Take care dear, 
and good luck with the treatment, big hug 
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Hello. Itās so lovely to hear all your news. Really gives me a boost to hear how you all are.
Cami, delighted to hear youāre feeling better.
Anne, good luck for second docletaxol. Sounds really tough.
Naughty, good luck with remaining pacli too. I had my last of 12 weekly pacli last week, though ladt 6 at a lower dose. My skin is starting to look a bit worse for wear now. Rashes and spots and dry. Everything is dry!!!
I have my first EC later this morning and Iām feeling really apprehensiveā¦any words of wisdom on which days Iām likely to feel worse/better?
Know what you mean Anne about 21 Dec and timing for Christmas, I am due to have my second EC on 21 Dec too ā¦think that may be bad timing as first non steroid day post EC?
Anne, do you mind me asking the grounds on which they recommend a clearance post chemo? Did they do lumpectomy and SNB? I have a meeting next week to discuss radiotherapy or clearance. Iām still getting lots of pain in underarm where I had sentinel node biopsy and at mastectomy site (op in July). 1 of the 7 nodes removed had 7mm cancerā¦
Lovely to hear lots of you are getting excited about Christmas.
Lots of love to you all
xxxx
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Hi All I disappeared a bit as I started working 3 days, I tolerate Abraxane ābetterā, but my week one of cycle am AWOL. Also interview internally is Friday 
started browsing/ applying for jobs too. As a result less riding and feel been less 'āoutā and desperate to go and travel somewhere before Christmas. Stayed up V late last night to try to find somewhere but flights outrageously Ā£Ā£Ā£ Getting cabin fever after nearly 3 months 
Started on my Christmas tree 
treated myself to a whole set of new baubles which I would never do but hey who cares.
One more cycle and am done for this one 
, EC next year and op and radiotherapy but thatās next year. Am not sure I want to go to partner family and talk about cancer for 4h this yr and have a pity party so might take rides in Windsor park instead and am not well!
@annemanc I do wear cold mits (hands and feet) which the hospital provide. Itās fairly new they said. I tried the frozen grapes but but time I get to hospital they are soft plus I wack the AC high on 26 in my room. I wear the cold cap and thatās still the worse as extremities get numb after a while. I used go get Raynaud syndrome itās not worse than that but you do get really cold so I make a hot tea in Thermos which my kind victim friend has to give me (even w a straw itās difficult) and I bring an extra blanket and and I wear lots of thermals under my normal clothes. On abraxane am Lucky no pre meds and there roughly about 2h - 30 min before cold stuff, 30/40 min meds 30/ 40 min cold equipment. Am week one am there 4h 
I watch this morning, loose women and Christmas movies on 5 
An sooo excited not to have to hospital every week soon. Honestly 
@plum1 thanks for the info 
xx
@daffodil1 let me know how EC goes and best of luck 
god my skin is not happy, my face has rashes, spit and is so red. I suffer from rosacea and would normally have treatment to keep it under wrap but havenāt as involved micro needles or dermabrasion. I found a laser one and will if It can be done.
Oh also I found out this week I could drink in moderation 
mad !! Scare to try now but will give it a go after this cycle. My brother is coming for the tough week and I miss my mum (it went quickly and quite well actually!)
Anyway itās a workday and I want to stay under the blanket but got to get a move on. Xxxxx
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@pinklilli3s Good luck for tomorrow. Go smash it. I hope you get some positive news soon. If not onwards and upwards, there will be the perfect job for you somewhere.
Going to recommend E45 lips and dry skin balm, I originally bought this for lips but used it on the back of my hands last cycle as cycle 2 I had a bad rash and they were really sore. It totally knocked it on the head and I have not probs last cycle. Only good for small areas but if you have rashes probably worth a try.
Nice to hear everyoneās Christmas plans. I am totally being a grinch this year. Christmas falls on one of my worst days so is a bit of a washout. Our plan is to do a Christmas meal on New Yearās eve when I have recovered. I sort of donāt really want any memories of a Chemo Christmas. I donāt have kids so can get away with it. Must be tougher for those who are having to put a brave face on it for others but it seems like on the whole everyone is looking forward to it. It is definitely a good signifier of time moving on and for some the end of the chemo which will be an amazing present.
