AUGUST '17 Chemo Starters

[Mishy18]

Ali the shingles is a 💩 after bloody chemo feel bad for you as its painful hope it goes soon x

[Mishy18]

Butterfly great to hear very pleased for you!! Sib hoping you are ok after last chemo Xena nice to hear from you the skin was OK ish not awful but nit great but it settled fast never broke down but went awful colour and peeled very sire under arm but it did settle quickly x
I know how you feel about treatment finishing then???? Going to no mans land territory!! Im slowly adjusting to life after bc but need a little help in form of counselling had a session fortnight ago then another next week at my Maggies also signed up to there where now course which is a 1 session per week in a 7 week course which is similar to the moving forward which wasn't in my area oyr Maggies is in grounds of my hospital x

[Xena75]

Well happy new year to all you lovely August ladies! I’ve been trying to keep up with you all though I haven’t really commented for ages. I think I just wanted to get my head down through Xmas / NY while I was treatment free and just live a “normal” life before starting rads. I’ve just finished my first week of rads. My skin has already gone a little pink and boob a bit sensitive, so hoping I can get to the end without the skin breaking down. I’ve also now officially been discharged from my Oncologist! So, once rads is complete that’s me out in the open on my own for a year-bit nervous. I think I will have a look at booking the moving on course if there is one in my area.
I will also be looking up the recommended book below, I’m interested in seeing what the recommended dietary changes are. I’ve had no advice on this from my onc though.

Mishy-can’t believe rads are all done for you already! Sorry tiredness has hit badly. Did you get other side effects? How was your skin?
Ali-really sorry to hear you now have shingles, that is so rubbish for you. Butterfly-really glad you got good results and the chemo has done it’s job.
CK-glad your surgery went well after the initial hiccups. Woohoo for the return of tastebuds too, enjoy that port!!!
Sib-well done on your last chemo, hope SE aren’t too bad for this last one.
All the other August lady’s, I hope your all doing well. This is such a long procedure from start to end, I think we all deserve a medal!

[CK]

Thanks ladies. Had a 'nice' few days relaxing adter a traumatic day and getting used to Dolly rhe drain which is stull following me.
Enjoying my Port again. At least taste buds are back🍷
Ali S
My GP gave me Cetraben cream when I had blisters from burns. Why not try it? Its Pareben free. It will help sooth. It helped rhe burns on my face too ans no scars.xx

JoG
🤞🤞🤞For results! Good luck.xx

Butterfly
Hope ylu have a good discussion with surgeon to see whats best. Upwards and onwards.xx

[Ali S]

Thanks Butterfly. Feeling awful today but think it's the anti viral tablets I've been given not the shingles. Feeling very fed up 😔. I hope you are doing ok x

[Butterflyflyfree]

Oh Ali, this chemo is just so awful. What a blow, you really don’t need that. I hope you don’t suffer too much and it doesn’t interfere with your recovery. Sending you gentle hugs. Xx

[Ali S]

So found out today that chemo has gifted me shingles, how lovely. It's currently at the itchy rash stage but will move on to the painful blister/scab stage soon. Can't wait. I'm beginning to feel like there is no end in sight and that I will be unwell forever 😔

[Butterflyflyfree]

Thank you Ali and Jo. Xx

[JoG83]

That’s great Butterfly, bet you’re chuffed about that...

CK hope you’re recovering well and watching some good tv? Sounds like it was a traumatic day for you!!

I get my results from surgery on Tuesday - eek!!!

Sending lots of love to the August girls!! Can’t believe it’s been 6 months since I started treatment.
Xxx

[Ali S]

That's great news Butterfly I'm really pleased for you. Good luck with your surgery whatever you decide.

CK, glad your surgery went well after all the stress. I hope you are recovering well.

I hope all other August ladies are doing well xx

[Butterflyflyfree]

Wow CK what a long day with a load of hassle mixed in. Glad the op went smoothly and you’re back home resting. Well done. Hope you take it easy and recovery is more smooth. 

I had good results today, scan showed chemo has done its job and there are no active cancer cells showing in either the breast or the sternum. Almost makes it worth feeling so rubbish for the last 6 months. Haven’t had good news before on this journey 😂 so has taken a bit of getting used to today!

