Hi everyone,
Well the docetaxel got me in the end had to rush to a &e last night got neutropenia, now stuck in hosp don’t know when I’m going home, really fed up stuck here, in isolation peeing like an old woman in a chair cos I’m not allowed to leave the room, have just been asked if I would like to be washed my a 20 year old! Male nurse said he’d wait behind the curtain as I peed, honestly isn’t chemo bad enough, this has to happen as well I just want to cry and cry and cry feel like its never going to end. Is this going to happen everytime after docetaxel, I hope not couldn’thandle this, hate hospitals, get no sleep, no privacy I have a portacath put in and they still stuck a cannula in my arm, cause I’m gona get lymphodeama at this rate! Sorry girls I’m tired and fed up feel like I. In jail the sun is actually shining outside I should be with my girls in a park not in a boiling hot hospital room argh!!!
Hope you all feeling better than I am. Girls x xxxx
Hi girls thanks for your comments about my good news. I only wish i could pass some of my good luck on to you all. Joyce and Rosie i’m sorry to hear you are in hospital. It seems i’m the only one who hasnt been admitted after Tax (yet). Do either of you have the injections inbetween your treatments? I do and the Onc said they are definately helping me cope with the chemo and that my bloods were fine on Thursday which was day 17 . Maybe you could ask if it would be possible to have them to stop you having to be admitted or becoming more vulnerable each time. Lauralable it definately is getting colder and i’m noticing it more without my hair. I tend to be wearing hooded jumpers a lot so that if i am a bit chilly i can just pop my hood up, problem is i look a bit like a thug or a chav though lol. Hazza dont be embarrassed for asking for help. There must be many women who have asked for support as this is a very big deal and takes some time to understand what we’re going through. I’m unhappy with my wig too which is why i dont like wearing it. I’m beginning to wish i’d chosen one with longer hair similar to what i had. My own hair was past my shoulders with a side parting and no fringe but my wig is a bit longer than chin length and has a fringe. I think the fringe hasnt been cut properly and doesnt suit me. Maybe i should take it to be re trimmed but i’m too scared to do that in case it looks worse afterwards. I have been feeling really good this week which is something i didnt think would happen after being hit by the Tax truck. I did a Twilight Race For Life in Southampton last night. Myself, my son and my sister all walked the 5k distance and have raised over £600 for Cancer Research Uk. Well i will cross my fingers and try to send you some healing vibes to all that are suffering.
Sian x
Hi Girls,
Hope you’re all doing okay as poss, I can’t believe how many of us have ended up in hosp with neutropenia, blimmin T. My temp did go up slightly the other day but that was in the ear and when I took it in the mouth it was normal. Does anyone know whether the key temps to watch for of 38 or 2 readings of 37.5 are oral or aural?
Are you out of hospital yet Rosie? I’m super surprised you’re not allowed to walk to a toilet or shower! Hugs.
Sian - nice one on your £600 & walking 5k!
Hazza - so glad for your cyst! how annoying bout your wig tho 
Maggie - hope you next dose went well
Think there are a few people we haven’t seen on here for a while so mickey24, mlesley, Quinny, little owl, Kate22! Mandymoo, Cornishgirl, NM76 and anyone I’ve missed, I hope you are all okay.
My head hair is starting to grow back, best way I can describe it is like peach fuzz! You know what’s mean when I say that, like the fuzz you get on the outside of peaches 
So much so my OH has started calling me Peachy!
Day #10 post Tax #2 & only SEs I have now are dulling aching in bones, oral thrush (coming to an end I think), numb tip of little finger on right hand (bloody weird!) and metallic mouth.
I think you all know I’m getting married in April? Well yesterday I found out I won a competition for a bridal makeover, manicures for my bridal party, goodie bag, champagne, some sweet treats and a money off voucher towards the dress of my choice at a local dress shop
Jelly xx
Hi Jelly maybe some of my good luck has been passed on, thats brilliant news about your competition win and couldnt have come at a better time.
I’m sending out a little wave to all the people Jelly mentioned who havent posted for a while just to let you know that we are thinking of you.
Sian x
Great news Jelly and how lovely to have something to look forward to:) you’ll enjoy getting to spend all that!and good news Sian about the shrinkage, I feel like mine has really shrunk but I thought that after FEC and it hadn’t much :s maybe wishful thinking on my part! I’m okay side effect wise, sleeping quite a bit at night, taste buds seem back, aches and pains wise it’s still really only my left side (the side with my lump-I’m totally paranoid about it and cinstanoly prodding myself, I know on chemo chances are its all fine but its hard not to let me mind wander when I’m sore or can feel like a fatty spot under the skin). And I can join you in the no hospital club so far Sian, I have an injection after chemo too that seems to be keeping my counts okay. Amazing to think in 9 days time ill have had my last lot, a couple of weeks of side effects hopefully afterwards… Then? Wonder how long after we have to keep up their rules? No more hair growth unfortunately, still baldy looking, maybe once its all finished it start. Hope everyone else is well
Hi all, Jellytot fantastic news about your win & I too have a peachy fuzz & I’m loving it x
Hope everyone is getting on ok, I have my 2nd tax on Friday but they are lowering my dose as it hit me so hard the last time, so keeping my fingers crossed that it won’t be so bad this time xxxxxxx
Hi everyone, I’m joining in very late, only just found this forum.
