FEC. 2 day 2
feeling so nauseous . Thought I would change profile pic but didn’t have courage to go full monty! So here’s me with night cap and my faithful chemo buddy.
Tup
Well I am wearing nightcap but its cut off in pic so might have well been bald!
Tup
Thank you dear valentines for your support and encouraging words, I feel a bit bad now when I read about poor lavendersun and Sandra in hospital, this chemo buisness is not easy on any of us but am sure together we will get through it.
Last night I was online reading about hair regrowth after chemo & I read about a product called FAST. Anyone heard of it? I hadn’t but apparently it’s been developed for people after chemo to help hair grow quicker. It’s available on Amazon or Boots, & probably other places too. I personally had never heard of it so don’t know how good it is but for £12.99 may be worth I try. Here is a link from DailyMail that I’ve just found:
Dyane
FEC 2/6 day 9
Good morning Valentines,
Thank you Sarah , that is a brilliant idea. I will be on the same regime as you I think (TCH - is that yours?) so your diary is very helpful for me.
Jackie , your stay in hospital sounds horrendous. You should never have been put on a ward when none of the staff knew what they were dealing with. That is dreadful, and I’m so glad you have emerged from it relatively unscathed.
Karen - I realised after I’d posted about testing my new Android toy that it could sound like I was testing a new pill!! Glad I was able to give you a good laugh!
I managed to sort out my own treatment yesterday, and what a good job I am au fait with what we should and should not be doing or I could have been in a right mess having invasive surgery during low immunity week. I am now having an ECHO heart scan this afternoon, after they found a cancellation slot for me. The portacath will be fitted on 3rd April and I will start chemo on 8th April. The oncologist agreed to the delay in chemo. After all, what’s two more weeks! LOL.
Good luck to everyone having treatment today, I know there are several of you.
Linda xxx
Linda- yes I am on TC but not herceptin, I will be having tamoxifen for five years after chemo. Can’t believe you’ve got another delay- well done though for voicing your concerns to them, I often wonder how people who are vulnerable such as people with learning difficulties manage when faced with this disease when the people who are caring for them are not communicating properly - awful, hope your ECHO is ok today x
Dyane - I have heard of this shampoo, will check out the link - thanx x
Jackie - I feel so frustrated for you, it is absolutely terrible you were placed on that ward and that nurse with a cold arrrrrggggghhh! When I was neutropaenic after my first cycle my nuets went from 0.4 to 18 in a day, i was told the injections took longer to kick in which is why I started them earlier his time round hope your feeling much better now and have a good week before the next round x
Kath - your dream made me feel sad, I’ve been having strange dreams aswell, the other night I dreamt my daughter was missing but she wasnt my daughter (awful) and in another I dreamt someone had stolen my car - very scary- but the sleep fairy found me last night and I had a great nights sleep and so did little man x
Angie- have a fabulous time with your son x
Karen- I can’t wait for warmer weather either- just love playing in the garden with the kids or going for a picnic- how even more precious those times will be now x
Hope everyone has a lovely day, take care, Sarah xxx
Good luck to Mandy, Granny P and Kath today.
Jackie sorry you have had such a crap time in Hospital.
Buddy sorry you have been delayed 
Sarah thanks for the TAX diary. Very kind of you.
Dyane I have a friend a bit ahead of us and she is using FAST with great results. I shall be getting some when the time comes.
Angie enjoy having your boy home
FEC-T #2 day 16
After sorting my oral thrush problems and toxic tummy I am pretty much SE free apart from a very dry mouth and a slight sore throat. I slept last night for a full 8 hours and havent done that since I was DX in November 12 
I have been at work all this week every day (part time) and it has really made a difference to how I feel. I have been in for the odd day on previous weeks but this is the first time since I started chemo that I have been in every day. I’m keeping my fingers crossed that the dramas I had this time last cycle dont happen again and that I can go ahead with FEC 3 next Wednesday
Oh, and despite not using the CC for #2 I still have my hair 
The chemo nurse said I would lose it by day 5 this cycle but none has fallen out yet. It is thinner from the the massive amount I lost on #1. I know it will probably come out before net week but part of me now wishes I had persevered with the CC as the hair loss does really slow down after #1
Went a bit over the top last night ordering loads of Hijab caps off ebay. I refuse to pay loads of money for caps and scarves that are called " Chemo caps" when you can pay £2 for Hijab caps. I just want them for wearing round the house and maybe to put on once I get to work as I find my wig too hot. I got some really pretty ones with sequins and diamantes on. I got 10 in all in various colours and it came to £20 with free delivery. Get in!
FEC2 day 7 c/c cancelled
Hi Valentines,sorry missed yest,felt better but couldn’t be bothered to read.Managed a bit of dusting and gave bathroom a once over while hubby hoovered.Daughter Sarz came over for a change,we did game on kindle together.So need to get out today,gonna go for a picnic in the car local hills.Feel the more I stay in the more I dont want to make the effort to go out,get quite reclusive.Not good.
