Hi there Stars. Hope you are enjoying your glass of wine Nikki, I’m trying to be good and not have one . Still taking the diazapam at the moment so probably not the best idea! Don’t need an excuse to fall over. I did that yesterday walking the dog! Well done Sam for raising all that lovely money. You certainly do deserve a very large glass of vino. So chemo starts for the Stars tomorrow. Good luck and best wishes Avonlady. You know we will all be thinking of you, and anyone else who is in the firing line for something tomorrow. Feel really guilty that I’m not in the kitchen organising meals for the freezer but I do have a son who has said if you don’t feel like cooking for us then I will do it for you. Bless him . Regarding cold cap my oncologist said even if you manage to keep your hair through FEC if you are following it with Taxotere it will fall out regardless. This is my treatment course so I’m not going to bother. Hence wig already bought and order for AnnaBandana about to be placed. Had my dental check up today. Everything is ok, just a clean and polish, but he wants to see me again after chemo has finished and before my op. He did say if you have a healthy mouth to start with that will help but it won’t necessarily prevent mouth ulcers. Great! Good to see we have some useful help and tips coming in. Hopefully they will help to make the next few months a bit more bearable. Now we just need to get the laughter started. Don’t know how easy that will be when we all feel like s**t but I’m sure we’ll all have a damn good try. Keep strong, ladies, keep smiling . Love and hugs to all. x
Well here it is so far…hope it bloody works
NME/DIAG. DATE/TMNT. NUMBER. LOCATION
Avonlady/no details. 28/8. #1 No details
Rachels/WLE gde3 ER/PR/HER2- 29/8 FEC-T. #1. Reading
HEvg123/MX/ANC(3/?). 29/8 FEC-T. #1. Kent coast
Jo43/WLE/ANC(2/?). 30/8 FEC-T. #1. Bucks
Gold63/MX. 30/8 no details. #1. No details
PTB/no details. 3/9 FEC-T. #1. No details
Tracey46/no details. 3/9 no details. #1. No details
Ally51/no details. 3/9 no details. #1. No details
hg12/no details. 4/9 FEC-T. #1. No details
Beam67/WLE gde3. 6/9 FEC-T. #1. No details
Barbarella63/MX ANC(2/16)gde2 ER+PR/HER2- 9/9 FEC-T. #1. Lincoln
Frenchfancy/MX/ANC(8/22)gde3 ER/PR+HER2- 9/9 FEC-T. #1. Chester
Cinderssarah/WLE/ANC(1/16). No date yet.
NIkki49/MX/ANC(0/11). ". ". Fareham
Hazey85/MX/ANC(24/43)gde3 ER/PR/HER2+. ". ". Warwicks
Elma55/MX/ANC(12/15)gde3ER/PR/HER2- ". ". Chichester
Bonnie8862/MX/ANC(14/16)gde3HER2+ER/PR- ". ". Gatwick
Samjs/WLE. ". ". Northants
Sarahsomething/MX/ANC. ". ". Berkshire
Jinxy12. Kent
Austigirl/MX. No other details
Thebatman. No other details
S
Can I b e added to stars . … Tnbc 3 fec 3 tax … start Friday 30th
Hi fellow Stars,
Thanks so much to Barbs for getting this list sorted. I’ve been trying to check in regularly but find I’m losing track of some of us already. This does not bode well for the coming months. I have a terrible memory at the best of times.
For Avonlady, Rachels, Hevg123, Jo43 and Gold 63 who get this show on the road this week, really hope you can rest a little easier without all the stress after your first session. I think this is probably the one we all worry about the most. Also hoping the se’s are few and manageable for everyone.
For those of us waiting for results, appointments and start dates, I hope you get the good news you are waiting for and don’t have to wait too long for everything else. The waiting is one of the worst parts of all this. Hate it! L
Starting to think about all the stuff we still need to do around the house/prep for treatments but finding it hard to get motivated. I know time is going to run out soon so I know I have to at some point. I have a list as long as both arms but it’s going to have to wait a few days longer as managed to get a few days booked for short break before this really takes a hold of everything. Will probably spend most of it prioritising for when we get back but a change of scenery will hopefully allow us to put things into perspective a bit. Am also going to have a good look at all the suggestions/tips to help us get through these next few months as smoothly as possible.
Can I just give a big shout out to Sam as well? Congratulations & a fantastic job on your Strawberry Tea. J Well done you!!
Anyway, time for bed now as early start tomorrow.
