starting epirubicin/CMF on 18th July

[Guest user]

Sorry I haven't been on for so long ladies...I have been thinking about you though!
Work is really busy this time of year and I am working Sat as well as longish days so by the time I get home I am truly pooped!
I'm finding it pretty rough going now but only 1 more to go on the 19th...hoorah!!!
Glad your all OK ish?
Speak soon I hope
Gillian

[Guest user]

back from Newark. hada good time.

My tatto were blue - they still are!

Fermara caused me few probs apart from the hot flushes.

It is cold isn't it?

have a good weekend

gill

[Guest user]

Hi Gill

Don't know if you're back from your sisters, but hope you had a good chin-wag. You'll be off to Devon soon I expect.

You'll have to let me know what to expect with Femara. Did you get any side effects?

Rads planning session went OK and I start 2nd Jan. I now have 2 lovely RED tattoos.

Hope you have some 'you' time in Devon and wrap up warm.

Mal x

[Guest user]

Mal I took Femara for 4 years and I also took alcohol.

Make sure you get a bucket of cream for the rad therapy. I used E45 - big pump dispenser.

Chester sounds nice, not too far but all you want. What a lovely present.

take care, gill.

[Guest user]

Good to hear from you Gill and glad to hear you're up and about. You've a busy couple of weeks by the sound of it, don't do too much! Your sisters should be relaxing and enjoyable. Perhaps it'll just be your jaw that'll get tired!

I collected my last xeloda tablets on Friday and will finish taking them a week on Saturday. Yippee. They also gave me Femara tablets which I will take for 5 years. (The info sheet said to avoid alcohol. For five years? I don't think so!) Wednesday I've got my planning session for the rads.

Have finally got round to booking a week-end break using the vouchers my collegaues gave me. So we're going to Chester in the middle of January. Hubbie wanted to go to the country but I fancied a bit of history and a bit of retail therapy.

Anyway enjoy your sisters and hopefully you'll enjoy most of your Devon trip.

Take it easy

Mal x

[Guest user]

Hi - sorry not been on - putting thing back in the kitchen when up!

Am ok, not too bad this time round.

How are you?

are you finished - I am veery bad I should remember

Haven't started on Christmas yet - will do now house getting ordered

Going to see my sister in Newark wed to friday this week and going to Devon next week - to bury mother in law's ashes - at last. she has been very patient!

best wishes go well
gill

[Guest user]

Hope you're feeling OK Gill. Kitchen nearly finished. Hope you're feeling OK.

Christmas nearly here.

What are your plans for Christmas? My daughter is doing Xmas Day,. What about you?

Mal x

[Guest user]

Glad you are feeling ok ish

Take it steady withe the decorating!!

Feb is a nice time for a holiday - not too hot inthe hot places shortens the winter

you will be clear of chemo by Christmas!!

Hope anyone else reading is as ok as can be.

go well

gill

[Guest user]

Hi Gill

Really good news from the onc. It must feel worthwhile doing the extra tax and you do seem to be tolerating it better than epi.

Brilliant news too about your holiday. I'm thinking of booking for February too as I should have finished the rads then. I go for my planning session next week, asked if I could have butterfly tattoos but no only dots! Am feeling great at the moment just really exhausted and still a little nauseous, but nothing really. I pick up my last xeloda on Friday and finish Dec 5th. Great.

Your house will look good for Xmas. New kitchen and decorated too. We're finally decorating. Finished the lounge and hall just all the other rooms to do now.

Take care. Hope you're OK Gillian and getting out and about.

Mal x

[Guest user]

Went really well on Thurs
Onc says agrees it is working and that I shoud have a further 3 - if I can tolerate it bloods wise.

so I should finish on or about the end of the year.
AND I can go on holiday on 2nd Feb!!!!!!!

Had Flu jab on friday

So a good weekend for me - except I went to Twickenham on Saturday and England lost 😞

Kitchen coming along - should be finished by end of week.

Glad you had some one to one time with your daughter - time to talk is rare - we should make more time to just chat with the important people.

how are you feeling Mal? Ok I hope.

gill

[Guest user]

Hope you've enjoyed your week-ends. I've not done much. Went for a meal with my daughter on Friday night which was nice. Don't seem to get much time with her on her own as the grandkids are usually in tow. Grandkids round yesterday and daughter and family + my mum for Sunday lunch today. Pretty quiet really.

Hope went well on Thursday Gill.

Keep smiling

Malx

[Guest user]

Hi all

Good to hear from you Gillian. Sorry you've been feeling a bit rough, hopefully you're out of the fog now.

And hope you're still OK Gill. Let us know how you go on tomorrow with the onc.

