Starting Chemo in February 2013: February Valentines

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Alison your menu sounds yummy and when cycling you will definitely need a higher calorie intake. Once I’m back running I will not be fasting on them days as I’m liable to faint without something inside me.

I found the first fast day the hardest but the other two weren’t too bad, my only complaint is that the fast days come round very quickly. I just chose days that suit me as I don’t have to do them back to back. I may find this much harder to stick to when I’m back at work, but for now I’m going perserve. When it gets tough I just keep telling myself that the health benefits make this small sacrifice worthwhile. I also find the app ‘My Fitness Pal’ is great for keeping a count of the cals, makes it easier than guesstimating.

Thanks for the update.

Dyane

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Dyane, there are 3 of us still on chemo. I have 2 more to go. If I have no delays my last one will be 23rd July. Annabelle also has 2 more to go, a little ahead of me, and Caroline has her last one this week. Yvonne should have one more to go but has been given the choice whether to have it or not depending how she goes on with her current cycle. I hope I’ve got that right.

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Hello Valentines

I’m still alive and breathing…just!!.. seems this morphine just doesnt want to kick in and help me… still in a lot of pain… get bone scan results 2nd July… docs at the hospital wouldnt tell me the results…strange…I asked my onc if I could have cording as that is where the most pain is and swelling she said no… so god knows whats wrong… keeping everything crossed for good results

And thank you all for asking about me…the only time the pain eases a little is when I am lying down which is driving me mad…poor hubby administering my meds as I get so doped up I dont know what Im taking :slight_smile:

Keep strong ladies who are starting out on rads and hormone…hopefully be starting mine soon xx

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Sandra , I’m glad to see you have posted. We were all getting worried about you. What a horrible time you are having, and a long time to wait until 2nd July. All my fingers and toes are crossed for you xxxxxxxx

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Good to hear from you Sandra, sorry to hear you’re still suffering though, hope they can get your pain under control soon and get you sorted. Can’t believe that they’re making you wait another week for your results, keeping my fingers crossed for you results.

Take care of yourself

Jo
x

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Glad to hear you’re hanging on in there Sandra. Sorry to hear the pain is still troubling. Waiting for more results must be a worrying time for you and your family. Everything crossed for good news.
Gill x

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Hi Vals,
Here’s a new one for me.
I have pains in my chest area under my boob (right one that had WLE) when I breath in. It’s hard to describe exactly where it is, but it’s no where near any operation site. I had a sore right shoulder last night, which is fine now. And during the morning the sore chest started. I think it is probably muscle related, but if it’s not cleared up tomorrow will get up the hospital to get it looked at. The more I breath in deeply to find out where it hurts the more it hurts (so I have stopped doing that). It feels better after resting - so that’s all I have planned for today. It seems one thing after another. I am meant to be going into work tomorrow to have a meeting with the occupational health people (waste of bl**dy time if you ask me).
I hope everyone else is good - the sun is shining here!!
Alison xxx
PS temp is fine

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Sorry to hear that Alison, but as you think, it is more than likely a muscle strain of some sort. I hope it turns out to be nothing.
I also had a pain on breathing in deeply at the top of my good breast. I even Googled for images of human organs to find out exactly what is there and decided it was an intercostal muscle. I had decided to get it checked out today, but this morning it had gone completely!

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Tomorrow is Bone Density test day. NSL (Derbyshire Patient Transport) have been booked to pick me up any time after 8.30am but must get me to hospital before 10am. That’s what time I told them my appointment was - it isn’t, it’s at 10.30am! But don’t trust them to get me there on time if I told them the truth. They are supposed to be picking me up at around 1pm to bring me home. I won’t hold my breath!!

Chris, have you been peeping through my keyhole to know I pick my nose??? No comment, but thanks for the big hug. Sending one back as we all need them from time to time.

Dyane, did the baby shampoo help? Do you look like Rapunzel yet? If so, I want a refund as my baby shampoo hasn’t made a blind bit of difference yet!!

Poor Sandra, we all really feel for you and worry about you. Our little mother hen who needs a bit of mothering herself. :frowning: Sending you big hugs too.

Alison, we all seem to be getting strange aches and pains now. We can’t even blame it on chemo any more. Hope you get that sorted as well as your poor bum.

Linda, my chest pain seems to have gone too. I don’t know which muscle it was but it was right above the mx scar, which is why it worried me.

Hopefully, when the results from tomorrow’s test filter through to my onco, she will write to my GP about hormone tablets. I’m not seeing her again until 16th July so hope she gets them sorted before then

Anyone ever heard of this drug?

