Spring into chemo in March

[Nipinuk]

Hi Pam, my fb account got hacked so will have create another one. I'd love to join xx

[Pammyx]

Good to hear from you. Yes it is 5 years sometimes it seems like yesterday. The secret marches are still going on a Facebook group called secret marchies

if you wish to join. Best wishes Pamx

[Nipinuk]

Happy New Year everyone! It's 5 years since I've been diagnosed. Hope you're all well dear ladies. Wishing you all good health and happiness this year xxx

[Pammyx]

Happy Christmas to everyone now nearly 4 years hope everyone is well and enjoying life Pamxx

[Pammyx]

Just thought I would check into wish everyone a happy Xmas. We will all be coming up to 3 years now how are you all? Love Pamx

[Pammyx]

I loved this hope you are all keeping well. Certainly dealing with stress is difficult and techniques are welcome. It's good to see the old marchies thread keeping alive.

[AngelaG]

Hi Linda
I like that analogy of the glass of water, very true!
We spent Christmas week in UK between D and S. On the early hours of THE BIG DAY D's partner had to be removed by police for drunken violence towards her and criminal damage to her property! That's her second broken heart :(((((
That aside, we could, at least be a family all together in S's home for the day in Hampshire. And it was a great few days together.
Since chemo, have you found it more difficult to be organised? It's my mission this year to overcome this new problem. I was always so organised, but now, lists, and lists of lists, and a memo of where I put the lists is necessary!!! I also can't tolerate crowded rooms and lots of noise, but that might be an age thing!
Hope your financial situation improves this year, to relieve the stress levels in your life.
Love A xx

[Nipinuk]

Happy New Year Ladies! I cannot believe it's 2 years since we were diagnosed!

How was your new year? We went to Barcelona for the first time and it was fabulous! Sunshine and blue skies everyday, amazing architecture and such a beautiful city.
 

I'm writing to update you on the amount raised for Wessex Cancer, my local charity through christmas light sales on our website. We sold a total of £140.71 and the amount to be donated is £7.05 (5%). 
 
Thank you so much for your support!
 

A friend sent me this and I'd love to share it with you ...
 
A Psychologist walked around a room while teaching Stress Management to an audience.
As she raised a glass of water, everyone expected they'd be asked the "Half empty or Half full" question.
 
Instead, with a smile on her face, she inquired:
"How heavy is this glass of water?"
Answers called out ranged from 8 oz. to 20 oz.
 
She replied, "The absolute weight doesn't matter. It depends on how long I hold it.
If I hold it for a minute, it's not a problem.
If I hold it for an hour, I'll have an ache in my arm.
If I hold it for a day, my arm will feel numb and paralysed.
 
In each case, the weight of the glass doesn't change,
But The longer I hold it, the heavier it becomes.
 
She continued, "The Stresses and Worries in Life , are like that Glass of Water...
Think about them for a while and nothing happens.
Think about them a bit longer and they begin to hurt.
And If you think about them all day long, you will feel paralysed – incapable of doing anything."
 
Remember to put the Glass Down.
 
Much love and hugs xx

[AngelaG]

Hi, I'll be back in December for Christmas, but time taken up with family. Then at end of January for check up. Only there for 4 days I think...but might be some of that time in abbots wood . If I am, I'd love it if you could come over to meet for lunch in local pub? I'm away at the moment visiting my bro in law in orihuela, North east spain. Will be back to diary next week to look at exact dates. I've not heard of the ?book? You refer to...is it helpful, and where can I get a copy? I looked at your site, and was impressed. Spain is into street decorations in a big way... Worth researching I would think? Look forward to hearing more from you...do you still have my email address?

[Nipinuk]

Angela! How lovely to hear from you! I went through one really bad period where a good friend had an ovarian cancer scare. I was fine before that but when I heard the news I was emotional when I heard it and emotional when I talk about it which is really unlike me. Thank God she's fine.

