Feenix you will be glad to hear I got the hoop out today… really need to take myself in hand… thinking the extra weight won’t be helping these achey joints much. Managed 10 minutes and did feel good to be moving again. Still achey all over though and it wakes me up as I get really stiff. Much better if I am moving although walking sometimes really hurts if I do any distance… just hoping it improves soon. I feel 100 years old at the moment. I did enjoy the cream tea the other day… delicious and lovely to be out with my friends and forgetting BC for a while.
Michelle - I’m doing ok on Tamoxifen too, keep wondering if the SEs suddenly start… having a hot flush or two during the night but not more than I had before I don’t think. Glad you are doing ok.
CDC - glad to hear the feet are getting better, such a relief. My aches and pains are awful, hope you don’t get those, its really disrupting my sleep as wake up feeling so stiff throughout the night. Could also be a side effect of the Tamoxifen as that can cause muscle aches, although I had this before I started I think. I did speak to my ONC nurse yesterday to see if there’s anything I can do/take to help. She said its most likely the Docetaxol chemo side effects as its quite common and really not a lot you can do but ride it out… grrrr. She did however, recommend taking Zinc and Magnesium as she said the chemo knocks these out of your body and can cause the pains. Also recommended upping potatsium (so lots of bananas). I’m going to try these and see if that helps, also taking cod liver oil for joints too. I feel like walking pharmacy these days… wish I could have the old body back that didn’t ache, pull, and look different… in one weeks time I will be fried by the Rads too, hope that doesn’t cause too many problems. Can’t face much more.
CDC - glad you got to the LGFB course even if you didn’t exactly like the results. I must admit I don’t really wear foundation and powder etc, usually jsut some lippy and and a bit of eye shadow so felt a bit odd too. Was really helpful to know how to draw on eyebrows though.
Feenix - sounds like a good evening at the theatre, did you get your walk?
I’ve just ordered 5kg tub of Epsom Salts… going to try that in the bath for the achey joints and back. I did manage to sleep better last night, think I may have just been exhausted. Hubby said I was snoring so must have slept! Trying not to let my mind wander to “could it be bone cancer” stage… very difficult and have so far managed to avoid googling to much about it. As the nurse thinks its probably chemo effects I must focus on that … just wish it would bugger off!
Crikey feels like I’ve not posted for ages, a lot to catch up on!
Jean I like alistar McGowan too, he’s so clever! I don’t know how people do impressions we hav a family game called the accent game where we all say a sentence in a particular accent. It sounds perfect in my head but what comes out is completely different! The moving forward course sounds just what I’m looking for, quality info in a room of people who have also been through this hell. The next one here is February but I would miss one as I’m away on the trek then. You sound as though you are getting on ok with Letrozole although the stiff joints don’t sound pleasant. I suppose we have to accept that all medication causes SE’s.
CDC belated Happy Birthday ? I hope you got totally spoilt! Your LGFB day sounds interesting! It’s a bit like having make up done on your wedding day, you look like someone completely different! ? I haven’t done one and I’m not sure I’ll bother, I have my hair and lashes back now and on the whole I’m happy with my make up! I’m please your feet are feeling almost normal, and hope your onc appointment today goes well.
Kip I don’t like to say it out loud but no horrible Tamoxifen SE’s yet ? ? I hope your aches and pains ease off soon. Don’t think the worse it’s sure to be the se from that nasty T.
Unfortunately my skin seems to be getting a little worse each day. I have been given some gel and non adhesive dressings but I’m looking forward to turning the corner and seeing some improvement.
