Starting chemo in June

[Guest user]

Yup. Go LORNA!!! And good riddance to our gremlins. X

[Guest user]

Lorna- good luck and hope you get taken early.Soon the gremlin will be gone Pam

[Guest user]

Ahhh Sandy sooooo glad to hear you are ok

XxxX

[Guest user]

Hello!

Thanks for all of the well wishes. Am back up from recovery. Feeling happily dosed up on drugs but feeling very content. Have seen the stitches and flatness and lack of nipples and feeling surprisingly ok and really glad that bit's over. No drains - which I'm surprised about as everyone else seems to have drains.

Think the worse thing about having such a late op is that the kit hen's now closed and I'm starving. Probably cold toast for me then...

Lorna - this time tomorrow you'll be done and feeling relieved too. Hope it goes well and you have minimal waiting time!!

X

Ps - will catch up with everyone else's posts tomorrow. X

[Guest user]

Hope it is all over and went as well as can be expected Sandytoes - hopefully you are getting a good nights sleep. Good luck Lorna for tomorrow, I will be thinking of you and BerthaB hope your scan has good results for you tomorrow.

Xx

[worthks]

sandytoes was thinking of you all day - hope all went well and your not feeling too bad.
Lorna good luck for tomorrow
bertha- good luck for scan tomorrow
xx

[supertrouper]

BerthaB I have just started a thread for December Mastectomies - not sure what op you are referring to? How are you?

[BerthaB]

Hi All,

Sandytoes thinking of you as well today hope your ok and all went well.

Now have op date of 1st December, still not sure which op, scan tomorrow. Looking forward to November off !

Hugs to all.
BerthaB

[supertrouper]

Sandytoes - I have been thinking about you today, hope all went well. I saw my breast surgeon today and he is talking of doing my mastectomy the week before Christmas and then reconstruction after rads (probably summer 2012) using fat from my tummy. He told me to eat more chip butties! So free tummy tuck and an excuse to eat!

[lisha]

Hi Sandytoes just jumping in on this thread to wish your waiting is over now and you are on your way to recovery xx

[Slendablenda]

Sandytoes - I hope the waiting is over for you now.
Thinking of you this evening.No hugs yet - virtual or otherwise.
Ninja - GI - Real HAIR - jealous - moi?
Super - thinking of you too. I'm sitting here drinking posh cider, nice, but the bottle is too small!
Today I feel half human, first time for ages. Even managed to take my Mum to the dentist today.

[Guest user]

Sandytoes. Just got home from shopping hope it has been done and you are in recovery.pam

[Guest user]

Oh i hope u are away now !!!!

[Guest user]

Still waiting...

[Ninja]

Good luck, Sandy, see you on the Other Side xx

[Guest user]

It's meeeeeeeeeee! Aaagh! Have been here since 7. Nil by mouth since last night and still WAITING! Just want it over and done with.

Will check in after the op. Hope you're ok Lorna.

X

[Guest user]

Its Sandytoes - eek i hope its over for her . I am full of nervous energy , son has an hour to get up till i take the bed clothes off him !!!

Lorna xx

[Guest user]

Not sure who gets op today Lorna or Sandytoes but good luck to you both.Just think the gremlin will soon be no more .Will be thinking of you both Pam

[Slendablenda]

Then I would have hated it if he HAD recognised me !!

[Ninja]

"I passed my surgeon in the corridor at the Hospital today - I don't think he recognised my FACE !!! "

Thank goodness he wasn't a gynaecologist ;o)

[Slendablenda]

A bit of a drastic way to lose weight though Ninja !!
Glad you are starting to feel better.
I passed my surgeon in the corridor at the Hospital today - I don't think he recognised my FACE !!!

[Ninja]

Lorna:"I wonder how much my D cup boob weighs"

Ha ha - my surgeon was marking me up on the morning of the op and said, "Hmm, think we have about a a kilogram here" which reminded me of a comedy sketch with people weighing boobs with their hands and going, "Way Hey!".

