starting chemo in July

[Guest user]

Hi to all you lovely ladies
I am jumping in from the September thread, just to ask a bit of advice....hope you dont mind ????
I am having my 4th FEC next week, with 4 x Tax to follow....seems like such a long road ahead still. I am REALLY TERRIFIED of the dreaded Tax though. I dont live in the UK...live in the middle of the bush in Mozambique and have to drive about 5 hours to South Africa for treatment. There are no Doctors or Hospitals anywhere near where I am.
I have managed so far, and apart from tiredness, have had very few SE, but my OH is thinking of leaving me in SA so that I can be closer to help if I need it. The thought of this is horrible, as I will be on my own until mid Feb, with him only being able to get away for a weekend once a month.
You have all been through the Tax....how much worse is it? Did you all have to get extra help during this time? Does your hair still fall out on Tax, or only on FEC...stupid question really, sorry!
Any advice or tips that you could give me would be much appreciated.
Hope you are are feeling OK
Have a FAB weekend,
Hugs, Lil xx

[lisha]

OMG Squirrell it was you i saw the other week on westwood lol .I tried movicol this time and much to my delight it worked straight away .Just think a week on like i now am and you will be coming through it and heading towards the other side .
I havent been too bad this time except for being exhausted but think thats cos i want to be well and am forgetting i still have my 3 weeks.
To anybody else fec ,ec or taxing this week remember that too and it will get you through .Take care all and may your side effects be few xxxx

[Guest user]

Oh no squirrel, does that mean I'm going to give up my bare chested rambling!!!
The things we have to do!!! x

[squirrel45]

Had the last dose of the toxins today and also had a planning scan for the rads. Had my first ever tattoos - 2 little dots, together with some impressive felt tip art work over my boob. Didn't take long ! Gave me loads of info - said I was advised not to exposed the affected area to sun or cold winds. Damm, there goes my bare breasted rambling hobby :-)Start radiotherapy 28th Nov and finish 23rd Dec. Just managed to get it over before Christmas. What a year ! Fellow FECers hope your S/E are minimal, TAXers too - you are amazing ( this one couldn't take it) hope the nails hang in there and the TAX truck doesn't stay too long. Now onwards to Movicol, oranges,branflakes and steroids. YUM

[Guest user]

good luck cherrytom for tomorrow.hope all goes well.
well done all of us we have all come so far there is light at the end of the tunnel!!!!
well done feckers
well done taxers
just rads for some
op for others
hair is starting to grow yipee(hope it stays through the last one)
queenie

[Guest user]

Hi all, sorry you are feeling poorly queenie, hope that throat recovers soon for you. Glad to hear tax being better for you this time angel, good to know we are nearly finished!
My last Tax tomorrow - yippee!!! Se's so far have not been too bad for me, with Tax (fec was horrible). General fluey achy stuff and tender nails, which are starting to discolour - nice! Have felt much more fatigued this time. Energy levels are low & legs are wobbly, but all I have to do is get through this one and then its rads, like most of us seem to be having.
Keep strong (and keep taking the movicol!)
xxx

[Guest user]

morning all,well the last one went a head thank god.woke you with a soar throat hard to swallow,one side hope it nothing.am starting steriods for three days have red face as normal.next comes the rash,then the feeling of a uti.but its the last one thats what keeps us all going.have`nt had a flu jab yet am going to book one after 21 day so neuts will be ok.flushes still coming strong.got mark up and planing for rads next week hope to start on the 21 nov 20 lots but you never know might not need so meny(thats just wishfull thinking)sorry to be full of woe
take care all
queenie x

[Guest user]

Hi Everyone

I am now day 6 post last chemo and have actually felt far better this time considering the difficult time I have for the first two Tax.

My finger nails look like they will be off soon, two gone already, two more almost there and four more on the way. They are feeling quite tender and I have to be careful how I pick things up in case I catch them. Feet still a little sore too.

The good news is that my head looks like it has a very lighting coating of hair on it now whoop whoop.

