June 2017 starters

[CK]

Have any of you lovely ladies had surgery to take out lymph nodes and clear margins after chemo but not with masectomy as I have already had a lumpectomy before chemo?
I have just completed chemo treatment and have my op on 22nd January and was wondering if you have any tips to make it as easy and comfortable as possible. TIA.xx

[Daffodil54]

Hi, Optimistic. This thread is a bit quiet. If you look at May group, you can see some hair advice. I am trying Nioxin from Live Better with Cancer website, and coconut oil once a week but not sure if it is helping. I have about 2mm of hair and am also hoping for growth to progress a bit faster.

[Optimistic123]

Hi this is my first post and reaching out for advise.   I had my first chemo on 22 June 3*EC & 3*Docetaxel.  

Finished all my chemo feel like there is light at the end of the tunnel as it was hell going through it as the last 3 sent me to A&E each time .  I am starting my radiotherapy next week.  I have a wedding to go to in Feb and was hoping someone can advice me if they are using any products to make there hair grow quicker.  Look forward 

[Tripletmum]

Great news Daffodil54- makes everything worthwhile when you get the all clear. Roll on 2018 xxx

[Daffodil54]

Dear Helen

It is good to see a light at the end of the tunnel. Pleased you have a rest before Christmas. 2018 Can be a good new year for all of us! Xx

[halfway Helen]

That's fantastic news Dafodil, so pleased to hear it! Yep all ok here, only 2 more sessions left so roll on Nov 17th for the last one, then a nice break for Christmas before surgery in January so we're all getting there 😀

[Daffodil54]

Surgery went well thank you. Got the good news today that all clear! No cancer found! So just radiotherapy to go. Hope you are well. 

[halfway Helen]

Hi Dafodil, how did the surgery go? Hope you're doing ok x

[Daffodil54]

Great news, Tripletmum. I have my surgery date, 11th October. So onwards and upwards. Looking forward to taste buds and hair!

[Tripletmum]

Congratulations Daffodil54 on getting to the other side. Taste buds will return and it is a joyous day!!! I am now 2 radiotherapy sessions from the end - can’t wait. I also now have dark hair on my head finally coming through - phew. Lots of love xxx

[Lynhq27]

Thank you Daffodil. Hope all goes smoothly for you. My Mx was nowhere near as bad as I expected . Good luck & do as you're told lol x

[Daffodil54]

Helen and Lyn

Good luck this week and hope the side effects are slight.

Stay strong. We will all get through this.

Hugs.

[Lynhq27]

Thank you Helen & good luck x

[halfway Helen]

Well done for getting through it all Daffodil, good luck for the meeting next week.  It's great news the chemo has done its job for the surgery, another step further on the journey, and closer to the taste and hair coming back 😀

[halfway Helen]

Good luck for the final session Lyn, how great to have that part over!  I'm starting to feel better now thankfully and mouth feeling better, can totally recommend the fruit pastille lollies, plus wine gums kept in the fridge are going down a treat too 😀

The hair is difficult to deal with isn't it? I lost all of mine before my 2nd treatment so been wearing my wig for work since July, can't say I love it but am at least used to it!  Fingers crossed ours comes back quickly and better than before 😀

Enjoy the weekend, my other half has taken our nearly 3 year old to his parents for the weekend so I can rest and watch strictly in peace! 

[Daffodil54]

Hi

So my 6th and final treatment has been cancelled due to neuropathy, but as my response to the chemo has been really good oncologist happy for me to go ahead with surgery. So appointment with surgeon on Monday. 

Phase 2 ahead. 

Can't say I am sad to come to the end of chemo. Really harsh at times. Still looking for my taste buds and hope hair will start to grow soon. 

But it has done the job and I am grateful for that. 

Have a good weekend everyone.

[Lynhq27]

Hi Helen. I had MX in March (for ILC) but 7/9 nodes effected so getting 3 x FEC + 3 x T then hormone treatment. Final T next Thurs. Not looking forward to it but want it over. Pains (& runs) lessened on 2nd so hope eben better for 3rd. I cold capped for 4 chemos but hair too thin last time now falling out fast. It is evil but suppose it needs to be. Good luck x

[Daffodil54]

I am due my 3rd and final Docetaxol (or as the others call it docetax hell) on Tuesday. Only 3 of each, ec followed by T. Can't wait for the end now. Then got surgery to look forward to! Then radiotherapy. Roll on 2018. 

I hope you get some relief soon, but listen to your body and rest when needed.

