Breast Cancer Now Forum

Afternoon July ladies, hope everyone is well for the weekend.  I have a couple of questions to ask you.   Firstly I had my visit from my works OH Doctor today. While I am looking to return to work on a reduced capacity from the first week in November he was concerned about this and really wanted me to stay off until I had finished my radiotherapy and recovered from it. I appreciate his concerns but pointed out that a number of women work through both chemo and radiotherapy. He came back at me with avoiding contact with people at this time of year when bugs are about. I don't know about anyone else but I am not wrapped in a hermetically sealed ball having no contact with anyone, I still shop, go out for meals and to the cinema. He considered this risky. Baring in mind I only got sick when my 5 month old grandaughter sneezed in my face at her christening I think I've done OK. To say the conversation made me a bit emotional was an understatement, why do I have to fight my way back to work?  Of those of you that are working, either back to work or who've worked through what has been your experience?   The other point we discussed which I did agree with was the fact that I haven't been offered a scan, either before chemo started or after. The last onc I spoke to said I would have an upper body CT scan only as my ancillary nodes were found to be clear (once removed). However the senior nurse on the chemo ward said I wouldn't be offered any scan. I'm confused, how will they know if theres any development elsewhere without a scan, I know it won't confirm absolutely that I'm clear but it would show up anything obvious.   Other than that it's now day 8 of my last treatment and it's taken me all week to crawl out of the pit, so much worse for the last tax than the others. Taste not too bad but the pain has been pretty awful, I've really hit the painkillers this time. It's subsiding now though so hopefully I'm on the up.   Karen and shoes - I hope your treatments went OK yesterday and that you're being well looked after.   Wendy - How have you found the radiotherapy experience all in all. Has it made you very tired and if so did it get worse as you went along? I bet you're so glad its finished. I had a 70 mile round trip on Wednesday to meet someone from the oncology team to discuss radiotherapy. Total waste of time, he could have told me what he did over the phone and saved us both some time. Still waiting for a date for my planning, hopefully should come through soon.   Cath - you must be due to have your final treatment on Monday, hooray for that. Enjoy the weekend with some good food and good company (cake counts as good company!!)   JuSt - I'm with you on the holiday thing, husbands away and a good log fire, food aplenty and some books and fresh air!  How did you manage a sleepover? I struggled with those when I was well! Do you have any dates for radiotherapy yet?   Berkshirelass - I hope you're feeling a bit better and the nausea has eased off and you're finding that there's more that you can eat.  I haven't really found the taste for wine yet, although did manage a prosecco while away in Bath. Sparkly wine seems to cut through the awful taste in my mouth. Its a real bummer that you don't seem to be having much downtime between cycles, hopefully after your last one you'll see some light at the end of the tunnel.   Horseslave - last treatment today! I hope it went well and you recover from it quickly.   Morag - Did your treatment go ahead yesterday?   I can't believe we're nearly all done with chemo and radiotherapy is on the horizon. I also can't believe how hard chemo was! I hope radiotherapy is going to be easier. It will be what it will be.   Have a great weekend everyone. Good luck to all those about to have treatment and supporting hugs to those who have just had treatment and have the awful side effects. x         ... View more

