Starting chemo May 2014

[ladycroft]

Just been for blood test before 2nd lot of taxotere and my onc has delayed it for a week and will reduce next lot. I had such a rough two weeks after first lot, bad pains , blistering to hands and face and very sore heels . 

Heel on left foot still bad but I can walk about now. Looking forward to feeling normal for a while .

Glad you had a good time in Cornwall Ruth, hope they can sort your tummy out or you'll disappear on us!

Quite a few of us in the Fb group have had similar reactions to tax ,hopefully next lot won't be so bad.

Hope the rest of you are coping well and stay out of hospital!

Take care xx Jan

[fowey]

GMC I hope you are back at home now. I wasn't rubbing anyones face in the fact that I got to go to Fowey and hope you get away somewhere ein the UK soon xx Ruth xx

[fowey]

Hi Ladies,

I am back after a lovely 2 weeks relaxing in Fowey. My 2nd week wasn't so good as I had the dreaded diaorrhea, so stayed close to the loo in our apartment 🙂 But I was able to sit on our balcony overlooking the estuary which is very busy and quite enjoyed the rest 🙂

I have just had my 1st Taxol today..one of 12 weekly ones so 1 down 11 to go 🙂 I saw the oncologist the day before I went away and he says after the Taxol I will be having 5 weeks of radiotherapy in mid October. He also put me in touch with a dietician who is coming to my home this Friday to see if she can devise a diet of foods not likely to irritate my stomach. I still have my hair and will be continiing the cold cap throughout the Taxol, but my eyebrows have almost gone 🙂

Wax2014 the portacth involves a mini op to have a port inserted under your skin, mine is near my right armpit.They were struggling to ge tinto my veins back in March and I was recommended it so went for it.It was fitted under sedation and will be removed after all the treatment. I hope you enjoy Cornwall.

I hope everyone else is ok and getting through the treatment?

XX Ruth xx

[gmc]

Hi Ladies

Hope everyone has managed to enjoy some beautiful weather today.

Had my 1st Tax yesterday and all seemed to go ok. No allergic reaction and the portocath seemed to do it's job. The specialist who put it in wouldn't let amyone else access it. I guess as I've now had 2 line infections they aren't taking any chances with this new one! Feeling very tired now but thankfully not had the sickness you've had Sheryl.Sorry you had bad news Zonda . Anything that delays the end of this treatment feels traumatic. I too have to have further surgery after this chemo as didn't have clear margins. Disappointing  but at least I knew at the time and the information wasn't sprung on me like you've just experienced.

Linda , I hope all is well with you and that things are progressing ok.

Best wishes, Gill

[Sodastream]

Ruth you've been quiet recently, hope you're ok? You must be starting your taxol soon.
I had my 4th and last FEC yesterday and celebrated I'm half way through my chemo . Had to take myself to bed yesterday which is the first time during chemo and was sick twice, don't think I'll be eating lasagna for a while!!! Managed to dose all afternoon and had a good nights sleep too. Feeling ok today have showered and got dressed ready to meet a friend for a cuppa.
Hope everyone else is feeling ok. Sheryl

[Sodastream]

Zonda glad to see you still have a sense of humour despite receiving this news. It must be very frustrating for you to know you've got further surgery and the treatment will be extended. It's good to talk and rant and get it off your chest (excuse the pun) as it helps. I felt the same when I was told I'd be having a single mastectomy by my surgeon but I've got my head around it now and at least it will hopefully all be done in one operation this way. Just got to get through another 4 chemo's first and then radiotherapy after the surgery. I keep telling myself the more treatment the better and as they keep saying they're giving me the belts and braces treatment (I'm sure they could come up with a better term than that).
Keep smiling you'll get there. Sheryl

[Zonda]

Got some bad news today.  The surgeon who did my lumpectemy in April said, at the time, that the clear margin after surgery was very tight but decided that with chemo and radio therapy it would be ok.  She rang me today to say she had changed her mind and wants to make perform more surgery for a bigger margin when my chemo is finished in September, before radio therapy.  Does it ever end!?!  On the bright side, I would prefer surgery to more chemo any day.

Sodastream, I have not yet tried the frozen condom. I have not figured out how to make it narrow enough yet!!!

