I hope you lovely ladies are doing Ok, I felt a bit better today so we wnt to visit a house we’re buying (fingers crossed to move next month) rotten time for me to do this but its been going on since last Nov!! Felt happy about house but got horrible car sickness on way home (hoping thats what it is) and felt bloody rotten all afternoon. Head is frozen and feel like ive a cold coming. Right going to have hot bath then early night, sleep fairies have abandond me again. xx
Just tried to do my arm exercises, the first since I started chemo, & my shoulder is very stiff. I could hardly raise my arm above shoulder height, & this from someone who, before surgery, used to swing 20kg kettlebells with ease!! I am definitely going to have to keep them up otherwise I’ll struggle when I start back to the gym.
Mandy sorry to hear that you’re having a rough time, sounds like you’re suffering like I do. It’s not fun, I know, but just keep telling yourself that this poison is saving your life, it’s the only thing that helps keep me strong when the SEs are tough.
Dyane
FEC 2/6 day 11, Antrim Area Hospital
Honey sorry to hear about your arm, mine is very painful & I’m trying to follow Angie’s onc advice & occasionally use a hot water bottle on it. Like you I don’t fancy a PICC line but my last chemo was very hard on my arm so feel I’ve no alternative but to mention it to my own onc & see what they recommend. A PICC line is probably the lesser of the evils as I don’t know if my arm will take another FEC, let alone 4 more.
Dyane
Sorry Mandy your not feeling great , day3 is my worse day & the chemo fog & smell is awful but you know it will pass so hang on in there & enjoy your walk in the snow
think we are all guilty of shirking on our exercise regime !!
Thanks Angie the hot water bottle & ibroprofen helps ease the painful arm , I asked the bcn & she said they would try & find a different vein for next dose & hopefully in time the vein will heal
Karen both times they have used different veins for me, but it seems to have made no difference. I hope it works for you though, you can but try. Maybe T will be easier on the veins, who knows.
Dyane
1945(FEC3/TAX3)Cycle3/Day2/CC/UniHospSouthampton
Dear Valentines All – since we have been talking lately about the make up of our lovely chemical cocktails, I thought I would add some of my limited knowledge. Not only was development of chemo assisted by examination of gassed soldiers, our own beloved Cyclophosphamide is actually a derivative of mustard gas!! No wonder it does horrid things!
After I was diagnosed and was in that ghastly waiting room, I did quite a bit of reading of abstracts of papers on the web and found a very informative one by goggling “Chemotherapy for early-stage breast cancer: a brief history” it is an abstract of a paper by M. Verrill in the British Journal of Cancer 2009 September, 101(S1)S2-S5. It is most informative about many of the treatments we seem to be having, and some early ones that we can be very glad we are not!!!
Despite all my misadventures on Friday, I seem to be having an excellent day today. I feel pretty good, with no really worrisome side effects. Quite tired as I spent the whole day putting together the 14 crates of plants for my poor Husband to haul off at 5 am to the Rare Plant Fair at Wells Cathedral (where zero degrees plus snow is predicted) seems ridiculous to even go, but that’s how these things work!!! For once being considered on the sick list seems a lucky “get-out” clause.
Love to all, and hope we all sleep well (I forgot to take my steriod pill until 4pm, so fingers crossed.)
Louise
Day 10 round 3rd fec - 4 fec -4 tax
Hi all I haven’t posted much but have been following you all and wishing you all well.
SE this time have been pretty much the same but chemo arm so so sore I can’t even straighten it out now. I really hope that it will repair its self as I am a SE painter and decorator! My legs are so heavy still and find my self shuffling along. This is my first day up and downstairs and its early!
As for eating I really don’t want to go there untill yesterday I had a bowl full of chocoates etc beside my bed but have asked the other half to remove them so If I really want them I will have to walk and get them!
Linda really glad you have a start date and please stay with us i have learnt so much from your posts x
Take care all and enjoy your day
Meant to say my lovely dog is now back sleeping with me so after so long of keeping his distance so that’s made me really happy . I Really believed that he knew something !
Annabelle xx
FEC 75 Cycle 1 Day 4 Winchester
I’d just like to thank you for popping over to the Marchies thread with your words of encouragement n tips n advice as we go through our first n second cycles.
Kath - thanks for the poems. Feel free to copy n paste as many of us are unwell enough to take a peek at our own thread only. Oooh, I knew about the docetaxel n yew tree connection too (queuing up behind Funki)
Linda - thanks for the wealth of info which is much appreciated.
Honey/Funki - I’m having a PICC line fitted a day before my second cycle as I had only one usable veins and arm ached whidrug epirubicin was being administered. Thanks for tip about plastic sleeve! I’ve got some waterproof fabric n foldover elastic leftover from making nappies for kids that I might make one 
Yankee - wow, putting together all those plants. Hope you’re well rested today. My potato seeds r chatting, sunflower, tomato n some other seeds needs potting but can’t bring myself to do anything outdoors in this weather!
