Breast Cancer Now Forum

Hi All,   Lovewine I am glad you enjoyed your shopping trip. I think bras are going to be an impossible thing to shop for until it’s all well and truly over!  We don’t really know what we will end up like!   Rosie I hope everyone is spoiling you rotten and you are getting enough rest. Is DH’s mole ok? Perhaps the cooler weather here will help it dry and heal a little better.   Jos the impatience is maddening isn’t it!  I think because we know we won’t be knocked down again when we feel better there is actually a point to getting to that stage. I was very relieved when my sister in law finally set off for the airport at 9 am yesterday and popped up for a rest - did not emerge till 1.30!     An old friend has arrived at 3 and I was sufficiently rested to enjoy her company for the rest of the day.  It has been great fun as she owns one of the litter my working cocker had in January and we kept one so the family is almost back together. The siblings are enjoying each other’s company and playing like mad while the older 2 dogs give them disapproving looks!  All four are sitting by my feet as I type - very appealing but I have to keep telling myself ‘no more dogs!’   She also told me an encouraging story of her bridesmaid who had BC. After chemo double mastectomy rads and herceptin, she unfortunately had a secondary recurrence under her collar bone.  This was also treated but she opted not to have the chemo offered so she could enjoy her time with her young family.  12 years later she is still completely clear and Bristol’s longest surviving patient and is on no meds at all!   It can happen!   Wishing everyone a good day,   Nellie     ... View more

Hi Zonda,    Sorry to hear of your struggle with your chemo and uncertainty of how to proceed.   I had a similar experience with the pain but did not react to the actual infusion. 3 days after the first tax the pain was so unbearable I was just curled up moaning on the living room floor struggling to breathe properly. OH I thought there must be something else wrong and called 999. I had bloods done that revealed very low counts and affected liver function.  I did recover though!!  It appears they give you the highest dose they dare and in my case this was too much.  For the next two treatments I have had a 20% reduced dose and have coped fine and have been reassured it is still enough to do the job.  Perhaps you could ask if this could be an additional option for you to consider?    I don’t know about the pros and cons of 2 week verses 3 week cycles but we all seem to be getting there in the end.   Good luck. Nellie ... View more

Hi all,   Rosie how fabulous you are here safely and with your family.  My eyes keep filling up thinking of the wedding. We run (well OH does) a Hotel and have done hundreds of weddings over the years but despite witnessing some pretty emotional situations I think yours will come out top.  I think you will need to provide boxes of tissues for the guests as no one is going to make it through the speeches!   Cassie your salad sounds fab especially as it uses cucumber! Will make some today or tomorrow as I have a veggie friend coming to stay it will be just the ticket with a goat cheese tart or similar. Just quickly - do the tablet blister packets have to be completely unused or can they accept/recycle everything?   Lots of sympathy for Wildpurl. Lovewine, and TIj all with upset tummies (and my mum and OH last week too) there must be a bug going around in this warm weather. I hope you all recover quickly and are not left too drained. I agree with you SEs seem to have arrived early this time and somethings are worse.  My mouth and taste are really rubbish and I am worried I am getting an abscess where a bit of breakfast cereal got stuck down the gum.  The tiredness is almost unbearable and I am so grumpy. I don’t know if I am just being impatient to get going knowing there will be no week three to spoil it all.   I  tried out a new plan Tues night to get enough proper sleep - tablet at 10pm - sleep 4 hours, up for a bit another tablet sleep 4 hrs. Feel better………….. not!!  Still had to have two huge lie downs in the day.  My Gp said it was ok to take two (I think she meant at the same time!) but I won’t try it too often though as I know the tablets are somewhat addictive and I will have to learn to sleep properly on my own.   Last night OH sadly had to stay at work as manager called in sick leaving me to cook the farewell family dinner for Sister in law.  I managed meal OK but nearly ended up nodding my head in the washing up bowl after! Straight to bed at 8.30!   Jos I am glad you enjoyed your bath - a simple little comfort really but one that means a lot to us all right now.   Hope everyone has a better day and tummies behave. Nellie   ... View more