Hi Hbunny - funny enough I was thinking about you too yesterday. It was the first time I was delayed with treatment as they were so short of staff on the unit, only 45 minutes though so on the whole pretty good. However, no smiley face in my book or anything. I thought I'd get quite emotional when I finished but I was very glad to be leaving the unit, couldn't get out of there fast enough in the end. Unlike you I'm not suffering from lack of sleep from the steroids, if 8 steroids a day don't significantly interrupt my sleep what will?? I've just hoovered through the house so I do have additional energy but I know that will slip away quickly as the steroids are now gone. Did you take you PM ones today, if not I really hope you get a better sleep tonight. And you have a start date for your rads so you're ahead of me on that one. Enjoy your break in Bath, I must say I'm longing for a swim, and some brie, and some pate and egg and chips with runny egg yolks! The nurse said give it 3-4 weeks then go back to eating normally. Can't wait.   Wendy - glad your rads are going well and that you're nearly done. Any nasty side effects or have you escaped too much soreness with plenty of cream. And how is work now, are you still finding it strange. I'm hoping to be back soon but have to wait for my visit from the Occupational Health Doctor who will determine how many hours. I'm happy to start quite low, particularly as I'll have to fit rads in as well for 18 days with the extra tiredness that brings.   Karen - how are you doing now? Like you I've put on weight but unlike you I haven't used my treadmill for ages. I really need to get back to it, nearly passed out when I weighed myself this morning. However I have had a lot of meals out lately and takeways, making the most of my good taste week. Just waiting for my taste buds to go into decline again, hopefully after next weekend they'll pick up and forever, no more sluggy taste. I've also found myself getting heavy legs (perhaps that's where the food's gone!), I'm finding stairs quite a struggle, not bounding up them as I used to. No doubt like everything else this will pass, especially if I get myself in gear and get on the treadmill.  I also agree that there seems to be loads of adverts and programmes about cancer at the moment, there are a lot of people in much worse situations and I hope that none of us find ourselves with further problems.    Cath - glad you managed to get out with your wig on, I'm sure hubby was right and you looked great. I always wear mine out except when I go for chemo then I wear a scarf. It will be interesting to see how quickly my hair grows back, I'm already getting fed up of wig wearing and I'm not even back at work yet!  Do you just have one more FEC to go now and then you're done? I hope so, nearly there if so.   Fiona00 - get plenty of rest if you're tired, you have nothing to prove by pushing yourself.  There won't be many times in our lives when we can legitimately rest, so indulge yourself, put something interesting on the telly and put your feet up.   Berkshire Lass - sorry you've had to cancel your trip to Prague, I know how you feel. We were due to go to Australia for a month on the 5th November for our 25th wedding anniversary but had 3 days in Bath instead! We've postponed the trip so will be going next year, all being well. We're hoping to book a week away in November, mainly to give hubby a break, he could do with some down time as he's worked through, missing another holiday we had to cancel in July. We still can't agree on where to go though, he wants hot and sunny and I want log fires and country walks. I have a feeling we'll be going for the warm! Prague is on our list of places to go one day, it looks sensational.   To everyone I've missed I hope you're all keeping well and not suffering too much from side effects.  As we are mostly coming to the end of chemo the side effects are beginning to be the last set for many, lets hope that makes it more bearable. We're winning this ladies, we need slaps on the back all round and a cream tea and a balloon for everyone! I'm off for a hot bath and a book, nothing like these dark nights to prompt an early bath.  Take care of yourselves, keep the faith and keep looking forward.  XX         ... View more

Hello July ladies   Is everyone enjoying the miserable weather?? With the fluctuations in temperature at the moment I have this morning woken with a bit of a sore throat and a sniffly nose. I'm dosing myself with everything in reach to make sure my last chemo goes ahead on Friday, and praying that they don't pick up signs of an infection in my blood test tomorrow. Maybe I'll wait until Thursday to get the blood test done, I'll see how I feel tomorrow.   Had a lovely few days in Bath at the end of last week, weather was reasonable and we did all the sights. However I did find by Friday, when we were walking through Royal Victoria Park that I was absolutely shattered, I had to keep aiming for the benches and then sitting and resting like a little old lady. You don't notice how tired you are when all you do is potter about at home. A bit of a lesson there to take note of.  All being well I should be back at work week commencing 3rd November, though only a phased return at first. At this precise moment I'm not looking forward to it but I should be more positive when I feel a bit better.   Karen - good luck with your treatment this afternoon, I hope it goes well for you.  And well done for using your treadmill, I haven't used mine for a few weeks now, I really should get back to it.   lilac55 - have a good trip to Barcelona. How did you get on finding reasonable travel insurance?   Cath - glad to see you're coming out of your SE's. The final date is not too far away now, it will come round really quickly.   Horseslave - its unusual for you to be down but we all have our dark days, it's good that you have your painting to keep you focused on keeping moving. Sending you good wishes and virtual chocolate cake. I always thought I'd be the only person in the world to gain weight with chemo but it seems like I'm not alone!   Shoes - I hope all goes well with your treatment this week.   JuSt - last tax today. Did it all go as planned and how did you feel afterwards? What treatment have you still got to come?   I have finally got my first appointment with the oncologist for Reading hospital. The date is next Wednesday, which is not a good day for me post this weeks chemo. Rang to change the appointment but was told the onc is on leave the week after so it would be a 2 week wait. I've decided to keep next weeks appointment and get hubby to take me, I'll be dosed up on painkillers by then waiting for my sciatica attack on thursday, if all goes as normal.  Just want to get to the finish line now.   I hope all the July ladies are doing well at whatever stage you're at, eventually we get to know what's coming and how to deal with it, sort of. I pray that none of us ever have to go through it again, I find that the most daunting thought. I could do it if I had to but I absolutely don't want to.  Must keep positive! Especially as I've got some hair regrowth now too, although not much.   Have a good week ladies, wishing you all good luck with treatment and big bear hugs just because we need them! XX             ... View more