[wax2014]

Hope everything goes well for you today Gill, will be thinking of you xx
I've stayed off work today have been awake most of the night with hot flushes and a headache..going to try and see doctor about mouth ulcers later ..Linda x

[gmc]

Glad today gave you some comfort Linda. I can't believe your sister didn't even ask how you were.The lady vicar sounds lovely . Don't sign up for that plot just yet - we haven't got this far without a hell of a fight!

Sheryl, your condom tip made me laugh! Wonder how she judged what size to buy!

Getting nervous about tomorrow when I have my portocath inserted but it's a means to an end hopefully.

Goodnight ladies , Gill x

[wax2014]

Thank you both for your kind words it always reassures me that I'm not alone in all this.
Well Dad has his final resting place at last somewhere I can go and talk if I need to which will be a comfort..our lady vicar was lovely even made time at the end to ask me how I was feeling and how my treatment was going , she also asked me if my prognosis was good..although at that point my mind wondered into thinking she was trying to sell me a plot ! Lol
But at least it was genuine and caring..more than can be said of my sister who never even asked how I was ......Linda xx

[Sodastream]

Linda sorry to hear you've been feeling rough this time. I'm also finding the side effects are getting worse with each session. I was careful this time and learnt after the second cycle not to overdo the laxatives as I then ended up with diarrhoea for a week so I kept to one sachet a day and it worked eventually. My mouth ulcers are definitely worse this time, I sucked frozen pineapple on the first cycle and ice lollies on the second and had a couple of ulcers on the cheeks inside my mouth. This time I didn't bother and have ended up with ulcers on the side and under my tongue that have been painful especially when I eat and as I love food so much I put up with the pain so I could eat. I'm going to get them to put the next chemo in my hand as my veins have corded where they put it in the vein on the inside of my arm but not when they did it in my hand. I've got 1 more FEC and then 4 Docetaxol so hoping they'll last that long. Hope tomorrow goes ok for you and it's not too stressful being around your sister. I'm glad you've ranted to us as it does help you.
Zonda glad that you've posted as it really does help to get things off your chest and not to bottle things up. Hope your bottom heals soon, one of the ladies I talk to on a different group really suffered with her bum and found relief by freezing condoms filled with water and put them up her bottom.
I'm enjoying my good week before 4th FEC on Friday so have lots planned this week and will need a rest come Friday.
Enjoy the sunshine this week. Sheryl x

[gmc]

Hi Ladies

Shouldn't watch "Long Lost Family" - just makes me cry!

Linda, you have been going through it you poor thing. These side effects are the pits and I think most of us feel we can't go on sometimes. I'm dreading my next chemo - should be on Friday - 1st one of the Tax part of FEC T. The girls on the facebook group are really going through it too. With "only" 2 more sessions to go the end is in sight for you but it's everything that goes with it too. Plus you have the added stresses with your family issues - insensitive sister! Don't worry about negative feelings - we're only human and on this forum we can at least be totally honest. Sending a big fat hug x

Zonda- good to hear from you and I too HATE CHEMO! At times it is all consuming . It is good to be able to have a rant on here sometimes. Try asking Dr for something to relieve the pain down below as some creams on prescription have an analgestic which numbs the area- I speak from experience!!! Gave up my dignity some time ago!

Having a portocath put in on Wed but with sedation this time. Hoping it will go some way to prevent another infection but nothing guaranteed. Seen enough of hospitals recently!

Goodnight Ladies, Gill

[Zonda]

Hi All.  I have been lurking here for a while but felt like posting this evening.  It is so good to read that I am not completely imagining things.  I was wondering if I was becoming incontinent with all the peeing and constipation rather abruptly becoming diarrhea. Forgive this next bit please, but my hole is sooo sore from it all!!!  And at the last session (my 4th on AC) the nurse was very lucky to find a vein for blood tests and for the canula.  I had thought all these things were just me.  I am dreading my next session in just over a week.  Like everyone else, I have never felt such a lack of energy.  Regarding taste, food is leaving me very unsatisfied so I am over eating.  Sometimes I think that if I could throw up it would be better.  

Thank you all for posting here.  These are things I am not comfortable talking to other people about and it is good to know I am not a freak, these things are happening to other people too.  I expected the pains and discomfort but not the digestive issues.

I absolutely HATE chemotherapy.

