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Ahh Jacqs sorry to hear you’ve been getting severe aches and pains. I am definitely getting more aches since chemo but they aren’t too bad and are not all the time. Maybe you are doing too much - you need to give yourself time to recover 😘
Oh no - just what you needed to hear 😬 don’t let them put you off - I’m sure you look fab. I haven’t ventured out without my wig yet - I’m not brave enough. Not many know about my diagnosis so I’m sure it will be a bit of a shock to everyone 😂
Told my twin nieces (who are 4) recently about my wig and Isabelle asked if it was ‘like this barbie doll’ and took her hair off and Bethany said ‘I wish I could take my hair off’ 😂
Hi Lisa
Your hair is growing brilliantly. It's so nice to finally "meet" you. Yeah the hot flushes are rubbish. I don't like the night time one's. I'm really struggling to sleep due to getting too hot, then getting too cold, then constantly getting up to pee! I cant remember the last time I slept thru. I find the Starflower has helped tho. Its good you've not many hospital visits now. My mammogram will be due in June. Its strange how fast time has flown!
Here's me and my hair!!
Enjoy Newcastle xxxx
Good morning, everyone,
I've been a bit quiet lately, just too much going on. I saw my surgeon last week and was told that I had had a "partial response" to the chemo. He couldn't tell me whether the tumour had shrunk and said something about the structure of it possibly having changed. It wasn't a very helpful explanation and I felt a bit low afterwards. Since then, however, I have checked with my BCN and she told me that there had been a "GOOD partial response" and that this almost certainly means that the tumour has shrunk! Also, this is apparently the most common outcome of chemo. I will know more, once they've done the surgery and have sent off the tissue for further testing, but really, why couldn't the surgeon have told me all this!?
These small words make a big difference! The other good news is that I will only need day surgery, so will be in and out within c.6 hours on the 2nd April.
Lisa: it was our daughter's 18th birthday last week. We didn't do balloons, but I put together lots of embarrassing photos of the past 18 years. I don't think children are ever too old for a bit of fun on their birthday, especially if it involves cake. 
I am so sorry to hear that your friend has had this worrying news. It can't be easy for you to see her so anxious and the thought of someone you care for possibly having to go through all this rubbish that we've all endured, must be very unsettling. Hopefully she is ok, but if not, at least she's got you to be there for her.
Pulapula: I felt the same way back in January, when the end of chemo still seemed ages away and everyone else appeared to have moved on. However, that last session will come along sooner than you think. Enjoy your holiday at Centre Parks and remember, you are actually almost done with chemo! 
Little Pixie: I've got a "Moving on" workshop booked for June and am hoping this will be useful. I will be very interested to hear whether you found your sessions helpful. I've also booked myself a few sessions with a life coach - not something I've ever done before, but I am so confused about what I want to do work-wise, that I felt I needed to talk through my options with some "neutral".
Aley: So glad to hear that you are now recovering well after that spell in hospital - what lousy luck to have got sepsis right at the end. But congratulations on finishing chemo!! 
Have a good day/week, lovely ladies
Gaby x
Hi everyone,
I've got aches and pains too, mainly in the chest/breast area. Nothing bad, but just enough to make me worry a little - so it's really comforting to now that you're all having the same issues. Although I have restarted Pilates and am going to give running a go (bought some trainers a couple of days ago!), it is going to take me some time to get properly fit again. I think I tried to do too much today - walk to the hospital, loads of household chores and a slightyl too elaborate dinner, and now I'm really tired. I had my MRI scan today and will get the results next week. I'm really hoping that there is very little left of that damn tumour, fingers crossed.
Keeno: how wonderful youre getting married. I'm sure you will look stunning whatever length your hair gets to.
Lisa: I've got about 0.5cm of growth on my head, eye lashes are great, eye brows are coming back (though they look much lighter than they were) and, sadly, the hair on my legs is also growing
Jacqs: thanks for sharing your pre/post op tips on bras and arnica. I seem to be getting better with the injections and am usually only getting very small red marks around the injection site, rather than big bruises. I now have less than 30 to go, so like you might actually start the count down. Yuo must be below 20 now, which is great. The end of this particularly lovely treatment is in sight!
Have a lovely weekend, everyone.
Gaby x
Hi everyone,
It's so lovely to read all your messages - we have all pulled through some really tough months and although there are clearly still quite a few treatments and issues, more or less unpleasant , for all of us to sort out, it's just wonderful that we have done it!
My picc line wound is healing really well now. I've just got a small plaster there and should be able to take that off early next week. I'm looking forward to having my first shower without a plastic sleeve since September! The injections are defitniively not my idea of fun and my tummy is getting increasingly colourful , but I am just ploughing on, haven't got any choice really. Jacqs: you're already on the count-down to the finish-line with your injections, excellent. I've got several boxes left, so reckon it's too depressing to count at this point. Have you tried applying anything soothing to your bruises, like Arnica? I've been wondering whether that might be a way of getting through the next few weeks, but I'm not sure if it's safe to do.
LittlePixie: how lovely your family were able to join you in Carlisle. That must have made your time there so much more bearable. Thanks for the encouragement with the running. I am planning to get my trainers next week and get started. Like everyone else, I'm not happy with the extra pounds I've put on. However, I've discovered that the extra flab around my middle is very useful for the injections 
We're spending the weekend with my in-laws in the Midlands - lots of cakes and pudding that can't be rejected outright - so no point dieting just yet, but come Monday, I've got to stop snacking on biscuits, crisps etc and make a serious start to getting my weight down.
Aley: like you, I've got surgery coming up in late March. No details yet, as I am waiting for my MRI. I've read lots on other threads about bras/no bras, exercise etc and nearer the time, and once I know what sort of surgery I'm having, I gues I shall have to do some serious research in to all of this. Don't fancy "no bra", as my boobs are slightly on the larger side, but I guess I could do that at home, as long as I have something supportive to wear when I go out. I'll be interested to hear what everyone else has done/is doing about this.
Have a lovely weekend.
Gaby x
