Anyone due to start chemo April 14??

[rosie14]

Hi Jackie glad your surgery is going ahead is it tomorrow you go in?
Hope you had a good nap Lovewine I dozed for an hour on and off this afternoon. You mind you don't do too much you don't want to set yourself back!

[Jackie09]

Good afternoon everyone,

Was just about to post to say still waiting for a phone call and they just rang! Neutrophils have gone down from 1.3 to 1.2 but surgeon is happy to go ahead with that - apparently he us going to give me antibiotics during operation. Suppose I'd better go and pack my bag ready :(.

Lovewine - good to see you're up and about. Did you have any nodes taken? I'm struggling to find button up tops to wear, as I believe the arm is quite sore afterwards.
Rosie - I'm glad you've had some news about your dad, although frustrating that no one is sure what is causing his dizzy spells yet.

[Lovewine]

Rosie, I have cleaned and tidied up our bedroom this morning- so much for taking it easy!! I find it very hard not to be doing something! But am going to lie down and have a long nap this afternoon! You sound like you are easing back into school life though, be careful you don't take on too much!!- yes I know I am a fine one to talk aren't i !!!!

[rosie14]

Hi Lovewine you enjoy your 2 weeks off! I have come home shattered! I got in at 9.30am and came out at 1.45pm. Got to do another book order than time for a nap maybe a nap first!!!

[Lovewine]

Morning everyone, Rosie, hope everything goes well today- doesn't sound nice having two tyres in front of you!! I know what you mean about getting sucked back in to work, I found my good intentions to keep work load down started to pick back up again! Have 2 weeks off now so will try and do more relaxing if possible!
Thinking of you Jackie , hope blood tests are ok today.
Wildpurl, Joan, tij, Lisa, cassie, Nellie,Louise, jos, tulamo, good day hopefully for you all!

[rosie14]

Good morning everyone hope this finds you all well and not on the sulky step although it is Monday for those working!
I am going to spend the morning in school completing the set up of the Yr 1classroom with the new teacher.
Tomorrow there is a staff training day, followed by primary children and their parents visiting to meet new teacher. DH wants me to be around for this so that parents can see I am able,to,have some involvement! We are supposed to be at Limassol at 4pm for appointment with surgeon. I am going to have to call them and put it back we are not going to make it by then! It's going to be a long day tomorrow I must rest up this afternoon! It's all too,easy to get sucked back in. I am also,dealing with the discomfort of tissue expanders constantly it's like having 2 tyres,on your chest at full inflation and they haven't been inflated yet. Hopefully he will start this week he thinks it will be more comfortable I am sure Wildpur sails it was more comfortable once the inflations started! Fingers crossed!!!
Catch up with you all later! X

[rosie14]

Daughter now home and has skyped me. She hasn't seen my dad for 2 years so was shocked at how much weight he had lost. She said she thought he was rather glad to be were he was as he was frightened of getting dizzy and falling down again in his flat! My sister emailed me and she says he is very anaemic and has low blood pressure but no diagnosis yet!
I have been busy on skype both sons called me also! Yes Lovewine it does show what we will do for our children I wouldn't be taking so long to recover if I had hadn't had db mx a week after finishing chemo and then getting on a plane 2 weeks after surgery. Mad or what?
Wildpurl glad you had an enjoyable day catching up with your brother it sounds like he has been very busy doing up the new house! What a creative hands on pair you are! Do you have any more sisters or brothers? The boys both noticed my eyebrows on skype and couldn't believe the growth in a week!
Jackie hope your blood test goes well to tomorrow! Trust everyone else had a good weekend!

[Wildpurl]

Afternoon ladies, back from my day out to my brother's. It was lovely to see him and his family, also they are doing up their new house, it is my brother's hobby, he has done 7 houses so far over the last 20 years. They have done the kitchen, which is lovely, and their bedroom, just starting on the lounge plus he has completed rewiring and installing new central heating. He thinks nothing of remodelling the structure, moving walls etc, the results are very impressive.

Lovely lunch plus a pleasant walk, a very enjoyable day.

Your bike sounds good Tlj, and well done for getting your actual bike out Lisa! And a holiday in Paphos, that sounds great!

Rosie I'm glad that you will be getting some news about your Dad later today. Great news that your hair is growing now, too.

Glad you are feeling OK Lovewine. I'm very envious of the mini meet up but don't think I live near enough to anyone to meet in person.