The path report showed the weight of the boob and he had underestimated it ;o)

[Guest user]

HI GIRLS
Have spent the weekend in bed due to hurting my back.No i wasnt doing anything energetic all i did was bend down to take something out of the dishwasher when somethin in my lower back went ping.Thankfully due to much manipulation and heavy duty painkillers i am back on my feet.Cant believe the way my body is letting me down at the moment think i will need to trade it in for a younger fitter model.
Lindylou-good luck for last chemo.Ishould be having chemo on thursday and cant wait to see how i feel going into week 4 as it seems to have been going on forever.
Ninja-great news bet it feels wonderful not to have the gremlin inside you any longer.Wish you a speedy recovery
Sandytoes and Lorna -hope everything goes smoothly which i know it will and will be thinking about you both.
To everyone else may your side effects be small.Still cant believe i wont have them any more and before you know it neither will you.
Going to attempt a walk with the dog and the daughter .Wish me luck.
PAM

[Rexi]

Ninja - that's great news! So happy for you. About time you get some good news! 😉

Linda, good luck with your last chemo today!
I won't make the 9th nov for feel good workshop , having my last chemo on the 7th... I am not feeling to bad going out. Still have some eyelashes and brows. Once they are coloured in they look fine. I lost the additional EC weight, - so I am just my normal chunky self. hair is growing underneath my wig.

I think the next insurance that kicks in, is the long term disability one, which pays a certain percentage of your income. At least that what I think, as it sounds like my arrangement too. I do still work some days between chemos, but I must admit with much less enthusiasm ( used to be a workaholic ) and very reduced days. This time between tax2 and 3, I will be seen in the office for 3 days, and I am online for 5 ( maybe 4-6h each day). Luckily many projects have been postponed or reduced in size due to economic downturn - suits me just fine at the moment, as less stress due to a misguided sense of expectation from myself.

Supertrouper, I am still with you on the chemo ride till nov too 🙂 7th nov is my last date.

Sandytoes and Lorna, i wish you an easy op and speedy recovery, let us know how you getting on!
And any good tips and tricks for the hospital!
Who else is going under the knife this week?

Rexi xxx

[Guest user]

Oh my what a busy thread -

Ninja - great news , well done 🙂
Lindylou - almost there , SE will ease off by next week..
Katie - i feel old too , no stamina - we will get there
Bertha B - SHREK ..PMSL , thats what i call myself , u go girl and have a stiff drink
Supertrouper - it will be no time and it will be over for u too , we will egg u on .xx

Had pre op yesterday , Sandytoes , again my chemo brain was mixed up , u have been offered a different procedure , they wont be testing my nodes mid op , Therefore i will be going for a full aux clearance as in my mind its too risky to leave any in and "chance it" . At least u will know they do not contain cancer..what have u decided ??

I was weighed on yet another set of scales yday.......i now weigh the same as i did at child birth !!!!! Not all chemo weight , bout a stone:)) I wonder how much my D cup boob weighs - upside to everything....

Keep posting , we have all been too quiet

Lorna xxx

[Guest user]

Supertrouper you did make me smile and I am glad the strongbow went down well. My tipple is wine and I haven't been able to stomach it the whole time I have been on chemo that goes for tea and coffee too - I have been on a right old unintentional detox with this treatment !!! Good luck tomorrow with Tax 2, hope it's kinder to you as mine was.

BerthaB - good luck with the surgeon this evening, let us know how it goes. The wedding must seem daunting, but slap on the make up and put on your heels (if your feet can take them!!!). I have actually found larger events ok when its with friends and family and i could always take myself off to a quiet area when needed but they gave me a boost - hope you're the same. It's the going to the shops, or train journeys to my hospital appointments that I find hardest, probably because I don't make as much effort and I feel very self conscious...

