Hi Ladies
Well had my last chemo today – yeehaa. No problems so far although I seem to always have a day’s grace and it should be Friday before SE’s kick in, well that’s been the usual pattern with my chemo so I have a busy day tomorrow getting everything sorted before (if) I go down. It was mainly just tiredness with last chemo, possibly my sugar level hitting the high spots didn’t help either as that makes a person tired anyway.
My mastectomy with ANC must have been textbook stuff (just love talking about my op, only other op I’ve had was a c-section and that was 30 years ago and I’ve worn that one out - getting old you know). In one day, out the next complete with drains. I had very little pain although I did as I was told and took the pills before any pain started, easier to control than to stop, but I only took them for a few days and had little pain. Drains in for a week then removed, uncomfortable funny feeling as they are in quite deep but not painful to remove, dressings removed the following week. For the week I had my drains in I used a plastic bag to carry the drains, tied a belt round my waist and tied the bag to it, just had to be careful the tubes didn’t get tangled but at least I wasn’t walking away without the bottles and pulling the drains. Obviously I took the belt off at night but as I was sleeping on my back and propped up it was easy to remember about the damn drains.
I drove the day after my dressings were removed, albeit only round to Tesco and I took OH with me just in case I had a problem. I should say here that before my surgery I was practising positive steering (no crossing arms going round corners – cos that will pull on the shoulder and armpit). So think about that one. After that I was fine although I did carry a small pillow to put under my seatbelt just in case of rubbing, but as my mx was right sided I found it more uncomfortable in passenger seat.
Like Stitz my upper arm and armpit are still quite numb although I feel the tax is affecting the surgery site because I get the ‘cushion’ feeling a few days after chemo – the cushion feeling is just a feeling like you have a cushion between the arm and the ribs, obviously slight swelling after surgery but as I said the tax seems to affect this with me (possibly slight fluid retention). It does ease off after a couple of weeks and I’m hoping that it goes away permanently now that my chemo is finished (again yeehaa).
So far I’ve had absolutely no problems with lymphoedema although I do realise that this can come on at any time down the line. My arm is fully mobile but I do find if I have to stretch for high things I can feel my underarm pulling a bit (but then I’m a shorty and my OH is 6’5 and he tends to put things away for his comfort, rat).
Now that I’ve bored you all to tears with details of my surgery I’m going to bed.
Goodnight ladies, I hope you all sleep well and to those of you who have now finished chemo – yeehaa again, to those of you who still have to finish, good luck and hope it’s all over soon.
Maggie
Maggie - Congrats on becoming a chemo graduate 
I think I’ve mentioned before that I was going to try a product called Revitalash. I’ve been umming and aahing over it as it’s pretty expensive. Well as luck would have it my lovely friend Lou works for QVC and recently on there they demonstrated Revitalash qvcuk.com/CatalogSearch?langId=-2&storeId=10252&catalogId=10152&keyword=revitalash&x=0&y=0 After the show, they then had two open but unused products so she sent them to me (that’s saving me about £100!) & i just got them in the post this morning. I’ll report back after I use them and will let you all know how I get on
xx
Let me know how you get on jellytot, we were recommend at the looking good class about stuff called lipocils, space NK sell it, it’s for eyelashes etc. I didn’t want to buy it while on chemo although its all natural just in case so my mum bought it and has been using it, she’s tried other ones before but said they agrivated her eyes, said this didn’t as you cn def see the difference. They’ve launched a eyebrow one as well, I’ve just checked and amazon sell it so going to try that. Also been recommended a lush solid shampoo bar called new that’s means to encourage hair growth, it’s made with peppermint oil Nd clove oil so I’ve bought that and started using it today (it’s all natural, figure it can’t do me any harm) let the hair growth commence!! xxx
Morning girls,
Congrats mad jock for your last chemo!!
I had a phone call from a friend I had not spoken too in 3 years last night, as she had heard about the bc from another friend. I have heard by now most of the cliches that come from non cancer sufferers, as discussed in another thread, and up until now I had been perfectly fine to hear them, but I could hardly listen to her speaking them to me last night. I was so upset, I still am. I know we cannot expect people to understand what we are going through, and will continue to go through, as of course everyone has their own problems. But I am still really angry, grrrrrrr.
Ok rant over,
I had 5 nodes out, and no drain needed, my mum had 6 and she had a drain fitted, don’t know how they decide. Only in hospital for day stay, though was told if it was mast I would have needed 3 days aprx. No pain at all hardly, just uncomfortable moving arm, some numbness still present, though dosent bother me.
Got my look good feel better thing next week, so something to look forward to !
Sending you all big hugs, claire Xox
Hiya girls hope your all doing well with no further side effects,
I am currently in hospital having my fifth chemo + Herceptin, looks like I will be here all day as they have to monitor me an hour after each dose make sure I get no bad reactions.
