Starting Chemo in Nov 2011

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1741

Hi Ladies,

I lost a bit of weight with Tax but have put it back on over Christmas. Also the Tax doesn’t seem to have made any difference to my nails. I wear nail polish all the time and have a weekly manicure and my nails have always been quite strong.

I was given a ‘log book’ which details all the drugs I have been given as well as blood counts, neuts etc. and told to carry it with me at all times. I assumed that was standard but it seems not.

Good luck to all having chemo this week, especially Gill as we are on the same day. Are you changing regimes this week, Gill?

Take care all, Liz.

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Thanks lulu,

My bloods were high today also my neuts are 10.9 and white cells 13.8 they said I can still go ahead with chemo but little worried as I have got a slight cough and cold. It won’t make me any worse will it?

Thanks xxx

1743

hello dear november crew

i’ve missed you the past four days, haven’t looked at the forums at all, so many posts to catch up!

happy new year to y’all. i had a good time in bournemouth, really lazy and lots of food and books and telly and chats. it was really good for me to get away i think. i was a bit morose on new year’s night but stayed up to watch jools and drink champagne.

came back on the train today but was stuck for two hours while they cleared trees off the track. what weather!

lulu and gill that’s great you finish chemo next month. gill when’s your birthday? we’ll have to arrange a group sing along. maybe we can all sing at noon, and you’ll have to sit and receive the vibrations.

jackie i hope you’re feeling better, let us know how you’re doing.

christine i haven’t got a wig altho there’s an old party wig i’ve worn a few times. i might try another party wig, maybe a violet bob? but i think those cheap ones are even less comfortable. i have loads of hats but am getting sick of the way i look really.

shelle sorry you’ve not been well. how were the sales? very brave to take on the crowds.

daysie that’s great that you’re researching venues. i wouldn’t mind blackpool but understand others might not. are we insisting on a jacuzzi? maybe not.

pimk princess and chello good luck for chemo tomorrow. hope it goes well.

treeze i hope you get your answers tomorrow. it’s horrible to be delayed.

LL sorry to hear about your friend. it must be great for her to have you around.

i think i’ve missed loads of posts but i will catch up. did i tell you my friends are getting together to remake my bathroom? i came home today to find all the tiles knocked off the wall, so no going back now. it’s so kind of them it almost hurts.

and good luck to everyone switching to Tax, you’ll have to let us all know how it goes.

love love love, judes

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i didn’t get any booklet to write se’s etc in. the only thing i was given and told to always carry with me is a little card with all emergency no and what chemo drugs i’m on.

Liz - No i’m staying on same regime, tax, carbo and herceptin, i’ll be thinking of you on thursday

Welcome back Judes, we’ve missed your posts, glad you had a good time.
My b’day is a week on Fri, OMG, I’ve just realised its friday 13th!! Pah, can’t have anymore bad luck, And i did notice when i PM’d you that yours is soon and same year as me too, joint birthday song maybe :slight_smile:

Gill x

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Lol Gill I just read that as a joint birthday snog! Hehe!

PP having high bloods won’t make you any worse… It’s if your bloods are low then you get an infection they can rise very high… But if they are high because you are having injections to boost them then it’s absolutely fine.

Liz I tried the nail polish on tax but hasn’t made any difference… My nails are fine…finger tips are a wee bit tender but with or without nail polish they haven’t changed.

Gill our log book isnt for us to fill in except for SEs it’s the nurse in the unit who records blood results etc.

But you can ask them to give you your blood results… Usually they are all recorded on one print out as it gives you a running total so maybe they could photo copy it for you.

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Hi all and Happy New Year!
I’ve been back on-line for a few days but feeling exhausted after third FEC and only picked up on day nine after treatment. I began reading all the playing CC stuff and – no kidding – went dizzy and almost had a black-out! I couldn’t believe it! Well, you know what they say about women and cats; err, let’s not go there…
So many posts to catch up on here but with boys back at school tomorrow, and having had no energy to do anything for over a week, I’ve much dull housework to do instead. Doh!
My bc news: I’ve got a bit of a Rod Stewart wig and a picc line fitted. I’ve had to change the dressing a couple of times and am still waiting for a district nurse to phone. It’s settled down and at least is better than the chemo going in my hand as that vein is still sore a month on. Someone mentioned cannula in hand; I’d suggest requesting a picc line. Looks like I’m converted Jean! Hope you get back on-line soon.
Anyway, my Tax is Friday 13th. I’ll wish you Happy Birthday Gill! I’m dreading the Tax as worry it will be worse than FEC. Good luck Lizzy; I’m all ears, yeah literally! I’ll attempt to post my mug shot with Rod Stewart on my swede sometime soon.
Hey Judes, wasn’t Sandy Shaw A-Mazin’! Those legs! On a 65 year old! Unbelievable but she was so cool, and Cyndi Lauper’s hit from our youth; not the blues stuff, I thought she was gonna fall over then! It was great. Was it LIVE? Just kiddin’!
Well, here’s wishing the good times will roll for us all during the whole of 2012 and way down the line; into infinity and beyond… JUST GOOD TIMES 'cause girls just wanna have fun, just wannah, they just wannaAAHH! x