So no surgery on the sternum, just a blast of radiotherapy after breast surgery in a couple of weeks. And it’ll depend on the pathology results whether I’m able to continue with both Herceptin and Pertuzumab for the full 12 months. Am a bit miffed that they might drop the P, as with known spread I’d have hoped they’d continue to throw everything at me. Maybe I’ll ask their reasoning next time?

Next decision is lumpectomy or mastectomy..I think I will be too anxious to leave any tissue behind so am thinking the latter. Need to plan my argument for when I see the surgeon next week. 

Hugs to everyone. Xx

[CK]

Thank you ladies!! Surgery seemed successful after a traumatic morning! I didn't get home until 8pm last night shattered. My op was delayed due to having a CT scan as something or nothing showed up on my Echio last Weds. The CT was scheduled for 8.45am so by 9.30 I asked and the nurse said it was 15.45pm so I kicked ass and say no way thats right as my surgeon finishes by then! He then went to check and 1345 was the extention number for scans! Duh!!! Could've done without that!

Then they looked at my veins which are rubbish after chemo for a cannula and said they were waiting for someone to come up which never happened so I was eventually asked down but didnt even need a cannula after all that!! CT showed nothing! Phew!!!Arghhh! Could've done without that too!

Anyway, main thing is I was ready for surgery at 4pm and all went smooth! Went to sleep at 10pm after some sweet potato soup and toast and woke up at 10am. Had lunch cooked by my cuz and now resting, watching cheesy TV and waiting for district nurse coming to change the drain😘😘

Butterfly
Hope you get good results today. 🤞🤞🤞

[Sib]

Good luck for today CK x

[Butterflyflyfree]

Good luck on Monday CK for your surgery. You sound like you’re well prepared. Xx

[Butterflyflyfree]

Hi Ali

Well done on your op, hope you recover well and fingers crossed that your results are clear. Thank you for giving me hope re my toenails! My eye is less sore but still swollen. Think it’s a stye so while the ointment won’t sort it hopefully it’ll prevent any further infection. 

Spent the morning writing out my lists of questions for the doctors on Tuesday. Big day as will be told my PET scan results which for me will determine what surgery I have and then what treatment and management plan they have decided for the lesion on my sternum. Still half hoping they got the diagnosis off the CT wrong and there is no spread after all. Here’s hoping. 

Hope everyone else is doing ok and managing their fatigue. It’s weird how the brain thinks I’ll do this..and the rest of me says “you reckon!” Managed a walk yesterday, but had to let my 83 year old Dad go ahead as I was too slow for him! Crazy times. Xx

[CK]

Hi ladies, our treatments are moving on with a few ups ans downs but we we get there, us warriors!
After a tiring last Doxetaxol and and bad cold I'm now ready for my op to clear nodes and clear margins this Monday. Ive been told its a day case🤞🤞 Ive been trying to cram lots in between resting as will be out of action for a while. Thank goodness dor TV and laptop and phones!!!

Had another Psychic night on Weds and raised some more funds for my local cancer care centre and now organising events for Chinese New Year of the Dog which carrys on for 15 days and Valentines Day.
Had a catch up with a couple of ladies for New Year and enjoyed a few drinks after not wanting any throughout chemo. Sambucca and lemonade is my new drink. Similar to Pernod but Sambucca is cool😄

Ali S
Glad op went well although long and having to listen to rhe spoult brat but it may of past the time for you:) 🤞for your results!

Mishy Well done for final rads!!! Ive still got op and then rads. A while to go. Try to rest up as Ive heard it does tire you out. What next, go and enjoy yourself and put you first now. Holidays, afternoon tea, exercise class, join some groups and the class will help you. All the vest.xx

Sib
Well done for last chemo too. The first Gerceptin was my longest, had to stay at hospital for 6 hours and then chemo the day after and the getting there and back and not sleeping well b4. I was exhausted that week but all needed and well. Lucky you Cyprus, its lovely there but we went in Summwr one year and too hot so April is a good time. Im sure you will fet back into work after a while but take it easy. Colleagues wi understsnd and support you.x