I too started chemo in July, 3 x FEC already and had my first tax out of 3 , on day 11 now and just a bit more tired. Nothing new there I’ve been tired for the last 7 years after the birth of my first child!!! No-one can ever prepare you for that and similarily for this no matter how much they try!!
So I’m due to have a double mastectomy, lump found in rightside but lots of tumours discovered both sides after MRI, that was a fun day. Still waiting for results of genetics to see if faulty BRCA 1,( thought I only had my dads knobbly knees) but that might lead to removal of ovaries which still seem to be in good working order, my periods are still regular as clockwork. Everytime I see my chemo consultant she says they will prob stop next month.
Is the tax worse for hair removal?? I still have my eyelashes/eyebrows and fuzz for head hair which my other half shaved off after 1st FEC. I still have to shave the lower half of my legs, come on give me a break, does the chemo stop working at my knee???
I lost all taste for the first 3 days with the tax but due to the steroids was constantly hungry. Is anyone else oversensitive to steroids, I’ve been given sedatives for night which have at least stopped me teleshopping at 2am!
Hope everyone keeps well this week.
Big hugs, Vicky xxx
Hi ladies
Jelly - glad to hear of your news about competition - everyone on here deserves a bit of luck after what you’ve all been through.
Toriachick - welcome on board.
Stiz - they lowered my dosage of tax last time and SEs have not been nearly as bad, Could sleep 20 hours a day and feel rough but apart from that I’m fine and well on way to recovery. After first tax (full dose) I think I was in delirium, should have been in hospital but too far gone. This is the trouble when you threaten your OH with physical violence if they don’t stop asking you how you feel - they stop asking and leave you alone!!
When I last saw onc I gave her a typed up list of SEs (oh I was in a mood that day). This week I got a letter in from hospital asking me to go for a US on my left thigh, I had to change the day cos it was on the Friday after chemo and I will probably still be on my hands and knees at that stage. Don’t know why they want this done but the first dose of tax did affect my thigh, i.e. burning sensation, To cut story short after mx surgery my left thigh was left numb, not painful doesn’t bother me any more.
OH sitting here coughing and splutterig - do I need this? Off to my bed for a couple of hours.
Keep well ladies
Maggie
Hi Vicky - Welcome to the Julyers thread.
I’ve found T okay for head hair loss (i’ve had 2 x t), in fact it’s growing back like a fuzzy peach Hair also growing on my legs and under my arms. I am losing my eyebrows and eyelashes though, one eyebrow is thinner than the other! My periods have been regular until T5 as I haven’t had one yet this round & it was due Saturday so we’ll soon see if it turns up or not… xx
Hi ladies!
2 weeks today since I had my 1st tax…I can only say it’s been a nightmare. makes me realise how lucky I’ve been with the 3 FEC. I more or less carried on with a reasonable social life. But I’ve been lying on the sofa or in bed this time. Ended up in hosp. when my temp. went up the Sunday afterwards. I had 2 readings of 37.5 and one of 37.8 which I didn’t think extreme but they sent an ambulance and I had the excitement of a 7 hour wait for admission in A and E. Sunday night in Blackpool A and E could not be betterd by any TV drama. Once on the ward I had lots of antibiotics poured into me intravenously and whem my temp had gone down and my bloods gone up I came out on the Thursday.
Sorry Rosie to hear of your humiliation in the side ward. It’s bad enough being so ill without your dignity being compromised! Maybe one day all side wards will have their own facilities!
I see the onc. on Thursday and I hope he will adjust the next chemo. The pain and exhaustion have been terrible, but I know you’ve all been suffering too so I mustn’t moan too much!
Vicky, I’m constantly hungry too even though I don’t feel well. I don’t know whether that’s good or bad. I’ll have to be back at Weightwatchers when it’s all over.
Jelly so pleased you’ve won the competition. That’s cheery news among so much that’s bad.
Sian, Maggie Lauralable…hope you’re all feeling better
Sian you mentioned injections to help with the white cell depletion - I just had one given by the district nurse the day after chemo. Maybe I’ll get extra this time.
