Hi all
A quickie in between work and school pick up! (hope you are enjoying the Fox and Raven!).
Just to say started Zoladex and Tamoxifen last Friday and Rads start tomorrow - ahhh. Jenn, are you going to the Look Good thing tomorrow? They have put back my rads to 3.40 so will make most of it. Hope you are, but you may still be feeling grot from the TAC?
Back again with more
Rebeccaxxxx
Hello there girlies,
I just wondered if you would mind if I gate crashed here. I’m Suzi and I’m a Chelmsford las too. I was diagnosed with BC in February and had a mastectomy and reconstruction. I had 6 sessions of TAC chemo (which I actually made it through! Yippee) and have just started radiotherapy. Would be lovely to chat if you don’t mind : )
Love Suzi xxxxxxx
Hi,
Rebecca how is the new treatment going? Are they both tablets, I know Tamoxifen is. Is the other one to push you into menopause? I guess you will be feeling the heat big time before too long on those two. You better look out cotton natural fabrics for school as they are always overheated. Hope it goes really well on the last stages. Thinking of you for rads tomorrow. Please give me the low down on Colchester ready for when I go. I found parking a nightmare on my one visit there so far, and I will be there over Christmas run up which is bound to be even worse! Do you feel back to ‘normalish’ yet?
Jenny how are you feeling? I hope the worst is over and that you can try to get out again soon. Just wondered how you got on at Rochelle House for the treatment, have you been yet? I wondered how you would feel about going there, hope you are not struggling too much right now. Little steps. Any news on a radiotherapy appointment yet?
Sharon and Moonshine it was sooo nice to meet you both today and hope I did not make you late by chatting too long. Will be hoping we can meet again another time and everyone on here if they feel up to it and can manage times and dates.
Lily x
Hi again
Glad you had lovely time today. Would be great to meet up, however the next 5 weeks are going to be very busy! Maybe a Christmas get together.
Zoladex is a monthly injection and yes, Tamoxifen is a tablet. Yes, idea is to bring on the menopause and not have those lovely hormones racing around. Great…
As for the parking at Colchester, there is loads of non resident parking round there where you can park at any time except 12-2.30 I think. Will check. My friend got the same bay every day almost for 5 weeks! It is not the paying I object to, more the waiting and getting stressed about that. Do I feel ‘normalish’ yet - no, not really. Am so so sick of not having hair now. Are you?
Look forward to hearing news from the others.
Take care
Rebecca
xxx
Hi Rebecca,
I hope you don’t mind, I’ve been reading through previous posts on here. I’ve been treated at Springfield too. I had my chemo on a Wednesday though. I’m supposed to have Tamoxifen and Zoladex too but Prof D hasn’t said anything about that recently. I’ve just had day 11 of 25 radiotherapy at Colchester. I’ve also been to the Helen Rollason Centre for reflexology and just wondered if I might have bumped into you at all?? Do you still go there?
I thought it was funny what you said previously about the playground mums at school. Don’t I know it. I have a 6 yr old and a 2 yr old. Even though I was diagnosed in February, I’m still having the gossip mums talk about me or stare like I’m an ogre. One day maybe I’ll turn up to school in a Shrek outfit, that’ll give them something to stare at! lol
Have you got your radiotherapy timetable yet? I’m going every morning. By the way, with the parking there is quite often a traffic warden around. I parked in a space and because I was held up in the hospital, got back to my car at 12:36 (it’s permits only between 12:30-2:30 or something like that) and he was about to write me a ticket but I managed to sweet talk him round (actually I think he just felt sorry for me! lol).
Suzi xxx
hello ladies
I hope those of you who were gathering today had a lovely time.I also spent the day enjoying retail therapy- it’s the best form of medicine I know!!!
Rebecca - ahhh! I don’t believe it about the session tomorrow.I had to cancel it.My mum is moving the following day so I’ve had to help out.I’ve rearranged it for October.When I phoned they told me that they are having a party at the end of the session as they are a year old-cake aswell!!! It seems you are really moving along with your treatment.I haven’t decided what to do yet about hormone treatment- if any,I am er+ but nothing has been mentioned yet.As for hot flushes did you not have them whilst on TAC? I suffered terribly.Don’t know if it runs along side the Herceptin or not.
As for hair,I know what you mean.I’ve been shampooing my scalp and rubbing it trying to get some circulation going- I was even considering doing hand stands what do you think???!!! I’ll be thinking of you tomorrow.A friend suggested aromatherapy with rads as it helps with the burning sensations you may experience- Rochelle house perhaps?
