Starting Chemo in Nov 2011

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701

Morning Ladies

Tried to post last night but wouldn’t let me :frowning: Anyway I’m back now and hopefully this will work. :slight_smile:

No.2 seems to be going ok although I have felt more tired and the chemo fog seemed to descend more quickly this time but the steroid high just didn’t want to let me sleep. Am finding it very hard to concentrate so this may turn into a ramble.

Sounds like you’re all starting to get into the xmas spirit, I’m a bit of a ‘bah humbug’ person so although I love xmas I don’t like the run up to it and end up putting everything off till the last minute. At least this year I’ll be home to take delivery of all the parcels and oh yes that means I get to see the delivery man :wink: best get ordering!!

PP, glad to hear No.1 one went ok :slight_smile: try to eat ‘little and often’ I found this kept the nausea at bay and only felt sick after a big meal. I also staggered my tablets so I could take my domperidone (sp) in between the others if I needed to.

Judes, good news on the neuts. Not sure I can handle the special responsibility with chemo fog but I’ll do my best.

Gill, glad you got your wig swapped. You’ll feel much better in it (if you need it) if you feel comfortable in it. I went to visit my dad yesterday and he thought I was my sister!! LG is almost gone and I have a very thin covering left on the head (day 18-24 most came out), more annoyingly I got lazy and decided not to bother shaving the legs (well it’s winter and I’m in trousers) but apart from one completely bald patch they are all still there, typical!! I have noticed tonight my feet are a little red and feel sore so had a good moisturise and they feel better now.

For all thinking about recon my PS was very good and showed me loads of photos of all the different types. He tried to pick women who had similar boobs to me and showed me before & after pics he also showed me photos of the type of scarring you could expect from each procedure. I have to say having seen them all and taking into account the lack of sensation I’m fairly sure I’ve decided not to go ahead with recon although I am finding the prosthesis more difficult to get used to than the softie.

Daysie, hope you’re feeling brighter today. Try not to worry (LL and I are on standby if you need us to go sort your onc out ;-)can’t have one of our ladies with no mojo!!). Perhaps they’ll change your treatment plan, remember all our treatments whilst similar are tailored to the individual so sometimes they have to change things round to get you the best results and as your diabetic they may have to tinker with yours more than someone who isn’t. Do speak to your BCN or BCC helpline.

For those wondering, Manuka honey is only produced in NZ cos that’s where the Manuka bushes grow and as much or as little as you like is good. I have it daily with all sorts, cereals, toast, flapjack, ice cream but to get the best benefit it shouldn’t be added to hot (warm is ok) water (kills the active ingredient). I can’t remember who was having a problem (sorry :-() but it’s also claimed to be good applied direct to wounds to aid healing although might be a bit sticky :slight_smile: GG it should be good for your sore throat too.

Right I’m off to get dressed. I bust the zip in my jeans yesterday so it’s the running machine for me today :frowning:

((((((((((hugs)))))))))) to all
L4W

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Morning , just got in from my wig fitting. Great start woke up with a dodgey tummy and then couldn’t find the place so 5 mins late, and I like to be on time …
Gone for “willow” in Hazelnut glaze, mid bob, one of the first I tried. Hubby quite liked a very short cut but I was unsure, we were allocated just under an hour the time went soo quickly, I almost felt pressurised in the end! the lady was kind but I thought there would be a bit more input and advice given. My Tummy is funny probably stress as first chemo tomorrow at 4, I suffer from IBS so I think I am having a major attack! I have my pre chemo assessment this afternoon, hope I dont keep running to the loo!

Hope everyone has a relatively good day
Take care all
Shelle xx

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Good Morning November ladies.
This is my first posting as I have been reading through your threads but not really had the courage to write anything.

I was diagnosed with BC on 30th Sept with lob invasive 2cm lump, HER2+. My plan is chemotherapy, surgery, radio then hormone.

Chemo is 3 x Fec and 3 x Tax.

I had my first bout of chemo on 28th Oct which really knocked me for six with sickness, however i put that down to the steriods.
I just had my second bout and didnt take steriods and although I cant eat I feel alot better.

I had a SNB and got the results yesterday which confirmed cancer is present in my nodes so I have to have a node clearance when I have the lumpectomy. This has really upset me as I am now overly worried that it has spread somewhere else and not sure how to handle this.

I am due to have Bone scan and CT scans on 5th Dec which seem forever away.

I was really strong when they told me yesterday however when you are on your own the tears just seem to flow hence the posting.