Morning all,   Busy day for threads yesterday great to see lots of good news and happy holiday stories.   Rosie I am on the edge of my seat - DH stitches on the way to the airport - flight delays….. I pray you are alright.   Cassie A massive good luck for today - I hope the other appointments went ok yesterday.    Wildpurl Your 80’s night made me smile. I love French onion soup but whenever I have tried to make it, it has ended up as onion gravy on bangers and mash!! (tasty but not quite right!)  Have a massive glut of cucumbers so looking for soup recipes that use more than half of one to try later in the week.   It’s funny so many of us are feeling a bit lost without the routine of chemo - I can’t get my head around being able to plan things in advance - exciting but scary!   Joan I too am considering vitamin tablets so asked oncology nurse last visit.  She said to give it a month for your liver to recover and the last of the chemo to completely go before starting.  Apparently some vitamins can bind to the chemo and stop it working, and your liver has to work very hard during treatment so needs to recover a bit.  I was going to look for something to support energy levels, hair and nails, immune system, and blood - might be quite a big tablet!! I think your surgeon has given you the same follow up as me, which after much googling seems to comply with the NICE guidelines but I still intend to query it at some point.  Thanks for your helpful comments Alice - maybe we will hear more during and after radiotherapy.   TIj Thanks also for the sensible comments and reassurance about scans/follow ups.  I did read that most problems are picked up fairly quickly by the patients anyway so they are not really necessary. Just feels scary to be put back in charge of myself!  I would like an annual full body scan but don’t think that will happen!   Rolicarpet Sounds as if you have had a lovely holiday and all the best for the radiotherapy.  You really are starting the home run now I hope you don’t have too far to travel.  I definitely agree hair growing back over 6 months scarier than falling out in two days. I am not sure normally I would have the confidence to say something to a stranger in a pub - but possibly after attending some of the courses I may be a bit stronger.   Jos, What lovely news about your AC response and finishing chemo. Hurray!  Your holiday sounded super - one of my favourite parts of the world. I am glad the whole family enjoyed themselves and you have your sister arriving to look after you. I hope you can hang on to all the lovely memories and not get hit by the chemo grumps!   Nothing planned for today just sleep and sofa, that way if I manage to get anything done it will be a bonus!  SE’s seem to be kicking in earlier this time so maybe they will go quicker? Fingers crossed as I want to be able to taste my cucumber soup!   Good luck to everyone for today,   Cheers Nellie ... View more

Hi All   Joan sorry to hear your temperature rocketed again, I must be such a worry.  I don’t understand why the zarzio has caused abnormally high white cell count but sounds better than too low?  At least you know you have some cells in your blood!  I have found I have been quite breathless day 2 and wonder if that is due to low red cells or one of the other SEs…… not a problem though.     I agree I have ditched all my scarves and head coverings in the heat for regular activities but did dig out a pretty one for going to the restaurants last week. Don’t know why but it felt the right thing to do?!   Must be a little alarming about your registrars passing comment - when will you have your formal discussion to find out for sure?  It must be difficult to decide between a lumpectomy and mastectomy if given a choice but I think I would select the latter in the hope of less recurrence chance.  As you may have picked up I am getting very fed up with the lack of knowledge here on triple negative and will be interested in what you get offered for your follow up plan at the end of your treatment.   Lovewine I am jealous you have invested in a fondue set!  It was one of those 80’s gadgets we had that got ditched in the house moves over the years. Wish I had hung on to it now but not sure eating loads of cheese will do the waste line much good! Do you have to use special cheese I can’t remember? Thought I might have a go in a little cast iron milk pan I have especially as I seem to be able to taste cheese!   Wildpurl thank you for the link to the hair website -very clear and useful advice on colouring and care of new growth. It said that radio therapy can further delay hair growth but did not elaborate if this was only if you were having it near your head eg for brain cancer.  Either way it does seem like it’s going to be a long process. I hope the living well course will give some hair styling tips as well as make up.   TIj. What a joy to be clearing out the medicines!  I have quite a pile set aside to return to the GPs on Tuesday. (they collect it for the third world I think) I hope your energy levels continue to improve and isn’t it great to know they won’t crash again in 3 weeks! Hurrah!  My dogs won’t know what’s hit them!   Rosie I have my fingers (and toes) crossed for you and your travelling. Well done for finding an old friend on Facebook - I’m not that up to speed on that sort of thing. It will be good to share experiences and gain confidence from another’s success as well as catch up on old times.   Our BBQ went well yesterday - just extended family so they all helped massively. I was rather tired and as my daughter said very grumpy!  OH commented I was ‘T & G’ but as he had been rebuilding a bit of the shed earlier my chemo brain decided he was suggesting I was ‘tongue and groove’!!  Snuffley daughter and sister packed off to visit best friends near London for two days. They were very excited to be going on their first big train trip on their own - I was somewhat relieved when the got there safely!!   Good luck today ladies whatever you are doing,   Nellie   ... View more