[halfway Helen]

Thanks Dafodill, from reading it does seem Docetaxel is harder going than EC which I hadn't expected but I wonder if maybe they play it down so as not to alarm you!  I was going to call the nurse tomorrow about my mouth as it doesn't seem to be lessening any to see if anything else I can take.  Will stock up on some fruit pastille lollies as they sound yum, already got a stock of jelly, just need the custard! I quite fancy a G&T but feel would just be a waste at present 😀

How far along the chemo journey are you? I keep telling myself I've only got 3 left but still feels an awful long way at this point!

[halfway Helen]

Hi Lyn, thanks for this, good to know it's not just me!  How far along are you with this one and how are you finding it overall, hope you're doing ok? I like the sound that the second one wasn't as bad?

my poor other half has cooked roast chicken and it just tastes like sawdust, can't wait until food starts tasting again!

[Daffodil54]

Hi Helen

I have found Docetaxol much harder than ec. The taste was very hard to deal with and the tiredness is on going. My oncologist did reduce my dose for the second so although I got the side effects they were a bit reduced. I did get nystatin for my mouth discomfort and thrush but it didn't help with the taste. Advice from other months is to try fruit pastille ice lollies. I found jelly and custard helps and sweetcorn is tolerable.

I hope you feel a bit better soon. 

Gentle hugs. 

[Lynhq27]

Hi, you sound like me after 1st T & to lesser degree 2nd. Plenty relevant chat on FB (July chemo starters) where most ppl seem to have moved to. Hope SEs not too bad for you x

[halfway Helen]

Hello all, late joiner to this thread! I'm halfway through 8 cycles of chemo, 4 of EC and 4 of Docetaxel.  It's not been the easiest of journeys but I tolerated the EC better than I thought and have managed to work and care for my nearly 3 year old so not doing too badly! Just had my first Docetaxel last Friday and feel like I've been hit by a bus, I've been off work and have barely been off the sofa/bed since Sunday night.  I wanted to reach out to you all to see if this reaction is normal or have I just been unlucky?  Typically it's come with the horrible sticky metallic mouth so eating feels pointless and tasteless so just feeling crap all round! Any advice on how anyone has got through it or if it's just the first cycle that's a killer would be most welcome 😀.

i read this thread regularly and have gained much comfort from reading everyone's journeys, I knew it wasn't going to be a walk in the park but didn't expect to feel so down about it all at the over half way point 😔

Thanks all, lets hope weather perks up, grey and drizzled never helps!

[Tripletmum]

Radiotherapy going really quickly. I now only have 9 left to go. It is amazing to have something whizzing past after chemotherapy dragging on forever!!!
Hope everyone is ok
Xxx

[Daffodil54]

Hi Tripletmum. How is the radiotherapy going. Hopefully a lot easier than the chemo.

I am still very tired and achy with very dry skin but the Nystatin is helping my mouth this cycle. Injection week so extra ses but hanging in there. Docataxel definitely very harsh. 

But only one cycle to go. 

Have a good week, warriors. 

[Tripletmum]

Hi Daffodil54 hope you are feeling better. I have now done 3 rounds of radiotherapy- 12 left to go.

Thinking of everyone xxx

[Daffodil54]

So, the crash has happened. Tiredness, muscle ache, taste buds and mouth symptoms. But will rest and hope to get through the week ahead without any infections. 

Hope everyone doing well.

D

[Daffodil54]

Thanks, Tripletmum. I did have a better night thank you. Hoping the side effects hold off. Have Nystatin so hoping mouth will be better this cycle. Hope everyone is having a good day.

[Tripletmum]

Daffodill hang in there and hope you get some sleep tonight xxx

[Daffodil54]

Poor sleep after steroids. Possibly 3hours maximum with over 3hours of tossing and turning from half 12 till 4am. No wonder the crash happens after the steroids end! Have a good day everyone. 

[Daffodil54]

Thanks ladies. Chemo done. Hoping all goes well and then only one to go!

Hope you are all well.

[Jay68]

Good luck Daffodil with treatment number 2 - hope all goes smoothly this time.  

Jay (May 2017 starter)

[Tripletmum]

Oh Daffodil - second to last is a huge milestone. I am cheering you on all the way xxx

[Daffodil54]

Our month is extremely quiet. I am having my 5th treatment today. Second T.

Hope to weather this one better than last. Reduction in dose to 80 % due to peripheral neuropathy so let's hope a reduction in side effects too. Second to last chemo!  

Hope everyone doing well. 

Daffodil

[Tripletmum]

Hello ladies - it has been v v quiet on here over the past week. Hope everyone is doing great xxx

[Daffodil54]

Delighted that you are feeling more human and have taste buds again.

Radiotherapy is apparently a breeze after chemo so hang in there, Tripletmum.

I look forward to getting back to normality soon. 6 weeks hopefully till end of side effects. Hugs to all.

