Starting Chemo, June 2010

Hello June chemo ladies

Here I am then, well into treatment chemo treatment , or so it feels, seems like its a case of wake, see how you feel and what mountains there are to climb today and concentrate on the here and now, problem solving.

Today as day wore on, aware that the op site, WLE 7 weeks ago, is feeling sore, in a way it has never before. Will wait till tomorrow and see what happens. Last night mouth full of horrid ulcers, but after fresh pineapple which I swear did the trick, all OK now. (Fresh pineapple for mouth ulcers is what the hospital booklet said so guess its OK to eat).

Cant pretend not worried about the soreness around op site though, anyone else had that please ?

Kirsty (not my name , havent gone pubic on my dx, another coping mechanism, but I rather like it !! - new hair new name - some good experiences in all this ! ).

Oh my !!! didnt check my message before posting !!!

"treatment chemo treatment "

and … “pubic on my dx” - hee he

So good to laugh , had some spells of real depression after first chemo, last week and over weekend. really scary as never experienced that in my life. Feeling down , fed up, is one thing, but depression, is an awful place to be. So lucky not to be on my own. My heart goes out to those enduring all this who live on their own. A different ball game and where this site will be especially good - hope so anyhow.

Have “survived” sports day at school, if a got a pound for every inquisitive look at me today, I could go out for a nice expensive meal tonight! No wig, too hot the buff look just attracts a lot of attention. Bloods tomorrow for next tax, can’t believe only two more to go now, but need a week extension as my mother in law has died unexpectedly and we need to travel to the funeral. See if that is possible. Hope se’s are not too severe for all, I love cola, too. Usually never touch the stuff! X Tina

Hello Mrs Sloth Saw your blog but havnt been able to register.

So - re acid indigestion. all these hospitals seem to prescribe different things. Maybe its because I did report that I do suffer with acid indigestion from time to time but they have given some lovely little tablets that dissolve on the tongue (I cant swallow tablets !) that stop acid production - for the entire chemo treatment time, 18 weeks.

Its called Lansoprazole orodipersible tablet. 30mg a day. Its heaven , I can eat what I like and no heartburn. Though I’m not keen on taking any drugs for long term, this time I’m doing what I’m told .

Best Wishes Kirsty

i am on lanzaprozole for hgearburn too, made a big difference, though minbe are capsules not melty ones. Chemo can aggaravte the operation site, i was warned that this often happens and not to panic, and it did happen and still does a bit now even tho am on 4th chemo. Just had first tax, v different to fec, achy sore but not sick. Tina, sorry to hear about your mum in law, i am sure they will let you put off chemo for a week, but can’t you ask before they stick needles in you to get blood out tomorrow?

Bloods not a problem since portacath is in, they might as well check to see if I am neutropenic again. My neutrophils didn’t recover so well last time round…1.75, only just made the cut off, despite neulasta!

Hi All

Hope you’re all ok this evening. For those of you still working I take my hats off to you, to be honest Ive couldnt face it. And it was a good excuse to stay home with my 2 yr old.

Bloods tomorrow and then session 2 of FEC on Wednesday. Also having hair cut off tomorrow, think the hoover will pack in if I hang on to it much longer.

Hi morning all

I feel a bit kicked and sore this morning, so thanks tors its nice to know it’s just the delights of chemo. Am going for my wig today. My OH has a thing for Amelia Pond on Dr Who and wanted me to get a long ginger wig- he is going to be disappointed. Have a good day everyone. Welcome Happy73 and Kirsty. debx

Waving a hi to Kirsty. Like your name. Welcome to the place to vent!

Deb, we’re about the same in terms of school holidays. I have my 3rd and final FEC just before end of term ends, then 1st Tax at start of August. Think I’m a bit ahead of you, so I’ll try and sail through Tax to post and make you less anxious. I’m worried too though - don’t want to feel so tired and achey when I need to be out playing! Good luck with the wig fitting. Am sure you’ll look great. Mine makes my own hair look truly ropey…

Happy, hair cutting sounds positive. It’s a mare finding hair everywhere, and least the hoover might live a bit longer. Hope it feels good not depressing.

Tina, well done on surviving Sports Day. Hard to be half looked at all the time like that. Some days it’s easier than others I know. Not long to go for you though. Am sure your hair will grow back fast - persevering with the cc must help surely. Sorry about your MIL. Am sure they’ll let you delay treatment to get to the funeral. Hope so anyway.

Have just got myself a massive sun hat - from mens dept, M&S, but suits my face (ie hides it well!) Bound to start raining now…

Hi all

OMG just spent the entire morning at the hosp. Went for my wig fitting and mentioned I had a sore throat. The girl suggested I pop up to chemo and mention it. So I did. They did all my obs and a blood test 0.2 neuts oops. So gave me 1 inj there and 2 more to bring home. Great! Am supposed to keep away from crowds and kids but it is my 3 year old bday party on Sunday. Hopefully should be fine by then. The nurse said they will prob reduce my dose of chemo as it is a little too strong for me and is completely clearing my whole system of everything.
I need a rest now. Debx

Poor you Deb, but sounds like the hospital have sorted you. Good job you mentioned it! Hope you feel better v.soon xxj

Hi. Deb. good job you mentioned it.