[wax2014]

Morning Ladies

It is quiet ! I haven't posted because I've been feeling rubbish, I think as the chemo is cumulative I seem to have had more side effects this time, although they are presenting themselves more slowly. I had usual constipation for the first few days that quickly turned the other way for three days at the end of last week ! I have mouth ulsers which I've not had before and the usual loss of taste which this time came on more slowly, it acutally took till this weekend for it to disappear completely. My cuticles are sore and red in places and the fatigue and hot flushes are worse too. 

Sorry to sound 'doom and gloom' but I am really fed up with it all now to the point that I could say no more I just want to feel normal again. I'm scared of going next week to play hunt the vein as both arms are now really painful /bruised and swollen but the oncologist is not interested in a line as I only have two sessions left. 

Tomorrow we finally lay dad's ashes to rest as we have been waiting till the plague/stone was ready so I'm not looking forward to that....my so called 'sister' will be there, the one that treats me like I have a cold rather than BC and since the rows about Mum moving in with them hasn't spoken to me anyway.....

Well I've got it all off my chest , sorry for the negatives just hoping I can post something more positive soon........Linda x 

[gmc]

Very quiet on this thread for the moment. Hopefully that's a good sign that everyone is coping OK and enjoying this lovely weather. Very noisy in my neck of the woods as I live next to Farnborough Airport and there's a lot of practicing going on for the airshow. My cat's very upset about it as the jet's worry her!

I'm enjoying being home and will probably go back into hosptal in the next week or so to have a portocath fitted.

Have a good weekend ladies, Gill x

[wax2014]

Gill, glad to hear your getting out at last and hope you get some answers on Thursday..please let us know how you get on.
Ladycroft, how are you feeling ? Have you been offered omprazole for indegestion ? It has really helped me as most mornings I really suffer.
Sodastream,enjoy your good days , rest and relax.I think I need to quiz oncologist about hot flushes..I know it may sound daft but I'm quite hoping its the menopause as I am 8/8 ER positive so if I'm correct the quicker my body reduces the production of oestrogen the better??
Have a restful evening xx Linda xx

[gmc]

Sorry to hear about your flushes ladies. Glad to say mine are over now as was put into early menopause when taking Tamoxifen years ago. Should be going home tomorrow after 11 days here. Can 't wait. So looking forward to seeing my cat and the garden.Will just have to ignore the state the house will be in as Ian won't have had any time to do any housework  between working and hospital visiting ! Back here on Thursday to discuss line options 're future chemo. Have a good evening. Gill x

[Sodastream]

Hi Linda. When I was first diagnosed and during my first chemo I was having really bad hot flushes at night and this was waking me up because I'd have to change pj's. I started sleeping on a towel so I could change that rather than wake the hubby up to change sheet as the bed would be wet where I had sweated so much. Funny but from cycle 2 the hot flushes stopped so I don't really understand what is going on with my body, I had a mirena coil fitted 3 weeks before diagnosis and haven't had a period since which is unusual as usually when it's first fitted I have heavy periods.
Glad to hear you are feeling better today. I am back to feeling completely normal which is a relief as I can now enjoy the next 10 days before 4th FEC. X

[wax2014]

Morning Ladies, how are you all doing? I don't feel to bad this morning which is a bonus , although had a very restless night in between getting up for the loo and the hot flushes seem to be getting worse! Does anyone know if the flushes are because of steroids or am I hitting the menopausal stage? My period last month was only a day long and I've not had one since.
Anyone else having this?
Linda xx

[Sodastream]

Thank you so much for the insurance tip, it has perked me up and given me hope that I can holiday next year and if I'm really lucky may try to get away before surgery this year.
Went out today and had a lovely lunch although was conscious when the wind blew that my thinning hair was obvious. My husband and daughter have spent the rest of the day reassuring me it looks fine bless them.
It's funny how everyone has completely different side effects to the chemo and how just as we get used to these we get put onto the next one and it starts again. Sounds like aches and pains are the worst, does a soak in the bath help? My hospital has a centre attached that does complimentary treatments so may well look into having a massage once I start the Docetaxol.
Hope you all feel better soon. X

[gmc]

Thanks for the insurance advice and I will definitely check that out. Prices don 't sound too outrageous. The wine glass breakage sounds like  it was the last straw in a tough time. Sometimes it can be small things that set us of and anything with sentimental value is particularly upsetting to lose. A big old hug though was just what you needed and it's a release to let the tears flow sometimes. Goodness knows we've all done it at one time or another.