I plan to make time to go through Jinny Ditzler's Best Year Yet to help me move forward to work out what I really want and work towards my goals. We're having difficulties financially as the light sales have gone right down compared to last year and I haven't been designing sites as I've been working on our website. I'm sure many of us have been hit financially and I hope to take a step back, work out what we want and go for it next year!

When will you be back next?

[AngelaG]

Hi Linda
So good to hear from you again. Have thought of you often. Wow, it sounds great what you are doing. And a few perks to go with it. I've been quite emotional recently, and a couple of friends told me its a grieving process we will go through. Have you experienced anything like that?

[Nipinuk]

Hope you are all well. It's been absolutely manic here as hubby's busines  selling Christmas lights  I've been working really hard on our new website over the last few months and it finally went live last Wednesday.

I'm hoping to raise lots of money for my local cancer charity, Wessex Cancer Trust who have given me so much in the form of moral support, alternative treatments, holiday in their caravan and a cancer retreat which really helped me to move on. All this has been instrumental in my speedy recovery.

If you are looking for festive lights, please send me a private message, as 5% of all sales will be donated to the charity.

Would someone be able to pass on the news to our Facebook page as I don't have an account? Thank you!

[NoraBatty]

So sorry to hear about ScottyDog (Karen)
Nora

[AngelaG]

Thanks, Yankee x

[Yankee]

Just popping in from the February 2013 Valentines to wish all you Marchies so much love and sympathy!  And I also send lots of love to ScottyDog's real-life family.

[Nipinuk]

Can't believe she's gone. We were supposed to meet up last August but she was only just recovering from surgery. She's a fabulous lady who lived life to the full. The news was such a shock as I guess she didn't want us to be worried or distressed.

[AngelaG]

Scottydog-Karen- we will miss you even though most didn't meet you. I remember your cheery, encouraging posts with a smile. You were always so up beat. I pray for your family and friends that will be grieving right now. I pray that God sends His comforter, the Holy Spirit, to bring you comfort at this the saddest of times. My heart goes out to you all.

[Jo_BCC]

Hi Suzy52

On behalf of the staff at BCC please pass on our sincere condolences to Scottydog1974's family and friends.  Yet another forum user that will be sadly missed.

Thank you for letting us know.

Take care,

Jo, Moderator

[suzy52]

I'm sure many of you know that one of our number has lost the battle. Our lovely Scottydog1974 died on the 22nd of August after being diagnosed with metastatic cancer at the end of April. It is a sad and terrible shock and we have lost a beautiful woman with the bigest smile I've ever seen. We all have a duty to her, to carry on as she did, living and loving life to the full. Sweet dreams dear friend, we will all miss you so very much. oxoxoxox 

[NoraBatty]

Sorry to have missed get together - haven't checked in for ages if only I'd done so a week or so ago....

Hope you are all OK. Take care all

Nora xx

[AngelaG]

Leaving for UK today. See you next Tuesday. Have a good week all x
Angela

[Yankee]

Nipinuk -- you are one of a very small number of Malaysians that I "know" in this country -- hoping so much that no one who is dear to you was on MH17!  What a  horror for the whole world  with love, Louise.

[Pammyx]

Really looking forward to meeting you all am already assuming that there might be another meet up in Jan 2015 when Angela is next in the uk?

[AngelaG]

Good morning all
29th is drawing near, and am looking forward to meeting you. Sorry some can't be there, but other more pressing things are happening for you. All the best with the recon Tanya, and Linda I hope we'll meet again some other time. My next trip will probably be at the end of January for check ups!
Be blessed
Angela x

[Nipinuk]

I'm sorry I won't be around to meet you gals. Please do take photos!

Gosh Tanya, can't believe it's not long to go before your recon! All the best and may you recover quickly. Might want a peek next time we meet! 😛

Suzy, aches n pains are a real bugger aren't they? I used to be quite strong but feel like a weakling.

Pammy you'll have a lovely time meeting everyone.

Angela did you manage to finally sort out GP?

