Hiya Jayne
I’m also trying to plan things to enjoy and look forward to. Hope you have great holiday. It will be good to get some sunshine and boost those Vit D levels and enjoy some R & R. Planning having a dog fits the bill as well.
I didn’t give up on cold cap tho through gritted teeth after hair thinned. Kept reasonable amount so was worth it in the end. Wear hat to go out as bit draughty and no thinning noticeable. I look a bit like Ken Dodd when I wake up but settle it down with serum. Be interesting to what’s what happens with it now…
xxx
Mine sounds exactly the same - I have tapped into the May thread to see if anyone has any tips. Onc told me to carry on wiith the care regime for 6-8 weeks to make sure hair it stable.
Are you having Rads? I dont have a date yet for those.
Just found out my daughters school are now entering her for GCSE science in year 10 when we are in Florida - grr, I went to so much trouble to check there would be no state set exams while we were away, this new regime with GCSEs is a nightmare (seem t remember you have on going through them).
Good to be focussed on something other than side effects tho x
Thanks raonaid, I was feeling abit alone. Probably feeling a bit low as well.
Had 3 lovely cards from friends over past 2 days which has cheered me up. I feel reluctant to go out in case I catch a bug, just do not want to take the risk.
Well lets try to keep smiling.
xx
susan mary - go out if you feel like it - getting out and about is important - don’t worry about the bugs - I have been lucky ( iknow others haven’ tbeen) but we have had our two year old grandaughter twicee a week and she always has a runny nose or cough and I have been ok - it is so easy to lose confidence in yourself through all this - do as much as you can - thanks for all the hair advvice - am longing to have hair again!!
Just go my Radio planning meeting on th 1st of feb - it says that Taxotere and radiothrapy need to be a bit distant cos it can increase the side effects so will probably start in the middle of Feb and then it will be all over!!!
Hi. Just managed to sort out a logging in, but have been reading posts since starting chemo in October. it has helped all the useful hints and tips. Thank you all.
Am due fec 6 next week. Have painful vein where chemo goes in but hope nurses will realise the problem and find another vein to put it down. using cannula each time. I am hoping this is not permanent, as I now have 2bad arms.
i have been back at work, sat at a desk. Find it scary to go back each time. Colleagues have been supportive. Since they are all men I can hardly complain about the wash’n’go hairstyle. They did movember while i lost it all! Although did ask one colleague about how to sort out current Wispy hairs that have grown during chemo. Everyone was told while I was away, and there was a collective sigh of relief when I first walked in. Find that more people guess from headscarf. Couple of colleagues have wives in treatment too, so get to hear their stories as well.
looking forward to a snowy weekend. Hope everyone stays well for next few weeks.
cheers!
Hi Jayne, we got Rio from Labrador Rescue. They are a brilliant org that matchless you to a Labrador needing a home. He is a gorgeous dog and we love him to bits. He loves the grandsons and they love him. Can let you have contact details. They will take your cat into account and only home a Labrador that gets on with cats with you.
Kirstie, the remotes have said they love me looking after them as they don’t have to work so hard. He may have a job getting them back
Perkinjeff, how exciting! nothing like a baby to remind us of how great life is.
thanks for the hair dye info Fifirosalie, I, like you will stick with he white hair to start with!
have a good weekend all
kay x
Thanks Kay, the contact details would be great.
Jayne x
Hello Pumpkins,
Waiting for snow here it has been forcast!!Pekinjeff I know what you mean about wanting your hair I cant wait all I have is a bit of fluff and a a very thin fringe 
My wig is almost like my hair slightly thicker shoulder length and blonde I dread what colour it will grow back!!It took me ages to get used to the wig I always felt so hot in it, but now I wear it if Im going out and bandana at home. It took me ages to grow my hair the length it was I was so upset when I lost it Now Im nearing the end of this horrid chemo I find myself thinking about other things my reconstruction, work, radiotheraphy, how long will my hair take to be reasonable,( I dont like short hair!!)