[Lovewine]

Lisa, plum gin sounds good! Have had sloe gin before - very nice indeed! And totally agree with the mini meet up!! How do you distill the gin - in a Demi- john ? We used to make plum wine and blackberry wine years ago, never did get around to bottling it, just poured it straight from the Demi john- very uncouth!! Sounds like you have had a busy day! Your holiday sounds nice, great to have something to look forward to.
Rosie, hope all is well as can be when you speak to your daughter, I havnt had such a hard time ( fingers crossed so far) as you have had with surgery, wounds etc, so am able to shuffle around a little more than you have been able to- I think you have been super human to make it to the uk for the wedding so soon after surgery and chemo ! Just shows what we will do for our children doesn't it!!

[rosie14]

I know it well Lisa I go to a hairdresser opposite. It's right on the beach you will love it!

[rolicarpit]

Hi Rosie

we are going to stay at one called Alexander the Great, just looking forward to a bit of warmth and relaxation!

[rosie14]

Lovewine my daughter has managed to go and see dad thank goodness on her way back form Midlands to Newcastle. I haven't heard from her yet she tends to us FB PM so I will.have to wait until she is in a wifi zone. Also my sister was going today and she said she would email me so I have to be patient!
I am very impressed that you went for a shuffle round the field! After a light lunch at the monastery cafe I went for the first time in 7 weeks round the supermarket. I was shattered afterwards!
Lisa that's great you are coming to Paphos which hotel are you staying in? You have been busy with your plums well done!

[rolicarpit]

Morning all,

Well, all ok on the plum front, have given some away to good homes, have many jars of chutney and just about to start making some plum gin, not sure I will be able to wait 3 months to try it though! 

Lovewine good to hear from you, glad things werent as bad as you thought it might be ... everything we do seems to be a rollercoaster of anxiety and then relief that its not as bad as we thought, if only there was a way to know it would be ok before all the worrying ! My friend got married at newstead abbey a few years ago as her parents lived very close, I'd be up for a mini meet too if we could arrange it Jackie / Lovewine ?

Tlj - I like the sound of your bike, I took mine out for the first time since Jan a couple of days ago ... only done the road and back but my legs were very pathetic, going to try and go a bit further every day this week whilst Im still not working.

Joan, glad you are recovering well, know exactly what you mean about wondering whether it will come back, hopefully those anxieties will fade over time, either that or Im going to have buy myself a CT scanner to check every week lol

Rosie, sorry to hear about your dad, hope he is doing OK, must be hard to feel so far away from things ...... Im very excited becasue Ive just booked a holiday to Paphos in October half term .... whopppeeeeee, really looking forward to it

Hi Wildpurl, thanks for your suggestions yesterday, are you planning a productive day today?

Hope everyone is else is well and having a good weekend

Lisa

[Lovewine]

Hi everyone, what a good present tij ! Like Rosie I think I would be wearing the motor out! Hope you enjoy your debut ride out with your family today.
Rosie, any more news on your dad this morning? Maybe your daughter can fill you in more today.
I have just shuffled around the field with hubby and dogs for 15 min walk and enjoyed the fresh air, not sure about the exercise part though !! Although must admit do feel more energised after doing it!
Enjoy your Sunday everyone.

[rosie14]

Tlj good to hear from you! You are busy with visitors! I like the sound of your new gift and the fact the electric motor kicks in for an extra power- I would overheat the motor!! Good luck with it! Where do you live by the way?

[Tlj63]

Morning everyone, the sun is shining so I hope everyone is in a good frame of mind and the sulky step has been put away.
Lovewine, glad to hear your recovery is going well. Rosie, sorry to hear about your Dad. I know how difficult it is when you live a plane ride away from family when there is a crisis.
I have survived my Dad's visit and now need to put the clean sheets back on the spare bed as my sister in law arrives today.
My lovely husband has bought me an amazing gift to aid my recovery. It's an electric bike. You still have to pedal, but the electric motor kicks in when you need some extra power. I'm going to take it on its inaugural ride in a minute with my boys. Hoping it will help me get my fitness levels back.

[rosie14]

