Thanks for the research on grapefruit, will definitely steer clear!
Winter sure is glum, I still haven’t made it out of my pyjamas today…and as its dark again it seems a bit late to bother now!
xx
HI girls…meant family not bloody amy!!! Oh gosh! Well the steroids doing their work…May be no sleep for me tonight? I see two oncs bit like good cop bad cop! Saw good cop and it was so nice to hear her say I’m doing really well. That human touch and reassurance made such a difference. This is so intense particularly as home life still goes on and there’s always extra stuff to deal with. I didn’t tell you all about a really humiliating experience I had!!! Went to sons sixth form meeting and the Head teacher was a bit stressed addressing a large audience of 16 year olds. He kept saying ’ we don’t have hats worn in here or more phones…’ well…he kept staring at me as I had a beanie on to hold my cavewoman wig in place. I said to the woman next to me ’ he can’t be talking to me can he???'…looking behind me…he kept on and on about it being disrespectful and hats should only be worn for religious purposes. I kept staring through him thinking hold on…I’m an adult here…on chemo!!! Felt so powerless. I could have shouted out that I was having chemo and wearing hat for medical reasons but that would have humiliated HIM and I hate that!!! Well just wanted to share yet another unexpected incident to occur due to breast cancer! Quite petty in the scheme of things but still crap! Hope everyone is feeling better? Dreading the cardboard taste buds coming back so scoffing face tonight xxxxxx
Oh and forgot to say…asked about the steroid tail and am having it…but my onc was a bit dubious, saying that it may not work for all…I explained that as soon as steroids finished I suddenly dropped day three and felt terrible. Felt like I was asking for class As though!!! X
Rachael you are obviously much more of a lady than me because I would have waited until he’d finished and gone up and politely but firmly told him whats what, in no uncertain terms!! How dare he presume, and it’s out of school hours so anyone can wear what they bloomin like, oooh gets my goat that!! I’ve had looks in a couple of restaurants with my hat on, I take great pleasure in whipping off my hat halfway through to display my majestic baldness, I refuse to be ashamed or feel embarrassed, got enough crap without that aswell eh!! All the best for tomorrow, will be sending virtual strength vibes xxx
Glad you’re another one done Emma, snuggle down and relax, I’ve become a pyjama groupie aswell, and so much choice!! And socks, ooh fluffy socks!! Lol
Hope all ok nutty, and PaulS, and good luck Anna, and den and Pam, and everyone I’ve forgotten, ?, I’ve taken my temazepam for the night, so a bit fuzzy hee hee, I do know something though, I do NOT like Tax!! But nearly there, eyelashes are falling out now, deep joy!!
Lots of love and hugs ladies, look how far we’ve come!!! Xxx Sam
PaulS, I sympathise. I too felt pretty terrible at that point. Worst for me was day 8-10, so bad I had to get checked out at the hosp. All “just” side effects. BUT I woke on day 11 feeling absolutely fine. All the aches and pains gone.
Day 13 now and I feel fine, just tired, but that’s my new normal.
Hang in there, stay calm, just a few more days at most.
Funny how much we use “just” at the moment.
UNJUST more like!!
xx
Hello Beamies,
Heavens Rachael, what a performance, why are schools so f-ing stoopid? Why else would a mum be wearing a hat at a meeting? Is it any of their business? Sometimes they just don’t get it. I recall that my daughter’s school forced a girl having chemo to TAKE OFF her hat in an art lesson. How cruel is that? Makes me see red …
Had bloods done, virtually painless as I had the queen of bloods nurse doing it. Dopey kitten got stuck behind chest of drawers this morning, what a faff getting her out. Getting my head round chemo tomorrow, anxious but resigned. Getting in the car will be horrible tho. But as you say Sam, look how far we’ve come, we are brilliant at this. Tax does sound like a handful and mighty powerful medicine, with a whole new set of SEs to manage and get on top of. Good strength to all of you Tax queens, you are doing so well, and at least you know it’s doing its job, getting absolutely everywhere and attacking anything that needs to be properly eradicated, once and for all.
So enjoying the pi**ing mizzling rain!
Love to all, Anna.
HI Beamies back from 2 nd Tax all well and firmly installed on sofa watching recorded TV. They put it through slowly for 15 mins then through normally. Thanks for support 're hat wearing. I was going to tell him about himself at the door on way out but he had gone. Decided to let it go ( been reading a lot of BAREFOOT DOCTOR) as I couldn’t be bothered to stress self out further and try to learn from experience. Can someone tell me how many steroids they take on the tail after day 3…how many does it go down to from 8? Cheers. Got codeine and sennakot. Lanpranzole (sp?) For heartburn worked well for me…hate gaviscon yuk! I have found Tax intense from 5 days of I injections ( days 2 to 6) then I feel better. Mouth and tongue white coating and grooved sore tongue days 3 to 8. No appetite first few weeks or taste. Swollen glands day 3. Pains around Neck and body coped with codeine. Tired for whole 3 weeks. But I hated fec!! Felt more toxic, sick and POISONED yuk! Eyelashes and eyebrows barely there! Felt so much more relaxed on ward today. Steroids helped and felt good knowing I’m cracking on. Always have anxiety about infection ( really sorry Pam about your lady garden again…bloody crap!) Can’t seem to shift slight cold but hasn’t developed. Blood counts were high at 5.5!! Felt proud LOL! Take a Berroca from week 2 I know my body needs it. Also drink concentrated cherry juice from Holland and Barratt which is supposed to be good anti cancer. Has anyone read Anti cancer…A new way of life…? I really recommend it XXXXX good luck everyone! Felt high as kite on steroids yesterday and posted a ridiculous number of tunes from YouTube on Facebook LOL annoying everyone! But NO SLEEP ALL NIGHT!!!
