Glad the meeting with your friend went well Kip. It sounds like the wigs are easy to care for too which is something that bothered me a little. You’ve made me rethink my wig decision. And I will have a look at what is on offer at least. My Motors have been behaving quite well this afternoon but as I’m typing this one is going beserk whilst it tries to create a vacuum- think I’d better go and check the adhesives and make sure there are no breaks in the seal- what a palaver!!! That’s the only way to keep it quiet- well that and taking out the batteries!! Take care xxx
Thanks for your replies ladies. I need to speak to BCN tomorrow as I have stitches poking through my scars. I also seem to have what looks like chording under my skin beneath my boob. I’ll ask her to see if she can arrange to send the reports.
I was interested to read the info on treatment but it doesn’t apply to triple negatives which don’t respond to the hormones, so it is chemo or nothing.
Very tired tonight. Night ladies xx
Evening
The new research results are certainly of interest to many. I’ve not been offered the oncotype dx test however I’ve not seen an oncologist yet. I understand that it’s not offered everywhere which could have to do with funding and obviously you have to meet the criteria. Surely, if you meet the criteria following op/histology confirmation, the onc dx test should be done automatically no matter where you live.
Hope you have a better night cdc and your appts tomorrow go well… busy day for you.
Meeting your friend has been a positive experience for you kip.
I’ve hit the pit early
Start of another week tomorrow … where’s the time going to !!?
Night All
xx
Oh no ktk sorry to hear of your problems. I hope the BCN can help you. Definitely a priority to get the stitches and cording looked at. I imagine it’s somewhat disheartening to hear positive news for others regarding the chemo when it is not applicable to you. I’m sorry it won’t be of benefit in your situation. Hoping you have a good nights sleep. Thinking of you and Sending big hugs xxx
Kip. Regarding wigs. My very best friend is a hairdresser who just happens to work at a wig shop who supply and fit wigs for all NHS patients in our city. She was with me when I had my diagnosis as she is just the right sort of level headed person you need when faced with such devastating news.
She recommends going to the shop before you loose your hair for a number of reasons. Firstly they can see how you wear your hair normally, start to colour match etc, give advice on when you might want to cut your hair shorter and ultimately perhaps shave it. They can also suggest new styles and colours that you may have thought of in the past but not been brave enough to try. At the shop where my friend works they also have a range of scarves etc that you can buy as well as products to use while you are going through treatment. I have always admired my friend and her colleagues who are beautiful caring people this is more than a job to them they care about their clients and I have often said that if I ever needed a wig I would be well looked after. I am 100% sure that the staff at your local shop will be exactly the same. Please let me know how you get on and if you think she can be of any help in providing you with practical advice let me know. Hopefully I won’t need her services but if I do she has told me she has wigs waiting for me with the X factor.!!!Sending big hugs xx. Chris
Hi CDC. No. I went back to work today and didn’t have time. I’m sure it is just the scars settling down. I am so sorry to read about you and your daughter. What an amazing girl. Children are remarkably resilient but it doesn’t stop us worrying about them. I hope you get your entertaining dressings off soon. My visit with the oncologist is at 9 tomorrow. My son has insisted I text him at school as soon as I know what is happening. I hope he isn’t planning on taking his phone into the exam!!!
I am also not sleeping too well, but I am not a good sleeper anyway. Be good to yourself. Big hugs Kxx
Morning all
Jazza … how are you? … I’m conscious it’s your surgery in a couple of days. I’ve found the recovery second time round much easier, probably because it’s a much shorter op. I’m following all the instructions I got for after the first op and taking things easy even though I feel I could do more.
I hope appointments are as good as they can be today cdc and ktk … sending virtual support to you both
Kip … how are you this morning
Bridget … how are you doing … and Dazee too ?
I hope some Zzz’s were had by all last night
Xhugsx
Good morning lovely ladies,
Good luck ? today ktk and cdc with your appointments.
Dear Kip… I do hope you are ok… I was told on Friday at my local cancer drop in centre (my first visit) that I could just pop on there and cry as much as I like when I like. They also offer all sorts of help, counselling and therapies. I have lived in my Town for over 15 years and I didn’t know they were there!! Its a local charity and my BCN told me to just go in and try it. I am definitely going to go again. If you haven’t found a drop in centre in your area then perhaps ask your Bcn. It may help. I would also encourage everyone else to seek out your local drop in centres. They are there to help both us and our families.
Feenix, thank you. I am OK but strangely very nervous about next op (I don’t remember feeling like this with my first). My son has taken a couple of days off next week and we have decided to go up to my Mums for a little break away. He has booked our train tickets and as a treat he booked first class tickets as he wants me as comfortable as possible. We were supposed to go to Vienna a few weeks ago but we cancelled that because of the first op etc etc. Yes, as you I plan to keep to the instructions from my first op.
Found an odd thing though…was inspecting wounds last night and found a small nylon wire poking out!! Think it is in area the drain was. I will mention this to surgeon on Thursday when I go for op so they can do something about it whilst I am asleep!!