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Iāve stopped using my foundation as itās started to look a bit cakey and orange on my current complexion. Iāve switched to an elf highlighter Halo Glow, itās supposedly a Charlotte Tilbury Dupe. Quite dewey but ok with a bit of powder on top for light coverage. My friend also recommended the Bare Minerals Complexion Rescue Tinted Moisturiser; I tried a bit at the weekend and it went on nicely- I think itās Ā£20-30 depending on where you buy but Look Fantastic has it on offer at the moment.
Iām finding that all the bits and pieces recommended for chemo patients (such as the C-List) are all at the upper end of the cost spectrum and quite niche brands- whereās the list of stuff we can grab in the supermarket or Boots?!
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You are amazing 
, hopefully everything goes well and you will find a dream job for you.
Enjoy your good days and be always like now so positive, I like your vibe and make me happy too.
All my best wishes, big hug 
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Thank you dear, I will have a look at all this,
Take care and good luck with your treatment 
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Thank you! 2 other people applied but Iāll give it my absolute best shot. Am passionate about the topics
I moisturize before the shower (green bottle called dermol I think)
I donāt put any make up in my skin. The odd times I do inside Drjart hides the redness on my skin (cover up and or fluid) another good one is LāOrĆ©al tinted CC cream. Stacey Salomon keeps talking about it and I have to say itās cheap and works magic. Light coverage which match your skin tone and gives me an even skin tone. Can get it on Amazon.
I would normally have facial but they involve needles so need to ask if I could have laser instead as it would help my rosacea (I look like a permanently drank person w two red cheeks and now nose and forehead - aggravated by chemo obviously) xxx
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You are so strong 
women, well done to you, hopefully you will get the job.
You are so funny dear how you describe yourself you developed rosacea before or now with the treatment?
My face is a bit problematic, I had a bad acne in my youth, and now the skin is marked, I donāt use make-up, but I just want it to look better for the party, my face is also swollen and a
little red, I gained weight after the mastectomy 
Thank you for the tips.
We talk soon
Big hug.
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Hi, @daffodil1 is your EC going to be fortnightly?
Mine was and I really felt like I had a week on and a week off- the first week like a bit of a zombie due to the lack of sleep, but it sort of magically lifted the Weds eve following, and Iād wake up on the middle Thurs feeling miles better. Drink loads of water to flush out the EC (the pink wee is a little alarming to start with, but nice to see it fade!). In my first couple of cycles Iād have a small morning nap and another late afternoon nap, just to try to make up for the crap nights, eventually got it down to one a day, but have what you need. also tried to up my dried apricot intake to deal with the constipation naturally- it worked for the most part! (Dealing with the other end of the spectrum now Iām on Pacli 
)
Do you have to do the antibody injections 24 hours after? They can cause aches in hips, thighs and sternum as biggest bone marrow sites, I had mine mostly in sternum which was annoying while my port placement was healing.
The most annoying thing about EC for me was how long the day was but it all depends on when you get bloods done, and if cold-capping etc.
Hope it all went ok today xx
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Haha well you gotta laugh a bit right!
Iāve always had rosacea it got worse in my late 30s adult acne, and developed food intolerance which took me a while to realise was also related to skin problem. Stress doesnāt help.Being on combined pill helped for a while and lots of others things like facial and paying attention to food/drinks. Lush is quite good for means la Roche Posay. I keep things simple
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good luck for interview pinklilli and rides in Windsor park sound like itāll uplift you and give you bit or normal back udderly smooth with extra urea from Amazon was a cream loads of us got by the crate back in 2017 really quenched skin well, might be worth a try 
Shi xx
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Posted update on June chemo if anyone wants a read.
@annemanc that is a lot of next steps and I agree you need to deal with them one at a time. I know about radiotherapy but still to hear which aromatase inhibitor (Letrozole or Anastrozole and for how long). I had assumed Iād finish after chemo and thatās in two weeks, so will ask at next clinic appt.
I use cold cap and at home I have rapid cool slippers from Amazon and cold packs for hands. They would defrost by them t8em I arrive and have chemo put up, so I use at home and so far not had too many nail issues, a bit of tingling and numbness and pain in feet but not all the time. I know Paxman were trialing some of these arm and leg coolants so hopefully will be rolled out of every hospital.