Goodnight Stars everywhere. Stay strong and shine as brightly as you like!!!
Morning Stars,
Still shattered after the Strawberry tea but another busy day as 3 family birthdays today. A lady off this site actually came to the tea yetserday, she finished her treatemnt a while ago but I had chatted on her to her as she lives locally to me. It was so lovely to meet her and her husband and she even won a raffle prize.
Good luck Avon Lady for you first sessions. Starting to feel real now my onc appointment is less than a week away. Need to go shopping at teh weekend to stock up on supplies- manage dto get lemon and ginger tea from home bargains for 99P not sure I will like it as I don’t drink tea- do these teas actually taste of tea?
Gold63 are you a potty mouth then? ha ha
Hazey and Jo- really know I should do some bulk cooking (6 in our house) but at the mo I can’t be bothered. Maybe my onc appointment on Monday will kick my arse into gear!!! What are good things to cook that freeze well?
Sam xx
Morning stars, just popping in from the amazing Augusts to wish avonlady good luck for today. Hope all goes smoothly today and your side effects are kind to you. Try and drink as much water today and for the next couple , it really can help. Karen xx
Slightly updated list
NME/DIAG. DATE/TMNT. NUMBER. LOCATION
Avonlady/no details. 28/8. No details
Rachels/WLE gde3 ER/PR/HER2- 29/8 FEC-T. #1. Reading
HEvg123/MX/ANC(3/?). 29/8 FEC-T. #1. Kent coast
Jo43/WLE/ANC(2/?). 30/8 FEC-T. #1. Bucks
Gold63/MX. 30/8 no details. #1. No details
PTB/no details. 3/9 FEC-T. #1. No details
Tracey46/no details. 3/9 no details. #1. No details
Ally51/no details. 3/9 no details. #1. No details
hg12/no details. 4/9 FEC-T. #1. No details
Beam67/WLE gde3. 6/9 FEC-T. #1. No details
Barbarella63/MX ANC(2/16)gde2 ER+PR/HER2- 9/9 FEC-T. #1. Lincoln
Frenchfancy/MX/ANC(8/22)gde3 ER/PR+HER2- 9/9 FEC-T. #1. Chester
Cinderssarah/WLE/ANC(1/16). No date yet.
NIkki49/MX/ANC(0/11). ". ". Fareham
Hazey85/MX/ANC(24/43)gde3 ER/PR/HER2+. ". ". Warwicks
Elma55/MX/ANC(12/15)gde3ER/PR/HER2- ". ". Chichester
Bonnie8862/MX/ANC(14/16)gde3HER2+ER/PR- ". ". Gatwick
Samjs/WLE. ". ". Northants
Sarahsomething/MX/ANC. ". ". Berkshire
Jinxy12. Kent
Austigirl/MX. No other details
Thebatman. No other details
Doh…sent the old one
Try again
NME/DIAG. DATE/TMNT. NUMBER. LOCATION
Avonlady/no details. 28/8. No details
Rachels/WLE gde3 ER/PR/HER2- 29/8 FEC-T. #1. Reading
HEvg123/MX/ANC(3/?). 29/8 FEC-T. #1. Kent coast
Jo43/WLE/ANC(2/?). 30/8 FEC-T. #1. Bucks
Gold63/MX. 30/8 no details. #1. No details
PTB/no details. 3/9 FEC-T. #1. No details
Tracey46/no details. 3/9 FEC-T. #1. No details
Ally51/no details. 3/9 no details. #1. No details
hg12/no details. 4/9 FEC-T. #1. No details
Beam67/WLE gde3. 6/9 FEC-T. #1. No details
Barbarella63/MX ANC(2/16)gde2 ER+PR/HER2- 9/9 FEC-T. #1. Lincoln
Frenchfancy/MX/ANC(8/22)gde3 ER/PR+HER2- 9/9 FEC-T. #1. Chester
Pips64/no details. 30/9 FEC-T. #1. No details
Cinderssarah/WLE/ANC(1/16). No date yet.
NIkki49/MX/ANC(0/11). ". ". Fareham
Hazey85/MX/ANC(24/43)gde3 ER/PR/HER2+. ". ". Warwicks
Elma55/MX/ANC(12/15)gde3ER/PR/HER2- ". ". Chichester
Bonnie8862/MX/ANC(14/16)gde3HER2+ER/PR- ". ". Gatwick
Samjs/WLE. ". ". Northants
Sarahsomething/MX/ANC. ". ". Berkshire
Jinxy12. Kent
Austigirl/MX. No other details
Thebatman. No other details
If anyone wants an email copy PM me with you address, I think it’s slightly clearer on email everything’s a bit squished on here and I can’t get the spacing any better!
