I haven’t actually contacted any insurance companies yet, but the Macmillan website has some useful basic information on this matter. It seems that we may face higher premiums (thanks!) or can opt for a cancer-related exclusion. I’ll probaby opt for the latter, though quite frankly I don’t see why once I’ve finished treatment, I should then be punished by the insurers through higher premiums etc. It’s not exactly as though I/we have had any choice on this, but I guess that’s how they operate.:smileyfrustrated: I’m going to speak to my mother-in-law about this as well - she’s had breast cancer three times (now in her 80s! I look at her and think, yep, it’s absolutely possible and I will be fine.) and travels regularly, so someone must still be willing to insure her. I’ll let you know if I find out anything useful.
Got a day out with husband tomorrow: Royal Academy exhibition followed by a nice lunch :smileyvery-happy:I just wish the restaurant had a couch for a post-lunch snooze! :smileywink:
Anniej: thanks for the tipa bout Boots insurance. I’ll definitively look in to this nearer the time of our holiday.
Galligirl: looking at and eventually booking somewhere lovely for a holiday gave me something nice to do for a couple ofhours, definitively to be recommended. I’m very tempted to book a short weekend somewhere in the UK in Spring, but until I have my dates for surgery and radiotheraphy, I’d better not.
Seeing my oncologist tomorrow and should get the results from my mid-way MRI scan. Fingers crossed the tumour has reduced at least a bit. Had another choice comment from my darling son, who suggested that the tumour may just have “dropped off” - even he realised that this is a very unlikely scenario and collapsed into a heap of giggles! I really wouldn’t mind if it had just decided to “drop off”, but I’ll happily take a reduction in size tomorrow.:smileywink:
I had a meeting with my oncologist today who went through what to expect with T on Monday next week. She advised painting my nails a dark colour. Hope she’s right about not feeling too sick. She said the fatigue would be hard tho. Any other things I should look out for?!
Ooh I’d love to book a holiday, but I daren’t yet. I’m gonna wait til the radiotherapy is done in Jan/Feb and see if my reconstructed boob survives it first. I’m hopefully gonna do weekend UK breaks if I can manage it.
Lots of love to everyone and hope you have a good week without nasty SEs xxx
Alittlepixie: I’ve had 2 T treatments so far and isn’t as bad as I was expecting tbh. Tiredness, loss of tastebuds which is rubbish? and I notice my eyelashes coming out after this second one but haven’t had that nauseous feeling that FEC gives you. But has worked for me and tumour has shrunk from 6cm to 4cm on T so I’m delighted it’s working?.
Gabyf: Good luck with your MRI results??
I’ve got a meeting tomorrow with the surgeon about my op. I’ve been told I need a mastectomy but would prefer a double mastectomy as would only worry the cancer would come back. I don’t think they are too keen on removing a healthy breast tho so will need to see how I go.
All the best to everyone with their treatments/results
Evening MamaTony, thanks for that. It’s reassuring to know the nausea won’t be as bad. I’ve really struggled with that because I’m so sensitive to all the anti sickness drugs. That’s fab news re the shrinkage. Good luck with your meeting tomorrow. I feel the same way RE my healthy breast. If my implant is destroyed through radiotherapy and they have to remove it, I’ll be asking them to take my left healthy breast at the same time for the same reasons. Let us know how you get on. Good luck x
My MRI shows a “partial reduction” in the tumour and a change in its’ structure which at this reliatively early stage of treatment is good news. I’m so relieved that the treatment is working!! :smileyvery-happy:Just have to keep at it now, through all the various lovely SEs, and get rid of the blasted thing altogether.
My oncologist also showed me a gragh for my hemoglobin, which shows that this has crashed from a healthy level to rock bottom over the past 2-3 weeks, which explains my problems with breathing. The last few days I’ve actually noticed a marked improvement in this and I’m hoping that my doulbe-dose of carboplatin and paclitaxel tomorrow won’t bring a return of the breathlessness. Still, if it comes back, at least I know what’s causing it.
Lisa: I hope you’re feeling betterand your bloods come up ok. Waiting for those blood results is always a bit nerve-wracking.
MamaTony: hope the meeting with your surgeon went well.
First T done yesterday and I’m awake ridiculously early for me (annoying steroids!) … so thought I would give you all a quick update.
Doing ok so far (famous last words I know ?) and no sickness which is a bit of a relief. Nurse said to expect that SE will hit me when I come off the steroids … so probably the weekend. She said to expect bone pain and flu like symptoms which may mean I need a couple of days in bed. Also have to make sure I drink lots of water to avoid mouth problems. We will see what delights the weekend brings ??? 4 done now - 2 to go.
Got my mammogram this morning for the other lump I found, which I’m more stressed about than having the first T! Feels like I’m going back to the start of it all again … hopefully it’s nothing and I can get back to stressing about the Ts ha ha! Just when you think you are getting a tiny bit closer to the finish … it throws something else at you. My nerves are shot!
Take care … hope everyone is coping well with SE this week ?? Lisa xx
Morning ladies.
Gaby that is fab news about the MRI, so pleased for you.
Lisa-T, I had my first T yesterday along with my H and then my first P the day before. so far no nasty SE to report. I just felt my lump and it feels like it has reduced in size slightly, it was 5-6cm (depending on who I asked) I’m not going to get my hopes up as the FEC didn’t reduce it at all but it did prevent it from getting larger which is fab.
Thanks GabyF. All went well … so relieved I nearly hugged the nurse ? She referred me for an ultrasound but no cause for concern … thankfully! Bit vague about it really but they think breast tissue has hardened probably as a result of chemo.