Butterfly
Each day will get better. As for the swollen eye I had 2 swollen eyes with burns and burns on both cheeks but all cleared up after a week of anti biotics and Cetraben cream from the GP. Very scary though as worried will scar but all cleared up. Just like sunburn and very hot. My eyes do get itchy a lot and I rmthink its because no eyelashes to protect dust etc going in. We take our eyelashes for granted. Hope those SE go soon. The last Doxe took me a month to feel normal and taste buds back.xx

Helen
Thanks for the advice on Rads. I will have rhem after recovered from surgery. Lady bowler has also given me some tips. Goood to hear not too fatigued as maybe used to it after chemo. Hope tbis is my case but if I am, I will rest and sleep👍
Enjoy your holiday, you deserve it.xx

Cathysid
Hope you are recovering well after op. My turn on Monday. Plenty rest.xx

Jencat
How are you. Nearly there too. We have been on this journey together and our cats and daughters.xx

Mary kate
2018 is deffo going to be better for all of us! We need to put 2017 away and concentrate on ourselves now! Hope the rads are going well for you and glad you've had good treatment despite the reputation. It must be the minority. I cant fault rhe NHS although I have private medical I chose to stick with them as I felt confortable and knew some ladies from my charity fundraising. Im sure all hospitals want to do the best for all patients but unfortunately it may not seem like it for some and also costs may get in the way of some. Its so sad some may not feel this but we just need to rhink about ourslves as altbough it sounds selfish everyone is different and respond differently or expect different things too. Xx

So my op is on Monday so now Im just going to work until op as I will be out of action for a while. Need to stock up my freezer again.
Right, nap now b4 work later😘😘😘

[Ali S]

Hi ladies

I spent 9 and a half hours at the hospital yesterday for my op which took an hour! The first op on the list overran by nearly 2 hours! Had to listen to a girl on the day ward having a complete meltdown and shouting at her mum and crying for over an hour. It didn't help with the nerves and the endless waiting. She was probably in pain (she was an orthopedic case) and frightened but she was behaving like a brat. Anyway, my op went well and my surgeon removed all the tissue she wanted to but it's a nervous 3 week wait for the results now.

Sib, glad your final chemo is over. I hope you are feeling ok. I worry about going back to work too. I work full time and my job is very mentally demanding. Although I am having a phased return I worry that I won't be able to do the job any more.

Butterfly, how is the eye? I hope it has settled down. My toenails used to hurt but so far they are still hanging in there 2 months later.

Mishy, glad your rads have finished. I'm not looking forward to the fatigue although I also just want them over with.

How are all you other August ladies doing? xx

[Mishy18]

Great to hear you had last one Sib, hoping everyone is doing ok, i finished rads last week feeling really tired atm coped well with rads but feeling the awful fatigue that some talk about, had bloods incase there is some anemic symptoms
Have signed up for the where now course at Maggies its for 7 weeks hopefully should help as i feel a little... well where now!!??!!

[Sib]

Hi Ladies, last chemo done😀🥂, long day at hospital, very very busy and had my chemo, bone strengthening plus Herceptin. At hospital from 10.30àm till 4.30pm so exhausted when I got home, had anti sickness and bed.
Hope we are all doing well.
Marykate cant believe your back at work, i really worry about returning to work, i commute car, walk, train and further walk, all virtually impossible at moment plus full time stressful,time critcal job with the usual office sniping and politics, which at the moment I could not cope with
Cathy hope your op went ok and you recover well just take it easy and do your excercises.
Alis sorry you have to have another op, but they are best to get everything removed to give you best chance. I need a full mastectomy to get clear margins and dont regret it, the cancer needed to go. Keep your pecker up, any set back is disappointing and we are all fragile at moment.
Got heartscan tommorow (actually today!) and to start tamoxifen mid feb, moving forward course end of feb and plastic surgery and onc appointments March.
Then booked a 2 week holiday to Cyprus in April for some much needed rest and relaxation . Just need to sort travel insurance now!
Sending hugs to you all. This site is brilliant for calming fear and getting tips. I
Shirley. Xx

[Butterflyflyfree]

Hi ladies

Day 13 of final T. Still got 💩 issues despite the regular use of Imodium 🙈 but otherwise don’t feel too bad. Toenails on my feet hurt, especially at night. Doesn’t look like there’s any bruising but am worried they are going to drop off 😳 And then just as I thought I’d had all the SE going, woken up with a really swollen eyelid, so painful. Been given ointment to use so hopefully that’ll sort it out. No idea if it’s caused by the lack of eyelashes or just an unlucky infection. As others have said before..chemo the gift that keeps on giving..Xx

