Breast Cancer Now Forum

Morning Jewels! Well I am enjoying being virtually side effect free apart from a few aches. Managing to get out and about more and off out for lunch with OH today. Am not looking forward to my 2nd trip to the bar at all but know that I have to keep going. Still it will be 2 down, 4 to go. Chelle, sorry to hear about your hair loss, you had your cocktail the day before me. I have washed my hair today and lost a bit of hair but will be inspecting my pillow in the morning! Hope your phone is back up and running, I dropped my son's phone in a stream once and managed to dry it out by taking the back cover and battery out then putting them all in a bowl of rice for a couple of days. Vicki, I was given steroids to take for 3 days starting from the day before chemo and my chemo notes said that they were to help stop an allergic reaction to the drugs and to help combat fluid retention. I also got antibiotics to take for 10 days from day 5 and anti fungal tablets to take from day 5 for 7 days. Both I think are just preventative measures. Sorry to hear that you have got to have an ultrasound scan on Tuesday, but it is best to get it checked out. Will be thinking of you. Becky, enjoy your family camping trip this weekend, have always wanted to go to Corfe Castle, maybe will try to in the summer hols. Nicj thanks for all the combating side effects tips, you are building up quite a list! What a fantastic fund raising achievement, well done you! Marion, your OH sounds lovely, I can imagine that he must have found the clipping experience tough. Your scarf looks lovely by the way. Debs, I took paracetamol regularly for 3 days starting on the day of the jab and this helped ease the bone pain. Gus, good to hear from you, hope you are managing ok on your own. Keep posting on here for company and to get lots of virtual support. Good luck to Janet and Katherine for today. Enjoy the rest of the day Jewels. It's raining here so might have to dig out my boots for my lunch trip. Martha, please get in touch soon. Xxx ... View more

Evening Jewels. Just a short post to wish Vickie, Gus, Joan and Titus luck for their trips to the bar tomorrow, no pushing ladies. Xxx ... View more

Evening Jewels, have had quite a lazy day today but managed to go out on a long walk and don't feel as tired as I have been doing, hope this continues up to my next cycle on 4/7. A warm welcom to Flippantfox! Chelle, a big virtual hug from me to you, hope you feel better very soon. Xx Nicj, am so glad you have got Emend this time and hope it makes cycle 2 more bearable. Vicki, glad the PICC line fitting went well. Jackiebee, hope your heartscan went well and that you are all set for Thursday. Cress, you lucky thing, have a great time (again) in Venice. Good luck to Maxie for tomorrow, will be thinking of you. Have a restful evening Jewels. Xxx ... View more

Well I am on day 11 and side effects seem to have eased and I am just feeling really tired by early evenings hence the profile pic. Am managing to do the housework that I have turned a blind eye to and am back to nagging my son to do his homework on time so I must be feeling a bit better. Was glad Chelle to wash my greasy locks today after 4 days. I had a couple of festivals booked during the summer which we can't do now so have been watching the IOW festival this weekend but it is no substitute for seeing music live, oh well there is always next year. Deedee hope you are feeling a bit better now. Vicki good luck with your line fitting tomorrow. Martha I love your new profile pic, I used to have a secret crush on Kojak, (not sure I should have admitted that). Good luck to Jill, Jayne and Nicj for tomorrow, will be thinking of you all. Have a relaxing evening Jewels and take care. Xxx ... View more

Goodwin afternoon Jewels. Well I am on day 9 and my side effects seem to have settled to be tiredness and an occasional fuzzy head feeling which comes ang goes so am hoping that things don't get any worse this cycle. Have now got my brown wig which is sitting on the sideboard where I hope it will stay providing that the cold cap does it's job. Must admit that I hate only washing my hair twice per week, but that's what I have been told I must do. York sounds great to me for a meet up next year, something to look forward to for us all and it's only 20 minutes by train for me. Not sure that I will be able to recognise most of you though from your current pics! Chelle, check out Mannions cafe in York, have been there twice and the food was lovely. Joan, really glad that you took some positives from your meeting with your ONC, have been thinking of you Deedee, hope you are feeling a bit better today after your bad day. Martha, you can really do without all that stress, hope the pins and needles settle down for you, assume they may be a side effect from your potion? Hope that Trish, Lainey and Linsey are all ok, hope to hear from you all soon. Good luck to Emma for tomorrow.Will be thinking of you. Thanks to all Jewels for making me smile through these tough times, I am so glad to have you by my side. Have a peaceful evening Jewels. Xxx ... View more

Hi Morwenna I am so pleased that your ultrasound scan has been brought forward to tomorrow. I hope that you will not have to wait too long for your results and that you will get good news. I have also mentioned having a prophylactic mastectomy and my BS said that he would do it but to concentrate on my treatment for the next few months (have only had 1/6 chemos then will have RADS to follow). Take care and let us know how you get on. Xx ... View more

