Anyone due to start chemo April 14??

[rosie14]

Lovewine I am truly sorry about this situation and I hope it comes to a head soon for you all. Will be thinking of you this weekend! X
Jackie it's very sad when you only get to see extended family at weddings and funerals! I know what you mean about having family around you whilst going through this journey. I have found it very difficult with just DH and the dog!!!!
I am very saddened to learn that so many women are now having to battle this disease it does make you wander if there is a common cause that could be prevented!
Well I had a double inflation on the right now completing that side and he did another in the left as he was happy that the red rash was much better. Tomorrow will be the very worst day I have come armed with painkillers. But tonight I am having a glass of wine despite double antibiotics! Back again next Friday for further inflation on the left. To be honest I will be glad when he has finished now. I am hoping as the tissue expands so the discomfort will decrease!
Hope,everyone has a good evening. There is wifi in the bedroom here so I am happy!

[Lovewine]

Hi Jackie, what a sad day for you to have, lovely though to see the rest of your family, you must miss them very much, in my village there are above average cases of breast cancer, some too in quite young women, it is very worrying. Are you in Nottinghamshire? We used to live near Carlton and then moved to Redmile near Belvoir castle, now near market harborough, Leicestershire. It is rather worrying the disparity in your area in private and NHS care, I am lucky in having absolutely fantastic care in my area, right from surgeon who is absolutely fantastic to oncology department. Fancy four in a bed filming near you! We had phil spencer last year filming at the bottom of our road and apparently this week Sarah beeny was filming at the other end of our village!!
Rosie, hope your inflations have gone ok.

[Jackie09]

Morning everyone,

I had a very long day yesterday - a trip to the north-east for my uncle's funeral. I hadn't been back to visit since before my dx, so it was the first time I'd seen my extended family. It was great to see everyone again, just wish it had been under different circumstances. It also made me realise how much I have missed having their support during this whole business and made me feel quite sorry for myself. I think everyone was relieved to see me looking well - but we all know that looks are deceiving. Someone actually grabbed my (ANC) arm and it was all I could do not to scream out in pain. I'm going to physio today, as I think I have cording in my arm, which is preventing me from doing the full range of exercises. I bumped into a lady in the village this morning, who has recently developed secondaries, from a primary BC. She was under the same team I am, but said they weren't very good anymore - so she has gone private. She said the range of treatments now available to her is far greater than she was previously offered. She is now planning to go back to work part-time, which is great. I have also discovered that 2 more of my close neighbours have had BC, which makes 4 of us in total - which is a very upsetting coincidence.
Rosie - I hope you're not in too much discomfort today. I know I'm feeling extremely fed up of being constantly achey and sore, and you have been like it for much longer.
Lovewine - I love 4 in a bed too, and it has recently been filmed in my village, around the corner from us!
Wildpurl - lovely that you have had such an enjoyable holiday and your fitness levels seem great to me. Have a great last day.

[Lovewine]

Oh Rosie, it's really dragging on isn't it, I start mine on the 7th and herceptin next week. Girlfriend front is brewing up again, she's moved into the student shared house but still making excuses not to see my son, I.e going to a party with house mates etc! She told him last night she MAY see him Saturday afternoon! Once again last night I was trying to console a very distressed, madly in love 23 year old who is convinced if she dumps him his life will have no meaning at all, I personally think she wants to end the relationship but hasnt the guts to do it so is hoping she will push him so much he will end it, they were planning a long term future and moving in together so not sure what has so drastically changed and assume it's because of her depression, I know what I want to say and do but obviously can't!

[rosie14]

Good morning Lovewine I assume all is quiet on the girlfriend front? I do hope so and that you manage a relaxing weekend!
I have just had a phone call from the radiotherapy depth to say my appointment is October 10th! can you believe there is only one place on the island that does radiotherapy with 35,000 cancer patients!!'

[Lovewine]

Morning ladies, Rosie I will be thinking of you today, no wonder you are getting low and depressed all this backwards and forwards to hospital, hope you are not in too much discomfort today after inflation, yes 8.45 is quite Late for a meal for me too as I am struggling to stay awake usually! Might manage it tonight as it's the start of " strictly come dancing" which I love! Enjoy your weekend as best you can.
Wildpurl, enjoy your final day! Tulamo, hope your side effects are easing now.

