Hi Vals
Hope your all doing well. I was so near the carpark I could see it and should have just had cycle5 off Tax however as last one floored me I spent 6days in hospital and even now 24days later SE are still with me saw onc and he says this is due to fact I have colitis and Psc, that chemo is making me so ill. So a change off chemo is now on the cards in lower doses given weekly over 9weeks so now have 9 to go instead off 1 hope SEs are a lots easier with weekly doses.best of luck to all those nearing the goal post min SES and hope you all have a lovely bank holiday weekend. hope the sleep fairy comes tonite as so tired
love valji 1
Believe me – celebratory multi-glasses of wine at congratulatory dinners don’t do too well with steroids!!! Woke up this morning with two bright red cheeks like a Polish doll. Otherwise feeling fine and very sorry to hear of some of the setbacks. What a bummer valji1!!!
Love to all, Louise
Fed up now, posted this last night and it’s vanished. so here it is again!!!
From the Waiting Room To The Car Park And Beyond
Many others trod this way
and many more will come.
All started in the waiting room,
all feeling very glum.
Waiting around for appointments
then waiting to have their tests.
Waiting to get the results back
and find out what’s in their breasts.
Is it benign or is it cancer?
Could it be invasive?
Is it treatable, has it spread
Oh God, don’t let it be pervasive!
Then when the results are in at last
and a treatment plan is in place,
a calmness sets in and you breathe again
and a smile returns to your face.
You will need an op, and might need rads
and some of you will need chemo,
it seems the roundabout never ends
that your life’s led in a casino!
Place your bets and spin the wheel
let’s see if your number comes up,
you wait and see, what will be, will be,
you know you’ll drink from that cup.
Each cycle passes with added worries
of what the next one might bring.
Sickness, diarrhoea, or constipation
you take them all on the chin.
Then suddenly, the last one arrives
you can see the car park at last,
you look and see your friends all waiting
the ones who helped the time pass.
Beyond the car park, another world,
with fields and meadows of flowers.
A world in which you move forward
and regain your previous powers.
And so to the future you finally look
with confidence and hope
but whatever this future holds for you
you know now that you WILL cope.
Are you having Herceptin? Or hormone tablets
to keep the monster away?
You continue on, as you did before,
taking things day by day.
But on your journey you made many friends
who you never will forget,
friends who will always stand by you
even though you may never have met.
Love Kath xxx
There are loads of posts missing from yesterday afternoon / evening, as well as Kath’s poem. Grrrrr.
I saved mine, so here it is again:
FEC-T, cycle 5 (TAX 2), day 17
Jo : apologies for confusion re. which cycle you are on. I must have read the relevant post during worst chemo-brain phase. Got completely the wrong end of the stick.
Well done Paula and Mandy for number 5 and also to Alison (assuming all went well today).
Good to hear Karen that the manky mouth of TAX does eventually disappear. I’ll be delighted once food tastes better that bleugh! Sorry to hear you’re having hassle from your ex. Just what you don’t need. Fingers crossed for an amicable solution on 11<sup>th</sup>. Paula too … sounds like your “friend” has forgotten what true friendship means.
Yvonne : it sounds like you do have a really good BCN system there. I hope that they manage to drain your seroma and that it’ll be the last time you need to have it done. My breast and armpit are all a little stiff but I’m sure it’s down to me nor doing the exercises as often as I should be! Must try to improve things before rads…
Congratulations Louise on reaching the car park. I hope the view is good! Sounds like you are mightily relieved. A big tick. Hope you can enjoy your good week before the SEs hit. Do you have dates for your rads yet?
Kath – another one in the car park! Well done too. Just make sure there are enough spaces left for the rest of the Valentines. And watch out for those pesky gremlin SEs. Cream at the ready…. Great poem too.
And yes, Funki – in answer to your question that has now disappeared … I have shivered more than roasted throughout chemo (although not one to feel the cold usually). Arctic weather not helping either. Extra blanket on the bed last two nights. Gas bill horrendous this year!
Karen (Valji1): good to hear from you again. Sorry to hear things not going quite to plan. Hopefully the new regime will suit you much better.
Take care all,
Gill x
TCH cycle 3 day 5
Last cycle days 4, 5 and 6 were crappy (literally) but this time so far so good. Must be the added bonus of some warm sunshine. I hope it lasts.
Well done and congrats to all of you now in the carpark and on the approach road.
Karen (Val) nice to hear from you again, and so sorry you have had some nasty problems. I do believe the weekly doses are less harsh. Fingers crossed for you. Keep in touch.
