October 2018 Chemo starters

[Aneeebel]

Hi Ladies

Hope you're all well!

After 11+1/2 very traumatic months "off sick"..., i went back to work on Monday on a phased return... 

Who knew you could be so tired from doing a couple of hours work!!! 💤💤💤💤💤💤💤💤

To anyone who can juggle work, chemo, surgery and rads and all that goes with it...

You are my heroes!!!! 💪🏻🎀💗

I must be getting soft in my old age!!! 

🌸

[Aneeebel]

No probs! There's plenty!! 😎🌞 x

[Shi]

Anneebel please bring 🌞🌞🌞back with you 😘😘💕💕✨✨Shi xx

[Aneeebel]

Thankyou Shi! 😎

Hope you're well x 😘

[Shi]

🌞🌞🌞🏖🏖🏖great anneebel ❤️❤️have a beautiful time 💕💕✨✨Shi xx

[Aneeebel]

We're back in Greece!!! Yippee! 😎😎😎

[Jencat]

Thanks Aneeebel for your reply. That's what I thought, but my daughter confused me yesterday! I said that's my 2nd year clear,but YD said, but you only finished treatment a year ago, so I wasn't sure then!  x

[Aneeebel]

Jencat... my mammogram was on my left breast, I had a mastectomy in March this year on my right breast.. so at least I know my remaining breast is "normal"...

I'm assuming I'm one year clear as it's a year since my last nammo! 👙💗

[Jencat]

Aneeebel, now you've had a clear mammogram, are you now 1 year clear? I've just had my 2nd, but not sure if that's 1 year clear or 2, I'm not sure if it's counted from diagnosis or after treatment finishes? I wondered if you might know xx

[Aneeebel]

Thank you Jencat xx 😘🎀💪🏼

[Jencat]

As you say Aneeebel, what a year and thank goodness you went for that mammogram! But such good news that your mammogram this year was clear  x

Elliesmum, hope your mammogram went ok today x

[Aneeebel]

One year ago today I received the devastating news that I had Breast Cancer...

What a traumatic year this has been...BUT I'm here and I'm on my way up...💪🏻🎀

Thank goodness I went for that mammogram! 👙💗

(My 1st routine mammo, I'd ignored the previous 2 invites!!)

Stay strong Ladies... 😘🎀⚘ x

[ElliesMum]

Yay Aneeebel, so pleased for you! 👍💕💐🥳 I have my mammo tomorrow 🙈🤞 xox

[Aneeebel]

Hello Ladies 

Just thought I'd mention that my mammogram was 'normal'... Phew!!!

(I might be able to sleep tonight instead of lying there fretting!)🎀

Hope you're all well 🌻🌼🌷🌸 x

[ElliesMum]

Thanks for updating us about your laser treatment, Aneeebel! It sounds very interesting. I hope it helps!!! 🤞💕😘 Hope everyone is doing well. Wet and windy here today ☔️ Xox

[FiMillan]

Hi Debi 

Don't worry about the breath hold.  I had to do this and at most you have to hold your breath for 20 seconds.  It does sound hard and you will be asked to practice for a few days before you start😉

I had a meeting with the rads team a few days before I was due to start so had about 5 days to practice. 

If you can't manage 20 seconds just let them know because they can do it in shorter bursts👍🏻

I think of the 5 of us from Oct 18 I was the only breath hold. It purely depends on where the tumour was, and is a precautionary measure to protect the heart from any damage by raising the chest wall away from the heart.

Please don't worry about it, you may not need to do the breath hold. Just focus on your surgery first, and recovering from that 🤗

Feel free to ask more questions as and when.

💜Fiona xxx 

[Debi2]

Hi Ladies

i have just popped in from the April thread with a question.

After my surgery at beginning of Sept i will be starting radiotherapy and have read on different posts that you have to hold your breath whilst being zapped.  How long do you have to hold it for? i am rubbish at holding my breath and worrying that i won't be able to do it.  I was thinking of doing some practice from now until then to extend how long i can hold it for to see if that helps.  did anyone on here struggle with the same?

Thanks 

Debi

[Aneeebel]

Hi Ladies 

I had my 1st laser treatment yesterday...

I'd assumed it would be in a specific line across my scar but the the nurse had a little hand held device with a round head on it about 2 inches in diameter.. and zapped all my swollen bits as well as my scar... apparently it should make my scar a bit free-er, help recover the cells and reduce the swelling! I'll have 4 sessions in total!