Berkshirelass - glad to see your our of hospital and on the mend. Get those anti sickness drugs sorted, as I've said before I still insist on Emend before I have Tax. I'd rather have and not need than the other way round. I think generally hospitals are too quick to reduce the meds. Mogs - Horseslave is right, Tax does creep up on you, which is one reason I prefer FEC, it's not sneaky. And dinner for 8 was pretty ambitious! The more you do the more people expect you to do I've found, which has prompted a few reminders in this house. The longer you go through chemo the more it takes out of you, so you have to make sure you don't overdo it. I've found days 4-8 to be the worst on Tax so I don't plan anything for those days. I know I've said it before but u don't know how people go to work after treatment. I hope everyone's doing well at the moment. It appears I've finally succumbed to something, I have a bright red rash on my right cheek. Doc thinks it might be a skin infection but not sure, anti biotic cream for 48 hours and if that doesn't work then oral anti biotics. I'll take whatever they give me, I don't want to miss my date for my last treatment. Have a good week ladies, try and stay dry. ... View more

Wendy - sorry to hear you're not feeling well, I hope your cold clears soon and the radiographers get a bit more chatty. For my part I've found the whole process a bit impersonal, just a conveyor belt to ride. The only time I felt there has been any care was when I was on the ward after my ops, the nurses were great. Berkshirelass - sorry to hear you're not well. Hospital is the best place to be, I hope you are soon rehydrated and feeling better. Hbunny - not only are we on the same course of treatment at the same time bit we're also going to the same place for a break! I'm off to Bath on Wednesday for 3 nights for our anniversary, I hope the hotel lives up to its website page. Can't wait for a change of scenery, a bit if retail therapy and loads of overeating! The grotty taste in my mouth is peaking now but should be ok by the time we go. Sending good wishes to all but especially those who have been laid low. Xx ... View more

Afternoon July Ladies   Well, here I am a week after my second Tax and I have to say thew side effects have been less this time, I guess its my body getting used to being poisoned and a little of knowing whats good to do before they hit.  I've just looked back at my comments from my last Tax as I had terrible lower back pain yesterday and sure enough it hit at exactly the same time last treatment. At least something's predictable! I'll get plenty of painkillers in for next time.   Clare - have you finished your chemo, I can't remember. Do you have to have weekly Herceptin injections, how long does that treatment last, and then what?  I still can't believe how many different treatments there are for this type of cancer, it's clearly not a one size fits all.   Wendy - glad to see your first radiotherapy went well, I hope your cold wears off quickly and doesn't affect treatment. A 100 mile round trip for radiotherapy is extreme! I was given the choice of three hospitals, none of which are the one where I've had my ops and chemo, and have chosen the nearest one at Reading even though it means being referred on. I'm still waiting to hear when it will start, I'll need to see a different oncologist (still didn't get to see the one I was allocated) and then get dates set up. How many sessions are you having? Hopefully you'll be all done before the weather turns, I'm not looking forward to going to Reading every day in winter weather.   Berkshire Lass - I hope your nausea is improving.  Like you my hospital reduced the anti sickness for Tax as it is supposed to be a less common side effect.  I did however ask to be given Emend with the first Tax and some to take home, which I haven't used but will keep just in case. Everybody reacts differently to these treatments, I haven't had sickness with Tax, just the pains. To be honest, I'd swap Tax for FEC any day, rather nausea than the pains.   Pam - I can't help with information about the PICC as it's something I've just about managed to avoid so far. I had full node clearance but this was before chemo and not after. While I recovered quickly from the SNB the ANC has taken longer. I still do my physio, although not as often as I should, as it helps. Two months is not much paid sick leave when you factor in chemo and operations, but it seems to be considerably more than some are getting.   Morag - were your bloods good enough for your 5th Tax to go ahead yesterday, I hope they were. The pre-chemo blood test always makes me nervous, so much hangs on it.  And 2 weddings in 2 weeks, that's pretty full on. I get knackered just doing the weekly shop.   Hbunny - Hair!! You've got me examining my head every morning with my make up mirror. My husband thinks there is some coming but I'm not convinced yet, I still look like an egg in my opinion.    Cath - I hope you're still doing Ok with side effects.  Have you fallen into a cake yet???    Flossie - with regard to the bone pain from Tax I can only say that I've only taken standard painkillers and Ibuprofen, and not many painkillers at all as the ones I've got make me gag. Must get soluble ones for next time. Glad to see you've managed to stay busy, I know what you mean about the steroids, no wonder they're banned for athletes!   I hope all of you are having a manageable time under whatever part of the 'process' you're going through. It's reassuring to know we're all getting towards the end of treatment.  Have a great weekend, looks like the weather's about to change which I don't personally mind, I'll be glad when its cooler at night.  xx     ... View more