[rosie14]

Good morning ladies!
Wildpurl,it is sad that you only have one more day it has gone so quickly but I am so glad it has been so enjoyable and boosted your confidence. Enjoy the last day!
Lovewine what a lovely romantic start to your life together no wonder you hold a soft spot for Wales! Both of our sons have the middle name Thomas as it was DH fathers name and it is DH middle name.
Well off to Limassol this afternoon for final inflation on the right side. Not looking forward to this as it's not only going to stretch my poor sore muscles further but it's going to leave me unbalanced! I can't tell you how much I am hating this and how much I want it to be over. It takes my energy from me as it makes me feel very depressed and sorry for myself!
On to Nicosia then in preparation for tomorrow's meeting. They have booked the table for the evening meal at 8.45pm!!!! I am usually crawling to my bed by 10pm! The lady that booked it had BC several years ago and has made full recovery. She has clearly forgotten how tired you get!
Have a good day all!

[Lovewine]

Yes the permit will make a big difference to him Rosie, and flat shoes sounds good with jeggings!
Wildpurl, myself and hubby went to Caernarfon for a romantic weekend early in our relationship 26 years ago and I remember he asked me to marry him whilst having dinner in a lovely restaurant in the centre somewhere, I also conceived my eldest son there! We named him Thomas in honour of wales!

[rosie14]

Gosh Lovewine I bet your dad was glad to get his parking permit it will make such a difference to him. I either ware sandals with my jeggings, which you won't want to with your autumnal weather, or flat casual shoes. The Cypriot ladies wear very high heeled shoes with any sort of trouser!

[Wildpurl]

Lovewine, I also like Come Dine With Me and A Place in the Sun, nothing better than a bit of daytime TV! I would give the jeggings a chance, with a nice sweater. Today I bought a nice dress for work at a little boutique in Caenarfon where OH and I were visiting the castle. Only one more day, it has been such a lovely holiday, I have really enjoyed every minute. I also feel more confident in my recovery since managing some challenging walks. I think that is one of the difficulties, for me at least, lack of confidence in what I can cope with after chemo.

[Lovewine]

Rosie, it must be a relief for you to have your sister drop in to check in on your dad, he must feel happier I expect to have his familiar things around him. My dad was quite excited earlier as he has received his disabled parking pass!! He can only walk about 4 steps so think it was due really! I might try the jeggings on again with a variety of footwear and see if I can get to like them, I am assured by everyone they are very comfortable, although I can't get the image out of my head of " max wall !!" . I also watch four in a bed on a Sunday afternoon too!! Not that keen on deal or no deal, but really like The chase!

[rosie14]

Lovewine my sister says dad would not cope without the carers and her going in most days. She said he is very up and down. I spoke to him on Sunday and he said he was very glad to have his things around him!
I am waiting for Deal or no Deal then I progress to Place in the Sun. Hopefully DH will be home just after 6pm. Sorry you don't like your jeggings I have some I wear in the winter and I find them very comfortable.
I watch Four in a bed on a Sunday!

[Lovewine]

Wildpurl, what a lovely time you are having by the sound of it! It will do you so much good all that fresh air and exercise!
My parents have just visited, they are off up to whitby for a few days with my sister and brother in law , they certainly need the break after all my issues! Rosie, how is your dad getting on now he's been home for a few days?
Well I have worked for a few hours and now having a lazy afternoon doing what onc told me to do : I.e watching crappy daytime t.v so watching " four in a bed" and " come dine with me", which I am getting quite drawn into! Also like " a place in the sun" too !!
Called into marks and spencer and bought 2 pairs of jeggings in an attempt to get more " with it ! " and hate them so will be returning in favour of trusty bootleg jeans!
D me

[rosie14]

Wildpurl,it sounds like you having a wonderful holiday just what the doctor ordered! I admire all that walking it gives us all hope that one day we will be able to return to normal. It's good that OH is still protective about you!
Your veggie chilli sounds just the sort of meal for an autumn evening after all that walking! Enjoy the rest of your stay!

[Wildpurl]

Morning everyone, I have now visited Conwy Castle and walked the town walls, yesterday we went for an adventurous walk in the hills and woods behind the cottage. Some footpaths were impassable but we found a route and had a lovely walk through beautiful woodlands filled with autumn colour.
Today OH and I are going to visit Carnarven Castle and DS and GF are having a lazy day in cottage.
We have shared the cooking and have eaten some lovely meals. I discovered Jamie's Veggie Chilli which is quite simply the best veggie chilli I have ever tasted.