Right…well I best get dressed and go to work. I am very lucky…so far work have been great. It’s only a mile walk from my house to my office so it’s great and gives me an excuse to get out of the house every day, and work are happy to have me for as many or few hours as I can manage.
Have a good day all xxx
Morning everyone, feeling slightly better this morning, just comes in waves of panic and fear, but as you all say, we all go through it and you just have to ride the storm. My children are coping so well but my daugther does keep checking if I am crying and saying she is scared to see me ill after chemo. I got my appointments this morning for bone scan and MUGA heart scan both of which are not doable. The bone scan is booked for the same day as first chemo and MUGA for 4 days later which cannot be done within 5 days of chemo… well done hospital!! why don’t they talk to each other? Now rearranged bone scan for this Thursday, and MUGA for 22nd June… so scared of the results but hopefully all fine and I can concentrate on the chemo. Stil can’t quite believe this is happening…
Good luck CTC with your results, glad to hear wounds are beginning to behave themselves.
Hope everyone else is hanging on in there.
Hope you ok Bridget… haven’t heard from you for a while… hopefully thats because you are enjoying life and moving on!
Big hugs
Kip x
Morning ladies another bright day here. This time next week I will be sitting back in the hospital waiting room for my results appointment,trying desperately not to think about at the moment having had a bit of a bad day on Sunday the horrible what if gremlin having been working overtime. My daughter suggested I pop into our local sunflowers centre yesterday just to see what it was all about and what was on offer. What a surprise, yoga, massage, counselling, art groups reading group, mindfulness sessions to name just a few of the items on offee. Met a lovely lady who who is 12 months into her BC journey and it was good to hear her story and get some good information about our local hospital Rads set up. As I left she asked me for my phone number. About an hour after I got home she sent me a lovely text saying how nice it was to meet me and if I needed anything to contact her. I was so uplifted by my experience and would totally recommend that if you have a centre nearby just go give it a try. I’m not really a very social person so was a bit wary of going but so glad I did. Have an appointment this afternoon for a reflexology session then going to try mindfulness. Will let you know tomorrow how it goes. X
Hi everyone. Here’s my update. Chemo will start the day after my son finishes his A levels(they allowed me to choose), which also my birthday, so we will have a little celebration then! Three cycles of FEC followed by three of docetaxel. The percentages were 7-8%. Not too happy about the Picc line, but they were fairly insistent. I’d be interested to hear any other opinions. Glad to know what’s happening. Good luck CDC, thinking of you later. Kxx
Hi KTK, so we will be on the chemo merry-go-round together. I haven’t had a chat about PICC lines or anything, perhaps they will see what happens? others seem to get on fine with one and it does deal with the issue of getting needles in etc. What are the percentages you talked about, nobody has told me that, just said I would greatly benefit from chemo… doesn’t feel that way to me. Love kip xx
The way I understand it Kip is that there is x% chance of surviving 5 or 10 years. The percentage is the increased chance of survival that the treatment gives you.
So, out of 100 women, say 75 would survive 5 years. Chemo at 7% would increase this to 82 out of 100.
If this is incorrect please can someone put me right.
Of course, you could get run over by a bus… Kxx
Oh I see KTk I wasn’t told any percentages but not sure I would cope with knowing, they just said I would really benefit… I am presuming that’s a good thing? Made an error earlier on here and ended up in the secondaries section and that wasn’t a good read! I logged out sharpish and it really got me scared, must make sure I log in correctly.
Oh well done cdc. What a great oh. So pleased that there are great options for all you + testers out there. Such a shame that the only option is to pay?
Wow cdc what a day you had…
So pleased you were able to challenge your oncologist and that they are happy to oroceed with the tests (albeit you have to pay). At least you will have all the information etc available to you to make decisions regarding your ongoing treatment. I do hope you get some sleep xx
That’s good ktk you were given the chance to choose your chemo start date. It will give you a chance to prepare but also time to support your Son. My Son did his A Levels 2 years ago so I know how stressful the exams and waiting for the results is. I wish him lots of luck xxx
Mcnulcc, glad you went to your local group. I too am not a social person but if there is a time to do something different then I guess now is the time!! ? I would be very interested to hear how your reflexology session went. I am going to wait until after my next surgery before trying out some of the therapies xx
Afternoon everyone
Jazza.Reflexology was lovely and I think the fact that I could just be me and have 40 minutes of pampering was a brilliant boost. Really lucky to have such a great place near to where I live and would recommend everyone to see what they have locally. Jury still out on the mindfulness sessions but I will give it a few more goes.They offer facials and hot stone massage as well but think I will wait until after results appointment next week before I book any more treatments.
It’s another lovely day here so going to Potter around in the garden for an hour or two
Jazza… looking forward to hearing you are through your op tomorrow and recovering well … xhugx
Hi everyone, just braved the short haircut ready for chemo… Actually it’s quite nice, everyone likes it and definitely easy to look after, shame it may be gone in a few weeks. Micromets … is that when the nodes are not enlarged but contain some cancer cells? Sorry but that’s how my surgeon explained what my results were… Not enlarged and that’s why they didn’t show in ultrasound… just curious. Good evening s to all, hoping to get better sleep tonught before bone scan tomorrow. Hugs xxx