Nothing in this process seems straightforward does it? However, it does sound like we are all getting there (even if it seems a bit slow at times).I have now eventually managed to have my 5th chemo and it has totally wiped me out. The thought of 1 more (end March) is keeping me going though…
Lynsey-lu - Good lick with your braca1/2 results.
Pascal - I hope your MRI scan results were good.
Jenny - I will then be going onto RADS and Tamoxifen. My onc told me it doesn’t matter when to take it as long as it is taken around the same time each day. I also know 2 people who have been on it for years and both have said that they didn’t really have any issues with it. My onc also told me that a new trial has finished and it has shown very positive results for keeping people on it for 10 years instead of 5 years. She said that for pre-menopausal people like myself they may well decide to move me onto some other medication half-way through…but that is not a decision that needs to be made until much further down the road!
Keep well all you sparklers, and good luck to anyone facing an op after their chemo!
Hi everyone,
had my 5th chemo yest, was dreading it, as have blood clots and more and more trouble, holding on for last one, strangley enough not feeling too bad this morn but we will see in next hour or so, lots of imformation on here to day, onc said he was going to talk to me next time about radio and tamox, and iv just been trying to shut it out till i finish chemo but geting really scared for rado and tabs, heard so much about them.
well done to all the ladies just had their last chemo, feeling excited for you all
can i just ask has any ladies had radio on there left breast, been reading stuff about it effecting the heart!
big hugs to all xx
Hi Sunshine Lilly - You are only 2 days behind me in your treatment. I haven’t had the radiotherapy YET on my left breast, but it is coming. I did ask my onc about how to reduce the risk because I had read that there is some level or risk or damage to the heart. He confirmed this potential risk but said it is very small and reassured me that they are very good at giving rads and they do everything to minimise the risk. It frightens me too but then the chance of this cancer coming back scares me even more!! So my approach is that I will take that risk and go for it.
Had my last chemo friday and start my rads on april 2nd for 4 weeks I am also worried as it on my left breast but my onc said they werent to worried hope they are right.
Good luck to us all and stay strong nearly over now.
love yvonne xxx
Hi Sparklers, I have my last Tax today and start RADs on 8th april for 4wks. SE have been doable even manage to go see CATS musical last weekend which was great. Night sweats and the start of steriods keeping me awake, hence I visited the site. The light at the end of tunnel is getting nearer. I had my stubble that is left took down again so it was nearly all the same lenght, hoping it will grow back in the same length, not sure if i’m wasting my time but you can only try.
Take care all, Hugs to everyone.xx
hi sparklers got my planning meeting on 19th for my rads. im involved in a new trial will only have a week with the dosage of 3 weeks worth. oh and the tattoos for the rads are permanant, more ink to add to my collection lol. hope your all doing ok and i hope my week of rads dont completely wipe me out. hugs all xxxx
Hi Jelly, 3 weeks since my last chemo, just got over it, had a nasty tummy thing but that seems like history - can’t believe I’ve got through it to be honest, just had kind of resigned myself to not coming out the other side. Had my radiation prep on Monday, god tattoos hurt don’t they! start it on the 25th, was going to be this coming Monday but they weren’t sure about my tummy so that’s fine. Going to give myself a fortnight after the radition to recover then we’re getting away somewhere nice for a week, the kids can look after themselves, I genuinely can’t wait
hi phil all the best with the rads, lol ive got 6 tattoos so not that concerned about the tats. you have a great holiday and chill out with your family. xxx
Hi there fellow sparklers. Not made any comments for sometime but reading everyone elses comments have kept me going through this journey
The first three FEC were not the best for SE especially when coupled with shingles. That is all in the past now. FEC 4 and 5 were not too bad just suffered mouth ulcers extremely dry mouth and lips But the fatigue is the worse thing everything is such an effort. Veins have also suffered with the red stuff So will seeing physio at some point.
Last Fec tomorrow. Yippee Had my mx in October. Can’t have rads as had them 17 years ago. So after tomorrow hope to start getting my life back. It has been a long haul since May but light at end of tunnel
So my comment to chemo nurse tomorrow will be - hit me baby just one more time!!!
Good luck to all those starting their journey - keep strong you can do it!