Feeling alittle alone and uncertain of the future

Linda
xx

704

Good Morning ladies
I am testing this post as I am new to this and my last post seemed to have just disappeared :frowning:
If this one posts then I will try again

Linda
xx

705

hi November gang

i’ve just got back from hospital appointment which was to discuss radiotherapy, i asked about risk reducing surgery and she said its not very likely that they would do it for me as it is probably just bad luck i got BC, only 1 other person in family has had it before, we also talked about recon, not likely that i’d be suitable for the tummy tuck recon, due to having had 2 c-sections, bit of a relief if that option isn’t suitable.
implants might be difficult after radiotherapy due to skin having lost some of it stretchy-ness. Is she steering me in the direction of back flaps, i wonder?? think i need to research strattice as havn’t heard that word before, i bet some docs hate the internet, we can find out so much on there.
to be honest i don’t care if new boob isn’t real, because i now despise my “good” one, i seriously would be happier to have risk reducing surgery and to have two implants, i don’t want my recon to match the one i have.

Shelle, glad you got your wig sorted, and i thought the same about the lady i saw. she was lovely but she just stuck all the doifferent wigs on my head and stepped back. only once she said, that doesn’t suit you, rest of time she agreed with what i said. hope your tummy is ok for this aft and good luck for tomorrow

hope everyone is doing ok, anyone else up this week?

Gill x

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Everyone’s been working overtime here again.

Linda - welcome to the group. Hope you’re scans are all good. That seems a long time to wait for them.

Paula - the occupational health nurse at my work told me there was a high risk of infection in the affected breast due to all the stagnant fluid, so maybe that’s causing your reaction. It must be way too early for your onc to decide the chemo’s not working.

Shelle - good luck for tomorrow.

It’s interesting to hear all the pros and cons about recons, although it seems a long way off when I’m still pre-surgery. There seem to be an overwhelming range of options but I guess not all of them will be suitable.

707

Hi I’m new to here, my 2/6 session of FEC is on Friday, all seems OK so far apart from my hair failling out everywhere, it’s already short & not sure if to shave or not to shave?
any suggestions?

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Hi everyone

Thank you all for taking time to answer my panic postings yesterday.

I stayed in bed for 14 hours I just didn’t want to face anything :o(

I phoned the Oncy Nurse and explained what my Oncologist said yesterday about my Pink Boob - he said they don’t really know what it is, I’m getting some anti-biotics tomorrow to rule out infection. He said the Oncologist didn’t know where I got the idea that they couldn’t do anything if FEC didn’t work…huh cuz he said so when I got my treatment plan! His words - FEC-T unfortunately is the only chemo option because I am TN!!! They said the chemo dosage would be altered if needs be or they would try Docetaxol instead.

I said how upset I was (crying on and off all day) cuz Oncologist was so negative and said words like unfortunately etc grrrr I ended up having a bit of a rant and said I want my boob off right now!! I don’t want to wait to see if chemo works or not! He said they want to try chemo first as it’s very early days and there is time to try other dosages. I said that I felt my boob growing since my original biopsies and mammograms and it was bigger now than it’s ever been, he said don’t worry it sometimes happens.

Have calmed down a bit now, Day 4 of FEC and not feeling too bad other than an emotional wreck.

Every time I visit a specialist at the hospital I feel a million time worse than before I went there :o(

I can see myself losing it with the hospial before too long, if I hear guidelines to follow once more… grrrrr

I’ve read all the many postings from the last couple of days, have lost the plot a bit, but generally all of you seem to be doing well, other than the crazy woman inside me! lol

Hope all of you are feeling ok and not many SE’s.

Paula x ((Hugs2all))

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Hello
Just in from appt,ECG carried out and bloods taken from my hand again after numerous attempts in arm. I am truly back on the cancer path :frowning:

It had been such a long time waiting since Op I had almost forgotten what I have yet to face…thank god for this website is all I can say!!!

Linda, welcome, I understand how you are feeling I am node positive and feel Like I have been waiting forever, I feel so anxious re: spread, thankfully my scans were clear about 4 wks ago) waiting is the worst bit in my opinion. ("it is often referred to as the “waiting room”)

Daysie sorry you are having such an awful time, it must get better… shouldn’t it? sending you a massive hug x
Thanks for good , luck wishes for tomorrow …Just realised I will then be officially a November Lady :)Shellex

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Shelle - very best wishes for tomorrow, I hope it all goes well for you - at last you are on the bandwagon!

Gail - thanks for asking your occ. nurse for me, i should be getting some anti-biotics tomorrow from my doctor. Don’t know why hospital didn’t issue them yesterday. The Pink swollen boob only started the same day as FEC - I’ve always suspected some infection in there due to size and swelling, we know our own bodies don’t we!

