Breast Cancer Now Forum

FEC 3 day 13 Evening valentines - sorry I haven't been posting for a while - but I have been reading everyone's posts every day - keeping up to date with all that's happening - good & bad! Karen - I am for the McMillen centre tomorrow for a workshop on make up and how to recreate and fill eyebrows and lashes - will keep you posted. Angie K - the weight gain is awful - it's just piled on over the last 10 days or so for me - around 8lb - and same as you - all round my middle - bugger that! And we can't diet - defo a no no - just gotta grin and bear it till its all over and then try and shift it - easier said than done! Kath - I just loved the FEC and when will my hair grow back poems - real LOL moments! Also I found you on fb but couldn't add you - if you want you can add me 🙂 Linda - I am so glad you have started your chemo journey - and the SE's aren't too bad at the minute - fingers crossed that's the way it continues for you. Elaine - I am like you - opting for hats & scarves - the wig just isn't doing it for me at all - yet some of the pics on here with the girls in their wigs look fab! I just think mine looks 'wiggy' lol Sandra - what an awful time you've been having - good luck for tomorrow - and try and keep out of Hosp - when I read you were back in again earlier in the month - it was a YOL moment - yell out loud - Nooooooooooo!!!! Now what's been happening with me - I had my picc line fitted on 3rd April - it was an absolute nightmare - took 4 attempts to get it in - at one stage I thought it wasn't gonna go in - and was looking at a portacath or Hickman line - but she persevered and we got a result. Was at the Hosp for 10 hrs - 8.30-6.30 - long day and finally got my chemo at 5.15 - it was a walk in the park - only took 35 mins - side effects are very very minimal - furry mouth and sore bumbaleero when I poo (bleeding quite badly) 😞 I am working every day from 9-5 ( hrs prior to diagnosis were 7.30-5 and no pressure whatsoever to go in - if I don't feel like it I don't go in ) - I am so lucky they have paid me full pay from the start of this journey (oct 12) so I don't wanna take my employers for granted as I know some of the girls have been having probs with their employers / jobs. So valentines that's you all up to date - keep well and hope the SE,s are minimal - thanks for every one who has been thinking about me and wondering where I had disappeared to!! 🙂 xoxoxo ... View more

Paula - I've added you on fb - hope its the right one!! Lol Kath - whats ur profile pic? If anyone wants to add me - profile pic is my and OH - I am in a purple / damson dress and he is in a suit with a purple tie 🙂 xx ... View more

Kath - your last poem - the day that cancer came moved me to tears - it's us all down to a tee 😞 Would you mind if I shared it with my facebook friends?? I'm not feeling my chirpy self today - Dont know whats up with me - I am NEVER like this at all ..... Prob impending PICC line insertion & chemo no 3 on Wednesday. Kim xx ... View more

Afternoon Valentines! Hope you are all keeping warm Kath - thanks for your concern for myself and Dyane - I see Dyane has replied and its all good with her - I am the same - actually I am typing this from work! lol The roads on Friday were atrocious to get home (16 miles) and it took much longer than normal - so I didnt bother venturing into work yesterday - took a duvet day - but in work today and the roads are clear - but I feel so so sorry for the farmers in N Ireland at the minute - last nights news was hard to watch - the farmers were pulling dead sheep and lambs out of snow drifts that were 15ft + deep - poors sods Sandra - 1/2 way there!! Yipee - that will be me next week - 3rd FEC on Wednesday (have to have a PICC line fitted first thou) Dyane - awful to hear of Patton's closing - such a big big blow to the community - I missed the documentary last night but will get it on iplayer. Chris & Alison - roof of my mouth is the same - usually lasts for around a week or so - just seems really rough (or furry) - not sore - just a strange feeling..... Better get back to work - have a good Tuesday everyone with minimal SE's. Kim xxoo ... View more