Best wishes to all of you xx
hi guys not posted on here for ages as i have been using fb site but i have been keeping up to date on you all ,
wanted to know any one out there finished 6 fec and not having any other treatment getting a lot of muscle ache,
i ache in my neck shoulders leggs,all over on and off trough the day and under my arms on both side , having my mx on wednesday, not sleepling that well unless i have pills as achy/pain in my legs and hot sweats from menopause waking me up
here is a daft question to my fellow sparklers anyone else having really bad rib pains after their last chemo treatment or is it just me?
I have 4 weeks of rads starting tuesday not looking forward to it seems like a neverending story please tell me I am not the only one plus the 12 months of herceptin plus the 5 years of hormone treatment .
Good luck and stay strong sparklers
love yvonne xxxx
Hi sparklers, had my last chemo on the 12 march, been tattooed ready for rads on 8 april for 4wks. Will be 75miles round trip to get to hospital. Finally felt better by the end of week 2 post chemo. Has anyone had ache/pain in there left breast after treatment. Did asy to onc but he didn’t seem worried about it as it was only a few tmes when I saw hime, but it has continued since.
Take Care All xxxx
Yvonne, I had very bad pain in my sternum at one point, I didn’t know what it was but it turned out to be simple (but quite severe) heartburn - I’d never had it before so didn’t know it was just that. Not sure if that’s any help to you but you never know.
Not posted for ages but think of you all. had a bilat mx on Monday so am shuffling about llike an old lady at the moment. Hopefully all going well.
Happy Easter to you all.
Love, Col xxx
Can I have a bmx?’ I used to ask my mum
‘No love, ride your chopper, I’m not made of money hun’
Isn’t it ironic if you fast forward 30 years
That bmx’s and choppers would be causing me some tears
The surgeon with her chopper has taken away my boobs
Well what an op that was and boy did it feature tubes
With seven sticking out of me, I didn’t feel too great
Nor sharing with a woman whose snoring made the ward vibrate
So my old, bad boobs have gone and there are new ones in their place
And looking at the scars was something I wasn’t sure I could face
But I’ve had a good nosey round and they look alright to me
They’re quite a perky pair even if they wouldn’t make page three
Kids are so amazing and will tell you as it is
‘Can I see your new boobs Mummy?’, my 6 year old did quiz
So I braced myself and showed him - 'what do you think?, I said
‘They’re so much better Mummy, cos your others were bigger than your head’.
Hi Sparklers,
I just had my last FEC on Thursday so am looking to move beyond chemo to the next stage - RADS and Tamoxifen.
There have been a few questions about pains so I thought I would share my experience. Since my 5th FEC I have had bad aches and pains at the back of both arms. Also had sore armpit scar and stiff movement with it, along with sore breast where the op was done. Finally I had a lot of lower back and sternum pain which seemed to be caused by the Neulasta injection I had to have the day after each chemo session. The nurses reassured me that this is all normal, and nothing to worry as long as I don’t have any red or hot patches (as that can indicate pain as a result to clotting). Hope this helps. xxx
Supersusan - congratulations on the final FEC and for being released from the chemo prison.! I’m now three weeks post final FEC and beginning to feel normal again. Just still have sore eyes and a very dry mouth but the nurses said that it takes 4 - 6 weeks for the drugs to finally leave your system. I sgtart the first of 15 Rads on Wednesday, 3rd April, but from what I read these will be a breeze compared to chemo. Well done on getting your life back and good luck for the rads.
Thanks all,for posting re pain. Never had any pain under my arm untill tonite, bit achie. Well on a plus side managed a 1 1/2 hour walk with my friends and our dogs, longest walk so far was well chuffed with myself. Getting a bit normality back in my life.
Hugs all round xxxx
Hiya Everyone…
Hope you’re all having a good Easter… I had my last chemo 3 weeks ago and I’ve had all diffarent se with each but 4 days ago I started with a pain like a groin strain but further underneath towards my bottom which has gradually got worst. Has anyone else suffered this? Any advice appreciated, thanks
Good luck BorderCollies (and everyone else) with your RADS and other treatments. I couldn’t have phrased it better - chemo prison - it’s absolutely how I felt…all these months being locked away whilst dealing with this horrible disease. Having said that, this forum has been my tower of strength. The journey would have been a lot tougher without you, so thank you all for your kind words and help!!
Now that we are all moving onto other stages and the sun has come out to play I truly hope that we will all have a nice summer to look forward to, and even be able to do some holiday planning at some point. I certainly intend to catch up on the joys I have missed out on over the past 6-7 months. Don’t forget - we still need to plug in some date for hooking up in Birmingham (maybe when the kids are back to school - October time!?).