Good morning ladies!
yes thank goodness we did go and see dad and my daughter had put some of the wedding photos on my iPad so I could show him!
My daughter and family are staying in Kidderminster this weekend as my niece got married yesterday. We didn't go back for that one I don't want to fly again until,I am fully recovered too scary!!! I have let her know and I am hoping she may make the 30 mile detour to visit him. He is in the AMU so I don't think this would be a place for children but I am hoping she will go and assess the situation!
Wildpurl good job you checked the opening times before you went on a wild goose chase! Autumn is a very pretty time foliage wise but I am not keen on that nip in the air that comes with it. We don't get distinctive seasons here it all moves gradually and bit by bit more articles of clothing are added or taken off depending which way we are heading. By the end of September it may be necessary to cover shoulders outside in the evening. Usually November before a cardigan is necessary in the day and December before you need a coat! By mid March it starts to come off again. I can remember about 5 years ago we flew to Newcastle during October half term our granddaughter was only a year old. Our son in law had come to collect us from the airport and I had sandals on without socks, it had been 22 when we left Paphos and It was 1 degree in Newcastle. I was frozen and my son in law laughed at my sandals I have never made that mistake again!!!'
Lovewine how very true just when we think things are on the up it can be turned round again. This is life and we all have to cope with this roller coaster and we know only too well this year how cruel it can be. We must make the most of each day. Glad you are doing so well after your surgery and hope this will reassure Jackie! Hope your blood test will be ok tomorrow Jackie is it 4th when you have your surgery?
Joan I am going to blame my I pad with its predictive text!!!! But I hope you do enjoy your food this weekend! I should really check my posts but I am so worried about loosing them that I press post as soon as I think I have finished, I occasionally read over them and edit them. It keeps throwing commas in for some reason and I do delete a number of those if I see them. Ha ha Joan that's were my hair started coming back first 2 weeks ago. I know have eyebrows, eyelashes and a thick covering of hair over my head which is very silky. DH and I can't believe the rate of growth. Have had eyebrows waxed and have shaved legs a little!
A work colleague told DH and I about the newspaper article and later I said to my husband but I am not a cancer patient I am a post surgery patient who still tires very easily.
Joan I think once we have all had radiology too we will be well protected!
Hope you all enjoy your Sunday whatever you are doing!

[Lovewine]

Joan , good to know you are improving well, I have read too that regular daily walking supposedly helps in reducing recurrence, but i think generally the medical profession recommends this for just about everything!! Maybe the chin hair sprouting is a sign of life for hair elsewhere!!
Jackie, yes a mini meet up sounds a good idea! Do you live in Nottinghamshire? We used to live there, but now neighbouring Leicestershire! I can understand you just want op over and done with now as I felt exactly the same, this time next week it will be done! Incidentally I am a Wendy also!!

[joan47]

Rosie, so sorry to hear about your dad. It would be worrying anyway but being so far away magnifies it. As others have said, it's good that you managed to get to see him when you were over. On a lighter note, I lived your latest mistype wishing me a food weekend. I shall do my best!

Lovewine, glad your op is over, that it wasn't as bad as you thought and you are not in pain. I was advised to take painkillers for the first few days even if I wasn't in pain. Have you been given the same advice?

Jackie, no wonder you're on the sulky step. I know you're very worried about the op and any hitch at this stage just prolongs the agony. But at least your bloods haven't gone below the 1.0 threshold and may even improve by Monday. It's interesting that both you and Lovewine had to wash in the special stuff. I did as well but was told it was because my op was following closely on my pre assessment and there wouldn't be time to get the results back from the usual tests. Fortunately it's fairly innocuous stuff.

Tulamo, it must be really tough coping with all this and looking after your three year old son. I take my hat off to you. Well several hats really since I never got on with the wig. Rationally there is lots to be positive about as you say but what a blow for them to discover another tumour at the point you were expecting to be nearly finished with it all.

Rolicarpet, hope you are managing to make some inroads on the plums. Thanks for info about radiotherapy appt. just had letter through from the hospital confirming my appt which is just given as a follow up. I imagine they would have said if I had also been seeing the radiologist since it looks as if that takes quite some time.

I am continuing to make a good recovery from the op and finding myself able to do much more and in particular walk further and not just on the flat. Rather oddly, since I had the all clear on Thursday my husband seems to think I am completely over it all and back to normal. He also read an article in the newspaper citing research which found that 20 mins walking every day at a pace which increased the heart rate dramatically reduced the rate of recurrences. So I anticipate a bit of nagging. He may just be trying to be helpful, in an annoying male way, because since Thursday my anxiety has moved on from 'has all the cancer gone' to 'will it come back'..

First sign of hair returning today. Annoyingly though, only on my chin!

[Jackie09]

Lovewine!!! You're back. So glad it wasn't as bad as you thought. I wish mine was over and done with. :(. I hope you manage to get comfortable. Newstead Abbey is very close to me - we could have a mini-meet up!
Rosie - I'm so sorry to hear the news about your dad. It must be extra hard being far away, but you must not feel worse because of this. Unfortunately you can't do anything to increase the nuetrophils. I haven't met the new deputy - I think she's called Wendy.
Wildpurl - glad you had a good day.