The nurse was telling me that s/e from rads can last up to 18 months and it can also damage the lymphatic system!!! 😫

Hope you're all well 😘💕🎀 x

[ElliesMum]

How exciting, Aneeebel! Fingers crossed it’s helpful. Let us know how it goes! 🤗💕🤞😘

[Aneeebel]

Hi Ladies 

Hope you've all had a fabulous week 🌻🌼🌷

I've nothing exciting to tell you... 🤔

I have my laser treatment next week! 😳

Have a good w/e x 💗

[Aneeebel]

Hope you're all well Ladies

Have a lovely weekend xx 💗

💐🌻🌼🌸🌷⚘

[Badboob]

I agree Aneeebel, a lovely day. So nice to meet everyone in person and get to know my new friends💕. Hope you are on the up. Shame the weather didn’t behave, but it was sunny once we got back to Essex 😂😂.

We must do it again sometimes.🎉🍰🥂

Hugs 

[Aneeebel]

Ladies....

Was so lovely to meet you all on Sunday...😘

And the scrummylicious Afternoon Tea was the "Icing on the Cake"...🍰☕🍰☕🍰

(Shame about the weather..we had an horrendous journey home!!! 🌨🌨☔☔🚗🚗)

We must meet up again some time...

Have a fabulous day xx 💗🎀

[ElliesMum]

Haha I’m so excited I woke up before the little person 🐥 this morning! 😂🤗 See you soon! 💕😘💐

[Aneeebel]

Ladies.... Today is the day... Are you all ready for our "Lovely October Ladies Meet Up"? 🍰☕️🍰☕️🍰

How exciting.... See you soon! 😘🎀💗🌸

[Aneeebel]

Hi Kip...

I only went to the clinic on Tuesday... 

I was given exercises to do but not to start them for about 3 weeks! (3 months after my last rads!)

To be honest...my swollen bits actually feel more swollen today than when I went! 🙄

Thanks for thinking of me...and please don't be sorry for not noticing my post, I'm pretty sure you have better things to do than "listen" to me waffling! 😘

Hope you're having a lovely holiday x 😎👙

[Kip]

Hi Aneeebel,

Sorry just realised you posted a while back to say you have lymphodema.   Not the news you wanted but its controllable.  I was gutted when I got told I had it, but with exercise and the arm sleeve I have managed to shift it.  I now only have to wear the sleeve as and when, to keep on top of it.  My nurse did say that it can be all due to radiotherapy and surgery (I had my ANC a few weeks before the radio) and that it can settle eventually.   I took up swimming too, that is supposed to be good.  I had to re-visit the clinic after a few months and the measurements were back to normal (ish) -- still have one slightly bigger arm but she said everyone does and mine is my dominant one.

Keep on with the exercises  they really help.

Kip

x

[Aneeebel]

Badboob...I'll have a look on Macmillan (if I ever remember!)

I haven't taken my temp today but I feel a bit better...got a headache though! 🤕💊

ElliesMum...I bet your man was wishing the ground would open up and swallow him! 🙄

My breathing still isn't right but much better than it was during chemo...my oncologist put my problems with "difficulting breathing on exertion" down to extreme fatigue due to chemo but its finally improving! 💪🏻

Fiona...hope you're feeling a bit better today x 😘

Sar_ah... how was your hol? 😎

🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸 

[ElliesMum]

Have fun at yoga, Badboob! 🧘‍♀️ 

Goodness me, what fantastic support you gave to the trainee to help them give their first herceptin injection. 👍👏 I fear I wouldn’t be anywhere near that helpful! I’m not a big fan of needles and have found that herceptin can hurt when the person injecting it doesn’t go slowly enough! 🙈 💉 I haven’t managed to make any nurses jump yet though, Aneeebel. 😂 Luckily the nurse today did a great job. 👍

Did the ice bath help at all, Aneeebel? Do keep an eye on your temp, as we’re still recovering from the effects of chemo (especially as you’re still on some ongoing treatments) and our immune systems aren’t back to what they were yet. 😘

Fiona, you weren’t moaning - simply keeping us updated! 😊 Hope you feel better and don’t have anymore episodes of feeling sick when out for a run. 🤢 How is the running going? I swapped running for hiking while we were away... I hate to think how slow I will be next Parkrun! (I am too competitive for my own good!) Oh well. Maybe I've built up some general fitness from our hikes... 🤞 Speaking of hiking, I found any time we had a climb my heart started racing even though I wasn’t out of breath. Especially if I had the (not so little anymore) 🐥 in the carrier on my back. Forgot to mention it today at my appointment, and felt fine the rest of the time. Has anyone else found their heart has issues going up a steep incline - more so than usual? Wondering if it’s the herceptin or if I’m just super unfit! 🧐