[Honeymonster]

Hello, I'm so sorry that I won't be able to meet you in London, I'm booked in for my reconstruction (and port removal which I think I'm more excited about) a few days before. I hope you have a lovely time, I've heard Caravan is very good.

Great to hear you're doing so well, it's funny to think back to this time last year when I felt very differently, had just finished chemo and was about to have my mx.

Have a lovely weekend and I hope to join you on your next meetup - with my new boobs lol

Tanya x

[Pammyx]

I will be there on the 29th train tickets have arrived in the post looking forward to meeting you all love pam

[AngelaG]

Hi, Suzy how good to hear from you once more, and glad you are doing so well. Pity you can't come on 29th, it would have been good to meet you. We will salute you when we get together.
Is it as hot where you are as here? It's 33C. I wonder how hot it will get in August!
Congrats on the one year mark, mine is yet to come...28th July.
God bless
Angela x

[suzy52]

Salutation's from deepest France!

Its a year since my last chemo today and I feel like celebrating!! Hope all that can make the lunch date on the 29th have a great time, so sorry I won't be there in person but I will have a little glass of something to join in 

Hope all the meds are going ok for everyone - I moan on about sore fingers and toes from arthrits but its not too bad really.

Keep up the fight - don't let your guard down - and have a ball! Much love to all xoxoxxo

[AngelaG]

Woolfie, that's great, thank you. I will be there. I case of hiccups, could you PM me your mobile number...just in case. Have a good day
Angela

[Woolfie]

Hi everybody
Just to let you know that the restaurant Caravan in Kings Cross is booked for one o'clock on Tuesday 29th July for those of you who can make it. Sorry to those who can't but we know you will be there with us in spirit.
My daughter is taking a pm off work so I don't have to bring my GD but it means I shall be a bit late. See you there!

[Pammyx]

Good to see we are all posting again but even better to see that we are all well it really cheers me up. I seem to be getting on with life and feeling physically stronger although mentally I do falter I subscribe to take each day as it comes philosophy. It must be lovely living in Spain I bet you are glad you made the move. I will keep posting occasionally and looking at the forum as not quite strong enough to go it alone. Love and best wishes to all I hope the others sometimes dip in and take a peek the support from this forum got me through. Love and best wishes ladies Pamxxx

[AngelaG]

Hi woolfie
Great to hear you have a holiday coming up. September will be a good month I think, not too hot. It's getting much hotter here, in the high 20's low 30's most days. I haven't adapted yet, so i feel a bit lethargic when it's too hot. But at the same time, I love my new life and don't look back too often.

I too have a painful right arm, the side of the surgery, but it's like a pulled muscle or tendon, and the shoulder joint is very stiff. I put it down to a fall I had, but maybe not? WHEN I finally get registered with a GP I'll ask. The hold up is my OH's social security papers and payslips from work. It turns out the accountant has given him a FAKE registration number and no social security has been paid! We have sacked him and are starting again from July! It's totally illegal, and there could be a fine of 6000 euros should someone want to check our paperwork!
Re meeting up, that would be great. I will try to PM you with my email address to organise

Take care all you beautiful women, we are survivors par excelence!
Love
Angela

[Woolfie]

Hi everybody. It was a pleasant surprise to see there had been some recent posts. I was lying here this morning wondering how you all were particularly you Angela as you got us all started. I keep up with others through Facebook so BCC gets a bit neglected now.
Thanks Angela we did find somewhere I never did contact the person you know but we have booked a week in a fully adapted apartment in Puerto pollensa in Majorca haven't booked the flights as yet but will do that soon. Going at the end of September. Would be lovely to meet up when you are here if that is possible.
Linda I have recently been experiencing some strange feelings I my forearm like a pulling as if something is being stretched and my shoulder gets a bit stiff if I don't keep it moving. I gave recently started going to aqua aerobics and it feels better afterwards but then comes back later.
Pam glad to hear you are doing well. I had my recon at the same time as the mastectomy. I am now on the waiting list for 'snagging' as I call it. Just minor surgery to remove a crease and nipple reconstruction. Since it's not urgent I suspect it will be a long wait.
It is a good sign that there aren't many posts as it means people are getting on with their lives but it us still nice to know you are there. Billy's son's friend at the age of 41 has just been told they can do nothing for him!
We are the fortunate ones.
Have a wonderful summer everyone.
X Pat

[Nipinuk]

Pammy - great to hear you are and feel stronger. Yes do take your time with recon. It's your body and you're in control for a change!