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Hi All

You have all been busy posting today, have read all the posts but I am not up to replying to each post but thinking of you all.

I have had first tax today. When i got to the hospital they toldme that from the blood test taken at my local cottage hospital on Friday that my neuts nwere low 0.9 and they didn’t seem to thinkI would be having chemo. I had my bloods taken again and my neuts had gone up to 12. This was because of the steroids which I had started taking yesterday.

Anyway nI was pleased because I had my first Tax. The nurse didn’t sit with me for this it was given by infusion. I had a saline drip first whilst I was waiting for my blood test results, then I had tax which took 1 and a half hours, followed by some water infusion which didn’t take long and then I could leave when I was ready. I didn’t have any problems with the tax going through. It was given slowly fot the first half hour and then speeded up for the 1 hour. The nurse told me of any problems that I could get whilst having the tax and gave me a buzzer to ring for her if these happened. I didn’t get any problems whilst having it. After it I felt a little sickly and a little bit odd/unwell but couldn’t really explaing how I felt. I just came home and rested in the chair but when I bent down to pick something up of the floor I did feel ill so I have been resting in bed since. I took some Domperidone because I felt sickly. I have managed to eat a good tea. I am also being given Emend. All I can say at the moment is from my experience so far is don’t worry about the tax I found it much easier to have than FEC so good look to all those of you who are about to have your 1st tax.

I have also been given antibiotics to start taking onSaturday. Why do we get these with tax and not fec?

I haven’t been given a log book but I do keep a daily diary of any ses and how I am feeling and a note of when I take any tablets and I find this really helps and I can make any notes from this diary ready for questions for my onc.

Lulu - so sorry to hear about your friend Elaine. Sending you big hugs and my sympathy.

Gill - glad you mentiond the emergency card, Ihave one, but I forgot to ask them today if I now need a new one to show that I am on tax.

Lynn - sorry you have had to join us but you are very welcome on here.

Any way take care everbody wishing you all well.

Goodnight now, hope I can sleep tonight, only got 3 hours last night and then I tossed and turned for another 3hours so have been very tired today.

A xx

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Evening Ladies

Good to see you haven’t lost the ability to chat whilst I’ve been snoozing, must remember to check in more often cos I struggle to catch up, then by the time I do I’m ready for another nap :slight_smile: Glad to here most of you are doing ok and enjoyed the festivities.

LL sorry to hear about your friend. It’s a s**t place to be and a club no-one wants to join but you meet such wonderful people.

I’ve learned… that even when you think you have no more to give, when a friend cries out to you, you will find the strength to help.

Gill, I wont forget your birthday cos it’s the same as my dads :slight_smile:

The wig/hat debate: Well I swing both ways (wig or hat):wink: I love my wig and do wear it when out and about but surprisingly (never thought I would be) I’m really comfortable going commando and have stopped bothering when I answer the door etc. I actually wish the weather was warmer so I didn’t have to bother with a hat. Do take care though when removing your wig in the company of small children, my grt nephew spent the rest of the day trying to pull his hair off after I removed mine!!

For those awaiting the dreaded TAX I’m now day 6 and have found it not too bad :slight_smile: I haven’t felt sick once (yeeeaaaaayyyyyy) and although the steroids kept me awake it was only for 1 day after treatment, then I zonked. Fingertips are a bit sore, I seem to have had quite a few hot flushes (may not be connected!) and I’ve had a bit of bone pain (quite uncomfortable) but paracetamol helps. I’ve also had to self inject from day 5 and was a little worried but have found it really easy and painless to do. I did worry that I’d be able to do it myself cos I’m ok with needles as long as I don’t watch, which is a bit hard (not watching) when I’m the one sticking the needle in!! Perhaps it was the thought of having to ask OH if I couldn’t do it myself :wink: I also feel like the fog is starting to lift and I can function better :slight_smile:

To all of you having treatment this week, good luck, may all your SEs be itsy bitsy teeny weeny ones. I’ll have to do some work on the spreadsheet cos it’s got a little mixed up with all the changes over xmas.
t.t.f.n.
L4W

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Audrey glad your first TAX went through well and it’s great to hear that L4W has had minimal SE’s. I’m still due another FEC before I start tax so I’m am very interested to get the groups reviews on this TAX experiences. I think I’ve had it relatively easy on FEC based on some of the SE’s experienced by others…so here’s me thinking the TAX is goona get me.