Haha Badboob, I imagine everyone has stories about inappropriate comments made to them. I’m becoming far less tolerant of such things than I used to be. A very senior academic (head of department at a leading US university) at one of the conferences I just attended admonished me for cutting my “lovely” hair. He’s one of those brash, super outspoken types. Anyway, I told him that I hadn’t, in fact, cut my hair and that it was regrowth following chemo. Ha! I have *never* seen this person lost for words before. He had no idea what to say. Ended up apologising and was then really lovely to me for the rest of the conference. Yay! 🤗

Enjoy the sunshine ladies! Xox

[Badboob]

Oh Aneeebel, that comment really take the biscuit! There was a thread on the McMillan site called, ‘the things people say’ if you are in the mood, it can be really funny. I think what non cancer people don’t realise and I certainly didn’t, is that when you have or had had cancer you are super sensitive to so many things that innocent remarks can cause the greatest offence. We have talked about this in my Moving on Course as it is a problem we all have to be aware of. I think we just have to be kind and move on but sometimes you just want to deck them 🙄😂👊👊🥊🥊. 

I hope you are feeling a bit better today and your temperature is down. I had just got to sleep at about 1.30am only to be woken at 2 to the enormous storm. 🌩⛈ but at least it watered the garden.

Keep cool everyone, I’m off to Yoga so hope it’s just a lot of lying around this morning! 😂

Hugs

[Aneeebel]

Badboob...you're building up quite a 'portfolio' of comments aren't you! 

I was talking to a man we've known for years..he was telling me his brother had bowel cancer so I said I'd had BC...he literally waved his hand in the air and scornfully advised "Oh, that's one of the easiest cancers to recover from!".. 

I said "Is it..you want to fekin try going through it..."and I walked off...his face was a pic!!! I doubt he'll talk to me again... oh, diddums! Ha! (Pillock!) 😂

Yes, you said about the s/e... I took my temp last night as I was soooooo hot... it had gone up to 38.5! (In the chemo days we would have been in hospital with that temp!!) My daughter's wanted me to ring the helpline but it felt too dramatic...I said I'd put my feet in a bucket of cold water! Ha!

Fiona...how are you feeling this morning? 💊💉🤕

Good luck with your herceptin ElliesMum... --the team that come out to me use a butterfly needle -it looks a bit like a canulla...the needle has a 10 inch tube attached to it so gives the nurse a bit more room to move! (The 1st time i saw it I thought it was a flipping canulla! I sqwealed Where are you putting that!!! I made him jump! Ha! With my dodgy veins I can do without a canulla!!) 🤣😂💉

Sar_ah...hope you're well x 💗

I'm going to contact my BCN and find out about my mammo...

Have a good day Ladies x 😘💗

[Badboob]

Evening lovely ladies.

I am so sorry that Aneeebel and Fiona are both having a rough day! Aneeebel I hope you get your arm sorted, it’s the pits and on top of everything else, just not fair! I can’t remember (chemo brain ) 🙄 if I have already told you that I had flu like symptoms with my first Zometa, but nothing with no 2. But my nose drips on Herceptin, so I am driving DH mad with tissues all over the house. Interesting to hear about the laser treatment to your scar......

I dont like the sound of you being sick Fiona, please look after yourself. But pleased your fibroids and not getting worse, blimey it one thing after another! Oh, and you are not moaning..........

Just to throw another date into the pot. I’ve been told that my annual mammogram will be the date of diagnosis, that’s October 😲! But I am seeing the oncologist next week so will check with him. Who knows.....

I am still collecting weird things people say to me. My latest offering was someone who thought I was my sister ( whom she has never met) and then I when I said it was me, she said. “ Gosh you’ve had an extreme make over, but it suits you” ..............🤦‍♀️.but today, this lady came up to me who I’ve never met in my life, she had very short hair herself,  She started with. “ I love your hair cut where did you have it done? “ I nearly said, Addenbrooke’s oncology department, but I thought that was a bit cruel, so just explained and she was really lovely. 