[Lovewine]

Rosie, am so sorry to hear about your dad, it's really hard when you live a long way from close family and there is a problem, as Wildpurl says hopefully it may not be as bad as you first think, at least you have your sister keeping you informed and did spend time with him recently, just as we think there is an upturn in things something else comes along and causes us worry and stress, take care of yourself.
Wildpurl arboretum sounds lovely, I enjoy autumn so that would be a lovely place to visit then, we have lord byrons home- newstead abbey in Nottinghamshire not too far away and it's lovely in autumn as it has a Japanese water garden full of maple trees and the colours are stunning!

[Wildpurl]

Great to hear from you Lovewine, and so glad it was not as bad as you thought it might be and that you are now home and pain free. And cancer free, more importantly!

Rosie, how worrying about your Dad, but at least you have family in the UK keeping you informed and as you say, thank goodness you took the time to see him when you were in the UK for the wedding. Hopefully it will turn out not to be anything serious.

I had a lovely time this afternoon although we went instead to Winkworth Arboretum, as Clandon Park is closed on Saturdays, lucky we did check before we left! It was such a lovely place to walk and I took loads of photos. I would like to go back in October to see the autumn leaves, I think it would be stunning.

[rosie14]

Just heard for my sister that my dad has been taken into Shrewsbury hospital as he has been feeling dizzy and fell in his lounge yesterday. He has gone in for tests! This is when you don't want to be 2000 miles away and recovering from cancer and a db mx !!! Glad we travelled the extra miles when we were back at the beginning of August.

[rosie14]

Lovewine great to hear from you and so glad it is over and wasn't as bad as you had feared. Fantastic that you came home on the same day!
Wildpurl hope you enjoy your NT visit and how,fantastic to have the chicken cooked when you get back! Enjoy your day tomorrow visiting your bother and sister in law!

[Lovewine]

Hello everyone, am relieved to say surgery over, I was back on the ward by 10.30 a.m and came home early evening last night! I feel not too bad at all today- really want to reassure you Jackie that it is not as bad as we feared at all!! All other ladies were so right when they said chemo was so much worse. I came around very quickly and have had minimal pain( fingers crossed it stays that way).
Lisa, your jam sounds delicious, glad Wildpurl had a good recipe suggestion for you, I have suggested Wildpurl you publish your own book with some of your lovely recipes and ideas in it!! I would certainly buy it as I love to read about your tips, food etc.!
Tulamo, I can see you are a fellow animal mad person like myself- I have 2 border collies and also regularly babysit my sons collie whilst he is at work too, and 3 cats, several resident, quite tame hedgehogs in garden too!!
Rosie, you sound like you are helping much better now and moving on to radiotherapy soon, that's a step closer to the finish line!
Wildpurl, just read your plans for the weekend, sounds lovely enjoy your trip to NT property, must admit I envy your energy levels!
Jackie, I also had problems with blood count just before my op and had to go back for further tests and didn't hear anything and didn't need a transfusion after all, they did say my bloods hadn't recovered well after chemo too, but they were happy with them on operation day! So try not to worry too much! I had to wash in special body wash and shove cream up nose! I wasn't told about wig washing though so just carried on wearing it and washed it in my usual way the night before surgery.
Joan, hope you are doing well too and cassie? Sounds like you are busy too.
Regards to all other ladies, hope you are all enjoying the weekend.

[Wildpurl]

Good morning,
Thank you for your kind comments, tulamo, gardening, like looking after people and animals, takes quite a lot of time and effort, but is also very rewarding and satisfying. I have needed a lot of help in the garden this year but have managed to make some contribution.

Lisa, I don't see why you couldn't make plum gin, and it also occurs to me that you could make plum wine.

Oh Jackie, you have had a lot of difficulties! I hope your neutrophils improve soon. It does as you say make you wonder how low they got - you must be pretty resilient!

Rosie, I have always fancied aquafit but never tried it, perhaps this is the year...I have been to the gym this morning, then this afternoon we are visiting Clandon Park, another National Trust property. Tomorrow we are driving down to see my brother and sister in law who live on the South Coast, for lunch. I haven't seen them at all this year but my SIL has been very supportive, emailing me often to find out how things were going, and it is always nice to see my brother and catch up, so looking forward to that.

OH is making more chutney! I have a chicken roasting in the slow cooker for when we get back from Clandon Park.
Hope everyone has a good weekend. Lovewine, thinking of you, hope you are feeling OK

[rosie14]

Jackie I am sorry you have had to get on the sulky step can you read up types of food that will improve your neutrophils count and then eat plenty before. Monday?!!' I shall be on the sulky step if I don't get a radiotheraphy appointment next week! What is the name of your new deputy Jackie and do you know whereabouts in Cyprus he/she is from?