Sorry to hear you didn’t have your chemo yesterday although it is quite nice having an extra week off ? I hope you’ve got some nice things planned
Hope you’ve had a good day today CatGarland and are still SE free ? ?? Noticed my arms feel itchy today but apart from that so far so good (can’t help but thinking this is the calm before the storm but hopefully not ha ha).
Lisa-T: I am soo happy for you that your scare on your good boob is nothing to worry about, I just can’t imagine how you must have felt waiting to hear that great news.
Peewee. ? Glad the T is being kind to you so far, honestly I have had 2 now and far prefer the side effects with this one. Do you have to inject your tummy every day for the first. week to boost your immunity levels? I am having to do that.
GabyF: Every cloud has a silver lining missing chemo and enjoying life without SE’s…enjoy x
CatGarland: Hoping the T works for you too as FEC made no difference for me but T did after just one dose so ??
I had my meeting with the surgeon, as expected not keen to do double mastectomy and remove a healthy boob. To go back after genetic blood test result in mid December to discuss further. Definitely going to push for it though.
Met with the plastic surgeon to discuss reconstruction options…a bit daunting. However one option involves getting a free tummy tuck thrown in ??..sounds good but big op involved. A lot to think about!
Lisa-T : Fab news! The thought of going back to waiting for results scares me ? so pleased the news was good.
Mama Tony ; Nice to hear that T is treating you kindly at the moment. Everything I read just fills me with dread…
GabyF : Make the most of your extra recovery time…?
Catgarland : Finger crossed for T success…delighted you too have not had any SE yet…long may it last!
I have spent most most of the last day or two asleep! Decided my naughtyphils are at their low point…earlier in cycle than before but same ‘knocked out’ feeling. Hoping to bounce back today and get out…
Thanks MamaTony I’m really hoping I cope as well as you with the Ts ? I have got the injections but I had them for FEC too so I’m getting used to injecting myself (sort of) … hubby was a bit too keen to do it for my liking!
Good luck with pushing for your double mastectomy … I was all set to push for the same yesterday as can’t cope with all the stress! Free tummy tuck sounds very tempting too ? I know some ladies have started their reconstruction already but there was too much info to take in for me! I have opted to leave it for now as I wanted to wait until this rollercoaster has calmed down a bit and then I will think about reconstruction. Also I’ve never had much up top so the mastectomy has not been a huge shock ?
Thanks everyone for all your support this week ?? Big hugs Lisa xx
What a difference a day makes…I feel soooo much better today! Have to keep reminding myself on the really low days that ‘this too shall pass’ and it does…a new day and seemingly a load more energy too! Hopefully will continue and I can start to feel more positive…and active and generally more me…! Happy Days ?GGxx
This whole thing is a bit of a rollercoaster of emotions and energy levels, and I am constantly having to remind myself of the endgoal to help me deal with it all. This week I thought I’d have more energy, as it’s been drug-free. However, Friday and Saturday I had a bad stomach ache, not sure why, and today the breathlessness has come back with a vengeance.:smileysad:On the up-side, my taste is fully restored and I have been enjoying my food, which has been such a nice change. My mood has also been up and down, more down than up today. I guess essentially I’m bored - I’ve got things I can do, but I feel like I’m just filling time. I’ve had so many years of balancing fulltime employment and kids (and moaning about it! :smileywink:) and I’m just not used to having to having all this spare time. It’s difficult to plan specific activities, as I am never quite sure whether I’m going to be up to it on the day, but I think I need to do more of that nevertheless - I guess I can always change my plans, if I’m feeling a bit rubbish.
Another thing that has been troubling me is that I seem to be gaining weight. After my initial diagnosis I lost almost 4 kilos within a week and athough that was obviously due to the shock, I was actually quite pleased with the slimmer me. Then I gradually regained that weight, which was fine, but now my weight seems to be steadily creeping beyond my average.:smileyfrustrated:I don’t know if that’s drug-induced, or if I’m just eating too much! :smileylol:At least I’ve got a Pilates class coming up tomorrow evening, so I can try to work off some of the excess!
It is SOOO boring, I agree with you both. I hate that everything is just on hold at the moment and I can’t plan much at all!
So impressed you are both looking at doing courses / gym classes etc … I need to find a hobby! OU course sounds like a fantastic plan … I can’t seem to think past the end of the day/week at the moment. Keep meaning to have a long over due sort out but I never quite seem to make a start ?
I’d love to go back to the old me without all this worry all the time! It’s my birthday today too - another reminder of how much has changed in the last 5 months. Hoping to get away to the Lake District for a few days on Friday tho ?
GabyF - Maggies is definitely worth a trip. I did the Look Good Feel Better session - had a lovely day out and got lots of goodies too. A bit of pampering always helps.
Hope all went ok today with your first T ALittlePixie ???
Hi all, I have been lurking but not posted for a while as I feel a bit of a fraud as my third FEC has been so painless (after the initial SEs). I have energy, and eyebrows still and everyone keeps telling me how well I look. I’m just hoping the final FEC on thurs is the same, as my second FEC was miserable.
I have my “look good feel better” session tomorrow which I’m really looking forward to.
I’m also planning to start Pilates again in December and maybe some sessions on the exercise bike at home. I’ve also put weight on so my jeans are getting too tight!
I also feel like life is put on hold at the moment as it’s hard to plan. Friends are booking ski holidays etc. Once I know my treatment timeline I hope to have a weekend away with hubby and plan a summer hol with kids. But I expect surgery in jan, then recovery, then more chemo or radio so it could still be a way off.
Anyway, hope you are managing your SEs and I am interested to know how people find “T” as I might need that after my surgery (or possibly before).
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