Xx

[BerthaB]

Hello All,

Lindy Lou - great news of your last one !!! that must feel good!
Just had TAX number 3 ... one more to go I can not wait !

Ninja --- So good to hear your fantastic news ! What a positive result for you in all the hard times you have had recently. Hope you feel up to celebrating and treating yourself a bit !

Lorna and Sandytoes hope all goes well this week for your ops...

I will be meeting Surgeon tomorrow... just seen the time.. make that tonight Tuesday 7PM ..... eek .... hope to get date for op. Have list of questions for him, not feeling briliant either after TAX so hope to be able to remember what he says. Husband will be with me to fill in the TAX truck gaps.

Going to a wedding this weekend, spent too much on outfit trying to look normal but still do not look like me, more like Shrek in a dress ! ho hum.. will hide when the photo man is arround !

Hugs and best wishes to all....
BerthaB.

[supertrouper]

Reluctant to go to bed tonight. Why? because tomorrow I have to start taking the 8 steroid tablets before having TAX #2 on Wednesday. I have to get up early to be ready for the District Nurse to come and take my bloods and change the dressings and bits on my Picc line. Tomorrow night I won't get much sleep - my face will be red and I will feel hot and uneasy.

But...I will go to bed, and I will take my steroids and welcome the nurses with a smile upon my face and the wig on my head. I will go through the 12 step Looking Good Feeling Better make up routine before the nurses come and I WILL look good and feel better once I have done it.

This too will pass! (popping open a last can of strongbow that tastes mighty fine tonight)

[Guest user]

Whoops Ninja you'd replied to Worthks before i'd finished my post - that REALLY IS GOOD NEWS 🙂

I'm Grade 3 (aggresive) too but nobody has mentioned keeping a closer eye, having a CT scan for secondaries ... Maybe it was because it was found early, just under 2cm ...... So many different stories, treatments, we DO all have a different story to tell. ..

Night night, sleepy now. ..... Zzzzzzzz
Xx

[Guest user]

Thank you for your cheers on my getting to the finishing line. Ninja really pleased to hear that you have had good news at last - I don't know what NED stands for either! still learning ....

Bit hyper from the steroids but I have just taken a sleeping tablet so that should kick in soon (hopefully not before I finish this post)!! I had a lovely visit from a couple of girls from work this evening - that life seems such a long time ago, whilst we were chatting I even forgot my bosses surname and I'm his PA!!! I hope chemo brain doesn't have a long term effect!!! Onc has suggested that I wait until the new year to go back and then phase myself back in over about six weeks. I am lucky enough to work for a company that pays 6 months full sick pay and then after that another insurance which the company pays for kicks in (can't remember what it's called) not sure how much that will be but hopefully just for a month. My husband took early retirement so I am the main breadwinner ... Things could have been very different, one less thing to worry about. Anyway I am rambling!!! ...........Just wanted to really say thank you for your comments so nice (?) to hear when others are having the exact same se's because it is so so hard to explain to others how you feel and just how getting washed and dressed exhausts me, gets my heart pumping and out of breath...

Good luck Lorna And Sandytoes this week - I will be thinking of you both. Sandytoes - have you made a decision yet??

Xx

[Ninja]

Worthks: NED is No Evidence of Disease - i.e. they are as confident (as they can be) that it's all been cut out and the CT scan didn't show any secondaries.
I had neo-adjuvant chemo as the tumour was so large before, it was inoperable :o(

Still got a year of Herceptin, 5 years of Tamoxifen and Rads to come. The tumours were grade 3 so I'm on close recurrence-watch for 2 years.

ST:"So far my nails are okay but skin continues to peel off my fingertips and feet. Dry skin every where even though I moisturise. "
EC did that to me but I started religiously using shea butter and body butter and that really, really helped. It's now 6 weeks since my last chemo and the improvement is very noticeable.