[Jackie09]

Lovewine - have been thinking about you lots and hope you are recovering well x x

[Jackie09]

Morning All,

The nurse rang yesterday and said my neutrophils were on the low side so have to go back Monday for another blood test to make sure they haven't dropped to below 1.0. They are only 1.3 now, and that's 4 weeks after last chemo, so goodness knows how low they have been! Nothing is ever straight forward!!! But I don't have to tell you all that, do I? I'm definitely on the sulky step now!
Rosie, our new deputy head has just returned from Cyprus - is it too much of a coincidence?
Hope you all have good days x x. The surgeon wants me to shower in that soap they use before surgery for 5 days. They wanted me to do my wig, but if think it would spoil it - so no more wig wearing til afterwards fir me. I'm not confident going out in my scarf, so dig walking in the woods it is for me today. I hope it will help with my legs, as every morning when I get up, they feel like I've run a marathon!

[rosie14]

Hi tulamo you certainly have a lot to cope with, your nearly 3 year old son and your fury friends! There was another lady on our thread that had a 2 year old. She had surgery first then chemo and was about to start on rads and then she stopped posting which hopefully is a good sign? I rather suspect she now wants to get on with the rest of her life.
We know Pissori well we pass the turning off for it each time we go to Limassol! Cyprus is a very beautiful island but you have to be well to appreciate it in the summer! The best time of day for me is early morning and sunset! My DH had a malignant melanoma on his back removed just before my surgery so we have to avoid being in the sun too much uncovered! Thank you for your ideas about swimming suits also. Sadly I don't think this is going to be a problem in the near future. When I have had the tissue expanders inflated I will have more shape I will wait and see. I used to really enjoy aqua fit over the winter months apparently she is doing one for cancer patients so I will be quite keen to go along to that eventually!
Hope everyone else is okay and will enjoy the weekend thinking of you Jackie and hoping you enjoy the weekend. Lovewine will be all done and dusted now look forward to hearing how she is!

[tulamo]

Hello ladies,

Thanks for all your encouragement I am usually a very positive person and hate myself for moaning I am so lucky they found the new tumour during my recon surgery  if not I wouldn't have had much chance of seeing my little boy grow up  and I keep reminding myself how fortunate I am the treatments are available  to me. Determined to be more positive from now on and stop moaning.

I have never been a very good sleeper so knew I would have a bad time through chemo. I have sleeping tablets but only take half a tablet or I am too muzzy next morning to deal with my son he will be three in October and I do use most of the little energy I have making sure we play games and have fun every day I want things to be as normal for him as possible.

I am cold capping lost a lot of hair after 2nd fec but nothing catastrophic since I had lots of hair to start with and still have a reasonable amount so havent had to buy any wigs scarves etc. I am very relieved I haven't  had to explain where mummy's hair has gone to him and fairly confident I wont lose much more on the tax (hope that doesn't come back to bite me on the bum!!)

Hopefully all went well for Lovewine today and she is having a restful night without too much noise disturbing her.

Rosie you must be relieved the doctors happy to let you heal now cant imagine how uncomfortable you have been with all the stitches and dressings in all that heat. Cyprus is a beautiful island last time we were there found lovely place called Pissori had lovely lunch in a shady bar wish I was there now ! Last year I sewed my softies into the cups of my swim suits for my hoidays it worked brilliantly as I just pulled out the fuzzy stuffing after swimming so it could dry and I never had to worry about my "falsie" escaping and bobbing off across the pool I didnt want to buy mastectomy swimwear because it is really expensive and not the sort of costume I would usually choose I bought costumes from tesco and bhs and am happy I have swimsuits I willwear again now I have my reconstruction.

Wildpurl I really envy your creativity I would love to be the sort of person who grows lovely things intheir gardenand actually knows how to use it but I am a rubbish gardener and a lazy cook although I have promised myself I will make more effort in the kitchen when I am better. I have quite a few animals, a horse donkeys and three dogs border collies so lack of time is my enemy. I love all my fur babies and wouldnt be without them and I have amazing friends at the stables who do so much to support me..

I hate the dentist too though dash to the surgery at first hint of a problem good you needed no treatment youve had enough bad suff this year.

