hello greenpea
sorry to hear you have been sick. I was very sick the first time, but they improved my anti sickenss and have been better ever since, even though still feel nauseous. It could be worth asking for stronger anti-sickness next time. I find water hard to face for some reason and find drinking it with fruit juice (apple and cranberry-i like) mixed in easier or fizzy water works for me.
Keep going and good luck
Lou
Hi Lou
Thanks for that. I’ll try apple and cranberry next session. I’m not too bad today (middle of 2nd week post chemo). Have found a taste for bitter lemon. At least it’s something!
Someone suggested having soups to get the fluids which I thought was a great idea. It’s funny, I don’t have such a problem with eating except I crave sweet things more than anything and then the sicky feeling is made worse!! Can’t win can we?
Does anyone else get sick and tired of hearing themselves moan? I feel I’m moaning constantly and it’s not like me - honest!!
well, I spose you could argue that we’ve got good reason to moan really!!. I get bored with myself talking about cancer/treatment all the time as every conversation seems to be to do with it, not surprisingly. We are in the middle of treatment so its at the forefront of ones mind…but I have been told this gets less as you leave treatment behind and get on with life…I suppose this will be the same for the moaning!!..
can you go for sweet savouries, maybe roasted veg, roasted peppers, carrotts, tomatoes, you could add honey??..rasted veg quiche/lasagne???
I’m seeing my new oncology team today as I have been reffered to another centre for rads as the travel is easier for me, so the start of phase 3 of treatment. We’ll see how that goes
Loux
Hi greenpea
I manage the taste thing with lime cordial, also tonic water was OK. Hubby got me some root ginger and peeling small chunks of that, pouring on boiling water and drinking when cool also helped not only the taste but nausea as well. I bought Seabands but they didn’t seem to make any difference for me. They might work for you. I seem to get through a lot of herbal teas, lemon and ginger, tangerine and lemon and plain old green tea are OK at different stages between chemo. It’s funny how it changes over the 21 days. Pineapple chunks and peeled sliced apple also help to clean the mouth of the metallic taste for a little while. Cranberry juice is great not only for taste but it is good for you as well! As for the constipation, that is a real pain in more ways than one, I got some Lactulose Solution from my GP and take a dose of that with each Ondansetron tablet, and for a couple of days after I have finished them (I only take three tablets 1 on chemo day and 2 the day after) it just manages to keep things moving and then get back to normal. I have a large intravenous dose of antisickness at the start of my chemo. I think it is Ondansetron in liquid form. I have not been troubled with sickness but the nausea really puts you off eating and the Domperidone anti-nausea tablets take a while to kick in, so you really have to take them before you feel nauseated if you ever!!!
Hope you are feeling better soon and look forward to hearing from you soon.
Nonny
Lou -
Hi Lou
Not long now and on to the next step. I’m glad you are able to have your rads closer to home, the travelling back and forth really takes it out of you doesn’t it?
I had a long talk with an old school friend of mine today, she had breast cancer ten years ago, mastectomy, 6 months of chemo and 20 weeks of rads then tamoxifen for five years. How treatments have changed! She never bothered to have a reconstruction as she got used to her false boob and didn’t fancy another operation after she had recovered from the rads, so I think that is the path I will take. She also said she wishes she had gone for a double if they would have done it, it would balanced things up better and she could have gone boobless if she wished!
Number four tomorrow then only two to go!!! I can almost see the home straight. Just hope my mouth isn’t quite as sore this time, I seem to spend all my time flossing, cleaning and using mouth wash. My dentist is going to be really pleased with me when I see him in August.
Hope your last chemo is a good one and not too many side effects, all the best
Nonny
Hi Nonny
Nice to hear from you. Yes I have the final one tomorrow!!..hurray. Pleased that part is almost over for me…thanks for feedback from your friend. My boobs are fairly (I mean boob is!!) insubstantial so don’t have balance issue really…
I am noe looking into zoladex and ovarain oblation as bolt ons and am having genetic testing to see if I carry the BRAC gene…so a bit more stuff to think or ‘worry’ about!
Let me know how you got on with no4. hope it went ok
louxxxx
Hi Lou
Had 4th last Friday and boy did it hit hard. The nausea was really bad this time and my District Nurse and GP have changed my anti-nausea tablets and thank goodness, I am more or less back to normal today, at least what passes for normal these days! Sorry to hear you have still more ‘stuff’ to worry about but I suppose it’s all a case of one day at a time. Hope your last chemo went OK, only five weeks and three days to my last one! I’m on countdown now. Hope after my last one I’ll be able to spend a few days up North with my grandchildren and show them my baldy head! Before the next stage. Then, if all goes well and to plan, it’s countdown to October and two weeks in Crete staying with my sister and her hubby. All these things to look forward to!
Do you have a family history of breast cancer? I am the first in our family, so I keep telling my girls to just keep checking and rechecking!
All the best
Nonny xxx
Hi Nonny.
