That sounded dreadful didn’t it. I don’t mean the World really, just NHS staff, honest.
Hi Ladies thats no 5 done and dusted yippee 1 more to go.All my rads planning done and booked start 28th May.
Catherine well done on your last one you must feel ellaited.
Lovely pic Julianna.
We are all getting through this journey.
Maggie x
Anne, what did you ask at the rads planning? I have no questions - I am in blissful ignorance: I am hoping it will be a doodle.
Awww, Dawn, thank you! I am one of those people who don’t like company when feeling miserable.
Before I moved to Denmark, I had an agency list my house for rent; one morning some potential renters and the agent came to view the place. When they’ve left, I’ve noticed that my rabbit was in the bathroom - forgot to put it away after I’ve washed it.
Hehehehe!
Thanks Maggie, I look a mess now, this was after LGFB, on 'EC 2, I think, when I still gave a sh*t of what I’ve looked like. 
Well done you! ‘Only’ one more to go!
Evening all - no.5 in the bag! Really long day though. Lump still not playing ball - no shrinkage yet and am back at the ‘What will they do next visit? stage’ All was going swimmingly well with today’s plan UNTIL body decided to spice things up by having an episode of anaphylaxis to the TAX! One second I was taking a bite out of my toasted pannini for lunch and the next I was in a scene from ER (sadly minus George Clooney) - unable to breathe, panic sirens going off, 2 doctors and 6 nurses administering all sorts of medical appliances, drugs, etc. Turned bright red with pulse and blood pressure through the roof.
Have said it before but am so impressed with my onc. team - they all appeared from absolutely nowhere in less than the blink of an eye and treated me instantly. They are all my heroes. After I’d stabilised, onc finally decided that with all the anti-allergy drugs in body they would give the TAX another go as he said they would prefer to give my body the best possible chance against this thing. Fortunately, no more hitches. Seems I can’t do anything without a bit of added drama! Feel exhausted.
Catherine - CONGRATULATIONS! No. 6 done - you must be so relieved. Can you see me waving a flag for you. What’s next for you? Hope you are planning to eat and do all the banned things when your immunity is on the up.
Maggie50 - Well done to you too - another one out of the way and rad planning due. Must be a relief to see the next stage ahead.
Julianna - indeed you must have made a terrific sacrifice to the Canulla Gods for today - Catherine got away with it and me too -didn’t use dodgy hands but painless and first time insertion into lower arm. Thank you for that and also the laughs from your recent posts. Hope that bloaty stomach sorts itself out and FED UP moves on pronto! Love the new picture - that is one impressive wig.
Sue - many thanks for tip on hand treatment on prescription - am now the proud owner of giant sized pump dispenser of the stuff courtesy of nice onc. - hubby really pleased too as his non-manual worker hands have been suffering from his increased domestic accomplishments!
Happy birthday to Youngest Tank - Aaaahhh 3 what a lovely age - sounds like day has been filled with lots of happiness and joy x
Paula -good to hear from you - glad you have been making the most of feeling good - it has to be done! Long may it continue for you.
Lynzi - little Nando is adorable - glad you are doing OK. x
Mary - hope you’re feeling OK today - your family sounds lovely and so supportive. x
Dawn - you appear to be very upbeat at the moment - great news - enjoy every minute of it. I imagine the boat is starting to take shape - that must be so rewarding and exciting x
Emma - Glad to read you have been to Starbucks today? What would they do without you? I have visions of them having your ‘usual’ lined up on the counter waiting for you when you walk in. Glad you have been feeling OK.
Sorry if missed anyone - stressful day and chemo brain combination have made made me forget some of what I just read.
Take care everyone. Bigs hugs to anyone having juice the ret of this week.
Hugs x
Congratulations Catherine on your last chemo - you lucky thing, it must feel great.
I’m with you on the rampant rabbit Sue!
Had a lovely walk along the canal this PM - this is the only sort of walk I can do at the moment. But watery eyes just streamed in the fresh air.
Jane
No wonder you are tired Joyce! Fingers crossed back sorts itself out!
Udders lol, what a boy:)
Dawn what a tease you are, French cheese, bread and wine… Drooling here!
We spent a month in Andalucia, and the jambon… But as with all hilly areas we got a fair bit of rain, and so we ended up on Portugal! Not done any of the Algarve, but spent two months zig zagging around getting to know the wines, especially those of the Alentejo region:)
You got it in one though, we are serious foodies, and winies too.
Lol at you doing Ann summers parties whilst I did Tupperware!
Good girl Maggie, one more down!
Well at least it was outon display clean Julianna!
Bloomin heck needahug you scared me! Glad no 5 is done, but jeez you could have done it with less drama. Hope you are ok now though, and what are we going to do with your pesky lump?
