Breast Cancer Now Forum

Soft bottle wipes should be soft botty wipes!!!! ... View more

FEC x6 Cycle 1 day 13 Thanks Chelle that's fab, nice to see someone else is awake at silly times too. On the bunged up vs have the trots battlefront, it's all really confusing one drug counteracting the effect of the other and then producing their own problems. If you are of a nervous disposition or think this will be too much information - look away now. the key seems to be stool softening vs laxative. Sennakot acts to increase the action of the bowel and push the poo out hence shitting a brick, and possibly helping piles to form. Sennakot can cause stomach cramps. It is only meant for short term constipation. I have been given Macrogel which is a stool softener, Movicol looks as if it is similar. foods to avoid if constipated are - dairy, red meat, cakes and biscuits, wheat based breakfast cereals, and caffeine and sugary fizzy drinks foods to increase are - whole grain, brown rice and quinoa (cooks like risotto rice and has loads of good things) cooked vegetables and veggie juices fish particularly tuna and mackerel, Fats Include fresh nuts and seeds, cold pressed oils and oily fish to supply essential fatty acids. Protein Increase vegetable sources of protein (pulses, lentils, rice, quinoa and soya products). Lean, organic chicken, turkey and fish provide good animal protein. Include live yoghurt with no added sugar to encourage and healthy gut flora. Fibre Include plenty of dietary fibre to encourage gut motility and peristalsis. Soluble fibre holds water and brings bulk to the faeces. Foods rich in soluble fibre include barley, oats, oat bran, prunes, figs, vegetables, fruits (apples, pears, banana), seaweed, lentils and pulses. Prune juice or soaked prunes on a daily basis can be a great help. Introduce fibre foods slowly to prevent excessive wind. Fluids It is very important to increase fluid intake when increasing fibre in the diet. Drink two litres of water daily — taken away from meals and sipped slowly to avoid stress on the kidneys. For variety drink diluted fruit juices, organic vegetables juices and herbal teas. I have never eaten prunes before but now have a packet of dried with me all the time for snacking on (although I do think of it as medicine). I still have the yucky taste in my mouth so not all of the above appeals . Just suck it and see. Diarrhoea - just because you have the trots doesn't mean you aren't also constipated at the same time, diarrhoea can be leakage around some impaction. I went easy on the anti diarrhoea meds as I know I tend to the other side. Avoid dairy, drink plenty of fluids, have something with salt like crisps and then when the diarrhoa wears off eat as above. The aim is for soft, bulky poos and maximum nutritional input to help us resist all the nasties. dont forget I am not a professional this is just what I have found on the Internet and from experience particularly the last 2 weeks, i am not avoiding the bad foods altogether just mixing it up with the good stuff, bit then as i am getting to grips with this cancer lark I find I am wanting to eat the healthy stuff and drink more water as part of the going to war against those bad cells. on the practical front for those spending time in the bathroom, have a handy loo box at floor level with garden kneeler or towel, air freshner that you can stand the smell of,anti-bac wipes, gloves, bleach, full loo roll, gentle face wipes, soft bottle wipes, easy to read book or magazine although I have my ipad connected to lovefilm and have comedy shows lined up ready to play. Hope this helps and any other suggestions please add so we can together compose a bible on SEs. love n kisses to aall nicj xx ... View more

I hate predictive text. Nicola without an h ! ... View more

This is hopefully a link to my head shave event. https://docs.google.com/file/d/0Bxckon_zePMuZEtKZFpSRXdOVG8/edit?usp=drive_web Nic j xx ... View more

Hi All feels like long time no see and you all have been so busy. Just your average couple of days. Yet more side effects to deal with, went to see the Queen, and had my hair shaved in front of 200 odd secondary school children. Anti sickness - Emend is meant to be taken 1 hour before and 3 days after cocktail infusion. I will defo be asking my onc team about that one. the problem I found with most anti sickness meds was that I was throwing them up too hence a call out by the local GP. So ask your teams about Prochlorperazine which you stick up in your gum and let dissolve slowly for a few minutes. Don't be afraid to ask your team about drugs and why they may or not be suitable for you. It is worth asking 2 different people the same thing and comparing answers! stay happy Nicj xx ... View more