FEC 2 day 12 Afternoon valentines - it's been a while since I posted but read the updates every day. Funki - when I was admitted to Hosp on cycle 1 with neutropenia the doc who was putting a cannula into my hand for IV antibiotics said that having chemo was like injecting 'bleach' into the veins - so no wonder we are having such sore sore arms 😞 Louise - I am sure you are glad that FEC is over for you - I have had 2 FEC and another 4 to go!! Linda - just to reiterate what the other valentines have said - DON'T LEAVE US!! You are a mine of information and we all class you as one of us 🙂 On the eyebrow and eyelashes front - I have all my eyelashes still but can see a definite thinning of the eyebrows - when in the shower in the mornings I very carefully wash around the eyebrows - trying to keep them for as long as possible - I think when we loose our eyebrows / lashes the we look very sick (and quite alien like!) Penguin - good for you on the double mx - you are in control and that's the way it should be. Dyane - my veins are so so sore - raised and quite inflamed - sore to stretch arm out. Karen - thanks for the tip of the liquid eye liner - must give that a go 🙂 Kath - as usual poems are amazing - and as everyone else has commented - I loved the 'boob' one too! Lol 😉 So - down to the nitty gritty with what has been happening with me - FEC 2 - amazing - not one SE at all! Couldn't believe it - had a very slight sore head for 48 hrs and that was it - nothing else at all - nurse administered my pink juice very very slowly which I think helped - also complete change of anti sickness meds BUT - there's always a BUT isn't there - had to go to Hosp yesterday as my chemo arm is very sore and swollen - veins are red and raised - doc looked at it and suggested a PICC line for remaining 4 FEC - this is something I didn't want at all - don't get me wrong - I know it will help me - chemo will now go in in 30 mins as opposed to 90 mins - it's just the thought of the line being put in when I am awake - if I was knocked out I would have it in a heartbeat! So valentines - who has a PICC line in and what was it like getting it in - would love to hear from anyone who has one 🙂 Also loaded with the cold - is this gonna be every cycle - at least not in Hosp this time around - feeling great - so good in fact that we managed a wee night away to Giants Causeway hotel last Sunday for one night 🙂 Also have a sore at the side of my nose - prob cause of all the blowing/wiping it with my cold - just hope it's not gonna make its way down to my top lip! Lol Weather here in N Ireland is horrendous - snow, ice, sleet, winds - a perfect spring day - NOT! Lol Take care valentines Kim xxoo ... View more

FEC 2 day 2 Morning valentines - I see from some of the posts this morning that some of us had a bad nights sleep and the sleep fairy eluded us! Me too - think I got about 4 hours in total - then when I was able to sleep (after OH went to work at 7am) the district nurse arrived at 10am to administer my Pegfilgrastim! Glad I got the injection this time - hopefully keep me hospital free! Featherbird - I see you have lots of injections - 5 in total - what mg are they - I'm only getting the one 6mg. Kath - thank you so so much for the poem about Cushendall - I absolutely loved it! Keep them coming - you are defo one talented lady! Karen - bit if a nightmare for you yesterday - the vein issue - I had something similar but not quite as terrible as yours - nurse found a vein (was the vein they used to administer chemo no 1) she put the cannula in and the vein promptly blew!! I thought - o no - bet I'm gonna have to have a PICC line - but she then located a vein on side of wrist and chemo no 2 went swimmingly! Not even a bruise this morning - nurse put in pink stuff (3 large syringes) very very slowly and I think this helped me a lot. Only side effects yesterday was a very slight headache - chemo 1 was pounding headache and nose running the whole night. No nausea yet so I am hoping they have sorted my anti sickness meds this time around - I am on Ondansetron & Levomepromazine - any one else had these and did they work for you? Cycle 1 nothing seemed to work for me at all so I am keeping my fingers crossed that these do 🙂 I've decided to do what a lot of you have started to do - write post in note and paste! Lol 😉 Hope you all have a good day and hopefully SE's are minimal for all us valentines - Kim xxoo ... View more

Morning valentines - hope everyone has had a good nights sleep - I never slept a wink - off to Hosp for cycle no 2 FEC - now that I know what to expect I am a tad nervous!! Veins were playing up again yesterday at pre assessment - had to keep hand under running warm water so they would 'pop' up - which they did! Worried in case they can't find a decent vein and I need a PICC line put in - anyone who has had one in - is it sore to go in / do you feel it going in?!?! If they knocked me out and put it in I would have it in a heartbeat .... You would think after all we've been thru getting a PICC line in would be nothing - but I just think I've been thru too much - especially when I ended up in Hosp for 5 days in the first cycle 😞 It's freezing here in N Ireland which doesn't help my wee veins at all! Lol Will be heading to Hosp with hot water bottle AND heat pack on my arm - see if I can encourage the veins to make an appearance! Lol Good luck featherbird - we are on the same time scale now Kath - love ur poems - keep them coming 🙂 Paula - my filling came out too - gonna ask today about getting it re-filled - so will let u know Shells - good luck for today - let us know how you get on. Big hugs to all the valentines - take care - Kim xxoo ... View more