What a bummer that you felt worse on your 4th. It’s very unpredictable, isn’t it?..well at least theres the anti-sickness that can be a great help…as you say you’re over the half way point now and freewheeling down the other side. When is your op? are you having any radio??..Great to hear you have some lovely things to focus on…I keep thinkig of the summer hols, with tuscany in October and a tour of friends and devon in July plus my best friend coming to visit from Singapore.
Well I had no.6 yesterday. Ended up very late leaving as my chemo nurse forgot to turn on the docetaxel so ended up being there until 6 ish…so I’ve done it!..just the next 7-8 days to get through. Fell pretty good today actually. Have been for a walk this morning with my sis, longer than I can usually manage. I do remember feeling ok on this day after no4 and then rubbish after, so still waiting for the shitty days!
We do have a bit of a history as my dads mum had it at 40ish and died at 45 and my dads sister had it at 60, but is still here at 73…my other aunty on that side is ok and so is her daughter and my sis is ok so far too…nothing on my mums side though…they think this is enough to have a risk of genetic cancer though, because for me atmy age. I feel I want to know though as it will have a bearing on oopherectomy and other boob…better to be safe than sorry I guess…
I found out yesterday that they screen women from 45 in USA as a matter of course…I suppose there is the risk of radiation to take intoaccount for your girls if they decided to go for screening…
My girls are still very young so I keep hoping by the time its an issue for them there will be a jab or something!! like there is now for cervical cancer
Pleased to hear you’re staring to feel better and look orward to hearing from you
Louxxx
Hi Lou
Great to hear from you, you’ve done it! Dont’ know yet what is next, surgery I guesss, I must remember to ask next week when I see my Consultant. I’ve been told I will have to have radio, not looking forward to that bit, though can it be as hard as Chemo?
My youngest daughter, Suzanne, is flying down from Manchester at the end of May to spend most of half term week with me, I am so looking forward to seeing her. I am due my last chemo the day after she goes back so what a week to look forward to. We speak every day on the 'phone but it’s not the same as being able to hug. My eldest, Tamsyn, is on holiday in Austria at that time so she can’t make it. It is difficult with young children with school holidays and she is working part time as well. Suzanne is married to a farmer so he can see to the children half term week.
Hope you continue to feel OK this time, it being the last must give you a great big boost. When does the hair start growing again? Are you having radio, if so you’ll have to let me know what it’s like.
All the best,
Nonny
Hi Nonny
Nice to hear from you!
I am now sunday after chemo and feeling pretty weak and feeble. Has’nt sunk in yet that its the last time!!..so still feel a bit down but know it will lift and then…no more…hooray! all my family have coughs and colds so have been sleeping in spare room to try and avoid it, do have cold though but not cough yet. Hope I don’t have to go to hospital on my last one!..we’ll see…
I am having radio starting in about 3-5 weeks time 15 sessions and I will let you know how it goes. I have heard mixed reports of extreeme tiredness to nothing at all…so I guess we’ll wait and see. I do have a bit of fluff coming through and am really bored wearing hats now. I walked yesterday and realised it was a bit hot for a woolly hat. I guess I’m going to have to think about summer head gear!! I am hoping for some quick growth…watch this space
Let me know how you’re getting along
Louxx
Hi Lou
Hope you are now feeling better and didn’t catch any nasties. I went looking for a summer hat on Friday, no luck! don’t want to start wearing a scarf all the time or my wig. Maybe I’ll bare all and go commando, talk about frighten the horses! By the way did you have a lovely ride the other day, the weather and the ground up on Dartmoor has been perfect, I just wish I had the energy but am very lacking in that department, just want to sleep all the time. Well I am in for number five next Friday 9th I just hope it is not quite as bad as number four. But I must say I seem to have felt better quicker this time. My poor ears are cracking and peeling so I am piling on the Sudacrem, and am a bit worried about my thumb nails they are feeling peculiar and are waggling a bit, but the Doc said they should be OK, the things that are sent to try us.
Look forward to hearing from you soon.
Regards
Nonny xxx
Hi Nonny
Sorry I have’nt been in touch for a good while…I was ill for longer than I expected after the final chemo as everyone in our household got colds and I ended up having to go to hospital a couple of times to check my bloods etc…so I was pretty fed up with that as I just wanted it all to b over quicker than it was…but now I’m in week four and it feels absolutely amazing not to be going in to get poisoned!!. I am getting stronger and more positive every day. I feel delighted to have completed the chemo and radio seems like a doddle in comparison…I star on 22 May so will let you know how it goes.
The sun is shining and it feels good.
Sorry to hear about flakey ears and dodgy nails…but you will have finished soon and you will be able to put all of that behind you!!
I have been riding this week and it was great. went over the hills and hada good gallop with only a t-shirt on (well obviously jodphurs as well!!) am walking faster and longer and yoga feels better too!! also nice to have brain back for a while without the chemo madness…the only hangover I have at the moment is funny taste in mouth (think I still hve oral thrush), still a bit tired, but sleep more and seem to have energy enough during the day…so no too bad considering the beating i’ve had
Let me know where you are now and I guess no.6 will be next for you!
hugs from Hay
Loux
p.s
on the hair front-not much happening as yet…still only fluff…have moved on to scarves and have managed to find ome nice ones by Jackpot clothing so am going with that. I still can’t be bothered with the wig and it seems even less attractive in the heat, all itchy and hot-no thanks!