[worthks]

Ninja - congratulations on your positive news -whats NED?
Lindylou - wooooo hooo for tomorrow. i feel exactly the same as you after tax 2 - seemed to take longer to get over it but def better than first one. I am day 5 post tax 3 and feeling slightly better today -I do feel trapped inside a 80 yr olds body - even walking to school was so hard and i was so breathless. was very sick yesterday which was wierd as i managed to avoid being sick the whole time and then on the last one im sick!!
but i do feel im over the worst now and never to be experienced again!
lorna and sandytoes - you must be nervous for this week but just think by this time next week you should both be home and well on the road to recovery.
good luck to everyone having treatment this week
xx

[supertrouper]

Ninja - wonderful news - so very very pleased for you. It's about time that you had some good and positive news.

As for everyone else - you all seem to be heading for the door again - all these posts saying Last Chemo and I still have 3 more TAX to go. My last chemo is 23rd November. Next one is this Wednesday at 10:45 in Preston, then I have appointment with smiley Mr Breast Surgeon in Chorley at 3:50pm - I will be having an ultra sound to compare the size of the tumour. When my onc has examined me she has said that it has shrunk considerably - the ultra sound should show that.

So far my nails are okay but skin continues to peel off my fingertips and feet. Dry skin every where even though I moisturise.

[Slendablenda]

What fab news Ninja - NED.
Great. xx

[Guest user]

Oh Ninja! That is great news.

Lorna and I are just behind you. Ops on Weds and Thurs.

x

[Ninja]

Hi Guys, I'm just crashing in from May. I got my pathology results today after my Mx 10 days ago and and I had very clear margins and am now NED. Lots of treatment to come but I feel like a great weight has been lifted from me.
Remember, you are all just a month behind me - you WILL get through this - keep the faith and gentle hugs all round.

[Guest user]

WOO HOO LINDYLOOOOOOOU! Brilliant news! When will rads start? You'll deffo be finished by Christmas then wont you? EXCELLENT!

x

[Slendablenda]

Congratulations LindyLou - LAST CHEMO TOMORROW !!!!
Isn't it amazing it seems as though the end will never come and suddenly it's there in sight? My last chemo will be next Monday.
I know the SEs won't disappear immediately, but it is a milestone.
Seems like the end of Phase 2 for me: Surgery/Chemo/Rads.
I've felt like you, exhausted, achy legs, not able to do much at all.
i've been really fed up, difficult to be bothered to talk much or even smile and say "I'm okay". I'm not and I can't be bothered.
I can sense that OH is getting fed up with it too.

[Guest user]

Gosh it's been quiet on hear over the weekend - so I just wanted to shout IT'S MY LAST CHEMO TOMORROW !!!!! oh god it feels so good to write those words. TAX 2 was a lot easier but has actually dragged on for the whole 3 weeks and I have felt exhausted the whole time, my legs still ache now and struggle with the stairs. Toes have felt ok but fingers tingly still and struggle to open packets. I have an hours aromatherapy full body massage planned for tomorrow while I am waiting for my blood results 🙂 really looking forward to that.

I went for my radiotherapy planning on Friday, CT scan, tatoo's etc so they are now all set up for 11.45 every week day from the 1st November until the 1st December (15 will zap the whole breast and then the last 9 are boosters to just zap the area where my cancer was as I had a WLE back in June)

Finally booked my Look Good Feel Better for the 9th November at Harley Street (Rexi they still have places on that day if you fancy joining me) - I so need it ... Whenever I go out I seem to walk with my head down trying not to catch anyone's eyes ......

Katie - thanks for the advice re stats I will definitely take your advice.

Love to you all xx

[worthks]

I stupidly asked for stats the first time i met with my oncologist and she had it all printed out ready to give to me. probably becasue I had already had the masectomy, the results were from the lab taken from the cancer they removed.
Biggest mistake I have ever made - ladies dont do it, the results haunt me daily and if I had the choice again i would never have asked for them.
have a good weekend, my side effects are starting to kick in tonight - wish i could fast forward 2 weeks xx

[BerthaB]

Hi all,

No stats for me either.
Did not know the monsters measurement until oncologist did a measurment after 2 FEC and happened to mentioned the original size after telling me it had shrunk.