I still think of the day I first found the lump! How many times I checked it thinking it would just go away. How I cried and took myself of to the start of the journey the GP. After the first surgery I thought I had got off light felt not too bad was doing excercises and hoping to return to work then came the pathology report :(Masectomy within 4weeks chemo radiotheraphy,I just coud not take it in:( Well here I am only one chemo to go 24th Jan and radiotheraphy, You were all here to help me and somedays when I only read your posts it was still so comforting to know I wasnt alone, so thank you all for being here, Could not have done it without you all 
Im still in pjs so off to take a shower take care everyone xxx
Thanks for posting Kirstie- I can identify so much with what you have said. It is good to know we are not alone when we have the benefit of this forum.
I have recently found out that the change to Taxotere resulted in my tumour shrinking 50%! So good news that this chemo is doing good. My last one is due on 23/1- however I don’t feel like this is near an end. Instead I’ve now got got appointments about surgery in a few weeks. I haven’t thought too much about it until now as dealing with chemotherapy has been quite enough thankyou very much. However, whilst I know I’ll deal with it the same way- a stage at a time- it doesn’t stop me now being concerned about this next ‘unknown’.
I hope we’ll all stick around on this forum for a while yet even although we might start getting different treatments.
Hello everyone
My card from my sister arrived as usual to coincide with my worst post chemo days and as it was my last chemo she sent two quotes which I hope will resonate as you get to the end of this phase:
‘There is, in every true woman’s heart a spark of heavenly fire, which lies dormat in the broad daylight of prosperity, but which kindles up and beams and blazes in the dark hour of adversity’
and…
Adversity is like a strong wind. It tears away from us all but the things that cannot be torn, so that we see ourselves as we truly are.’
Jayne x
My last chemo is on the 23rd too Jane813, I hope we still continue to post I’d like to hear about all the pumkins as they move on to the next stage of treatment and out the other side.
Jaynem I loved those quotes, I think I’ll copy them onto my face book page.
I know what you mean about the hair Kirstie. I had long hair for most of my life, it was the one thing I liked about how I looked.
But mostly I want never to go through this again, this is the second time for me and I dont think I’d have the strength for another let alone it spreading elsewhere.
I spent the last 5 years with the spectre of cancer coming back and it did, my worrying did nothing but distract me from enjoying life. I am determined not to allow a dark cloud of cancer fear to ruin the next 5 years or indeed the rest of my life. I was talking to a friend of mine yesterday who was worried as an artist he was’nt leaving much of an inheritince for his kids. He said just a load of stone carvings in different places. But to my mind he has given them something much richer, his time,(he works at home and is a single parent) and lots of lovely memories the gift of that time allowed. I want to give myself, my daughter, husband and friends lots of good memories, that cant be taken away by anything, give them more of my time and give less to all the other stuff that sometimes feels like it can fill our lives but at the end leave us empty
Raonaid, I really feel for you having to go throught this twice, it was my first time and I really don’t want to have to go through it again. I am right in the middle of my ‘dip’ at the moment but luckily although physically I feel really rough, mentally this time I am ok because I know I only have another day or two and I will be fine.
I am glad you like the quotes, I have found them really inspiring and they always come just at the right time - thanks Linda (my sister).
I will keep posting, on to Rads next and I am sure we will be sharing our experience of that too. We also have some Pumpkins who have a few more weeks to go. I see some of the spring posts from last year are quite active so nice to keep in touch and see how we are all doing.
Take care
Jayne x
Hi all Pumpkins,
Haven’t got brain power or energy for individual comments that I’d love to make, except welcome to new Pumpkins, Jayne I love the quotes and Raonaid I was really moved by your post - thank you.
On day 4 of TAC 5 - good job there’s only one more as this body seems poisoned out, feeling pretty ropy, going to lay my head down now!
Lots of love to all Pumpkins xxxx
Little Bear - you have my sympathies!!! - today is day 10 and the first time I have felt anything like any thing - yesterday I felt as if I didn’t exsist because my body was just poison - this was my tac 5 too and I even felt I couldn’t bare another one - but today is another day!!! - hopefully it is my upturn now and yours will come
Raionid - thank you for your post - you have been so strong - you are also so right - this teaches you that life is about so much else than we sometimes get bogged down with - on the light side , I never did like housework but always did it - now I know in the scheme of things it doesn’t matter at all ( unless you like doing it!!!)I am jus t so glad to be nearing the end as Spring comes
love and hugs to all pumpkins everywhere- Janice
Hello brave Pumpkins…
Jayne - i too love your quotes, i hope you dont mind but i post them on facebook…
Well its been just over a week since FEC #5 and hopefully im coming through it. Had family over yesterday from Yorkshire so was lovely to spend the day with them. Was exhausted by 9pm tho…
Had really lazy day today - involved slobbing on the sofa, reading, watching typically dull sunday telly & watching the snow falling outside. Luckily Princess is at her dads so he will have been dragged out in it!! Doesnt look likes its going to settle tho - so no snow angels just yet!