Thanks Marion will be thinking of you tomorrow. nic j. Xx ... View more

Hi Marion are you about I tried to find your post on nose bleeds - but gave myself one trying to find it. Any tips or things to look out for please. thanks Nicj xx ... View more

Hi all. pleased that me and my haemorrhoids made you laugh. thank you all for your sympathy. had a much better day today or at least I am finding coping strategies and stronger drugs. Although it is tempting to try and overdo it while not needed to be camped in the bathroom quite so much. Am about to start making baldy head cake pops to sell at the fundraising head shave thing I am doing on Friday. Thanks for all the song suggestions am putting together a playlist for the Headteacher to approve of since we are doing it at school. My friend/ boys school support worker has set up a just giving site and is making all the other arrangements so I can save my energy for the big cut. [color=#000000]Emily Moseley is fundraising on JustGiving for Cancer Research UK www.justgiving.com Help Emily raise money for this great cause. it must have been done before but am thinking of doing a chart/table of side effects and coping strategies what do you think? It will give me something to do in the early hours of the morning between loo trips. hope everyone here and everyone important to you are holding it together. Nic J xx ... View more

Sore delicate gums ... View more

PILES!!! Enormous, protruding PILES ¥¥¥¥¥¥¥ ... View more

Morning all. FEC x6. Cycle 1 day 8 here we go. I think I am destined to be the one who gets all the SE 's. Since 3.00 I have had the most intense stomach ache and lower back pain spreading down through buttocks and into my thighs in spasms. I thought it was intense constipation so did hot water bottle, then stood in shower with water aimed at lower back alternating with lying in bath and of course sitting on loo which just became unbearably painful as I was getting locked in position. Called helpline at 6.30 and was told could be a reaction to the bone marrow stimulating injections and advised to reach for the pain killers. so am already on naproxen, (the strong version) cocodamol and am having diazepam delivered shortly to stop the spasms and pain and let it pass, so high as a kite today! am also trying out different brands of mouthwash to help cope with the mouth sores and ulcers that have been gangng up. I was a bit worried about scaring those about to start today, but think of it this way. There is always one who gets the lot, if that is me then hopefully the rest of you may escape at least some of the side effects! And then I can be a reference tool for stuff that helps!! That way I get to feel better by feeling useful and polishing the halo just a little bit. ... View more

Thanks all for the song suggestions - love them all so far and keep them coming. FEC 1 day 7 update on side effects - still feeling nausea, bad stomach ache, horrid taste in headache and ongoing headache. I am learning to deal with it tho - loo boxes set up and ipad fed in to play twenty twelve as soon as I hit the loo from either end, have started experimenting with my own ice pops and have made fentiments ginger beer ones, lime from my very own lime tree so far. Have collection of codeine, paracetamol, gel strips and cool eye masks to cope with my headaches. My most extravagant and best buy so far tho is a leather riser recliner chair which I love complete with side table for chemo caddy, tv remote and cup of tea. Biggest frustration is the fatigue. Yesterday morning went to tesco for short trip and then slept for 6 hours! Ludlow tesco is tiny and like somewhere you would find in Midsomer Murders not stressful at all unless youre the one in the queue behind Pat from the nursing home catching up with our Diane at the checkout who's married our Joel who was married to Pat's brothers mother in law. Today I managed to get the boys to school, water the polytunnel, catch the escaping pet rats and then exhausted, collapsed into the chair until the alarm rang at 3.30 to pick boys up again. Just giving myself a few minutes then overcoming nausea to prepare tea - fortunately most constructed from the freezer as I did huge amounts of batch cooking pre chemo. OH has phoned to check on us having landed in Houston (can I leave him a message saying "we have a problem" or would that be too cruel?) I shall save preparing clean undercrackers for days when I have more energy so that he can fly in for 2 days watch me having next chemo and then bugger off for another 2.5 weeks". Emma - massive group hug to you - and to everyone on this site waiting either to start treatment or to deal with the next Side Effect event. Jayne - incredible that you have kept your treatment quiet, that must be really stressful in itself for both you and your husband! Warmest and most positive thoughts for you both. The loo is calling and must be obeyed. NicJ xxx ... View more