"Raloxifene (marketed as Evista by Eli Lilly and Company) is an oral selective estrogen receptor modulator (SERM) that has estrogenic actions on bone and anti-estrogenic actions on the uterus and breast. It is used in the prevention of osteoporosis in postmenopausal women.
_ In 2006, the National Cancer Institute announced that raloxifene was as effective as tamoxifen in reducing the incidence of breast cancer in postmenopausal women at increased risk. A major adverse effect of tamoxifen is uterine cancer; raloxifene had fewer uterine cancers. Tamoxifen increased the risk of cataracts, but raloxifene did not. Both groups had more blood clots in veins and the lungs, but that side effect was more common with tamoxifen than raloxifene. On September 14, 2007, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration announced approval of raloxifene for reducing the risk of invasive breast cancer in postmenopausal women with osteoporosis and in postmenopausal women at high risk for invasive breast cancer." _

I’ve never heard of it before, I don’t know if it is used over here, or just in the US.

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Sandra - hope you get some relief from your pain soon. You must be worried having to wait so long for your results.

I’m still following the January Jems and we’ve decided there are two more side effects to add to the list : tourettes & hypercondria. I’ve never sworn so much or fretted so much about every little ache and pain.

I’ve now decided I’m not having the final dose of FEC, 7 is my limit. My breathlessness had totally gone last week but following Friday’s dose of poison I’m back to gasping for breath all the time. My CT scan was all clear so they’ve decided it’s just a side effect. Well I’ve had enough enough of FECin FEC I’ll take my chances that 7 doses was enough get any stray little cancer cells hiding in my body.
We signed contracts on the sale of our house today and want to complete in 4 weeks. So we’re in for a busy time as we now have to get rid of or store our remaining possessions and move the boat onto another canal as my rads will be at a different hospital.
Roll on September when all treatments have finished.
X Yvonne

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Hi Valentines
So sorry not keeping up with threads at the moment I leave it for a couple of days and come back to so many entries to read. One things for sure we’re all getting through it, November(diagnosis) seems so long ago now. I hope you are all coping well with SE’s.
Had to gets bloods taken for something completely unrelated yesterday at the GPS. The plobotomist was sick and a healthcare assistant tried to take blood. It hurt soooo much I screamed really loudly and ended up in tears. After 3 attempts I told her to forget it I’ll come back another day. Its probably not her fault my veins are rubbish. When I walked out of her room there was a big queue of patients waiting outside the door I felt really silly to have screamed it’s a wonder they didn’t all run off!!
Arrived at hospital today at 9am and left at 1pm it felt like forever. Breast care nurse first, herceptin second and heart echo 3rd.
I,m in the middle of yet another scare. I found a small lump on neck (mastectomy side) and feel terrified. I saw breast care nurse today about it. She could barely feel it but will speak to Doc. and get his advice and ring me back. I felt a bit silly like a hypochondriac too Kath but nothing was too much trouble for her, she was lovely. Hopefully its a false alarm !!
How are you all emotionally? I’ve been quite down the last few days and seem to burst out crying at the simplest things. Need to get a grip I guess!!!
On a happier note no.1 sons school report arrived home yesterday. It was really good I,m a proud Mummy. I’ve made a big fuss of him and will give him some extra pocket money . My son is borderline Aspergers he is very very bright and very challenging. He’s definatly in his grumpy teenage stage right now and makes life very difficult most days but of course I love him to bits!!
Ok now I feel i’m rambling.
BIG HUGS my precious Valentines

xxxxxx

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Hi Vals,
Busy day,daughter text from Malaga flying home this morning,how’s that for a delay,should have been 11:00pm yest.Said was due in at 12:30 Southend,fine,trouble was we had arranged to take friend to hospital for 13:30 ultrasound.Time to airport 30mins.OK arrived and waited just down road from airport at 12:20 daughter phoned at 13:05 just off plane waiting cases,finally picked them up at 13:20,bit tight schedule for hospital.Phoned friend he called hosp and told them he broke down,lucky they said thay would wait.We got him there for 14:00 what a rush,like being a taxi service.Poor daughter had to go straight to work on late shift and her poor dog had to remain in the kennels.I picked up my pescription from hosp for Letrozole and took back unused sickness tablets.Will start Letrozole when rads start next week,as instructed.Got rid of my chemo storage box on sunday,wanted to get rid of reminder,getting a bit of a phobia about it,had all my paperwork,tabs,thermometers appt card etc.relieved it’s gone,feel like I am moving on.
Sandra glad you posted ,we were all hoping pain was under control now.Everything crossed and positive thoughts coming your way ((((((<3))))))) xxxxxx
Alison you can easily aggravate a muscle between ribs,not even remembering what you did,it is painful.xxx
Linda,Dyane Annabelle and Caroline we are still waiting for you,spaces left xxxxxx
My fuzz is still growing,check it every morning when I wake
Thinking of you all Love and hugs Chris xxxxxxx<3

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Yvonne lots going on with you then,will the boat move to new location on water or will have to be transported?Don’t blame you for saying 7 doses is gonna have to be enough,breathlessness is hard to live with.xxx
Jackie small lump is probably just a little gland up,we are so sensitive at the moment.As for blood taking,some of the staff are just not experienced enough in problem veins.As you screamed out,maybe she be bit more considerate next time xxxxx
Nice you had good report for your son,teenagers are a challenge at any time,without other problems,my youngest grandaughter has Tourettes,Luckily she doesn’t have the verbal form,life is difficult for her too,a lot of people including teachers have no idea what it’s like to live with it 24/7.xxxxx
Love Chris xxxx<3