Happy Birthday Karen. 49 eh, just a youngster. I hope you've had a good day and are still fully recovered from your recent infection. Like JuSt all I've heard about pachitaxol is that it's easier on the system. Lets hope that turns out to be the case for you. I've had my second Tax today and as last time I'm feeling ok at the moment. I'm high as a kite on steroids, came home from the hospital and got busy with the Hoover and then went and did some gardening. Only had 3 and a half hours sleep last night so I am technically knackered but still full of energy! Go figure, as the yanks say. No doubt I'll start to crash in Sunday/Monday after the steroids have stopped. I hope everyone has a good weekend with manageable side effects. We're getting this done one cycle at a time. X ... View more

Hi Ladies   Blimey, I've been away for a couple of days and things have got very busy on here!   Firstly I'd like to say I hope Karen has been discharged from the hospital and is home with her feet up and a decent cup of tea.  Did they ever find what had caused your temperature to go up?   JuSt - I have asked a few times when struggling with my veins what they could do if they couldn't use my good arm and have been advised that they can use the 'do not use' arm if necessary, they just prefer not to.  I have looked at a number of images on google of PICC lines (I know I know, stay off google!) and they look horrendous to me. You have gone through exactly what I dreaded, I hope they are more succesful for your next treatment with your good arm.   Wendy - I hope your planning appointment went ok this morning and you now have your dates for radiotherapy. Another step nearer to being finished with treatment. The next thing we'll be commenting on is the side effects of the radiotherapy and how to get over them. We'll be waiting for your wise words!   Horseslave - sorry to hear you were under the weather but hope you still managed your weekend away with the chickens. Did they win anything? Triple chocolate cake sounds amazing, I'm not normally a fan of chocolate cake but for some reason its the one thing I've constantly fancied through chemo. Not had any though as I have never found the right type, don't like it too gooey. Hope you're feeling better.   Mogs - glad you enjoyed your week in Norfolk as much as you could. Can't believe you've bought and sold a house in 5 days though! I hope all goes well and you are able to have your first Tax this week if your bloods are up to it.   Cath - I hope you are climbing out of the side effect pit and beginning to feel better. I can confirm that at no point during any of my side effects have I felt anything close to euphoria, I wish I had. I'm hoping to feel pretty euphoric when I get to the end of this though, especially when my hair decides to make its return. On the plus side at least I have no underarm hair or leg hair which needs dealing with. And I don't have a Tom Selleck moustache either.   Ruby - sorry you've had a bad week, I hope your bloods are OK for your last Tax. Another milestone reached, it must feel amazing.   Clare - how nice to have finished your chemo, and how good does a champagne tea sound! I don't think I could drink champagne but this weekend I found that cider tastes pretty good, even with a dodgy taste in my mouth. I may have to get a few tins in just for 'special occasions!'   Panda - poor you, you really are going through it at the moment. I hope your 5th Tax goes OK and you get minimal side effects, sounds like you have more than enough to cope with already.   hbunny- I'm on the same count down as you until Friday for TaX number 5, I hope all is going well for you at the moment.   Most of my Tax side effects have now subsided although not gone completely. The taste is a lot better, I can now drink orange squash again which helps. Some of my finger nails are still complaining, hopefully they'll stay. I'll be cutting them shorter and painting them up dark on Thursday ready for my 5th Tax on friday. Blood test Wednesday, Oncologist on Thursday. The hospital sent me an appointment for an echocardiogram for this Friday and I had to cancel for obvious reasons. They then sent another for the 10th October, which I called to cancel. The lady on the phone got very shirty with me and asked why I had cancelled again and told me she would refer me back to my Onc as I'd refused a second date. When I told her it was my 25th wedding anniversay, I'd already had my chemo put back a week so that I wasn't in hospital on the day and I was not going to be going into hospital that day she sheepishly offerred me a new appointment straight away!!  Why don't these departments speak to each other, I don't expect them to know what the 10th October means to me but it would be nice to not be double booked on my chemo days.   Anyway, enough moaning already. The sun is shining, I'm feeling generally OK so things can't be too bad.  We are all getting nearer to the end of chemo and it's a good feeling. Lets hope we all finish when we're supposed to.   Have a good week everyone and for all those expecting to have treatment I hope your bloods don't let you down and the side effects are minimal. Take care of yourselves ladies. XX     ... View more