I just asked what the treatment was likely to be, climb one mountain at a time I think ..

Also I agree with Sandytoes in that some stats a out of date, and also why add another worry ?

Hugs,
Bertha B

[funlady4]

hello ladies havnt been on here 4 a while. Since starting chemo in june i have had 4 ec an 4 tax im on number6 tax gosh it has been so hard.i am not working at the moment as work couldnt or shoukd i say wont give me the hrs to help me so im now living of ssp what a joke as if i asked for this cancer anyhow i just try to remaind postive.i goin through with all the side effects on tax sore mouth aches and pains diaroheaa tastles food. each day i try to do sumthing even go for a walk to the shop i know it hard coz soon a i get back im tired lol anyhow i got 2 more chem left i carnt hardly wait an c wat the next stage is .well ladies stay postive an i b back soon hopeful

[Ninja]

Another aggressive huge tumour mass here.
We asked the Oncy last time for general chances of a recurrence/secondaries and he quoted a percentage and it was pretty bad news. Don't think I want to get any more precise than that.

[Guest user]

My onc offered to go upstairs and check my prognosis on the computer but kept telling me that I had an 'aggressive' cancer and a 'significant' tumour so I chickened out. However, I might ask for a general picture when I get my pathology report back as I kind of feel in limbo at the moment. Should I sell the house and b*gger off round the world or should I knuckle down and get another boring job (actually, scrap that! No more boring jobs. Whatever happens I don't want to be doing anything i wish i wasn't and wishing my life away ever again).
Also, I'm HER2+++ which used to be very bad news before herceptin, so think the stats wouldn't be up to date and worse than reality...

[Guest user]

Hi Lorna. Totally with you on that one defo would not want that kind of info at the moment .Think there is a lot to be said for a positive attitude and stats are only as reliable as betting odds as far as I'm concerned Pam

[Guest user]

Hi - been reading another post where the person asked for her stats on prognosis.

I don't think i will ever be brave enough to do that .

Would or have you guys ??

Lorna xxx

nb - its actually depressed me reading it , am i burrying my head in the sand , i feel sick thinking of it

[BerthaB]

Hi Suppert,

That sounds a frustrating day did you get any questions answered ?
Did they offer anything to reduce the SEs.When is your TAX2 Tomorrow or next week ?

Hope you finaly get your questions answered .

Hugs,
BerthaB.

[supertrouper]

Spent six hours out of the house going to two appointments that both could have been done over the phone in 15 minutes. First was medical assessment that work sent me on. One hour drive away - spent 15 mins with a doctor who nodded and said it was all very straight forward and would send me a copy of his report. Then meeting with Oncologist which didn't quite go as planned as I didn't see her - saw one of her "team" a rather large greek chap who kept interrupting me when I was talking about the side effects of TAX. I told him about my sore feet and he kept asking me if I could drive and did I have problems with the Peeedles - took me a while to work out that he meant the pedals! He kept looking at my general chest area and offered to do an examination or book me in for an ultrasound - I have asked for an ultrasound!

Peeedles indeed!

[Slendablenda]

Wow Pinky, what a good motivator to have to aim for. I'm sure you will get rid of that chemo stone quickly.
I'll be doing that after my last chemo. Can't think about it yet.
Bl**dy steroids - or is that just an excuse? Have I just been allowing myself treats because I'm still alive?

[Guest user]

BB. We did the great north run in 2009 and were hoping to do it this year but obviously couldn't but it was absolutely brilliant.The atmosphere was great and the people of Newcastle lined the whole route and even set up tables sign food and drinks if you fancy doing it I iwould highly recommend it.
Pam