I guess you cannot win them all

All the best

Anne xx

[lisha]

Hi Everyone,hope you are all keeping well. Im 6 days post last chemo and at the mo just the usual side effects. Very tired this time but maybe overdoing things so need to calm down a bit.
Hope everyone who is due chemo this week gets it and their neuts behave themselves.
Squirrel good luck for tom, my rads are confirmed to start 21 every day at 1.30 for 20 days. Last one on 16th. So hopefully we will get that coffee. Glad you had a great time away bet it did you a world of good.
We are all getting there slowly but surely and Shapb hope you had a fab 40th birthday. Take care all. Sharon xx

[squirrel45]

Hi ladies, back from a few days away and dropped in to see how you are all doing.
Firstly a belated Happy Birthday to Shapb, hope you were able to enjoy a piece of birthday cake and a glass of something alcoholic !
Sorry June - a rough old half term week for you. We will still be around for you ! Just a bummer when you have a date on the calendar and its all change.
I had to invest in toupee tape last week as my wig although fine for normal wear can slip when I am doing something more active. Seven quid it was - rip off ( yes quite literally if u read on and wasn't that taking advantage of a bald and desperate woman ?!) On my few days break with the family we were biking, horse riding and lazer shooting - all requiring hats of some kind. There was no way without extra security that hat and wig would stay put. The toupee tape was brilliant - wig in tact even when removing snug riding hat. However it did rip out my newly grown fluff when I took the wig off and I will now be growing hair in stripes...... Zebra Mum...seemed such a good idea at the time !
To all those that have had the last of their chemo I hope you feel much better soon ! To those having it this week , good luck. Queenie, hope all goes well fellow FECer - get on the movicol girl and show those bowels who's boss ! Lisha I am seeing onc tomorrow so I hopefully will have some sort of schedule regards RADs and we can get a coffee in . I will be going back to work after the chemo ends and just working the RADs around work.Mmmm not really looking forward to that but its progress and getting back to normality! x

[Guest user]

shapb.happy belated birthday.
morning ladies hope we are all well.bloods for me today expecting a phone call tuesday to say to low will have to go to the hospital early on wednesday for more bloods hope and pray they are ok.then just wait for the s/e to kick in!!!!at least it will be the last time.hair growing on head i think just hope it stays eye lashes top ok bottom very light.eye brows one side ok the other vvery little funny how that happens.
just wish i could sleep!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
take care queenie x

[Guest user]

Happy belated birthday too hope you had a good one.

[Guest user]

ty all
40 ish ladies lol
xxxx

[Guest user]

Happy birthday for yesterday shapb, welcome to the forties! xxx

[Guest user]

Happy Birthday Shapb

Hope you had a fantastic day.

Love June

[Guest user]

mornin all this extra hour really mucked me up been awake since 8.30 !!! aagghh
never mind turned 40 yrsterday and only 1 chemo left on 10 nov , next week
got mammogram on tues then consultant wed to find out about surgery etc .... so speak soon
. good luck all were doing fab xxxx

[Guest user]

Hi All

Well that is it last one done and dusted, feeling sleepy at present as had prition before the chemo to stop the allergic reaction. Am feeling hungry also, so making the most of that.

Last night took me ages to get to sleep around 2.15 am before I was off and not before I lost half a finger nail and a toe nail. Am hoping that no more drop off although it looks like I might have more naked toes soon.

Got first letter today for the mammogram and ultra sound on 9 Nov, just waiting on letters for CT scan to check lungs and to see surgeon about the op.

Have a good week-end everyone

Anne xx

[Slendablenda]

Hi girls,
Quite a few of us at a similar stage now, just going through the last lot of chemo side effects. Today was my first injection of this last lot - whoosh - straight away the bone pains and feel rubbish. I think OH believes I'm making it up. He can't show sympathy when he's worried so just stays out of my way which doesn't help my mood much, but hey ho - he's not going to change now. Asks me if I'm feeling better and wants me to say "yes".
June, sorry you are having a tough time as always. Don't worry, we won't leave you here on your own.
I agree about trying not to dwell on the stats. They can be interpreted in so many different ways. They are numbers- we are people.