Take care

Mal x

[Guest user]

Thank you so much for your message - we all need hope.

best wishes gill

[Guest user]

Just want to jump in and wish all you ladies doing ECMF lots of luck. I was diagnosed in Aug 04 with Stage 3 grade 3 infiltrating ductal which had spread to my lymph nodes and tripple negative. I felt quite desperate when I heard my results however did the chemo and radio and came through it all ok, my hair grew back in a few months and although it took a while I eventually began to feel normal again. Here I am now 4+ years on feeling great and enjoying life. I wanted to post this because I know when I was at your stage it really helped me to be positive reading posts from others who had come through it all.

Love to you all

[Guest user]

good to hear from you again Gillian. I think it was good to get the Epi done first.
Glad you are okish
gill

[Guest user]

Hi all,
hope you are all doing OK, seem to be...roughly speaking and all things considred.
I'm OK, just had CMF no. 2 and cutting up a bit rough but none too bad....so thirsty tho...nothing quenches it does it?
So happy for you with young kids around you, it's just the best thing in life.
Hoping to see my niece and nephew over Christmas, just sorry I won't yet be fighting fit by then.
Alison if your still around..the CMF doesn't seem as bad as the Epi was, seemed to pick up from it more quickly than epi. Hair is coming back...slowly...there are other niggles, but not too bad really
Hope all you lovely ladies are Ok and glad to be nearingt the end of the poisoning stage at least
Lots of love
Gillian

[Guest user]

Great news Gill - one gone? Just need the same for the others now. I'm sure you'll be happy (not quite the right word) to continue as long as it's working.

Glad you had such a good time with your friend over from France. Do you see her reasonably often? My son and his family are still here from Spain but his wife doesn't want to go back, so at the moment they're staying over here for a few more months while they decide what to do. It'll be nice to have them for Xmas. The whole family all together will be good. I wrapped my pressies up this week. Still not quite finished buying yet. Two grandkids for tea tonight and made the Xmas cake with them. Promised them they can ice it in a couple of weeks.

Finally got my outfit for the wedding. Feel better for that. It's a posh do in a marquee by the side of a river in the Trough of Bowland. Think I should have bought wellies!

Take care and make the most of your week-end.

Hope you're OK Gillian.

Mal x

[Guest user]

Hi Mal,
My friend has just gone - we had a fantastic time and I hate her going.

My scan was good on thurs - one spot on Liver gone one crumpled and one no bigger.

see onc next thurs, I expect he will say to continue.

hope you're ok
gill

[Guest user]

Enjoy your time with your friend. Don't get hoarse!

Mal x

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Got my friend who lives in ~France with me for a few days - too few.
this will be good, lots a chat!

take it steady shopping!

gill

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Yep. Party went really well but a bit noisy! Played party games, had some party food and then out trick or treating - that was fun with 7 kids (ages between 2 & 9)! Still they all enjoyed it and came all dressed up. My grandson Josh (9) said he thought I was getting dressed up and then said if I took my wig off I would look the part anyway. Shattered today though, it was a long day with the hospital as well. Taking Mum out Xmas shopping tomorrow morning and then lunch out. Give me 7 grandkids over my 82 year old mother any day!

So you'll have a busy week-end with the 3 year old. It's good though. They keep you upbeat and you don't have time to ponder too much. Course you'll get the grandchildren bit and love every minute of it.

Hope you're keeping well Gill & Gillian.

Take care

Mal x

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Hope you had a good party Mal.
gill

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Hi Mal - yu do keep going don't you. I so hope I get to the grand children bit. I have 2 step grand children - 15 and 3, my step daughter's and my youngest son's girlfriend's. They are lovely and the 3 year old is staying over next weekend!!

Hope youhave a good party

gill

[Guest user]

Hi - it works - yu ok?

[Guest user]

Hi Mal = not suprised you came home early!

we did not get the snow.

all went well if slowly yesterday.

no not me for the dancing

Take care alison

gill

[Guest user]

Hi girls

Well we're home a day early. My head was freezing in bed last night so decided to come home though the driving snow! Couldn't believe the weather. Yesterday we had a lovely day, did part of the coastal walk and sat on the beach in the sun and then today......

Hope you're tax has gone OK today Gill and there were no hiccups either today or yesterday, Bet you really enjoyed your day Monday. You are a theatrical family. Where does your son get his dancing skills from? You? Glad you had such a lovely week-end before today's onslaught.

Good to hear from you again Alison despite you feeling so rough. Hopefully you're feeling a little better by now and that's your epi done with. Can't help you with CMF though, but Gillian is on that now.

