Hi all
Pauline, you mentioned the recon. using tummy - is that the TRAM - if so that’s what I had early in June, then chemo. If so I can tell you it is a great job but tough. It involves taking the tummy muscles and rebuilding a boob. The end product is very good! I have been able to wear a low top and my cleavage looks the same as before. I did feel very sore after the op. as you have two wounds - cut from hip to hip, new belly button made and then the breast stitches. I had a few extra breast stitches as they had to remove skin as the cancer was close to surface. The surgeon used skin from tummy. It all looks well but I did feel very sorry for myself for a few days - in hospital 7 nights.
This operation was offered to me at the same time as mastectomy and I know it did prevent a second operation at a later date. I know that there are all kinds of procedures out there. At the time I was in hospital another lady went through the same procedure as me but a third lady wasn’t offered it as she was a smoker. Apparently the blood supply might not have been good enough for the surgery to be successful.
My new breast is still a bit hard and my tummy is weak - and still abit numb but overall am very happy with the surgeon’s work.
hopefully you’re all so quiet cos youve had a great bank holiday break! Some of you may even still be away!
Muddy, thanks for the info re your recon, I just dont think I can face all that… so will stick to prosthesis for now… however, Ive lost my silicone one! Have searched the house from top to bottom and cant find it! I stopped wearing it because of aches and pains around my op site and it just got on my nerves. I have been wearing my comfy instead but it just doesnt look as good… I keep worrying that Ive left my prosthesis somewhere, like the B & B we stayed in a few weeks ago… or my sister-in-laws, oh the embarrassment not to mention the cost!
Just a quick question for everyone re nails, mine still seem to be okay but one thing Ive noticed is some quite small black marks on them like someone has flicked them with a black biro. Im just wondering if this is the beginning of them going black and falling off as many people experience with Taxotere. Has anyone lost their nails?
Apart from this I am feeling really pretty good, a bit tired some days so have to have 30 minute nap, but the upside of being tired is that Im sleeping really well at night, which is unheard of for me! I am in bed about 10 hours and am sleeping most of that time… pure bliss, its like being a teenager again! Hot flushes have also more or less disappeared, only the odd one now, my mum made me laugh and said perhaps that’s it, youve been through the menopause!! If only life were that simple and good! Think Im hormonal again though as breast feels sore and Ive a lovely spot on my neck! So, a teenager again in more ways than one!
On the hair front theres a covering of something quite soft and whitish, and some black stubble… very fetching. It doesnt seem to be growing much though!
Hope youre all doing well, I have only 8 days to go now till my last one and cannot wait!
I’ve just had my first rads appt today-all went swimmingly-must say it’s a doddle after all the FEC and TAX! One thing though i can’t believe how tired i am-this is probably the after effects of chemo and the fact that it’s an hours drive to the hospital, don’t know how im gonna be after driving there every day at the crack of dawn for 4 wks and all for just 15mins treatment!! Anyway-i digress as usual!! I had acrylic nails put on just before chemo started and have had them ever since-i thought this was helping my nails to stay strong BUT NO-since my final TAX 3 wks ago i can see beneath the acrylics that my nails are turning a very peculiar shade of reddy-brown and they really hurt-it feels like the end of all my fingers are throbbing all the time-i reckon this means theyre gonna fall off soon! great stuff.
Ive put quite a bit of weight on already and ive now started on Tamoxifen-heard that the after effects of this aren’t very good so feeling bit down at the minute. Has anyone got any ideas on what sort of exercise i can do to get rid of big fat arms and thighs? Trouble is i’m sooooo tired just walking upstairs!!
The nurses at rads have said that i’ll get more tired as the weeks go by so looks like i’ll be even fatter by the tinme my hols come around in Nov-what joy!!
Hang in there everyone, sorry for my little moans!!
Isnt it amazing how something like rads can get you excited! Ive got my rads planning on 18th September and then will start a couple of weeks after that (going to cram in a sneaky week in Portugal in between!) What date was your last chemo? already Im stressing about the gap between chemo and rads!
Oh dear, know what you mean about nails because mine have been looking a little red/brown stained for a while now but like I say with fetching black marks on some of them! Hope they dont fall off, sounds as if it could be painful
As for weight, Ive put loads on since starting, I reckon 7-10lb! Heaven help me when I start Tamoxifen! Dont be down about Tamoxifen, most people dont get any side-effects from it or only limited ones, and it cant be as bad as chemo! As soon as I can, Im going to start going on little runs, as I used to run quite a bit but stopped about a year ago, so this should do the thighs. For the arms, I dont know, I always found the gym good, although my friend swears by swimming for both arms and thighs!