Hi Ladies   Lots of posts lately, I suppose in reflection that means we're well enough to look at the forum. It's now day 12 since my first Tax and I'm feeling physically OK and the taste has eased off. Sunday was the worst for that, I barely drank anything all day because everything tasted so foul. Funny enough I managed to eat though! I know the advice is always to drink plenty because it helps but honestly it was practically impossible.  My nails are feeling a bit tender, had to get hubby to open a can of drink for me as I wasn't sure if my nail would take it. On the whole things are improving so I will need to make the most of the next week.   Shoes - so sorry to hear that you've been back in hospital again. Your situation makes me realise how lucky I've been. I hope you manage the weekly Tax better than you've been on FEC.  I also hope your eyes improve really soon.   Sugar - congratulations on finishing your chemo, that must make a difference psychologically. Unlike you I would like to see my oncologist, I haven't seen her since before I started chemo and I've just done my fourth. I did see a stand in but her attitude left a lot to be desired.  I hope all goes well with the next stages of your treatment.   Horseslave - sorry that you're not being well supported at the moment. I'm lucky that I don't have too much to do except look after myself when hubbys at work. Your Barney sounds great though, I know we're supposed to avoid contact with animals but if I still had my dog I'd be spending the down time curled up with her.   Cath - I hope all went well today and treatment went ahead as planned. Hopefully you'll be back on your feet soon. After Tax I think I'd vote for 6 FEC. I still can't get my head round the variations in treatment chemo wise, there must be some logic to it.   hbunny - like you I'm waiting to see what the second Tax brings before seeing if I need to make any changes. I'm hopeful that as my second FEC was better than my first the same will happen with Tax.  If anyone is sure that this is unlikely to happen please keep it to yourself!!  Foolish hope is what I need right now.   I hope everyone's coping as well as possible at the moment.  Sly. ... View more

Hi Ruby Sorry to see you're suffering under tax. Today is day 9 for me and I too am suffering sleep wise. I'm knackered but can't get to sleep at night as my heart is racing and pounding in my ears. Some ladies have been taking clarityn, I don't know what benefit this brings, maybe someone can explain. Last night I took a couple of Nytol before I went to bed and if certainly helped. Not sure if its a good thing to take though, I may call the hospital and ask. The Tax pit is certainly a harder one to crawl out of than FEC. Never thought I'd hear myself say that. Finding things to eat/drink that don't taste disgusting is also a challenge. By now I would normally be feeling ok. Can I just ask why you didn't get on with the chillow? I've often considered one but the reviews I've seen suggest its a little too big. Time to drag myself upstairs and get dressed. I foolishly offered (pre tax) to put my cousin and her husband up for the night and then take them to Heathrow early tomorrow morning. Oh dear! Hope you feel better soon. ... View more

Morning ladies   It has been abit quiet on here for a few days. For myself I can say I've been laid low by Tax, not feeling sick which is great but having to give in and medicate for the odd pains, which either shoot in like a lightning strike or are more persistent. Yesterday my sciatica was reawakened which was uncomfortable to say the least, and last night I could neither get to sleep or stay asleep, for some reason my heart was racing. Anyway all calm now. While I don't feel tip top the main lingering issue is the fact that everything tastes awful, which means I have managed to drop a few pounds this week. I seem to be living on tinned fruit and cream crackers. Oh, and the odd cake! Someone has to keep Mr Kipling going.   Cath - I hope all will be well with your liver results. Personally I feel that the radiographer shouldn't have said anything to you, that just adds extra worry days to an already overloaded worry schedule. I'm keeping my fingers crossed for you.   Wendy - glad to see you've had minimal SE's this time and your radiotherapy is at last on the horizon. Enjoy your week away next week, it sounds idyllic. Good weather will make it better but I'm sure the scenery and the rest will do you the world of good.   Claire - congratulations on finishing your chemo, it must feel amazing to have done that. I'm sure I'm going to cry when they take the final drip off me and its all done, even though there will be at least a week of side effects to follow. I hope yours aren't too troublesome.   hbunny - I can't believe you're back at work already, you must have the spirit of an ox. I'm beginning to worry that when I go back my brain will have gone to mush and I won't remember how to even write a basic letter. I'm sure I'll get back in the swing eventually. You're amazing though, I could not have worked this week, I could barely get off the sofa for a couple of days.   Karen - I bought my treadmill from Next, I think it cost me about £200. I wanted one which could be changed to an incline to give a bit of extra workout. I have no aerobic capacity whatsoever, I can only run for about 3 minutes before I can no longer breathe.  I keep meaning to improve this by just doing regular short runs but as yet I haven't. I have only been walking at about 4K an hour for 45 mins, nothing strenuous. Ironically I've done more exercise in the last 2 years than any other time in my life and yet still I got ill. Oh well, I think you're either gonna or you're not.   Berkshirelass - I can't advise on treatment before operations as mine was the other way round. I do have a friend who had treatment first for a 5cm tumour which was practically gone by the time she had her op.  With regard to the length of time you're suffering the side effects the only thing I can recommend is drink as much as you can. It really does make a difference as I think it helps to flush things out.   Anyway, off to hang the washing out now, make the most of the good weather. Hope everybody has a good weekend and gets to enjoy some sunshine.  ... View more

