Breast Cancer Now Forum

Yes Well Done Beedot - a fully fledged Warrior now.   Are you having radiotherapy?   Jackie how are you ??   Have my PICC line out in a couple of hours time, yippee !!!   The cocktails still available at the party as I am definitely going to have a drink tonight.   Hope side effects subsiding for all, love Ebimx ... View more

Hi Mooney, Not that it helps, but I feel really sorry that you are almost 3 weeks past final chemo and still feeling rotten. Nothing I can say to relieve that, excepting we do all know how you are feeling as at some point we have ( or in some cases still are ) experiencing them.   So we do know how awful and depressing it all is, we also know that it will pass - eventually. You have been strong in the past, rest now and try to find that inner strength, its there but masked by all the aches and pains you are having to put up with at the moment. Chemo not only messes with out bodies but our minds too.....tell it to get lost or even - b....r off !! with love and gentle hugs, Ebimx   ... View more

Hi Jackie, so good to hear from you, we worry about you so much.  What a horrible time you are having.  And yet you still seek to reassure others.  You are some very special lady.   We are routing for you,  love and very big hugs, Ebimx ... View more

Hi Suze, think I am a tad past playing with a rubber duck, especially as both boobs are now quite droopy so 6 inches maybe too much water.  Best for me to "go native" I think. All I need now is someone to tell me that I cant indulge in the odd G & T whilst having radio and then I will throw the towel in ! . Day 10 today for me - and yippee its number 60, the very last, injection...which is just as well as I get the feeling that my other half is quite happy at times to be sticking a needle into my tummy ! Only got to get rid of the PICC on Tuesday and I am well and truly done with this chemo journey. Bring on the radio. have a good week end, its sunny here on south coast but very cold wind love and hugs Ebimx ... View more

Just a couple of days since I checked out the forum and I cant believe the disasters that have struck. Jackie, can I add my commiserations and hugs to all the others....you so didnt deserve another BOB, is it something to do with the Sangria   seriously hope the hospital sort you out very quickly.   Suze, Clarityn helped my achy bones, took one first thing in the morning after the prazole thingy, helped my streaming eyes too. but again sorry to hear you having such a tough time.   And I too loved your (still got it) sense of humour over the white gloves...and the Michael Jackson impression too - forgot who that was but it was funny too!   The worst news of the week (well apart from the above) was the NO BATH during radio.....like others with a PICC line I have endured a small soak with my Limbo plastic sleeved arm held high in the air as I refused to have a low water level just because of chemo.  I start my 5 days x 3 weeks radio on 12 June, there will be a water shortage prior and post in the Sussex area.   Blue 2 - well done for reaching the end of chemo, really hope your side effects are minimal.   In spite of all the bad stuff there is a strong level of humour running through this thread - well done to all who help cheer us all up.   Best idea of the week goes to the Warrior who suggested an end of chemo present.....off to relay that everyone is getting them to my OH.  Hugs to all , love Ebimx       ... View more

A late post to wish Egg & Blue hugs and best wishes for tomorrow, we will be with you in thoughts. Love and big hugs Ebimx ... View more

Hi Egg & Blue, Could you let us know which day you are having treatment, just so that we can mentally be with you on the right days.   Does anyone else have a problem with "normal" ?  My friends are all saying now that I have had the last chemo, its back to normal now.  I am not sure what normal is anymore.  Nor am I sure what was normal in the years up to this journey starting.  Is normal what happens on that day?  or month or year?     Isnt what we have been through "normal" for chemo patients?  But not for my family and friends.   Being retired, my days are all very different, no 9 - 5.  I suppose what I am trying to work out (with a chemo brain ! ) is what you Teddy Warriors who have been with me since January, what do you think is normal now.   Cos I am sure I dont know and think this is probably affecting my teary mood.   If you think I have lost the plot - please do tell me - as I may have ! Big hugs all round, love Ebimx  ... View more

