Grrr there was more to my post, but not got time re write, off to daughters for BBQ - In Scotland, in march, lol
xx
Hi Valentines,
Hope you are all enjoying your Easter Day. I would be enjoying mine better had I not come down with a stinking cold. Better now than next week though.
Louise , (and Sandra ) I’m sure you shouldn’t be suffering all this late onset nausea. Have you rung someone about it? I think I would.
Tup - great stuff you are feeling good. Your wig is really nice. I keep tucking mine behind my ears as it looks better. I think I may splash out and get another one similar to yours.
Alison - thanks for that explanation. I decided to try a dettol bath anyway, just in case I have some lurking infection on my skin/nails. It stank the house out! But it brought back memories of my childhood! Hope your problems continue to improve and your chemo can go ahead next week.
Happy Easter to you and yours, Linda xxx
Afternoon Valentines,FEC2 day17 c/cx
Tup you look lovely with your new hair.Lovely and sunny in Thorndon Park today,saw some little tree creepers and chaffinches by the stream.Lots of dogs all shapes and sizes.Litttle Jack Russell running round and round in circles with his new friend a labrador.A standard poodle sat beside us with a very posh hairdo and very muddy legs!!We enjoyed a lovely sausage and bacon sandwich washed down with hot chocolate,tastes so nice in the fresh air. 
Poor Sandra you really are struggling with the nausea,hope dinner turns out ok.xxxx<3
Alison How lovely to walk along the canal with pup,sure it makes you feel better.Pie sounds yummy 
Mandy I am sure your hair is fine,others say they like it so it must be.I just feel like I am wearing a hat,so the more you wear it the more you forget it.Keep practising 
Oh dear Paula one of those stories you will recount for years,good job you didn’t burst into tears.I was careful walking through the woods today,some tricky places to duck under,didn’t want to leave hair hanging on a bush 
LOL You must get yourself some new hair,it’s quite an adventure xxx
BMW07 Nice to hear from you Happy easterxxx
AMl46 Have lovely BBQ xxxx
Love Chris xxx
Fec T
Fec 3, day 11
Happy Easter, I’m thinking little fluffy yellow chicks and baby bunnies. What do I get? Next door’s friends kids running like maniacs in a yard full of dog s**t. Unbelievable!!
Louise and Tup, you both look totally gorgeous in your new hair. I couldn’t really get a wig, even if I wanted one, as the closest shops that accept NHS vouchers for wigs are a two buses journey away. Hairdressers in my small Derbyshire market town don’t do them. I’ve asked!!
Paula, chemo brain and chemo fingers - not a good combination!! 
Sandra, sorry you’re on the sick bed again. I do hope you manage to get one cycle without it. Maybe you’re having mine too!! 
Linda, you can’t get a cold now!! Talking about bathing in Dettol, when I was a young new mum, many eons ago, the maternity hospital insisted you put Savlon in your bath water, especially if you had stitches. I got hooked on the smell, and it still reminds me of new born babies. Sadly, it also reminds me of sore ‘bits’ down below!!
Chris, I must visit the woods round where you live. Who knows WHAT you might find hanging off trees there. 
As you might have guessed, I’m feeling a little brighter today, in spite of nagging pain in back. It seems to be lasting a bit longer this time. I’ve been using ‘angry’ time writing furiously (literally) and produce a dubious new poem. Will put it in another post, hope it isn’t TOO depressing!! 
Sending positive thoughts and much love to you all.
Kath xxx
The Day that Cancer Came
I was minding my own business
getting on with life,
being someone’s mother
being someone’s wife.
I enjoyed good food
and a nice country stroll
Things were fine and dandy
deep inside my soul.
Yes I just kept on doing
everything the same
But everything changed
the day that cancer came.
I went to feed the birds
with sunflower hearts and nuts,
picked a bunch of Tulips
that year we’d had a glut.
I took them to the kitchen
and stood them in a jug,
put it on the sideboard
I was feeling rather smug.
Oh I was really someone,
my life seemed like a game.
But everything changed
the day cancer came.
When I look back now
at how things used to be,
I just can’t believe
that I’m still really me.
Looking in the mirror
it’s as though I’ve been exchanged,
While deep inside my heart
my perspective seems so strange.
My priorities are simpler
some things are rearranged.
Yes, everything is different
Since the day that cancer came.
Love Kath xxx
Kath - your last poem - the day that cancer came moved me to tears - it’s us all down to a tee 
Would you mind if I shared it with my facebook friends?? I’m not feeling my chirpy self today - Dont know whats up with me - I am NEVER like this at all … Prob impending PICC line insertion & chemo no 3 on Wednesday.