Lily - hope you are doing ok.Haven’t been to R house yet. The prof said he was going to write to them regarding my arm so I thought I would give it a little while before contacting them.As for the radio,same applies really,have to wait for him to write.I hope it won’t take to long though.In the meantime I have to decide whether to go ahead on a clinical trial regarding the Herceptin. It’s a new tablet. By all accounts Herceptin cannot fight against any cancer cells getting to the brain but this new drug can. I think the trial is called allto. I have a choice of 4 combinations of new drug/Herceptin. It’s difficult to decide what to do,for so long some brave ladies fought for us all to have Herceptin-ahhh I don’t know.
well time to sort the kids,my daughter has a stinker of a cold so being very cautious, ttfn Jen x
Hi,
I really enjoyed meeting everyone and another Bc friend came too, guess what we all talked about? For entertainment I threw my drink all over myself! We got on really well and hope to met often. It depends on treatment days for everyone, as to how easy that will be. Christmas sounds good too. Love to met you, Rebecca and Jen another time.
Rebecca I was hoping you would say your tummy, etc is back to normal to give me hope !! The acid reflux is really annoying me and makes me feel really heavy at night so sleeping almost upright. Thanks for the tip on parking, I will be there for the pre Christmas rush which will not improve it! I have never been bald yet as had the cold cap but it is very thin. The bit growing on top is now an inch long but really fine or I would have a Sinead O connor style already. I can see this pixie cut coming with a few straggly original shanging out the side of my giant hairband. LOL. I have not been out in either of my wigs and hope to just improve from now on. By the way if the kids start to twig it might be a wig, ie it never grows, you have to have a cut at the hairdressers to keep them fooled. Are you feeling better now?
Jen, was it a lovely clothes shop or something less interesting? Mind you I love any shopping even food. Often wonder how close I am to having shopping addiction disease!! Love the handstand theory but would probably kill myself or break an arm! Tell us how you get on. You could phone the radiotherapy dept up and ask if you have a planning date yet. At least you would know that you are in the system and you could check he has done it and add the personal touch. They might not realise that you should have been sent through earlier or even ask for a cancellation. I think I read it is important to not have too long a wait. Just an idea anyway. My friend had an 11 week wait there at the start of the year and when I told Mr I he said he would not find that an acceptable amount of time, so I badgered to be sent through before chemo started. Not sure if it made any difference though.
Hi Suzi, have you ever had reflexology from my brother who works there occasionally? Hope you are ok.
Love to everyone
Lily x
Hi it was great to be able to put faces to names yesterday. I would have longed to stay longer but my son needed collecting. Next time maybe we could meet earlier, yes I know it was my fault - actually no it was not my fault as I am usually a very good time keeper its C’s fault making me have a bone scan!!!
Lily I hope your session goes ok today and they give you something for the reflux. That must be so annoying having to sleep sitting up - I must say you did look weel yesterday.
JennieF hi I don’t know if this works but my grandad used to say for his baldness was to rub salt onto his head, put a glass of water by the bed and when the strands come out to get a drink to tie a knot in it !! Do you think he was pulling my leg. The session you cancelled was it for the look good feel better course (please forgive me for being nosey) as I am going on this so will look out for a rebecca if it is.
have prepared a long list of questions for my pre assessment tomorrow but if anyone can think of any routine ones I amy have overlooked please let me know.
Hope you all have a good day love sharon xx
Hi superted, welcome to the chelmsford gang. I am amazed at how wonderful everyone is even thoiiugh we have never met. I was just wondering how you got with TAC as I start this next week and if there is anything I need to be asking that I have not thought of.
Sharon xx
Hi,
Sharon I am now ‘poisoned’ for the 8th time and just the same as on Monday, maybe a little paler until my tropical tan comes in with steroids!! They also make me tear around, wanting to do things so the house will be better off for it. LOL. Everything went to plan and they have now sorted out my little problems with one of the drugs so was really pleased. So guess what? The pharmacy had a problem and did not deliver the drugs so sat from 10 till 12.30 just waiting, attached to the drip. What a bore. It has never happened before but I was not feeling very patient as i had only had chemo a week before and wanted to get home and out of there.Had to send hubby out for more food as I am so much worse if I get hungry or don’t drink enough. That would be my biggest tip, eat as much as you can that day as it lines your tummy and it gets harder to eat as the side effects kick in sometimes. Also drink non stop in there to flush the drugs out before they annoy your bladder, if you have a drug that does that.
hi to everyone else. good luck with any appointments and keep in touch. Moonshine have you thought any more about the trial yet? I told my research nurse you might be on your way and that we had met. Tracy you see a different team if not on a trial, also very good just a slightly different role.
rebecca and Jen hope you are ok
Lily x
Hi everyone
Hi Suzi - wow, what a coincidence. I had my 2nd radiotherapy today! I am mainly afternoons as am working mornings. Yes, parking is a pig. On both occasions I have been there, I have felt like the youngest person by miles - know that is not a true reflection - must just be timing.