Small steps Jane, but you were OUT walking and that’s a big achievement! These watery eyes area nuisance aren’t they, and then the nose…
Resisted long enough, off to sample the caramel shortcake biscuits nom nom
Sue x
Needahug, scary! When are you going to have a talk with onc about what’s next? Or they going to do Tax number 3 anyway and then re-assess? Must be so difficult - I have nothing to measure if chemo works or not, and I often wonder if it is…
Sue, glad to see you are back to being positive!
Needahug…what a nightmare!!shame George Clooney wasnt on hand for you though…how selfish of him…here’s hoping your se’s arent too bad for you after all that drama.
xxx
Julianna, you are looking very glam. I mainly asked questions that cropped up while they were explaining rads. I wanted to know about fatigue since it seems a bit of a problem and the burnt skin. I want to go away a week or so after and wanted to know if I’d be up to it. They gave me a booklet that went step be step what to expect and had pics of all the scanners. They tell you about what soap and deoderant to use and moisturising creams. Also the SE’s (yes more SE’s) like pain in ribs, thinning rib bones and scaring on your lung which will show up on xrays (not harmful). I’ve started following rads threads to get a better idea of how things will go. I’m have 15 to whole boob and to sub clavian area, not to auxilla as all lymph nodes have been removed.
Needahug, what a scare you had. When will you find out what else is planned for you. Did you have a scan and is that how they know that tumour not responding.
Sue, good to hear you back on form. Hope that toe improves. I went a walk today as it was sunny all day although there was a cold wind and now my heels are a bit tender. I will be on stir crazy bench if I can’t get out the house.
Catherine, hooray no more visits to chemo unit. I will still have to go every 3 weeks for herceptin but at least chemo will be done. 2 weeks to go.
Mary, glad you had some loving. Last thing on my mind.
Dawn, I was on my back, thinking of england with boobs exposed. The staff will not remember your boobs as they see so many bodies that it all looks the same. I wasn’t made to feel any indignity and it was a man that tattooed me.
Hairy Bikers were very good tonight, making so much cake.
Anne xx
thanks for the rads info Anne…xx
It was back in the old days, Anne, when I give a sh*t about how I looked.
I have my planning meeting on the 20th (is that next week already?). They gave me a CD with a movie to watch and I did sit through it even though it was all in Danish - none the wiser what’s going to happen. I have 30 sessions - that famous ‘you are young’ thing - bit excessive, no? Of course I’ll do a 100 session if that’s what oncie says I should. Only to my boob and oncie said they will take pictures to make sure they miss my heart and lungs.
Sorry Sue - didn’t mean to scare you (have to admit gave me a bit of a fright at the time though - all happened so fast) - Onc. explained that an allergic reaction to the yew tree content in the docetaxel happens ocasionally for a few folk and when it does it most commonly occurs on treatment no. 2 of TAX when body has decided it doesn’t like it and has prepared anti-bodies following the first dose. Medical team dealt with it immediately and got me oxygenated and full of anti-allergy drowsy drugs - everything had pretty much returned to normal within about an hour and apart from headache have felt OK since (just drugged up).
Julianna - have examination and good chat with someone from onc. team at every appointment. Chief onc. on his Easter hols I think as I saw his very efficient registrar again today. He is going to chat through my case with big chief, but seems at the moment they are taking it one treatment at a time. They are hoping will see some shrinkage now with tax no. 2 had today - at next appointment will measure lump again and then decide if it will be TAX no.3 (with lots of drowsy drugs) or something else. Is arranging for me to have another ultrasound scan at next appointment so they can compare it with the orignial one around time of diagnosis - this will help to inform their decision. Also said may need extra treatment as I only had 3 of the 4 Epirubicin on the original plan before they changed to TAX. All the uncertainty is so frustrating but I genuinely feel they are really working hard in my best interests to find the right drugs to help me.
Anne - they measure the lump with callipers at each appointment - their aim at the moment is to shrink the lump as they will have a lot of tissue to remove as it stands with no potential for reconstruction. Ultrasound planned for next - but keeping everything crossed the ‘thing’ just decides it’s had enough and decides to start to wither away - it is so stubborn!
Emma - upon reflection, George Clooney would have only added to my breathlessness, blood pressure and racing heart - so probably best he kept himself out of the equation! SE’s should be a breeze after today - hahaha.
Keep smiling everyone x
I was thinking - as we don’t seem to have such bastardly SEs with the 2nd as with the first, do you think our bodies get used to the poison? I am sure to some extent it does.
Needahug, I am sure your team is doing everything they can. It is fantastic when you have faith and trust in them! I will be preparing a sacrifice to the Yew Gods to shrink your ‘thing’ - how is that?
Mr Clooney does have that effect, doesn’t he? I watched a movie with him a while back, I think it was the American. It was a total non-event but it featured a LOT of naked or half naked Georgie so of course I watched the whole thing and enjoyed it. That sparkle in his eyes …!
Evening ladies!!