Lots been going on with you all,
Granny P ASo made me laugh re chicken and hair,am putting mine out for birds,hope they dont choke on it.Good luck with chemo today xxxx<3
Karen you seem to get same ses as me,although you get more.Made me laugh Drowned Guinea Pig,I used to wash my pigs under tap in kitchen so can visualise.LOL
Louise Hope ONC appt went ok Good luck No.3 Fri,sorry you seem to be having some funny mood swings,they will pass xxx<3
Angie,How lovely to have your son over from Cyprus,enjoy his company xxx<3
Caroline you are so lucky to have Polzeath to look forward to in may,I must try to go stay with my sister in Suffolk soon.Go stir crazy otherwise.xxx
Jackie How lovely to have a good laugh with your sister,moments like that are priceless.I too get bad acid and digestion problems,may ask for meds next time.Omeprazole someone said.xxxxx
Alison,how lucky wrong drugs wasn’t a disaster for you!!Love the pic xxx
Mandy lovely new pic,glad wig looked nice,A friends wife was asked if she would be losing her hair,She was wearing her wig!!xxx
Linda glad you getting the plan dates in place I too will be on the 8th all being wll.xxxx
SandraLike the new pic,our sofas are our new best friends at moment.xxxx
Lisa Hope nasty Thrush being zapped by meds now,make you more comfortable.xxx
Penguin you do have some strange se’s Well done your daughter and friends.xxx
Jo lovely pic hope bit of cold is clearing xxx<3
Dyane Is ok to cry over hairloss,we’ll be alright in the end xxx<3
AML46 see you have cancelled c/c too,was arduous I found,and just fed upwith so much loss.xxx<3
Kath lovely poem for bedtime,lucky I sleeping ok.My hubby felt need to point out that my bald patches could be seen ,last time I went out before starting to wear wig,in case I didn’t realise,I said I knew and wasn’t bothered.Felt he preferred me to cover up LOL xxxx<3
Tup AKA Uncle Fester LOL you look lovely,even if you now look like you have been got by a vampire,poor arm xxx<3
Valji good luck todayxxx<3
Buddy you must be so cross,still chest inf and bloods low,hope sorts soon,so no.3 gets done.xxx<3
Jackie,glad you out of clink,bit of a muddle with bloods eh!!Hope thrush,piles aplpitations soon subside.xxxx<3
Gill and Sarah,hope you getting on ok and se’s minimal.
Must go now hubby waiting to take me picnic,must get hair on,got to pick Annie up from school later.
Love to all my friends xxxxxxxx<3
Any mums on here (or anyone) nip into ‘32 and can’t deal with the guilt’ thread and read poem posted by Tors - beautiful x
Read it Sarah, lovely.
Dyane
FEC-T, FEC cycle 2, day 15
(Kent Oncology Centre - treatment at both Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells hospitals)
Hello Valentines,
Thanks Kath for the post re. staging. I had found this weeks ago and it’s what started the confusion re. TNM rating as I tried to get clarification regarding my N2 diagnosis. Onco now says she uses N2 for anyone with between 4-9 affected lymphnodes. Completely different to other published info e.g. MacMillan where N2 (and sub-divisions) refers to position / surrounding structures etc… I’ve just come to accept that I’ll never really get to the bottom of it.
Hope all is going well today for Kath, Mandy, Paula and that it’s not too painful.
Buddy – sorry to hear you have a delay. We all just want to get this over with.
Angie – glad to see I’m not the only one treating myself to the odd glass. I find it tastes disgusting until about day 7 – so the liver does get a break as well. Enjoy having your son around!
Jackie – so glad to hear you have escaped isolation. Sounds like a bit of a nightmare. Fingers crossed this was the last time for you.
Linda – well done for sorting your appointments. Sorry that this means further delays for you. But at least you are back in control and know that you are giving yourself the best shot for an infection free run.
Karen mentioned sunshine and Chris talks of picnics. You are very brave. It’s still freezing here!
Take care all,
Gill
TC 1 day 8
Sarah , your diary of events have been spot on to mine and how I feel or feeling. I feel I have been very lucky as I’ve not had 8 days worth of injections only had one the day after which my oh did for me. I take my hat off to you having 8 of them. I’ve had a couple of days with headaches and I still sneaking in naps during the day, I’m a dozy bugger I know.
Tup, love your chemo buddy, I went to visit my parents last weekend before SE’s kicked in. I miss my dog it was lovely to have cuddles with him.
Chris , I was advised by the lovely ladies on here to get a prescription for the horrid acid and the Omeprazole worked a treat for me. I only had to take it for a couple of days and it really helped at night although it’s not stopped me burping!