[Jencat]

Helen, it was a different book that Shi recommended. I'm having chemo today 😞 but when I get a chance I'll look through the thread and find it for you xx

[HelenP]

Thanks Ali and Jencat xx

[Ali S]

Helen, mine is by Prof Richard beliveau and Dr Denis Gingras xx

[Jencat]

Helen, Shi mentioned a book on the Oct thread, so I don't if it's the one you're looking for. It might be worth asking her. She's TN and so am I. At the moment I'm still having chemo (5th one tomorrow) so feel ok at the moment, but like you, feel anxious about when treatment is finished and on my own xx

[HelenP]

Ali, lots of books with that title on Amazon, who’s the author??

[HelenP]

Thanks Ali, that’s the book I was looking for x

[Ali S]

Hi ladies

Sib, good luck for your last chemo tomorrow. It's been a long road to the end for you but you've finally got there.
Mary-kate, I hope your radiotherapy is going well. I'll be interested to hear how you get on with working as I'm planning on going back to work before mine start.
Cathysid, good luck for your op tomorrow.
Jo, I hope you are recovering well and fingers crossed your surgeon got clear margins.
Helen, thanks for the info on how you've coped with radiotherapy. It's good to hear that you haven't been hit with the fatigue. Everyone keeps telling me how bad it is. I don't remember who was reading about diet but I'm reading Foods to fight cancer which is really good.

I have my operation to clear the margins on Friday. I'm last on the list so it will be a very long day of hanging about waiting xx

[Butterflyflyfree]

Hi Ladies

Thank you for your experience of radiotherapy Helen, some definite positives in there. 2 more and you’re done - well done for reaching the finishing line 👏  I hope you manage to have your break in Iceland, sounds a perfect way to celebrate. 

Cathy thank you for the reassurance about Herceptin, that is such good news! Good luck with your op tomorrow. And Jo hope you are recovering well from yours. 

Hugs to all the August ladies, hope you are all doing ok. Xx

[HelenP]

Hi August ladies!

Am nearly at the finish line, two more radiotherapy sessions and I'm done on Thursday.  I'm Triple Negative so no more drugs or treatments which scares me a lot!  Feel quite helpless, so much so that I burst into tears in the radiotherapy waiting room yesterday, mortified!  The regular contact with practitioners over the last few months has been like a crutch, it makes you feel that your burden is being shared, which is so comforting.  Just yearly mammograms from now on...scary.

Radiotherapy has been so much easier than I expected.  The fatigue never hit me really and at my review appt yesterday at session 17 the radiographer said it may be because I've experienced chemo and that I've become accustomed to being generally tired, this is a good thing as I expected to be wiped out but I haven't been at all.  Physically, I'm experiencing what I'd say is a moderate case of prickly heat just below my neck on my right side and under my bra line and the rest of my boob feels like it has heat like sunburn.  I've been recommended to take anti-histamines to help with the incessant itching the rash is giving me and it's worse at night but really isn't half as bad as I'd expected.  I asked how long it will take for this to settle after I finish on Thurs and they said it may get worse for a couple of weeks then slowly improve.  Hope I'll be ok for a little escape to Iceland (the country!!) in a couple of weeks, I want to try out the hot springs! 

Am pleased that my hair is clearly growing back, when I feel my head now I feel hair rather than skin!!!  Am truly fed up of the wig and headscarf thing now but will be sticking it out til Easter I think, I'm not brave enough.

I have a question...who was reading a book on diet for breast cancer a couple of months ago??  I made a mental note to read it once I'd finished treatment and now can't find the post.  Need the title of the book please in anyone remembers it.

Keep going ladies, one day at a time x

[Cathysid]

Hi ladies,
Glad your surgery went well, jo.
Ali- sorry you have to have a second op. It should be easier and smaller than the first op so fingers crossed for you.
Sib- hope you are doing ok. Thinking of you and hoping your fingers are less sore too.
Mishy - wow, last radio tomorrow. How were the side effects? Do you feel very tired/achey?
Mary kate - I can’t believe you are working already! Good luck with the rads and don’t forget to rest if you need it.
Butterfly - I had herceptin on its own 12 days ago and it did make my mouth a bit dry for a couple of days but nothing like the horrors of docetaxel taste buds. Mild aches In Legs too but again, compared to chemo, totally manageable!

