncologist who suggested I see an optician. I had 3rd FEC on Friday and touch wood haven’t been too bad-have drunk loads of water this time and trying to be more positive and just get through it…hope you all have a good weekend x
Evening everyone
I also have issues with my eyes, especially worse on my week before next chemo. They are dry, gritty, constantly burning etc. I got some eye drops from the chemist which help a little but not much. I’ve just accepted it’s a SE of the FEC and hopefully won’t last. I’m starting T next Monday and I’m dreading it. I think it’s the unknown again after just getting my head around the FEC and it’s effects.
This last round of FEC has been horrible with SEs lasting longer with the nausea and I’m crying at everything. My emotions are all over the place. Eve, my 10 year old just holds my hand and pats me when she sees me crying. She’s so sweet.
I’ve tried to catch up on all the posts. I’m sorry to hear some of you are really struggling too.
Sending out lots of love to you all xxx
I also have been having a few eye issues … thought it was just me! My eye lids seem to feel sticky if that makes any sense … notice more after I’ve been sleeping. My right eye also seems to water a lot the few days before my next sessions is due … didn’t know if it was a SE or me just stressing about the next one!
Hope everyone is coping ok with SE this weekend after treatment.
Good luck for your first T on Monday ALittlePixie ??
You were all very quick to reply - thanks so very much! So relieved, yet again, it’s not just me. I’m finding this eye business rather annoying, as I love reading and that’s just a bit harder with watery, twitching eyes! I can’t wait for all this chemo to be over and to be able to return to something like normal. I’ve got 7 treatments left, 4 of which are EC which I am starting in December - so a whole lot of new side effects to get to grips with. Mind you, every time I think I’ve got the hang of things, something new pops up. Never a dull moment!
Thanks Lisa. It’s a week on Monday so at least I hopefully have a decent week ahead, fingers crossed!
Aley, you’re def not alone with the weird SEs. I get paranoid about all different changes now and wonder if I’m going nuts. Nature of the beast I guess.
Lots of love X
i have had sticky eyes too…not too bad just a bit irritating. I have given up on trying to predict SEs yesterday all my muscles really hurt felt like I had done some serious exercise (which clearly I haven’t ?). Took paracetamol all day…last night felt fine again!
Defo feel more tears at the moment - FEC done, but now thinking about T. I want Christmas and new year to be special as we’ve had such a horrible 6 months…there got me started again!
I thought I would be pleased to reach the half way chemo point but I’m definitely more tearful … maybe because i know I’ve now got to do it all over again.
I’m planning an extra special Christmas this year too GalliGirl ?? I’ve bought a keepsake necklace each for my girls which sets me off every time ha ha (just hope they like them). It will be just a quiet one at home for us, rather than the usual chaotic house full at my mums with my sisters and families (pesky chemo gets in the way of everything!), but it’s just one year. Also have warned hubby that he might need to take over cooking Christmas dinner ?
So looking forward to be able to book a holiday next year after all this has finished … still seems far away but it’s keeping me going at the moment ?
I feel EXACTLY the same way Lisa and Galligirl. I love Christmas, but this year I’m not planning anything much. I just want to get through it and all my Ts done before the years end. My last one is due New Years Eve. I feel frustrated because I want to book a nice holiday for me, Stu and Eve but I don’t know what’s gonna happen after radiotherapy in January. My breast surgeon says my implant he put in in July might get damaged with the radiotherapy and have to be taken out. Everything feels very much in the air. Talking of crying, I balled my eyes out at Strictly last night. Stu thinks I’m nuts ? Oh and I forgot to give Eve money from the Tooth Fairy last night…bad mum alert!!!
Love to everyone X
Morning ladies,
Been thinking bout Christmas too… just not sure how I’ll be. Looks like I’ll have had 1 ‘T’ just before Christmas… not sure how that’ll compare to FEC… anyway have a good Sunday ladies ?
I’m hoping to persuade my oncologist to postpone the start of my EC by a few days, so that I don’t have to go in to hospital the week of Christmas. Usually we host my parents for Christmas Eve (my dad is Danish, so Continential style) and then we head of to my in-laws for Christmas Day. Haven’t really thought what I’m going to do about Christmas Eve yet. It’s hard to plan, when you don’t know what you’re going to feel like. Luckily my husband loves cooking (though he makes a mess!) and will probably do most if not all of it. I just hope I’ll be able to taste all that lovely food. :smileyfrustrated:
On a positive note, we’ve just booked ourselves a lovely holiday in Tuscany for next August. :smileyhappy:When I started chemo I couldn’t face thinking about any sort of “future”, but now I am really looking forward to next summer, by which time I will definitively have finished everything and, as my lovely daughter said, will “need some sunshine” to recover properly. It’s given all of us something fantastic to look forward to that is beyond chemo, surgery, radiotherapy and SEs!
Tuscany sounds amazing GabyF … sunshine always helps ? Have you sorted out travel insurance yet … just wondered how difficult it is to get cover for travelling after a diagnosis and treatment?
Xx