I haven’t been putting on my dark nail varnish at all have you ladies been doing that, not really sure what it’s supposed to do, is it just supposed to stop us from seeing our nails go bad or does it actually prevent our nails from going bad as when I asked my onc he didn’t seem to believe in that at all said he knew nothing about it. Also are any of you suffering from hot hot flushes at night, mine seems to have started after the docetaxel so I get boiling hot and then cold all throughout the night not sure if it’s the Herceptin or the t, so much stuff being pumped into my body, I’ve still got the trots not as bad as it was but still abnormal for me as I never use to go to the toilet. The nurses don’t seem to know much when I tell them my side effects they just note it down guess I have to wait until I see my onc in three weeks time, am I the only one left who’s not finished her chemo, mind you I have A year of Herceptin so I still will need to come up here all the time, I hate it. I’m so glad to hear your headhair is growing back I’m so fed up of wig now hope head hair grows fast. Body hair probably will grow first on me argh!!
Hazza81, nice of your friend to call u after 3 years but really couldn’t she just listen as opposed to wind you up doesn’t she understand that stress is something you can do without. You definetly find out who your real friends are through out this, hope you feeling better now hon.
Regarding the operation the only thing that really bothered me were the drains whatever you do when u have to get them removed make sure it is not a student nurse doing it! I know they need to learn but surely they can do it on someone less vulnerable, I was so upset she made me scream my head ofIan’s I cried so much that I demanded a fully competent nurse do the rest. It’s wasn’t a nice feeling for me a horrible burning sensation, the doctors and nurses just say its uncomfortable, that’s balls my lovelies, it’s hurts!!! Be prepared, mind you I had 4 the ones under my arms weren’t as bad as the ones on my chest.
Prob will post later I’m here all day
Take care girls thanks for all your encouraging comments as well much appreciated
Xxxxxxxx
Hi Ladies, after posting about Revitalash I just had an email about this from nectar daily deals, it should be £45 and it’s reduced to £14, plus it can be used on eyebrows and eyelashes nectardailydeals.com/deal/south-london/20400?utm_term=offer_1&gc_affiliateid=154&gc_affiliateSource=newsletter&gc_newsletter=1&gc_subscriptions=national&utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Oct_26_12
I’ve not heard of it before so you may want to do some research, just wanted to flag it as seems like a really good deal
Rosie - Keep going babe, 5/6 done, just 1 more to go!
My nails have been painted throughout, here’s a link to my blog post about it thelittlestjojo.blogspot.co.uk/2012/10/finger-tips.html I’ve been painting them dark as apparently UV light can affect the nails. I have no idea how true this is or not but having them painted is no hardship so I’m giving it a go. The nails themselves have gone a bit yellow (not my toes just fingers) and both my toe & fingernails have Muehrcke’s lines en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Muehrcke’s_nails on them.
I’m suffering hot flushes, have your periods stopped? Mine have, I had 3 and a bit (! the last one can’t really be counted as it was only for 2 days) and then stopped on T, so i’m wondering if there’s a link. I’ve been taking my temperature though and it’s been okay, make sure you keep taking yours too xx
Re my hair, I had a bath last night & my leg hair is defo growing!
Hazza - Sorry you had a bad phonecall with your ‘friend’. I’ve had people facebook and email me who i haven’t heard from in years enquiring how I am etc and it kinda p1sses me off because it feels like they’re just being nosey and want a bit of drama. Might be being unfair but why didn’t you care how I was before bc. Hope you feel a bit happier today xxx I’ve also had one person who I thought was a really good friend who hasn’t bothered to get in touch at all sincec my diagnosis. She hasn’t texted, visited, called, emailed, anything. I’ve texted etc her but had no reply. I’m genuinely hurt by it but don’t know how to bring this fact up. I wonder if she just doesn’t know how to cope with it but it’s pretty hurtful.