Welcome back Jude’s glad you had a great time and pleasant happy new year to you too Hun xxx now have cyndi’s song in my head lol

liz- do you have manicures wilts on chemo? My friend bought me a manicure/pedicure session for Chimborazo but I’m sure I read somewhere it’s best not to? Can anyone clarify? Or was it about not messing with cuticles?

christine - I have pointed my friend to the forum and told her just to read if she isn’t in the mind to talk, hopefully she will do. Sorry to read that your aunts comment upset you, was a bit of an odd question so I can see why it upset you…just remember how beautiful you are, don’t let anyone tell you otherwise. It’s what’s in the heart that truly matters.

I spent all afternoon watching Jane Austens Pride & Predudice …oooooh Mr Darcy!!

jackie…thinking of you still, hope today is a better day for you.

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Sorry for odd words in my posts…this iPad’s autocorrect seems to add words I wasn’t planning on using!

What the heck is chrimborazo when it’s at home? Lol - is that a new word!!!

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L4W glad your doing ok after your tax, and Audrey you too. The tax effects aren’t immediate and it usually after a day or two you feel bad but generally doesn’t cause nausea… I do get a little nausea but the carboplatin I’m on is one of the nausea inducing chemos so feel pretty pleased iv not been too bad… Do have awful indigestion, constipation, sore mouth and generally feeling pretty naff tonight though :frowning:

Audrey not everybody gets ABs on tax I get an injection to give myself the day after Chemo instead… Although stupidly forgot to doit on Friday and only remembered on sat… eejit that I am!

Pleasant looking forward to seeing your Rod Stewart wig.

Nanite lovely ladies xxx

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Lulu, Yeah was about day 3/4 before I started to ache but am hoping the onc didn’t lie when she said it should only last a few days!! Did forget to say that mouth/tongue has been sore and food doesn’t taste good (not even my cheese & onion sandwiches:-() sort of tastes like everything has a wax coating but not as horrible as the metallic taste with FEC.

LL, en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chimborazo_%28volcano%29 - so you have your own volcano!?! I was advised not to have manicures in case of infection but I’m sure someone mentioned having gel nails done all the way through TAX.

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morning ladies

i meant to post this last night but i didn’t push ‘submit’ twice, still on my laptop this morning (what can i say?):

hey gill

don’t they say friday 13th can go either way? if not they should … yes, mine is the 16th, i hadn’t realised it was so close. maybe we should ask L4W to do another spreadsheet …

i’m so tired, off to bed now. i’m reading joanthan frantzen’s freeom. which is lovely. sleep well all.

xx

update soon xx

1754

Hello all.

Quick update - very tired today as I was so tense I could not sleep much last night - finally took Temazepam after midnight so very groggy!!

I have managed to get some sense out of someone at the hospital, although have not managed to actually speak to a doctor - they are somewhat elusive aren’t they?! My neuts were 0.84 yesterday, so not awful but annoyingly close to the magic number where they would have gone ahead. Never mind, must now find some nice things to do until then. I’m hoping they’ll give me GCSF on the next cycle so I don’t find myself in this position again, it’s so frustrating especially as it was my penultimate one, and I was anticipating being finished by the end of January!

Lisa - Pride and Prejudice! How I love it - was it the Colin Firth and Jennifer Ehle one? In my opinion by far the best, Keira Knightley film not a patch on it! I am happy to discuss if you don’t agree with me. Sorry to hear about your friend - I am sure you will be a source of strength for each other.

L4W - laughed at the thought of your nephew trying to take his hair off! How cute.

Who else is having treatment next week? Weme are you up there then? If so PM me maybe we can arrange a meet.

Judes hope your mates are not keeping you awake while they’re doing your bathroom makeover!