Kim xx
Kim, be my guest, and good luck with picc line insertion next week. xxxx
Oh, please put my name at the bottom.
Please may I also use it on Facebook Kath? Goes without saying with full credit to yourself. Great to hear you are feeling brighter today. Shame it is too far for you to visit the wig shop, but if you give them a ring they may do a home visit? My nearest one is in Blackpool, about 35 miles away. It’s bad that the NHS ones aren’t more local.
Kim - good luck with the PICC insertion. I’m having my portacath fitted on Wednesday. Just hoping my cold has gone - it might be a disaster if I sneezed just as they were inserting it in the jugular vein!!
You are all lovely, of course you can Linda, I WILL be famous one day even if it’s only facebook. Can I look for you both on there to make you fb friends? Please?
FEC-T, FEC cycle 3, day 4
(Kent Oncology Centre - treatment at both Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells hospitals)
Valentines, Valentines, Valentines,
What a few days you’ve all been having! Felt a bit rubbish after final FEC (although heart for once behaved slightly better), but have been keeping up with posts. Too many to answer personally (apologies again) – but you are all in my thoughts.
It’s great to read that some are doing so well that a sense of “normality” is predominant. I love to read of your outings and observations. We used to take fairly long walks in all weathers, enjoying the changes in the seasons. That’s all over now – but it’s good to know it can still happen.
It’s also good to read of the rants, frustrations, and fears. It eases the feeling of going through this alone. We’re not – we’re doing it together. All looking lovely in new wigs … I’m still not up to photographing latest sleep caps! Side-effects shared are maybe not halved, but putting them on paper might be a way to take the edge off.
“The Day That Cancer Came” really hit the spot Kath. Prompted me to post (although keyboard now somewhat tear-splattered). It certainly does deserve to be shared more widely – so I might get back to you re. posting it to my very pathetic, lethargic FB page.
Take care all, keep fighting those bugs.
Gill
Kath im also on Facebook, my profile picture is me up a mountain in snow if anyone wants to add me,youll have to excuse my mad friends and family were like Marmite sometimes but all in good fun… …I Managed to do dinner the leg of Lamb only jusy did 7 of us,thankgod for Yorkshire puddings think ill have to get 2 next year,kids ran riot in the garden with watering cans in one hand and ice lollies in the other i got tired just watching them,im usually in the middle of it all,hope every has a comfortable evening…Paula…xx
Kath, wonderful poem, Have PM’d you. Sandra, sorry the sicks have good you. Hope it doesn’t last for long.
Mandy x
Oh it sounds like you ladies have had a lovely day… I managed to cook dinner but hubby dished it out… managed a little… fingers crossed… Im determined to sleep in my bed tonight… the sofa is not a replacement for hugs off my hubby bless him…tomorrow is another day and one that Im hoping is much better 
Going to hit the fresh air tomorrow and go visit my daughter who couldnt make it today… my grand daughter is poorly with teething and gunky eyes. I need my munchies off her… planning to have my 2 grandsons overnight tuesday for some much overdue hugs and squeezes…Im sat here eating a curly wurly… what the heck?.. not had any interest in chocolate since this journey started…weird!!
Be damm glad when this “journey” is over and done with
Love to all valentines xx
Paula - I’ve added you on fb - hope its the right one!! Lol
Kath - whats ur profile pic? If anyone wants to add me - profile pic is my and OH - I am in a purple / damson dress and he is in a suit with a purple tie xx
Hi All
I’ve been following your posts on my mobile but for some reason I can’t find my comment box to reply.
Mandy sorry to laugh but did chuckle at your dream. I’m usually a dreamer but since I’ve known of this dreaded bc I’ve not remembered one dream!
Tup and Penguin68 I just noticed your new pictures, very glamorous. I wore my wig to work last week and was pleased no one realised it was a wig and thought I’d just had my hair cut. I was finding it quite hard to match the colour. I’m not comfortable in it just yet as my head is shredding quite badly now and tender than before.
Linda I’ll be thinking of you on Wednesday and I hope you don’t sneeze either lol I have to say I wasn’t shown what the portocath looked like and thankfully wasn’t fully aware of the jugular bit I’m quite squeamish with things like that so not being in the know was a blessing. It took a while for the discomfort to go but I hardly notice it now.