These aches and pains sound just awful. Hope you feel heaps better in the morning ladycroft

Goodnight for now ladies , Gill.

[wax2014]

Try insurewith they will cover existing breast cancer and at a reasonable cost..I've had quotes for Lanzarote at xmas and New York next year came out at 225 covered me ,hubby and daughter although a lot more than normal I didn't think it was to bad. Lanzarote was about 80 for all of us , about double .
I an on day 3 of forth fec, must say with the vein issues, really bruised arm I am feeling quite down, worn out and emotional.I dropped a wine glass my daughter bought me some years ago with ' Best Mum' on it and broke down with guilt, crying and was beside myself! Had to be calmed down. Jemma came running down stairs to see what was up and gave me a hug..bless her! I feel like I've lost the plot !
Hoping we can all get through the tough bits..remember we've got to look on the bright side of life!!! Best wishes and hugs to all xx

[ladycroft]

Well day 5 of first Docetaxol and I can honestly say I've never felt so bad.Every bone and joint aches and i feel like I've been run over .Just about to make it worse with second injection too. Stayed in bed since9.30 last night but too sore too stay longer, codeine not working either and massive indigestion .

Sorry for the moan but i wasn't expecting it to be this bad so soon .

[gmc]

I know how you feel about the holidays. We had one booked earlier in the year and I was mortified to have to cancel it. Hoping to be able to get away somewhere in the UK after chemo and before next surgery but it's not quite the same. When I had breast cancer previously we did go abroad on hols the following year and our travel insurance covered everything except a pre existing condition and I believe that was only for 12 months after ward's. Will have to do some checking. Managed to go home for   few hours yesterday between treatments so feel a little more human and hoping to do the same today. Husband at grand prix so can go and play with the grandchildren.x

[Sodastream]

Morning everyone. Well I'm starting to feel back to normal on day 10 of my 3rd FEC. It really knocked me this time re energy even to the stage yesterday I had to sit down to iron as I was ok standing but the combination of standing and ironing was too much. My vein has swelled again this time so have been using cream and icing and elevating when I can. I was fine last time when chemo was administered via my hand but these inside veins on my arm obviously don't cope as well. Only 1 more FEC so I'll keep my right hand for that next time.
Yesterday we were meant to be flying to Mexico for 2 weeks of pure luxury. Our friends have still gone so I can't help but constantly think I wonder what they're doing. Quite down as I live for my holidays, it takes me months of planning and then months of looking forward to it. Unfortunately for me it's not knowing when I'll next get a holiday abroad as my treatment won't be over until next spring and then I've got to have reconstruction. I also worry about whether I'll be able to get holiday insurance.
Today as I'm feeling better I've decided to go to the kitchen showroom to look for new kitchen and then out for lunch with hubby and daughter. Hope everyone else has nice plans for today. X

[gmc]

Thanks Linda. Glad your session went well in the end and only 2 more to go. Isn't  this vein thing tricky.fingers crossed for you , rest well and hopefully you can start crossing the days off til your holiday. Have just had a stomach scan an d all well with my liver so it obviously enjoys my usual alcohol intake prior to all this stuff. All the best, Gill x

[wax2014]

Gill, It must be very frustrating having to stay in when you feel ok..sending hugs and best wishesxx
Had chemo this morning, couldn't find a vein at all so my only option was to have it in good arm the oncologist had to approve but wasn't ideal..this was done in the hope that my other arm has time to recover.Asked about a line but oncologist very reluctant as I only have 2 sessions left..so fingers crossed for next time, really hope I don't get any delays as I want to go on hols to Cornwall at the end. Have also been told to rest more and give up work if I can..not sure what I'll do about that! Also told that I shouldn't consider working when I do radiotherapy as it is likely i'll be too tired. I'll wait and see about that one..one step at a time as we say..
Hope everyone else is coping at the various stages of thier treatment.. Linda xx

[gmc]

Hope it went well today, Gill

[gmc]

Still in hospital and could be for some  time. The doctors have said  the hickman line needs to come out and I am to have some scans to check if infection has travelled elsewhere. Feel so well it's hard to understand there is a problem. I am climbing up the walls here and no-one can tell me when anything will happen so feel totally out of control. A portocath has been mentioned but they have no specific funding and would have  to apply which is long process. All delaying my next chemo which should have been tomorrow ! Moan over - at least it ' s a sunny day .All the best to everyone, Gill

