Breast Cancer Now Forum

course it's not bad, Jan, we get to be pink an fluffy an sparkly and go on daytime TV an say how it has made us better people.....................................No? I am sitting here as unsparkly as might be possible, but with something I am sick to the back teeth of...my fluffy skull! ... View more

Oh Andi, FEC FEC....and then there won't be any more! I am quite relieved that your onc has persuaded you, and pleased that he feels that you can take it, you will be glad you have done it when you get to the end of it, I hope. I had a hospital admission in cycle one with a funny reaction (big shakes and low back pain and feeling weird)to white cell stimulator, which everyone thought was maybe neutropenic sepsis, turned out to be neutropenia without the infection. Onc said if you feel it again keep warm and take paracetamol, contact hospital to inform them etc etc, and it has not happened again in cycles 2,3 or 4. Lost a nice vein to IV antibiotics, so very keen not to go back again, I am in a position where I can be a recluse to avoid some infection risks. Have had FEC5 today, was really not looking forward to it re veins, but it was fine in the end. Feel tired and have retired to sit in bed and play while OH deals with Christmas. We have the advantage that our little boys do not live at home any more, they have visited over the last few days and disorganised us just as much as they used to do when they were the age of your boys-well, not quite! So here's to the 6th of Jan for you, Jo90 and me, and the 5th for Lulu and probably other people too if I could keep a thought in my head for 5 minutes!Carol, you may be the first one to be all FECed out? And may we all stay well all the days and nights in between. I feel far better in the days just after chemo than I do in the spell in the middle when every little symptom makes me think I am going back inside. Maggienic, hope it continues to be manageable, the changeover sounds hard, but herceptin is good stuff in the effect it has on b****y BC. Jo90, thanks for sharing your blog, it is really good. Have tried to post this novella before so if it turns up twice, forgive me ... View more

Road Runner, Think about a SAD light sooner, if you regularly get the winter blues, it can make a big difference for about £100 and half an hour or so in the mornings Lavender Blue at times ... View more

Andi, Of COURSE your Mum and Dad would want to help, it really is something I am glad of, that I am soooo old that I don't have a mum and dad worrying about me. Great that you are beginning to feel better, Keep On Keeping On, which is a bit how I feel about Christmas cards! Got the furrin ones done today, don't care if they're late, they're done. ... View more

Dear Cheryl, On FEC I have had absolutely minimum sickness, no vomiting whatsoever, and enough nausea to take 3 metoclopramide tablets in total in 4 cycles, and I had early morning sickness (centuries ago LOL) and get travel sick easily. I am given intra venous Aloxi each time before the chemo, and even when the steroids were cut down there has been no increase in nausea. Different people are given different anti emetics for very good reasons, I was told to make it clear to them that I was travel sick, and we are asked about side effects down to the smallest detail, so that they can tailor treatment to our best advantage. I still don't like having chemo but they have made it bearable. Best of luck! Lavender ... View more

Oh Sarah, Yuo mean lkie thsis?! It makes all emails take five times as long correcting them and is one of my most obvious side effects post chemo I do it anyway but much worse post chemo! Aw, Andi, have another hug, these virtual hugs are guaranteed germ free! Well done doing those cards. I must do something about hypnotherapy or something, even after reduction of steroids (I am already on a maintenance dose of steroids for lung disorder) have just had the third awful night this week ... View more

Hahaha Lulu, that is me showing the acceptable view of my wig! Very pleased with the back view, can't get the front to look like me at all. Feel it looks as if I have been to an old ladies' hairdresser Sarah, that sounds awful, I had a very long wait on FEC2, as my blood count was odd, but they didn't cannulate me until they knew it was OK to go ahead. At least I could go to the loo without a drip stand! I was supposed to be writing some Christmas cards today, but..... but if stuff doesn't get done this week before FEC5 it won't happen. Even though I was unachieving today, I feel much better today, thank goodness. Love to you all, especially anyone having a chemo day tomorrow ... View more