Heartburn is quite bad this time again, despite omeprazole & gaviscon. Drinking loads of milk! Think eating too much moroccan couscous yesterday hasnt helped. Consider that a lesson learnt!!
Hopefully meeting with a friend for coffee (& no doubt cake!) tomorrow. Then having my hooves done again on Wednesday. Had to cancel last times due to bad cold so im well overdue!
Sorry to hear of you suffering with TAC…
Raionid - how brave are you?? You come across as a very strong woman & im sure you’ll keep kicking this horrid cancers ass!
Love to ALL pumpkins… XXX
Are we all liking the snow ladies x
Hi Gail
I would do if we had some! Weatherman says we may get it later in week - or not…certainly would blow the cobwebs away.
xxx
Hi
Ribby, it is great that you are posting the quotes, I know my sister would be pleased to know they are helping others x
Am struggling to get through the first week of FEC6, the cumulative effects are showing as it is taking longer each time to recover, thank goodness I only have 6 doses as I don’t think my body could take another and compared to lots of you I feel I have got off quite lightly - I know I will be fine and need to motivate mysef off the sofa! I did go to Costa for a cuppa with a friend this pm which was really nice but wore me out.
I like the snow but the cold weather isn not inspiring me to get out which I think I really need to do - even more reason to follow my dream of getting a dog this summer!!
Hope everyone is ok and those having their last chemos this week don’t get delayed by the weather x
Hi pumpkins. OH home from hospital and he s recovering well. Glad no more rushing back and forward to hospital. HAve bought in ready meals, pre-packed veg etc to make life easy his week as have chemo on Wednesday. I think am getting more tired wih each one, like you Jayne.
be soooo glad when its over!
have promised myself a day doing very little tomorrow, watching the snow. hope all have a good week
kay x
Hello Pumpkins
Just come in from a walk in the snow, came in looking like a snowman but had a lovely time with my phone camera.
I’m due to have FEC 5 on Friday so I want to make the most of the day, I had arranged to meet a friend,who has just finished her chemo, in the city, I had to travel and didn’t want to be the bald lady stuck in the snowdrift…so came to the site and there were no postings to look at!!
With 2 treatments to go (have you noticed how positive I have become…poisoning became FECing and now it’s treatment) I’m impatient to get to the end…February 8th so I’ll be amongst the last of the pumpkins to pass this finishing line.Thanks for staying around and sounding so cheerful Jayne - I’m beginning to feel the cumulative effects…and I’ve two more treatments to go.
Feeling extra sympathy for those on TAC…but it’s good to hear that it is shrinking those tumours. Hearing what you are going through puts my FEC experience into perspective.
Hoping Catzoo is keeping out of the spa…and that all Pumpkins are as well as they can be.
Kayteeb hope your OH recovers well…and that your chemo goes smoothly on Wednesday.
We are planning to take a cruiser along part of the River Shannon with some friends in May, my friend worked out that the power supply wouldn’t power a hair-drier…not a problem for me ! …
The hair/wig issue is one that rumbles on…the thought of having a freezing head during chemo put me off the cold cap so I’ve been a baldy since my hair fell out on day 14 of FEC 1.
I had prepared myself for it though; a trip to the wig fitters which was one of the low points of my journey, the wig I was persuaded to buy, because it looked like my hair, just wasn’t big enough. However I have managed to buy another one, which fitted me properly from directwigs.com. - if anyone else has been told that the normal size fits everyone they might find this company useful. (I’m 5’11" so my head is in proportion)
My friends who were coming round for a girly gossip have cried off because of the snow- I don’t blame them but you know how precious the good days are.
Here’s to good days being the norm… X