Good afternoon Jewels. I am sending a big hug to Joan, Jayney and Cazzer. As others have said you are not alone feeling the way you do. For me it seems to be a wave of different emotions which are often both painful and overpowering to the extent that I feel that I can't cope but somehow I find some strength and hope to keep going because I have to for me and my family. I wish you all strength and hope in the weeks ahead. We are all here for you. Hope Elizabeth and Emma are doing ok? The very best of luck to Pat, Martha and Meggy for tomorrow. Hoping that your side effects are manageable. Have managed to get out for a walk today (day 6) which was great as have felt a bit of a prisoner these last few days. Found another mantra: Learn from yesterday, live for today, hope for tomorrow. Have a peaceful evening precious Jewels ... View more

TAC x 6 Cycle 1 day 5 Evening Jewels. Haven't posted for a few days as have been feeling rough after first chemo; aching, fuzzy head, no energy and feeling sick (but not actually been sick). Also like a few of us have been feeling very down and wondering how on earth I will be able to get through 6 cycles. Today, I do feel a bit brighter and my side effects have eased a little, and am now back to thinking just take it a day at a time cos that's all we can really do and of course make the most of the days when we feel well. (Was also down yesterday as it would have been my Dad's birthday as well as Fathers Day yesterday - still miss him loads after 5 years). Chelle, sorry for delay in replying to your question re cold cap. I kept the cap on for 45mins after treatment, think it differs by cocktail. I was glad yo wash my hair on Saturday. OH commented that we will save a fortune on electricity bill cos I won't be using hairdryer! Glad that you have finally been. Love the picture of your cousin. My 2nd cycle is 4th July. Hope Ethel and Emma are both doing well after their visits to the bar today. Cress, sounds like you have had an exhausting day enioy your curry tonight. Hope all Jewels have a peaceful evening. Take care precious ladies. ... View more

TACx6 Cycle 1 Day 1 Good afternoon Jewels first cycle done for me and as Claire said it wasn't too bad. Did the cold cap and boy was it hard going for the first 15 minutes but I stuck it out to the bitter end. Hair is in a state now matted with conditioner and I can't wash it for at least 24 hours yuk! Joan I have been keeping a note too of some positive statements Take pride in how far you have come, have faith in how far you can go. Repeat after me, I am stronger than this challenge and this challenge is making me even stronger. Yesterday is history, tomorrow is a mystery, today is the present and that is a gift. Sometimes all you can do is not think, not wonder not imagine, not obsess, just breathe and have faith that everything will work out for the best. We can't change the past but we can ruin a perfectly good present by worrying about the future. Hope they help. Thanks to Nanniereree for popping in to wish us Jewels luck! Martha love Stevie it really suits you, hope to get mine sorted next week as am not too optimistic about the cold cap. Have lots of scarves and caps too. Hope to hear from Faye and Marion later. Lots of love to all other Jewels. Xxx ... View more

Sorry Emma about tomorrow, big hug xxx ... View more

Evening Jewels Nicj sorry to hear about your new side effect, soaking in cold water helps! Fantastic idea about the sponsored head shave. Another song for you - 3 little birds by bob marley (don't worry about a thing cos every little thing gonna be alright). Joan hope you have had a brighter day today. Chelle, thanks for the encouraging update re your experience at the bar! Martha, sorry to hear about A&E visit and glad you are home safe now. To Emma, Deedee, Claire and Faye I wish you love and luck for your cocktails tomorrow. I will be thinking of you as I sit at the bar too. Have been feeeling quite stressed this afternoon, but will be digging out a comedy dvd soon to hopefully give me a lift. Good luck to Marion for your 2nd go. To all other Jewels, have a restful evening. Xxxx ... View more

Chelle, good luck for tomorrow, will be thinking of you! Becky and Joan, hope you are both doing ok after your first cocktail. A warm welcome to Gus. Nicj, hope you will soon have some brighter days, I really feel for you. Maxie, sorry to hear thst you have not got your date yet, keep on at them to get one. Joan, am so sorry that you are having a tough day. I understand how you feel, the wave of different emotions is very difficult to deal with. All the Jewels are pulling for you and wishing you strength. You will get through this but you don't have to face it alone cos we are all beside you. Big hug. Hope all Jewels have a peaceful evening. Xxx ... View more