Jackie, so sorry the news was not better, on the positive side, they have been able to remove all the cancer and I am sure will be able to propose treatment to reduce further risk. I do understand though that this is disappointing and frightening for you, so I hope you will get a further treatment plan soon so you can adjust to it and will feel less uncertain.

Rosie I hope your infection will soon begin to reduce and that you enjoy your weekend in Limassol.
Lovewine, hope things get sorted out for your son soon and that you are able to book another weekend away to look forward to.
Tlj enjoy having your son home for the weekend
Joan, glad to hear your hair is getting going now and that you found a nice hat for your Barcelona trip.

I think it is hard on husbands and partners when we are ill as everything revolves around us for a time. It feels good now I can start doing some of the things I had to give up during chemo or let OH do. On the other hand he is finding it hard to give up doing some of those things and fusses a lot that I am doing too much, so yet another adjustment to make.

[rosie14]

Good morning Lovewine maybe a change of scenery will do me good! Yes you are right it is hopeless making plan as things endlessly change!

[Lovewine]

Morning Rosie, nothing ever goes to plan does it!? I have lost count of the day trips, weekends and weeks away that have had a spanner thrown in the works from various problems with this bloody disease, hope everything goes well tomorrow with your final inflation and maybe something different to treat the rash too, a weekend of a change of a scenery may be of help, but as you say on double antibiotics a little restricting when socialising!

Jackie, I too have been thinking of you during the last few hours x

Hope everyone else is doing well? Wildpurl, hope you are having a great week!
Joan, have you anything planned this weekend? Tij, enjoy your sons weekend at home, cassie, Lisa, Nellie - sorry if I missed anyone hope you are ok.
Jos and Eam , hope you are both doing ok too!

[rosie14]

We are a little earlier in the dark nights than you the sun sets at 6.45pm and then it goes dark very quickly. Its 6.13 am now and daylight is beginning to break through DH is out with the dog. I tried not to wake him when I got out at 5.30am, I was desperate for a cup of tea!
It is much fresher in the morning and evening and I expect the pool temperature will have dropped now. I usually stop using it by mid September but of course haven't been in it once this year.
Unfortunately I still have the red rash it's no better at all so I am rather worried now about what it may be!!!! We are off to Limassol tomorrow to see surgeon. We are then going on to Nicosia for the weekend as we are meeting with colleagues from other English schools on Saturday and on Monday DH has some paper work to take into the Ministry of Education. So we are making a weekend of it. Not much fun though on double antibiotics with the drinking! We booked it originally because we thought it would tie in with 2 days of radiotherapy for me when I didn't have to travel! That was the same as my birthday weekend September 12th and of course that didn't happen!!!!
Well I hope you have a good day at work and everyone else is ok?
Jackie you are still very much in my thoughts! Xxx

[Lovewine]

Yes me too, in fact I have noticed here it's getting dark at about 7.15 p.m ! I love autumn but agree not the dark nights !! You must be enjoying though the evenings now it's not quite so hot. And agree definitely not much else!!! Hope you are feeling a little better this evening, how's the rash now antibiotics are in your system?

[rosie14]

Definitely not much else Lovewine!!!!
North Yorkshire would probably be a better move I hate the dark afternoons that the autumn brings!

[Lovewine]

Rosie, we did think of going down to fowey in November, but it is a six hour drive and thought we may leave now until next year, don't feel like we would get our " money's worth" somehow, with it getting dark at 4.00 p.m probably by then, will settle for North Yorkshire for a few days, which is maybe a 3 hour drive! Yes agree it's hard for husbands too, having to cope with worrying about us, fielding friends and families questions etc! And not much of a social life either.! Or much else!