I’ve got my op on Wednesday this week - WLE and LN clearance. Not prepared at all!

Ck - good luck with your op, too. Glad you are still enjoying the therapies. Are you prepared for your op?

Love to you all
Cx

[JoG83]

Hey lovelies

Can you believe how far we’ve all come since chemo started in August?
Had surgery yesterday, lymph nodes were clear and the surgeon feels confident he got clear margins but we won’t know for a couple of weeks.

Mary Kate - hope the radio goes well! I’m sure you’ll nail it.
When’s your next surgery Ali?

Hope you are all recovering and resting.
Lots of love
Jo xx

[Butterflyflyfree]

Hi ladies 

Ali, I’m sorry you have to have another op but hope the moving on course has helped you in some way. Good luck for next week.

Mary-Kate these side effects are just so awful. I too haven’t had a good week but have woken feeling a bit brighter, just hoping the rest of me follows! Have had days when I’ve hardly been able to put one foot in front of the other. And am so fed up that my taste has gone again - no pleasure in eating. Really hoping that is the D and nothing to do with the HP as I’m continuing with them for 9 months. 

Hope everyone else is doing ok, recovering from surgery and radiotherapy. I’m sure we’ll cross each other on other threads. What a brilliant find this forum was and continues to be. Hugs to all. Xx

[Mary-Kate]

Hi August Ladies

I'm now a couple of weeks after finishing Chemo - such a great feeling now it's over, but last week was pretty horrendous with the worst bout of side effects I've had so far.  But this week I've bounced back, got a bit of energy back and I'm back to work which is good to have a bit of normality and see people again, even though it's quite stressful being back into a hectic work environment. 

Had my Radiotherapy assessment last week and now have three dots tattooed, all ready to start on Monday!  Bit surprised it's so quick, but sooner started, sooner finished....  Just hope I've recovered enough from Chemo to cope with it.  Is anyone who's having Rads trying to work through it as I'm hoping to but want to be realistic as well - I know it can make you so tired once you're into the treatment.  

So glad to have got through Chemo after The Churchill in Oxford where I'm at, has had such negative press this week in the news saying their Chemo treatment is 'unsustainable' - talking of delaying treatment and reducing the number of cycles for patients, so glad it hasn't affected my treatment but really feel for people who will be undergoing treatment in the future, if what they say is true.... Can't fault the treatment I've had, the lovely nurses and the NHS in general - all been so supportive and caring throughout my Chemo, I'm so grateful to them all.

Butterfly, so pleased you've finished now as well, hope the side effects are bearable for you.  Great that you're finishing Rads on Tuesday, Mishy18 - it's been a long journey for you. 

Jo, best of luck for your Op tomorrow, hope it all goes well and you recover soon.  And Fairy how are you doing after your surgery, hope you're recovering well? 

Sib, hope you're doing OK, it must be your last Chemo next week - you've had such a tough time through it all, you'll be so pleased to get to the end...  Hope your nails start to grow back soon, it sounds horrible for you.  I'm starting tamoxifen too soon and I'm a bit worried about the potential side effects...

CK - I agree with you about going through this treatment changing your perspective on things, people and life in general, hope it makes you stronger and able to cope with things life might throw at you - although I've only been able to think like that on the good days, just hoping they'll be more frequent going forward!  2018 hopefully be a better and healthier year for us all...

Ali, sorry to hear you didn't get clear margins and need to have another Op, I can relate to that as I had that several times before Chemo - really hoping they get it all next time, at least you won't have too long to wait. Hope doing the moving forward course helps you - the course does sound good, think I might look into it too.