It’s annoying because I can’t run at all as the sports bra would rub too much. Having said that I think I am pretty tired at the moment as I went for a little snooze yesterday and woke up 4 hours later! In my defence I have stupidly arranged lots of socials for this week. I had a wonderful afternoon tea with my dog walkers, it was relaxed and easy as always with cakes thrown in, what’s not to like?! On Tuesday I went to see a play starring Ruth Jones. It was supposed to be a comedy about a choir and I went with some choir friends. Imagine my surprise when Ruth Jones’s character was pretending to have breast cancer for the attention. My friends felt pretty awkward but I did say you have to laugh…
Last night I went to see Wicked which was fab and not a hint of BC anywhere! Tonight I’m going early to choir to catch the parents of the kids choir so I can sell tickets for our Christmas concert. It is a fundraiser for my Nepal Trek, so hopefully it will be a sell out! ? Our fundraising is going really well and my OH has got a couple of events organised in Jan. To hopefully motivate and inspire us OH and I are going to a talk called ‘the hard road to Everest’ on Friday. Not that we are doing Everest, I don’t think I’m quite up to that but hopefully it’ll be interesting and have some tips!
Anyway think I’ve wittered in enough, have a good day and wrap up warm! Xx
Hello Michelle, oh my gosh the play with Ruth Jones!!! Glad you managed to laugh about it! I woukd love to take my daughter to Wicked she loves the music! Am planning a trip for next year for her.
Your trek planning and fund raising is going well by the sounds of it. With my current aches and pains i could undertake a sponsored “climb my stairs”… its a challenge in itself!!
I’d always planned to take my girls to Wicked but I think I’ve missed that window so am taking them to see Pink in the summer. My new motto is don’t put things off! I hope your aches get better soon.
I’m not exactly fit enough for the trek at the moment I’m just hoping I will be feeling better soon to do some training! I am pleased I have signed up for it as it is giving me something positive to focus on.
There certainly is a lot going on in the world of politics Jean, I can see why you might get side tracked! And it was very cold today brrrr! X
Oh Michelle Pink sounds fab. I am taking my daughter to see Ed Sheeran in August. I’m sure by your Trek you will up and ready for it. Its good to have something to focus on.
Feenix - 10 minutes hooping under my belt today… need to get the joints moving!
Kip I am so envious I bought tickets for the family to see Ed Sheeran this year for my birthday but it turned out I was having chemo, I hadn’t planned for that! In the end we sold two tickets and my 2 girls went together. They said he was brilliant, you’ll have a great time!
I have just read your query on your chemo thread about menopause testing. I asked my onc if they would test me. I also haven’t had a period since Jan and I think you and I are the same age, but she said they like you to not have had a period for at least two years, she also said Tamoxifen is easier (less se’s) than the post menopause treatments so I’m better off with that. I assume I am staying on the Tamoxifen for full 5 years now as probably won’t have a period but due to Tamoxifen putting me into menopause. I hope that answers your question or helps?
I’m still not having se’s from Tamoxifen, other than the flushes which I actually started having when I was 45.
Have a good weekend x
Michelle, what a shame about Ed Sheeran… bloody chemo… I was supposed to go away with my girlfriends for our annually break and had to cancel because of chemo! Thanks for answering the query for me, I guess that covers me too. I am on Tamoxifen for 10 years!! I did question why not 5 years and was told the new guidelines are 10 years??? Any thoughts.
I’m doing ok on Tamoxifen too, just hot flushes which I had before too, so good so far, although my aches could be because of it but I had them before I started so am assuming chemo related.
Hi Feenix, aches and pains still here but j think it may be sciatica as well as the usual achey legs… Seems to fit the symptoms. I havent tried the epsom salts yet but am planningna big soak tonight… ill report back. Got a delivery of a 2kg tub yesterday!! Sorry to heaur uouhad tears when thinking sbout your mum, j get emotiinal very easy these days.
CDC your daughter sounds very busy, nice she has a good interest outside ariana grande! Yes Tamoxifen so far not bad, occasional hot sweats but nothjng major and the aches and pains which the nurse thinks are from chemo, and rhw abovementioned possible sciata.
Cant believe k start rads this week, not sure how j feel really? Apprehensive i think. Im sure it will be ok, at least i wont get a lardy mouth!
Had a lovely soak Feenix, and although I still ache today, I think it did help with relaxing them in bed, slept much better without the restless heavy legs. Still have the back issue though.