Love to you all xxx
Rosie thtas brilliant that you finally got to have number 5. I havent finished my chemo just yet although i am due my last one on Tuesday. I’ve been for a flu jab this morn and while i was there got told to come back this afternoon for another jab to prevent Pnumonia. Has anyone else had these? I did paint my nails a dark colour as my Onc told me to do it. She said that the Tax would effect my nails but like you i’m not sure if the varnish is just to distract you from it although she did say the sunlight can affect them (ha sunlight in UK! lol). I took off my varnish last week intending to replace it but i havent gotten round to re-doing them just yet. They look a slight orange colour from about half way up almost like a heavy smokers nails. I have pale white lines across them too but they are not too bad. I’ve been lucky not suffering with hot flushes yet. I was still having periods but havent had one for 6 weeks so either the Tax has stopped them or i’m going to head down the early menopause road soon. I kind of know where your coming from with the friend. I was texting a male friend last night and told him about my up coming operation. He was saying the usual 'you’re a strong woman, you’ll get through this, you’re beautiful etc and I thought i was ready for it but as i was typing the words about having one of my breasts cut off i cried my eyes out. I guess i’m not as prepared as i thought. I think i’ve done a lot of research into reconstruction and have been avoiding dealing with the thoughts of the initial mastectomy. Thankyou to everyone who has given their advice or stories about your op. They are helping me come to terms slowly with what i’m about to face. I’m fed up with my wig too and really wish i had chosen a longer one now. I wonder if its possible to take back the one i have and exchange it for a new one? I’ve only worn mine about 4 times because its just not me, too short compared to my own hair before i shaved it off. I hope you all have a great weekend.
Sian x
Sorry duplicate post
Hope it’s going well Rosie, sounds like a long day!! I was usually only in for an hour and a half with FEC and about 3 with tax. The nail things- I’m not sure what the deal is either, I’ve kept mine dark Nd covered in shellac coz couldn’t be arsed painting them every day etc, underneath they look okay but as I said before apparently it’s months later they break off so I’m going to keep them short and put strengther on them daily for months to see if that helps. I’ve had hot flushes too at night, it’s been better on tax than FEC, got my first period last weekend for the first time in about 10weeks, only lasted bout 4 days but promising that maybe my body is returning to normal. Had my first bath today for months which was lovely hazza that’s rubbish about your friend, I know how you feel, it’s funny how people react and take the news. I had people phone me and cry down the phone to me, more bout how it was making them feel rather than me. I had a friend from work who told me, and I quote, that ‘it was going to be the making of me’…!!! What the hell does that mean? I need cancer to define me or make me a better person? I happen t think I’m quite a good person anyways thanks and I bloody well wouldn’t wish this on my worst enemy! I’ve also had good friends not get in touch, or had very little limited contact. I guess some people don’t really know how to act or what to say but it’s a bit insulting. I’m lucky I’ve got other utterly amazing friends who have been there every single day for me so that makes up for it people always want to tell you about their friend/work colleague/gran’s neighbours hamster who’s had this and is now fine and well which is great but if I hear one more story about how easy chemo was/how surgery was no big deal/how they worked every hour of every day through it then I might scream, everyone is different and at 27 it’s a slightly different situation. Sian you can get another prescription for a wig, your entitled to more than 1, ask your nurse, I’ve got another and have an appointment next week to tragedy another, I’ve worn mine quite a bit so its looking a bit worn at the edges, my nurse told me it was looking straggly!
Oh really Laura, thats great. I shall ask about it next week when i’m at the hospital. Thankyou xx
hazza81, I think in some situations it’s the surgeon’s decision. my friend had a lumpectomy (day surgery) and all nodes removed but no drain. She wished she had been given one because she had a really painful seroma right in the underarm. She likened it to the size of her fist. the hospital wouldn’t drain the fluid either, as its their practice to let it collect and disperse on its own. this was a just over a month ago, I think.
My surgeon told me beforehand that he would most likely remove the drain the next day before discharging me. He doesn’t like to leave them in. However, he ended up sending me home the next day with the drain, and I had it removed 6 days later. Mine was mastectomy with all nodes removed.
everythingisrosie, I only started getting hot flushes towards the end of my chemo. at the mid/end of Jult, I think. they are beginning to subsisde now. I just had FEC-T, no Herceptin. though I wil start Tamoxifen after radiotherapy so they might start up again anyway.
I had irregular periods during chemo; then they stopped and the hot flushed kicked in after that.
Hi girls hope you are all as well as can be. I have finally joined the admited to hosptal inbetween treatment group. I seem to have reacted to the 2 jabs i had on friday. my temp was up last night and i was shivering so theytold me to come in for tests. i had ECG, chest x ray, bloods taken and the usual blood pressure and temp taken. I’m not neutropenic but my pulse is racing a bit and temp although lower than last night is stil up a little. i was given antibiotics the medical equivelant of domestos just in case. I was due to go home this morn but as my pulse and temp are still high i’m being kept in again. I have to see onc in the morning anyway as i’m due chemo Tuesday so makes sense to keep me in tonight really.