Karen, I need to wash my wig as it’s malting more than me! But worried it’ll turn out like a rat
Funki, what site did you get your Hijab caps from? I could only find red and pink I quite fancy some sparkly ones.
Linda, I can’t believe you’ve been delayed again. I have everything crossed including my eyes they get their act together and keep their word this time around and do things in the right order. I.e Portocath first!!
I’m feeling a lot more ‘human’ today my dodgy stomach appears to be leaving me well alone. The Nystatin for my mouth really soothed it last night but by heck its disgusting stuff! It didn’t help with my stomach being really delicate. My tongue now just feels like I’ve eaten something too hot and I’ve burnt it but no ulcers – thankfully.
Good luck to all having their treatments today and those feeling poorly hope you feel better very soon xx
Evening all,
TCH minus 18 
I hope you have all had a good day today. I have been thinking of you all.
I had a phone call from my chemo nurse early this morning. I am starting on 8th April, so will not even be a Marchie! This is 5 days after my portacath fitting.
Anyways, I had my ECHO heart scan today and have been pronounced fit. My LVEF was 62. The doctor said this was absolutely normal.
So everything now booked and in the right order. Phew! 
I also went to GP because of my knee problem, which I thought was cartilidge. Home diagnosis wrong again! I have fluid, probably bursitis related, commonly known as Housemaid’s Knee. Please do not titter. My friends will certainly all titter. She gave me some anti inflammatories but the wonderful news is she also gave me OMEPREZOLE to take with the anti inflams to prevent any tummy reactions. I have no intention of taking these as I fully intend to save them for combating tummy and heartburn side effects. I have had the anti inflams many times before without suffering tummy problems, so I know I’ll be fine. That is a piece of luck, methinks.
Take care and lots of hugs
Linda xxx
Hi Valentines
Missed a day again so going to take ages to catch up with all your posts. I have been v. busy preparing for FEC 3 tomorrow as long as blood ok, tests taken today!
Had to go to a funneral yesterday, OH’s Grandad passed away. He would have been 97 in May and died of old age. The last time I saw him, a few months ago, he still had a twinkle in his eye and a sense of fun. It’s very sad that he has gone but he was looking forward to being with his wife again who passed away nearly 40 years ago. Lots of mixed emotions made it a very tiring day and went to bed emotionally drained last night but slept well and feel much better today.
Getting in a tangle at the moment trying to download some audio books onto my i pod grrr! I’m such a techno dunce :-/
Hope all SEs are minimal and now Jackie is free again no one else is incarcerated!
Thanks for the heads up on TAX Sarah, I have to admit I’m v. nervous about changing to that in 3 weeks (all being well!).
Kath I dreamt about hair last night too! Wasn’t lovely hair but was hair all the same and it arrived suddenly and I got so excited about it in my dream. I thought I was ok about being blad, even like it a little bit, very convenient in the morning to pull on hat and go! But maybe I do miss my hair more than I realised.
Linda you may be starting chemo in April but you will always be a Valentine to me!
Hope to catch up with the rest of your posts tomorrow pm before chemo brain sets in for a few days. Thinking of you all!
Hugs
Elaine xx
Sarah - thanks for the summary of post Tax SEs. Like Karen, I am a bit anxious about the next drug combination having got used to the current set! I will have my first infusion of Herceptin the day after my first Tax so lots of new drugs and SEs to enjoy! But you seem to be coping fine which is encouraging.
Linda - good to see how your knowledge and persistence has paid off and how far you’ve come in a couple of days! You sound much more confident.
Thank you for your good wishes re my son’s visit. he bought me flowers first thing and took me out walking with the dog!
Xmaseve - sounds as if you’re doing too much!
Funki - your post re hijab caps reminded of my interpretation of people’s reactions to seeing me in a scarf. They are thinking: 1. Cancer patient? 2. Converted to Islam? 3. New career as fortune teller? 4. Practicing for international pirate day? I am sure there are others!!
Jackie - so sorry you have had such a horrible time in hospital. Happy you are out. Why is it that some of us are affected and others not? Is there any research on this or is it just bad luck?
Tup and Sandra - lovely pictures (and ears!).
Angie xx
FEC2 Day 1
Round 2 at 10ish. Great to meet you Karen (valji1), will PM you when I feel less yuk, hope you’re coping . Up chucked for England after eating a sandwich at 130. Head banging.
Read allpost and send hugs but can’t see to write more yet.
Mandy x.
Hope the sickness improves Mandy *hugs*
Jo
Hi Linda,
Guess your crossing over to the Awsome Aprils, welcome.
iam sure you’ll just be glad to get things moving, the waiting is the worst. I start FEC-T on the 2nd April so we’re not far apart
take care xx
aww mandy me to hoping better days ahead to speak to all soon x
Oh Mandy I hope you feel a bit better in the morning big gentle hugs to you xx