[Lovewine]

Oh Jackie, I am really sorry your news wasn't better, as Rosie says stay positive, know that's easier said than done, but a partial response is better than no response , there are many different chemo / treatment options oncologists try until the right one really works, I have read on other monthly threads of other ladies in exactly same situation and have gone on to have successful treatment that worked, it's hard not to feel your many weeks of chemo were a waste , I felt exactly the same when there was a possibility I was to have 2 extra chemos as they thought my lymph nodes had become cancerous whilst having chemo. Do you know what the next step in treatment is next?- radiotherapy maybe? I am sending you lots of love and a big hug .
Not sure if it would help( it helped me) but I downloaded a great book called " talk to the headscarf" by Emma
Hannigan it is very positive and uplifting and a true story and Emma has a wonderful sense of humour even through the awfulness of breast cancer and chemo. I also read The choice , the true story of a mothers triumph over cancer, by bernadette bohan, again a very positive, uplifting book I found helpful too. Keep strong Jackie. Xx

[rosie14]

Lovewine sorry you can't go to the cottage in Fowey at the beginning of October can you go later after radiotherapy has finished? You will need a break by then!!!'
It's not much fun for the husbands, when I was working full time we would eat out every Friday and Saturday night and probably Sunday lunchtime as well. Since I been ill that has all dropped off. Since chemo finished we have been out a bit more but I get so tired and can't be bothered to get ready!

[rosie14]

Jackie words can't express how sorry I am to hear your news. But please stay positive for your little boy and husband! I really hope that your oncologist will come up with a good plan. I was stage 3 aggressive Jackie and the chemo shrunk the tumour to an operable size. Before chemo they told me they couldn't have operated! So I am sure your chemo wasn't a waste of time. Hopefully your oncologist will be back from holiday soon and see you as soon as possible. Thinking of you at this worrying time! X

[Jackie09]

Hello ladies,
Thank you, as ever, for your kind thoughts and wishes. I was thinking of you as I sat in the waiting room. Well the report was the same :(. 15/23 nodes still contained cancer despite the chemo. The surgeon said that as the lump had shrunk from 63mm to 51mm, it was a partial response. He said that there was more than 1 lump - a few smaller ones that joined together. So because of the size and the number of node involvement it's classed as stage 3 aggressive. I should have seen the onc today - but she was on holiday and the surgeon couldn't really answer our questions as they were all pretty much chemo based. I'm trying not to think that the chemo was a complete waste of time - but it's pretty hard not to. All I can think of is that my little boy is only 7 and I don't want him to have to grow up without a mummy. And my poor husband. He looks so worried and tired. I know I'm feeling shocked at the moment, but I'm so disappointed. X x

[Lovewine]

Hi everyone, tij, sounds like a nice day, it's nice to do normal things with your husband after all the trips to hospital appointments- my husband complains sometimes that the only places he used to see are work and the hospital!! Have a lovely weekend with your son whilst he's home .
Joan, you are lucky having a gown to cover your modesty, I don't think I am given one! Just one of those hideous front hospital gowns that you can never tie up and everything is on display! When are you off to Barcelona? Bet you can't wait to go now, good find too with the hats!
Rosie, not surprised you are wanting a bit of a break before more procedures! Think we are all well and truly fed up now, must say I feel extremely grumpy today- mixture of being tired due to sons problems and fed up with hospital trips etc, we would have been going down to fowey in Cornwall beginning of October which we have been doing every year for 20 years -love the area and the cottage we always rent, we had to cancel it months ago and now going for radiotherapy that week instead of coastal walks and pub lunches!
Jackie, I have been thinking of you today.

[rosie14]

Hi Joan glad you have had your planning appointment and it went well. Glad you managed to get a suitable hat for Barcelona!
I called the radiotherapy dept today only to be told the doctor had my file and then receptionist would phone me in few days!!!! Well,to be honest I am quite glad because I don't feel up to having anymore treatment at the moment. I still have a very congested cough and I still have the red skin around my surgery site. Also on Friday the specialist wanted to,do,the final inflation on the right side, the one that needs marking for radiotherapy. He won't inflate the infected side this week as this can be done whilst having radiotherapy.
Tlj glad you managed a bike ride with your husband. How exciting going to fetch your son home for the weekend indeed that is very grown up travelling back with 2 older boys! Enjoy your weekend!

[Tlj63]

Hi everyone
Thinking of you Jackie and Rosie. Hope your days have not been too grim.
I've had a pretty good day today. I've been on a bike ride with my husband as he has the day off. It was great to do something together that wasn't involving my treatment. I'm now packed and ready to bring my younger son to the uk to look round a couple of schools before we pick the older one up on Friday. Can't wait to see him! Then we will be coming back home on Friday evening. He'll be travelling back again on Sunday evening with 2 older boys who are in the same boarding house as him. All very grown up for a 13 year old.
Hope you all have a good evening.