Hi all,   Rosie glad you managed a different sleep pattern to day - mine seems to go pear shaped on the steroids and takes ages to sort itself out.  I didn’t help I was terribly tired last time I had so many naps in the day I don’t think I needed much in the night…. The old vicious circle!  I do remember when my daughters were rapidly growing and changing babies and I was trying desperately to get them into sensible sleep routines. I ended up telling myself that a routine was anything I could maintain for 24 hours! The punch at the party sounds a bit stiff - I think you were wise to stay off it. You sound so organised with your packing preparations I am very impressed. I am definitely a mad panic the night before person!   Wildpurl and Eam you both sound as if you have been able to go out and enjoy yourself over the weekend.  Eam the birthday party sounded just the ticket for children and adults alike. Good to hear your line is out and you will be able to get properly wet again - I hope the weather will hold for another week for you!?   Cassie - 43cm goodness!! Were they thinking you might need long distance treatment?!  I bet you can’t wait for it to be gone.   Saw a write up about the new radio therapy in the Times - nothing like the Telegraph one - will have to google it as it sounds interesting and I don’t trust journalists!   Lovewine I hope you manage to book a mini break - if you do get to Norfolk have a juicy crab for me!  Hoping to find some nice fresh ones down in Devon if we get there - taking linguini, chilli, garlic and lime just in case! Maddening - my daughter has developed a nasty cold and it’s my worst time for infection.  I will be a bit disappointed if I go down with something this time having managed so far to stay infection free avoiding treatment delays which would have meant missing the 8th August holiday plan. Fingers crossed!!   My thoughts are with all of you now contemplating surgery and all the worries that go with it.   I must go now to get a bit more sleep before a busy day - lunch for 10 at 1 with garden veg that takes ages to prepare!  Shame my taste is well on its way out for the next week!   Love Nellie       ... View more