Am determined to get more sleep tonight and very slow typing these posts so will say goodnight everybody have a good weekend x

[rosie14]

Hi Lisa I am not surprised you threw a wobbly over the Tamoxifen! I wanted to back out of radiotherapy I said I had been through too much! The surgeon and DH wouldn't let me!'imam glad Wildpurl,sorted you out with your plums I thought she would be the person to know! Glad your rads have finished and now you have a week off,ENJOY! Temp in Cyprus late October about 24 give or take! The sea is still warm enough to swim in and tourists go,in the pools you wouldn't catch me in one though!
Hi,Joan yes sadly no pool for me this year! Hope your weekend is a food one.
Yes Wildpurl,I shall make up for the swimming next year. Have you got plans for the weekend now you have finished your decorating?

[rolicarpit]

Thanks Wildpurl, the tree has never produced so much fruit and its all good too - no little critters in it, just making some spicy plum chutney as we speak but the 20lbs are still left over, going to be giving them away to anyone I can, can you make plum gin do you think?

[rolicarpit]

Hi Joan,

Yes dummy firmly back in mouth lol !

My oncologist oversaw both the chemo and radiotherapy (this might be the same everwhere I dont know) but I saw him to sign the consent and then the radiographers to be measured up, have tattoos etc, so yes it was 2 appointments although I think they were both on the same day, one after the other.

Rosie - what is the tempertaure in Cyprus in October - thinking about a holiday in the warmth in October half term and wondering where to go?

[Wildpurl]

Rosie great news that you are healing so well and the risk of infection is over. Pity if you have to miss out on swimming because of rads though. Oh well, there is always next year!

Rolicarpit, I suggest plum and mulled wine jam, which is absolutely gorgeous, spicy plum chutney and plum brandy. Oh and plum crumble with cream for any left overs. My plum tree is only two years old and has not fruited yet, so I'm quite envious, that sounds like an excellent crop.

[joan47]

Rosie, that is good news. In terms of swimming, I read through my leaflet about radiotherapy last night and it advised against swimming so sadly you may have to miss out this year.

Rolicarpet, great that you have finished rads and minimal side effects. I can understand you bridling about having to take tablets for years but glad that you decided to pick up your dummy again and suck it!

Cassie, I have also been surprised that my sleep has returned to relatively normal after quite a lengthy period on sleeping tablets. Made me realise how much chemo and especially high dose steroids on TAX had affected that. It does seem a good sign that your aspiration biopsy is some time ahead.

Tulamo, like most of the ladies on this thread I really struggled with insomnia and felt I would not get through chemo unless I could get at least a few hours sleep. With FEC I only took them for a week each time but with TAX it had to be a bit longer. Like Wildpurl I also found later chemosynthesis more difficult to face. In theory perhaps the prospect of getting near the end should make it easier but it doesn't seem to work that way. Several of us finished up in the grumpy corner at this point so you are not alone.

Wildpurl, that must be a relief that your teeth have not been affected. I am dreading going to see my dentist and am rather putting it off.

Those of you who have already started/finished chemo, did you have one or two planning sessions? I have been given an appt with the oncologist but the info leaflet I was given (which is not specific to my hospital) suggests that one sees the oncologist and then have a second one with the radiotherapy people.

Lovewine, hopefully your op will now be over and you are not in too much discomfort.

Hope everyone else has a good weekend

[rolicarpit]

Evening everyone, hope this post finds you all well, just been having a read through the thread, sounds like everyone is doing ok, good news jackie that you dont need any further surgery and Wildpurl that your teeth are ok ... thats something I need to do. Well done Rosie, it sounds like you are healing well and able to get on with life a bit, i think id be very frustrated about not being able to get in the pool, especially in that heat. Cassie - good to hear that you are getting on well at work and with the rads. I finished my rads on Tues and and apart from a bit of soreness for a couple of days, it's been fine. I was supposed to start the tamoxifen on Weds but had a bit of throwing my dummy out of the pram about it ... decided that I really was bored of anything to do with cancer now and didnt want to take the damn tablets for the next 10 years but woke up in a better more rational mood on Thurs and have started taking them now.

Having been thinking about you today Lovewine and hope that it has all gone well, will look forward to reading a post from you. 

I'm currently having a week off work to get my head together and have a break from anything work or cancer related (except of course for tamoxifen) which has been really nice so far. Malvern last Monday was very wet but enjoyed the antique fair. Now the most important question I have for you all is what on earth do I do with around 20lbs of victoria plums I have picked off one tree in our garden yesterday... any thoughts gratefully appreciated.

Have a good evening all and hope anyone Ive forgotton is also doing OK

Lisa

[rosie14]

Oh that's good news Wildpurl no treatment well done! I am going to the dentist in October. Thanks for advice on swim wear I will investigate it!
Just got back from Limassol and at last the surgeon is pleased with the wound and is now leaving it to heal he says the risk of infection is now over! I now have a very small dressing so I will be able to wear my mastectomy bra with the softies! Iam going back on Tuesday and hopefully he will do the first inflation! Also hoping to hear about radiotherapy next week.
By now Lovewine your surgery will be over do hope you have a comfortable night!