Ok second attempt at this post managed to wipe out last one - serves me right for waking with the dawn chorus while sensible people are still dreaming. Marion - thanks for heads up over nose bleeds am now prepared Vicky - men! positive supportive thoughts through the ether for him and all other partners who just don't know how to cope with their own feelings never mind ours!. All starting this week - good luck . I felt it was like one of those trust games where you stand on a box with your back to a group of silent people who you know are going to catch you when you fall backwards. Just let go of yourself and wallow in the trust you have to have. Not easy and believe me I have had so many battles with medics etc in the past. inflating boob - I am having delusional dreams about this boob getting its own life and a cartoon series! But it also sounds really s*** . Anyone got any ideas for music for head shaving event? I have decided not to wait for the hair on a pillow stage. One of my boys support workers wants to shave in sympathy and donate her hair to children's wig charity . We are going to hold a fundraising event in our secondary school. My DS1 will hopefully be doing the cutting and shaving. He has wanted to do something like this since watching Mr Bean in a barer shop - I hope this will get it out of his system, he tried to cut someone's hair in math's a while ago! Welcome to a new week! Nicj xx ... View more

Ok now sat on loo watching twenty twelve on the ipad. Think laughing is helping ... View more

Sorry about repeated posts. Not sure what is going on. Some might say I like the sound of my own voice. I really don't. ... View more

been awake for hours with bad stomach. Having had too much anti constipation meds and little food i have tried to up the eating and am now thoroughly constipated. Never eaten prunes before Ugh? Am planning on rhubarb from the garden next. Have got a recipe that involves champagne which sounds tempting. Hope, I am not being preachey but on the man front I think that my husband and therefore our relationship is only ever as good as I am. Having brought up the twins and all the baggage of interference from health, education and social services I guess I have learnt to manage what OH has to deal with. Relationships with an autistic child have a 7/10 chance of split, that is twice the national average. He has already walked on us once! With the cancer I have not taken him to all of the appts particularly when they are likely to be heavy on 'emotional support' front as nothing is more likely to scare him off than bucketloads of caring BCN most are great but some just too simpering. Instead i have filtered the good and the not so good chunks and mixed it with practical things, like sending him with a shopping list of things like ginger nuts, headache gel strips, hand and foot cream, bottom wipes and now prunes, extra loo paper and toilet clean. I also got him to help fill my pill pot saying he was better with timetables and to put things in my chemo caddy (cheerful spotty lined basket) and he and DS1 went and collected my new recliner chair for my slumping moments. i think this way the effects of treatment have been able to sink in gradually and he has not been either overwhelmed or too dismissive when I insisted on 12 bottles of toilet duck while it was on offer. Good and not so good outcomes are a potent cocktail and you and your OH will hear different things and put a different inference on what is being said. He may feel looking on positive is the strong thing to be and that negative thoughts are self defeating without understanding that we have to be practical about the treatment and its impact on us, and also to be emotional and shit scared about it all. I hope he comes through for you. I have also been told that my condition is very treatable but I am not relying on that nor do I think that it lessens the sheer horror of the next 18 months or so of treatment. men really are from Mars. best wishes and positive thoughts to everyone on this site and to all those who are important to us. nicj xxxx ... View more