Hi All,   I have been dipping in reading posts but no time to reply. Been very busy in my last week making the most of feeling fairly normal and entertaining my sister in law as much as possible. We managed two fabulous meals out - dread to think about my weight!  It has been difficult to monitor due to quite marked fluid retention but steroids are now helping a bit with that.    Rosie it sounds as if your whirlwind continues but you are at least on track for the wedding.  Could your son contact a local doctor in Plymouth and explain the situation just in case you need to pop in quickly for something? I don’t think our GPS are quite as accommodating as yours -very impressed you got sorted so quickly after you called.  I agree it will be slightly reassuring to travel with the stitches. It certainly won’t do any harm - they may just get a little tight and itchy but better than worries about scar splitting!   Cassie Sorry to hear you were not selected for the trial.  I managed to read about it a little yesterday during chemo although my mind was not focussing all that well!  The telegraph reported results not quite as good for first three years then same as normal rads.  As this is my week spot I am glad I am having 4 weeks of the old type but agree I would have been a godsend for many.  It will be interesting how many people take it up in the future. I hope your feet are improving and you enjoy Cornwall.  Good luck for all your appointments (especially PICC line removal - sounds yuck!) are you having the chemo before you go?    Lovewine I am glad your news is better and I hope the worries are subsiding.  One extra chemo sounds a real bore but sensible so all your hard work won’t be undone in the run up to surgery.    Wildpurl interesting name analysis!  I am glad you seem to be in good spirits and have had some help in the garden.  Bit alarmed your hairdresser says Xmas for hair normality even after you managed to conserve some with the cold cap.  I think going around with a moth-eaten fuzz is going to be the worst part for me - I think I will have to start wearing all those hats and scarves I bought - been going ‘commando’ till now!   Joan I did not read back very far but gather you are having problems with numbness. I hope the feeling returns quickly - I have read it is a relatively common SE but not experienced it myself …. Yet!   Louise I am glad you have had your radio reduced - I think at one point you said you were going to have 5 or 6 which sounded a bit strange as normal is 3 with a bonus week for those that need it. Hopefully you will now only get the regular frying and not get over cooked!   TIJ I hope you manage to get lots of rest and charge you batteries for taxi duties next week. I’m looking forward to a well-earned rest after doing loads last week. Even putting mine on a train to London to visit friends tomorrow so it will be very peaceful for a few days!   Joan I can’t quite remember where you are up to but re signing in I now find I have to put in log in details every time where I did not before. Not quite sure why.   Anyway think I have made a stab at replying to most and hope everyone is managing. - Lisa I hope you are enjoying Cornwall.   My chemo went very well yesterday - nurses managed to get lines in and out without me hardly noticing - a total first!  However I am not very happy with the aftercare the surgeon said I will be given. I will be seen in January for a check-up and mammogram (hopeless as my original lump only showed on the ultrasound) and then one more mammogram a year later. I will then be 50 so will be checked anyway. I will not get to see the surgeon again as they are reviewing their procedures and will no longer be seeing patients unless a problem is found.  I won’t be given any MRI/CAT/PAT scans or anything. No one here seems to know about triple negative and its high 3 year recurrent risk so may have to do some more fighting!  I am waiting for a letter from the genetics department about their brca 1 testing protocol but even my oncologist was surprised at the information I had printed out for her. Not very encouraging.   However did get to chat to OH during chemo yesterday and I think he was surprised I was scared it was coming to an end and my main fear was always recurrence not the treatment!  He seemed to understand and was quite impressed/relieved at all the courses I have now found out about and said I should definitely look into the residential one at the Jane whatsit place in Bristol so my pass has been stamped!  Especially good as the support groups around here seem to only meet about 4 times a year.   Good luck to everyone I hope you all have a good day today.   Nellie       ... View more

Rosie, Dare I say steroids are good for combatting fluid retention........!!?? LOL Nellie ... View more

