LittleChick - the waiting around is the worst isn’t it? However daunting the treatment plan I think it feels better when you have all the dates and know exactly what’s going to happen. Your sister is priceless - amazing the things people come out with when they really don’t know what to say!
I will echo what everyone else has said - do stay in the warren, even if you join a surgery thread as well - we really want to know how things go for you - and this is a place where you can say exactly what you feel without the need to put on a brave face.
Well I’m surviving FEC3 so far. Nauseous but not actually sick this time - but a splitting headache that paracetamol wouldn’t shift. Couldn’t get to sleep last night - not until well after the dawn chorus - about 4:30am and then woke at 6:30am with another headache, so I think I’ll be dead beat by this evening. Have had my Neuplasta jab today, so should be all set now.
In the meantime, unfortunately one of my cats has declared war on the local wildlife. Last year he was a kitten and too young to manage anything but this year his hunting instincts have come to the fore - so he keeps bringing in birds and mice, both dead and alive into my bedroom - 4 so far this week, plus another one left in the kitchen. So last night at 2:30am I was running round trying to rescue a bird from him. It was still breathing when I got to it, but was injured and not likely to last long, so I put it in a bag and hung it from a hook on the bathroom door out of harm’s way, hoping it could at least die in peace, poor thing. My other cat is much more placid, and just observes the mayhem.
I’m going to the cinema with a friend later on - hope I don’t fall asleep during the film!
Sara
Thank you Sara. I got onto my breast care nurse and she has been brilliant. Got me an appointment to see the consultant surgeon on Monday after my liver scan. That’s after they have the MDT meeting too, so he should have heard all about me again from oncology. She said they’d likely delay surgery until my liver was working well though, so I’m a bit worried about that. Just have to keep my fingers crossed. Also the earliest possible date for surgery would be another two weeks anyway.
I find it amazing reading how you are managing to get out of the house so soon after chemo. I couldn’t even stand in the shower 6 days after mine! Makes me realise I was a lot worse than I thought, especially now I’m up and about again. Just have to be glad they were keeping an eye on the blood results and hope there’s no permanent damage! I’m feeling a lot better now that I have a couple of appointments organised. I don’t remember if I’ve mentioned this before, but when I was first referred by my gp something went wrong and the hospital claimed not to get the referral. It had to be resent but they would only count from the date of the new referral and all in all I waited 7 weeks for my first appointment. It means I’m a bit paranoid about them losing me in the system again and I find waiting around just so stressful now, I keep thinking about all that lost time.
Anyway, it’s been such a gorgeous day. I’ve been out in the garden all day with a good book and my iPhone (fab invention :-)). At least I’m enjoying a rare sunny day here rather than throwing up in a hospital bed again :-)) see, every cloud had a silver lining. The annoying thing is i can’t get any more chemo and I’ve already lost my hair! Wonder how long it will take to start growing back? At least I’ll get a head start on you lot ('scuse the pun!), and I won’t have to worry about claggy hair after surgery :-))
Well done LittleChick for finding the silver lining. We are all with you and rooting for you. Don’t you dare even contemplate leaving our warren. You are one of the bunnies through and through and you must stay with us. How awful that the hospital ‘lost’ you for 7 weeks, but you are well and truly on their radar now and they’d better be pulling out all the stops for you. Good luck on Monday and let us know how it goes. Keep listening to the birds singing and keep hold of silver linings.
Love, margieteexx
Little chick you can’t leave the warren - you’re one of the bunnies! Take each day as it comes and if you feel rubbish we’re all here for you. Special hugs to our very special bunny x
Repunzel nice to see you back! There are times when I can’t believe that I’m recovering from bc and it does take over your life. Can’t offer any advice other than we’re here for you. This warren is brilliant for ups and downs!
So I’m back after FEC2 (The Revenge) and waiting for the next set of SEs - or not??? The cold cap was really uncomfortable this time and as my hair is already coming out I might not use it next time - depends on what happens in the next three weeks. On the journey in to hospital my OH came up with a fab way to get my loose hairs out - stick my head out of the car and let them come off in the wind! Can you imagine the surprise he’d get if I came in completely bald lol! Don’t think I’ll be trying it yet.
Anyway off for a nice nap so catch up with you all soon.
Sara B xxx
LittleChick - so sorry about your news. Don’t leave the warren. You’re one of us!
Thinking about you and praying you get through this.
Christine xxx
Little chick,
I think you owe it to the warren to become our official hair experiment. We all need to know how long it takes for our hair to come back, if it comes back the same, if it’s itchy etc. you can then report back your findings to the rest of the warren!