[sugar8]

((hugs)). must be so frustrating making yourself understood in your weaken state. Be brave sodastream x x

[wax2014]

Alice45.. Thank you for the information.I can go tomorrow and discuss my options with the nurses, will let you know what they suggest..
Best wishes ..Linda xxx

[alice45]

Wax, just dropping in from the February thread to tell you about my portacath. It's a little terminal that they put in under the skin, sometimes in the arm but usually just under the collarbone, with a catheter inserted into a vein, so there is nothing protruding from the skin at all. It is accessed for chemo by use of a special needle each time (just a prick like an injection) then the whole chemo thing is plain sailing: they plug in a canula and put the chemo in through that with no searching for a vein. The portacath is put in with a general anaesthetic (though I've heard of it being put in under a local, which sounds bad news as it takes a while) and then removed when chemo is finished, leaving a small incision and a sore patch (mine only came out a week ago...) But the whole time it's there you can bathe and shower normally and with nothing protruding there's no risk of infection. If not used for 4 weeks it needs flushing through, but with 3-weekly chemo sessions that wasn't a problem. The main difficulty seems to be that NHS hospitals don't often offer it - cost implications, I guess - so you would need to ask. But it is highly recommended - at least by me and my oncology nurses!

Good luck.

[gmc]

Hi ladies. Still here with little hope of escaping just yet. Infection is in the hickman line again so they are deciding how to treat it this time and the wheels grind slowly. Very frustrating. I think most of us like to plan ahead and it comes hard not to be able to. My surgeon suggested a reduction on other breast to match what the other breast will look like by the time he 's finished with it. I am going to need a lot more discussion about it when the time comes. Could look very odd with tiny blobs ! Hope everyone keeps well and out of trouble.

Gill x

[wax2014]

Ruth, can you explain what is involved with a portacath..no one has mentioned one to me. I have thought about a PICC line but was trying to avoid it as extra flushing etc is involved...how long do you have to wait after chemo ends before its removed? We go to Cornwall the following week and I'd rather not have anything that could cause an issue whilst we are away. It took two go's this morning to get blood and I've been left with a lump and another bruise so may not have an alternative tomorrow but to agree to a line.
Sheryl..best way to deal with this is one day at a time ..but I like you have tried to get information on what comes next , I also wanted to discuss with the surgeon options for my "good" boob..mx or having it lifted etc but all he was interested in was sorting the cancer issue first...reading posts on this forum seems like it is fairly across the board with everyone. So we have to concentrate on the here and now..one step at a time, but agree it is frustrating and can cause anxiety if we let it..
Gmc..how are you getting on? Have you managed to escape yet?
Best wishes to all xx

[Sodastream]

Ruth that's great news that you're half way now, definitely time to celebrate (when you have more energy).
Things didn't quite go as I'd planned out with my surgeon so I was feeling down last night but by talking and a good nights sleep I've woken up in a better frame of mood.
I'd gone into the appointment with the view to having a double masectomy and then reconstruction after radiotherapy using implants. I then got the realistic view from my surgeon which was a single full masectomy and then reconstruction using the muscle and skin from my back but that couldn't happen until skin was healed after radiotherapy. Problem was I was so hung up on short term and he's looking at long term. Luckily he agreed I'm going to need to see a physcologist to get me through this. I've also realised I need to concentrate on the battle of getting cancer free before getting hung up and upset on the next stage. As I've been told one day at a time.
Glorious sunshine today which helps lift the mood. Hope you all have a good day. X

[fowey]

Hi Ladies,

Well I had my last FEC yesterday...a three week gap now until I begin my 12 x weekly Taxol.

GMC - I hope you are recovering well in hospital, or even better back home 🙂

Wax2014 - I hope you get the full blood count results you are hoping for. Have you thought of asking for a portacth/picc or hickman line to be inserted, rather than have this ongoing battle with your veins? I feel for you,as thats why I opted for a portacath. In the early days my arms were beginning to look as though I was going 10 rounds with mohammed ali on a daily basis ! I have my oncology appt this coming Friday, presumably to discuss the next stage and I have a list of questions for him too !