[Pammyx]

Yes I have just finished herceptin and I had the injection. Now I suppose it is wait and see. I do feel that I am getting stronger both physically and mentally. I am still taking letrizole and contemplating reconstruction but not yet it is such a big operation. I am so pleased that everyone is ok it keeps me going.love Pam

[Nipinuk]

How lovely to hear from you ladies!

Angela, life does sound really hectic! I'm so sorry but I won't be able to meet up with as I'll be visiting mum and dad and will be back on 7 August when you'll be away on your annual camp.

Your sea and mountain view sounds wonderful. Lifts you up doesn't it? How is your Spanish?

Hope you get registered with a GP soon. I've seen mine loads of times!

Pam, have you completed herceptin? Did you have the one administered via injection? Hope you're well.

Xx

[Pammyx]

I am glad that we are all looking forward and busy with our lives. It is so nice to see the old names cropping up on the forum. Love and best wishes to you all Pamx

[AngelaG]

Hi everyone.
It IS a long time since the last post isn't it! Hello, Linda glad you wrote. I'm sorry you are feeling less than 100%, and hope you will feel better really soon.
I am in UK at the end of July, from 22nd to August 12th, but we have the annual camp from the 2nd to the end of our stay, and then seeing our D and S etc. maybe there will be a day for seeing you and Suzy, (it would be nice) but I won't know til nearer the time. Life is really hectic at the moment, work is full on (and I'm a volunteer!). I now have my residencia and social security number, so just have to register the number before I can register at a GP...it's taken a very long time...red tape and paper work and copies of this and that in triplicate!!!!!!!
Hope everyone's summer is truly brilliant, and that life is back to normal. I still get tired too, but it is improving. Just looking out at the view we have of the med and over Fuengirola with the sun glinting off the sea, and the mountains of Morocco on the horizon.
Woolfie, if you read this, did you find somewhere for you and your OH to holiday in?
Take care dear all.
Love
Angela

[Nipinuk]

Hello ladies, can't believe how quickly time has flown since anyone last posted.

How are you all? Hope you're well, happy and that you have great holiday plans!

I'm hoping to visit mum and dad this July as they haven't seen me since I was diagnosed nearly 1.5 years ago.

I'm still not working, can't concentrate and feel fatigue as been leukopenic (low WBC - 2.4, neuts 1.1, lymphocyte 0.8) for about 2 months now. I also get tingling and cramps along my arm to my fingers, worse on my surgery side. Anyone experiencing this?

Suzy and Angela I seem to think that you're back in UK this July. It'll be great if we could meet up.

For you ladies who follow the Feb Valentines, there's news re Sandra.

[NoraBatty]

Sorry to have missed the get together. Glad to hear that you all seem to be doing well.   Take care ladies!

Nora x

[Pammyx]

Herceptin has been fine I can honestly say I have had no side effects although I am on letrizole so it would be difficult to seperate the two. I do tend to creak especially first thing but that could be due to a combination of age weight gain and hormone tablets. I now receive the injection and find that a lot easier due to have number 15 next week. I wish you well.

[suzy52]

Well we really had a great lunch yesterday, sorry for those who couldn't make it - it would be lovely to have everyone from the thread for a 'do' but geography prevents!

I mention Vitamin B 6 as a potential prophylactic treatment, it appears more suitable for postmenopausal but take a look at the link 

https://www.lef.org/newsletter/2012/0921_Higher-Vitamin-B6-Levels-Associated-With-Lower-Risk-Of-Inva...