In the meantime when you have to wait for results or to see consultants, keep pestering your BCN and remind her of the lost referral. That should keep them on it although it sounds like they are anyway. You now have a team of people to take your treatment forward not just an ONC like us!
On a different note some of you will remeber that my grandad was admitted to hospital a couple of weeks ago with a broken hip after his prostate cancer had been allowed to spread to his bones due an incompetent GP.
( and the government want GP’s to run the nhs, god help us) well tomorrow he is undergoing a major operation to replace the hip, socket and get a replacement Femur!!! They reckon this will not only solve the hip issue but remove the cancer too. He is 89 so it just goes to show that clinicians rarely fail to find treatment options even for the elderly although there are obvious risks for gramps. I will report back tomorrow when I know more.
P.s. still can’t turn off the automatic email notifications. Where are the moderators when you need one !
BFN
Vannsx
Sara12 , I am also impressed that you can even consider going out or even having a conversation with anyone straight after the chemo! I am useless for at least 4 days. Like you, Little Chick, I seem to suffer badly for a week, and just hope that there is no lasting damage being done.
Encouraging news about your grandad, Vanns; you are never too old to get decent medical care are you?
GMT, I had a top up today as well. Mine has gone a bit of a funny shape- something to do with thin muscle wall in the centre of my chest, so he used some collagen as well. I find it really strange to be handed my bra by my oh so clever and skilled surgeon, but I guess it’s all part of the service. I don’t think I want to be filled up much more- it’s very hard and getting a little annoying now. Can’t wait for a lovely soft implant.
Anyway, going to get some sleep now. Hope you all have a restful night, SE free.
Lee. X
Vanns - good luck to your grandad tomorrow. Used to work for an ortho company who made knees and hips. It’s amazing what the can do these days!
Little Chick - definitely speak to your BCN and you can talk to the McMillan team too as they do really help.
Am boiling hot in the weather and tired but can’t settle down. Felt sick earlier but not too bad. Think it’s going to be an interesting day or two.
Night night bunnies
Sara B xxx
Vanns - hope everything goes well for your grandad. Just such a shame that he’s having to go through all this because of someone else’s negligence.
Have been awake since about 3. Sodding chemo. Sometimes you sleep round the clock and other times not at all. It is very warm though. Am looking forward to another nice day sitting in the garden relaxing after I’ve been for my aromatherapy.
Take care everyone. Thinking of you all.
Christine xxx
After yesterday’s juicing I have been so tired but finly dropped off around 2am only to wake up a 5am. Feels like it’s going to be a long day. 
Hi everyone just a quick one, had 3rd fec yesterday was at the hospital for 8 Hours because the cold cap machine was not cooling, they eventually fixed it, but what a long and tiring day. Sarabee I know how you feel, I have ben awake since 4am, nuse coming in at 11 for injection. No sickness just tired, so yes I know what you mean by a very long day. Love to all Elainexxx
Morning
Beautiful & sunny here again. Am working this morning, nipping out for some retail therapy this afternoon & going to a concert this evening. It is amazing how much better I feel 9 days into the cycle.
Had a good day yesterday, went for my prothesis fitting and it was the 1st outing for my hat & scarves. Drove in with the roof down on the car & no incidents with it blowing off. In fact with my shades on I felt like I had released my inner diva and I quite liked the look.
My prothesis (Dolly) is absolutely fantastic, it has exceeded my expectations as it is really comfortable and looks great in my new bras. I am well chuffed with it & my friends are now waiting to ‘cop a feel’. I am now going to invest in some beautiful new underwear & a bikini. I was a bit of an underwear obsessive pre surgery and now I have a new excuse to indulge.
Vanns I am sending positive vibes for your Grandad, hope it all goes well.
Hope everyone in the warren has the best day they can in this beautiful weather.
S xxx
Hi Everyone
Im loving the weather living in the garden hope it last
its just over a week since shaving my head and it is alot easier i now feel comfortable in my wigs i love my headscarfs and even got use to my bold head what we have to remember it will grow back i feel really positive this week and so well im doing everything i cant do in first week as chemo comes round so quick this sunshine has defo made us happier bunnies
Good luck to everyone getting jucied this week
Tracy xxxx
It’s amazing the difference good weather makes to your spirits, isn’t it? I’ve been so lucky with FEC 3 - I had a dreadful time with FEC 2, so was expecting the worst - but at my check up they said it sounded like I’d had an infection last time that complicated things. Apart from lack of sleep like several of you, I’ve been feeling surprisingly well this time. Went out last night, then had an early start to play bridge this morning, then out to lunch.