Hi All,   Been busy for a few days and internet playing up so lots to catch up with!   Wildpurl I am glad your hair is growing back - I have been a bit scared to let mine start as I can see it is only growing in places so have buzzed bits off with my girls electric shaver.  I am going to wait until there is an obvious growth all over but I am not looking forward to the inevitable spiky look as it grows out.  My daughter also made some pesto and I find it does lift normal meals into the tastable realm - popped a dollop in my risotto last night- very nice!   Joan I am sorry you too are finding fatigue a growing problem.  Despit it being my week 3 I just don’t seem to be able to make it through the day without a 3 hour nap regardless of how much sleep I have had the night before.  Yesterday I slept from 3 - 6 pm and was still in bed by 9.30 exhausted!  It is so hard to get much done.   Side effects seem to be popping up their ugly heads again for some- I hope they pass quickly.  Has anyone suffered swollen feet and ankles - it is on my list of SEs for once but not something I have heard anyone else on the thread have.  I also feel like a balloon not sure if anything to do with it.   Lovewine I hope you enjoy your Look good course today - I am very impressed you can manage to go out so soon after chemo.  I don’t like to drive the first week as it seems to do something to my vision and depth perception - I feel as if I’m in a goldfish bowl and nothing feels right.   Jos I am amazed at how you, and EAM and Jackie are juggling looking after a small child and your treatment. I don’t know how you all have managed things like street parties and birthday cakes - inspirational!  I too will throttle the next person who says ‘it’s nearly over’ - to me it feels as if it’s just beginning.  I am terrified of not being seen every few weeks and able to discuss worries. I have got quite tearful and down about it - I don’t know if it’s just SEs or genuine terror!   Rosie I see your dramas continue - I hope you are managing still to keep your spirits up.  I have my fingers crossed for you and hope once you are home the healing process will be rapid.  Keep the exercise gentle!  I hope the fluid retention subsides quickly - sounds rather alarming.   Cassie well done for getting to work, I did think of you in this heat as I remembered you are quite high up in your building and it gets very warm.  Glad you are managing.   TIj my husband keeps joking he is going to buy an ambulance as we have needed one 5 times (one for me and 4 for father in law for hip dislocations) since Christmas. Perhaps you could book a regular slot at A and E for you and your family!!! I hope your poor son is recovering - grazes hurt almost more than small deep cuts so he has my sympathy.    Louise good to hear from you and glad you survived number 5!   Well I start the road to number 6 today with clinic later today and Chemo Friday bloods permitting. I also have the dreaded surgeon’s appointment tomorrow when I hope they will say the lumps and bumps under my arm are just scar tissue from the ops and nothing sinister.  As the surgeon is new I am taking a leaf out of EAMs book and going armed with all my letters and bits of paper in a smart folder to look as if I mean business. I am going to try and battle to get the BRCA test done as the English patients get it for triple negative if they are under 50 so I don’t see why Wales should say under 40.  Knowing me though I will say three words and just burst into tears!!   Lastly Jos - Croeso i Gumru - hope you enjoy it!   Nellie     ... View more

Hi All,   Sounds as if lots of you have had an eventful past few days and I have a lot to catch up on so here goes!   Rosie I am sorry to hear you had to go back to theatre (and woke up in there) but it sounds almost fortuitous you went as they found and cleared the blood clot which could have caused problems down the line. I hope you are recovering well.   Lovewine I hope you are bearing up after chemo and not too down over the prospect of having more. I think you are being incredibly brave about it all - well done you.   Congrats to all those who have had their last chemo - Joan, Eam, Booksandwine, Wildpurl,  let’s hope the side effects are less with the last one and you all sail through.  I agree EAM it is a shame we only find out how to deal with the side effects as we go along and by the time we get it sussed it’s too late!     Jos I am sorry to hear about your low mood and tiredness and hope it has passed. Sometimes I think that is worse than pain and discomfort as it renders us so helpless, and is difficult for others to understand especially our nearest and dearest.  What a palaver over the pharmacies - well done you for having the energy to traipse around locating the drugs which I hope do their job quickly.  I know it was perhaps not what you were expecting but the LICAP procedure sounds positive (I just googled it as I didn’t know) as you will have a good cosmetic outcome. However it is unfortunate you have to have two ops - is one for the lump and the other for the nodes? I am sure your sister will understand and spoil you rotten during your recovery!   Jackie it is strange the chemo/injections seem to give you a temperature (as well as everything else!).  Here in wales I get one big injection of a slightly different drug exactly 24 hours after chemo but have also had slight temperature issues the first week.  Can we conclude therefore it’s the chemo causing it?  Don’t suppose we’ll ever know but I hope your OH manages to chill a little - I think it’s very hard for them sometimes but equally important you do what is right for you.   Rolicarpit - you’re off at last!  I hope you have a wonderful time Cornwall is such a lovely county.  Definitely a glass of wine and possibly some Cornish crab for me!  I have kept my holiday plans in the back of my mind as I didn’t want to tempt fate.  However it is looking increasingly likely that I may actually manage to get to our friends house in Devon for week 3 after my last tax.  It’s a big gathering of families so great fun for the girls and adults alike.   Well no gardening today as its chucking it down!  Wildpurl you made a good decision to harvest your lovely veg yesterday!  I finally got around to making blueberry icecream which has so far met with disappointment from my daughters as they say it tastes synthetic.  I’m not sure why but maybe it was because I used a metal sieve and not a plastic one as advised by Delia?  I hope some friends will pop in today on their way back from holiday for a chat which will make a nice change (maybe I can palm some icecream off on them!?)   We also have Sunday lunch out booked for tomorrow with the whole family including my sister in law from NZ who is staying with us for 3 weeks.  It was difficult to explain to her that this was the only Sunday I would be able to go out as I have chemo next week.  She arrived on my day 7 and so far has not really seen me do anything other than sleep a lot so I don’t think she understands how foul it can be.   I hope you all have a good day whatever life throws at you!  At least no appointments during the weekend!   Cheers all, Nellie     ... View more