Hope everyone else is doing as well as expected.  Thanks for all your support on this forum, it's helped me get through this so much... xxx

[Ali S]

Hello ladies. So not the best news from my surgeon today. I had a good response to chemo but not a complete response. She successfully removed my lump but there was pre invasive cells in the margins including what she called a satellite site. The lump was measured as 4 cm due to this site and 8 mm of cancer remained. She got clear margins all around except for around this satellite site. So she wants to go back in next week and shave some more off on that side. I'm disappointed that I have to have another operation and that my radiotherapy will be delayed. I'm also worried that if the chemo didn't kill all the cells in the lump did it get all those that could have been floating round my body. My surgeon did say that all the cancer was out so I guess I should focus on that. I'm doing day 1 of a 2 day Mcmillon moving forward course tomorrow so maybe that will help me to sort through these feelings. Love to you all xx

[CK]

Sib, we will have our up and down days and even tnough we have a moan we will take what they throw at us! Hang in there and every day we are one step nearer to recovery. We will do it💪💪💪

I had my 4th Herceptin today and burst into tears. I think it was because I was relieved that there was no chemo. It was a strange feeling which came from nowhere. Still, it will be good to see the team every 3 weeks for 14 more.
I went for reflexology after and woke myself up with my grunt again, it was so relaxing.
Next week will have a facial:)

Time for bobos.xxx

[Sib]

Thank you everyone for support. My bcn haa booked me on moving forward course at end of February, definitely feel i need help now I was so positive at diagnosis, think chemo knocked that out of me!! X

[Cathysid]

Happy New Year everyone,

Have you thought about the BReast Cancer Care "moving forward" course? It's a 4 week course, one afternoon a week.  It deals with all the issues that rise at the end of treatment and return to normal life.  I'm going in March. X

[Mishy18]

Sib what your feeling id completely normal i feel that way too its losing the security blanket of treatments appointments im not sure about last rads tomorrow then boomph thats it 😨apart from a yearly mammo and onc appointments thsts me done no pills to pop nothing and im not going to lie its scary!! I hope i am not too mentally damaged by this!! I know its something i will, like everyone else who has been through this, have to come to terms with anf and pick myself up and get on with my life i just don't want to spend it in constant fear
It certainly changes you as a person i seem to have changed im mich more aware of who i want in my life and who i don't!! Work is a hard one i knoe how stressful a job it is and im not looking forward to going back buy know i have to, but have decided if i feel unhappy well I'll just bloody well find something else instead i haven't been through all of this to go back to a life of putting up and shutting up 😉

[Mishy18]

No not working through rads figured i would get this last part done have a rest period then back feb x im too tired after all thr treatment but i am definitely looking forward to getting back to the real world!! Going back on a phased return xx

[CK]

Hi Sib, so sorry you have lost 2 of your nails. This treatment really does take it out of us and affect how we are and feel and how we deal with it all.
Ive sacked a couple of people from my life yet a few ormthers have stepped up. My way was to talk about it with who I want when I want and even though I know it would cause people to talk, what they dont hear from my mouth doesnt mean anything, but even though my confidence went lower my perspective on life and people has changed, for the better, and for me. I now do not try to please people like b4 and do not go out of the way to do things. I cant and I wont yet I will still do what I can if I want to. Its all about ME!
I found the 8 week course at my local centre really helped me to talk about it and open up and even at work I can talk freely to regular customers. At first it was hard but now seems easier as chemo treatment is over. Even though we stilm have more treatment, we have got through this stage. I have always thought the worse in most things as have had a tough life, so I dont get shocked but now Ive gone rhe other way and being very positive and strong and not letting it beat me. As my mum whos 81 and free from colonic cancer for 10 years said' We are warriors and will fight this battle!' We friggin well wil!!! And we have each other to fight this👍😘

Hope all you orher lovely ladies are coping and building up for next stage. I have my op to clear margins on 22nd January and remove lymph nodes. Hope I can shake off this cough and cold though which went but has come back.
My body is still tired and achey from the last T just b4 Xmas and its the one which seemed to affect me the most but the cough and cold didnt help and gave me red burn like rashes on my face and eyelids. All gone now but looked pretty awful.

Lots of love😘😘

[Ali S]

Hello ladies. Hope we are all well.

Jo, good luck for your op on Friday and congratulations on the shrinkage. You will be in and out before you know it. The worst part for me was the canula as I have no veins left. Are you having nodes tested at the same time?

Sib, I struggled when I got to the end of chemo too. Before my least session I was bursting into tears all the time. I felt much better once it was done. Not long now and you will be finished too. Your nails sound really sore. I hope they grow back soon.

Fairy, how are you doing after your surgery? Butterfly, how did your last session go? I hope your SEs are minimal.

