Mandy , just read your post I am so sorry , you must be devastated , frustrated & angry plus a whole lot more , you WILL get to the end of this so go shout scream swear cry but then make the most of good days , someone said it’s a year out of our life to get our life back , it’s gonna be a tough year for all of us in different ways , just sorry you’ve had a rough start , take care x
Oh Mandy I am so so sorry. Swear all you like. You deserve much better from your medics.
Karen - glad it went ok and I enjoyed reading your post.
Day 19 FEC cycle 1. I am being treated at the Royal Marsden in Surrey which is a specialist cancer hospital and it is wonderful - the nursing staff are lovely.
The penicillin is working on my throat but I have to take the tablets an hour before food and two hours afterwards which is upsetting my ‘little and often’ diet. I now have obvious bald patches and although I have been expecting it and thought I was psychologically prepared it has still hit me quite hard. Like you Kath, my hair actually hurts. I tried to explain to my OH that it feels like it’s being bent the wrong way which is the only way I can describe it.
A bit down today but much cheered by a lovely visit from a friend who brought a home cooked lunch of lamb meatballs and a sort of spicy ratatouille which was absolutely delicious.
Keep looking forward…
Angie xx
Oh Mandy I’m so sorry to hear your news. Please hold tight and know that you will come through all this. You are held in mind.
wishing all valentines a peaceful night and hope tomorrow will be better for us all.
tup x
Hi valentines
Just had time for a quick flick through today.
Mandy I’m so upset for you. Hope you have got over the initial shock. Sending virtual hugs to you xx
Karen, I’m amazed you’re 2 down already! That seemed to come round really quick! I am willing that you don’t get so nauseous this time xx
Hope you are still doing ok Ness, it seems to take a few days until you feel like yourself again so just try and take it easy xx
Hope you are feeling better Jan xx
Love your new hair Linda! I got mine yesterday too. I will have to test drive it soon, I am worried I’ll forget and run my hand through it causing it to move or fly off!
Good luck for tomorrow Dyane xx
I am being treated in Oxfordshire, bouncing between the Horton in Banbury and the Churchill in Oxford, both been very good so far.
I hope the rest of you are not suffering to much with SEs or with the waiting xx
Hugs
Elaine x
Dear CEA49 – I see elsewhere that you have been trying to locate someone in the Wiltshire area. I am a mile from the Wiltshire/Hampshire border, not far from Salisbury – although I chose to be treated at Southampton (because we wanted to be at a teaching hospital). I don’t know how to send a private message – do you? Would love to be in touch. Louise
hi
to send a private message click on profile photo and it comes up with the option.
just love this thread
jenny xx
Thanks Jenny XXXXX Louise
Thinking of you Mandy
Funki x
Mandy so so sorry to hear your news xxx
Hi there, so sorry about your news, but if you want that option of double mx then you tell them, they dont always offer if not totally necessary because of budgets, cost of reconstruction etc., its not their body its your, be stong honey , do it your way. Same with me, two biopsyes, 2 lumpectomies then radical mx with full lymp node clearance, unfortunatley they wouldnt do my double mx at same time because of full node clearance, but they will do it at the tim of reconstruction so I get rid of other one and get two new boobs same time. WIcked. xxx big hugs.
cycle 1 of 4 to 6 - day one TC
So far so good, no problems with administering, they gave it slowly. strange feeling in nose like breathing hot air when the C went in but once finished sesation went.face and cheeks quite red and hot still, and slight uneasy feeling, probably anticipation.
Take care all. May the orce be with you. xxxx
cycle 1 of 4 to 6 - day one TC
So far so good, no problems with administering, they gave it slowly. strange feeling in nose like breathing hot air when the C went in but once finished sesation went.face and cheeks quite red and hot still, and slight uneasy feeling, probably anticipation.
Take care all. May the force be with you. xxxx
FEC-T 6 cycles; FEC 1, day 14 (just realised I’ve been miscounting)
Hair still holding strong, in fact I think it’s shedding less than it did before chemo. Had a really sore throat last night, and woke up really shivery and achey all over. This morning when I got up I had a bit of a temp, but both the temperature and the sore throat and aches seem to have improved now, so I guess it’s just something
to keep an eye on.
Lots to catch up on…
Great news about the clear margins Caroline.
Ness , hope the SE’s are not too bad.
Dyane , good luck for today.
Mandy , how frustrating for you. I can completely understand you saying you’d prefer to just have a double mastectomy at this point, I’d be the same. No need to make a decision yet though focus on your chemo for now, and then see how you feel. I had a single Mx even though a WLE was offered and I haven’t regretted it once. The way my surgeon said to look at is was, if they took the whole breast off and the pathology came back that the margins would have been clear from the WLE would you be upset about having had the mx? For me the answer was no, I’d just be relieved that you’d got it all. As it turned out if I had gone for WLE I would have ended up with a Mx anyway.
Honey have you told your team about the bad cold? If your eye is covered in gunk it could be conjunctivitis, and with the low immunity from the chemo would probably be better to get drops sooner rather than later.
Featherbird I got that uneasy feeling too, I wondered if it was perhaps down to the steroids?
Jo
x
FECx6 Cycle 1 Day 6 c/c
Hi Girlies,not felt like putting computer on last couple days,felt like got no energy,do a little bit then have to sit down.Went to shops yesterday,bumped into a customer of mine known many years,last saw her on my first visit to Breast Unit,she has Pagetts disease and had mx but got MRSA ,she came through it all and they keep close eye on her.Just shows that no matter how hard the going we just need to hang on in there and let them do whats best for us.