[Tripletmum]

Hi ladies. Hope everyone is doing ok I have been thinking of you all.

I am now 5 weeks post chemotherapy and feeling human again. I have energy, taste buds and hairy legs!!!! Sadly no head hair to report but I live in hope! Had my radiotherapy planning session today - 30 mins and 3 freckle size tattoos later I was done. Should start late next week. I am now thinking of this whole experience as a triathlon with radiotherapy the final leg (I am ignoring tamoxifen for now!!)

Much love xxx

[Anniej]

Lainy, have you tried home made frozen pineapple ice lollies? Yum!!! X

[Daffodil54]

Lainy, sorry you ended up in hospital. I hope you are feeling better after the antibiotics.

Velvet, good luck today. 

Mandie, pleased you are over the nausea. I found that the hardest on ec.

Taste coming back slowly. Have onc appointment on Friday and blood tests before my second T next Tuesday. My poor body is feeling battered so pleased the end is in sight.

Have a good day everyone. 

[Lainy]

Hi girls 

I ended up in hospital yesterday with another infection (I had one with my first EC too) I only spent the night and had IV antibiotics but they let me go today with oral ones. My mouth is dry and nothing satisfies it, I've been in bed most of the weekend so missed the lovely summer weather, luckily the in laws took my boys to the coast so I haven't had to put on a brave face for them. It can only get better now until the next cycle! 

Xx

[Lainy]

Hi girls 

I ended up in hospital yesterday with another infection (I had one with my first EC too) I only spent the night and had IV antibiotics but they let me go today with oral ones. My mouth is dry and nothing satisfies it, I've been in bed most of the weekend so missed the lovely summer weather, luckily the in laws took my boys to the coast so I haven't had to put on a brave face for them. It can only get better now until the next cycle! 

Xx

[Velvet]

Hi Daffodil54 glad to hear you are through the worst of the SE and hope you are able to enjoy a good week now.  As you say, now that you know how T affects you personally you will be prepared for your last 2 cycles - and the end of chemo is in sight for you!

Lainy I hope that your SE are mangeable and that you're not feeling too bad.

Mandie glad you found something to combat your nausea - when you find something that works for you it feels so good!  You will really enjoy your Feeling Good Looking Better session next week. The products are lovely and such good quality and everyone understands what it's like, so it was a 'comfortable' group with no explanations necessary and a good few laughs along the way (which have been few and far between lately so were very welcome).

Bristol Mum hope all goes well for you tomorrow.  My appointment for my first T cycle is at 9am tomorrow so I'm hoping it won't take too long?  The nurse told me that they run a very small amount in over half an hour just to test how you get on, and then if everything is OK, they run the rest in over an hour.  Have taken both doses of steroids today so not expecting to sleep particularly well tonight, but we'll see.

Good luck to all having treatment this week x 

[Daffodil54]

Hi everyone

I hope you are all enjoying the bank holiday.

I am day 14 post T and am just starting to get some taste back. It has been much tougher than ec with more side effects. Also less predictable pattern of recovery. I have only got out twice in past 10 days! I am hoping to get better meds for next treatment especially for throat and mouth. But only two treatments to go so even though I feel fatigued I can get through this.

Keep positive! x

[Mandie]

Hi Everyone
I had my first round of EC on Thursday and starting to feel better now after 24 hours of bad nausea. I had taken all the pills and eventually found inhaling 3 times: 3 drops of lavender and 3 of peppermint oils on a tissue calmed the queasiness down and gave me some sleep the first night.
I am looking forward to my Looking Good Feeling Better session next Tues - sounds really uplifting thanks Velvet.
Doesn't it help just seeing nice weather outside even if I don't feel up to going out, so hope everyone can make the most of the Bank holiday weekend x

[Lainy]

Day 2 after T
yesterday was great but going downhill today

[Velvet]

Hi everyone

Hope all of you who've had their first T are doing OK with the SE.  I have my first T on Tuesday so am trying to make the most of this week before starting the unknown again next week.

I had my Looking Good Feeling Better session yesterday and it was so nice.  Such a lovely group of ladies and I felt totally spoilt. 

Hope everyone has a peaceful Bank Holiday weekend x

[Jay68]

Daffodil - try gargling with the salt water before and after eating - bit tiresome but more likely to have an affect.  But this is only interim - speak with your onc when you go - there is no need to be suffering!  Good luck x

[Daffodil54]

Thanks. I did try salt and bicarb in tepid water with no great result but will try just salt and see. As I am now on day 11 and injections are finished, I am hoping for some relief from s.e.s.

[Jay68]

I've just thought of another good tip that someone gave me - tepid salt water gargle - really does work well.