Louise, my steroid face is a big round halo right round. It doesn’t burn or hurt so I forget it’s there until someone mentions it. Not very fetching along with everything else body-image-wise!
Love and hugs, Linda xxx
Guess who has a bit of constipation again!! And a small hemorrhoid which is bleeding a bit, which makes it awkward doing pooh sticks for bowel cancer as I don’t want any blood in THAT sample!! Eating normally, although adding in apples, GO bars, lots of veg etc. as I want to clear this constipation up. I hope Alison isn’t still suffering, but she probably will be, poor love.
Injections started today, and had the last of steroids, so it’s all downhill from here!!
Still, managed to get a load of washing out and dried in this lovely sunshine. Shame it’s going to get colder again.
Envious of all of you who are managing to go on long walks, holidays etc. We’re still stuck here at home, but the garden is growing by the minute. all the new plants we got from the garden centre are thriving and our roses all have buds on. the Clematis are all reaching the top of the trellis they are clinging to. Lovely stuff.
Continued support, love and good wishes to you all.
Kath xx
Oh Kath , we do suffer with our bums, don’t we?! I have still got the bleeding (literally and figuratively) fissure, but the chemo makes me constipated so I am enjoying not going for a while. Taking movicol to ease things now and hoping a small break in the tediousness of constant pooing will give me time to heal (but not holding my breath).
Irritable bowel sounds possible - so I will look that up and see if there is anything I can do. I also heard that milk can cause issues during chemo (not sure if this is true so will look that up also). But my onco thinks it’s just the chemo causing the issues - so perhpas I just have to live with it until it’s all over (hopefully in three weeks).
Had my chemo on Friday so feeling low at the moment, but giggling as my OH is trying to get washing out the machine with the help of the pup. He does like pants and socks and will fight for them. I am hoping I will not need to spend much more time on the sofa as I am going to miss all this lovely sunshine and there is tonnes to do in the garden, like find the flowers in the weed bed.
We have bluetits nesting in our box and I have heard the chicks asking for food. Lovely signs of spring cheer me up no end.
I hope you are all managing to get out and enjoy some nice weather whilst we have it.
Alison xxx
Ooh Alison, that sounds much worse than mine. I do feel for you. I have Sjogren’s, which gives me similar symptoms to IBS, so maybe you have IBS too.
Laughing at the pups antics with socks and pants, and the baby blue tits sound lovely. I love to watch them when they come out of the nest and sit, beaks wide open and waving their little wings about.
Take care, and I hope we both get some relief when this is over.
Love and hugs, Kath xxx
Kath, apples for constipation??? They are good for diarrhoea, or so I believe! The BRAT diet is for diarrhoea - Bananas, Rice, Apples, Toast.
xxx
Aches and yucky mouth that’s all I have to say!
love to you all xx 
TAX 2 day 6
Likewise Wattie - aches and yucky mouth. Plus emense fatigue. Just watching OH mow the lawn is wearing me out!
Wishing all Vals as happy a Bank Holiday as possible in the circumstances.
Tup x
TCH cycle 3 day 7
Not doing too bad. Weary and not able to do a great deal, but at least I’m sort of pain free. Had some aches and pains yesterday evening, sorted quickly enough with paracetamol, but still got dickie tummy. I’m fed up with it now.
We had a lovely day yesterday but I did too much, so am taking it easy today. Good news though, we are hoping to get away on Saturday for a week to a cottage we go to every November as a rule. It’s only 45 minutes drive across the Trough of Bowland so easy enough to get back if necessary. There are loads of beautiful walks, plenty of excellent wading birds to watch from the comfort of a bench somewhere, sea, river estuaries, woods, beautiful countryside. I can’t wait.
Hope everyone is doing well, Linda xxx
Well Linda, the apples etc seem to have worked. Quite loose now. Just don’t want it to be too loose 
.
Kath, I wouldn’t wish that on my worst enemy after what I’ve been through! 
Glad you are sorting it.
Apples always work on me!!.. not that I need them at the moment… not suffered with being constipated since I sarted this journey… other way round… hence the weight loss :-((… trying to relax today as tomorrow is going to be hetic… cock up on appt with onc so I have to see her at one hospital for 12.30 and try and get to another hospital for 2pm fo or my last chemo!!! yay!!.. I reach the car park tomorrow… bit anxious as I know whats coming afterwards… dreaded SE’s… this time Im asking for soluable anti sickness tabs at the hospital… saves my DN nagging my GP for them…
Im at the ifs and buts stage about RADS… but I guess i will find out more and ask lots of questions when appt comes through… at the stage I just want this journey over and done with now 
had enough!!