P>S. Well done Scotty on joining the Grad Club xxx ... View more

Hello Teddy Warriors, We may all be down but is it any wonder.  We have been through months of hell.  Loss of our precious hair. Side effects that any one of which would pole axe our men, but we have more and more effects with each treatment. Can you imagine the reaction from a man if they had to put up with Jackies BOBs ?!  Or months of streaming eyes and tap noses.  Or finger and Toe nails that feel like they have been put in a wringer. Dont get me wrong my OH has been absolutely brilliant, but he would have been out of the door with even just half of the effects we have had. So we cry, we rant, we moan and then we say sorry for doing just that.      You are the bravest most courageous group of women I have had the privilege to know.  Your caring support has got me through this ordeal.  Like Jackie (who having had 4 BOBs says her side effects arent bad!! - thats amazing resiliance),  I feel  guilty because some of you have had so much more to endure.   We will all get through this - we will have hair - the side effects will stop and we will love and laugh again. Maybe not tomorrow or next week but at some point we will, because of the truly incredible women that you are.   Perhaps this is bordering on a rant - so sorry ! Ebimx ... View more

Its very quiet round here at the moment!   So lucky that I was on steroids for my birthday as it all went to pieces after they wore off! The side effects have been more of the usual, shooting bone pain, extreme tiredness, horrible mouth taste and streaming eyes. Thank goodness it was the last treatment as it all seems to be worse than last time. The nurses recommended "Snowfire" for my splits in my fingers, apparently mountain climbers use it when they experience the same problems, it does work so if you have the same problems you can get it in Boots, £5 and worth every penny. How are you all doing??? Jackie you got through the last treatment ok ?  What about the other warriors. Egg how are you managing the weekly treatments? Hugs to all, love Ebimx       ... View more

Good morning Teddy Warriors, thank you for all your birthday greetings, being on the last day of steroids it was a good day.  Friends really pulled out the stops with cards and flowers but the one item that meant most to me was my graduation certificate!   Suze, I have been worried about my nails almost from the beginning as at the make over day I sat next to a lady who had terrible trouble with her finger and toe nails.  Also early on this forum a product was mentioned to protect the nails, of course I can't remember what is was and it was expensive , so I got Dr Organic anti fungal tea tree nail solution.  Two of my toes have turned black and my two middle fingers are tingling like mad.  I also have some nasty cracks in the skin at the top of my finger nails which are extremely painful. Just when you think you might be coming out of the woods there is something else to deal with.  the nails will repair but it's going to take more time than we want to give to it.    A very happy belated birthday greeting for last Tuesday, hope you have a really good celebration after your radiotherapy.   Love and big hugs to all having treatment next week and special hugs to those suffering with SEs from last week. Ebimx ... View more

Thanks Jackie, especially as you maybe feeling under the weather. Has anyone managed to print off their grad certificate ? If so could you share how to do it please, Ebimx ... View more

Hello Teddy Tax Warriors, So sorry for long delay in posting, being trying to get my act together, like so many have been tearful, feeling sorry for myself and tired....whats new. However today was my final chemo and a little of the old spirit did kick in, probably all due to the steroids and thank goodness I am taking them tomorrow as we are having a quiet dinner out at a fav pub of ours. Robin I meant to post early this morning but got held up, you may not have been having chemo but I was holding your hand in celebration.....do hope your SE's begin to subside soon. Jackie you have been quiet so we all assume you are having a bit of a bad time, blinking bum has really bitten you badly and hope the antibiotics are working for you. Egg, Beedot and Robin thanks for your birthday greetings.   This forum has been a life saver to me and you are the women that form it so thank you for being so honest, kind and supportive.   Its not all good news the dreaded injections start tomorrow, birthday treat my OH called it, he didnt say an awful lot after that comment!!!! So will my hair all spring back tomorrow!! love and hugs to all you wonderful Teddies,  ... View more