It’s all well and good having scans and examinations, but nobody ever asked how I was feeling, what the tumour feels like inside, for example, mine was always painful with pins and needles and like thumbs pressing in at the sides, this was mostly before biopsies then it settled down but I could feel it growing, but it didn’t feel so ‘angry’ inside.

I’m not an expert, but I reckon I’ve got an aggresive inflammatory type tumour that they haven’t picked up on yet. That is my conclusion from hours of reading lol (and googleing ooppps).

Starting to feel a bit better - still not much appetite, just having fruit for brekkie and light lunch and small evening meal. Had about a dozen hairs left in the bath this morning lol, it’s started…!

((more hugs)) Paula x

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Hello All

Shelle good luck for tomorrow.

Sheepfarmersotherhalf - all I can say to you about shaving your head is my experience. I didn’t think I would let anyone shave my head I was just going to let it all fall out gradually. In the end I couldn’t cope with my head being so sore and finding my hair everywhere. In the end I gritted my teeth and asked OH to shave my head. I felt much better after it had been done, a relief really.

Jean - I contacted my CN and asked about lansrapozleshe said it was ok for me to take it. Feel much better now I have.

I am having trouble with my arm - I have had an auxillary clearance and have gained full use of my arm by doing all the excercises. The last couple of days my arm has been really sore and tight. I haven’t got a seroma I know what one of them is like. MY CN said to mention it to my ONC when I go tomorrow. She said it could be the after effects of the chemo. Is anyone else having trouble with their arm?

Welcome to the new members and good luck and best wishes to everyone else.

A

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Hi Ladies

Welcome to Linda and SFOH sorry you’ve found yourselves hear but glad we are able to help. I personally have gained so much support from this site I don’t think I’d be where I am now if it wasn’t around. Feel free to rant, rave, scream, cry, laugh, anything you need. :slight_smile: There is only one rule NO Googling :slight_smile:

Linda, the first few (3 I think) times you post it doesn’t appear straight away because it’s moderated before they allow it. After 3 they should appear straight away. Quite a few of us have Lymph node involvement but it doesn’t mean it has (or will) spread, try to think of them as the castle walls, only they were stopping the little b*gg**s escaping and running off.

SFOH, I shaved to No.2 when it started to come out and then when it started hurting I shaved it to No.0 which I regretted :frowning: I don’t know if it would have hurt any less but it was so short that I couldn’t do anything to help it along and everytime I touched it was like being stabbed with pins, even laying down hurt and wearing a hat was painful.

Daysie, glad you’re feeling a bit better :slight_smile: Could you see a different onc? My hosp BCNs run get togethers where you can drop in and chat to other ladies who have had or are having treatment.

Gill, I’m with you on the risk reducing surgery. I’ve already had discussions with my BCN as to how I’ll deal with my boob after BC cos it’s riddled with cysts and I don’t know how I’m supposed to tell the difference nor do I want to be so paranoid that I’m at the clinic every other week getting tested. She tried to reassure me that I’m no more likely to get BC in the other boob than anyone else (1% higher I think she said) but I just know now everytime I find a lump it’ll start all over again. The back flaps certainly seem to be the preferred method (for PSs) of recon at the mo, yet my PS told me they can have the higher risk of infection and complications.

Shelle, hope the tummy settled and the assessment went ok. Wig sounds lovely, do we get to see a pic!?! Wishing you so much luck for tomorrow when at last you can leap, running and screaming from the waiting room and start your journey down chemo road.

The steroid high is def wearing off and am hoping for a good nights sleep tonight so if I don’t make it back later good luck to all you No.2s tomorrow and special good luck to Shelle.

t.t.f.n.
L4W

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Audrey - I had cording in my arm. its like there is a tight band in your arm which wont allow full stretching and when I tried to stretch it…it hurt. I could also feel along the length of my arm to the back of my wrist a hardened vein or something.

I was told to just keep stretching it out and if it didnt release eventually they would get a physiotherapist to massage it out and “break” the cord.

Shelle -all the very best for tomorrow hun - you will be fine xxx

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Audreytoo

Yes, my arm has felt sore and bruised this time. Really weird, hurts for a while then goes off. I’ve also noticed the numb patch at the back of my arm has been more sensitive again and hurts when I catch it.

