Hugs to you peta i sort of know how your feeling i too didnt get told i was having boosters so they added another week to mine so im having 4 weeks of rads but still not as many as you. You can do it youve got through alot worse these past few months be strong xxx
Ive started my second week of rads today up to now skin ok but reading your posts it seems the sore skin will come later on, it sounds so painful i do hope you all start to feel better soon and the creams take effect.
Tonight i started my tamoxifen feeling a little apprehensive just hope my body accepts them and dont cause me too many problems. Xx
Hi PETA, sorry to hear that your rads are going on for longer than you first thought. I know it’s upsetting when you have a date in mind and then the goal posts are changed. Just remember though this is all being done to make sure this blasted thing doesn’t come back. It won’t be long and you can put all this behind you, you are so nearly there girl xxx
Ouch, the skin situation sounds really sore and uncomfortable. I hope it heals soon for you. I know my mum had a really bad time after her rads last year with broken skin. I was extremely lucky, my skin went a bit red and itchy but it was fine really. The only thing I have bother with is an over sensitive nipple!!! My boosters were right at the nipple and I now have to put a bit of dressing inside my bra to stop it rubbing, else I end up with a door stopper!!!
Some more bad news at work today. A girl who works across the room from me has been diagnosed with stage 3 bladder cancer. We are a fairly small (about 500 employees over the whole of scotland) government organisation, but the incidences of women being diagnosed recently is very high. I’ve only been back 4 weeks and this is the second lady been diagnosed in that time. It’s scary!!!
How’s the hair lainie? I still wore a scarf to work today. No confidence at all 
Hugs to all xxxx
Well nearly 5 weeks after chemo joint pains have kicked in big time. Can’t sleep properly because every time I turn over in bed the pain wakes me up. I told the onc today and he said it’ll probably last for several weeks or even months! So good news lol. I’m used to dealing with pain because of my Fibromyalgia but now I have joint pain as well as the muscle and nerve pain I already had. We look forward to finishing our treatments but it’s not really a finish is it? We’re left with so many problems that we’re not warned about. I’m worried about how this pain will affect my return to work, which should be this Friday! Moan over. Hope everyone is feeling as ok as possible. Sending hugs ? ? ?
Murphy what terrible news. It’s really strange that the incidence of women being diagnosed with cancer is so high in your organisation. I wonder what could be behind it? Maybe it is just a horrible coincidence.
You asked about my hair. It’s still very orange although people keep telling me it’s nicer than I think lol. I’ve been out and about without any head covering and I’m getting more confident. I’m going to start work like this and get it over with on the first day. Xxxx
Bettypoppit so glad your skin is improving. That must have been so painful. Xxxx
I’m similar lainie g . My foot and hand pain is excruciating , so bad it makes me shout out ! My onc said the same 3-6 months at least to go . I was told of the risk of hand and feet problems but it was described as tingling and numbness rather then agonising pain which will stop you from walking ! Mine is getting worse , not better I believe this is called coasting . I guess I still would have had the chemo tho . On a brighter note I seem to be coping with tamoxifen well x
Oh Debtex it’s rotten that you’ve been having such a hard time with your hands and feet. Pain is such an awful thing to deal with. I really hope it starts to feel a bit better soon. Chemo has left us all with horrible little mementos hasn’t it. They don’t tell us about this when we’re starting. Maybe it’s a good thing. If I’d been told I’d face all the problems I have at the start I might not have gone ahead and that probably goes for most of us xxxx
Hi lainie and debtex, I’m wondering if the pain I have in my hands and feet is the same as yours ie from chemo. I’ve always assumed my pains were coming from letrozole. My feet hurt along the edges and my left hand in particular is really sore, I’m not able to twist jar lids off. I get so down with these lasting side effects. It’s ironic, I was never ill, was very healthy in fact, and I just feel it’s one thing after another. My tummy is sore with doing these heparin injections every night, and I’m only halfway through with them, still got till end of June to do.
Was at hospital yesterday about my mouth. They are seemingly skin tags. She said I have quite a few but two big ones. I’m to go in and get them cut out. Another se??? My WBC and neutrophils were still lower than normal so I’ve to wait 6 weeks or so before getting them cut out.
Sorry for moaning, just feeling a tad fed up and sorry for myself
Good luck for Friday lainie xx glad your skin is healing bettypoppit, you’ve been through the mill with it xx
Hi lainieg and debtex i know how your feeling my onc said the same thing aches in my legs could last months effects of the tax amd the numbness in my fingers if it doesnt go its damaged my nerves in fingers great !. I feel like a 80 yr old when i first get out of bed until ive moved around a bit.
Murphy sorry to hear your feeling low too the injections on chemo were bad enough for me but for you to have to have the heperin cant be nice, lets hope you start to perk up. its true though one thing after another! most my friends think oh nics finished chemo she can get back to normal whats normal now ? I feel lile saying my life will never be normal again.
On the rads nearly done 2 weeks another 2 to go and another half term ruined for the kids as i should have finished on april 3rd. Yesterday was there over 2 hours as they were running behind again - when did anyones skin turn pink or sore was it near the end ? Xxxx
Jingo im sure you will be fine on holiday and the break will be lovely for you where are you off to ? the insurance you got is a really good price i need to look into thisve started looking for a summer holiday with the kids in aug. X
Have a great holiday jingo x , I’m no where near ready to adventure yet , good on u ! Murphy hope u get ur mouth sorted , and that work is ok . My GP prescribed amytriptyline for my feet . It is an epilepsy drug and is supposed to damp down nerve pain . It takes a while to work and hasn’t sorted it yet 6 days on , although it has eased a bit . My feet are also swollen and puffy . I have bought some sketcher shoes today as my uggs were too hot . They are quite comfy . I have had 7 rads so far and it’s going ok . The staff are really lovely and I don’t feel embarrassed at all .