I would remind Prof D about the Zoladex and Tamoxifen. I started mine last Friday, 3 weeks after last TAC. As you may have seen if you have read through the messages, he can be forgetful (ie Jennie with her radiotherapy!), so worth a phonecall to Lisa…
Ignore the school mums. An ogre you are NOT - ugh the playground can be vile. Even when you are well!
Which breast surgeon are you under?
Sharon - lovely to meet you yesterday, although briefly. You should be finished with chemo by Christmas? Hope so - something to look forward to. You’ll get through it, but if you need to moan, or anything else, you know where to come! Think I will stay on this thread even though have ‘moved on’…
Jenn, Lily and Tracey - hope you are all OK. Jenn and Lily, a story about school. I really thought everyone knew why I was off, but yesterday got my upper sixth to do a ‘role play’ , for them to make up, in a Chemist (I teach Spanish, and this class are all Germans doing the International Baccalaureat - yes, I know, complicated!). Anyway, they are really good (only started Spanish a year ago), and their role play was about a young man who comes to the chemist with a bad stomach, and eventually the chemist diagnosed him with cancer and said he was going to die! Guess they don’t know, or else are REALLY HEARTLESS!
Lots of love
Rebecca xxxx
Hi everyone,
Rebecca I guess not everyone gossips about teachers! Loved the story. The wig must be amazingly realistic too, are you finding you throw it at the wall after a morning at school? How are you getting on with rads and your skin? Some people seem to suffer but I am hoping that as I do not burn or even tan easily my skin might hold up ok. Not sure if that is a realistic hope.I think you are amazing to be back at school and doing rads, they say the tired bit kicks in after a few weeks so take it easy.
My husband is going to the Prof’s house soon about some work, i might hide in the back and be nosey!! I have told him he must keep him sweet!! I am sure that would not really make any difference! I have been gradually cutting my anti sick tablets as I have not had nausea on either treatments. I am supposed to take 6 in total but moved down gradually to 3 this time, hope I don’t regret it. Has done wonders for my side effects so i am starting to wonder if the tablets are worse than the drugs on this regime!! What a strange idea. Well hope you are all ok. I have neen in contact with shingles but they are not worried as my neuts are high. they are freaky little things as chemo is making mine go up. They must be very competitive!
Hugs all round everyone and take care
Lily x
Hello there ladies,
Thank you for your warm welcome. : )
Lily - What’s your brother’s name who works at Rochelle House? I talk to a guy called Adrian there but haven’t had any treatment from him. Is that him? How strange about your neuts - I could have done with some of yours when I was on chemo and my fell drastically with every session. Well done on cutting back the tablets.
Rebecca - OMG about the play, but lol. I guess the don’t know. That’s funny what you said that about the radiotherapy and the age thing. I’ve thought the exact same thing, that I must be the youngest by at least 50 years. lol. I got stared at quite a lot when I first started going but I guess they’ve got used to me now. It’s nice seeing the same people and chatting to them. How old are you? I’m 32. I’m seeing Mr Smith. What about you? Who’s your surgeon? I spoke to Prof D about my hormone treatment and he very absent mindedly said I should be on it NOW!! So it’s being sorted so I can start it next week. I feel quite emotional about that, not that I want any more children, but when the decision is taken out of your hands, it makes you think…
Tracy - I went to Rochelle House last night for a under 35 support group. Carolyn and Teresa from the clinic went too and said you often go. You’ll have to let me know when you go next and I might come along and say hi.
Hello to everyone else (sorry, you must forgive me, I’m new to this site and just finding my way - don’t mean to leave anyone out).
Love to you all.
Suzi xx
Hi everyone,
Rebecca, I’m sure the class wouldn’t of been that insensitive if they had known, I certainly hope not!!
Someone was telling me they went to a BCC younger womans forum and she couldn’t believe how many were teachers and teaching assistants. Does this say anything about the stress of the job? makes you wonder. You are doing so well to be back at work, hope the rads are going well.
Suzi, I have been to the group meeting once? perhaps they are confusing me with another Tracey, there are a lot of us!
I am 47 so too old for the other group!! I was under Mr. Smith (no comments please) but now I’m under Prof. S. they are both lovely. I get to meet Prof.D next week.
Lily, glad to hear you doing well after last poision dose, well done cutting down tabs, never know they could of been causing more side effects than chemo! Can’t wait to find out what flavour chemo I will be having next week. There is some debate at the moment about where I will have it, will explain when I see you.