Daysie, naughty, naughty you used the G word, I’ll have to pop round and disable it if you don’t stop :wink: I know what you mean though about knowing our own bodies you’ve just got to try and stop letting these nasty thoughts creep in under the duvet with you. Remember you are part of the ANNIHILATION squad and soon to become a Bodacious Bald Belle (probs not for a week or two yet though) :wink:

So much for the steroid high leaving me, earlier I could have fallen asleep on a pin head, darkness falls and I’m wide awake (hope it doesn’t last :-()

t.t.f.n.
L4W

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evening all

1st of all hello to Linda and sheepfarmersotherhalf, it looks like i ignored you earlier, but there must have been a delay with it posting as L4W said, my nodes were affected and it is a worrying time waiting for scans, i had my bone scan pretty quick, probably about 2 weeks after surgery, but the ct scan took ages, about another month i think. the only way i could calm myself down about the waiting time was to reassure myself that if anything was picked up by scan the treatment would be the same as the plan i had been given. Try not too dwell too much on it

I’ve got no time to post anything else, got to pick up my little one from Rainbows, we got the right day today!!

will prob be back later before Celebrity

Gill x

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Evening ladies,

Good luck who’s staring this week, I’m feeling ok now just very tired, my friend is coming over this week to cut my hair as I hacked one side off in a strop the day before chemo!

Love and hugs to all PP xxx

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Hi Ladies,
Tomorrow is chemo No2 and i have been given a low dose of sleeping tablets to take tonight, tomorrow morning and tomorrow evening the onc said it will help the anti sickness work better tomorrow i have also been given the strong antisickness for this chemo because i suffered quite bad last time so fingers crossed they work.

I have to have my port-a-cath resited hopefully on the 8th dec as the one i have now keeps moving around.

I shaved my head on Friday as it was soooo painful and i am gald i did as a lot of hair has fallen out now i just wish it would all go at once as patchs on my head are still sore.

good luck to anyone starting/having chemo tomorrow and hope everyones se’s are not bad.

goodnight all
Chelle xx

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Good evening all,
Welcome to all the newbies. It takes ages to catch up on this thread!
Linda1804 - you are not alone now you are on this thread- we are all here holding your hand. I too found out last week that I had infected nodes and the waiting for scans (mine are due on the 2nd)is horrible. Like you, my mind goes into overdrive and I have black thoughts about things growing inside me. I have been on the phone hassling for a sooner appt or cancellation - tears seem to pull a few strings is all I can say. I have an onc appt on Monday so hopefully she will be able to give me a few answers, or even start chemo before scans?? I just cant wait to zap the little buggers.

Tracey1972 - I think I will be joining you on the December thread, but will still keep up with you lovely lot on here.

Getting through my pre-chemo checklist: flu jab- check, pneumonia jab - check, short haircut-check, dentist-check. anything else I have forgotten???

Good luck for tomorrow Shelle - sending positive vibes.

Keep well all,
Debbie x

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Hi

Thank you for the comments today.

It was good hearing from you with reference the lymph nodes being infected as to me this was the end of the world.

I had been so strong up until now, apart from when I was first diagnosed.

As i said its been a tearful day, I get more upset when I have to tell my family the results as we had been hopeful that they wouldnt be infected.

I keep being told to be positive, which is so much easier said than done.

Speaking though to you all and seeing your posts have really cheered me up.

Lost for words I like your thought process, the BCN did say yesterday that the lymph nodes had caught the cancer so that was positive.

Sheepfarmersotherhalf, I went to the hairdressers on week2 of my first chemo and had my hair cut short, however on reflection it was a waste of £28 as my hair was falling out so much at week 3 I asked a friend to come round and shave my head completely. It was more painful seeing my hair falling out… I was malting worse than my two Beagles :slight_smile:

Thanks again and I will be back again tomorrow…

Linda
xx

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Hi All

Libra Lady - Know what you mean about cording. I had cording a few weeks ago but it isn’t like that this time. I saw the lympnodema nurse last time and she told me how to deal with cording. I just kept tapping the cord I could feel on my arm, but that is better now.

L4W - The feeling in my arm sounds just like yours except for the bruising. I also feel sore down my side. It is like as if my arm is stiffening up again. I find if very frustrating when I had really good movement in it a week ago. The last time I told the BCN that my side was sore she said that it can take 12 months to get over the operation and I had 2 ops. WLE and SNB followed by another op to give a wider margin and remove precancerous cells and an auxillary clearance. Perhaps the ONC will tell me more tomorrow.

Chelle - Good luck for tomorrow. I was also very sick after my firstFEC so I was given a stronger anti sickness drug to my 2nd it was called Emend. This worked I wasn’t sick once. I still felt nauseous and had to keep on taking domperidone but I haven’t been sick. I will also be taking the Emend for my 3rd FEC. Hope the stronger anti sickness drugs work for you.

Gill - I had bone scans and CT scan all done on the same day a couple of weeks after my 2nd op and before my chemo began. I am pleased to say that all my scans came back clear but it is a worry at the time.

Hugs to everyone
A