Hi all
been for my pre chemo blood test this morning started out at GP’s at 8.30 after 2 attemps they couldn’t do, so then travelled 20 miles to hospical and blood nurse, 3 attemps later & still no blood, then sent up to chemo ward with in 5 minutes I was on my way home-moral to the story-“I’ll never be a junkie!”
now licking my wounds and waiting for Friday & second session of chemo, hope your all having a good afternoon
Shelle - so sorry that you didn’t start your chemo today, it must be awful just waiting - I hope they give you another date very soon.
Weme - ((big birthday hug)) so sorry you’re having a down day, sadly we will all have high and low days, but your birthday is special, at least you saw your mum and had tea and cakes! I used to do that a lot with my mum, but sadly she passed over to the other side in 2006 and I would give anything to spend another day with her. So guess I’m trying to say don’t be down at least you’ve got your mum, which is a blessing! Enjoy your special day.
For everybody thinking about returning to work - I went to a Big C workshop with the Occupational Therapist and her advice was to ask your GP to refer you to the hospitals Occ Therapist before attemping to go back to work, she was of the opinion that many BC women try to continue working throughout treatments etc and are definately not ready, although some think they are, it knocks the stuffing out of them without realising they are doing too much. They can talk to you through the ‘phased’ return to work, if that’s what your doctor has recommended.
I saw my own GP this morning mainly about my Pink Boob. He was certain is wasn’t an infection, he said he was sure it was nothing to worry about, he has seen pink boobies before after chemo, so that was reassuring. He examined me and said to let him know if it goes red. I was crying like a baby, let the tears flood out and he was really good, very understanding, and I let all my worries flood out, starting to feel more perked up this afternoon. My OH took me to Tescos (lol) as I wanted some of the Finest Porridge (lol) and then we went to Wroxham and fed the ducks etc. Glad to be back home where I feel safe and warm and happier.
I haven’t really heard much from my employers, I have emailed boss an update when I have been to the doctors and sent a PDF document of my Certificate. I have done it this way because they can’t turn around and say I didn’t keep in touch. They are probably wondering when I will be returning to work because my boss’s sis-in-law “bounced through chemo and worked in between then got a fab free boob job at end of it all” (my bosses words). I work in the Motor Trade doing Admin - mostly HR, health & safety, training, recruitment etc and a month before I was diagnosed I was given another persons job to do to merge with my own. A notoriously ruthless and sexist environment. So at the moment I am glad to be away from the Stress of it all, although they have not been in communication much at all, usually the girls in the office text me, but I am very careful what I say.
I am currently on full sick pay, which reduces to 3 months half pay at the end of the year, I own my own home and have bills to pay, however I intend paying half the bills whilst I am going through treatment and if anybody chases me they can take a hike! I have far too much to deal with without the hounds at my heels! If I have to go on benefits then so be it, I think we have some extra protection with our diagnosis.
Hope you are all having a good day
Paula x
Hi ladys have had bad headach today and my mouth is like im chewing on silver paper ,just done some house work but feeling knackerd now so sitting on sofa with t.v on , not realy what i do in the afternoon but since chemo started always feel tierd in afternoon (weied) as use to be up up and about doing so much for everyone and walking my dogs , would love to here anyone with SE from chemo im on day 6 of fec xx josie
Pleasant1 - I think you have to click ‘submit’ twice when you post otherwise the first time disappears!
Hi Josie
I can relate to being tired, I’m on Day 5 of FEC and don’t know where the last few days have gone! I’ve been comatised in bed mostly having long lie ins sleeping more than normal and just being a lazy and I normally on the go the whole time racing around from one thing to another. I am very CBA at the moment, it must be a SE of chemo!
Paula x
Shelle - Sorry you’ve been postponed, hope your bug settles down soon and you can get started.
Judes - Good luck at work today.
Lulu - I work in the IT dept of a pensions/insurance company (won’t name them as I’d probably end up in trouble with the rest of this paragraph). My analysis skills are a bit challenged by chemo just now but as we’ve shipped off most of our jobs to India I spend most of my time reviewing the work done by contractors instead of producing my own specs.
Had to get my appts sorted out earlier as the hospital had me down to have my next lot of tests to check how much tumours are shrinking after I see the oncologist, so she wouldn’t have any results back yet. Brilliant planning! Eventually managed to speak to onc’s secretary who was really helpful and got it changed for me.
Taking another day off today as still not quite shifted the cough. Hopefully back to work tomorrow.
On phased return to work, I was planning to take the time off for surgery/radiotherapy later and might go back part time for a bit after it. I was told I should be able to go back for up to 12 weeks part time on full time pay, but I’m not sure if that’s a company or govt policy.
