February 2017 Starters

[zena75]

Hey ,
Thanks girls ...
yea I get morning sickness so bad I have to go in to hospital on a drip 😩.. it's vile .. I'm like princess Kate lol ...( a bit fatter and not such nice hair tho 😞)
I've started taking my temp everyday and rinsing my mouth with salt water to get it ready .. also rubbing coconut oil on ands and feet to try and keep nails soft ... bought 3 hats today from tk max too ..
Got appt with wig lady but I saw some and I'm not mad keen on them .. guess il need one though so prob get one ..
hugs to all
Zena xxxx

[atomicjojo]

Nice to meet you Zena!

My hospital gave me loads of anti-sickness tablets plus injections for the district nurse just incase the vomiting didn't stop but I didn't even get nauseous! That was with the T regime. One nurse said to me if you suffered with morning sickness or travel sickness you are more likely to get it with chemo. I never had any sickness (only post op!) so maybe she's right! We'll see  & everyone is different.

Sparkydee if you go on Cancer Research or Macmillan website there's lots of info about the different chemo regimes & known side effects. (You won't get all of them so don't worry!) I still finding ironic that as a pharmacy technician I was training in the aseptic unit at my hospital learning how to make chemotherapy! So now my colleagues are making mine 😉

The g-csf injections are to be had to build up your white cells after the chemo has ruined them! But as they're made in bone marrow, you can have some pain. I found that taking a couple of co-codamol before bed helped ALOT. I hated injecting myself but it's something that you get used to. 

I feel that my armpit area is slowly improving. Very slowly! Did anyone else have issues with fluid after surgery? I don't have a seroma as such but it's very lumpy & tight. I had full clearance by the way. Exercises do help but I feel like it's dragging on and on.

Anyway I shall not bother you ladies. Hope you can see the world unlike me smothered in fog for the last 3 days!

JoJo xx

[Jo C]

Hi Zena, good to see you in here. I was going to message you and see where you were up to. I've felt a bit in limbo and haven't been on the newly diagnosed for a bit. Glad you've got your plan sorted and that your on here with me.

Sparkydee, FEC and Tax are two different regimes using different drugs. Off the top of my head I can't remember. FEC is is a combination of 3 and Taxol is given as a single drug. Different SEs. I'm on EC (FEC without the F) and Taxol. I'll let you know how EC is next week!

Jo xx

[zena75]

Hi ladies
Could I join in Feb as need a few buddies to help me along 👍🏻
I'm starting chemo finally after a long wait and lots of the agonising scan results!!!
Friday at 12 .. for 3 cycles of Fec and the the t part for 3 ...
had my pre chemo today which was good but lots to take in .
I get really sick so I'm going on a high dose than normal for sickness so I hope it works..
I've been looking into PIP and esa stuff and things like Maggies center for help with the fluffy side like Indian head massage and stuff ..
Sorry waffled
Zena x ps ; hey jo c glad you moving forward too and feel better after your op Hun xx

[Sparkydee]

Hi both Jo's!
Monday - eek... I think this week will drag for you...but yes, time is cracking on and I, like you am ready to get going on the next phase, no matter how scary. God love you with that houseful... I hope you remember to look after yourself as well...
JoJo, no, I don't know, yet.. expect I will find out next week.. are TAX and FEC different types of chemo?? And I have no idea what g-cfs is! The mind boggles doesn't it, you get your head around the first part - cancer, type, op, nodes etc, then there's a whole lot of new stuff to digest!!!

As for dogs, well, after op a couple of friends stayed for first week to help, but they both live hours away. Hopefully I will have a couple of friends nearby who I can call on for dog walking duties if I need help..

Thanks ladies, I will be back after I know more tues!

xx

[atomicjojo]

Hi Sparkydee,

Do you know what chemo regime you'll be on yet? I've already had 4 cycles of Tax (T) prior to surgery so may be able to put your mind at rest re side effects although I know that everyone is different. I'm now due to start 4 cycles of FEC on the 3rd Feb which I was hoping to avoid but you gotta do what you gotta do to stay alive!

I think you'll find that you'll get in to a routine with chemo. I kept a diary of side effects & energy levels so that I could plan for the next month if I wanted to do anything. If you are having the g-csf injections, they will come with their own side effects so just follow the advice of your onc. I always felt better after day 10! The previous day's, I'd just potter about & not make any plans. 

Lucky you having 5 dogs! Do you have any support with walking them? If not, have you heard of Borrow My Doggy? Or maybe your local cancer support group could help.

JoJo. Xx

[Jo C]

Hi Sparkydee,, good news that you've had a successful op and clear nodes. I'm apprehensive about chemo too but have accepted that it has to be done. My first one is scheduled for Monday and in a strange way I'm looking forward to it. I think it's been a while since my mx and I feel like I need to get on with my treatment plan. I've had friends who have been through similar and have reassured BMW that chemo is doable. I'm sure your dogs will be great company through your journey. I have 5 kids, 3 cats and 1 dog (a naughty Beagle!).

Come back and let us know how you are doing. I'm sure we will get a few more February starters soon.

Jo xx

[Sparkydee]

Hi, I'm due to see oncologist on 31st Jan, after a successful WLE in Dec. I had clear nodes and margins, but am HER2+ and ER+ so am expecting 6 cycles of chemo, with 6 months of herceptin, plus tamoxifen and radio....
so, I suspect I will be a feb starter, obviously depends on what oncologist has to say. Apprehensive about this a lot more than op, but accepted it is what it is!!
Live on my own with 5 dogs, so no idea how I will fare once it starts....

[Jo C]

Hi Jo,

Yes I've recovered from mx. It wasn't as bad as I expected. My armpit was the worst but I only had sentinel nodes removed. I have yet to have the full clearance. My surgeon warned me that I was likely to be more stiff after that than mx. It's a way off yet so I'm forgetting about it for now.

So many different treatment plans though. It seems like we're all different.

Hope your swelling settles. I think the exercises help with movement too.

Jo xx

[atomicjojo]

Can I also say that sometimes my phone substitutes the word THE for TELEVISION.
Go figure!

Jojo

[atomicjojo]

Hi Jo
It's really interesting how different the regimes are for different ladies!
Have you recovered well from your surgery? I've had WLE & axillary clearance 2 weeks ago & struggling a bit with my underarm. Had lots of fluid & kept the drain in for 10 days, was still producing 100ml per day. It's swelling up now although the scars are healing really well! I'll be phoning my bcn on Monday. Such a palarva isn't it....
I have my pre chemo on 30th so I'll be thinking of you Jo. Hopefully it will be kind to you. I felt the first one was the worse as I had no idea what to expect!
Then you just sort of get used to it & get on with it.
Enjoy the rest of your weekend Jo!

Jo(jo) 😁

[Jo C]

Hi Jojo, I'm joining you in this thread. I had mx in December and SN biopsy. Sentinel nodes were involved so I'm staring chemo on 30 January then axillary clearance to follow. I'm having 3 cycles of EC at 3 weekly intervals and then 9 cycles of weekly T.

Jo

[atomicjojo]

Hello to all Feb starters!
I'm jojo pleased to meet you all!
I've already had 4 cycles of TC & surgery but as I'm on a trial, the next part of my treatment is 4 FEC which will start Feb 3rd.
Maybe I can advise anyone who is on television same regime?
Take care
Jojo xx