Am wilting a bit now and will probably have a snooze in the garden. But first I have to rescue my cat from a large oak tree. In addition to his attack on local wildlife, his other party trick is to run up the tree and then get stuck. The longest I’ve tried leaving him up there is 4 days but despite being hungry and thirsty he was still too scared to come down. The older cats can manage it, but he’s a wimp. I have to enlist the help of various neighbours because it’s too high up for me to manage, and have even had to go and buy a ladder specifically for rescue purposes because it was getting embarrassing borrowing the neighbours’ ones all the time. He is incredibly stupid, that’s all I can say - this is the 8th time he’s got stuck over the past month or so! If anyone has any idea how to deter a cat from climbing a tree, I’d like to know!
Vanns - hope all goes well for your grandad. Sorry to hear that some of you are still quite poorly in your first week after chemo - I do feel very fortunate at the moment. Don’t know how the change of chemo will affect me next time though.
Good morning, well after fec three on Thurs havent slept a wink, went to bed at ten woke up at 12.30 and that is it. I did the ironing, read a book and painted my nails. Now I am sat on the bed not knowing if I am able to have the energy to shower. But looking on the good side no sickness or anything else and hair is holding up for now.Vanns hope your grandad is ok and has good treatment. Little chick how are you!. I have been thinking of you in the wee hours. Will logg in later haviong trouble typing this , my brain feels like cotton wool and spelling words is hard. But the sun in shining. Love to all. Elainexxxx
Good morning, well after fec three on Thurs havent slept a wink, went to bed at ten woke up at 12.30 and that is it. I did the ironing, read a book and painted my nails. Now I am sat on the bed not knowing if I am able to have the energy to shower. But looking on the good side no sickness or anything else and hair is holding up for now.Vanns hope your grandad is ok and has good treatment. Little chick how are you!. I have been thinking of you in the wee hours. Will logg in later haviong trouble typing this , my brain feels like cotton wool and spelling words is hard. But the sun in shining. Love to all. Elainexxxx
Elaine, the steroids keep me awake too - but fortunately I got a little more sleep than you did. What’s worrying me now is that starting before the next cycle when I switch to TAX, I have to take 4 pills twice a day for three days. If 2 pills twice a day for two days keeps me pepped up, heaven knows what the higher dose will do! Not to mention the constipation side effects which are also caused by those drugs. Oh well, will just have to wait and see.
Not feeling quite so perky today… feels like jet lag - I guess it’s the come down from the steroids kicking in. Managed to get my cat out of the tree eventually yesterday after several attempts by five different people. Had to go up the ladder myself in the end as he wouldn’t go to anyone else.
Not planning to do much today. Is anyone else putting on weight? I had been losing weight steadily for 6 months before dx - just healthy eating - but now it’s started to creep back on despite not eating noticeably more. Perhaps I’ve just slowed down due to tiredness and the reduction in activity has caused it.
LittleChick, I’m thinking about you too. Hope you manage to enjoy the weather in the garden over the weekend… it’s Monday you have an appointment to find out more about your treatment isn’t it? Not long to wait now.
Seems to have gone very quiet on here over the past day or so - hope that’s because you are all out enjoying the sunshine, rather than feeling poorly.
Sara
Hi to all. I have not posted for a few days but I am still here. Had FEC2 yesterday and like others, had a very bad night’s sleep. But on the bright side, I have no side effects at all so far. I have been up doing gardening this morning and now we are going out to lunch. After FEC1 I was in bed 18 hours a day with headache and sickness so I don’t know what’s different. The only thing that’s worrying me is that the red stuff, which is the biggest dose, looked lighter in colour than last time, so I hope there was no mistake in constructing it, ie making it too dilute and therefore not a big enough dose. This fear is reinforced by the fact that my urine had lost the red colour within just a few hours. There’s no way I can find out if there was a problem so will have to cross my fingers.
Any news on a get-together (or maybe two given how far apart we are!)
Mary xxxx
Sara, I take 4 steroid tablets, twice a day for 3 days and I find that if I take the last 4 no later than 2.30pm, I still manage to sleep ok. I have left it until 3.30pm and stayed awake most the night.
Hope everyone is ok and enjoying the sunshine.
Will hop back later
Natalie xxx
Mary
Our posts just crossed I think, so just read yours. Regarding get together, I don’t believe I have everybody’s whereabouts yet so still hanging on.
All bunnies, If you are interested in joining us for a get together, and haven’t done so already, please can you send me your whereabouts?
Many Thanks
Natalie xxx