Needahug - so glad that you are ok - must have been scary!!
Have had an amazing day here - my motto at the moment is to live each day so that at the end i can look back and not regret anything - really had a brilliant day today! (never know when it may be your last :))
Been playing, shopping, generally bonding with my lo’s, lovely hour or so of walking outdoors in the sun, tried something new, time with OH, … couldn’t have fit more in!!
We are so close now ladies!! In a few months (well maybe more on the hair and eyelash front!!) we’ll all be finished chemo/rads/surgery!!
Take care everyone!!
Marina xx
Thank you, Julianna - sacrifice to the Yew Gods sounds exactly what is needed.
Will be checking out that film!! Nude, sparkly George - yes, please!
It seems body definitely does make its mind up about the poisons - mostly the thinking seems to be 'Oh yes, I remember this one, I know how to deal with this rather efficiently now (the occasional alternative, as in my case, being ‘b*gger off!’).
Marina, so lovely to read that you have had such a happy, positive fun-filled day. Completely agree - must look to take the very best opportunities in every day. Really made the most of my good days last week and although exhausted, felt very happy.
Nighty night all x
Me posting late again…can’t seem to get to sleep early & it takes me that long to read through all the posts! Don’t want to miss anything!
Anne - that’s so good to know, there seems to be so many of us, its scary. We are all going through the same, yes different situations & experiences, but we have all come together through this. Isn’t technology great! I’m not really very techie & unfortunately not on FB, but will definitely stay on BCC. I think its great we all look the same! I’m getting used to my fuzzy bald head! Don’t go out without my wig though…not that brave…& also too cold!!
Sue - thank you, great meal last night & yes taste is ok, even a glass of wine tasted good (so good!) I checked with Onc, a little occasionally is ok. And yes, all this will pass & good times WILL return.
Julianna - Aw luv you…you always make me laugh! Love the wig too, looks great!
Lynzi - Ahh 10 weeks, so sweet! Love one! But I don’t think my cat would love me…she’s a bit of a princess & doesn’t take kindly to other animals in the house. But I wouldn’t be without her, especially now, pets seem to know when you’re not feeling great, she comes & sits on my chest & purrs v.loudly…a bit worried about her claws on false booby! Must get those cut!
Mary - Rant away…ranting is good, happy to listen. You must try not to worry about how you look & the changes happening, it will pass, it is just your body dealing with all of this, we just all look a bit different right now, but you are still you, & soon we will all be comparing our hair growth…& whether, as in my case, my once straight hair has gone curly…I understand that can happen!
Needahug - Glad you are ok, oh my goodness! With you on chemo-brain! I seem to be forgetting all sorts of things…forgot which floor I left the car in the multi-storey the other day!! Complete blank!
Just seen time, will try & get some zzzzz. ;o)
Dee xx
Hello ladies
I’ve missed so much as keep forgetting about this site!
I haven’t caught up yet either.
Question : does anyone else seem to have little
Hairs growing back on their heads? Mine are really really light
And soft- but how excited am I!!! Lol
Morning
The sun is shining today and I’m feeling good. Taste is still c***, everything tastes like a bucket of salt poured over it, even my ice cream was salty - what’s that all about.
Jo, I have fur on my head which is securely attached, it is sort of clear/white with a little bit of very dark colour hair. Not sure if this is the start of regrowth though.
Marina, loving your feel good posting. I’m with you in making the most of everyday (body permitting) . It is defiantly a struggle some days but they are getting less.
What’s everyone up to today? Waiting for kids to get up so they can motivate me.
Anyone having their juice this week?
Anne xx
Definitely with you Anne and Marina. If life isn’t for getting the most out of then why have we put ourselves through all this crap?
Easy to say when I feeling good, but so much harder when the SEs and the gloom descends! Remind me please, if this final chemo has me sunken and weepy!
Oh Needahug. What a dreadful day you had yesterday. And how mean of George not to come and help you out. Hope that naughty lump sorts itself out with this next round of Tax. My friend had tax first and was going mad because the lump didn’t shrink, but the FEC seemed to do the job really well. Maybe that’s why you might have to have more Epirubicin? Anyway, you sound remarkable positive and that’s a GOOD thing!
Jo. Hair envy. I’ve just got designer stubble… Been like that since I got a No.1. Husband says it’s comeing back, but I think he’s trying to be nice.
Dee. Taste bud envy!Hope you managed a good night’s sleep.It always seems to freshen me up.And have great hair. We’ll ask Julianna to add hair to her list of scarifices to the Gods. A bit worried about precisely WHAT she is sacrificing though… Think wjen the Rampant Rabbit goes we’ll all be in the clear.
Sue. what’s on the menu today? I thought chicken tikka, salad, raita and new potatoes/ any other ideas?
Joyce. 40 is still too young! but in your piccie (not the new one!) you look about 12!
Have a great day peeps.
catherine