It is obviously getting tougher for all of us as we progress-maybe I should write "progress" as it sure don't feel like progress except down hill fast here! I feel I don't have it as bad as some but am getting more and more tired, don't sleep well, OH has been very stressed by the snow situation and knowing how hard it might have been to get to hospital if there was a problem eroded my calm positivity (you mean you didn't notice it, my aura of serenity?) Reading other people's postings, I am pinning some hope on the fact that this may have been the tough cycle and next one may not be so bad. Not helped this evening by looking for my new boob and not finding it. Thinking when did I last wear it, chemo 13 days ago? (Get red marks from any bra in the week after chemo) Can I remember anything except chemo ? Not a thing. Tracked it down in a drawer eventually. I hope I sleep tonight Love to all of you, it helps so much to know there are others who understand ... View more

Dear Smiley, That is a real shame, if the transport took so long on your arranged days, how much longer would it take on public transport, especially given the weather? No need to answer that. Have a hug. Or two. And a cuppa tea? With all that travelling time in your first week, no wonder you feel down, you must be exhausted. Definitely better to conserve some energy, and they should still be able to get it done before Christmas. At the mo, not sure if I hate snow more or chemo or cancer.Trying to find a positive, I have thought of one. I am not being exposed to endless canned Christmas music in the supermarkets. Lavender Scroogie ... View more

Dear Andi, So sorry to hear of your long hospital stay, you are such an inspiration. I know the feeling of getting home and trying to get things organised your way again! Really hope you feel better soon. Jo90, I do hope nothing upsets your plans for getting home for Christmas. Lulu60 Thanks for cheering us on, I have felt like c**p for the last two days with little niggles, tired, blah blah blah, bleeaaggh, bleeaaggh, bleeaaggh, definitely better today. A real part of feeling off and stressed was that we are snowed in a long way from my chemo hospital, would be difficult enough getting to the local A&E if necessary. Helped enormously by very calm working-it-through chat with one of the chemo nurses. Love them, just love them. I am definitely using the Christmas Copout Card, have sent advent calendars to all my great nieces and nephews with cheques for their Mums to get something for their stockings, a Santa’s grotto visit or whatever, money is too short to waste it on post and things people don’t want. Christmas cards?? Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz Kemo brane attacks agane ... View more

Dear Maisemoo Very pleased to hear your news! Lavender Lassie x ... View more

The steroids could certainly contribute to reflux, but we aren't usually on them for very long. Are you on any other meds that could upset that area? Ask your friendly neighbourhood pharmacist and have a talk with your GP. I have been on omeprazole for 3 plus years now, originally for horrendous heartburn associated with NSAID prescribed post op,added to by steroids prescribed for another disorder, then "helped along" by bisphosphonates for osteopenia. At one point in cutting them down ws advised to do it slowly. ... View more

Well, I don't mind being childish if it helps! ... View more

What fabulous news, Highland Lady sooooooo pleased for you! ... View more

And crossing fingers for you re the snow Whereabouts are you? ... View more

Oh dear, Javelin, sympathies re that, such a pain to have any extra treatment. But you are getting near the end of chemo. People are funny how they calculate where one is in treatment, as far as I am concerned the chemo is not over till I have done the 3 weeks after the session, but I do have a chart on the laptop to mark off the days. Childish, moi? ... View more

Good ideas doing the decorations, keep working the busy distractions, and know that there are lots of people wishing you well on Monday, Maisiemoo! ... View more

I'm sitting here with a big smile on my face, thinking of you northeasterners getting together-soft or what?! ... View more

Good news,Andie! You can have a good weekend this week! ... View more

Jo90 Love the hat! And so pleased you are feeling human on Emend. Getting the anti sickness treatment makes such a difference-except perhaps to the brain-I should not post the day of chemo-I wrote such rubbish, mixing everyone up, apologies again. How amazing that you and Kimmie are maybe being looked after by the same guy! ... View more