Love to all
Joycexxxxx
Hi girls,
Just started to feel slightly normal again after session 5, hit me so much harder this time, more sick, more tired, more headaches etc etc. I guess our bodies will want a rest from this soon. thankgoodness there is only one more to go!
jelly, congrats on the competion win, its nice to have a little boost everynow and again!
Vicky -welcome to the forum!
Rosie - I shudder to think of anyone let alone a male nurse giving me a wash, hideous hideous hideous
I know I have started to feel better when I start fretting over the less important side effects of this treatment, such as my eyebrows! Both are now extremely thin, but my right one is patchy, I tried a little pencil on it and it looked terrible. Has anyone else tried to conceal a less than adequate brow?? If so what did you use?? My brows are very dark, but any dark brown pencils just look silly!
Just wanted to know have any of you girls done or have been offered genetic testing? I have a form to fill in where they assess your risk through family history and do genetic testing if they think its useful. Not sure I have enough cancer in my family to warrent a gentic test, but I am concerned for my daughter ( with me only being 31).
I hope all of you girls who are under the weather feel better soon
love and hugs, Claire xox
Hi Claire,
My eyebrowns are REALLY thin now too. I still just about have enough brows to give me a basic shape but nothing else
I’ve found this fab make-up for my eyebrows jellypongpong.com/collections.asp?CategoryId=3019 it’s got some eye brightener cream in there too which helps my black bags!
The eyebrow stuff is powder rather than pencil so it’s easier to use and not as obvious. The eyebrow powder stays on all day which is nice and i find pencil smudges/rubs off mine. There are also 3 colours to chose from, I blend them so use lightest at start of brow and very end, slightly darker leading to the middle on each side then darkest in the very top at the natural arch. I then smudge the whole lot with my little fnger so it all blends together.
It says sold out on the link i’ve given but you can pick it up on ebay ebay.co.uk/sch/i.html?_nkw=jelly+pong+pong+wide+awake+palette and other shops too i think.
How are your eyelashes doing? I’ve lost all my lower ones now but still have about 10 lashes on eye top eyelid. Hoping they cling on til the end - final chemo on friday next week.
Is the Genetic Test you mention the BRCA1/2 test? I haven’t been offered it but have no family history other than my paternal grandmother so not sure if I will be offered it or not.
Love to all,
Jelly xx
Hi Claire, I’ve been offered genetic testing, got an appointment on the 23rd of this month. I’ve got no family history on either side as far as we’re aware, my grandparents on my mums side both died of cancer but it wasn’t types that are genetic. I’m triple negative tho as far as we’re aware so I think I’ve been offered it coz there’s a slightly higher risk. I’ve decided to have it anyways tho it scares me and will open yet another can of cancer worms as fr as I’m concerned but its better to know than not know? I filled in the questionnaire as best as I can and sent it back. Will impact my surgery decisions as well coz obviously if its positive then the possobility of a lumpectomy or partial mastectomy are taken out of my hands.
my eyebrows are also very thin, I’ve only got about 6 eyelashes left on each eye on top, its def thinner on one side too I don’t really care any more to be honest, there’s so few left I can’t put mascara on anyways and I’ve been pencilling in the eyebrows with a no.7 eyebrow pencil I got at the looking good feeling better class. I never really had eyebrows anyways so it doesn’t look any different. Had to go to the gp this morning and get eyedrops tho coz the runny eyes seems sore and not nice today and I was worried it was going to develop into an infection :s I’ve also got what seems like a wee cyst on my stomach so got them to check that out too, all fun and games! 6 days till its done and counting…
Hi all,
Hope everyone is doing ok. I’m feeling good at the mo, I just keep thinking 4 weeks and the last round will be done, woo hoo. The novelty and liberation i felt of having no hair is starting to wear thin, ha ha.
Claire- I am currently waiting for my genetic test results which take about 12 weeks. Apparently everything points in that direction, two paternal aunts had ovarian cancer, I have bilateral tumours, only 37 years old and triple neg. I have 3 children and there is a 50/50 chance i will have passed the faulty gene on if i’ve got it. I have 2 boys and a girl.
Love and hugs to everyone.
Vicky xx
Hi all hope you are doing ok. I’ve been hit by the Tax truck again, it came on last night which is a day earlier than my 1st dose. I still cant believe how strange it makes me feel. Whenever i walk around or stand up its like i’ve been hit over the head with something or drank too much alcohol as i’m lightheaded and sometimes dizzy. My brain refuses to work and i cant focus on basic things. My knees really hurt with the bone ache and this morning my neck felt like an elephant had sat on me during the night. I have no tastebuds again so finding it really depressing to eat at the minute, my fingertips are sore, my face looked swollen this morn and i just feel crap. On the plus side i do think my hair is starting to grow back as it seems more fluffy on top than it was although still nothing to report on the legs or armpits. I didnt lose my brows or lashes but they have thinned a little. My son was on tv tonight as he went to the Wales v Scotland game and was a player escort (meaning he walked out on the pitch with the players). I wish i was well enough to have been there with him. Sorry girls i’m just a bit fed up with this damn cancer ruling my life at the minute!