Chelle so sorry you have had your chemo cancelled you must feel as though it is one step forward and 3 steps back at the moment, will keep fingers crossed that you get it in the next couple of days.
I too have a virus at the moment, bit of a tender throat headache and cough been checked by GP but lungs all clear and nothing major to worry about so just sipping manuka honey in hot water as it helps soothe the throat.
Had my wig fitting yesterday in Southend, although I have to say I was p****d off big time when I got there was told they hadn’t received the order, having been told it was definitely going out in the post on Thursday, so wasn’t able to bring it home with me. Went to collect 2 grandaughters from school in Chelmsford and was on way home when the wig lady rang to say they had now received the order gggggrrrrrr. Never mind she was going to put it in the post immediately and I should hopefully have it by Friday when I go out with the girls for dinner!!! We’ll see, getting so cynical lol.
Like to say hi to all the new posters.
Gill don’t drink those activia like drinks they contain live probiotic and you can’t have on chemo.
Jean xxx
Hi dasiey have been following your posts on here and would like to say what a lovely lady you are and how i love reading what you write , You seem to have had so much going on i admire you hun.
would just like to say i was dx in july had bilatral mastectomy 3 out of 9 lymph nodes they then told me i had lung mets !!! Was then called back after 10 days to be told that there not sure its lung mets so have to have 6x fec , but they are going to re- scan me after 3 so not realy looking foward to xmas as keep thinking about the scan results and the get upset , oh also have had groshung line put in witch was not good , but everyone on here gives me hope and thats all i ask xxx josie1
Afternoon ladies,
Shelle, sorry your treatment has been postponed. A bit of a bummer but it’s important that you are well enough,#
Weme, HAPPY BIRTHDAY
Jean, pain about the whole wig thing. I hope it arrives soon
I hope everyone else is ok. I’ve not been able to keep up with the posts or read them all now as I was working and now I’m too tired. Just had chemo number 2 this morning. I was feeling ok but the headache and nausea have returned. Also all my hair came out yesterday in the shower. I was expecting it as I could pull it out in clumps. My husband had to finish me off with the clippers as I looked a right mess. I’m so pleased that my wig has arrived today so the hospital hairdresser styled it for me. My head is very cold without my hair.
Right, I need to lie down so speak later
Lizzyxx
Hi ladys has anyone got cravings ?? ie have to eat lots of youguts , cold drinks , and fruit anyone eles xx josie1
Hi all I must admit I have been popping on every day just tooting!! I’ve got a bit lost with the amount of lovely people on this thread and by the time i’ve finished reading its too late to post. Could i ask a favour? Would people mind just posting the date of their 1st treatment so I can write it in my pad and then I know where you are up to compared to me. I will post mine after this one. I feel like a bit of a swizz, I have had no nasty SE’s after my chemo (EC) and its now day 7. I had one day with a very sore throat but the anti biotics kicked in and I was fine the day after. My appetite is disgraceful, if I continue to eat at this rate i will have to take part in britains biggest loser when my treatment ends. I have been sleeping well, doing housework, walking into town and back (half hour each way) and have organised a charity event for this friday night when I will be shaving my head and my partner will be having his legs waxed. My friends who have also previously had chemo can only stand and shake their heads as I zoom about like a mad woman! I have handed in a 2 weeks doctors note at work and honestly wouldn’t have had time to work so far. I am going to pop in for half a day tomorrow to tie up some loose ends though. So that’s me, I don’t want to lull myself into a false sense of security because I will more than likely crash and burn at some point. Hope I haven’t come across as a bit of a show off because I really dont mean to and I know the nurses keep telling me that everyone is different. I hope those of you who are having nasty SE’s feel better and brighter soon and I am sending love and hugs to you all. Good luck ladies xxx
1st treatment - Thursday 17th November.