I need cheering up. Have just been for my bloods ready for Tax No. 3 and they couldn’t find a vein. Tried 5 times, ended up using the vein that you associate with slashing your wrists. Now have a humungus bruise, and very sore. God only knows where they will go on Friday, “neck was mentioned” - hope this was a joke!! Have now had six sessions of chemo and two more to go and feeling like I have had enough. Someone give me a kick up the you-know-where or make me laugh, Im not good at being down in the dumps.
Cheers
Anne x
PS I have had rads and tamoxifen (albeit quite a few years ago) but wanted to add that rads are a doddle compared to chemo, and I had no side effects from tamoxifen for the five years I was on it - other than about half stone weight gain.
Sorry you’re feeling down and fed-up. I can honestly say that when you have your next chemo you will start to see the light at the end of the tunnel - all of a sudden its like “the next one is the last one”, I felt just like you before my second last one but once it was done I knew that I would only have to do it all one moe time.
My veins arent as bad as yours although at my last chemo the usual place they go in was having none of it and they had to go in somewhere else on my wrist. There is one nurse at my place who is really good at finding veins, if you have one of these where you go dont be shy to ask her to look for the vein. Also, there are things that you can do to make your veins better, my nurses suggest drinking plenty of water beforehand, making fists and tensing your arm whenever you remember to: just not in the direction of other people though as it could have unfortunate consequences! Other tip is to rub some moisturiser/oil into your arm and massage the veins over the next couple of days and also on the day to make sure you are as warm as possible as this will also make the veins appear! Do you make sure that they give you one of those pads to warm up your arm before they start. It also gets on my nerves that they get this out AFTER they’ve already started with problems - ask them for this before they start.
Anyway, apart from this, pull yourself together Anne (sending a cyber slap), and think of all those people who still have 8 to do!!
Here’s a joke (in the loosest way possible!!!) to cheer you up:
What do you call someone who used to like tractors? - An EXTRACTOR FAN!!!
Heard that on car radio on way to rads and giggled that much my eyes were watering big style and you no what happens then-lack of eyelashes means soaking wet top!!! Looked proper lovely by time i got to hosp i can tell ya!!!
Pauline,
My last TAX was 3 wks ago so i haven’t had to wait long for my rads to start-2 down 18 to go!
I reckon i’ll be sick of getting my knockers out by the end of this tehehe!!
Chins up girls, ive cheered up a bit since yesterday-hope it lasts!
You’re absolutelyl right Pauline, about thinking of those who have eight to go, and thanks Tracy for the joke - I’m feeling a bit brighter - glass of wine helped big time!
Your comment about getting your knockers out, reminded me of one of the male nurses at rads who always shouted out to the patients “come on Mrs … get your kit off” - Us “youngsters” were pretty ok with it, but some of the older ladies used to give him a right verbal bashing.
The best laid plans I tell you - OH took this week off so we could have some family time/days out in leiu of a proper holiday and on Saturday morning very early (5 a.m.) I woke up with a temp of 38.3 and aching legs, just like proper flu, so in to hospital I went with non existent neutrophils! I was discharged today because my lovely oncologist prescribed GFSC (I think) and my neutrophils went up from 0.2 yesterday to 2 today. Really bad backache and headache from the GFSC though, but worth it cause it got me home. I’ll be making the most of this week as my next chemo is booked for next Wednesday.
Tracy and Pauline I’ll join you in the ‘Tubbier than I used to be’ club. I fancy the idea of a personal trainer when this is all over with - goodness knows where the money will come from, but I’m dreaming big!
Anne, glad you’re feeling better, glasses of wine always help I find!! When I have my last chemo next week I am going to have several large glasses and sod the hangover and feeling like sh** for a few days - I know I’ll feel like this anyway! I think Im in the fortunate position of only having had to have had 3 FEC and 3 Taxotere, I was worried I was being shortchanged - how naive was I!!! I hasten to add this was before chemo had started, now I wouldnt care! Anyway, onc very helpfully (not) told me the doses were higher with 3 plus 3 - lovely!
Tracy, I really liked the joke and so did my 7 year old! Now you see Im envious about the early rads start. My consultant said planning 2 weeks after and start a couple of weeks after that to help me get over the Tax. So Ive booked a holiday to Portugal for a week! Ive since been offered a much earlier start to rads but am going on holiday - so, part of me wishes I wasnt going but getting my 25 rads out of the way, oh well.