I hope everyone else is doing ok? xx Ruth xx

[wax2014]

Gmc, Sorry you have ended up in hospital, hope you are up and about again soon.
Ruth, hope you are ok after your chemo today..time to rest and regain your strength for the next few days..hope the fatigue and digestive issues don't get any worse.
I had my oncology appointment yesterday and mentioned the fatigue,sore feet,weeing for england and always feeling thirsty. She sent me for full blood count (Which must have been ok as i didn't get a call to go back!) but shes also testing me for diabetes, which she says we can have as a SE from the steriods ! Whoppe something else..waiting results hopefully the symptoms are just chemo related. Worst thing though was it took four attempts just to get blood as most of my veins have hardened ..have to go again tomorrow for pre chemo bloods ..am now really fretting about this and Thursdays chemo aswell..beginning to hate needles xx

[fowey]

GMC,
So sorry to hear that, I hope you get better soon, I am having 4th FEC today. xx Ruth xx

[gmc]

Hi ladies. Writing this from hospital as admitted Sat with high temperature. Seems I have an infection so having anti robotics through hickman line. Gutted as 4th chemo should have been Friday and now delayed at least a week. Queried why this should have happened again as been so so careful to avoid  germs Tec and was told thAt the bacteria we all have in our bodies can turn on us. No chance to avoid that then ! Hope to get out asap but no idea yet. This doesn't  seem to get any easier. Glad some of you are feeling better and get well soon to the others.

 Gill

[fowey]

ladycroft....p.s enjoy monty python and I hope you enjoyed your sons showcase 🙂 xx ruth xx

[fowey]

Hello Everyone 🙂

Wax2014 - Am I right in thinking that you have just had your 3rd FEC too? I am due to have number 4 and my last tomorrow. Like you, I have found as the sessions have progressed, I have been more and more tired, experiencing for the first time what real fatigue can be like. For me, the worst has been the digestion and diaorrhea problems, still experiencing them now. I see my oncologist for the 2nd time this Friday so will discuss all with him then.Also suffeirng problems with a very stiff neck both sides so not sure what is causing that ! I hope you fele better soon, I definitely feel much better my 3rd week, it is like a cloud lifting regaridng tiredness but still have to watch what I eat.

Sodastream, It sounds like you had a tough time at the hopsital, it must be so annoying when people confuse you with different information, I found that when I was ringing th ehospital asking for advice on what to eat and what to avoid anf got told so many different things, I have worked it out for myself really by trial and error !

Ladycroft, loved the concert thank you 🙂

I hope everyone else is doing okay?  xx Ruth xx

[wax2014]

Sheryl, sounds like that oncologist needs a kick up the backside obviously no idea what we go through..as for exercise when do we fit that in? Between feeling awful and just run down I suppose ??? I'm feeling sorry for myself at the moment,supposed to be in the good part of my cycle but have been either in bed or asleep on the sofa all weekend completely drained, no energy what so ever, even phoned in work sick today sooo tired ...am I doing something wrong?? Seeing oncologist later...round 4 on Thursday.....
Best wishes to all having next sessions this week..hope your doing better than me xxx

[Sodastream]

Hi Ruth and Linda hope you're both well. Most of us post daily on the Facebook group and it reminds me I have to also post on here so I can keep in contact with everyone.
I had quite an eventful week last week. I've had my muga heart scan which was quite nice just to lay there and chill for 20 minutes especially after it had taken them 4 needles to get the radioactive dye in as my veins have definitely had enough now. I then had an ultrasound to monitor my breast tumour. It's feeling much smaller and so went in hoping they were going to agree however last time they measured it on ultrasound as 5 cm and now it's 7cm. She did then show me 2/3 rds of it is now fluid so good news is chemo is working and she said it's like a water balloon inside and wanted to know if I wanted it draining. However I was really reluctant after ending up in hospital twice due to the infection caused from the original biopsy so she said she'd leave it up to the oncology team to decide. I then saw the oncologist 2 days later and boy was I in for a treat. My usual oncologist was off so I had one of her team that I'd met on my first appointment and thought he was hopeless then. Firstly he thought I'd had 3 cycles not 2, then he argued my 2nd had been delayed due to my hospital stay which it hadn't. I then had to ask for advice re ultrasound which he then queried why I'd had one and went off to check my notes and came back and said it's fine. He then said I was having 6 not 8 cycles which I argued with him about but he insisted it was write and wrote me out a prescription for my T chemo. I asked for stronger sickness medication and was met with a blank and when I mentioned stronger constipation relief was told to eat more greens and veg soup. I argued that I did so was told to drink more water to which I replied did he think I should drink more than 3 litres a day. He then said try exercising more, yes I really feel like exercising when the little energy I have needs to be used to run a household. To say I could have throttled him is an understatement.
I had 3rd FEC on Friday wondering if this was my last and I was half way through. When I asked the nurse about sickness medication she said they hadn't written any up so she would sort it and put me on Emend. She also said pharmacy were querying if I was on 8 or 6 so she'd go and check with my usual oncologist and returned and said it was definitely 8 as that is what she gives all her ladies having chemo before surgery. Luckily I hadn't got my hopes up too much but was still slightly disappointed as it would have meant all my treatment would have finished by Christmas instead of now running into next year. I have an appointment on Tuesday with my surgeon to find out my next stage.
I'm now day 3 and sickness has been under control this time but I was really tired yesterday. However have woken up with more energy and have managed to do washing and cook a batch of raspberry cupcakes. Sorry for long post but now and again you need a rant. Sheryl x