Hope you're still feeling OK Gillian and don't overdo it.

Take care

Mal x

[Guest user]

Good to hear from you Gillian. Glad you are ok.

I had a great time watching Nunsense. Yes my son's fiance is a dancer, dance teacher, actress and History Student!
Looking forward to tomorrow and not Teusday.

Hope by the time you read this Mal you will have hada good few days at your caravan.

Sorry to hear you felt so bad Alison - don't fight it, it you are tried or rough just go to bed until to goes.

best wishes - go well
gill

[Guest user]

Hello All,

I haven't commented on the site for ages as I lost the thread!
After 3rd Epi I felt very very low, tearful and lousy for about a week, this was unusual. Anyway got over that and last weekend enjoyed a meal out with family for daughter's birthday. We had late lunch at Raymond Blanc - lovely, then had celebrations at home in the evening.
However had 4th Epi on Wednesday of this week, felt very sick and lousy on afternoon/evening of treatment, I did have the usual sick tablets dex, Ondansetron and Metoclopramide. Managed work on Thursday (couldn't manage an evening leaving 'do' with colleagues), went to work yesterday but had to get hubby to fetch me at lunchtime as felt really lousy. Have been in p.j.s and in bed since! Slept most of the afternoon and evening, then awake for about three hours in the early hours.
Feel better today if I stay in bed and doze. Thank goodness this is my last Epi.
I start CMF in three weeks, I have been reading the thread and am hoping that CMF might not be as bad, however is there a build up from EPi which makes you feel lousy? My Onc thinks that it is the build up that is making me feel low, at least it should only be for a week (that does seem like a long time though).
I wonder if anyone can answer a couple of questions?
It seems a long session - IV on day one and then tablets, then IV on day 8 and tablets until 14 days - do you feel tired during that time?
Is the diarrhoea very bad? Does hair start growing back now?

We had our 'Wear it Pink' day at school last Friday - had a great day, all staff and children dressed up, I awarded prizes for the pinkest pupil in three age ranges and a bottle of wine for the pinkest staff member - we raised £500. Our IT guy put the pictures on our school website and we are selling to the families for £1 each to boost the fund - it seems very popular with the parents.
When I wrote about our proposed day I included about where the money goes, they also know I am going through treatment at the moment - the very young said they were helping me! how sweet. One even brought a pink lily for me! It is a great comfort to keep working and try and be as near normal as possible.

Well what a huge 'blog'.

Hope you all enjoy your weekend -

Alison

[Guest user]

Hi Gillian

Good to hear that you're not rough and are just busy (not with work I hope). Sorry you've got trouble with an abcess and really hope you get an urgent appointment. You want chemo out of the way before Xmas and not hanging on.

Beautiful day? It's pouring down here as well as gales. Lovely. Sleet and frost forecast for next week while we're at the caravan! A good book and a wee dram on the cards I think.

Hope you enjoyed last night Gill and also hope everything goes according to plan for Monday. Good luck Tuesday.

Will be off-line now til Wednesday night.

Take care girls & enjoy the week-end.

Mal x

[Guest user]

Hi all!,
sorry ive not been on for a while, no troubles...just busy!
I have been having teeth trouble...onc says I should get it sorted (acsess) as if it escalates it could cause problems, so chemo will be delayed for a week, now dentist says he cant do me till the 10th so chemo will be 2 weeks late, which would make my last one due on boxing day....not what I wanted at all!
Im going to push them again on Monday and see if I can claw my way onto the "urgent" list..
Have found CMF a bit easier so far, bit of runny tummy but not too bad at all,
Glad you are busy ladies, all painting and decorating and entertaining wee ones, i'm very impressed
Blimey it's windy out there today, beautiful though, we live on the top floor of a block of flats and at treetop level it's quite impressive out there.
Have good weekends everyone
Gillian

[Guest user]

Hi Gill

Thanks for the reply. Thought either everyone was out enjoying themselves (heaven forbid) or else glued to the sofa.

3rd tax already! That's flown and you do seem to be much better than epi. Monday sounds brilliant, just hope your plans don't go up in a puff of smoke again. No. You'll have a brilliant day and it'll be lovely to see your son. Is his fiancee a dancer too? Quite a theatrical family, aren't you.

I finish my 2nd cycle of the xeloda tablets tomorrow and go for the 3rd lot next Friday, 31st. Also got the same 8 grandkids round next Friday. We're having a Halloween party - all got to dress up including me - games, butties and trick or treating. My OH thinks I'm mad.

Off to the caravan on Sunday til Wednesday to close it up for the winter. Looking forward to it. A bit of fresh air, walks by the sea and a couple of nice meals out. Should be good.