Good news Rosie - some sleep! and in hospital too. Amazing. It must have done you the world of good - I am a believer in 'sleep is the best medicine'! I hope the sore eye settles down quickly now you are awake. Nellie ... View more

Hi All,   No sign of an early post from you Rosie so I hope that means you have had a proper night’s sleep and nothing else.  I hope all your attachments are bearable - I do so hate cannulas.  I whacked mine badly (klutz!) after my op and caused a huge bleed under the skin and I now have a funny permanent lump in the vein called a knot (don’t know what it actually is) Not a problem except one less vein for the chemo.   Lovewine how disappointing and worrying for you to be given such news I agree I assumed the chemo would zap everything. I live in fear of my follow up appointment next week as I am not convinced everything is quite right under my arm either. Two more Tax sessions - I think I would pack my bags! Brave you.   Cassie what an incredible list of ops - you really have been through it recently.  I really hope your thyroid worries turn out to be minor it would be incredibly bad luck to have yet more procedures.   Wildpurl I am sure your bloods are ok - the machine had broken when I did mine last time and they said they would call with the results but didn’t.  I went to chemo as normal and nobody questioned anything so I assume they were ok!?   Good luck with the delightful steroids - wicked evil things but I guess they work!   Joan I am glad to hear you had a good birthday.  Drain cleaner down the PICC line sounds yucky!  I sympathise over the waiting, maddening to be told the consultant called when you know he quite definitely did not.  It is so frustrating - I hate it when we end up having to get husbands to help fight our corner; it’s quite a relief when they do but should not be necessary in the first place.   Jackie I hope the SEs are not too bad this time.  The taste thing is a real bind I ended up putting Worcester sauce on almost everything last time.  I was permanently hungry as I couldn’t face eating a lot of things but have more than made up for it since!  Dread to think how much weight I have put on!   Rolicarpit I hope the cat is OK!!  I took my two dogs for their final follow up yesterday and am glad to say all is well.  Mum has had 3 operations since Christmas so has been in the wars too, and pup has a skin allergy to something which I have struggled to keep under control.   He’s doing ok on half a piriton twice a day but not ideal as it must also make him sleepy. I have been told I can try him on clarytin so he can have the rest of my packet! Magic stuff obviously!  I hope you enjoy your holiday.   Think that’s everyone for now.   I have promised myself I will actually do some jobs today and not just sit about - so we’ll see!   Good luck for the day ahead everyone.   Nellie ... View more