@frazzledmcsazza yes me treatment is also cumulative and gets more intense, thought having 2 weeks break would lessen side effects but no. Chemo obviously stays in system longer than you think.
@daffodil1 Great news you had your last Paclitaxel, bet that was such a relief. What is next for you or it that it? My skin has flared up with large whiteheads with red ring (pustules), saw GP and was basically to,d to suck it up and least of my worries. I did eventually get some antibiotic cream (fucidin). Iāve had acne/spots/ boils from teenage years until 40, lessen in pregnancy but still there. GP did t comprehend the mental anxiety of this when youāve suffered for so long, worn foundation for a long as I could remember. Eventually saw Dermatologist after exhausting everything GP could prescribe.The treatment worked well and didnāt need foundation on a daily basis, but it had to stop as it could interfere with chemo.
@pinklilli3s Good luck to tomorrow 
. Great you only have one more cycle, nearly there. I also take a thermo with fruit tea in to help keep warm, with the 4 hours Iām there, I get offered 1 hot drink which is not enough. Due to menopausal symptoms I donāt get that cold on my body. I can totally understand the frustration of not having your usual treatment for rosacea. I would be carful with laser and check with your team. I had a LED mask (red, green, blue light for variety of issues)
and was told not to use it as it uses same waves as the sun and I was told to wear SPF everyday from now onwards.
@plum1 i can understand the trust that everything pushed to the cancer community is very pricey but as @pinklilli3s says La Roche Posey is great and affordable and many items are fragrance free, also Avene both at Boots or various online. For a tinted moisturiser SPF I use Paulaās Choice Resist moisturiser with SPF30 ( mineral sunscreen - better for me) itās Ā£39 for 60ml many offers with % off to get a good deal. All her products are fragrance free.
@Camy_Radika having spots/acne/redness can be debilitating and especially marks left on the skin, I know Iām a picker and suffered fro my sins! My skin has generally become quite dry but with these spots, I think itās my body trying to get rid of the chemo in as many ways as it can. I have no energy for makeup even after doing the Look Good Feel Better course but do use my daily tinted SPF and that at least helps a little. 
Thinking all you all brave ladies. Itās not easy but we are doing it!
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Hi @annemanc
Iām same as you had my third Docetaxel today ? Still wired on Steroids! And my last one 21st. Onco on 20th, and MRI on my spine on 28th. This is going to be a fun Christmas !
Have had a rubbish week with two trips to hospital within days . One for extreme sickness and diarrhoea and high temp. I went Christmas shopping in day 10, probs not wise ! I read today that Notivirus hospitalisations are mad at the moment - maybe was that! Online shopping from now on! And also a few days later heart racing mad at 140 bps for 36 hours and temp. Apparently my chemo combo doesnāt cause palpitations so they are baffled . Will get a tracer to wear at home for short time to monitor .
Going to put the decorations up tomorrow before the steroids wear off! Hope you are feeling ok and not too bad when the steroids wear off xx
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Hi @copperycat yes exact same dates for final two chemos! Sorry to hear youāve been in hospital a couple of times. Iāve got an mri on 3 Janā¦ happy new year present! 
Itās going to be a funny old Christmas but we will all get through it. Brighter times ahead. My 2nd docetaxel seemed much better today and I used the cold mits and slippers so hoping they help. I also didnāt realise last time I could take paracetamol every 6 hrs (the nurse confirmed today) so am hoping thatās a game changer. Last time I did most of it w no pain relief which may be why it was rough. Plus hoping the adrenaline of knowing Iām nearly there will help too.
@daffodil1 my breast surgeon said they found some cancer cells in one of my sentinel lymph nodes. Had a lumpectomy and sln biopsy in mid July. Some discussion about whether to have auxiliary clearance before or after chemo, but mdt decided after. Think Iām going to invest in a physio privately and maybe a personal trainer to get fit. Listened to a really interesting podcast w Liz O Riordin about keeping movement up during chemo, even just for a few mins when you feel rough, and concept of prehabilitation ahead of surgery. So going to give it a go.