[joan47]

Lovewine, what a chaotic start to your radiotherapy but how fortunate that it all went ahead and you are good to go pretty soon. I had my planning session today so am now tattooed and marked too but my first session isn't until the 15th Oct. I was a bit dismayed at the number of people in the waiting room and a board indicating delays of between an hour and 90 minutes. Hopefully that is not a regular occurrence. I have been given a very natty top to wear with easy access side flaps. All very decorous. I confess I had envisaged lying there with boobs exposed. Not a pretty sight. It's good your son will have a break away with his friends sans girlfriend but pity about the Harry Potter.

One bonus from going into the oncology centre. Spotted some rather nice patterned cotton Baker boy caps which they were about to pack away. Just the thing for Barcelona. Sadly my hair isn't going to be back in time although it is returning and not all of it is white. Just hope I don't look like a skinned badger.

Rosie, hope the antibiotics sort out both the rash and the cold/cough. Good for you for resisting an unscheduled inflation. 28 sessions of radiotherapy. Oh my, and all that distance to travel.

Wildpurl, glad you are having a great holiday. Amazing that you were able to manage your 10 mike trek up and down and around Snowdon. Not sure I could have managed that in full health. We spent a lovely holiday just outside Harlech many years ago and always intended to go back. Perhaps your enthusiasm will give us the incentive to do something about it.

Tulamo, glad you are having fewer side effects but sympathise with horrible mouth. It's so amazing when that particular side effect disappears. Young children say such lovely things don't they. Brings tears to your eyes.

Lisa, your weekend in London sounds great. We saw Wolf Hall and bring up,the bodies in Stratford earlier this year and very much enjoyed them. Wish we had gone to see Matilda when it was on there too. My husband keeps asking when our granddaughter will be old enough to go so that we have an excuse. Great that you have reached the point of having to tame your hair.

Jackie, have you seen the oncologist yet?

[rosie14]

Oh dear Lovewine she really doesn't deserve that! I was hoping he had moved on a little in his thinking by booking the Rome trip with mates!!! Deep breath!

[Lovewine]

Yes Rosie, let's hope he gets some resolution soon! He has also booked 2 expensive tickets for the 2 of them for Harry potter world and weekend in London, all paid for by him of course, be interesting to see what becomes of that!! What an old cynic I am !!!
Off to work now.

[rosie14]

Well that's encouraging that he has booked a trip to Rome that doesn't include her Lovewine! Maybe he is putting plan b into place incase plan a fails. Hopefully it will all get sorted soon and he can look forward to his trip to Rome. He will certainly get a lot out of it if he has studied Roman history!

[Lovewine]

Morning Rosie and all ladies! Especially Jackie, will be thinking of you today also, fingers crossed for more information for you and as Rosie said not as bad as you fear.
After my impromptu hospital day yesterday I am playing catch up with my week now, still have same volume of work to do, but one less day in which to do it, but at least I got that part of the radiotherapy etc done and dates sorted so hopefully can have a few days away
in North Yorkshire early November when it's done!
I did mention to oncologist yesterday that I was feeling a bit delayed stress and emotionally numb, he said it's very common after all we are / have been going through and whilst on treadmill of chemo etc we are concentrating on getting through it, when it's finished we realise what we have been through and hits you full in the face!-a form of delayed shock, was told to be " kind to myself" and do things like watch " boring telly!" , I told him I didn't have bloody time! And of course still have ongoing saga with sons girlfriend who returns to the city today, so let's see what happens! He has booked a 10 day trip to Rome in October with a couple of friends from uni, hoping it will do him good! He did his masters degree on " roman army" and ancient history so it will be right up his street!! Wish I could go too!
Rosie,hope you start to get the benefit from antibiotics as day goes on, at least only one more inflation to go, small comfort I know when you are so uncomfortable and fed up with it all.