I haven’t booked for Dublin yet as I’m not in the right mindset , but I will when I’m feeling better . Hugs to you all x
I saw the HR woman today and she was really lovely. I’m working from 10 til 2 tomorrow then the same again on Tues and Thurs next week. After that i have 2 weeks Easter hols. I’m using holidays due to me to phase in so that I’m not losing out financially but it seems I was only due 4 days. However the nice woman from HR gave me an extra 2 days and the Head gave me 2 days special leave so I have 8 days to use now. It’s all working out quite well and I went into the school today without a scarf or wig so everyone saw me and it’s nice to have that part over with. Some of the children didn’t recognise me lol. I got lots of hugs from staff and pupils which was lovely. ???
Sorry some ladies are suffering with pain in your hands and feet. I have some tingling but it’s not too bad. I’m having some quite severe joint pains though and they’re keeping me awake at night. I’m going to up some of my pain meds and take a tramadol tonight to see if that helps. AMDriver i hope your GP is more sympathetic than your onc. I think some of them forget that they’re dealing with real people who are suffering some horrendous side effects. They send you away with really unhelpful comments and just forget about you as soon as you’re out the door. Good luck with it and I hope you get something to ease the pain soon xxxxx
Jingo have a fantastic holiday. Even though you’re not skiing it’ll be lovely to be away enjoying the fresh mountain air. Have fun xxxx
Yes . My pain is so bad that I would have been surprised not to be given something am driver . My meds are beginning to work I think but I might have to double the dosage . I haven’t noticed any s e other than a dryish mouth . My onc was fine with what my GP prescribed even tho he hadn’t been bothered about doing it himself !
I was on very low dose amitriptyline for nerve pain after surgery. It started working after only a few days and the longer I took it the more convincing its effect was. The only side effect I had was a very dry mouth. I would definately say it was worth taking. Is there another GP at your practice that might be more sympathetic? I usually find GP registrars of the female persuasion to be the most knowledgeable and helpful, but mine is a big practice and I think I have an unusually large choice of doctors.
Morning posse, was at my second Moving Forward course yesterday and had a good day. First session was BCN talking about side effects and management. Seems to be for a lot of things exercise, exercise, exercise!! This goes for fatigue and joint pain. She wasn’t talking about joining a gym exercise, but defo for walking and stretching. Second session was with dietician and I found this really interesting, lots of tips and food for thought (pardon the pun!!). Really enjoyable and lovely meeting other ladies with similar issues.
Hope you survive your first day back at work lainie. I had a meeting with my boss on Thursday and although she thinks I have hurried my rtw, I am quite happy with it all. I will stick with a 4 day week till end of May (I only work from 9-2.30) and in that time I have 2 x week off. I am knackered and my house is being rather neglected but that’s fine. And lainie, you inspired me, I went to work on Thursday with no scarf on for the first time. Not going back to them now - yay!!!
Had my appointment letter in yesterday from the genetics clinic for my results for the faulty gene. It’s not for 2 weeks so I’m so tempted to phone and get the results over the phone rather than wait. A busy few weeks ahead with appointments.
My son is off to a Cub activity day and sleepover so I’d better get a wiggle on and get his bag packed. Love him to pieces but I am sooooooooooooooooo looking forward to a restful Saturday. Might even treat ourselves to a cheeky wee bar supper tonight with OH.
Have a lovely weekend, hugs to all xxxx
Hi PETA thanks for the info . I am ok to take 2 instead of 1 tablet , the 1 was just intro for a week .my onc said ok to take but I will double check nxt wk re the interaction with tamoxifen . Tbh I’m in so much pain I would take rat poison if I thought it would help .
Just wanted to add before I scare anyone (!) that I’m on a v low dose initially 10 mg per day and now 20 mg . The dosage for depression would be around 150 mg per day so if u doubled this it would be potentially life threatening . I will check the interaction issue but I did run it past the head of breast oncology at the Christie and he ok’d it . Maybe the small dosage is not significant . Thanks for having my back on this though Peta . Xx
Hi Murphy. My first day back at work was great but I was absolutely shattered. Came home and ran a bath and fell asleep in it lol. Well done on going to work without a scarf. I bet you feel great now. It’s like getting your freedom back lol xxxx
On the amytriptilene question, I’ve been on 100mg for a long time for pain and it’s fine. I actually changed over to nortryptilene because I was too drowsy on amytriptilene. It’s the same but makes me less drowsy. It’s a great drug for pain and it helps me sleep too. Peta where did you see that it interacts with tramadol? I take tramadol for breakthrough pain and the doctor never said there might be a problem xxxx
Hello posse
So so sorry I’ve been AWOL - my mum has been in hospital - dad was in, if you remember , end of Jan than mum went in early march. Shes home now but dad not great at looking after himself so what with hospital visits and sorting dad I’ve been running around like a blue arsed fly.
Will now catchup on all your news and report in later today.
Missed the posse xx
Hi Junash, lovely to hear from you but sorry to learn that your mum has been very poorly too. Missed you too. xx