Still on the Emend…more for insurance although still have some slight queasiness. Weight stabilized. You’ll start feeling better really soon PAULS so hang in there. When do you go back to work? Xxxx
Hellooo beamies!!! Just a quicky, hope all well for tomorrow lovely Anna!!
Rachael I got 6 extra steroids, day 4 & 5 took two, and 6 & 7 one each day, lots of love and minimal side effects!!
Pam sorry your garden is taking a battering! Weird how our body deals with things in such different ways eh! I haven’t had any nausea at all with TAX, but if you’re worried then ask for it, no harm in being prepared!! Take care xxx
Husband home Friday, hee hee can’t wait, I’m off to watch I’m a celeb then sleep, and sod the house Den, you’re both more important!!
Lots of love to you all xxx Sam
Terrible night. Lots of pain dizzy and light headed. And stomach really upset and diarrhoea. Got up throughout the night to get to loo and lost my balance and cut all my hand! Called work to say would not be there today - first time. Have appointment at hospital this afternoon so will see what they say. Have lost another 4 lbs since Tuesday. Not good P xx
HI Pam…my oncologist suggested I carry on with Emend. Had no problem with it. I had a feeling of nausea and toxicity throughout FEC. I know it’s expensive and hospitals are different. I would definitely ask for it . I have felt far less toxic on Tax although there are other physical side effects but to be honest I can cope with this better xxx much love xxxx sorry about all the antibiotics just another thing to worry about. Doesn’t help. PAULS as SAMPS always says…don’t try and be a hero. Work will be fine…put yourself first. I am relieved and privileged that for once in my life I have been able to concentrate on getting well mentally and physically. I usually always drag myself into work sick! Not anymore. Careful of infection with the cut hand!!! Have you had lymph nodes removed? Poor darling! I found my legs got really shaky on Tax. Daughters dad has to have her for first 6 days now. Back later xxxx thanks SAMPS for tail advice. Been high as kite on the ’ droids and don’t want to drop off the cliff tomorrow xxxx
Meant 'roids not droids LOL!!
Pam, I suffered with sickness on FEC despite the Emend, it was only by cycle 3 when they gave me Nozinan that it finally came under control; but I have had NO nausea or sickness at all on the Tax. Also, with the Tax, the first 48 hours I felt totally fine, the SEs only started on the night of day 3 (sore feet), so stay optimistic about Christmas Day, you may be fine & dandy 
xx
Oh PaulS I hope you’re feeling better soon, and that you are taking it easy and resting, hand sounds painful, as Den said the dizziness could be codeine if you’re taking it, big hugs, it won’t last, I felt better by day 10, still tire easily and getting headaches, not bad but I’ve never suffered with them so it’s another lovely SE to add to our never ending list ? xxx
Pam I hope you’re bits and bobs are not too bad, seems that those who found FEC hard are finding TAX easier and vice versa, as Peegee said first 3 days I felt fine on Tax so fingers crossed for Christmas Day, my last one is the 23rd, we’ll do it all together!!! ?
It’s good you’re coping better with the TAX Rachael, I’m lucky like you that I don’t have to worry about work right now, not the best timing though, can’t believe I stopped teaching to change careers and this happened lol, I’m still waiting for my “lightbulb” moment of what the new career will be!! Not got a clue!! Xxx
Aah bless your grandson Den, they don’t understand do they, must be so confusing for kids all this, luckily they are so resilient and bounce back, all character building as my old dad would say lol
Hope went ok Anna, and I can’t remember if Ness has hers this week, or anyone else?? Hope all ok!!
Ive had a mini clean in preparation for mans arrival tomorrow, now on settee watching cruddy daytime telly, with a bacon and egg sandwich, heaven ?, lots of love girls xxx Sam
HI Pam…I always put loads of salt in each bath since all this just to try and hold off infections. SAMPS so happy hubby coming home! You’re doing brilliantly. Anna… I also have to have breast pumped in prep for radiotherapy! Had my meeting and five weeks planned for mid Jan all going well? Having lower dose due to minimising effects on reconstruction. And I was laughing at your Dolly Part on comments Anna!!! Xxxx
So was at appointment to arrange radiotherapy and told that condultant my symptoms. He told me to go to Ward 1 where they do the chemo. They said there was nobody to consult but to call the chemo helpline from their reception. They told me to go to acute admissions so I am now awaiting results of blood tests and have had ECG. So depressing! I made the mistake when answering their questions of saying had tightness in chest - which is a side effect of TAX - hence these tests. Now in room full of people with colds and infections! Hand continues to swell and very red and stomach feels as if there is grated glass in it! Hope you are doing ok Sunbeams. P xx
PaulS all of your symptoms apart from hand sound the same as we’ve all had, so don’t worry too much lovely, Peegee got a good going over and that can put your mind at rest, so think of it like that, an MOT, get your antibacterial out lol, I shove it up my nose aswell when in germy situations, will be thinking of you, big hugs xxx Sam
Thanks Sanpeds. Now awaiting X rays and blood test results. Just want to get out of here and home! But you are right it is just an MOT. P xx
Oh, PaulS, sorry to hear about what’s going on…hope you’ll be out soon. As for me all I have to say is OW OW OW, OUCHY OUCHY OW. This feels like it’s going on FOREVER!!! Now Day 7 of Tax and still feeling really rubbish. I want my taste buds back! Oh, and my digestive system. My nails feel funny too and have gone stripey. Hope you’re right Rachael and it won’t be too much longer. 
It will improve Ness, about day 10-12, but leaves a nice knackered feeling and the odd pain here and there, my nails and fingers were agony for first 10 days, can’t see them cos I had them painted black to ‘help’ with the SE, but it has eased off now, hang In there girl, it’ll be ok, just rest, eat and repair xxx Sam