Frenchfancy its you and me together girl! Go us? I’m in at 2 on the 9th how about you? So far I have got…
Lemon and ginger tea (doesn’t taste anything like tea Sam)
Ginger biscuits
Pineapple and ginger ice lollies
In ear thermometer
Toothbrush sanitizer
Thrush cream
Mouthwash
Wig
Blender for days I don’t feel like eating figured I could whizz some smoothies and drink them instead
Laxatives
Antibacterial hand wash
Need to get
Seabands
Baby toothbrush
Gaviscon
Eyedrops
Can’t think of anything else? Have I missed anything do you think? Bloody expensive having cancer!!!
Sam I’m thinking of making a load of chicken soup incase I don’t want much, figured if I wanted proper food I’d let someone else cook it for me (well gotta pull the cancer card sometimes!) I’ve found another hat site it’s called surf dome.com not as cheap as annabandanna but has a HUGE selection of hats maybe worth a look! I’ve not ordered any scarves but think ill get some sleep caps and a big slouchy beanie hat, I really dread being bald I think the thought of that and the risk of getting lymphodeama has taken over from the initial cancer horror! I am paranoid that my arm is swollen even when it looks ok but it feels a little tight! God this cancer lark is gonna age me by about 50 years ill have to have a facelift at the end of it lol
Good morning Stars. Thanks Barbs for the list, can’t believe there are 23 of us already. Useful tips list as well. I will add them to mine. Think someone might have already mentioned it but silk pillowcases can be a real comfort when we are all doing our Matt Lucas impression. I’m gonna have nothing left in my bank account if this carries on! Does anyone know what time Avonladys appt. is. I can’t stop thinking about her. If you get chance to read this AL before you go remember I’m holding your hand along with everyone else I’m sure. Just realised Frenchfancy my location does not appear on our list but I am in Wrexham area, so not too far from you. Seems like we are a well scattered bunch. Three of us then on the 3rd, Tracey and Ally. I’m in at 1.30. Actually feel a bit wobbly while I’m typing this. I think reality is beginning to dawn. There are not many days to wait now. Must stay strong. Think that will have to be my mantra. Love and hugs to all x
Hiya I think I’ll be starting my chemo in September so looks like I’ll be a September Star. I was diagnosed end of June, had mastectomy and SNB 25th July results of biopsy showed 4 of the 7 nodes had cancer cells in them so had to have a clearance of the remaining nodes on the 22nd August. Got to have chemo followed by Radio.
Diagnosis was IDC, grade 2, HER2 indeterminate (got to wait for results from biopsy on lymph nodes) Oestrogen +
Struggling emotionally as unfortunately a really close friend passed away unexpectedly just before my cancer diagnosis, they would have been the person I would have turned to for emotional and practical support. I haven’t had time to grieve properly for them and am having to deal with this.
However I do have a supportive family and friends so will get through this.
A little bit about me. I’ve just turned 53, live on my own aside from Bonnie and Ellie my two lovely Labradors. Work as a secretary but been off sick since the diagnosis.
Welcome BonEllie to the Stars where alongside your family and friends you will find us ready and waiting with all the support we can give to help you through this tough time. Best wishes to you. x
Just a thought . Re eyes drops. If you don’t like putting drops in your eyes, like me because I’m a big baby when it comes to anything going near your eyes (can’t even put eyeliner on), there is a product available called Eye Logic Spray (formerly Clarymist) which you actually spray on to closed eyes. I kid you not! It’s very good for sore, dry eyes. Not much cop for infections though so its back to the eye drops for that. Sorry. Can’t put eyeliner on and I’m just about to embark on six sessions of chemo. I think I need help. Lol. xx
Hi stars,
Welcome BonEllie, we are a growing group and all need and offer support. So feel free to moan, cry and hug whenver you need. x
Well I wanted a restful day but with 3 family bdays today it was shopping and visiting. Tomorrow will be calmer with only 1 bday and a meal out so at least I won’t have to cook.
Wondered if anyone else has this- In the evenings when I have no bra and pjs on I get pains in my boob near nipple and cancer site. Feels like I have a little man inside me stabbing me with needles- only just had this as I had been sleeping in a sports bra.