[rosie14]

Good morning Lovewine I am afraid the red rash is the same. Hopefully it will improve after I have been taking antibiotics for a couple of days. I am due to see the surgeon again on Friday. He wanted to do the final inflation on the right side yesterday so it would be ready for radiotherapy. But I insisted it was done on Friday as arranged I am not ready for any more inflations.
Oh bone ache on herceptin ! I have bone ache in my right leg continually. Not sure whether it's from Letrozole or lack of exercise. I am still so weak and am really fed up,with it now. Not been back to school since coming home with the cold and flu bug. Still have the awful cough hopefully all these antibiotics should sort out that also!!!
I guess you didn't manage to work yesterday with such a busy unexpected hospital schedule? Hope you have a more relaxing day today!
Jackie I think you have your appointment today wishing you all the best and hoping it's not as bad as you are fearing!
Wildpurl hope you enjoyed your day yesterday visiting a castle and you enjoy today's itinerary what ever it is.
Hope the rest of you are chugging along Joan, Jos, Tulane, Cassie, Tlj and anyone else I have missed!

[Lovewine]

Yes Rosie, am keen to start herceptin , as you say it's another weapon in our armoury to stop the unwelcome squatter returning! How's the rash now? Hope the antibiotics are doing their job, but they come with some unpleasant side effects too don't they! Am hoping we don't get too many side effects from herceptin, oncologist said there could be bone aches and flu like symptoms but nothing like chemo thankfully.

[rosie14]

Gosh Lovewine what a day you had but as you said no time to fret. When I eventually start radiotherapy I have to have 28 sessions! Herceptin as well hopefully that will keep the uninvited guest from returning to the door you will have your armour!

[Lovewine]

Wildpurl, what an achievement to climb snowdon only a couple of months after chemo! Most people couldn't do it at all, well done you. Enjoy your trip to a castle, I like Harlech castle and Harlech beach, hope the weather stays good for rest of week for you.
Rosie, at least nothing sinister, I did wonder when reading your post earlier that it may be shingles! It just seems one thing after another doesn't it!
Tulamo, glad your side effects are not as bad this time, how sweet your little boys words to you- the best years are between 3 years and about 6, before they start to become cheeky! It doesn't seem long ago my 2 sons were that age!
Well I had a very eventful day- just at the door leaving for work at 9.30 this morning and postman delivered a letter which I always spot a mile off as a " hospital letter " I expected it to be an appt for a couple of weeks time for either radiotherapy planning or herceptin and lo and behold it was a radiotherapy planning appointment for 9.20 on 23rd September-today!, so I had already missed it! I rang hospital and they said if I could come in straight away they could do C.T scan , tattoo and planning, well it was chaos but managed it! And I didn't even have time to fret! Saw oncologist too who was pleased and said when did I want to start herceptin, I said as quick as possible so first loading dose next Friday 3rd October, radiotherapy for 15 sessions starts Tuesday 7th October! So feeling quite unsettled now I am home and drawn breath! Think it's the speed of everything today!

[rosie14]

Great the red rash is an infection double antibiotics for 10 days!!!!!!!!

[rosie14]

Good Morning Wildpurl great to hear from you. Congratulations on climbing Snowden you did really well what an achievement after all you have been through you must feel,really proud of yourself, the cottage sounds wonderful. Enjoy your visit to a castle today glad the weather is being kind so far!

[Lovewine]

Morning everyone, sorry my whole post has been lost! Catch up later, hope you get sorted with rash Rosie, be thinking of you.

[Wildpurl]

Good morning everyone, have managed to connect to wifi so just calling in to say hi. The cottage we are staying in is lovely, set in woodland and right by the foot of the hills with sheep grazing all around. We went walking the evening we arrived and climbed up above the village near where we are staying, there were wonderful views. We have been very lucky with the weather and yesterday we went to Snowdon which I am pleased to say I climbed without any problems - not to say it wasn't hard! We took 6.5 hours to walk up by one route and then down by another, then had to walk 2 miles back to the car. About 10 miles in total, I was very pleased I managed it even though my legs are quite weak this morning! Today I think we will visit a castle.

Rosie I'm sorry to hear about your rash, I hope it is nothing serious.

Lovewine, you are doing well, and I agree with you about leaving on time. I am really sorry to hear that your son's problems with his girlfriend are continuing, though. I am inclined to agree with her behaviour not really indicating depression, hopefully she will make her intentions clear yo him sooner rather than later.

Joan the cake you had sounds very unusual, what an awkward situation! Well done for eating half of it

Tulamo, glad the SEs are a bit better this time, I had the same, I also had the loss of taste and it was the thing I hated most. The last time I concluded it might be oral thrush and used corsodyl mouthwash twice a day for 4-5 days. It really seemed to help and my taste came back quicker.