Hopefully Gillian is out and about and not feeling rough.

Enjoy tonight Gill.

Mal x

[Guest user]

Hi Mal - I am ok, the others have gone quiet - hope they are ok. they are probably or they would have said.

My 3rd Docetaxel next Tuesday. I have delayed it by one day so I can go to the Opera House on Monday!
A present form a dentist I worked for - she is a Friend of the Royal Opera House and can get tickets for Dress Rehearsals of the Royal Ballet - and she has given me one!! I am so looking forward to it. It is at 11.30am, so I will go up and see this and then go to my son's flat to try and sort out his telly - long story - then 'play' on Convent Garden and have a cuppa. I will then go to Central School of Ballet. where my son will be in Class and see if I can sneak a look, after which we will go to the pub to eat before he goes home and I get the train. That is the plan, let's hope it works!

Tonight we are going to see the above son's fiance in Nunsense - a comedy musical about five nuns!

Got District Nurses this morning - to do line flush and blood sample.

Where are you with your treatment? I loose track.

gill

[Guest user]

Are you OK girls?

Mal x

[Guest user]

Glad you enjoyed the time with your sister and the meal. Don't feel guilty at being undercharged, how many times have restaurants tried to overcharge - loads.

Nice to feel better and a bit more human isn't it. I say I feel great on xeloda and nearly normal but when I think back a few months I realise that this isn't normal, just less yuck. Don't know about you but my brain has gone...... I have to keep everything very simple these days.

Is it your 3rd tax next week? And then another scan? Fingers crossed. Hopefully the tax will have worked its magic.

Going to the caravan next week Sunday to Wednesday to close it down for the winter. It'll be nice to get away for a few days. A few days feeling the sun on my back would have been better though. Oh to be normal.

Take care and hope you are OK Gillian.

Mal x

[Guest user]

Up early this morning as my sisiter has stayed over night to collect her son's girlfriend from Gatwick airport!

It was great to se her and have some good talk time - and we went ou to eat and were under charged, now I feel guitly.

I did say Sussex All Blacks SOUNDS good. They are a good local side. Tony was a Prop. He has done all the jobs - the last was match/fixtures secretary.

Feeling quite normal today, it is so nice to feel that one day I will feel normal again all the time!

hope you have a good day.

gill

[Guest user]

Wing forward my OH tells me. Like you I never saw him 'in action' 'cos we didn't get together until he was 50. It was a local team he played for - Littleborough -not as grand sounding as the Sussex All Blacks. He was match secretary until a couple of years ago and I used to go and make the butties on competition days. He'll be green when I tell him about your OH and the Tickenham tours.

So glad you're finding the tax easier. As you've said before the physical side effects (on the whole) are easier to deal with than those that send you into a black hole.

Not started the painting yet. I thought it might do my arm some good and give me a bit of exercise. The tins will probably sit there staring at me for a few weeks.......

Dress agencies... now there's an idea. There's a brilliant one in Manchester city centre and I'm there seeing Occupational Health on Wednesday so may call in.

Sorry about your meal. There'll be other days.

Hope you're OK Gillian and Nettie.

Mal x

[Guest user]

Mal hope you enjoy your painting!!!

- Then out to find that outfit. I get my best things from Dress Agencies - names I have never heard and probably could not afford.

I did not get my meal out! My step grandson had a cold so I dared not risk it. I never do anything I say I am going to do, do I? Had a Chinese take-away instead.

My husband played until he was 50. Burgess Hill - the Sussex All Blacks - sounds good doesn't it? Unfortunately I never saw him play as we did not get together until he was 55 - but I have heard all about it. Have you heard the phrase 'the older I get the better I was' -?
We are lucky enough to be able to get to Twickenham easily. He does Tours for visitors every few weeks. More chance to talk rugby!
who did your husband play for and where on the field?

Tax is easier than Epi for me. There is no depression, just physical pain - flu aches. My nails are getting thinner and some people loose them - like hair.

How are you Nettie?
How are you Gillian?

[Guest user]

I've had a good week-end. Out yesterday buying loads of paint (you shamed me into it), so will get stuck in next week with the help of one grandson who I've promised £10 to help. Today been to Skipton with MIL and stopped for a nice meal on the way back. Still looking for an outfit for the Xmas wedding. Can't decide whether to go traditional or Christmassy.

Is your husband into rugby then? Mine too. He played until he was 50 on the vets team.

Hope you have a really good week and you enjoyed your meal last night. Are you finding the tax easier than epi or just different?

Gillian, hope you've enjoyed your week-end and are keeping OK.