Hi all,   Ooooh! Good news!  Dear Big Bro asked a Professor about the gap between Chemo and Radiotherapy.  Basically 12 weeks is the cut off and it does not matter when you start within that time.  The most important thing is to not have any days off. As the time my oncologist suggested included a bank holiday, and a day the hospital is closed due to the Nato summit I am better off delaying anyway. There is a God!!   Tlj - Tennis??!!! I feel really bad now - more effort on my part required to get out and about. I sit and think what I would like to do, then go for a nap instead!  I’m not sure if I am actually tired or if I pushed myself a bit I would manage to do more.  Half of me says I am perfectly normal and healthy, then the other half says I was filled full of poison last week so I’m not!   Cassie I am sorry you may have Thyroid issues to deal with in the future.  I believe drugs can modify a lot of thyroid function but even in a worst case scenario the operation although delicate is very superficial and recovery rapid so try not to worry too much.  You really have been in the wars to have 7 ops in 4 years - quite impressive!   Lovewine I hope bloods were OK? LAST ONE!  I wont miss the needles when its all over!   Anyway it is light enough now to go and water the garden.  I was upset to find a lot of my greenhouse tomatoes have blossom end rot due to erratic watering which I have had to pick off. There are still quite a lot left though and they are just starting to redden - yum!   Have a good day everyone,   Nellie ... View more

Morning Rosie - still posting in the wee small hours I see! - wish i could bring you a cup of tea with cold milk!    I hope you can get out of bed if you need - is there a button for emergencies?   I can’t sleep on my back either so I know what you mean, I guess you can’t lie on all the drains and wound sites.  I hope you have managed some sleep though.  Did the blood go in ok over night?   How is DH managing with his wound?  He will have had to drive even if it’s very sore so I hope it has started to heal up quickly.   Bye for now Nellie ... View more

Hi all,   Good to see all you ‘week three’rs managing to get to work I am very impressed with your energy.   Rolicarpit I hope you like your new school it’s not often one gets the chance to work in one!   Jackie sorry to hear you are having a rough time sleeping and have temperature issues again.  The temperature thing is such a worry as getting it wrong could have such serious consequences.  I hope it’s just the chemo making it a little high and it will settle soon.   Cassie I am glad you are over the worst - I agree wobbly legs must be a side effect as I had them too. Disappointing about the dress from China - we got my daughters prom dress from one of the online Chinese shops but it also had a base in the uk so we could return stuff which was handy.  I have just checked and they also do wedding dresses so if you’re still looking: https://www.sexyher.co.uk/Wedding_dresses-8.html   Louise I think it would be nice to have a new hobby!  Let’s hope we notice and appreciate all the spare time we will have without appointments and not let it just disappear into the daily grind.   I had my radiotherapy planning meeting yesterday which went well and I have joined the tattoo club - feel a real rebel!! Unfortunately no sign of a break in treatment - they want me to start three weeks after chemo. I asked to delay the start by 4 weeks to have a long weekend away with DH and be able to do things with my daughters for the last 2 weeks of the summer holidays. But all the oncologist would say is that it was not ideal but up to me.  I am very frustrated as I have no idea of the importance of starting straight away or the significance of delaying by a few weeks and she did not offer any guidance.  I should have asked her what she would have done in the circumstances!  Think this is one to get my medic brother to ask his colleagues to make sure I don’t make a stupid decision.    She was very sympathetic about my reaction to the first Tax dose explaining that they had lowered it for the second.  When I had felt so terrible and called the ambulance the bloods the hospital took showed massive drops in blood counts and impaired liver function.  I don’t know if I am just intolerant or they gave me too much, but it was good to know it wasn’t just me being pathetic!   Wishing everyone a good day,   Nellie ... View more

Hi Rosie!   Great to hear from you so soon - It was very strange without you yesterday!  Excellent news that the operation went smoothly and you are comfortable  and being looked after. You can’t really ask for more at this stage.  I hope you have a restful day and DH manages to visit soon.   Nellie ... View more