Hope you all have good days.

[rosie14]

Yesterday I had a red rash over my left wound and it went across the middle and slightly touched the right side. I thought maybe it was a sweat rash but I still have it this morning. DH got straight on his mobile and texted the surgeon! Within seconds he rang back and wants to see me this afternoon! Now what is going on??????? Is there no end?

[rosie14]

Hi Tulamo good to hear from you you must nearly at the end of the road as far as chemo goes are you having 6 or 8 sessions? You will probably hang on to the rest of your hair now. Bless your little boy what a lovely thing to say you will be there for him stay positive I know that is easier said than done some days. My children are grown up but I am fighting on for them and DH. My tissue expanders are being blown up every week because there is an urgency to start radiotherapy. To be honest they gave me so much discomfort before they were blown up it's not much different. I am very fed up feeling so sore, muscles aching and the constant feeling of being clamped! Yes the weather is much more bearable mornings and evenings are very pleasant the days are still sunny and warm.
Sorry to hear that your workplace aren't being considerate do you belong to a union you must have some rights. HR would usually be in favour of a planned re entry.
Your little boy sounds very imaginative in his play. My eldest son was and he did very well in English and Languages!
Hope the rest of you wake up feeling ok!
Lovewine hope you are not working too hard and that you are not getting too much stress from your sons situation.
Hope Wildpurl is having a great holiday.

[tulamo]

Hello ladies,

Just a  a quick hello day 12 post chemo 5 fewer SE's than last time but still got horrible mouth dont know why I find it so hard to tolerate certainly not worst thing to have but it really bugs me. Hair had a bit of a fallout flurry too nowhere near as drastic as with the FEC but has made me feel like I am almost bald on very top of my head with a comb-over. Weirdly one of my friends said to me I must be delighted at how much hair I have at this stage of my treatment ! It looks ok from the back then again so does the rest of me !

Got enough energy to brave Smyths toy store sale today got very excited when I found some "Peter Rabbit" figures my little boy loves the animation on tv and re-enacts the stories so our downstairs loo is now Mr Tod's lair where he cooks bothersome bunnies in my vegetable steamer. He will love having the figures to play with, his birthday is 2 weeks tomorrow, he will be 3. He told me tonight at bedtime I am his best friend  I love him so much it hurts. Hope the chemo has seen off this horrible disease I have to be here for my baby.

Lovewine very jealous of your wine and curry (though mine would have to be veggie) I cant wait to enjoy foodand wine again.Re your son, s girlfriend she doesn't sound depressed rather more like someone who wants to break up but ddoesn't have the decency to be honest about it. Could be doing the girl a disservice but time will tell. Your son needs to know where he stands so he can start to deal with it but if she won't even talk to him and uses Facebook to thank him for the flowers the poor lad mustnt know what to think. Hope he gets some answers soon.

Rosie don't know how you cope with those awful tissue expanders they seem to do everything very fast in Cyprus I thought the point of the expanders was to slowly stretch the skin over time so implants can then be fitted so inflating yours every couple of weeks must be putting tremendous pressure on you, like Wildpurl was saying hers were inflated every few months. Hope you get some relief soon at least the weather will be getting more bearable some time soon. Hope being back home gives your dad enough of a lift that he feels stronger soon.

Lisa you're obviously happy to be back at work , getting back to a bit of normal. Hope your workplace is more considerate than mine and let you take it slowly.

Looks like Wildpurl got lucky with the weather should be a lovely holiday.

Really need to go and get some sleep, apologies for not mentioning everyone but I am such a slow typer would be up all night doing it properly xx

[rosie14]

Hi Lovewine you are very wise not to work long hours but it is very difficult with your own business.
I noticed today that my legs hair needs shaving again. That was one of the benefits of chemo no hair removal!
The fan man was here for 2.5 hours fitting one fan and servicing two. When it came to the one in the bedroom which was the last one I showed him which room and than retreated downstairs. He did that one much quicker because he didn't keep,stopping to talk to me! Any way they are now all in working order.

[Lovewine]

Hi Lisa, funnily enough I was looking at lush shampoo online yesterday and wondered if worth buying some, think I might do now! Sounds like you had a lovely weekend, it's so nice to get out and about and do normal things, well done you!
Rosie, sounds like an interesting day listening to the fan man and tales of corruption! I am still using the same shampoo too that I started in February! Have noticed some signs of life in eyebrows and leg hair!
Have been quite busy at work today, but i am being strict with myself in limiting my hours and never working past 5.00 p.m, pre cancer days I used to work until late evening some days, I now realise I was working much too hard, but when you are self employed it's so easy just to keep doing it!!