I got a sore throat on day 10 of first FEC, lasted 4 days.
then when it was time for my second my WBC was too low, had to delay for a weak and then reduced dose, they don’t offer injections at my clinic. I am now day 13 and so far no sore throat. don’t know whether it’s down to Manuka honey or weaker chemo.

Carolxx

Hi all

No one mentioned that these blooming injections would be so ouchy. Not having them but the aching back and legs. This is supposed to be my good week and I feel like poo. Not a happy bunny. Debx

hi deb

well that was a shit morning for you wasn’t it! mine dropped to 0.8 first time round, my onc used it as the excuse he needed to change me from granocyte injections to the one jab neulastsa, which ones have you been on? the neulasta are supposed tyo be better but more expensice, hence save them to give people when they have a proven need, ie neutrophenic etc. Hope you are ok for the party, i had those antiviral kleenex tissues which hovered near my mouth everytime potential threats, ie other peoples children, came near, plus the hand gel etc.I had sore throats with fec too around day 8/9 but i think it was the fec doing its amage rather than infection, its so hard to tell the difference between normal side effects and scary signs!

take care
BIG HUGS TO YOU

Vickie

Hi Vickie

It is the granocyte injections. Have one more to do tomorrow. Yippee! Am hoping that the blood test on fri will show enough improvement not to have to worry too much about the birthday party. Hope you are recovering from tax ok. Debxx

Hi Vickie

It is the granocyte injections. Have one more to do tomorrow. Yippee! Am hoping that the blood test on fri will show enough improvement not to have to worry too much about the birthday party. Hope you are recovering from tax ok. Debxx

Deb, funnily enough I was thinking of an Amy Pond type wig for me, and my husband didn’t complain… My other possibilities were Kylie or Moss from the I.T. Crowd, so we’ll see what they offer me next Wednesday when I go and look! They did say they had pink! In the meantime I’ve borrowed some from the drama group we’re part of, they’re not entirely convincing but I might get away with one under a hat!

Went for my blood test yesterday morning, took them 15 minutes to get any blood out (one vein was empty, one was scar tissue and not a vein, finally they got it out of my hand, which was painful). Oncology registrar was then supposed to phone me yesterday afternoon for a consultation and let me know if portacath fitting/chemo 2 is going ahead tomorrow but he didn’t, so I’ll have to spend today on the phone trying to chase him round the hospital… Not impressed by that. If he hasn’t got the blood test results he should at least have called to say there was a delay, can’t help feeling he’s forgotten me.

Feeling rather sorry for myself yesterdayd and today, did wonder why then realised my periods are due tomorrow, so it’s good old-fashioned PMT!

x

Poor you Mrs S with the veins. You’re totally allowed to feel sorry for yourself. I prescribe some indulgence, as it sounds like you deserve a treat. Don’t count on your period turning up. Mine hasn’t since chemo started, though I still get the PMT…

Deb, hope you’re better today and injections have worked their magic.

I’m so tired right now. FEC2 seems to have taken me longer to come out from than FEC1. Though that might also be down to our pesky cat bringing us a ‘present’ at 4am. My other half managed to put it outside, only for cat to bring it back in again an hour later. grrr…

Hi Mrs S and Julie

Sorry about your veins. I bet that hurt.

Julie I’m having fec 2 on tues and at the moment I feel like they will have to carry me in bodily. I phoned the unit today as I have been having awful headaches with the jabs and they said come for a blood test and if they are ok you don’t need to have the last one. Thankfully 2 jabs had taken it from 0.2 to 4.8 which was great so no last jab yippee. Am shattered now. Got a foot massage while waiting for results and now just want to go to sleep.

Have a nice day everyone. Debx

2nd Fec day 6, the last three days have been awful, felt really tearful, but tried to be brave and busy, today l feel shattered, so have had a lazy day. Just doing the odd job here and there, when l felt like it. Someone reminded me l felt the same on FEC 1, today l felt a bit heady, so took some pain killers. Feeling a lot better this afternoon, hoping to feel fit to go to my grandsons sports day tomorrow, but no running from this grandma!
Still having my injections, mine are for 10 day, this time l have hardly had any back pain, the first time l took them l was in a lot of pain.

MrsSloth Hope the blood tests were good

Julie, like you feeling really tired on fec 2! good to know it is not just me Lol!

Carol, l think it is wishful thinking with the Manuka honey, l have been taking it since before bc, but still get sore throats! but hey if it makes us feel good.

Deb, Good Luck with your birthday party, and your 2nd fec, will you have the granocyte every time now? was yours only 3 days?

Love and Hugs
Sandra x