Jen, I feel a bit bad posting on your thread here, and I’m not even a TACer, or will I be? will know soon, so hope you don’t mind. Retail therapy sounds good, I am meeting Sharon next week for a pre-chemo shop. Looking for scarves, hats ect., and I want some slobetta comfy clothes to lounge about in on chemo. Can’t see me in lycra doing Trisha Goddard sit-ups!!
I would like to go the next Feel Good thingy day at Colchester, will anyone else be going?
Take care everyone
Tracey xx
Hi everyone, sorry not been on here lately been busy and distracted!! I went for chemo assessment yesterday and they wanred me to start tomorrow but I said that was not poss so start next Fri. I was quite together until just before leaving the chemo unit and had a reality check and started crying, Lisa assured me this was quite natural. I have to take 4 steroids in am and in the evening - is that what you all take and at what time??/
Rebecca, hope your rads went well. It was lovely meeting you at the Look Good course. I thouroughly enjoyed it and have been practising!!!
Lily, hope you are not feeling too bad after your latest zap. Can you thank your friend for the coffee as I ran out and did not thank her propoerly.
Tracy, I got a lovely tracky in M &S for those not so good days as we spoke about today.
Hope evryone is well. I am off to Rochelle House tomorrow for a massage can’t wait,
Love SHaron xx
Hi,
well very bouncy on my second day of steroid munchies. Was up from 3.30 a.m. until 5, went back to bed and the alarm then went to take my son to school! He is using me as a chauffeur at present and directs me all over the place to collect him. No sign of sleep yet, my worst/best record was 4 hours in 3 days so might be making a new personal best!! LOL They do make me feel very giggly and cheerful so can’t even complain till I come back down again. Waiting for the eyes to start later in the week. Had 2 friends round for coffee at separate times and babysit my little Grandson, so not bad for having chemo on Tuesday. Hope Tracy and Sharon have some easy spells along the way too. Bev had lunch with me and is well and back to work in a fortnight. will miss her terribly, so hoping to make our meets again to have someone to moan too, if you don’t mind. Tracy puzzled about where you might be going, will hear more another time and let me know what treatment you decide to have. Hope you don’t get too worried before it starts. Any chance of a meet next wek anyone? Try H & M for scarves and head things. Hi Suzi my brother is called Geoff, he goes there from ARU. I don’t mind being vaguely young, but not as young as you. However there was an 11 week wait at Colchester and a friend went to London as private instead and said she sat with people who had noses missing and little children so I was a little anxious about going. I am still laughing about my joke when Moonshine said she was under Mr Smith before being under Prof S, not many consultants left to be under. LOL LOL. Sorry bad joke but these days you have to get them when you can!
Jen how are you dong. Are the mitts helping you? Hoping to hear you have shaken off the effects of your last one and can start getting back to normal. Any date for the rads yet, I would nag them as you need yout tatoos and planning first before you can start. Rebecca hope you have no more uncomfortable moments with the kids, I am sur ethey just didn;t know. Sometimes it is nice to be treated normally perhaps after all this medical attention. I don’t like these things the docs forget to do. makes you feel you nedd to be on the ball and keep up to date with what is happening or supposed to be. He only gave my friend 30 tablets so had to rush to GP a fortnight later. Did you see they will be free on NHS in the future, totally forgotten when though.
Anyone for a lunch meet next week. We can move veues to suit anyone if it helps?
Take care
Lily x
Hello
A quickie before bed!
Sharon - steroids. I was told to take the second lot of 4 not too late - around 3pm as they can cause insomnia. I did do that, and was fine, but there again, I am one of those people who can have a double espresso before bed and still kip like a baby!
Suzi - I do like him, but the more I hear of Prof D and his forgetfullness the more I worry… When you were in Springfield, did he pop by to see you for about 2 mins and pass the time of day? Did you see how much he charges for that? Sorry to be cynical but I just couldn’t believe it! I am under Prof Sauven. Gosh, yes, you would be young in Colchester. I am 43 and feel like a spring chicken there! What time is your appointment next Thursday? (that is the only day I go in the morning). I can imagine how you feel about taking the hormone stuff. As a 43 year old who didn’t want more children anyway, it is easier for me as I would be pushing it having another one at my age, but you are so much younger. You just have to focus on the good it is going to do. Make sure you have a local anaesthetic cream of jab for the Zoladex (I got some cream from Springfield) as it does hurt a bit (hope you heard that already!). I was warned fortunately.