[Wildpurl]

Dentist said my teeth were in good shape, nothing needed doing, phew!
Rosie I hope that you will find the expanders more comfortable when they start to be filled! Oh meant to say about swimming costumes that I bought one from Amoena which had prosthesis pockets, I can still wear it even though now I don't use a prosthesis. When you are healed enough to swim you could maybe find something similar?

[rosie14]

Hope the dentist went well Wildpurl and your teeth didn't become a casualty of chemo! I think you have hit the nail on the head I think I am getting my strength back but it is not as quickly as I would like for sure! I am still struggling with the tissue expanders!

[rosie14]

Hi Cassie good to hear from you. Glad the rads are going well and it sounds promising that they aren't too concerned about your thyroid problem! I came off the sleeping tablets about 2 weeks after my surgery and to be honest I have slept better without them! Good luck with everything you sound really busy!

[Cassie86]

Hello Ladies,

The thread is as active as ever, I am not able contribute as much as I would like with work and appointments.

The thyroid appointment was OK but they want to do an aspiration biopsy they don't seem to concerned as I have been told the appointment should be in 1-2 months and follow up in Jan, so who knows but the waiting is awful. The Rads are still fine at the moment no se's. I have also weaned myself off of the sleeping tablets as I hate taking anything thats not absolutley necessary, leaving them off one noght and taking them thenext then two nights for a cuple of times then stop, not much difference in my sleeping pattern to be honest.

Have a good day ladies x cassie

[Wildpurl]

Morning Ladies,
Sorry you are having trouble sleeping tulamo, it isn't very nice especially when one is exhausted, as you say. Do you manage to have naps during the day? I used to sleep every afternoon in my first week after chemo. Not easy with a little one, I know.

I found the last couple of chemos really interminable. I knew there were only two left but I simply didn't want to go through any more, I'd had enough. At the same time I knew I had to do them and I was desperate for there to be no delays so as Rosie says was anxious about bloods etc each time. It's difficult for anyone who hasn't been through it to understand the mixed feelings.

Rosie, Good luck with your trip to Limassol, I hope you have been healing well and that the surgeon can soon let you just get on with recovering. It sounds as though you are getting energy and strength back though, even if more slowly than you had expected.

It's a nice sunny day here, I'd better go and get organised as I have to leave in an hour. It's only a checkup but I'm always nervous of what they might find, I'm such a wuss.

Hope everyone has as good a day as they can, and thinking of Lovewine

[Lovewine]

Morning ladies, just ready to go off to hospital now for surgery !! Will let you know how it goes , good luck everyone with various appointments! All have a nice weekend!
Tulamo, I was also not given heart scan at right time( finally had it on Wednesday) so my herceptin has been delayed too! I am her-2 + also.
Thankyou for all your best wishes!! X

[rosie14]

Gpodmorning ladies!
Yes Wildpurl I feel I want to have to some involvement in school again. I was told by 2or 3 staff members that some things slipped in my absence in the primary end of school! The head of primary we had left in charge was leaving in June and didn't keep her finger on the pulse. We have appointed someone else to the role of lead primary teacher so hopefully he will keep things in order until I can have more of a presence. DH shouldn't have to have so much time out with me now chemo and surgery are done for now, So,he will be keeping an eye.
Wow that's progress with the scanners we have used the scanner checkouts in the UK but haven't seen the hand scanner! We are behind the times here and only have cash outs manned by staff! Our supermarkets aren't as big or busy even with the tourists!
Good luck with your dentist check hopefully our teeth will not be a casualty of chemo!
Jackie glad your pre op check wasn't too bad. I like the fact the nurse thought your wig was your hair!
Hope you manage to enjoy your weekend!
Tulamo the build up chemo kept most of us on this thread awake and I used to arrive downstairs anytime between 2.25 and 4.45 am I couldn't sleep any longer. It was worse the days I was taking steroids. One morning at 5.55am I was cooking meat another I was washing the patio down it was quite disturbing until I found others on this thread were just as wakeful as me. I think we all asked for and tried the sleeping tablets and they would give us 4 hours sleep tops! Gradually since the toxins have left our bodies we are sleeping better and no one now mentions the fact they are having sleeping problems. I wake twice to go to the toilet but I always have done! I have found now that I am back to reading in bed I get to sleep very quickly!
I know some of us found the last 2 sessions never ending as we were bricking it that our bloods would be ok and there would be no delay so I understand that you get annoyed when people say only 2 left they want to,try going through 2 chemo sessions! I hope you managed to,get back to sleep how old is your little boy! We have 2 or 3 ladies on this thread with young children and I take my hat off to you it is difficult coping with this journey
we are on. I think some of us with grown up children don't know how we would have coped so well done all of you with youngsters still at home!!!
We are all thinking of you Lovewine it will soon be over now! X
Hope,everyone else has a good day whatever you are doing. I am off to Limassol again this afternoon. Hopefully he will now stop swapping out my wound and leave it to heal. It will be 7'weeks on Monday since surgery and I am still restricted what I can do. Not sure when I will be able to drive again! I was hoping to get in the pool before the water te begins to drop but that won't happen now with an open wound still! Anyway what would I wear I have 2 swimsuits with big padded cups that would be empty!!!' Or a bikini with big cups? I used to be 38 DD. our pool is on the front of the house and although it is slightly concealed the woman at the top of the road is a curtain twitcher and can see across our pool also we have a 2 families from school renting property further down the road and sometimes they have visitors, other pupils, and they have to turn their car round at the top of our road by our house! So I am always on my guard!