So lovely to hear from everyone. Youāre all so brave and amazing! Xxxxx
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Hi @naughty_boob just read your post on the June thread 
. So rubbish youāre having all these issues, particularly with weekly appointments. It canāt help with the stress and anxiety around treatment. Did you feel the guy today listened to you? So crap, particularly as youāre reliant on husband for lifts. Xxxx
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@annemanc yes I took paracetamol and also Ibuprofen 400mg. Doc said it was ok. But to check temperature before taking as it can mask a high one! Iām sure they told you/ you know that that any way . Definitely helps the aches and pains 
That podcast with Dr Liz ( what a guru!) was brilliant! Going to give all that a go. The massage, the exercise , and get my bmi down! Itās 29 , Iāve already lost 1.5 stone. But during chemo not managed healthy eating. Back on it in the new year xx
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Yes the chap from the concerns department really felt like he listened and even said I could call him direct and rant if I needed to. Heās not happy with the way they have been dealing with things and once he takes over the management there is going to be a shake up.
I managed to sleep not too bad considering I was wired from steroids but took a sleeping pill so once I woke up it wasnāt too long to drop back off. Managed 5 hours.
Had our shower pump replaced on Monday and now no cold water pumping through so boiling hot shower. Contacted plumber he canāt come back til Saturday, which is not a good day for me but will have to get up and dressed early for his visit. We have waited for 4 weeks for it to be fixed but we could use it with little or no pressure. Fingers crossed itās an easy fix.
If itās not one thing itās another at the moment.
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Hi @copperycat
So sorry youāve not been well and had to visit hospital. So many bugs around at the moment. I wear a mask to help prevent transmission. I have worn them for years as Iām asthmatic and have a heart condition, only caught Covid once in an room that had been occupied by children in school I thought was empty for 30 minute lunch break ( itās airborne, washing hands is not enough). Since then worse mask in class and ate outside or in car never caught anything for the rest of the year.
Last November I had Strep A and then pneumonia on in new year as I stopped masking in school from September 2022 thinking the vaccines would work but being in a class with 30+ for 6.5 hours with little or no ventilation every thing passes on.
After my two week temperature and infection with inpatient hospital stay Iām being extra careful not to catch anything ore until the chemo is done. Itās not worth it, chemo is bad enough!
Even having chemo the other day heard so many older people say theyād had temperature and sickness only a few days before but sitting for hours with others unmasked who are immune suppressed. Youād think there was a week at least delay before they should attend to protect everyone else.
For exercise instagram there is a lady who does @yogaforcancer and agree Liz OāRiordan is so influential 8n all she does. Lifting weights even if itās only baked beans or water bottles are good for weight loss as well as adding in enough protein into your diet (eggs, cottage cheese, cheese, lean meat, Greek yoghurt ( I bought Total the other day and it has live bacteria in so can t eat while on chemo but I bought one from Aldi that doesnāt), tofu, lentils, chickpeas and oily fish. They recommend eating some protein at all meals,it will help give you lean muscle. 1g protein per 1kg of your weight as a minimum. Iāve started having egg for breakfast or protein yoghurt with fruit and seeds. I add beans or lentils to most meals it bulks it out and goes further with less meat. Jamie Olivier recipe for meat and lentil spaghetti bolognese is fantastic.
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Hi @copperycat. I had really bad diarrhoea on cycle 1 & 2 Docetaxel (Carboplatin and Phesgo too). After cycle 2, oncologist said to avoid milk which I did in cycle three (also tried to avoid cheese as much as possible). Cycle 3 was a lot better so that might be worth a try. He said chemo affects ability to produce the enzyme which breaks down lactose. Seems to be temporary could drink milk from middle of second week without issue.
I also had heart palpitations on cycle two. Was sent to A&E twice. Couldnāt find any issues had loads of tests and a scan for blood clots. You probably need to call your team and my feeling is anything heart related will get to sent to A&E but better to be checked and sent home. Even thought it is so crap, wastes energy and makes your stress levels rise. Good news is it didnāt return on cycle three. Doctor I saw after A&E said hold your breathe for a few seconds as this will slow your pulse. So might be worth trying that and then if it doesnāt work call team. Good luck. I think some of the hardest parts of chemo is just all the scary side effects and lack of reassurance.
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