Hi All,   Tlj I am glad you enjoyed your sons prize giving - well done to both of them - I love those proud parent moments!  Boarding school sounds very grown up and exciting - do you live on an island? as I joined later I missed a lot of background info. Good luck with the hair cut - we have ear piercing booked for the first day of our holls!  Fortunately only the standard one hole affair as neither daughter has gone too way out - yet!!  Sorry to hear about your face. I had a minor a face issue after tax 1, it went red and puffy the first week but I hardly noticed due to the other SEs. However during the second week it was very dry, peeling and felt thickened and slightly numb, I guess due to the previous swelling. Seemed to settle down on its own and none this time.  I’m not sure if this is similar to yours or any help?   Wildpurl and Lovewine (and everyone else for that matter!) I am impressed with your efforts to remain fit. I wasn’t too bad during the fec, but have become a complete couch potato with the tax!  (Not too worried though as I know that there are dogs and horses waiting for me when I feel better) I also recon half of the fatigue is due to low red blood cell count therefore less oxygen available for energy - an idea/excuse anyway.   Lovewine I hope you enjoy your picnic and your collapsible chair only collapses when required - I have visions of you in a heap on the floor!    We are having a BBQ leg of lamb later with potatoes and salad form the garden. My first cucumber of the season is ready for picking today!  I have millions of blueberries so might also try and think of a dessert with them although as they are fresh I may just serve them with ice cream . I am really looking forward to the meal as I hope (and prey) my taste is beginning to return. Going to pick herbs and make a marinade for the lamb now - a nice quiet job while everyone asleep.   Hope everyone enjoys their Sunday.   Nellie ... View more

Hi Rosie, Sorry to hear about the aches and pains - I had forgotten you are dealing with all this whilst still only on week one. Amazing. Wishing you a massive good luck. We’ll be thinking of you. Nellie PS hope you dont mean 'put to sleep' literally!!!! ... View more

Hi all,   EAM, your impromptu breast check sounds unusual but reassuring! I think follow up plans are fairly standard for ER+ and HER, but I’m desperately hoping I will be checked more frequently for less time as triple neg tends to recur in the first 3 years if it’s going to. Will find out in two weeks!   Great to hear your hot flushes are wearing off, I feel guilty mentioning them sometimes as it seems such a trivial thing to complain about but in the wee small hours it’s not much fun is it!   Wildpurl sorry to hear your eyelashes have departed, do you find you keep getting things in your eyes as a result? I am very envious of eyebrows in any shape or form - mine completely went overnight after tax and I felt it altered my appearance far more than no hair.  Strange how the head hair seems to be making a valiant comeback though isn’t it. DH complaining I’m too stubbly to cuddle! I’ve been giggling about the prospect of leg waxing - do you think we get it half price as only half the hair?   Joan I hope you get the clarification from your doctor quickly next week, very sensible to have called.  I hope you don’t have too far to go to get your iPad fixed, not sure I could manage one,  it would immediately get ‘borrowed’ by my daughters anyway!   Cassie I am glad you are finding tax2 more bearable and I think others are too?  Let’s hope this means number 3 will be a breeze! I do hope you manage to enjoy the weekend with your visitors.   Lovewine a picnic in the country sounds idyllic especially if this weather holds I hope you bought some yummy food yesterday.  I’m glad we are having chemo at this time of year - it’s been uplifting to sit in the garden and potter about deadheading flowers I just wish the flies would stop landing on my bare head!    My sister in law and son have just arrived to stay for 2 weeks from New Zealand and it seems a lot of us have outings planned and friends and family visiting this weekend, so fingers crossed for us all.    Have a good weekend ladies!   Nellie ... View more

Oh Rosie, When are your worries going to stop!  I am sure your surgeon knows what he is doing especially as he is based on the island.  Perhaps we are more cautious here in the UK. There is a generally accepted increased risk of PE when flying for everyone, so with the right precautions in place I am sure you will be fine.  It is maddening that advice varies from doctor to doctor on so many things eg -  I had wildly different advice on driving after my WLE from ‘when you feel ready’ to ‘absolutely not for 4 weeks’ how do you know who to believe?! Exasperating and not what you need right now.  I love Pam Ayers! I still have a book of her poems somewhere. Hope you have a relaxing weekend and it does not feel too much like a count down! Nellie ... View more