[ladycroft]

Hi Rith glad you enjoyed the concert , I'm looking forward to my next few good days, seeing my son doing a showcase of his own songs in London on Sunday then Monty Python on Tuesday. I hope your next lot isn't as bad and I start my 4th lot next Wed doxetaxol so we'll see how that goes. Hope you enjoy your holiday and are ok for it xx

[fowey]

Hello ladies,

I am on cloud nine today, after seeing George Benson last night. He was brilliant and really lifted my spirits !

I took a packed lunch to our hotel in the end to be on the safe side, so we ate tea in our lovely room 🙂 Breakfast was ok as I was able to have my usual namelt white bread toast with marmalade 🙂

Wax2014 I have my 4th and last FEC on July 1st and like you I am not looking forward to it as my side effects have been the same every time, but slightly worse each time, namely the bowel and digestion problems and the fatigue. I still have my hair to date as I have been having the cold cap, but I did get it cropped short in readiness 🙂

Hope you are all doing well xx Ruth xx

[Jj1981]

Im putting together a booklet on tips during treatments for breast cancer. There is so much good advice out there but no one place to get it. Once booklet is designed i will contact the charities and ask them to put on their sites. Im just going through chemo so have surgery rads and hormone therapy to come so would be great to have tips and hints ready.
This is such a big job and impossible to do on my own. I have create a facebook group called tip and hints for bc which is a closed group to get all the tips on and then document can be designed. I have too much time on my hands but please let me know if i am trying to create the wheel but as far as i can tell there isn't an existing document or if someone else trying to do we could join forces.

I also want to do a section on funny stories that have happened to people to give people a laugh and any positive things to cheer people up. I had a bird poo on my hairless head yesterday and it actually really hurt because i had no hair to soften the blow and even though its disgusting it made me laugh after i was having such a crappy day.

Also maybe a page of useful websites and facebook groups as its took me two months to get where i am and still finding new things everyday. Some facebook groups i have come by, by chance and they are so helpful.

If you have anything to contribute or suggestions on a section please reply or pm me, or even if you want to help. Also mention if you are happy to have your name added or if you want to be kept anon.

Please share this with as many people as you can

[wax2014]

Sheryl, you sound like your doing really well. Have you been using the cold cap to retain your hair? I'm sure mine was falling out in clumps just before the second round and I shaved it off, its all gone now apart from some spiky bits,
Same with the rest of my body hair .lol..good luck for friday, hope all goes well.
As for the food , unfortunately I don't like beetroot but will treat myself to some strawberries at the weekend and maybe some jelly babies!
Gill ,please share some recipes from your cook book when it arrives!
Must say feeling drained again today..any advice on raising energy levels? Linda xx

[Jj1981]

Ive heard that beetroot turns wee and poo red lol

[Jj1981]

I had strawberrys not as strong tasting as usual but really yummy and juicy, i had gooseberries and dounut peaches yesterday very nice

[Sodastream]

Forgot to say Gill be wary when eating too much beetroot. I love it and would eat it everyday for lunch. One day in the staff room I mentioned I was worried and needed to book a doctors appointment because I had blood in my urine. Someone pointed out it might not be blood but something to do with the amount of beetroot I ate!!!! Cancelled Dr appointment and stopped eating beetroot and sure enough wee stopped being red. So this is a warning if you wee red it's not the effects of the chemo but the beetroot.