[rosie14]

Good morning Lovewine I have the fan man here at the moment he is quite depressing me telling me how corrupt then government and civil servants are in Cyprus! Thank goodness he has gone upstairs to service the bedroom fan!!
I hadn't thought of us as the sandwich generation that's a very good way to describe us!
Lisa good to to hear from you. No I am still waiting for the CT planning meeting phone call!!!' It should be any day now,
It's probably wise to return to work slowly as we tire very easily after all we have been through.
Glad you had a good time in London I would love to see the Musical Matilda I have a little granddaughter called Matilda!
It's good that your hair is growing back mine is still very short but I have a covering all over my head. I am still on the same bottle of shampoo that I was on in February when this beastly thing started.

[rolicarpit]

Morning everyone, thought I'd say hello. Hoping you are all doing fine. Lovewine it must be frustrating to see your son down in the dumps, you can only be there for him when it's needed I suppose ... I would be very tempted to interfere but I don't suppose he'd thank you .. I'd have made a rubbish parent if id have had children lol !
Rosie - glad to hear you are nearly inflated, it has been a long time but it sounds as though you are getting there, sorry you aren't feeling great this morning, it's definitely one thing after another sometimes which is very frustrating but you will get there ...have you got a date to start radiotherapy ?
Wildpurl I imagine you are somewhere in snowdonia by now, wishing you a fantastic holiday.

Work is good, a bit weird but it's nice to feel normal again although I won't be full time until after half term so just got 3 half days this week, am trying to be sensible about it. I've just returned from a weekend in London which was fab, was lucky enough to have tickets to matilda the musical and wolf hall ( not musical but good all the same ) am now trying to tame my hair before work later. Lovewine I've been using a lush shampoo bar called new hair, don't know whether it works or not but my hair is definitely growing quite quick, think I need a hair appt to see what can be done with it as it's starting to look ridiculous lol how typical that I spend all this time not being at all bothered by being bald and now a bit of growth is stressing me out !!!!

Well that's it for now, hope everyone else is doing well and getting on with their days, have a good one all.

Lisa

[Lovewine]

Morning Rosie and everyone! It's quite a chilly morning here and have put my heating on for an hour ! So you have your fans on and me my radiators!! I hope your dad settles down a bit, it's important for them isn't it to be in their own home if possible. .you must be very worried about him. Not surprising that our age group is called " the sandwich generation " in terms of we are in the middle of worrying about elderly parents and also problems with grown up children! Seems like you and I have had these over the weekend! Am not surprised you are fed up with waking up feeling uncomfortable either, hope you get some relief at some point today!
Jackie, I too have been thinking of you over the weekend and hope this week brings better news for you.
Wildpurl, hope you are having a lovely time!
Joan, hope all Is well with you? Lisa, hope work is going well!
Tij, cassie and everyone have a good day too, cassie hope Norfolk was nice and you spent some good time with your family!

[rosie14]

Indeed the board is very quiet I know Wildpurl is away in Wales. Jackie thinking of you I think you have an appointment coming up on Wednesday with your surgeon and do hope he has better news than you are expecting!
Good for you having a glass of wine at the pub Lovewine hope the tandoori chicken was good!
All 3 children skyped yesterday so that was good. I spoke to my sister and she said dad was finding it very hard to manage. I got to speak to dad and he sounded very breathless as usual. He said he was finding it a struggle as he can't stand up now without the Zimmer frame as he is so short of breath. I asked him if he was glad to be back at home and he said yes he had all his things around him. So we will have to see how it goes!
I have woken up with very sore ribs today DH thinks it's form coughing it's very difficult to separate coughing pain with tissue expander pain! All I know is I am well and truly fed up of waking up each morning and feeling the same. I have the electrician coming today to service the 2 ceiling fans that have stopped working and put an extra one in the dining area. Our downstairs is all open plan and in the heat of the summer the temperature inside gets up to 30 degrees. We have to leave the fan on 24/7 from May till end of September for the dog and of course this year for me also!
Hope you all have a good day where ever you are!