Thanks Dyane really interesting to know about other jobs,think that sort of thing would have suited me in another life.
Hi Tup glad you are hanging on in there,se’s will gradually diminish and you will soon feel a bit more like yourself.You know the way we have to play it,day by day,little by little we will win this race
Love and hugs to all Chris xxxx<3
Hi Dyanne,
We are up in the north east of Scotland and the oil industry is the main employment source. My hubby is offshore, worked in the North Sea for a few years but now on a rig in the med of Egypt, his rotation is 3 and 3 as well, the time at home is great. The downside is he won’t be here for some of my chemo cycles.
take care xx
Kath really liked that poem,says it all.Hope you feeling better tomorrow.Not been out today,but had visitors,my friend made me a friendship bracelet of rose quartz,amber and crystal quartz,very sweet and thoughtful of her.
Starting to dislike being stuck in on some days,feel like my end of the sofa is the sickbed end and my bed is the sickbed.Be glad when I can arrange a couple of days up in Suffolk with the family.Shouldn’t moan as I am feeling fine. 
Hugs Chris xxxx<3
I wondered if some of you might be interested in this link to the Lancashire area chemo protocols for the various regimes. The page has links to each of the regimes. The FEC-T comes under FEC100 one.
Linda xxx
Glad you’re home safe Sandra. Keep warm and well tomorrow. Good to hear from you too Tup. If your head’s clearing I hope mine won’t be far behind. Even my glasses hurt on my head today.
Sleep Faries and hugs all round.
Mandy x
Well ladies it doesnt look like 3rd round of FEC went well…I have just got home from the hospital…had to call paramedics due to real bad palpitations…seems I had a reaction…all my obs were good… ECG…Temp…Bloods…but I did as I was told and got checked out…I always get palpitations on 1st day but today was worse… not sure if it was anything to do with the decrease of chemo regime to keep me out of hospital with neutrapina etc… can only wait and see
Docs were happy to let me come home with strict orders to ring and go back if any more problems occur… I really cant fault the care and attention I get from Ward 20 Birmingham Heartlands Hospital… the staff are amazing!!!
Well its 1.37am and I am going to try and get some sleepx a very eventful evening…
oh before I go…my nurse administering the poison into me today commented on why they are taking bloods from my surgical side?? I told her that I do mention it to them but they still do it? she told me that no bloods or anything is to be done on the surgical side etc… has any other ladies had this happen?..i always have to remind them about doing my blood pressure cos they automatically go for my right arm…hmmmm be interesting to see how many this has happened too xx
Sorry to hear about your ‘eventful’ evening Sandra x Hope you managed some sleep eventually . I now always wear medic alert bangle when I go to hospital - so it reminds me as well as the staff not to use that arm.
Tup
Morning vvalentines
SOrry to hear about your visit back to the hospital Sandra, hope things improve today . Am yet again attempting fec no 3, have come to the hospital early for blood test only to find out they have changed the opening times and do not open till 9am. Pointless getting here for 7.30 but fingers crossed the antibiotics worked and bloods ok today then I can get the next dose of Poison into me. I to am on 6 fec so might be half way there tonight
Hope everyone doing reasonably well with minimal se
BUddy xx
Sorry to hear about your Hospital visit last night Sandra. I hope the palpitations have gone now and that you had a good nights sleep. Sandra, if you have had nodes removed, you absolutly have to stop them taking bloods or taking your BP from that side. If they insist, ask for a more senior member of staff. X
Off for FEC 3 today. Half way. Get in!
Hi All,
Sandra , Glad to hear the palpitations were just that!!! Good you got them checked out – peace of mind. It makes me nervous for round 3 as I too have them the first night of each round. Just another thing to be paranoid about!! Really glad you are OK!!!
I was told not to have anything done on my surgical side (right arm - and I only had 3 lymph nodes removed). I tell them to take from my left arm and that’s what they do – I have had no issues at all.