Take care girls

Mal x

[Guest user]

The cards are something I could do. hum where are the ones I had left from last year?

Been into town this morning - take husband to Rugby Club pm and collect son's lap top for menders. dinner with Step daughter this evening - that should do for me!!

Feeling ok and loking forward to a good week.

hope everyone is ok

go well
gill

[Guest user]

I'm always early writing Xmas cards. This year I bought them from Christies hospital.

Is the papering all finished now Gill? You'll be all posh for Xmas.Think I'll push the boat out and buy some tins of paint.

Anything planned for week-end girls? We're off to Skipton on Sunday. It will be a year since my father-in-law died and he was buried there, so are taking MIL over and then doing sunday lunch in a country pub. Nothing else planned.

Hope the weather's kind this week-end.

Mal x

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CHRISTMAS CARDS!!!!
SUPPOSE I SHOULD START TO THINK ABOUT IT 😕

yes paper today.

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Like you Gillian, can't think about looking good at the moment. One of the girls at work is 50 next week and we're supposed to be going for a night on the town, but the way I feel, like you say Halloween would be more appropriate. I am soooooo glad my eyelashes and brows didn't disappear (well I have half eyebrows). In some ways it would be nice to get all dolled up and go out, trouble is I think my confidence is hiding somewhere.

You sound upbeat Gillian. Are you OK or is it all bravado (We get very good at that don't we?) Hope CMF is being kind to you.

Gill, I bet the gloss is all finished now. Paper next?

Just in the throes of Xmas shopping online. All these grandkids cost a fortune. I even wrote my Xmas cards (must be fed-up).

Mal x

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Well Mal, as she is the EX, I'm sure you have nothing to worry about! Head up and proud.
Strength=beauty...(apparently!)
Can't even think about looking good myself, just glad it's almost Halowe'en and I can pass as normal for one night.
I havent really gone on a proper night out since this all began but I quite fancy seeing if I can get myself respectable with the addition of stick-ons! (boobs, brows, lashes hair etc)
Take care
Gillian

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Decorator is going great guns by the sound of it. They can have it done while you're still looking at it. Will have to do something in ours before Xmas, it's a disgrace!

Can't muster up much enthusiasm about this wedding. My husband's ex will be there and she would look gorgeous in a bin bag! So can't really compete at the moment. Still will have to get something.

Autumn 2010 that's something to look forward to. I still have one son who's been with his partner for 10 years and has 3 kids and has only just got engaged. It'll probably be another 10 years before he gets married.

Mal x

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decorator is good - done the ceiling , got the paper off and under coated

it is so good to have some one to do it - we would never have got round to it

another wedding - at least a hat is in order for a winter wedding
furry or those soft feathery thiings. house, church or register office?
I went to a wedding fair with my son at the weekend - he is planning for 2010 autumn

[Guest user]

Next year in the Dales sounds good. Have you got any treats lined up over the next few weeks Gill? How's the decorating going?

The house in Argyll sounds idyllic for a wedding. I presume it's a summer wedding with you mentioning the midges. Have you not sorted your outfit out yet? Or are you waiting for your hair to re-appear? I suppose you don't get a good overall impression when you're bald! My step-daughter gets married 3 days before Christmas and I can't muster any enthusiasm about getting an outfit, but will have to force myself.

Take care girls

Mal x

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Eastbourne is nice - just down the road from me.

Next year in the Dales then?

gill

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I had mumps in Oban when I was 5
gill

[Guest user]

Hello ladies,
wedding still on the cards but not doing much about it till after Christmas/Chemo! I have got the invites sorted and booked a beautiful house on the side of a loch in Argyll, nr Oban. It will be fantastic....just midges to worry about!
CMF Ok so far, just the usual "feeling a bit crappy" kind of thing, took the day off today to wait for an oven engineer, to be told, now I've checked, he is NOT coming.
What with inviting 6 friends for roast veg cous cous etc on Thursday, what did I expect???? Don't think boiled veg will be quite the same....
I really fancy a trip to the dales now you are all talking about it!
take Care all
Gillian

[Guest user]

Gill Wensleydale is my hubbie's favourite. It seems ages since we've had our boots on (well it has been) although I do seem to have more energy on xeloda and think we might get the boots out of mothballs soon. And it's nice to start thinking about plans for next year. House like a new pin, holiday and short trips up north. Sounds good to me. Mum's favourite place is Eastbourne so are looking to take her for a short break there soon (via Kent where her sister lives). Good to hear about your hair. Mine's about eighth of an inch now but feels really weird.

Hope you're both OK Gillian and Nettie.

Take it easy

Mal x