Mandy swear all you like,we are giving you the biggest hugs,wish we had a magic wandxxxxxxxxxxx
Good Luck getting your 1st dose out of the way Dyane,I found it fine.
Thanks re acid,not too bad now,I am not having any other meds with FEC.
Not been sicky since day 2,only annoying thing is sluggish bowel,made me feel ill yest morn,probably as radiator hot next to toilet and couldnt get away from it til finished.Flopped on sofa until hot and sick feeling subsided when I cooled down.Realise that even though water tasting ,not sweet,tea not so nice,I must get 2 litres in and make myself keep up prunes,figs,fruit and also bought all bran,just put handful on special K Red berries ,my favourite.Am craving chopped tinned tomatoes.Tongue feels a bit coated too,gave it scrub yesterday.Also found fizzy water with lime nice,although not fizzy drinker usually.Have got some ginger to try for change.
Have received appt to see onc for check up,see how its going,next weds 27th at Basildon Hosp.
Spoke to insce co re claim for critical illness cover,typical,doctors hadnt sent report,had to ask me first if ok to send without me reading it.Also they phoned surgeons secretary twice,left msg,not heard back so having to write to her.Wish these people would get their fingers out as if you not well,you dont feel like chasing everyone,its like being at work.Good job I get sick pay,others may be relying on the money.INSCE RANT OVER lol
Glad we are seeing some 2nd treatments coming up,cant tick them off quick enough,especially when feeling low,the finishing line seems long way off.
Hope all of you having sleep problems start to improve as a good nighs sleep helps you cope during day.I feel fortunate that I have no other health issues to cope with as many of you do.BIG BIG Hugs to you all,have a good day.
Chris xxxxx
FEC-t day 16, cycle 1
A big handfull of hair in the plug hole today, my hair is definitely shedding! It’s more off a thinning rather than clumps.
thanks for all the good wishes about the cellulitis, waiting for my BC nurse to ring as its very red and swollen and as my OH says, ‘pointy and like a nipple’ quite an achievement amongst present company to have 3 of them!
Think may lesson learned from those of us with infections of some sorts in week 2 and 3 is that we don’t realise how low our immune systems get on this stuff, so we need to take extra care.
Big hugs to everyone
Jan xxxx
TC Cycle 1, Day 6
Hiya,
Doing ok so far. I’ve been much more achey and fluey in the last couple of days but nothing major.
Today a lovely friend has come round and taken my kids out for the day. I’m gutted that I feel a bit giddy too so probably best not to drive I was hoping to get out today before low immunity really kicks in. Oh well, duvet on the sofa and catch ups with MR SELFRIDGE I guess.
Last night didn’t get a great nights sleep. Had a bit of a moment when I got up to go to the loo and whacked my head hard on the bathroom door. Who moved it ? Lol !!! Perhaps I have concussion just to add to the mix? Felt really silly and sorry for myself!!!
Feel a bit bored today . Kids out till 8pm, OH asleep (on nights) and I can’t go far. How I would have craved this when I was busy at work. Missing work.
Well take care all. Although we don’t want to be here its so supportive to share our highs and lows, moans and groans.
Big Hugs to all
Jackie xxxx
Morning Ladies,
Thanks for all the updates I just wish I had some of my own - very bizarre feeling so envious of such a horrible experience. Good to see there are plenty of positives aswell as the bad bits. Jackie - watch that bump. How are you feeling today, Mandy?
Question - it just occurred to me. When we are on chemo, should we report this to the car insurance company before we drive? Does anyone know?
Chemo on, and keep taking the temps.
Linda, still waiting. xxx
Think I skip the All Bran tomorrow,stomach squeezing like its got a ball of bran in it that wont go down the tube.!!!
FEC-T, FEC cycle 1, day 7
Hello Valentines,
Mandy – so sorry to hear the latest news from you. Hope you are feeling a little less raw today. Swearing helps and you should NEVER apologise to any of us here. I found a call to the nurses on the BCC helpline reassuring and helpful during the times when I was trying to get my head around what was happening to me (and had no-one to share it with) and the options I was facing. I read your profile that you are trying hard not to upset friends and family. I did this for the first 3 months, until one of the local BCNs suggested I stop thinking of others and look after myself for a change. Psychologically it seemed to help. Otherwise, I can only offer virtual hugs and thoughts.
I was going to share some snippets today in case they are of use to others. Will keep these brief.
Heartburn – helped by one of the anti-sickness meds I was given (but had stopped using) … I re-read the leaflet inside!
Bunged up – my naturally high fibre diet was not enough to cope. Prune juice seems to be helping… (much cheaper in Tesco than health food shops).
Alternatives to alcohol – M&S sell a grape juice and elderflower sparkling water. Wouldn’t have touched it in “the good old days”, but is actually very refreshing (and felt like a little treat).
Sleep caps etc. – have had my first order delivered from AnnaBandana. Good quality, soft cotton, very reasonably priced.
Very best wishes to all,
Gill
(in Kent – treatment at both Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells hospitals)
Hello Valentines. Thank you all for your updates. I learn something new every day!
I am supposed to be on cycle 2 FEC on Friday but the hospital rang today and said my latest bloods showed a very low neutrophil count. So my next chemo is in doubt. I have been asked to go in early on Friday for more bloods and the doctors will then decide whether to go ahead. I’ll be disappointed if there’s a delay as I am keen to keep moving forward as quickly as possible. Hopefully it’s related to my throat infection which is nearly gone.
Oh well.
Btw, on bowel issues, I find pomegranate juice helpful.
Angie xx