Love to all valentines who are reaching the end of this stage of treatment… holding hands with you all… xxxx
FEC5/6 D8
Good Afternoon Vals,
I feel so sorry for those of you with trouble with Ex’s,what a nightmare when you split and children involved.Hard to believe that you were once in love and making babies.Where does it all go wrong?Happy to say we have been together since I was 15 and he was 22 yrs.
Valji shame you have to change chemo prolonging treatment,but whatever is best for you,can only be good.
Linda trip to cottage sounds fab,enjoy,hope weather is dry for you.
Alison thank goodness for pup to put a smile on your face.Baby bluetits are such a joy to watch,we didn’t have anyone take up residence in our bird box this year.
Really liked the poem Kath.Glad your basement is slowly sorting itself out,bet you’ve never discussed it so much as on here.Not something you discuss in conversation in the supermarket 
Wonderful to know many of you now in car park,join you soon 10th june bloods willing.
Had a really busy time up allotment yesterday,put in lots seeds,carrots,radish,swede,peas,beetroot,cabbage plants and lettuce plants given by fellow allotment neighbour.Was going to go again today but think I overdid it yesterday as face was like a beetroot all evening,I was taking my time and sitting down a lot,but felt exhausted after cooking roast for everyone last night,tried to eat mine but gave up after a few mouthfuls,was giving me acid stomach,so daughter went out to ice cream man and got me a tub,that went down well.Ended up with throbbing headache,so took myself off to bed and had bad head all night keeping me awake.Have been on sofa all day,headache gone now but feel bleurgh,don’t want to be out in the sun,shame to miss a lovely day.Got friends popping in tomorrow then will be going to the Suffolk Show on weds with daughter and granddaughter and sisters.Will see my dad as well,he lives next to the showground.Have borrowed a shooting stick so that I will be able to sit when I need.
Does anyone else suffer with a very dry mouth,its as though I have eaten a sloe berry,my tongue and throat is so dry,no matter what I drink,that will be the cause of my headache,dehydration.Have got bit of funny taste back too,usually gone by now.
Oh I had a dream that I met Jo80,wierd!!
Happy healing thoughts to all Love Chris xxxx<3
Linda, so am I, but its going slowly.
Sandra, Good luck for final chemo, hope it goes well. About rads, try to find out what your chances of recurrence are before making the decision. for me, less than 20% in chest and 50% in lymph nodes under arm. there is always ANC to sort that out if necessary, but I think I’ve said all this before.
Chris, fingers crossed your bloods will hold out for 10th June, want you in the car park with us. Reading the list of veggies you’ve planted, it’s a good job I don’t know where you live, or I’d be down there (or is it up there?) raiding your garden when they all come through. All my favourites, especially the beetroot. YUMMY!!
Good luck to anyone having treatment this coming week, still quite a few heading for the car park. to the rest:
_ WELL DONE LADIES _
Love Kath xxx
By the way Chris, re dry mouth. I get that because of Sjogren’s, I usually have Glandosane spray on prescription, but it doesn’t last very long. So I bought a tube of BIOTENE from the chemist. It’s a gel to put on your tongue and tastes quite sweet. Can’t remember how much it cost though!!
Sorry to hear of aches and yucky mouth Tup and Wattie… it’s all down to TAX. I’m on day 19 of cycle 5 and only now can I actually say that things are beginning to taste reasonably OK. Also down to 2 doses of pain relief daily. Seeing onco on Wednesday. She was talking of lowering the TAX dose for cycle 6. Not sure if I want to or not … particularly given my survival statistics. Having got this far, it seems a shame to lose a percentage or two. I will see what she says.
Good luck for tomorrow Sandra. Hope you manage to get everywhere on time!
Kath , glad to hear the apples are working. Hopefully Alison will also have found some relief too.
You’ve been so busy again Chris. More than I manage to do in a week! I take my chemo cap off to you!
Glad to hear you’ve got a break to look forward to Linda - you deserve it.
Everyone else very quiet these last few days. Hopefully a good sign that all have been enjoying the BH break / weather.
Take care all,
Gill x
Gill, having your Tax lowered should not affect your survival rate at all. I asked the same question before my ONC lowered mine by 20% this round. He said something like… in Finland and a few other countries they only have 80% Tax given as the norm and a study was done compared with those that get 100% and there is no difference between survival rates. For some reason the UK is licensed to give the full 100%. Obviously speak to your own ONC but I just wanted to reassure you.
FEC-T TAX 2 day 13
I have done nothing but sleep for the last 3 days. I dont seem to be able to keep my eyes open and i’m getting a bit worried. I have suffered with tiredness before on previous cycles but this is ridiculous. Has anyone else had this?