been awake for hours with bad stomach. Having had too much anti constipation meds and little food i have tried to up the eating and am now thoroughly constipated. Never eaten prunes before Ugh? Am planning on rhubarb from the garden next. Have got a recipe that involves champagne which sounds tempting. Hope, I am not being preachey but on the man front I think that my husband and therefore our relationship is only ever as good as I am. Having brought up the twins and all the baggage of interference from health, education and social services I guess I have learnt to manage what OH has to deal with. Relationships with an autistic child have a 7/10 chance of split, that is twice the national average. He has already walked on us once! With the cancer I have not taken him to all of the appts particularly when they are likely to be heavy on 'emotional support' front as nothing is more likely to scare him off than bucketloads of caring BCN most are great but some just too simpering. Instead i have filtered the good and the not so good chunks and mixed it with practical things, like sending him with a shopping list of things like ginger nuts, headache gel strips, hand and foot cream, bottom wipes and now prunes, extra loo paper and toilet clean. I also got him to help fill my pill pot saying he was better with timetables and to put things in my chemo caddy (cheerful spotty lined basket) and he and DS1 went and collected my new recliner chair for my slumping moments. i think this way the effects of treatment have been able to sink in gradually and he has not been either overwhelmed or too dismissive when I insisted on 12 bottles of toilet duck while it was on offer. Good and not so good outcomes are a potent cocktail and you and your OH will hear different things and put a different inference on what is being said. He may feel looking on positive is the strong thing to be and that negative thoughts are self defeating without understanding that we have to be practical about the treatment and its impact on us, and also to be emotional and shit scared about it all. I hope he comes through for you. I have also been told that my condition is very treatable but I am not relying on that nor do I think that it lessens the sheer horror of the next 18 months or so of treatment. men really are from Mars. best wishes and positive thoughts to everyone on this site and to all those who are important to us. nicj xxxx ... View more

been awake for hours with bad stomach. Having had too much anti constipation meds and little food i have tried to up the eating and am now thoroughly constipated. Never eaten prunes before Ugh? Am planning on rhubarb from the garden next. Have got a recipe that involves champagne which sounds tempting. Hope, I am not being preachey but on the man front I think that my husband and therefore our relationship is only ever as good as I am. Having brought up the twins and all the baggage of interference from health, education and social services I guess I have learnt to manage what OH has to deal with. Relationships with an autistic child have a 7/10 chance of split, that is twice the national average. He has already walked on us once! With the cancer I have not taken him to all of the appts particularly when they are likely to be heavy on 'emotional support' front as nothing is more likely to scare him off than bucketloads of caring BCN most are great but some just too simpering. Instead i have filtered the good and the not so good chunks and mixed it with practical things, like sending him with a shopping list of things like ginger nuts, headache gel strips, hand and foot cream, bottom wipes and now prunes, extra loo paper and toilet clean. I also got him to help fill my pill pot saying he was better with timetables and to put things in my chemo caddy (cheerful spotty lined basket) and he and DS1 went and collected my new recliner chair for my slumping moments. i think this way the effects of treatment have been able to sink in gradually and he has not been either overwhelmed or too dismissive when I insisted on 12 bottles of toilet duck while it was on offer. Good and not so good outcomes are a potent cocktail and you and your OH will hear different things and put a different inference on what is being said. He may feel looking on positive is the strong thing to be and that negative thoughts are self defeating without understanding that we have to be practical about the treatment and its impact on us, and also to be emotional and shit scared about it all. I hope he comes through for you. I have also been told that my condition is very treatable but I am not relying on that nor do I think that it lessens the sheer horror of the next 18 months or so of treatment. men really are from Mars. best wishes and positive thoughts to everyone on this site and to all those who are important to us. nicj xxxx ... View more

Anyone doing the stomach injections? How are you getting on? So far can't bring myself to stab myself and have got OH to do it! nicj xx ... View more

Great news on the foal. warning - be careful when involving other half in treatment. Let him sort out my pill regimen and he gave me huge amounts of anti constipation pills to take when I haven't been earring much! Very uncomfortable. Have now added easy to read book to my loo caddy. Just sent him out to cut the grass and water the veg as punishment. he leaves for the states on Sat so huge list of jobs to do Headache returning so quick rest before mucking out my bedroom and adding to that jobs list. hope everyone is sorting out any SE s. Sorry to hear about cancelled hols, I am still hanging on before making a decision about mine But not feeling optimistic. NicJ xx ... View more