Good afternoon Jewels! Have been busy with more preparation for first chemo on Thursday. Just been to see GP who prescribed me lots of meds to combat side effects and said that I can book a telephone appointment if I need any more. Also said that he wouldn't charge to complete my insurance claim! Have spent the weekend trying to make the most of my pre chemo time and had a lovely day out in York with my OH, just what we both needed. Am feeling very anxious today about first chemo, think that it is the fear of the unknown which is scaring me. Martha - how did the head shaving go, hope you are ok? Joan - saw your post about your irregular heartbeat, hope it is back to normal now or you are getting it sorted? Vicki - glad that you and OH are ok, it is such an horrendous time waiting for results for us and our partners/families. Cress - hope you are loving your italian break away and that your swelling is under control. Longtall - not heard from you lately, hope you are ok after your first chemo. Ann - how are you doing and how is your foal Jayney- sorry to hear that you have been feeling so rough, hope things start to improve, take it easy. Fiona - sorry to hear that you are struggling, you csn do this, we all can, am sure it will be tough, but it will be worth it in the end. Jackiebee - Am starting chemo 5 weeks after surgery, so think you are right to follow up your start date. Welcome to Helen, Katherine, Saxgirl and Cazzer, the ladies on here are lovely so keep in touch and ask for help if you need it. If we can't help, then one of the lovely ladies on the other threads will. Good luck to Lins and Becky for tomorrow, let us know how you get on. Nicj re song for shaving thought of REM's it's the end of the world as we know it, but I feel fine? (An upbeat song and also remembering that hair will grow back). Hope all other Jewels have a relaxing day. ... View more

Hi Chicita, you are very welcome to join the June Jewels for some company during the rest of your treatment. Just a thought! Xx ... View more

Good evening Jewels! Had a busy day with more pre chemo spending! Bought a lovely cream cotton sun hat from accessorize which just about covers my large head. Also visited the chemo suite, nurse was lovely explaining what happens and also said re cold cap that if I can tolerate it for 15 mins it does get easier so am thinking like you Lins of giving it a go and if I start to lose a lot of hair will pack in. Later had onco appointment to sign up to chemo and she went through the long list of possible side effects and I felt as if I was sinking down every time she said a new one. I can't get all of them, surely! Vicki I am so pleased about your results and had been thinking of you. I can understand that despite the good news your emotions are all over the place. I cried again after my meeting with the onco, for nothing really other than the stark reality that I am having bloody chemo for the next 4 months! My OH has been fantastically supportive and I don't know what I would have done without him over these last 3 months. However, he thought that I was unreasonable for bursting into tears waiting for the surgeon to give me the results of my ANC and said I should be more positive (how many times have I heard that word). Only people who have been thru or are going thru this truly understand why we feel/act the way we do right now. Faye, I see that you start chemo on 13th too so now there will be 5 off us on that date! Cress have a fantastic time in Venice, have been once and it was wonderful. Fiona, hope you are feeling ok after your first chemo, take care. The very best of luck to Longtall for tomorrow. Someone asked last night about Evonail, I have bought some as it is supposed to protect nails from chemo damage. There are some posts on the Macmillan site you can search for.Darent scroll back thru mid post cos I lost it last time. Hope the rest of the Jewels have a peaceful evening. Xxx ... View more

Vicki, forgot to add to my post good luck tomorrow with your results and hope that you get a plan for your next phase of treatment, take care. Xx ... View more

Hi Jewels. My Annabandana order arrived today too, a couple of sleep caps and 3 bandanas. Liked them so much that I ordered 3 more this aft. Evonail also arrived, looks like it may be a bit of a pain to apply every day, good job I ordered 2 bottles! Off to try wigs tomorrow then visit to the chemo unit before appointment with onco to sign up. Welcome to Meggymoo. Good luck to Fiona for tomorrow, will be thinking of you. Try and have a relaxing evening with your son. Joan hope you are ok after chemo number 1? Nicola, hope your sickness disappears soon. Good luck with the head shaving Martha. Have a peaceful evening Jewels. Xxx ... View more

Morning Martha just watched When September Ends on you tube will definitely put it on my I Pod! Wish we could fast forward to that time but as we can't am determined to try and enjoy each and every day side effects or not! xxx ... View more

Hey fantastic news about the foal - have you picked a name yet? Glad that the lactolose is doing it's job too though loss of a stone in 6 days sounds alot. Hope you can start to eat better from now on. Take care Ann. Xx ... View more

Evening Jewels. Looks like a lot of us have had to cancel hols this year, mine should have been to Portugal in August, we can all make up for it next year, fingers crossed. Well, have been doing more chemo spending today on Evonail which is supposed to protect nails from the chemo. Hope it works as I have only just grown back my big toe nails after losing them on a long hike last August! Good luck to Fimbo123 (Joan) for tomorrow. Hope all the chemo pioneers have a restful night with minimal side effects. Am still undecided about the cold cap after seeing the discussions on here, will raise again with ONCO on Thursday. Am not having a PICC line, just a cannula, not sure if I should be worried? Martha, thanks for the tips on handling doctors receptionists. Chelle, love the changing pictures! Am so glad that I decided to join the Jewels as opposed to "going it alone" as I can already see that I will get support when I really need it from ladies who understand and will encourage me along the way. Xxx ... View more