Cath - so sorry your treatment didn't go ahead. I really hope the ultrasound goes well and you are back on track soon. Sending you big hugs. Karen and Wendy - don't be impressed with my treadmill activity. I am just walking, not running! I just feel that any movement is better than none, just keeping the hips moving, that's all. I don't do the ice pops during treatment, just drink as much water as possible. So far I haven't suffered too badly with ulcers, just Lisa if taste. Today's tinned pears tasted good though. I too have bought and thrown away loads of fruit. Tinned is the way forward for now. Looking forward to a hot bath shortly to ease the aches, they're in some unusual places! Have a good evening all. I hope those of you who aren't sleeping get some proper rest. ... View more

Afternoon ladies   Lovely weather here in North Hampshire, shame under Tax I can't make more of it, just sitting here looking out at the sunshine.   Hbunny - I think I'm suffering similar effects to the Tax as you. Days 1-3 were good, no sickness and feeling pretty good. Yesterday the aches and pains started, wasn't sure whether or not to take painkillers as I thought I'd see how bad it got. Took some this morning and feeling ok pain wise but very tired and 'can't be bothered'. The taste in my mouth is not as bad as on FEC yet weirdly things taste worse, how does that happen?? Mainly though things are better. Walked on my treadmill for 45 minutes yesterday just to keep things moving, would be better for me to walk in the fresh air but there's no sofa for me to flop on outside should I get too tired! I hope you're side effects clear soon. Will you be working through Tax like you did with FEC?   Karen - I was like you, feeling generally quite good but convinced I was in a fools paradise, which turned out to be the case. I'm not a great one for taking tablets so will try and manage the pain, medicating when it becomes necessary. Hopefully you won't get hit too badly. Like you I always slept off my FEC, which I'm not doing with Tax yet, although I am still tired. I still favour sleeping off the side effects though. And having your next one put back even a day is a bummer, those dates are what we're hanging on to!   Wendy - sorry to hear you don't yet have a date for your radio. I will be returning to work through radiotherapy otherwise I'll be on half pay. Like you I will be phased back in anyway to will hope to work around either early/late radio appointments. I think most of us set dates for ourselves once we have an idea of the timetable, with Christmas being the deadline for some sort of normality. I'm due to see my Onc before my next Tax and will raise the matter or radio with her, I would like some idea of when it will start.    Cath - hope all goes well with your FEC today and you have minimal SE's. Two thirds done now!   Horseslave - hope all goes well with your FEC, it will be interesting to hear which treatment you're better on. I'm certainly feeling extremely tired, no doubt this will worsen as we crawl towards the finish line.  After your comment about losing a tooth you've made me paranoid about losing teeth! Hair is one thing but the teeth don't grow back. While I don't have teeth like Tom Cruise they are all mine and I want to keep them.   JuSt - I think getting a PICC line in would scare most of us! No need to 'man up', we know what you're feeling, all these different things are sent to scare us but somehow we just get on with them because we don't have a choice. That's the bottom line. We are all just getting on with what we have to do and coping as best we can and personally I think we're doing a sterling job. Well done us!   Flossie - glad you enjoyed your week away. I keep trying to convince hubby to go away for a week somewhere by the sea but he keeps looking abroad. Like I want to travel somewhere hot with no hair and no energy!! Just need some rest, hearty food, open fires and plenty of ozone for a bit of a lift. Might just book somewhere and let him know after!   Time for lunch but don't have much appetite. Ate a whole tin of sliced peaches for lunch yesterday, at least it enabled me to get some fluids in, as water and stuff tastes awful. May do the same today, or go for pears instead. Big decisions to be made!   I hope everyone continues to enjoy the current run of good weather and minimal side effects from whatever treatment they're having. Try and stay positive, we can see the light at the end of the tunnel, and it's not a train coming towards us!! XX     ... View more

Hi hbunny Just wanted to drop in to say Happy Birthday for tomorrow. I hope you don't have the breakdown I had on my a few weeks back, the day seemed to tip me over the edge. I think the card from my dad, who is 87 and not well himself made me realise that next birthday he may not be here. Anyway, I'm sure you're birthday will have a better start, middle and end. I'm sorry you're facing this in your forties, I at least had entered the next decade before things went awry. Thank god for routine mammograms for over fifties. Have the best day possible with no side effects to deal with. You can start them on Monday if need be! Xx ... View more