FEC cycle 1 day 25 Morning Valentines - havent posted much over the last few weeks due to hosp incarseration and not feeling the best - but be assured I log on every day to see how my valentine sisters are keeping! Was at hosp on Monday for bloods etc - after meeting with consultant my chemo has been deferred for a week to let me and my wee veins recover - to tell the truth I didnt want it - still dont ........ I know I am only prolonging the whole process but this first cycle has really knocked me for 6 - sick for the first 8 days (not physically just very bad nausea) then infection in right eye on day 10 then cold & cough then in hosp with neutropenia sepsis! Alsolute nightmare for me - I am just so glad that most of the valentines arent having such a bad time as me (and the other 7 valentines who ended up in hosp!) Is it any wonder I dont want cycle 2! lol Just want to plug the site Anna Bandana - fantastic service and great prices - best site I have seen so far for scarves etc (I am not going to wear my wig - its cutting the head off me - and when I tried it on with hair it was great - now with no hair it seems very loose and might fall off! So I am sticking to scarves and hats - I know it screams 'cancer patient' but I feel much better with the scarves and everyone has complimented me on the ones I am wearing (I have opted for the multi coloured chiffon ones (they have a wee cotton hat with the chiffon parts attached and then its up to you how you tie it - I tie mine to the side and its very flattering!) I am back at work for the last 3 days ( I work in an office so no manual labour - just sit in front of a computer all day!) but will finish today for poss 8-10 days pending how chemo affects me this time - I just hope they throw everything at me - anti sickness & white blood cell boosting injections - just dont want to feel as bad as I did with the first cycle. Ok - rant & moan over - back to work - have a good Friday valentines and I hope everyones SE's are minable and bareable. Big cyber hugs to everyone xxoo ... View more

Morning Valentines - I've escaped!! Got out yesterday afternoon - my lovely sister & Mum picked me up and then we came home, had a bite of lunch and then did what I'd been wanting to do since the weekend but due to being in Hosp couldn't - shave my hair off! Sis gave me a number 2 buzz cut all over - weird weird feeling to have very little hair - head very sore to touch - so sore in fact I couldn't have the wig on cause it was hurting my head so much. So sis played about with a couple of bandanas that I had and we ended up choosing a lovely lilac multi one - might put it up as my profile pic. OH said it was lovely when he got home from work - I really didn't want to take it off to go to bed - didn't want him to see me with no hair (or very little!) just yet - but at bed time I took it off and promptly burst into tears! I really didn't think I would feel this way - but I felt having no hair aged me terribly! 😞 Anyway enough of my moaning - how are we all this morning - Jo I see your treatment has been postponed for a week due to your Hosp stay - I am HOPING mine is too - just want a week of feeling 'good' before it all kicks off again! Linda you are so good with keeping up with everyone's situation - unfortunately I am either on my ipad or phone - both of which aren't great for looking back thru posts - must go back to the Stone Age times and make notes on everyones posts with pen & paper!! Lol 😉 But I am following everyone and taking on board tips etc for when I go back for round 2 - NOW I know what to ask! Hope everyone has a good Friday and SE are minimal - I am gonna get up, shower and wash my non existent hair!! Lol Kim xxoo ... View more

Hello valentines - I am still incarserated 😞 possible escape tomorrow. I have a feeling I am here cause of not having the injections lots of you ladies were talking about and had. Someone said to me that they give u the minimum of everything first time around - see how you tolerate it - and then tweek it accordingly when cycle 2 comes around. Well believe me ladies I will be asking for EVERYTHING on cycle 2 - cycle 1 has been a nightmare for me 😞 I just wish I was at home cause my hair is falling out all over the place and it needs buzzed off - quickly!! Sorry to hear u r in hospital Alison - hope its not too long - this is day 4 for me 😞 xxoo ... View more

Hello valentines - I am still incarserated 😞 possible escape tomorrow. I have a feeling I am here cause of not having the injections lots of you ladies were talking about and had. Someone said to me that they give u the minimum of everything first time around - see how you tolerate it - and then tweek it accordingly when cycle 2 comes around. Well believe me ladies I will be asking for EVERYTHING on cycle 2 - cycle 1 has been a nightmare for me 😞 I just wish I was at home cause my hair is falling out all over the place and it needs buzzed off - quickly!! Sorry to hear u r in hospital Alison - hope its not too long - this is day 4 for me 😞 xxoo ... View more

Linda & Funki - the answer is no - I wondered what the valentines were talking about when they mentioned the injections. I wasn't told anything about white blood cells, nadir time, what not to eat - nothing! So I guess next time around for me I will have everything thrown at me - I hope! Really don't want to go thru this for the next 16 weeks 😞 ... View more