I love your poem Kath, for the second time today I’ve shed a tear. I read about that young lady in the paper who passed away. It’s the first time I cried since I was diagnosed boy did it open the floodgates! I can’t put anything on Facebook as OH hasn’t said anything to his family as his dad isn’t very well right now.
I cooked a lamb dinner today as well Paula but only for the two of us. I have to say my appetite has returned with a blooming vengeance last week and it’s not subsiding.
Off for round 2 this Friday. A day late so I can see the ONC.
I hope you’ve all managed to have a fairly decent Easter xx
FEC 2, Day 13. Coldcap, hair still here!!
Hi ladies,
Happy Easter!!
Haven’t been on here for a while and have been trying to catch up on posts but am a bit lost as to where the last ones I read were!
I don’t write on here much as for the first week after chemo, I can’t face much and I just don’t feel like getting the computer out. By day seven though, I generally feel “back to normal” thankfully, but it means that I often seem to miss a week of your posts! I do think of you all though and am hoping that everyone is ok.
Anyway, just wanted to say Hi!
Went with daughter and grandaughter to put their horses to bed,mixed up the feeds,smelled lovely as had garlic powder in it.Cleaned out a stable then daughter asked me to lunge her horse as he not had much exercise since she got kicked in the elbow.He was a good boy for me,trotting and cantering round in circles on the end of the lunge rein.Made me a bit dizzy though,and my arm ached but was all good fun,and my hair stayed on.Whoopee!!!
LisaG My hair is like yours at moment,shedding like mad and so sore at the follicles,I won’t shave it off though.Love your pic with little onexx
Sandra have a lovely day with little one tomorrow,hope you feeling better and babe takes your mind off it for a bit.xxx
Paula sounds like a great family day,exhausting but so worth it.xxxx
Gill glad no.3 wasn’t as bad as before,hope you get on ok now xxxx
Kim I hope your Picc and No3 all go better than you expect xxxx
Dear Kath Yes that is exactly it,we were all just normal people getting on with daily routine until The Day That Cancer Came.You get it so right Keep them coming.Wishing you well and a good nights sleep Love Chris xxxx<3
Linda Good Luck with Portakabin for weds xxxx
Have a settled night all Love Chris xxxx<3
FEC75 CYCLE 1 DAY11 PICC insertion on 10 Apr
Happy Easter dear valentines! Some of you have super strength. Amazing to read. So many have managed to cook in spite of the tiredness. Chris, reading about you cleaning out the stable n all made me feel inspired to exercise. I must get off this backside n do some walking at least!
Kath - what a wonderful poem. Thank you. I’ll let the Marchies know so they can be touched too.
Honey - all the best on Weds with PICC n round 3. Hope minimal SEs
Linda - get very well soon n all the best with port on Weds. I keep having recurring thoughts of chemo nurse sneezing n accidentally emptying the syringe in one go!
Blue rose - happy that you still have your hair. I didn’t use the cold cap n head was itchy today.
I was a bit low the last couple of days as I’ve been feeling tired. Mountain of clothes to wash, dry and iron, bathroom needs a good clean… Blah blah blah. Today was very good as sun was shining n it was warmer!
Nightie night everyone!
Good to hear from you BlueRose, you’re just a day or so ahead of me and I’ve been wondering where you are and how you’re doing. I recon it knocks a week out of me each cycle. am on day11 now and feel reasonably human. Only problem is I seem to have become an obsessive compulsive eater. On my yuk weeks I seem to nibble all the time to find something that makes me feel better. Now I’m feeling better I just can’t seem to stop.
Nipinuk, nice to hear from you too. You take it easy 'though, the ironing can wait! 
Chris, you are amazing! Where do you get your energy? Please send me some. OH and I went for a walk this afternoon and I was exhausted by the time We got back.
Sleep well everyone.
M xx
Good morning all
Day 16 round 4 of 4 FEC / 4 TAX
It sounds like most of us had a fairly pleasant Easter. I managed to go to my parents for lunch yesterday.
Well 4 more sleeps until round 4 of FEC not looking forward to that! But at least I know that it’s doing something as my tumor has shrunk by 1cm so my thoughts of stopping chemo have eased a bit.
On this round I have been permantly hot, not to the touch but inside if that makes sense, it’s been so cold but I couldn’t handle having the central heating on, so we managed to save loads on heating oil, not been to good for OH and son though!
My chemo arm is still really sore and my legs still feel like they have run a marathon but hey no onwards and upwards but after Friday I will on the downward slope like so many of us.
Loving your poems Kath you really are one talented lady.
Hope everyone continues to have a reasonable day today
Take care all
Annabelle x