Morning ladies Well the Tax treatment went ok, no side effects during administration. Mind you I am totally wired on the steroids, really not sleeping well and now a bit shaky. Only one more day of steroids. The nurse had trouble getting the cannula in, the first two veins blew and she finally managed a vein close to my wrist bone which was a bit sore. Still, done now. I haven't had any nausea and managed to go out last night to the in laws and eat fish and chips! I'm fully expecting the pains to start soon and have been told to take painkillers at the first sign and keep them up, so I will be shopping for some today. Hbunny - I was knackered after my FEC, I was always falling asleep while trying to watch something on TV. Now I can't sleep, which I find worse as falling asleep gets you through it quicker. I know, I'm never happy! I have got a lot less meds this time, steroids finish today, injections start tomorrow for 7 days and I have anti sickness drugs which I only need to take as and when needed. No antibiotics. Another bottle of lactulose to keep me regular! Maybe you have more because of your diabetes. To everyone due to start Tax in the next few days I hope it goes we for you. Personally I'm happy that the unknown has become the known as far as administration if it is concerned. Just waiting the side effects to kick in, which I will no doubt comment on in a few days. Wherever you are in your treatment I hope you are all coping as well as can be. We are all getting through this in our own different ways, different side effects, different ways of coping, different cakes!! I had two yesterday, no wonder I've put on weight!! Have a good weekend everyone, get plenty of rest, eat whatever you fancy while you fancy it and if that includes wine have one for me as I still don't fancy it! Here's to us all getting there eventually. Take care all. ... View more

That should say 'I feel ok' and not 'u feel ok'! ... View more

Hi hbunny Yes, I'm on the double dose of steroids but u feel ok. Feel really tired though but that might be down to a busy day. I got my nails painted a Cadbury bluey/purple. My veins are still complaining but when the chemo nurse rang this afternoon she said they'd start to recover in a week or two as the Tax is kinder. Bloods were holding out too. On the downside she said the taste in the mouth is likely to be worse and make sure I have plenty of paracetamol and nurofen for when the bone/muscle/ joint pain starts, normally on day 3. She was also keen to reduce my anti sickness meds as it is less common to feel sick on Tax, but while I'm happy to give up the ondansetron I'm clinging on to the Emend just in case. Cath - I shouldn't have laughed at your eyebrow situation. After I posted this morning I went to put some makeup on and noticed some of my eyebrow hairs had fallen out! That'll teach me! Have a good weekend everyone. Once more into the breach! ... View more

TAX minus 24 hours and counting!   Morning all, this has been a busy place the last few days. I have been enjoying the last few days of feeling OK before the chemo cosh hits me again tomorrow. I'm off to have a pedicure at 11 and will be asking for a dark colour to go on. I'll do my fingernails myself tonight. I spoke to one of the nurses about this and she said while there's nothing proven a lot of ladies opt to paint their nails dark due to the increased light sensitivity after tax, which she said lasted while the stuff was in your system, so about a week. It may not be proven but I'll try anything, my nails have always been weak anyway.   JuSt - your reaction to TAX has given me a little hope for tomorrow. I know we all react differently but I'm impressed my your lack of nausea afterwards which was always the worst thing for me. I'm not due to have my treatment until 11.30 tomorrow but I've pre-warned hubby that it may turn out to be a long day. Long may your minimal side effects continue.   Cath - you really should pluck up courage to wear your wig out, once you've done it a few times you will be a lot less self conscious. The first time I wore my for any length of time was on a days shopping in Southampton and I was convinced everyone was staring at me. However in the end I just thought 'stuff it', their problem not mine. Now I wear it all day every day, usually flinging it off in the evening when I've had enough! I think hubby's now got used to my hedgehog look. I have one hair that escaped the cut which I call my comfort hair, it's only about 2 inches long but I check every day to see if its still there. Mind you now hubby's spotted it it's on borrowed time, he'll think it's hilarious to remove it when I'm off guard!  I know I shouldn't but your eyebrow situation made me laugh, losing it in the middle and not at the end. Mine are thinning for sure, as are my eyelashes. I might get to the point where I have to go to Boots and choose which one of Girls Aloud I want to look like!   hbunny - sorry, can't help on the vitamin D thing either, I did have a quick look on the net but as usual there was a lot of conflicting advice. And your wig should definitely not be thinning. Do you brush it a lot? I rarely brush mine, just run by fingers through it. I bouhgt two but the other went back for adjustment, I'm looking forward to getting it back tomorrow, hopefully it won't feel so tight.  They should definitely last 6 months so kick up a fuss when you're up to it.  I know you're also due for your first TAX tomorrow, I hope it goes as well as possible for you.   Wendy - very pleased for you finishing your chemo. And you'll get your date to start radiotherapy soon hopefully. It's funny how going through chemo can make you look forward to radiotherapy, like it's going to be easier. At least it only affects one part of your body and not all of it. (She said hopefully!)   Ruby - Sorry to hear you're having hot flushes.  I don't know what treatment plan you're on but I'm due to go on Arimidex for 5 years after radiotherapy which is supposed to give you menopausal symptoms, which having already had an early menopause means I get all the symptoms back again. Deep joy. Perhaps if I hadn't taken HRT I wouldn't be in this predicament in the first place.   Shoes - hope all goes well with treatment today and you have minimal SE's and a restful weekend.   Morag - I hope all goes well with your last FEC today. Enjoy your week in Norfolk with your hubby. Sometimes we forget that they're going through it with us too and are scared/fed up as much as we are. I know mine needs a break, he's working long hours at the moment trying to run too many jobs at the same time. Hopefully we'll get away for a few days in October between treatments.  Like you I sometimes can't believe I'm going through this but I think the imagination is a good thing and thinking it's someone else is a reasonable coping mechanism.  After all we often feel greater concern for others than ourselves.   I'm sitting here waiting for the nurse to ring and let me know if my blood test results are OK for treatment tomorrow. She'd better be quick, I'm going out in 10 minutes. Hopefully all will be well, I have October 17th firmly in my mind as the finish line. I want my smiley face, with a balloon and a lollipop on my final day! I might have to up my game exercise wise though in the interim, got on the scales yesterday and have gained half a stone! Lets hope the SE's fro me from TAX will low enough to enable me to get back on the treadmill every day before I add another half a stone. It's bad enough being bald without gaining weight as well.   Anyway have a good weekend all, sending positive thoughts to all, sorry I haven't included everyone but flipping back and forward takes a while. xx         ... View more