Donna xx
hi donna
my first treatment was actually in october so i post in the october thread as well…
on tax/carbo x6
1st treatment thur 27th oct
2nd treatment thur 17th nov
so glad you seem to have so much energy… def enjoy it and your not a swizz your just lucky hunny… it will still be taking it out of you and your still at risk of infection so dont push yourself too hard.
lulu x
1st treatment - friday 18th november
fantastic glad your feeling good xxjosie1
first treatment FEC wednesday 9 november
First treatment 18th November - epirubicin. Feeling a bit more tired today but still working. Trying to work mainly from home to keep away from all those ill people …
hello hello
well, i’m back from work, was quite a good day really but i’m knackered now. i’m a journalist, work on the foreign news desk of one of the big nationals, not sure if i should say which. (it’s not the sun - don’t think they have a foreign desk! and it’s not the daily mail. i’ll stop there.) i quite enjoy my job. today eve ensler, the woman who wrote the vagina monologues and has done fantastic work opposing violence against women, came to speak at our staff conference and i met her afterwards, she had cancer a few years ago, said the only way to get thru chemo is to smoke pot. (censors: i’m not recommending it!) anyway, everyone was lovely to me and i didn’t really do that much, then i left at about 4.30 (we usually work 10 hour days so my colleagues were in before me and long after me) so i’m glad i did it. but i was very clear that i’d only work if it didn’t affect my health at all. i’ll do three days this week then maybe in the 3rd week of the next cycle - i’m also trying to avoid the half pay thing, i’m a single-income household with mortgage etc so if i can help myself feel more normal and chalk up some extra sick pay that’s ok. but it’s so easy to say ‘sorry i’m not feeling well’ if i don’t want to go in. i’ve told them not to rel on me.
gill i don;t think you should feel any pressure to go back. with all the efforts we’re going to get well it would be ridiculous to compromise that.
and i know we’ve been told to avoid live yoghurt but i’ve decided to go on eating it (except when neuts are really low). i spoke to a cancer nutritionalist who said it should be fine. i think it helps your stomach and its slightly over cautious not to eat it - but that’s just me.
shelle i’m so sorry, you must be so frustrated. if it helps i’m having really long chemo, six months of it, so if you start soon you’ll sprobably still be finished before me, if you’re doing 3FEC 3tax?
pleasant i know what you mean about the censorship. i had my words asterixed out the other day (bloody!), and it annoyed me. we’re adults and it feel patronising to bleep out our swearing. i realise some people will disagree but i think we should be allowed to express ourselves, as long as its not racist or sexist or abusive in any way. grrr.
meme happy birthday, i’m 45 too. it’s a great age (except for, well, except for BC).
gooseberry girl my hair is falling out in clumps too. my party trick at work today was to give it a little tug and wave handfuls around. i think that might wear thin soon. is the general wisdom that it’s best to have a No 2?
jean, so sorry to hear you’ve been ill and are having wig woes. i hope it arrives in time for your night out.
josie i craved steak while i was on steroids. now i crave fresh fresh greek salad - made without leaves. just really nice big chunks of feta, chunks of cold tomato and cucumber and green pepper, with solme olive oil. i’ve never craved salad in my life before!
lizzy well done on chemo 2. hope you get some sleep.
donna great to hear you’re doing well. no need to apologise for it here. are you still on steroids? they’re going to reduce my steroids next time because i was so high last time. i hope you don’t have a crash.
ok, i’m tired but feel good for catching up with you all. i missed you today in my other world of work, it was really strange.
xxxx
sorry 6x fec
first treatment 18th november
Hi ladies,
Hope everyone is well. Shelle so sorry your chemo was cancelled I can empathise as I can’t wait to get started now. Have joined Dec thread as I think it probably wont be til then. I have scans booked for Dec 2nd but seeing onc on Monday so who knows?
Weme - Happy Birthday!! Have you had any super pressies?
Re working through treatment. I am lucky as I get 20 working weeks on full pay and then the same on half pay. One of the perks of working in the public sector I suppose. I am a primary school teacher and my doctor and BCN have both said don’t even think of going back to work during treatment and leave about 3 to 4 weeks after treatment finishes to recuperate. I am quite happy to take their advice as the job exhausts me even when I am fit and well! Do miss my little ones and work colleagues though.
Just like to say thanks to you all for keeping me going. this time last week I was feeling so dreadful and full of doom but I have picked up and that is largely thanks to your support and positive attitude. Take heart from this any of you who are going through a bad patch - it does pass/ease.
Anyway, off to have my tea now. May drop in later.
Love to all,
Debbie x
do any of you ladies with mortgages have critical illness cover? i luckily had this and although had to continue to make payments for the first few months i got a payout from them which made life so much easier.
weme happy birthday from me too
judes i had SH*T censored the other day… not really what id consider a swear word… even my mother has been known to say it!
and its not like we dont know what the words mean after all.
i had a no6 all over when mine started coming out last time then a no0… if i do decide to do it this time will just go with the no0… expecting it to start going again this time next week.
i really like raw veggies… when im chopping carrots and turnip for my soup i end up eating half of it… was hoping it would help with the bunged-upness but no luck… may have to resort to movicol!!!
debbie so glad your feeling better this week.
Lulu x