My SEs are manageable so far. Dry mouth, a bit of sickness, loss of appetite n general blergh feeling! I didn’t use the cold cap as I didn’t want to extend my stay at hospital n ds can’t wait for me to go bald so I thought why not?! It hit me yesterday when I saw your updated photos during chemo. Wanted to cry as we’ve just got to go thru this.
XX
Good morning Valentines. FEC 3 day 6. Minimal side effects apart from fatigue. Must be getting used to this.
Annabelle and Nipinuk - good to have you back and hear how you’re getting on. I hope you take some comfort from our experiences which as you can see are many and varied! Sore arms are a bit of a theme for all of us but applying a covered hot water bottle and Voltarol do seem to help.
Linda - thank you for the research. You have inspired me to do some digging into the history of chemo (although a part of me isn’t sure whether it really wants to know).
Louise - very impressed by your organising of plants. That’s all a bit beyond me at the moment. Garden and patio pots and herbs are in an awful state.
Lisa - good luck with the house move. How exciting!
Kath - keep the poems coming. They are quite irreverent and really do cheer me up.
Mandy - sorry you are having a rough time. I too have bought a lot if make up and skin care stuff. Hang the cost - life’s too short! You should post a picture in full glamour puss mode!
Kim - sorry you are haviing a PICC but sure it will be best in the long run.
Lots of references to Northern Ireland I note. My Dad lives in Donegal (about 15 miles from Derry) so I know NI well as we usually fly to Belfast. Antrim Glens are beautiful. Last time we were there we drove to Enniskillen and the town and countryside and lakes are stunning. Donegal is extraordinarily beautiful too - wild, mountain ranges, some of the highest sea cliffs in Europe, huge sea loughs, big empty beaches, lovely people etc etc. Hope to visit late summer. Whatever time of year we go I pack the same things as the weather is usually wet and windy but that’s part of the attraction.
My 3 (so called) adult kids are attempting to make a big fry up. I am hiding in my bedroom.
Have a good (ish) Sunday.
Angie xx
Morning Valentines,
I’m sorry so many of you are having painful problems with your chemo arms. 6 sessions is a lot for our veins to take. All that poison burns them until it disperses round the body. I cannot tell you how pleased I am to be having a portacath fitted before chemo starts, and how I wish they were offered automatically to everyone. Did those of you with sore arms get offered any sort of line, or have you been left to “suck it and see”".
Kath, please keep those ditties coming.
Lots of love to you all, Linda xxx
Linda I’ve been offered no injections/PICC lines or anything and I currently have a rather painful arm, so it will be interesting to see what my onc suggests when I’m next there.
BTW it is nice to see that so many of you like it here in N Ireland.
Dyane
FEC 2/6 day 12, Antrim Area Hospital
Deleted post
Good afternoon Valentines,
FECx6 FEC2 Day10
Just to say to those embarking on this journey who might be reading,I also have numbness at the rear of my upper arm as a result of the removal of two nodes,must assume this is due to nerve damage,which will no doubt improve as time goes on.The scar where lumps were removed is now a lot less lumpy and settling down nicely,did have occasional pains from nerves repairing themselves.Having done the initial exercises,there has been no problem with movement of the arm.This is three months after surgery.
So far my veins have been fine and no soreness in them.
The pattern evolving with my side effects is that I am feeling pretty rough until day 5 when everything seems to start working better again.Dietery wise I find I crave things that are a bit sharp,like balsamic on beetroot,salad cream,tinned tomatos on toast with parmesan,pilchards mashed with salad cream.I also find I can drink weak lemon squash and Gin and tonic,thank goodness.
Just thought my findings might be a contrast to those that are having a lot of unpleasant se’s.I am keeping my fingers crossed that I will stay the same.
Hope this reassures any newbies
Love Chris xxxx<3
Must tell you all,went to Nephews wedding in Suffolk yesterday,battled through the blizzards up the A12 from Essex,fortunately roads pretty clear of traffic.Was a lovely location by the marina in Ipswich,in a very old building which is part of a bar.Went upstairs and the wedding room is like a very old small barn,lovely old timbers and sloping wooden floors.Nicely decked out with flowers.Their three little boys ages 7,4,2 were page boys,one,age 4 bearing the rings on a satin cushion.All looking smart in their grey suits with teal ties and flowers.The tear jerker was the 7 year old went to the front and read a poem,omg,there wasn’t a dry eye in the room.He was more proficient than a lot of adults asked to do the role.What a star he was.Meanwhile the youngest fell asleep until the service was over and even stayed asleep whilst having his picture taken for the signing of the register. 