[Guest user]

morning all.june we will still be here to cheer you along.lastone for me on wednesday if neuts are ok.got my rads appointment its the 9th f nov so that will be the last stage for me.cab`t quiet believe it we have all come so far/just 1 more s/effects to get through.thnk i will be starting tamoxifen when i start rads/is anybody else?
sharon hope the s/e are small ,just think no more (yippee)
slenda hope all is well with you
ladies i have hair growing so hope i don`t loose it on the last one !!!!!
take care
queenie x

[lisha]

Hi Anne glad you feeling better about things now.My onc said no point in getting stats as you could have the best prognosis and it come back or you could have the worst and it never come back.She said it will just not help.I am TN so like your BC there wont be any stats after 5 to 10 years as its a pretty new thing.
Its really hard as its something we all think about but i saw my onc yesterday and decided not to ask as im me not a statistic .
June really sorry for you ,every step of the way you seem to have had setbacks ,we will still be here to support you through so dont worry.Its hard to keep up with everyone but im sure some ladies on this thread still have ops before rads so they will be about same finish dates as you xxx

[Guest user]

I'm glad you are all so positive, It is nice to see the end in sight.

Thought I only had 17th of Nov to go top join you, but it's not to be.

I have had one 'ell of a half term week.

Thw incident on wed with the Herceptin was 1, then yesterday I was pluigged in to the Docetaxol for only 15mins when the flush started, rang the bell but by the time they stopped the drip my lower back was in agonies when it went into spasms.

So looks like Docetaxol is not for me. Seeing Onc next wed but Sister thinks I'll be moved onto Paxotaxol which will be weekly infusions for 12 weeks. That'l leave me hanging around til after Christmas. With all you lot moving on I'll be wandering around here on my own.

I'll keep an eye on the place for you in case anyone fancies dropping in.

Lots of Love to all.
June

[Guest user]

Hi All

Feeling better about things today thanks everyone for your comments.

All the best

Anne xx

[lisha]

well thats it last chemo done .Hooray!!! just two weeks of side effects to get through and will feel a bit better about it.
Had ct scan today too and my tattoos done .Went to hospital at 10.30 and got home at 5.15!Never mind got it all over and done with in one day .No more hospital till nov 21 then just got 20 rads .
Hope everyone is ok and hope SE are small.I got 2 lovely bunches of flowers when i got home so that was nice ,cheered me up a bit.
Know i should feel great getting the last one over with its just the dreaded SE that are haunting me (quite a fitting word at the mo )but im sure it will be easier knowing i dont have to go back next time.
Come on girls we are all nearly there .Take care all ,Love Sharon xxx

[Guest user]

good luck slenda with rads
waiting for the letter to come through the door!!
wednesday last for me i hope last fec s/e for me.
just fed up with chemo thank god just 1 more

[Slendablenda]

Hello Ladies,
June - hope all is going okay so fat this time.Ooops -Freudian slip, that's how I feel........ Meant to type FAR!
Anne - don't be despondent. Stats are stats and we are individuals.
Lisha - thanks. Yes, last chemo was Monday, just this last lot of side-effects to go through. Hope it's less dramatic than the last 2.
Feels like Stage 2 is nearly done for me.
I received my letter for the CT scan and RADS planning appt. next week.
That'll be the start of Stage 3 for me.
Yesterday I fell over, think I've broken my little toe. C0-ordination and feeling in feet and hands are not good so I think that's why.
Lucky I haven't got to go anywhere for a while.
Good luck everyone. I know it gets harder as we go through the treatment, but I do feel we are getting close to the end.
Hang on in there.

[Guest user]

morning ladies.
sorry about your news anne and good luck for tomorrow.my last one on wednesday if neuts are ok.
june hope you are feeling better and all goes well today
hope all fec`ers are well.
everybody we are all nearly done so we have all come so far
take care
queeniex

[Guest user]

Hi

Good luck today June hope it goes ok.

Hi Squirrel thanks for your thoughts as you say not what you want to hear when on your own, but hey am going to prove them wrong.

Am up early eating my porridge and contemplating the day ahead and the last session tomorrow and thinking omg more meds he he.

All the best

Anne xx

[Guest user]

Well had first Herceptin yesterday and 1/2 way through I had a reaction.

I was happily knitting away, then felt I'd better put all away. Within 3 mins I was cold, then started to shiver. I have never shaked so much in my life. I was so tense I had muscle pains.