Loux
Hi Lou
Great to hear from you, so happy that things are on the up. I had numbr five last Friday and boy, was I bad this time. Only just beginning to pick up again now. ONLY ONE MORE!!! Can’t wait to get it over and done with. I really envy you the riding, the weather here has been just perfect for up on Dartmoor and I can only just make it to the kitchen and back to the lounge, what a whimp. Can’t even make it to the village Post Office and back, still not long now.
I have now worn my bargain wig (£19.99 on Ebay, selling elsewhere for £105.00) twice, I tend to go commando most of the time now. I do put a hat or scarf on when I have a visitor but that is the only time. Apart from night time that is, doesn’t your head get cold at night, I have a lovely brushed cotton hat I wear in bed to keep my head warm.
Good luck with everything and let me know how you get on with the rest of your treatment. How many rads are you having?
Nonny xxx
Hi Nonny
sorry to hear you were bad last time, but as you say, only one more to do and then you will be finished with it!
I have a black cap for bed time, but have been having terrible night sweats so don’t have too much trouble keeping warm!..
I have just got back form London seeing friends nd went to a couple of exhibitions too, which was great. Went down on the train and upgraded to 1st class for an extra £20…thought I deserved it!
Had a great time and got back this afternoon
Am starting rads tomorrow , am having 15 sessions ( every day for 3 weeks) so will keep you posted on progress
Big luck for last chemo
Loux
Hi Lou
Didn’t pick up as fast as I hoped and was still bad when I saw Doc, he said it was inadvisable to plough on and postponed my last TAC for a week and reduced the dosage of T by a fifth and cut out the A completely. So I am due to have my last one this Friday! Still not as good as I usually am for the next chemo but here’s hoping I am OK by Friday. Seeing Surgeon on 16th June so see what she says to my wanting a bilateral mastectomy, I’ve already sounded out my Breast Care Nurse and she seems to see no reason why not, so time will tell. My husband seems to think a lumpectomy will be OK, I don’t think so thank you!
My youngest daughter flew down from Manchester on Monday and went back on Thursday, it was lovely to see her, it was the first time she has left the children. She said the break and being able to think fclearly or once really did her good. We went for a drive on Dartmoor on Tuesday and had lunch out, it was a really lovely sunny day, the only one of the week! It felt really good to get out of the house.
Sounds like you had a lovely trip to London, travelling First Class by train is always worth it. When I go up to Derby to visit my daughter I book really early and with my Senior Rail Card I can get a really cheap, £25.00 odd, First Class Ticket from Plymouth, and get Breakfast or lunch thrown in as well as free tea and coffee!
Good luck with the rads, hope they go OK. Look forward to hearing from you.
Nonny xx
Hi Nonny
sorry to hear you got a battering and have had to delay treatment, but at least you’re nearly at the end!
I am now over half way through the rads, which is a doddle as predicted (compared to chemo). I have had no probs with my skin so far and don’t feel too tired…I have driven myself and had a few hospital taxis…I had a real arse taxi driver yesterday, who upset me with his patronsing attitude and comments, but that was worse than the treatment!
I have an appointment nxt week with onc to discuss drug regime and surgeon in a couple of weeks to discuss my (ongoing) niggles about the other breast…
Hair is about 1-2mm long!!! a bit of a 5 o’clock shadow, but thats about it!! so have taken to not looking asi reckon ‘a watched pot never boils’ !!
Feeling more normal, but have a few wobbles still, but early days I guess
Will keep you posted
Good luck with last one!! hooray
Louxx
Hi Nonny
Hope you are doing ok…thought I would drop you a quick line as I won’t be visiting our blog (is that what you call it?) again. I’ve decided to ‘move on’ as it were…and look forward to the summer hols…I hope your radio is as smooth as mine was and that you make a full recovery
Biggest luck with everything
My hair is more of a covering now and seems to be growing fast(er)
thanks for the support through chemo. It has been very helpful to me
with love
Louxxx
Hi ladies
hope you dont mind me puting my bit on hear…
i have just sat hear and read all the threads…
I start tac next week 1st july and getting funny belly…but reading this has made me feel that bit more positve…
seeing how you ladies have managed it .
And lou well done on the ending of your chemo glad you have finished must be so nice…
Nonny you are almost there must be a great releigh …
sal x
Hi Sal
Last TAC over and done with and not so bad as number five. Hooray!!! Go into hospital next Tuesday for bilateral mastectomy and axillary clearance on the right side. See onc on 25th July to see if I need radiotherapy.
TAC is not nice and the effects are cumulative but you can do it just pace yourself and take it a day at a time.
Good Luck.
Nonnyxx