Tup , Thanks for such a lovely post – I feel treasured!!!
Well after thinking everything was slowly getting back to normal (or nearer normal) I started to poo blood last night. I feel worn out battling this and am feeling sorry for myself again. I cannot get the enthusiasm to think of tomorrow as half way through – it just another assault. I am hopeful that the chemo will make me constipated so my bum has time to heal. My bowels have not recovered from 2 weeks of strong antibiotics and I am feeling really negative.
Going food shopping today so will treat myself to something nice. I also have friends over for tea – not really in the mood for it, but it will give me something else to think about. I have to clean and tidy the house as it’s a state. All things to stop me moping and feeling sorry for myself. I hope everyone else is in better spirits than me – I’ll get out of it. Seeing the nurses tomorrow (I hope my chemo can still go ahead – although I am not relishing it I don’t want it cancelled either).
Sorry to be so down – Alison xxx
Alison, you poor thing, sounds like you need a hug. I too need to clean the house, and do some washing before tomorrow as Mum is coming up to help out after my chemo and if I don’t have it sparkling she’ll start doing it and I’ll feel guilty…I think I might also do a little bit of baking, slightly more enjoyable than housework.
I had the strange texture in my mouth thing first cycle, kind of felt like I’d burnt it, except there was no pain at all, hasn’t happened this time.
Penguin, yay for last TC treatment, even if it was a long one, is that the end of your chemo or do you have a different lovely in 3 weeks?
Funki you described my “cold” exactly, I took the antihistamines yesterday and they definitely helped my eyes are much less sore and not streaming today, and my nose is running much less, though not gone completely. Hope your chemo goes smoothly today
Hope the different cleaner helps Karen.
Amber, speak to your chemo nurses if you’re worried about veins, the chemo nurses are usually the best in the hospital at getting a vein though, mine took one look at my hand and said I had to have a hickman before chemo even started!
Kath, yep, tomorrow is my final FEC before Tax, I’ve heard nothing from the hospital about my bloods so I’m assuming they were fine.
Sorry to hear you had to call the paramedics, fingers crossed for a complication free cycle from here with NO hospital admissions!! I too was told that my surgical side must not be used for injections or anything, I’ve not had a problem with it, as soon as I’ve mentioned that I’ve had an ANC on that side everyone has immediately gone for the other arm.
Fingers crossed it goes ahead today Buddy
Jo
x
Glad the antihistamines helped, Jo. My streaming eyes have now turned it to conjunctivitis and are very sore and sticky. I will see if they will give me anything today at the hospital or I will go to the chemist later.
Sandra - Sorry you had such a dramatic evening after your third FEC and really glad they sorted you out and let you home.
I’m another one that wears a silicone medical alert band round my bad wrist. It’s purple and says “axillary lymph nodes. No BP or needles in this arm. Medical Alert.” I wear it all the time, because we never know when we might be rushed off to hospital unconscious for a non-cancer related accident. I also have a stainless steel bracelet with a heart charm and medical alert cross, with “chemo patient” engraved on the back ready for when I actually am a chemo patient.
The only time I have had to stop a nurse using my bad arm was in the anaesthetic room immediately prior to my cavity shave operation. I had to stop the theatre nurse taking my blood pressure.
Alison - sorry you are feeling so down and are still having bottom problems. Fingers crossed it doesn’t delay your chemo. I hope you treat yourself to something nice from the shops, and enjoy your tea with your friends.
Buddy - I hope everything goes to plan today, and good luck
Tup - how are you feeling?
Good to hear from you, and may I say I echo your sentiments exactly. I may not have started chemo yet but I feel I am facing it with so much support and couldn’t be more prepared, thanks to all you lovely Valentines sharing your experiences so honestly. A big thank you from me.
Jo - good luck tomorrow. A bit of dust never hurt anyone, so take it easy.
Funki - what a bummer. I so hope your chemo goes ahead today.