Pleased to report that I wore my new hair on it’s first official outing for family inspection,got good reviews from all,said I looked very glamorous.Did have to keep checking with grandaughter Annie that it looked ok and was sitting right.Trouble I found was people hug you and catch the back of the hair with their arm which pulls it back off your forehead a bit,so a sneaky tweak was needed.Feel I need something for it to stick to at the front hairline.maybe when I lose the rest of my hair I will look into that problem.At the moment I still have thinned hair covering all but the bald spots on the crown.Anyway was a wonderful family day with my girls all looking gorgeous and hubby looking handsome as ever. 
Funki glad you climbing out of the doldrums xxxx<3
Love to all at various stages of the race.Really feel like visiting Ireland now,when this race is won.Love and Hugs Chrisxxxxx<3
Chris I’m glad you had such a good day, it’s nice to have special days out in between all this doom & gloom of bald heads, sore arms & various other SEs. Sounds to me like youve got the hang of your wig, i havent tried mine on since i got it. I didn’t realise that you are exactly 2 days behind me, but I think you were ahead of me originally but got delayed by a week if I remember correctly. It’s nice to see that I’m not the only one who is doing all 6 FEC, Alison is also having FEC only, but I think the majority of the girls all change to T soon.
Dyane
FEC 2/6 day 12, Antrim
FEC 3 day 3
having trouble with brain fog and in need of a nap but that’s about all.
Have read through posts but afraid I only picked up on a couple of things so apologies for not responding to all.
Glad you’re doing ok after your experience on Friday Louise, amazed that you’re able to do so much with your plants. I have a few bits going but have rely on OH / daughter to water during first few days of cycle!
Eyebrows have progressed from being bushy and hard to keep tidy to being nicely shaped to looking like they’ve been badly attacked with a razor :-/ Have bought an eyebrow stencil, permanent marker, powder and brush but been warned by friend to practice with non permanent pencil first as she watched a lady demonstrating them on QVC and in a presentation hurry got them completely odd!
Kim, I have a PICC, had it from before I started FEC. Having it put in was no problem at all. Took a while to get used to it being there but now I am very glad for it, haven’t had to have a single needle stuck in me as they use it for blood tests as well as chemo. I mentioned to the CN that my little boy hates it and she said I could have it taken out now I’m moving on to Tax but I chose not to as its working out for me and I can keep it covered while the weathers so cold. I was given a plastic sleeve by the hospital but they said that cling film was a good alternative.
Loved the latest 3 poems Kath, couldnt decide which I liked best, they all made me smile! Please keep them coming they’re a real tonic.
Hoping SEs, infections, cartoon clouds, feelling low are not a feature of you’re day! Sending big virtual hug to you if any, some or all of them are and wishing them to go away! Xx
Hugs to all Valentines and visitors
Elaine x
Evening Valentines. There is a thread somewhere on these forums called ‘Where Did I Go’, which inspired this poem I wrote last night. Hope it doesn’t make you feel too depressed. Even my voice cracked a bit when I read it out to OH!!
Where Did I Go?
Once I was human
a long time ago,
Someone with strength
and get up and go
That person has vanished
I don’t know where to,
I just cannot find her
Please, where did I go?
My life is such sadness
to think of my past
the girl I once was
but that didn’t last.
I look in the mirror,
and I no longer know
Just who I am,
Oh where did I go?
One day I’ll come back,
but be different somehow,
be stronger, be bolder
be calm and I vow
I won’t make a mess
of my new life, oh no,
but just tell me please,
where did I go?
I won’t give in to pity
or pass on the blame
for all my mistakes
that was me, just the same.
I’ll keep going forward
move on, so you know
as long as I find out
just where I did go.
Love Kath xxx
Beautiful, as always, Kath.
Fec T
Fec 3, day 4
Feeling very tired today, as I woke up at 3.30am to go to the loo, and couldn’t get back to sleep again properly, just dozed until we got up at 5.30am!! Fell asleep at around 11.30 am and woke up feeling really strange as I’d had my last steroids, and first injection before nap. I don’t like to inject late in day. Ok now though.
Annabelle, dogs are supposed to be able to smell cancer, so maybe the fact that your dog is ‘friends’ with you again is a good sign. Hope so.
Louise, fascinating document, although I noticed at the end there was a notice of conflict, as the doctor who wrote the report had been paid by Roche to do it. But it makes you wonder what new drugs will come out in the future to make cancer sufferers lives better. They are talking about exploring the sea beds for new medicines.
Dyane, also read the link you posted. Have to admit that due to chemo fog I couldn’t quite follow it. Brain is really daft just lately, but what I did understand (I think) did seem like we our treatments may be working. I’m ER+ and PR+ but HER2-.
Chris, glad your family wedding went well and that your wig behaved itself, I bet you looked fab.
A couple of you mentioned exercise - what is that? Sounds like torture to me!! 
Hope all who are suffering bad SEs soon feel better, sorry if I’ve missed anyone, but thinking of you all and I will try to make my brain keep working on the poems as you seem to like them so much.
Love Kath xxx
Kath , thought about what you said & youre probably right, so kindly noted & removed. Didn’t want to frighten anyone.
Dyane