I hope your Echo was ok Elliesmum and there is no problem with your jab tomorrow. I had a lovely trainee for my last one who was doing her first under guidance. I am afraid that I have lost count how many I’ve had,  all I can remember that I carry on until November. Doh. She needed  to pass to qualify to full chemo status nurse, she was so nervous but I told her just to take it really slowly and it would be fine. Her hand was shaking so much she was worried she was hurting me. Look I said I have more jabs than a pin cushion, you can’t hurt me. I am pleased to say she passed! They must know I’m a tough old bird .....🦅

Anyway, will stop my waffle and say, see you all on Sunday. 🍾🎉❤️💕How exciting......

Hugs

[Aneeebel]

Hi....

ElliesMum...hope you had a fab hol!! 

My Ejection Fraction was on the low side... I have to have another at some point! ❤️

Hope your echo went ok! 💪🏻

I'm sure my headache and temperature is to do with the zolendronic acid infusion on Friday!

I'll be having 4 laser sessions...and of course, I'll let you all know how I get on! 💊💉

Fiona...I read your post wrong...I didn't realise you were sick whilst you were out! Hope you feel better! Good news about your ultrasound... 💪🏻

Im pretty sure your Hubby won't mind 'helping out' with your breast care! 😂😳👙👍🏼

And don't apologise for 'moaning'... You're allowed!! 

We're here to look after each other! 😘💗💪🏻

Badboob and Sar_ah... Hope you're well x 🎀

😘😘😘😘😘😘😘😘😘

[FiMillan]

I think, as ever, it depends where you are. When I asked at Derby they said 1 year after surgery, but Chesterfield say 1 year after the end of treatment. Why can't all hospital trusts adopt the same policy? It really can't be that difficult, can it? Oh well, I'll just carry on with the daily checks (hubby wants to join in that too, and seeing as he actually found Humphrey in the first place, I think k I might let go. 🤣).

Ellies mum, hope you had a fantastic holiday and not too much jetlag.

Sorry for being a moaning Minnie today, it's just one of those days. Being sick in the park this morning was the start of a 💩 day.

Good news though, my fibroids don't appear to have grown 👍🏻 in fact she said if anything they look smaller than 6 months ago 😁

Love to you all 🤗

💜Fiona xxx 

[ElliesMum]

Oh no Aneeebel, I’m so sorry to hear about your lymphodema diagnosis. Big thumbs down! 👎👎👎😢 While it isn’t the news you wanted, I hope that at least your team can start to treat it now. Arm exercises (once you’re allowed to do them) sound like a good place to start. I really do hope that it is manageable for you. 🤞 Big hugs!!! 😘💕💪 Yay on only having 4 herceptin to go! I take it that your ejection fraction has stabilised following the last MUGA scan you needed to have? I had my delayed echo today and have herceptin number 9 tomorrow. I’m only halfway! 😬 Oh well.

Please update us with how the laser treatment of your scar goes. Sounds very interesting!

I’m sorry to hear that you’re both feeling a bit unwell, Aneeebel and Fiona. Especially when the weather is so hot! I do hope you both start to feel better ASAP. 💐

Fiona, I’m really glad you asked about the annual check up scan, as I was wondering the same thing. I was diagnosed in early July last year, so I probably should have had my first scan by now. I will also give my BCN a call to chase it up. 👍

I hope tomorrow is a better day for you, Fiona and Aneeebel, and for anyone else who’s feeling a bit unwell. Really excited about Sunday!!! 😘💕🤗 xox

[Jencat]

Fiona, I had my first annual mammogram in August last year, which was 12mths from when I had my lumpectomy and my second one is at the beginning of August too x

[Aneeebel]

Fiona...I asked the Nurses on here when my annual mammograms start and they said 12 months from diagnosis.... As did another Forum member who replied! 

We have annual mammograms for 5 years!

It wouldn't be an annual mammogram if you have to wait until June next year! 

🎀

[FiMillan]

At last something positive for you then.  That sounds interesting about the armpit laser. I've not heard about that or been offered it.

I spoke to the bcn and she said it's too early to worry about anything. Radiotherapy gives se' s for up to a year. She said to just keep moisturizing and massaging it but just keep an eye on it. 

And I asked her about my next mammogram, she said it's a year after the end of treatment 😲 so not til next June.

Oh joy 🤔

As for the flax seeds, I don't know if they help. I'm going to go without for a bit and see if the sickness disappears first and just cope with the flushes. 