Sian. x
Hi Sian, buggerations! Thought you were gonna get away without hospital, ah well at least you’re not neutropenic, that’s a great thing. Hope hospital okay & not too lonely xx
Aw Sian that’s rubbish! Hope you feel better soon! I’m day 11 after final chemo and okay so far so I might have avoided it! Had a really great weekend, lovely to be out and about, spending time with family and friends feeling slightly more like myself love to you all xxx
Thanks Jelly and Laura. I’ve been discharged now and just got home. I saw my Onc this morning and she said i shouldnt have had the Pnumonia jab as its a live vaccine and thats what’s made me ill. The nurse who gave me the flu jab mentioned the pnumonia one but didnt know wether to give it to me or not so she checked with my GP who said it was fine and told her to call me back in for it. I guess it shows that not all doctors know their stuff. My Onc is going to write to my GP about it. I’m fine now although my arm is still very red and swollen at the site where i had the jabs. I’m all set for chemo in the morning and cant wait to get it over with. I went for my ultrasound before i left the hosptial and nothing could be found except a slightly swollen node so thats good news all round. Hope you are all well and how was your weekend girls?
Sian x
Sian - glad you’re out. How blimmin scary bout the doctor’s mistake tho! Good luck for tomorrow, it’s a weird feeling! I had an okay weekend, I’m now day 11 post last T and feeling more and more ‘me’ as the days go on. Spent yesterday at my mum’s and she made roast beef and I could actually taste it which was great! x
Hiya just wanted to say i’ve had my last chemo this morn and although i’m over the moon about it i’ve had mixed feelings today. I heard some terrible news last night that a friend from work lost her mum suddenly yesterday (heart attack) and i feel so sorry for her. She has sent me a few kind messages and been supportive to me and i wish there was something i could do to help with the pain she’s going through. Time is a healer though and she has her family around her. Anyway I was feeling a bit sad about that this morn then looked out and saw the sun shining and realised i feel well again today and i’m gratefull to be alive so had a few tears but i think it was more relief that this is my last chemo more than anything. Have any of you seen the reports over the weekend about Bernie Nolan having secondaries or the reports about screening and how many women are having treatment they ‘dont need’. Just wondering what your thoughts are. Hope all is well with you girls.
Sian x
hi Sian, sorry bout your friend’s news, just let her know you’re there if she needs a hug.
Chemo’s been playing havoc with my emotions too, yesterday felt happy, today a bit lower. Think it’s only natural after what we’ve been through.
The Bernie Nolan news upset me a little & I think any news of people with secondaries is always going to shake me, but what I have to try & remember is that I’m not them.
The BBC thing about people having unnecessary treatment, I don’t think I’d like to be told ‘you have cancer, but we’re not going to treat it’. I’d rather have treatment & put up with the SEs than risk not having treatment & get bad news years later.
X
Hi Jelly, sorry to hear you are feeling a bit low. It really hit me after the last lot so i hope i dont get it again this time. You’re right about it being a struggle with everything we have to deal with. I hope you perk up in the next few days. I found going for a walk or popping into work and seeing my friends helped lift my spirits as thats what i was pining for.
I spoke to my friend on the phone last night and offered my support. I have txt her today and will do so every couple of days to let her know i’m thinking of her. Such sad news as they were so close.
I was upset about the Bernie story too. Half of me wanted to read the story as i really felt for her but the other half was terrified as it was bringing back those feelings of ‘what if’ for me. I have no idea how people cope when given that kind of news but then people have said that to me about my primary cancer. I guess you deal with things because you have to not because you want to unless you want to just roll over and die. It was inspiring to read of her positive attitude. I told a friend last night that i cannot live my life with these thoughts every day so i will try to take a leaf out of Bernie’s book and i do think i’m quite a positive person mostly (although this really has tested me at times!)
I completely agree with you on the news report story too. I would rather have treatment than take the risk that the cancer might grow if left alone. My only worry is that its coming across in a negative way and that some women wont bother going to their scans because of reports like this. They were making a point that women should be given as much info as possible as diagnosis to help them make a decision about wether to have treatment or not, i only hope that is happening.
Sian x
I think the chemo coupled with pronably too much time on our hands leads to the emotions going haywire, I have good and bad moments too, try not to to show the bad to anyone coz it just upsets them too and it gets me no where. Trying to stay positive and normal all the time is hard But suppose theres no other options. The Bernie Nolan story is so hard, I read it and got upset, also think its been badly explained in the press. Before all this I wouldn’t of thought twice but now I know more about it I was getting annoyed, I hope for her sake the drugs keep working and she gets t spend more time with her family coz I know if it were me that would be my first thought. Hard to read all the info about the stages and stats and stuff too, in all fairness I don’t know exactly what stage I am, guess ill be told after my surgery. The breast screening thing confused me; I understand that people might be ‘overdiagnosed’ but is it not better to be safe than sorry coz they can’t tell for def who’s going to develop something fatal and those who won’t. I obviously wasn’t screened so maybe it’s different but I’d rather be too careful. Gt my first MRI this afternoon, dreading it 
How’s the side effects Sian? Did you ask about another prescription? I went yesterday and ordered another wig as mine is looking pretty scabby, I got quite a lot of wear out of it.