My skin is still breaking up Jean. I went back to Velindre today again for more gel and dressings. The areas that were first to break seem to be getting better, although my under arm is red raw. The plus side of that is I can’t feel anything under my arm because of surgery! The nurse thinks it should be better in about 2 weeks which is a date for me to focus on.
I feel so emotional at the moment. I had a chat with a friend yesterday and cried, cried on my walk this morning and cried at lunch with a friend today. It seems the floodgates are open. I have got an appointment with with the clinical psychologist on 11th so hopefully I might get some counselling. I just can see where I am going from here. X
Cdc so glad you feel happier having been seen at the Marsden and at least you now have more options for recon once the mx is done, what do you fancy? I have plenty in all areas if you need a donor!! At least you can have a break from all this over Christmas. Your poor cousin too? Cant believe how many people i have spoken to recently who have or know of someone with this. I am impressed you see a counsellor regularly, thats a good thing to do, perhaps i should too, i think after christmas k will need some help.
Michelle your poor skin sounds painful although there are some benefits to having numb amrpits.
Im still suffering aches and pains so mow off to have an epsom soak again before sitting in pjs jn front the fire. Its very windy and raining here.
Feenix my cording is gettingbetter thank you, im stretchjng, massaging and moisturising a lot and movement is gettjng better juat not in my knees and hips!
Can’t stop crying- I’ve just heard from my dear, dear friend that she has aggressive breast cancer and will start chemo in two weeks. We met at university when she was studying English and we became very close friends. I’m so utterly gutted! She’s German and tells me that in Germany she was offered a mammogram and ultrasounds because of dense tissue. This f*****ing disease! I feel so sad but also so angry that it is affecting so many people I know and love. Sorry I just know you will understand xx
Hi CDC, sorry to hear about your poor friend, it sounds like she will be getting good treatment, even though we all know it is horrible hopefully it will have the desired effect. Thinking of you xx
Oh CDC - that is sad news, at least she has you to help her through this, there is nothing like sharing with someone who has been there. Its shocking how many people are affected by this crappy disease… I’m not sure if its because we are in this circle that we hear more or its just increasing but I have heard of so many people with it. At my husband’s work alone, there have been 4 ladies diagnosed since my diagnosis in April. Rant away Clare…
I thought I would share this piece of information with you all… I met up with a friend of my husband who now lives in Spain (been there 10 years or so). 6 years ago his mother-in-law (who lives with them in Spain) was diagnosed with bowel cancer. She had all the crappy chemo etc and was then given the all clear. BUT unlike here, in Spain once you have had a cancer diagnosis you are seen every 3 months for ever more, she was given regularl scans and tests etc and last year (6 years after her last diagnosis) she was found to have very early stage pancreatic cancer. She has been again treated with chemo etc and is now all clear. If she had been living in UK, her checks ups would have been much much less and the prognosis for her pancreatic cancer would have been very different. Lucky for her she lives there and it was caught very early on. Makes you think doesn’t it.
Sorry everyone didn’t mean to be depressing… got to get my pysched up for the first RADS session today. Must remember to take my tabard… very fetching. Does everyone get to take there’s home with them?
Very interesting Kip, makes you wonder if it’s worth paying for a yearly scan dosent it? Strangely I have only met one person who has had BC, and she is 4 years clear.
Yes I got to take my gown home with me, so flattering! Especially the gap up the back! Good luck with Rads, I hope it all goes well and your skin isn’t too sore at the end. Mine is improving now, phew!
Hope you are doing ok Jean? Xx
The surgeon told me at the start reseatch has been done to show check ups should be annual. If I had had one June 2017 would they have found it then? It was 51 mm max on MRI after diagnosis in March. x
well first RT done, and not much to write home about yet. Was weird just laying there whilst it whirred around me, kept expecting rays of light or something! My gown is a blue tabard with velcro shoulders which they unhook on the side they need so that you are not all exposed. Looks a bit Star Trek like though! Not looking forward to the trek day after day but I will do it.
Xx