3xFec done, 3xTax done, 15 rads sessions done.
Be prepared, W&P big time follows!
Hello my fellow JJs. Sorry I’ve been AWOL for so long but I wasn’t sure I was going to post after Christmas, because all treatment is finished and there didn’t seem much more to say. However, I have been checking in to see how you are all are doing, and as my absence has been noted I thought I’d tell you what’s been happening to me.
OH is a freelance software tester and his last contract finished on 20 Dec. I finished rads as planned on 18 Dec. On 19 Dec we drove up to Halifax and back (9 hour round trip) as he had an interview and wouldn’t you know it, out of all the jobs he applied for this was the one he really wanted. And s**’s law being what it is, it’s the one he got, starting on 10 Jan.
So, far from easing myself back into my old life, I’ve been plunged into something completely different. We talked long and hard about the practicalities of him only being able to come home at weekends, because moving really isn’t an option with my parents (both in their 80s) living with us. So I’ve spent an awful lot of the last three weeks online sorting out B&Bs for him and trying to find somewhere for us to rent for the next 6 months. I spent last week in Halifax with him, and we’re now renting a 2 bed furnished flat (sorry, apartment) in a small converted mill house in a semi-rural location about 3 miles outside town. And landlord is happy for Daisy (dog!) to visit with me.
Neither of us have spent any time north of Watford Gap, so have no feel for the landscape and life in the North at all. My oh my, it’s different. So many of the houses have no garden front or back which is extremely odd to our southern eyes. And all those vertical cobbled streets, thought that was a cliché but it isn’t. And the mountains! But what really highlighted the difference for us is the fact that the centre of Halifax, which is roughly the same size as Salisbury, had hardly any restaurants whereas Salisbury has lots. It does have a couple of independent cafes though, and we were surprised at how much cheaper food is generally. Best of all though, just after we found the flat I realised the Tour de France will be passing through about 5 miles down the road. Really excited. I watched it when it came through Hampshire last time, never thought I’d see it twice.
We’ve decided that Daisy and I will spend every other week ‘oop North to start with, but it all feels very odd. OH left here at 4.45 and rang at 9.50 to say he’s got there. Poor man, what a long way.
With regard to my health, well my toes and the side of my right foot are numb more than they’re not and my finger tips seem to randomly go numb as well. I think I’m going to lose some of my finger nails. As they’re growing it’s becoming more apparent that most of them aren’t fully attached to the nail bed, so that’s something to look forward to.
On the hair front: no eyebrows or eyelashes yet and no other body hair. However the hair on my head is growing (nearly half an inch on top) and seems to be the same colour it was ie blonde not white. There’s not enough for me to go out au naturel yet though, mainly because I have quite a deep widow’s peak and the hair on the peak and sides is much slower to grow. I do still look a bit odd.
My skin was fine during and after rads, I used a combo of aqueous cream and aloe vera gel, but my armpit still feels really swollen despite continuing with the exercises. Guess that’s for life then! I also get all sorts of odd stabbing pains there and in the mastectomy site.
Mood-wise, I am still quite teary, and I am trying very very hard not to wonder whether it will come back. I didn’t think like that last year, so I’m not going to think like that this. That way lies madness.
Hormonally, I started Anastrazole on 1 Jan and within a week my hands hurt in the mornings, my right hip hurts and my back feels as though it may be about to go into spasm. I don’t think it’s all coincidence, so I’m going to up my glucosomine and hope that helps. I’m also going to make an appointment with my osteopath to ward off the back spasm which may be coincidence.
I think the North/South split to my life, until at least July, will actually be good. I think it would have been very hard to reconcile myself to my old life when I’m not the same person. It gives me a completely different focus and that’s to be welcomed. It’s actually quite exciting. I’m not going to look too far into the future, because I may not have much of one. My parents seem to have coped with the first week away, and as I’m home this week I shall be able assess whether they can or not. And that’s me. How about all of you?
Chezza, chemo finished hurrah for you. I found the whole rads thing unpleasant, I hated lying there bare to the waist and listening to the machine zapping me. It’s better than chemo though! Do bear in mind it carries on working for a few weeks after the last one so keep moisturising. How are you getting on with sub-cut. I saw you’d passed out, has that got any better?
Orangecat, Know what you mean about the 2013 calendar. 2014 looks positively empty, thank heavens! Great news that you’re able to carry on with Herceptin. Hope the first one went well and not your usual drama! It’s really good to have a plan, even if it is a phased return to work. Your hair must be a lot longer than mine if it’s Judi Dench-ish. Lucky thing. I think you’re coping brilliantly considering this is your second round.
Nettew, I’m so sorry I’d forgotten you’re a second timer as well as Kat. I know you both cope because what else are you going to do, but really I take my hat and any other article of clothing off. What a smack in the face it must be. Holidays are good. I’m hoping we might be able to reschedule the holiday we had to cancel last year and go to Menorca, but the thought of the increase in insurance really insenses me. If you’ve finished treatment, what the heck does the increase cover!
Bumble, glad your sore has healed. I imagine it must feel quite scary to be discharged, I’m not sure when that happens for me. I’m sure the thought of going back to work is daunting, but slowly does it, don’t try and do too much. I’ve found my energy levels are pretty much back to pre-BC, and I expect yours will be too. I get over-emotional as well. It’s really annoying. When I was away last week I thought about going into a centre for a head, neck and shoulder massage. I started welling up at the thought of having to tell a stranger what has happened to me.
Masha, Sorry to hear about your house. Having just been through it, it’s so stressful trying to find the right somewhere to live, so I hope you find something lovely really quickly. How exciting to have a trip to LA in your future. I think it’s easy to try and do too much. I find it hard to get my head round what my poor old body’s been through, and so keep pushing it to find the new limit. Which changes with monotonous regularity lol!
Boxo, hope you’re rads are done and dusted and you didn’t have any major SEs. I was lucky I didn’t suffer from the tiredness that apparently can knock you when you’re down! Guess all you’re treatment is done now as well. Are you on any hormone treatment, when do you start? Sorry, can’t remember.
Julie, how did your NYE go? Hope the herceptin didn’t ruin it for you and the cardio app on 22nd went OK.
That’s enough from me. I did warn you it would be a long post. Well done if you got this far. Your energy levels must be back to normal!
If I’ve left anyone out I’m sorry, but must go as waiting for OH to call to say he’s unpacked the contents of the car into the flat.
I will keep checking on you all, and hope that our little band of survivors keeps on keeping on. Lots of love xxxxx
please do come back from time to time!
do have some aches and twinges on that side especially when reversing into a tight corner, and my skin is just a light pink (grade 1) so fine. Makes a change not to be the one developing all the side effects 
Hope you have all had a lovely Christmas!!!!!!