Got sent in to the bed area and 4 staff nurses turned up. They looked a bit concerned. Was given Hydrocortisone and Paracetomol (had to accept help to get these down as shaking so much I couldnt hold the tablets or water)

1/2 an hour I was much better, but they'd binned the rest of the Herceptin, so I missed out on 30ml.

Will give me drugs to combat the reaction next time.

Well 2nd Tax today, Lets see how much bother I can cause with this one. :0)

Love to all
June

[squirrel45]

O Angel, not what you want to hear and being on your own too so hard. My heart goes out to you. The truth is none of us know, and none can really say what will happen to us in the future.Like you say there are plenty of ladies out there who are doing really well 5/10/20 years post treatment. We have to believe that we will get there too ! x

[Guest user]

Hi Everyone

My bloods are ok for the last session on Friday and he is adding in a drug to stop the allergic reaction I have to the Tax.

He is also now setting up the CT scan and ultra sound to check lungs and tumor again. Also will now wait for appt to see surgeon.

You know how there is a answer you need from the doc so you ask the question and wish you hadn't. I asked about the probability of it coming back in the future. It is around 15%

He then said however, as you have Inflammatory Breast Cancer as well there is not much data on women surviving past 5 years. My treatment is belt and braces next op then radio therapy then a hormone tablet for 5 years, so who knows things may have changed by then. Have been reading on the cancer research forum of a lady who is still here since treatment in 1995, so there is hope and lots of it.

I went on my own today, wish I hadn't now, feeling a little low. I had planned on being here as long as my parents who are in their 90's.

Sorry is a bit of a downer today

All the best

Anne xx

[squirrel45]

Great tracks Sharon !- thought of some more as I was trying to sleep next to snoring OH last night. I Will Survive - Gloria Gaynor, The Show Must Go On - Queen, Fight For this Love Cheryl Cole, Waka Waka Shakira ( dont laugh lyrics as the start good motivator !!) These will either inspire or get people stamping on their I pods ! He He

[lisha]

Hi Andrea, sorry warped sense of humour but two chemo songs do come to mind. Things can only get better by D_ream and the only way is up by yazz.!!!!Think we can all relate to them at the mo.
On a more serious note i got a paul mckenna destress book and cd and the cd is very relaxing
Queenie same rads date as mine
Slendablenda hope youre done now.
Take care everyone. Love Sharon xx.

[squirrel45]

OO Shroomie, sorry u feeling so rubbish.Once it passes the up feeling will be so much better knowing there will be no more chemo. I am streaming with cold but energy picking up now with my mood. Cross coz my mascara found 2 lashes on the left and then proceeded to stick them together...just not fair!
Good luck with the MUGA scan June and next lot of chemo.
Queenie glad the Movicol kicked in ! I have managed to conquer the constipation by starting Movicol day before chemo. Having it on day and day after and eating an orange a day together with as much bran/veg as I can tolerate. One of my girls is veggie and I cook a veg lasagne which is good to go ! Once first week is over, normal service resumes...We are all different though, so may not work for all!
At the risk of sounding totally cheesy I am also listening to Ben Howard's' Keep Your Head Up' - a track to do chemo with ! Anyone else got any good music to keep us going? xx

[Guest user]

morning ladies seen onc last wk signed up for rads should start on the 21`st nov.have to have 4 wks every day mon-fri jounery takes about 1 hour.constipation for me but took movicol and it has worked a bit to well!!!at leat im going!!!!.bloods on monday but expect them to be low as they were the last 2 times but hope and pray it all goes a head,the rash i get is now due to the steriods ,hot flushes still happen but guess you will just have to put with them as when start tamoxifen the s/e from them are hot flushes.took temazepam last night needed a good night sleep have always had trouble sleeping this has all just made it worse.
queenie xx

[Guest user]

Getting geared up for 1st Herceptin on Wednesday, 2nd Tax on Thursday. But at The Freeman in Newcastle for a MUGA Heart Scan tomorrow.

Feels like the hair is starting to come back, I am not sticking to the leather sofa back as much. LOL.