There is no history of any cancer in my family yet i was told at diagnosis that i could have some gene testing. I asked for a referral on chemo number 4 but forgot to ask on Tuesday at number 5 if it has been done. I was hoping to have results before my surgery but if it takes 12 weeks then it wont be ready in time.
My other half is Welsh (we live in Barry) and is shouting at the tv as I type. I know everyone keeps saying it and if one more person says it to me i’ll scream but you are so nearly there with the chemo bit. You are aching all over and it is hideous but you can do this. I know what you mean about wishing you were there and thats the thing about cancer that makes me furious is that sometimes I can’t do what I want with my children.
12 weeks was what I was quoted in Cardiff, I think its different times in different places. I’m having a double mastectomy anyway so it doesn’t affect that but it will mean i’ll have to make a decision on having my ovaries removed, bring on the menopause ( and my other half is scared of me on steroids, watch out)
xxxx
I know exactly what you mean about wanting to scream when everyone says it to you as i feel the same. I’m relieved that i can almost see the end of the tunnel but i’ve just had 1 of those weeks where i’ve realised i have no life and i’m boring at the minute. My sole topic of conversation is about cancer as i’m not working or i’m too ill to go anywhere or do anything else. I often think my friends must be sick of hearing about it too but then i guess they dont see me all the time so they are interested and want to know whats going on. Its so god damn frustrating that i cant plan anything or do what i want when i want to. Wow you have some big decisions and ops coming up then i wish you good luck with them. xxx
SMC78 - so chuffed for your lad, he must have been over the moon & I’m gutted for you that you missed it due to this dreadful treatment. I too think my friends must be bored with me banging on about this crap all the time but they are all so loving and helpful with my 8 year old & 4 year old boys, don’t know what I would do without them. I too have a little fluff up top but it appears my eyelashes & brows are deserting me & nothing to report on the legs or pits either lol.
I had my penultimate yesterday so not feeling too bad at the mo but my mouth tastes crap already, got the discrict nurse coming in tomorrow to give me a GCSF injection & to show my OH how to do them so hopefully won’t end up back in hospital this time but am expecting more aches & pains but it’s worth it to stay at home.
Can’t quite believe that in 3 weeks it will be my last chemo then onto 3 weeks of rads, so hopefully all over by xmas. Had all my ops before all this started so the only op I have will be next summer will be for my reconstruction from my tummy tuck, can’t believe I’m looking forward to it.
We are all so nearly there, please keep positive & believe me anyone that hasn’t had any ops yet they are a breeze compared to chemo.
Lots & lots of love & hugs Angela xxxx
Hey everyone,
hope the side effects aren’t too bad everyone, know its hard and I totally agree with the comments from everyone. I’m sick of feeling unwell, I’m sick of worrying about every little ache and pain, I’m sick of being asked constantly how I’m feeling, I’m sick of the side effects, I’m sick of having no hair, I’m sick of constantly coming in and out of hospital. I’m a proper grump today! I also have no chat apart from how i am and what im gong through coz im not working either and in the house a lot.
Saw the surgeon and plastics yesterday, I’m having a skin sparing mastectomy end of November which I’m terrified about. Anyone had this? Got any advice? Also my consultant kind of dropped a bomb shell on me about how big the lump is, know that sounds daft but because I ended up having 2 biopsies coz they didn’t have enough tissue first time and then I had tests and started chemo so quickly I never actually got a size or grade or type ect. When I had the ultrasound after 3 rounds of chemo the radiographer said it had been 4.7cm but the consultant yesterday said he thought it was more like 5. Something, he couldn’t def remember but if it was then its stage 3 not 2. Terrified doesn’t even cover it! Just when you think you have a handle on it all mentally xxxxx
Hi girls,
Not been on for a bit, got hit with the dreaded headache again, had it constantly for 4 days, think all I had to eat for the first 2 days was painkillers (correct doseage ofcourse)! Just couldn’t stomach anything!
Jelly - thanks for eye brow tips, willl def look into that one.
Smc78 and laurable, know how you feel, on having nothing to talk about but cancer, at least we can see the end of this stage coming up … then there will be something new to talk about like erm radiotherapy?? surgery?? drug therapy?? How thrilling!
Laurable - try not to focus too much on the size of your lump, you are getting all the treatment that you need for it. My size and grade ( 2 to 3) were changed after surgery, and they didn’t seem too concerned.
Feeling a bit more upbeat today , so you girls that aren’t you’ll perk up again soon. I’ve been making christmas cards with my daughter,to get me into the festive spirit ( I know very early, but why not??)
love and hugs xox Claire