Mishy have you been managing to work through your rads? I'm supposed to be going back to work next week but I'm worried about the fatigue when I start.
Love to you all xx

[Sib]

Hello ladies. Lovely to read all your posts. Unfortunately i find it difficult to respond as i have lost all but 2 of my fingernails now and its so debilitating!
Last chemo scheduled for 17th Jan, have never been this close and actually have mixed feelings about ending chemo, its been such a long hard road since start on 2nd August 2017, but its became a part of my life, am I strange?
Still have Herceptin till November plus bone strengthening and tamoxifen for 10 year's.
Saw my onc on Wednesday and as inhaf mastectomy in june due to my tumour being 48mm and unlikely to shrink with chemo i dont know how well chemo has worked, as it was my insurance policy! Though he did say there is evidence to suggest people who get a lot of side effects mean chemo is doing what its supposed to do. As my tumour was removed with clear margins and my tumour was on left side, im not getting radiotherapy as they benefits do not out way risks, especially to my heart.
Still need my ovaries removed and further mastectomy plus diep reconstruction due to braca2 gene, this will be in a few months when i have recovered!
Almostvat stage of moving forward now, not sure how I will do this as I have completely isolated myself since diagnosis and told as few people as possible.
Love to you all we can see the finish line now. Xxxx

[fairy]

Well hello.. I hope you are all doing well. I haven't been on lately, I just wanted to forget and spend time with my kids over Xmas and new year after last chemo on 27th November.. mammogram just before Xmas showed complete response so that was a nice Xmas pressie, I had my lumpectomy and sentinal node taken yesterday so am resting up!! Surgeon is saying they are optimistic for path results.. now just to recover and on to rads, another 13 herceptin and hormone tabs, also hoping to have ovaries removed as even though I'm only 31 I have 3 kids.. what a rubbish year 2017 was but hopefully we have all finished chemo and are over the worse xxx

[JoG83]

Happy New Year Beauts!!
Well done to those coming to the end of chemo! You made it!!

I had my meeting with the surgeon yesterday, the lump has shrunk enough for a lumpectomy so that’s happening next Friday!! Eek!! A little nervous as it’s my first operation ever.

Sending loads of love to you girls!! Xxx

[Butterflyflyfree]

Ali so pleased for you that your sentinel node was clear. I’m lucky that they’ll inspect mine while I’m having surgery so will take what nodes they need there and then. Yes I think radiotherapy will depend on the surgery, unless they have to do the axilla anyway. Glad they are giving you plenty to zap the little buggers! 

Very little sleep last night due to steroids, glad I only got 2 more days of them! Although last time it was only the first night that was disturbed, so hoping for the same this time. 

Have a good day ladies, hope you’re all managing ok. Xx

[Mishy18]

Butterfly best of luck making your decision its not easy but im sure your team will advise you on best options for you xx
Sib glad your near the finish line too the rads are very doable abd go over quickly but give in to the fatigue as it does grt you in the end best not to fight it!!!

[Mishy18]

Hi Ali and everyone having rads no 18 today can't believe im finished on Tuesday feeling strange!! I was given plan of 15 regular rads 5 targeted as im 46 TN with 1 lymph node involvement the rads are doable but coupled with the existing fatigue from chemo my surgery was at the beginning then like you Ali thats it no scans nothing just a onc and surgeon meetings in feb yearly mammo and onc appointments for 5 year monitoring 😨

[Ali S]

Yes the waiting is so hard. I had my lymph node surgery before chemo. She was confident it was clear so only took the sentinel node and luckily she was right. So just the results from the lumpectomy to come.

It's a really hard decision you have to make. I hope the PET scan shows that the chemo has seen off the bone met. It's good that you have your surgery date. I found it helped to be able to focus on the next step. Will you be having radiotherapy or will it depend on which operation you have?

They are giving me so much radiotherapy due to my age (48) and that I'm TN so that's the end of treatment options for me.

[Butterflyflyfree]

Thank you Ali. Be kind to yourself, as we all know it’s the waiting that’s as bad as any of the treatment. How many lymph nodes did you have taken? 

The radiotherapy should certainly zap any rogue cells, they are giving you plenty to do the job. Hope you dont have far to travel for them.

xx