Jane, have been there too! After 1st Tax (4th chemo) ended up in hosp with temp of 38.7 and iv antibiotics for 4 days! I have never taken so much medication in my entire life. I had tablets for everything as they couldnt find the infection. Neutrophils only 0.1, however, didnt get any magic injection when in hosp so had to stay in! Mind you got the lovely injection after my next chemo and this cycle has been much easier, make sure you get it too after your next one just in case - I think lots of women do.
Welcome to the “tubbier than I used to be club” - I like that title a lot, tubbier perfectly describes me at the moment but I dont care to be honest, more to worry about than that!
Think I can join in on the “tubbier than I used to be club”, as think that I am putting on some weight. Although as OH said, in my case, definitely not a bad thing, and better than losing right now, as not that much of me.
Hope everyone is OK today. Had my 2nd chemo yesterday and so far so good, apart from the hair dropping out like no tomorrow. Am getting sorted tomorrow hopefully and think I have to go for the shave, as getting so depressed about it.
Hey, I love to hear people “dribble on” about themselves! It makes me feel more normal. I was like you with the hair in that as soon as the 2nd chemo was done it started falling out really fast. Once I shaved it I felt much much better, more comfortable, wig felt better, hats felt better everything! One thing I was recommended to do though was not to shave around the front of the ears near the hairline - my wig fitter suggested that if you leave these little bits (thats if they havent already fallen out) then a wig, hat, whatever will look more natural as there is a bit of your own hair peeping out. This definitely worked with me and its only the last couple of weeks (after 5 chemos) that Im losing this - but on the bright side rest of hair is growing back, but white and fluffy!
As for the tubbiness I keep saying Im going to make an effort but I just cant, I started off with weetabix this morning so a good start but have now just eaten 2 chocolate fingers! This is the just the start, I know it!
Well, made it through my seventh chemo yesterday, and veins just about holding out - took a few attempts but got there in the end. Talking of hair, mine is still falling out, presume I have to wait until completed before leaving it alone. What does come through is grey!!
And as for the tubbiness, somehow I managed to put on 4Kg between chemos this time - unbelievable, I know I’m not so sicky so keeping down food, but I don’t think I’ve overeaten to that extent - hoping its water retention that will go away eventually.
ONC is now talking about hormone tablets, and have to have hormone checks at next bloods, so next stage starting to roll in.
This week is our 30th wedding anniversary its so brilliant when you think that I was first diagnosed when we had our 19th and we’re still going strong, (he’s completed two life sentences according to my OH) and very much looking forward to our 40th. Also my daughter has just got engaged so something to really plan for during the following year - need to save pennies!!
Well I’m off to do some gardening while the steriods strut their stuff.
Enjoy the celebrations Anne!
Am definitely joining the tubbier than before club. No excuses really. I think I’m just grateful that eating still feels good and have decided to just to go with that…
All the best
Jo
hi Anne
haven’t even started on Tax yet - still on FEC and will then go on to it…reading this to get prepared and have been inspired by all you wonderful people.
X
Jo, Good luck with your FEC - many more to go? and must say that Tax has been easier in a way than my first 4 which were similar to FEC, as I’ve had no sickness/nausea with this, just much more fatigue. Hang in there, this is doable and supposed to be the creme de la creme for killing off those little buggers.
Any questions just ask, loads of us to dish out advice.
Cheers
Anne x
Glad you posted, I was wondering how you got on Friday. Its great that it went smoothly and the veins werent too bad. I know what you mean about the hair, the grey/white stuff seems to be sticking there just fine but Im not so sure about the dark stubble which is coming through… sometimes I think its growing and sometimes I think its still coming out - cant decide!! Meanwhile the eyebrows and eyelashes are very thin, I dont think any more are coming out but then again!..
Like you Im hoping the tubbiness is water retention or is connected to the Tax, I think I read somewhere that it does make you put weight on… heres hoping! I too will have bloods next time to check hormone status so that I can start the hormone tablets. Something else to put weight on!
Have a wonderful 30th wedding anniversary, hope you are doing something special! Its lovely that your daughter is getting engaged too!
Hi Jo,
I think Im with Anne re FEC and Tax, I think that Tax is easier although much more tiring than FEC. FEC made me feel sicker, however, put lots of weight on with Tax!
Have done my three FEC and start taxotere this coming week, on Thursday. Thanks for all your posts. Have all my fingers firmly crossed. Can’t afford toput on weight!
I have one more FEC on 19th Sept to go and then onto Tax. Getting worried about it making me more tired, but one never knows how it is going to affect. Not really had anything with FEC at all so can’t complain yet, cept for my poor little head!!
Good luck all and let me know how the Tax goes, as will be watching and waiting.