[tulamo]

Good morning everyone,  sitting up at stupid o'clock, can't sleep even though feel totally exhausted all day.

Lovewine best wishes for today, a few more hours and another hurdle out the way.

I am lucky in that I am not facing any more major treatment after chemo had all my surgeries and not having radiotherapy I am HER2+ so will be having herceptin for 12 months but  from what ive read that doesnt seem too awful compared to surgery and chemo. I should have started herceptin last week along with my first tax but  I was not given heart scan so I couldnt have it. I was really annoyed the consultant came to see me on the chemo ward and apologised that I had been let down but insisted missing one treatment wont affect the overall outcome. Easy for him to say he's not the one with the evil disease. 

Oddly although I have had fewer SE's with the tax I felt more toxic and hit a real low wondering how I can go through two more treatments not made easier by people now cheerily telling me how I've nearly finished now "just" two to go.... I know they all mean well.

Joan so good that your results were positive especially given you had to wait so long the waiting for results is the worst thing in this whole process I dont think they have a clue what we go through.

Must try and get some sleep my little boy will be up  with the larks  hope everyone has a good day

[Jackie09]

Pre-op was fine. Although the nurse was very sympathetic which just made me cry! The only slight blip is that my iron levels on last pre-chemo bloods were on the low side, so fingers crossed they have risen sufficiently - I don't fancy a transfusion anytime soon! Lots of iron rich foods for me. The phlebotomist missed my cream (again!!!!) so I wasn't amused. Surgeon said tablets wouldn't have an effect before Tuesday. He has given me some stuff to shower with for the next 5 days to rid me if germs! The nurse said I have to wash my hair with it, to which I replied I haven't got any! So I was pleased my wig looked real to her! So I don't think my wig will take being scrubbed with this stuff so scarves it is for me til afterwards.
Wildpurl - good luck at the dentist tomorrow. I think - I know - I need another filing. But that can wait! I have never seen those scanner things - I must look out for them.

I'm off to look for some new bras tomorrow :(. Hope I find some I like. Have a restful evening everyone x

[Wildpurl]

It's good you can advise your friend on how to cope with life after surgery Rosie! And it seems you are getting more involved again in some of the running of the school, which is great!

Adding my good wishes to you for tomorrow Lovewine, have a good night's sleep and soon the cancer will be gone, which I can tell you is a really good feeling.

Joan, what great news, I am so pleased you don't need more surgery. And going to Barcelona! How lovely, and a well-deserved treat. How long are you going for?

Well, Tescos had some new things and we bought some stuff Sainsburys don't stock. We use the hand scanners at Sainsburys to save time, you know, you scan your shopping as you go and give the scanner at the checkout so you can pack your shopping as you scan it. Tescos had a scanner system this time and it was a lot posher than the Sainsbury one! So we tried it out, when you finish you go to a self serve checkout and download your own scanner data. It was fun!

I'm quite tired now so glad I am working from home tomorrow, even though this is because I have a dentist checkup which I am NOT looking forward to.

[Lovewine]

Thanks Jackie and everyone else for their well wishes!! Jackie, hope your pre op went ok today?

[Jackie09]

Lovewine - hope you manage to have a restful night. Remember many, many, many ladies have under-gone this operation and recovered well. The staff there wil look after you very well. But the most wonderful thing about this time tomorrow - all of that **bleep**ty disease will be gone! Will be thinking of you tomorrow x x

Joan - fantastic news. So happy for you. X x