Hello Teddy Warriors, Catching up with all the posts, congratulations to the 10 Teddy Warriors who have their Grad Badges. Like most of you, I am tired/fed up/and totally confused as to where I left my brain and personality. Like Slowski, I dont recognise who I am any more. Saw my Radiologist doctor on Tuesday and that was a bundle of laughs.  She spent a very long time giving me the 3 options that I now had, with complete details of upside and downside of each which were....1. Radiotherapy 2. Surgery to take out the remaining lymph nodes and 3. Do nothing.  She then asked me to choose which one I wanted to do.  It shocked me and my OH.  Tried twice to bounce it back to her by saying she was the expert and I wasnt able to make that decision.  Then "what would she do in my postion" but she was having none of it.  Take some time and come back and let me know what you want to do !!!!!! As if I wanted to prolong any of this treatment.  So because originally the surgeon had laid out my plan i.e. surgery then chemo then radiotherapy, thats what my OH and I decided to do.  But now I am angry that I should have been put in this position and dont know what to do about it.   To cap it all she also said that my oncologist couldnt make up his mind what treatment I should be on for the next 10 years. And on top of that my last Tax is next Wednesday and I am totally underwhelmed by it and my 70th birthday is the next day.....some celebration thats going to be...only good thing is I will have the steroid high, loved your suggestion Egg of steroid chasers !! Thank you all for posting the drugs that have been suggested for you, which will arm me with info when I go to see my confused onc in June. If I had been going through this without the forum I think I would have gone bananas but to know that you are all suffering with the same problems (and some of you with so much more) has given me comfort even though I wouldnt have wished any of it on any of you......sorry if that sounds heartless - I really dont mean it to be. love and big hugs and huge thanks for all the advice and sympathy that abounds here. Ebimx ... View more

Egg thanks for the best laugh in ages...Tax Teddies in Tobago!!!  Now that is a good film title. Best one yet.   sorry chemo brain set in can't remember who mentioned the DEXA scan.  I was lucky as my rheumatologist organised it for me, the main reason being that he will use it as a base in the next few years to see if my bones have been affected.  Having had osteoporosis it made good sense.   I think the same philosophy should apply to all who have chemo simply because of the damage done to the bones.   Still chuckling over the Tax Teddies in Tobago, what a wonderful thought, we all turn up at some exclusive resort with our moth eaten heads, dripping crusty noses, swollen running eyes and with all the other indignities that we have gone through to start our Tax Warrior war cry!  Should cause a stir. jackie thinking about you tomorrow, best wishes for an easy time. love to all you wonderful Teddies Ebimx ... View more

Robin, canulas are items of torture, so sorry it has gone so wrong at the very end of the chemo.   Hope you get it sorted very soon.  So difficult to sleep if its placed in the wrong position. Egg - hot / cold sweats another tortuous problem. Having been through the menopause I thought they were behind me, but no back with a vengeance....and worse just after Tax.  Vitamin C might help. Slowskie - yup pain in newish left hip and left thumb, both problem areas, The weakest points for me. Scotty / Egg - we are the army of JAN 2017 - we have been through too much togerther not to stay together. We will stay together until the last warrior finishes.     And Jackie, bless you for all the messages and now the badges - Gigantic Hugs for Friday.    Love to all, Ebimx ... View more

No brain...couldn't remember what I had said the first time! ... View more

Hi Fen Hen, well done you on completing the treatment, bet that's a good feeling, makes you our second scout to go through....consider yourself badged! did they take out your PICC line at the same time as your final chemo?? Post gone a bit funny tonight, this maybe already listed,  Ebimx ... View more

Hi Fen Hen, could you let me know how many days after your last treatment the PICC line was removed please? the community nurses are telling me one thing and the chemo nurses another.  I am in the middle and whilst I would not have wanted to have done chemo without the line, I would like to get it out asap when I have had the final zap! ... View more

If they made a film about this thread no-one would believe it to be true. Jackie yet another hurdle and goodness knows you have had more than your fair share but as always your seemingly indomitable spirit refuses to be suppressed and you find a message that absolutely fits the occasion.  Keep going you must, no other choice, but you do it in such style.   Go show that daughter of BOB where she gets off.  Just a few more days Jackie and you get to give yourself your very own badge and by God you bloody deserve it....and no I won't apologise for the language !,, love and know that everyone of us is willing you on  xxxxEbimx ... View more