Tracey - don’t buy too much. I did and didn’t wear any of the scarves or hats in the end as I hated myself in them. THere again, I think I am odd and in the minority! Comfy joggy suits good idea and like Sharon, I got a few in M & S which were great.
Lily, poor you and your sleepless nights - bet you are all over the place!
Jenn - when are yuo starting your radiotherapy?
Lots of love
Rebecca xx
hello everyone!
been a few days since on here as helping mum move house.Big mistake! - over done it and now paying for it,sooo tired and hand is all puffy.Not forgetting a splitting headache.
Hope you don’t mind but I want to have bit of a rant! I’ve sat here crying my eyes out over my treatment.As you know from previous posts I finished chemo 2 weeks ago and the Prof (who I am unfortunately beginning to loose respect for!) told me I would be having rads followed by Herceptin or an Herceptin trial. Well I haven’t heard anymore!!! I have an appointment on Tuesday with a research nurse to finalise my trial decision but that’s it. I phoned Southend R/therapy unit and they have not received anything. I haven’t a contact number for the Prof’s secretary so yesterday I was phoning around trying to get some advice but no joy. Grrrrr!
What really get’s me is the way the Prof was so flippant about my treatment.I was the one who questioned radiotherapy-would he have forgotton or not bothered if I hadn’t mentioned it? As for hormone treatment,I am er+ but no mention of Zoladex and Tamoxifen! He just seemed to want to get me on an Herceptin trial and by doing that at my last appointment,was quite happy to pass me over to a research nurse. Whilst sitting at home I then start to feel quite paranoid and think is there anything he is not telling me??!!
Sorry about that- I don’t mean to but I am beginning to feel quite angry but at the same time trying to put a brave face on. I just want to get back to work and get on with things!!! Perhaps I need some more retail therapy. Tracey - I love the term Slobetta -that cetainly put a smile on my face!
Sharon - when I went for my pre chemo visit,I cried too. In fact I had a major panic attack and left the building! Lisa was amazing,she comforted me and really helped.I was pleased about that visit as when the chemo starts at least the surroundings are familiar.I used to go on a Thursday,the lady who does reflexology there is great.As for the steroids,I used to take mine in the morning about 8-9 with breakfast and 2nd dose around 3.As Lily said ,to late and they can make you buzz! Be prepared for your body to look a bit flushed too.
Tracey I echo what Rebecca said about the scarves-not too many. I bought a lovely towelling sleep hat from a website headcovers.com and I wear that indoors all the time now it is getting chillier.
Lily- hope you get some rest.My friend bought me a lovely tedy bear and the proceeds gotto the H Rollason charity.It has a lavender scented wheat bag inside and came with a copper bangle-isn’t that sweet?
Suzi - welcome!!!
OOOh isn’t the Chelmsford gang growing???!!! lol Jenx
Jenn
Rant away. What the hell is he playing at?!!! Negligence is the word that springs to mind. I would be furious. You just want to get on with it, get it over with and get on with your life, and this administrative cock up is preventing it. Ahhhhh, I want to go and hammer on his door myself on your behalf! I am sure he is hiding nothing from you - it is just that he has so many ‘clients’, somewhere along the line things get confused in the paperwork.
As you can see from Suzi’s message, seems it doesn’t matter if you are private or NHS…
Anyway, I won’t put her number on here, but if I were you, I would ring Springfield hospital 340000 switchboard and ask for Prof Dav’s secretary’s number. Her name is Lisa and she is his private business sec, but I am sure she gave me the name for his NHS sec at Colchester once when I had a query about radiotherapy.
Anyway, off for a cuppa. Have already had half a bottle of red… full of antioxidants I understand…
Rebecca
xx
Hi
just lost my big post to you Jen, hope I can remember it all. Do you think you might have been accidentally referred to Colchester as most locals are? When I mentioned going to Southend I was told that would take negotiations as they are a different unit/area. We are I believe in a 3 part thing with Colchester and Ipswich. Just wondering if that is the problem. Having a trial nurse will be brilliant if you like the trial. Mine is wonderful and would have sorted your problem asap with one call. I can speak to them 24/7. They give you really personal care and attention. Wierdly today I received my rads planning date for 24 October! I still have 2 chemos after this date so it seemed really early to me. It was 3 days after a dose so I have asked for another appointment. Also Prof mentioned my port coming out after chemo. I can’t believe they would do rads with recent surgery in the same area. They put my port within 3 inches of the tumour site! In the pack there is a number for macmillan specialist rads nurses that anyone can ring and I wondered if they could help you. You can ring any wek day 9 - 5 and they call back if not there. I will whisper you the number.My hubby has a meeting with prof tomorrow, wish I could hijack it for you!
Hope you hear soon and hi everyone else
Lily x