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Chris - we’ll cruise the boat to the next hospital. We can go a short route which is 15 miles with 27 locks and would take 2 days, or we can go the long way round which is 92 miles with 65 locks and take 8-9 days. Personally I’d rather go the long way as it’s much nicer, but with the house needing clearing etc we’ll probably go the shorter route. That takes us via Manchester city centre and we’ll need someone to come with us to help with the locks as they are too heavy for me at the moment. Either way it will be so good to be on the move again

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Evening Valentines!
I hope your pain is better Alison and that your meeting went better today than expected!
How was your bone scan Kath? Do they give you results straight away or is this another question for the list when you next see your oncologist. It does seem a little odd that they haven’t given you info on starting hormone tabs yet. You must have the patience of a saint.
Sorry to hear that the breathlessness has returned Yvonne. Finishing FEC at this point seems like a good decision, particularly given the other things going on in your lives. You are going to be busy enough. Hope you’re enjoying the view from the car park!
Well done for another Herceptin Jackie. Big tick. Sorry you’ve got another scare - but good that you mentioned it now. I too have been very weepy this week. Just thought it was down to my particular circumstances (not a great deal of happy things to look forward to…). But maybe it’s all part of the coming down off chemo phase? But great news of your son. It must be lovely to have moments like that to brighten up low days.
You have been as busy as ever Chris. Makes me tired just reading… Good on you!
Had another clinical massage today to try to clear some of the discomfort from cording / hardened breast tissue. Was fine to start with but very uncomfortable now. Not advisable to continue during rads, which is probably a good thing then!
All very quiet today. Hope all doing OK.
Gill x

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Haven’t posted much for a while. That’s mostly because I have been feeling rather weepy (think you are right Gill about it being reaction to coming down off chemo) Coping with the last lot of SE’s, which are mostly getting less, apart from fatigue but this weeping all over the place is a bit unexpected. I’m waiting for appointment from the next hospital Im to attend about rads. My treatment is all a bit piece meal - surgery in one, chemo in another and rads in a third.
I have been reading all the posts though and you are all very much in my mind. There seems to be a lot of appointments and health scares going on. This journey sure is a bumpy one, how will we ever get used to ‘ordinary’ life? X
Tup

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Mandy have sent you a private message xx

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Hi Ladies,
Well I went to work yesterday and did a full day - I have a conference to attend next week so will be doing a long day then and probably another day in the week too. It was OK, but I didn’t get much done as it was hard to go anywhere without bumping into people who wondered how you were and then chatting for 10 minutes. It took me 20 minutes to get out the building to get home. Pointless meeting with occupation health - we talked about puppies, so a nice chat!! At least I was paid for it.
On the way home I ordered a new bike. It wasn’t the one I had initially intended. The model I wanted was sold out - but on the plus side it’s a cheaper bike (it’s the model down), and in a nicer colour - so the money I saved can be spent on other frivolities (or just saved - yeah right).
My sore chest had improved overnight and I felt OK during the day. However, last night around 8.30 it started up again and doing the same movement. I went to put my feet up on the sofa and was in instant agony. I was gasping for breath and every movement hurt so much. My OH was for taking me straight to the hospital, but I phoned the emergency number and they confirmed that it sounded like I’ve hurt the muscle. So I went to bed with a hot water bottle and some paracetamol and tried to get comfortable. I managed a full nights sleep and feel OK again this morning. This evening I will not be putting my feet up!!!
I hope everyone is feeling OK - and enjoying the warmth!!
Alison xxx

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Hi Vals,

Kath, how was your bone density scan? I hope the transport played ball.

Yvonne, now you have made the decision not to have your final FEC you can try to relax a bit and concentrate on getting over the previous 7. Good news about the house, that is one more stressful thing out of the way, but I don’t envy you the hassle in emptying the house and sorting all that out. If it were me I would pick the easier route to sail your boat. I never did the locks, I was always the steerer. OH did the locks.

Alison, well done for surviving a full day at work, and I hope you sore chest stays away.

Louise, where are you?

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Been for a jog this morning, feel much better for it, but also knackered at the same time. Tonight I’m off to windband practice, we have a bandstand gig on saturday which will be the first one I’ve been able to do since I was diagnosed, so I’m really looking forward to it.

Karen, I ordered a cool gel pad after you mentioned yours, it arrived yesterday and I used it last night when I woke up with a hot flush, it really helped, so thanks so much for mentioning them!!

Jackie I’ve been quite down this week too, though third week of the chemo cycle has always got me a bit like that, I feel much better after my run this morning, which is good motivation to do more exercise I guess…

Well done for managing a full day at work Alison, occupational health don’t want me going back till active treatment has finished, it took me about half an hour to convince the occ health Dr that I wanted to do some (very small amount) work at home during chemo. Exciting news about the bike, when do you get it? Hope the chest is continuing to improve.

Hugs to everyone, especially those undergoing more tests

Jo
x