Love to everyone coming to the end of the chemo road. We're getting there girls :0)

June

[lisha]

Hi Everyone,boy are we all feeling it by the sound of it.
Slendablenda ,good luck for tomorrow .What a feeling when its all done !!
Anne i see you are joining us this week too in having your last one hooray.
Its funny really as im really excited for thur yet im not if you know whhat i mean .All done and dusted except for another set of side effects to come ;-( know what you mean Penny.Hope you are feeling better soon these side effects do seem to last longer every time.Ive still got an upset tummy from last time .
Andrea have a really lovely few days away you deserve it and yes please do let me know when your rads are sorted that coffee would be great.
Anybody else seem to be doing anything special to celebrate the end of it? Think when we get to this point friends who text at the op stage ect have forgotten about us all now except for the odd few and its now that would be nice to get some encouragement for our last one .It means so much to us all.What a huge thing it is to have your last chemo!!Think we have all done great to get through this so if anyone else hasnt said it a great big well done to everyone!!
Does anyone know when we can start to eat as normal.My favourite food is scampi and prawns and i would love an indian .Also love going out for caverys and ive been told to avoid all these things .I know our immune system will be low for a while.
My hair is starting to grow back slightly.I sit rubbing my head everynight lol im sure i think it will help but like you Andrea it all looks grey so i will be wearing my hats for a while yet!!
Take care everyone love Sharon xx

[Guest user]

I got rapidlash from a groupon voucher but do know you can get it from amazon a tiny bit cheaper than pharmacist... I havent tried it yet but hope it works 🙂 xx

[Guest user]

Ooh Andrea, I feel so rotten, I know I should be upbeat as had last one Monday but feeling rough!! ;-( certainly does get harder, just wish my kids would appreciate that. Lots of family help next week I think.
Have you had your last one yet?
I'm looking forward to 8th nov as hopefully feeling better, last blood test and line taken out. Xxx

[squirrel45]

Fantastic Shroomie, all done ! Every day now a climb back to normality without being slammed back down by another dose of the toxins ! I can't wait, though just hating the S/E, they have got worse every time. Where did u get the Rapidlash?? Heard that its worth a go. My hairdresser reckoned I should be more or less back to my hairstyle (short) by end of Feb. I have a bit more fuzz on top but it all looks grey to me 😞 Think me and my wig will be in a relationship for some months to come...Going away next w/e for short break with family. It was to celebrate end of chemo but not quite worked that way as I was delayed. On a positive note though, I will be on my up time, so its worked better. Hope the wig manages to stay aloft as we will be biking/doing active stuff.
Lisha would love to meet up for coffee. Once I know whats happening with Rads I will PM you! Hope the drive to Coventry not too stressful!
Good luck Angel/Slendablenda with last lot. Andrea

[Guest user]

ty lisha for birthday wishes xxx
u take care x

[Guest user]

Hi All

I have now just got my taste buds back after last Tax, so good to eat and taste food again. I worked out today that next Wednesday will be the only day in this three week cycle when I won't be taking a drug of any kind. God its been hard work.

I see the ONC on Tuesday and have last session on Friday whoop whoop. Not looking forward to the se's the following week, but they will be the last ones.

My feet are still peeling as are my hands. Eyebrows very faint but still there.

The Onc told me that my hair would start to show willing two weeks after first Tax then within 6 weeks of last Tax it should be there in all its glory even if a little short. It is starting to show, back of head was smooth but can now feel hair.

Have a good week-end everyone

Anne xx

[Guest user]

Oooh it's sooo exciting all of us are nearly done, I was so excited Sunday evening knowing monday was the last, just hoping se's dont last too long...... Coming into steriod comedown now, so will be locking myself in bedroom for next few days feeling sorry for myself ;-(
Dies anyone know how long hair takes to grow back and what shampoo's etc to boost hair growth, have got rapidlash for eyelashes but waiting a week or 2 to start using it as think my hair goes second week of chemo, have still got a tiny bit of hair on head, even though I gave up cold cap 3rd chemo in. Did clipper hair to grade 2....... How is everyone with hot flushes, I seem to get them quite alot xxxxx

[lisha]

Sorry Shapb forgot to say hope you feel good again for your 40th birthday .Have a great day xx