Good luck for all doing the chemo today.

xx

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Hi All

Sounds like we all getting on with things now that the festivities are all over. My next chemo is on 19th Jan with a visit to the surgeon on 31st to discuss mx which I am really really dreading more than the chemo. Up to now I’ve been able to put it out of mind as something that doesn’t need to be though about but now I’ve got a date to discuss it it seems more real. I reckon that it will happen beginning of March with my last chemo currently expected to be on 9th Feb, so looking forward to that one though!

I hope all those getting chemo this week don’t suffer too much, especially those starting tax - that’s one I’ve had from the start! strange how they change what you’re getting half way through isn’t it?

Judes I envy you a new bathroom, I am thinking of moving house but have put it on hold until after all this is over, though it doesn’t stop me looking to see what’s around and wanting to do it sooner rather than later, the only thing that puts me off is the thought of having strangers trapse around my house looking at it when I put it on the market - that and the thought of having to try and keep it tidy all the time just in case - oh, and also the though of having to pack everything without a OH help, so much to sort through before I can move I thinks!

Good luck to everyone this week, may your se’s be little.

Weme

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HI lsdys just had disrict nurse in for bloods ,just hopeing they will be ok for my 3x chemo tomorrow as couldnt have them last time as bloods were low so its fingers crossed , hope every one doing ok .
HAPPY NEW YEAR TO ONE AND ALL LRTS HOPE THIS YEARS A GOOD ONE XXX

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Afternoon ladies
Well went sale shopping again today to Stratford upon Avon. Some bargains in Monsoon/assessorize 70% off so happily brought some lovely earrings (several pairs) and gloves for Christmas presents next year!
One problem though picked up a gorgeous necklace for my daughter but when I got back there was a gold clutch bag instead :frowning: I would have normally noticed stuff like that but dont seem to these days, just have enough energy to keep going let alone think!

Also I find I am less tolerant now, for example I was in Boots and had picked up several purchases, and was waiting at the till in a queue, when the transaction in front of me had finished the sales girl looked at her watch and just walked off, her colleague on the next till saw this and then served the man behind me…I just put my basket on the counter and walked out! I would never have done that before, they were luckily I didn’t shout at them.

My personality has changed I am much more “bolshey” now (think thats spelt wrong! Now totally creamed crackered. On my good days I seem to think I can do much more than I can. Off for a snooze me thinks… Shelle xx

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Hello Lovley Ladies

Happy New Year to All,

Lulu, sorry to hear about your friend, very sad, I lost my sister to Cancer 2 years ago on Xmas Eve she was only 42 so hard on the whole family, my prayers are with them, and you x

I would Defo be up for meeting up wherever you choose!

Starting Tax next week, Oncologist on Monday Tax on Tuesday, After FEC 3 havnt been able to shake off infections, still taking the Antibiotics. Bit worried on the new SEs.

Does anyone else seem to be getting “Hot” never had a hot flush, my friend says it is not that because I dont feel physically hot , but I am boiling (savin a fortune on oil bill)

Cant get on with wig! Hats and scarf feels better, everyone keeps saying what a small head, (pinhead) used to have a cat named that because of his fat body… no comments please!
Love to You All, Diane xx

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Hi November ladies,

Pissed off isn’t the word but aarrgghh!

Went to hospital this morning for chemo 3, had to drive 20 mins to drop kids off then back again to get to the hospital for 9am, was called through they took one look at me and said No!

Was so disappointed as thought I’d be half way through, they said bloods were high yesterday but it was still ok to go ahead but today said they were high because their trying to fight a throat infection and cold I picked up so been delayed till Monday.

Was told to go home take anti biotics and rest, picked the kids back up and all they do is run around screaming and fighting and I just can’t cope with it. Feel like crawling up in a ball and crying my eyes out

Sorry for the moan xxx

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Good Afternoon

Since having my TAC cancelled last friday I am now in a week 4 of my cycle and feeling pretty good… Though it means I am able to do full days of work instead of my normal half days :slight_smile:

I am due to have my first TAC this friday 6th January so it was good to read both L4Ws and Audreys comments. I hope the SEs are not too bad as reading previous treads it looked as if Tax was worse that FEC, though I know as everyone says we are all different and react in different ways.

It would be great to meet up, I live in the Midlands so happy to go anywhere :slight_smile:

Lulu I was really sorry to hear about your friend Elaine, she sounded like a lovely lady.

On the hats/scarfs/wigs front I am a hats person so I cant wait for Trudis hats to become available.

Jean i hope you are starting to feel better.

Linda
xx