Morag, I'm so sorry to hear your chemo has been delayed again and this has messed up your plans for a restful break away. It's difficicult enough trying to plan anything normal during the two weeks that most of us actually feel ok without a set back at the last minute. I really hope your neutrophil levels pick up in time to have treatment next week. On the food front I have to say I have never eaten as badly as I have since I started chemo because I only eat the things I actually like the taste of. Although some of these things have been good, good soups, tons of carrots and other veg rather than fruit, they have been balanced with an over liberal dose of things like chips and cake. Other than that the only thing I have done is upped my red meat intake a little, for which I heartily apologise to the cows, they don't deserve it!   Whiskers - thanks for popping in with good advice. I'm due to start Tax next Friday and the nerves are beginning to build. It's nice to know there's something else that I can ask for if I have a bad reaction to the Tax. There seem to be conflicting views on the pages of the forum about whether its better or worse than FEC, and though I know everyone's different and therefore reacts differently I still assume the worst but hope for the best.  I've been looking on the forum for the ladies who started chemo in August to see how they're doing and mostly they seem to be flying through it, I'm quite jealous.   Cath - glad you're felling generally OK apart from the ulcers. I get mine along the underneath of my tongue so that they catch on my teeth when I chew, which smarts a bit I can tell you. However they are few each treatment I have so can't complain. The taste in my mouth seems to have lasted longer this time, although reduced in intensity. I can't wait for that to be over and to be able to feel a freshness in my mouth rather than the felling that a slug has crawled over it.  Like you my arm is very sore where the veins have been damaged, I'm going to ask the nurses about some physio excercises to relieve the discomfort. It's ironic that having done the excercises for my left arm following surgery and made good progress my right arm also now has reduced reach.   Shoes - hope you enjoyed your night out, it makes such a difference. My head wants to drink wine but my mouth and my stomach are saying don't bother, it will taste horrible. Once my taste buds have recovered I'm going off to a room on my own with a bottle of wine and some chocolate.   On a different note there has been some dicussion on here lately about a blood test which can detaect cancer.  I read this somewhere too, apparently it works by detecting a rise in white blood cells which indicate that there is a sickness somewhere in the body. The article I read indicated that this was only proving effective for certain types of cancer, one of which was lung cancer which would make sense. Unfortunately breast cancer wasn't one of them, so we will continue to have our boobs put through the mangle on a regular basis for early detection. Joy.   To those of you having treatment today I hope all goes well and to those of you nearly finished well done. That will be all of us before we know it. Have a good weekend ladies, enjoy the better weather which is due to come our way next week and here's to minimal side effects for all of us. XX         ... View more