Hi all,
so sorry for my radio silence. I have been feeling good so decided to re-join society a big and have been out for dinner with friends a couple of times, went to the coast for a day, bit of gardening, work and had a friend to visit overnight..a bit of normality after a long dull summer. Brought down to earth last night as took my pre chemo steroids yesterday and only got 2 hours sleep last night ..not helped by snoring next to me π‘ So up very early. Final chemo is today ππ, no bell to ring at my hospital but will do it in my head. Have baked a cake for the lovely nurses who have been amazing. I can't say I'll be the last time I go as on Herceptin and permuzutab for the next year so I'll be back every three weeks till next July..deep joy! My rads only start in Oct sometime so I too am looking forward to Christmas and saying goodbye to this crappy year.
so much to catch up on from you lovely ladies.
Hets..well done on finishing chemo, I'm joining you in Greece today.
JoandBasilthedog- hope you are doing well after your last chemo. I'm sure you look amazing in your bandana..that's what I keep telling myself anyway and I have actually been given compliments! Good luck with the Herceptin.
JacqB- hope you're recovering well after surgery and the PICC line issues are resolved..what a pain. agree it's best to let the nurses look at it.
Linda- another chemo finisher..yeay..hope you're feeling ok. I also have Ondonsatron and it is not great on bowels. Take Laxido. I'm on permuzutab and that gives you diarrhoea so I am all over the place..hideous!
JemPD- well done on chemo finishing..we're all getting there. My muscles are weaker too and Herceptin doesn't help so I'm going to increase exercise once the bad week of chemo is over..more walking, some cycling, assisted circuits, yoga etc..got to get fit. My rads only start sometime in Oct so just focus ing on this last cycle at the moment. For me a Facebook group would be great..much easier for most π.
Tanya- also in your last cycle..well done. Sorry to hear that your nails are lifting. I have dark nail polish on so will be gutted if they come off now too. Hope they grow back quickly.
Michelle21- I'm also going to get Nioxin2 which was recommended by my hairdresser.
i think I've caught up now! Breakfast now..more steroids then heading to the hospital for a heart echo, Herceptin and chemo..fun fun.
Take care all and I'll be in touch after chemo
Tropic_al X
Someone in my office has almost lost her voice so I asked her if she has an infection but she doesn't know she has had hay fever all summer. So I have moved offices just in case. Does anyone know if this is likely to be an infection as I never know what to do for the best. Oncologist said not to worry as you cant isolate yourself to avoid infections.
Jacob did u get an appointment for radiotherapy? I know it's a while off but not got anything in writing yet re next treatment details inc operation. Ta.
Wey hey chemo done and dusted! Been told I shouldn't have taken an anti sickness pill on T which causes constipation! Just the as and when one on day 3 so Fri sat or sat sun depending on when I usually feel sick. Not happy re suffering constipation when not necessary! Just need to tell anaesthetist the anti sickness works so can take post and ask for laxatives. x
Just posted to say I watched the jules peters doc. I could only watch the second one. Wow. Worth watching it Def!. X
Neuts are low again @ 8.4 so have to go in an hour early for a blood test so fingers crossed as don't want the last chemo to be delayed! This has happened twice before & they have gone up both times & so checm went ahead as planned. I really don't want my op to be delayed either!
Herts - great to hear from you, sorry you've struggled but next steps here you come- hope the tamoxifen settles down quickly. Hope the speed boat is fast as we will be joining you in sunny Greece. Joandbasilthedog and I will be there tomorrow, Linda on Wednesday and others too very soon πππ
Joandbasilthedog - hope all goes well tomorrow. It's hard not having a definite plan, especially after chemo that was very structured. Focus on this cycle and π.
arrived home from hols Sunday evening, it has been great having quality family time. Back to earth with a bang Monday morning- pre-assessment, consultant and then met with new consultant re rads! Bloods all ok so green light for tomorrow. consultant was helpful re se of bone pain, very sore mouth and temperatures, but after 2 hospital visits in last 2 cycles on the same day (Saturday) suggested I pack a bag for Saturday π₯ but also made some suggestions for pain relief. I know that if my temp rises I have to get checked out, not taking risks at his late stage. Good news PICC line comes out next Monday (keeping in just in case Casa NHS calls!). This means 6 clexane injections to goπ- Hubble has been a π stabbing me each evening since cycle 1.
Over hols noticed my muscles are much weaker- consultant really helpful on how to build up.
So tomorrow last one ππLast cold capπ But really not looking forward to se. My 10 year old was sobbing his heart out this evening cos he doesn't want me to have nasty se(made me well up). The children are planning a party for the 5 of us in 2 weeks - chocolate meal and pinata have been suggested so far! Hopefully something positive for them to focus on.
rad consultant was helpful- so starting 24th Sept 15 sessions and then active treatment doneππ. Trying not to think past next 10 days at the mo.
Love Jem xx
Shi I am still confused re the bra size as if I got a larger size it would be too big for my boob that I am not having surgery on? I looked at expanders yesterday but havn't ordered any yet as the colour is not the same although I guess that darb blue & turqouise were not the best colours to choose! x
Shi - I spoke to my local hospital & they said to contact them 4-6 weeks after surgery (or when healed) to get a fitting & that I may get a softie when I have my op - I may ask them to try to make sure I get one. If not I have the knitted knocker stuffing I guess. Sorry to hear you did not have a fillet/prosthesis for so long. Thanks for your help re this anyway.
Hi All,
Tanya, hope you're feeling better..shame about the nails. Mine are ok so far..lots of dark nail polish. Hoping they don't fall off on the last cycle. Strange that I'm just coming towards my good week and have a few nice things planned, but for the first time want the chemo to come quickly as it's the last!
Thanks for all of the comments re genetic testing. I have a big family history of bc, but they considered me moderate risk because most of the age of my mum and aunt in their 60s and wouldn't give me a mammogram when I asked over two years because of no funding here under 50.. Very frustrating.
I've now been offered the tests because of the history and my bc. I will have DNA taken and stored for now. Want to get the chemo and radiotherapy over with before getting the tests done as will be more possible surgery to think about it if came back positive. I will definitely do it though as it could also impact on other members of the family.
Hope le everyone is ok
Tropic_al xx
Do you mean put stuffing in a bra with a pocket or just bras I use now? Do you think I should ask locally about a half fillet as op is being done at another hospital. quite a long way from where I live? Ta Shi. I didn't realise you had had a TM and it will be nice to get it removed after 7 months nearly.
Hi ktk, yes my oncologist offered me the testing and wrote to Guy's hospital (where I went for testing) for them to consider me.
As far as I knew there were no other members of my family who'd had bc, but a few who'd died of cancer, but when they were elderly. The genetics department did wonder if there was a link between me and my paternal grandmother because I thought she'd died of stomach cancer, but they thought because it was fifty years ago, it could have actually been ovarian and not been diagnosed.
I also discovered that the testing isn't offered after 60 (I was 58 at the time of testing)-I niavely thought that was because there was no risk of there being a genetic link by then, but apparently that's not the case, it's just a cut off point! x