Ps: Had two more cheques arrive today for the fundraising and the total is now: £1025
Sam xx
Hi stars
Welcome BonEllie just echoing what the other stars say that we are all in the same boat together so will be here to support you as much as we can in this rollercoaster ride.
Samjs- that’s brilliant how much you’ve raised well done, I’m exhausted just reading your posts, glad it’s fun things you’ve been busy with though. Sorry I can’t help you on boob stabbing demon as I had mx, hoping it settles soon though.
Nikki49- how did you get on with having seroma drained?? I don’t think I can handle the cold capping and not being in control of it will or won’t fall out so think I’m gonna go for the shaved head Jesse j look ha ha no way I’ll pull it off like her though I’ll be more matt Lucas.
Avonlady- hope you got on ok today , big hugs. Let us know how you’re doing when you can.
Barbs- thank you for putting together the list, have also stolen a few things off your chemo shopping list too as I’m going this Saturday to stock up. Had my patch test for eyebrows today so hoping to get them done early next week- how long did it take yours to heal??
So I saw my onc today and i’ll be sharing the same cocktail as some of you the delicious FEC-T 8 cycles in total with herceptin and tamoxifen thrown in for good measure. Either start next week or week after but have to have an ECHO heart scan first and either picc line or portacath fitted. So bone scan tomorrow and hopefully that’ll be it for scans for a bit.
Good luck to Rachels and HEvg123 for tomorrow sending big hugs and hoping first one goes smoothly, let us know how you get on if you feel up to it.
Elma55- hope you got on ok with your results today, was thinking about you.
Take care all stars
Xx
Hello stars, and thank you so much for posting all the comments, I really appreciated the Who’s Who list, I will have to print myself a copy because I think I have chemo brain already and the treatment doesn’t start until the 6th.
Question - do any of you ever feel guilty for having cancer? I don’t even know if that is the right word, but I hate the effect it is already having on my relationship with my two sons (16 and 20), who are not interested in anything about it at all and have taken to being even more lazy than usual - school and uni holidays are to blame perhaps. I know I am more tetchy than usual, especially after receiving the call from the BCN yesterday confirming my pre-chemo appointment next Tues, then the real thing next Friday. Apparently according to my sons, it’s all me me me, but I can’t seem to help but be affected!
By the way, I will be attending the oncology unit in Cheltenham. Thanks for listening!
hi stars just a good one to have in is the drink laimon fresh its really refreshing when you have sore mouth and settles nausea too
highly recommend it
I even make a shandy with it with non alcoholic beer on week three when wanna get bloods up cos brewers yeast is good for wbc so am told lol
Barb are you on that naughty step yet!!! ha ha
Thank you for your lovely welcome.
Beam67, I don’t think I feel guilty but I do worry people around me will get fed up of me and the cancer.
I suppose to us it just totally takes over our lives and that’s just the way it is. I can’t physcially move without being reminded of it and I’ve visited hospital more times in the last few weeks than I had in my entire life up to now (including visiting other people who were ill).
I live alone so I don’t have to deal with family members living with me but I can imagine that they can find it very difficult to cope with but you have no reason to feel guilty!! Take care and keep strong.
Evening Stars, hope you are all ok, especially Avonlady after today’s event. Incidentally love and hugs to Rachels and HEvg123 for tomorrow. Hopefully you can all let us know how things went when you feel up to it.
Great to hear you are enjoying yourself Sam,that’s what’s needed, and well done again for raising all that money. You really are a star! Sorry I can’t help you with your boob problem because as you’re probably aware I haven’t had surgery yet but I really hope you ladies will still be on hand when I do.
Answer to Beam67. I did feel guilty when I was first diagnosed because this just turns your whole world upside down and all the plans you have made get thrown out of the window and it’s very easy to start blaming yourself because what is happening to you obviously has an impact on everyone else close to you. We like to think that we are going to get support from those around us but some are not as good as others at giving it, but that is not your fault. One thing to remember though is that this actually is all about you and however hard it is you have to try and put yourself first. It’s the only way you will have the strength to tackle what lies ahead. I’m sure your boys love you very much and this just might be the only way they can handle things at the moment. Not always easy for boys to understand this situation. Give them time. Not sure my son would have been any different when he was their age. Take care.
Thanks Chezzap for that drink tip. The shandy sounds a good idea too. Yet another item for the shopping list. Where can I buy it.
Love and hugs to all . xx