Take care everyone, Linda xxx
that’s pants Funki, hope they get you sorted and the conjunctivitis doesn’t delay your chemo
x
I’m mum of two (15 & 17yrs) married with a lovely husband and 46. I was sat devestated in front of the Dr last Tuesday who told me I have stage 2 BC in the right breast with lymph gland involvement. They tell me the lump is 4.5cm and monday I had a marker or coil put into the middle of it so that they can monitor how it shrinks after chemo. Only then will it be removed and then I can have reconstructive surgery. Has anyone else having this done. I have mostly heard of massectomy then chemo. Can tell you I am sooo petrified. Start chemo in two weeks and dont know what to expect. I am also seeing a nurse connected with clinical trials next tuesday??? Im a horse riding instructor too so now my business has to go as I can’t risk getting hurt and the risk of infection around the yard. This thing has taken over everything. This BBC site is uplifting when you feel low & thanks to Jo (modorator) and Dyanne for pointing me in the right direction. LV to you all xxx.
Amber , lovey to meet another wife of a rig worker, what does your oh do? Its hard going through this when the oh is away. I have been staying with my parents after chemo when the oh is at work. BTW you are the first person I’ve met on here from Scotland!
Sandra I hope your palpitations have settled. I have under active thyroid so occasionally get them, not nice & quite frightening.
Alison I hope things settle down for you in the ‘nether’ regions as you’ve had a pretty rough cycle.
Good luck Buddy & Funki for today, Jo for tomorrow, & anyone else who is to be poisoned this week. I’ve no 3 next wed, so am currently enjoying my SE free week.
I was told never to get anything done on my left arm, so everything goes in the right arm (which is killing from chemo). I thnk the alert bracelets are a good idea.
Love to everyone.
Dyane
FEC 2/6 day 15, Antrim Area Hospital.
A nice soothing non-cancer poem today. Hope it makes you relax.
Fishing Boats
Rouse from the depth of winters dreams;
wake as sun through the window beams;
rise as the tide on pebbles foam;
watch the gulls as away they roam
to follow trawlers where Herring teem,
high on a breeze their feathers gleam.
Hark at the rigging creak and groan
as weary now the men come home.
All are glad to see the shore
where each one brings his boat to moor,
tying ropes and spreading nets
to dry in the sun before it sets.
Love Kath xxx
Dear valentines
Thanks for all your positive wishes, had third chemo today without any hitches.Head still feels frozen from the cold cap but other than that I feel great, am just so relieved my bloods have improved and have hit the half way mark in this awful brutal journey. Funki hope you had your chemo today and good luck to everyone else over the next few days. Kath as always thanks for the lovely poem, Alison hope your bum is on the mend.
Take care valentines
Buddy xx
FEC-T, FEC cycle 2, day 21
(Kent Oncology Centre - treatment at both Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells hospitals)
Hello Valentines,
Apologies for being a little quiet of recent days. Getting to the “good week” is hard, then I find myself, like so many of us, having to get organised for next round! All in all, not a good existence.
Saw the chemo unit nurse yesterday for review prior to round 3. She threatened to cancel it on the basis of tachycardia after round 2. She had the audacity to suggest that I might actually “like a break”…… I then pulled a massive strop and said if this one doesn’t go ahead, then I would pull out completely. She agreed to discuss it with the oncologist. Decision made – it will go ahead tomorrow as planned, but I am to be referred to the cardiology team to check for damage! Just marvellous. I know that Sandra and Alison have had similar problems – others maybe too (and probably followed advice better than I have) – so I hope you’re both doing OK today. Can’t remember if you are also moving onto a different regime for round 4? Sorry. The “T” is allegedly less harsh on the heart. So something to look forward to!
I can only reiterate what others have said about this supportive thread. I’d be going completely bonkers without it. Thank you all.
If yesterday was a bad day for you, I hope you are doing better today. If today is a good day for you, may tomorrow be one too.
Hugs to all,
Gill