Stay 💪

💜Fiona xxx 

[Aneeebel]

Fiona...the laser treatment encourages the cells underneath the scar to recover and rejuvenate... Will also have it under my arm to aid internal recovery from having all my nodes removed!

Then in turn this sends something positive into my bloodstream...but I can't remember what!! Hahaaa... 🙄😂🤕 (I could do with a PA!!) 

The nurse gave me some advice about massaging my scar so that was helpful! 👙

Ive just had my Herceptin...4 more to go!!! 💪🏻🎀

Do you think the flax seed helps?

Hope your armpit scar feels better soon! ??? 😘🌸

[FiMillan]

Oh Aneeebel, I'm sorry to hear that but good that it can be managed. You really have had every thing thrown at you haven't you 🤗

What will the laser treatment do for your scar?

My armpit scar is still not right. It's inverted after those 2 humongous seromas I had. But it is improving 😉. 

I'm not sure if the change of brand of my ibandronic tablets is making me sick or the flaxseed I'm eating to help the flushes. I've been feeling sick most mornings but manageable. However today I went for my run but didn't make it back in time 🤢 so when I'm at the hospital later I'll see if I can make an appt with the bcn.

Just when you think you're getting somewhere, cancer throws it back in your face 😢

Gosh, where has this month gone? I can't believe it's just s few days to go before we meet up 😁🤗

💜Fiona xxx 

[Aneeebel]

Hi Fiona

I've been to the clinic this morning! 

It is lymphoedema..the fluid is sitting more in my side/axilla and above my mx scar but my arm is fatter than the other! 

I don't need a sleeve at the mo... but the nurse implied I probably would do eventually! She will re-do the measurements when I see her again 💪🏻

I've got exercises to do but only start them in 3 weeks (3 months after end of rads!) and and take it from there...

We "can manage it" apparently... 🤪😳😠😫

I'm also having laser treatment on my scar!

And after being "ok" after my Zolendronic acid infusion...I'm sure I've got a high temperature along with a swine of a headache... pass me the paracetamol!!! 💊💉💊💉💊

Yep...give yr BCN a quick call! 

Good luck with your ultrasound! Let us know how you get on x

Thanks for thinking of me 😘 x

Hope you're all well Ladies...

See you all on Sunday!!!!!!!! How exciting!!! 🍰☕🍰☕🍰☕🍰☕🍰☕🍰

[FiMillan]

Morning Aneeebel, fingers crossed for your lymphodema clinic this week. I really hope it's not, you don't deserve that on top of everything else.

I think i might see if I can get in to see the bcn. I'm a bit concerned about my armpit. I'm sure it's only scar tissue but it's hard and aches a bit. I've got an ultrasound today on my pelvis to check out my fibroids, woohoo 🙄

💜Fiona xxx 

[Aneeebel]

Kip...I said that to my sister! 

It certainly makes you think doesn't it! 💗🎀 x

[Kip]

Omg... What a beautiful letter,  thanks for sharing it.. I've always thought what if must be like to be removing such a part of a woman's body.. I just hope my team felt the same. 

Kip 

[Aneeebel]

Badboob... dont ever feel guilty...

I'm pleased for you that you didn't need a mastectomy! 😘👙

I'm sure your Moving On girls would like to read it... 💗😘

🎀🎀🎀🎀🎀

[Badboob]

Oh Aneeebel, I don’t know what to say. What an amazing letter. I will definitely show it to my Moving On girls, some of whom have had double mx! It’s such a brutal thing to have to happen to you and I know how difficult you found it.🤗 I feel so lucky and a little guilty that I dodged that bullet. 😢

Hugs

[Aneeebel]

I can't even put it into words Fiona... 💔

You're right...isn't it heart wrenching! 

It's "hit a nerve"...I can't stop bloody crying! 

Goodness me! 💔😢💪🏻🎀

We're going out this afternoon...I'll be a gibbering wreck by tea time after a few drinks!!! 😥🍺💔

😘😘😘

[FiMillan]

That was beautiful. I can't imagine what it feels like emotionally to lose such a part of yourself but that was just heart wrenching. 💔😢

🎀

💜Fiona xxx 

[Aneeebel]

This made me cry....💔😢

http://www.thewebelongproject.com/blog/open-letter-mastectomy-patient

💗💗💗💗💗💗💗💗

[Badboob]

Ha ha Elliesmum, don’t worry, I can’t hardly remember what I had from breakfast yesterday, let alone  6 months ago.😉😂😘

Hope all good with you. Sounds like you had a great holiday.

Hugs