[lisha]

Hey Queenie same day starting rads as me .How many are you having ?
Shroomie great to hear from you on here again.Just think your last one over and done with thats fantastic.What an acheivement,so sorry that you are feeling so down with SE though. Mine lasted about ten days last time so fingers crossed this time next week you can toast yourself with a nice glass of something .
Think its Slendablenda next and then thur hopefully (bloods all being ok )for me so one by one we are all getting there.Not looking forward to another week or two of SE but at least that will be it .
For anyone after next week we will still all be here to help each other along and then onto rads or for some ops .
Think constipation is a biggie for all of us and that AWFUL taste !!
Hope everyone who has been zapped this week doesnt suffer too much this weekend and Andrea would be great if our paths crossed again for rads would be great to have a coffee and catch up .
Love Sharon xx

[Guest user]

Well hello July girls, long time since been on here.... Been very up and down. Had last chemo Monday gone, 🙂 but suffering at mo with my last of the side effects!! Mouth and taste awful, constipation real bad and a slushy chemo brain 😞 but hey this is the last time... Wooooohooooo 🙂 haven't heard from radiotherapy yet but hoping I get app soon as don't want app's dragging all the way to Xmas.

Good luck to anyone having last chemo in next few weeks,

Love to all penny x

[Guest user]

Hello girls sorry havn't posted for a while.
Had fec no 5 yesterday veins not good so had a line put in was alot better.
One more to go can not belive we nearly at end of chemo. Four weeks of rads then tamoxifen and herceptain for me..... Hope you all ok and have few side effects. Xxxx

[squirrel45]

Hi everyone ! Still feeling rubbish, in fact felt faint drawing my eyebrows on this morning. Decided I am dehydrated so am making a bigger effort to drink. My daughter noticed that around my eyes look bruised so think must be not drinking enough.False eyelashes abandoned ! In fact they have mysteriously disappeared after I removed them...think the cat has something to do with it. Its acting suspiciously...
Lisha, glad the shingles are settled down - TEN tabs a day??!! Gosh but at least you are up and about, well in and out of the loo !
Queenie, looks like if the flushes are signs of menopause i am with you girl. My onc says she will do blood test to test for it and then may switch me from Tamoxifen to another drug if I am in menopause. Read in paper today there is a new drug for oestrogen pos breast cancer with results 20% better than Tamoxifen. Prob not available yet, but sounds promising.
Now then, must top up my pint mug with some more liquid....gin? Best wishes so everyone FECing and Taxing xx

[Guest user]

Feel guilty that I don't pop in more often for a chat.

Had my 2nd Hickman fitted yesterday so am ready for 1st Herceptin and 2nd Tax next week.

Have the MUGA Scan booked for Monday.

Haven't had too many se's for 1st tax, just lethargic and tired. Nails were feeling sore, but they've settled down again. Eyebrows looking a bit thin, Hair, once I cut it close to the scalp, has stayed at that level, hair on legs is starting to grow.... could do without that....

Good Luck to everyone being poked, prodded, processed, pricked this week.

Love
June

[Guest user]

morning ladies.hope all fec`ers and tax`ers are going on ok?went to see onc yesterday all ok rash due to steriods hot flushes menopose (great)last one 2`nd nov and hope to start rads 21`st nov every day for 4 wks will hope to finish wk befor xmas.still having problems with constipation am now trying movicol??????sleep still crap but good with the help of drugs only take 1 a week.then its tomoxfen for next 5 years
sharon hope you have a great birthday
squirrel hope you friend noticed you lashes and you both hade a good laugh.
slenda hope your chemo went ahead on time and you are coping with the s/e
take care july`ers
queenie xx

[Guest user]

hi girls , well no 5 today (2nd tax) had to get a lower dosage due to being ill after it for a week so hopin this will be easier next week , my big 40 is on 29th so want to be ok for it 🙂
only 1 to go as well on 10 nov then i have surgery to get , going to c consultant 2 nov for what surgery gettin !
anyway hope we r all fine next week me included and were nearly there yippeee 🙂 just want my hair to start growin , my bottom lashes gone and brows half and half aaaghh ! need to start practisin drawing them lol
love sharon xxxx