Hope everyone has been out and about enjoying the spring weather!

xx Suzy

[Nipinuk]

Can't wait to see you ladies tomorrow!

Angela, it think only you can amend the title of the thread as you created it. I'm sure if you ask one of the moderators to help, they can do it.

It's great to hear how you're all in the clear - hurrah!

Woolfie, what was the significant change to your dental health after chemo and rads? I had to extract a molar just before starting chemo.

Suzy, Woolfie, Daffodil, Honeymonster, Cassowary - I'm really looking forward to meeting you for the first time 🙂

Choccy61, Mungos_mum - I look forward to seeing you again!

To all who are not able to go, I'll miss you and hope we can meet up soon xx

[Rollercoaster]

Thanks for the reply choccy61, in some ways. its good to know what lies ahead. It sounds like everybody's dream treatment, LOL! I can't wait to finish it all. Hugs and best wishes to all others going through this rubbish xxx

[Choccy61]

Hi Rollercoaster
I just saw your post and thought I would reply in case Pammy doesn't check back for a while. I had my 13th herceptin last week and just prior to that I had an echocardiogram and bloods. These were also done before my 5th and 9th (or 10th - can't remember!) and will be done again after the 17th, and so before the final dose. I had to see a Nurse before the 5th, a Doctor before the 9th (or 10th) and saw a Nurse last week before my 13th. I will see a Doctor just before my 18th dose. I haven't seen my onc since I was part way through rads! My understanding is that you have an echo (I think some people have MUGA scans, but I'm not sure how they differ from echocardiograms) to check that the herceptin is not affecting your heart - it can cause leaky valves I think. The blood tests I've had done are liver function, urea and electrolytes, full blood count and bone profile. I don't think the blood tests are to check if it's working, I think they're to check your general health because herceptin can also cause kidney and liver problems. I know what Pammy means about being anxious about the blood tests - I do too, just in case they show up something unexpected! Cancer Research UK has information about herceptin here: http://www.cancerresearchuk.org/cancer-help/about-cancer/treatment/cancer-drugs/trastuzumab

I've just started having it by injection, rather than IV which suits me much better as I have rubbish veins! Hope his helps and good luck with the rest of your treatment.

While I'm here, how are my fellow Marchies? Really pleased to see all the clear results for everyone 🙂 Hope you're all managing to keep dry - will it ever stop raining?!

I saw my surgeon a couple of weeks ago and mentioned that I'm still tender around my ribs on my affected side and he said it's rads, even though rads finished last August! He said it can carry on for yonks! Oh joy!!

Hope you're all managing to keep dry - will it ever stop raining?!

Really looking forward to meeting up with some of you next week!

Bye for now
Carol xx

[Rollercoaster]

Hi Pammy, hope you don't mind me popping in from amazing Augusts. I noticed that you're on the Herceptin, well on the way to finishing and I have just started, had number 1 on the 10th February. I was just curious to know how you have got on with it and what tests you get along the way. I've only been told I will get an echo gram and see the onc every three months. Is there blood tests aswell? I sort if hope there is otherwise how will anyone know if the treatment is working. Sorry so many questions but I haven't found many actually doing Herceptin so I'm searching for info from anyone who knows anything. Thanks in advance for any help you can offer,

Rollercoaster

[Daffodil66]

Hi ladies, great results Suzy & Pammy. I had mine & all ok too, nothing obvious & will get results this week. Apparently tenderness is scar tissue which made the mammo so painful, just happened that anc arm decided to play up too so the whole procedure was agony! 

I hope everyone elses checkups go well, is there another meet up? Xxx

[Honeymonster]

Hello all, today is my anniversary of dx and I feel compelled back to the forum on this milestone and it's lovely to see that we're all reaching this point in good health and good mammogram results. I have mine on Tuesday followed by my 6 month review with the surgeon on the 5th which means I'll have to dash off after lunch but I'm so looking forward to seeing those that are coming. X