FEC cycle 1 day 15 City Hosp Belfast Hi valentines - it's me - and yes - I am still hospitalised 😞 WBC now up so they have stopped one of the anti biotic drips - but my temp isn't coming down as quickly as they had hoped so no escape for me just yet - poss tomorrow or Thursday. And where have all my lovely juicy veins gone to - into hiding by the looks of things! Lol Nurse tried 4 times yesterday to get blood - no joy - in the end one of the docs came and got it - and she had trouble too! This doesn't look good for my chemo being administered via a cannula if my veins have gone already! Not really wanting a PICC line in at all. Glad to hear that Jo & Lavendersun are home - looks like we were the 3 unlucky ones this time around - I just hope this is a one off - don't think I could do this every month! And loving all the new hair do pics (wigs, short crops & razored) - my hair is coming out in hand fulls now - if I was at home it would be a number 1 all over! Lol Chin up valentines - we can do this!! Kim xxoo ... View more

Why o why does predictive text exist!! I said 'fighting fit' not 'fighting gift'! :-) xxoo ... View more

Hi valentines - guess where I am - hospital 😞 Admitted early hours of Sunday morning - temp was 39.25, I was shivering & shaking and I knew exactly what was in front of me - cannulas (yuk!!) drips and generally feeling awful. i am still in hosp and will be for the next few days - infections all over - eyes, mouth & chest - cold from hell and a terrible cough. They have started injecting me to see if they can get white blood cell up - looks like my chemo no 2 for next Tuesday will have to be postponed 😞 Does anyone know if this is gonna happen every time after chemo or is it a one off(hopefully). To make matters worse - I'm starting to loose my hair!! Forgot to say FEC cycle 1 day 14 - I'm not liking this chemo journey at all. Jo & Lavendersun - hope we all recover soon and get back home when we are fighting gift again! Big hugs to all ... View more

O millymolly - u poor girl! Why o why cant consultants get their facts right before delivering vital information to their patients! My consultant done the exact same thing - told me NO tumour on oesophagus when in fact there was a 1.4cm there! I can understand your frustration and total bewilderment - especially when you were told different first off - I would go with what u say - double mx - get rid of everything ....... big hugs xxoo ... View more

FEC cycle 1 day 8 Afternoon ladies - and what a lovely sunny day it is here in N Ireland! Warms the heart 🙂 Yesterday was the first day I was actually physically sick - anti sickness meds are not working for me it seems - woke this morning resembling quasi modo - right eye swollen and half shut and caked with 'gunk' - I have a bad cold so I suppose it's coming from that - I hope! In saying that today has been my best day so far - managed to keep down some rice krispies and my tea - so hopefully this is the start of feeling 'well' again - was planning to go back go work yesterday but looking more like next Monday now. Dyane - good luck for tomorrow - I am being treated at Belfast City Hosp Cancer Centre and I see you are mid Antrim Hosp - is ur rads to be done at the cancer centre by any chance? Everyone seems to be getting on good - long may it continue. 🙂 Take care ladies xo ... View more

FEC cycle 1 day 6 - I feel sooooooo ill!!! They can't seem to get my anti sickness meds sorted for me - in fact I am just going to go to my own doc tomorrow see what he suggests - if this goes on the for the next 18 weeks - I'll be a skeleton:-( Woke yesterday feeling - not too bad - didn't last long - by mid morning I was back on the nausea train again - this is much worse than I thought it was gonna be - I had my mx & recon beginning of Oct then they found BC had travelled to lung so had to have another major op end of Dec - left lung has some (not much according to onc) fluid in it - sore when I lie on my left side in bed and the noise of it 'cracking' is bad too - give me ops any day - this sickness isn't for me at all! I was hoping to get back to work tomorrow - doesn't look like that's gonna happen any way soon ..... Woke with very sore throat & what seems like the beginning of a cold - very little sleep last night - one minute roasting the next freezing - sorry to rant to all you lovelies - we are all in the same boat - but sometimes you just don't want to moan to the OH yet again. I hope everyone is feeling as good as can be expected on this beautiful Sunday morning - sun is shining here in N Ireland - at least that's something good today 🙂 Any tips, info or advice will be gratefully received - take care Valentines 🙂 xx ... View more

Jennifer - how lucky are you!! I feel awful - rang the helpline - they are giving me a stronger anti sickness tablets today so hopefully feel better this evening. Sandra - you are going great too - I feel a bit of a wimp compared to you 2 superwomen!! Lol ... View more

Hey ladies - wasn't feeling up to posting yesterday - 1st FEC - SE kicked in around 3 hrs after administrating - sore head - when I got home I was ok apart from the sore head - as day wore on the nausea started - mouth filling with water constantly - feeling of wanting to be sick be wasn't - if this is all the SE's I get I will be very happy! Just off from helpline - they are giving me a stronger anti sickness - didn't sleep to bad at all - prob cause I never slept much the night prior to chemo. Hope everyone is keeping as well as can be expected - lots of posts to read over the last few days - Jennifer hope SE aren't too bad for you on day 2. i was hoping to be back to work on Monday - day 7 - anyone else back this early - and is it advisable!! Xx ... View more