Thank you Nel x

Kez

Sorty to hear of your ongoing challenges, am sure you've had a brain scan before?  How long have you been having tests for now?  Am lucky that my tests only lasted for 1 month, doesn't sound like you're quite as lucky....which is poo!

And menopausal at the same time ARRGGHH! I would hope that those around you are understanding of your delicate disposition at the moment?? Am lucky that my blood tests confirmed that I am now post menopausal (though still only 50), so for me passed without any murders, GBH etc. Hope you also manage to avoid prison.  THough have to say the hot flushes that I get with the chemo are probably partly making up for lack of menopausal excitement!

Hope you had a fun time down here, wish I was travelling opp north - though do have my "Italian" holiday in Northumberland which is now in Nov, should have been next week to look forward to. Have agreed itinerary and accommodation with pal - there's some lovely boutique pub style places up there, was very pleasantly surprised.

Gor results of MRI this morning and the results are "excellent" so hurrah for that - bl00dy lumps shrunk a lot considering am oestrogen positive so must be doing something right.  So no 3 chemo tomorrow..yay.  Oh and had the first outing of the port today where bloods were taken, its sooo much easier than playing hunt the very elusive vein.

Hope you get some (good) news soon re progressing treatment.

Sam X

Nel

All still good here, been feeling really good, better than pre chemo even! Several bike rides since I last wrote, hills still a challenge but not had to succumb to getting off & walking so am happy with that.

So you too have gone for the very short hair look too, hope you're as happy with it as I am, I am using it as an opportunity to be even more beautiful (would that that were possible - which it is with the aid of make up!!). Also as previously had long hair am wearing the dangly earrings that no-one would have seen previously.  One downside is that I can no longer use my fringe to hide my wonky eyebrows (which are 1/2 the size they should be as over-plucked them as a teenager) so was rocking the Roger Moore Bond era look today unfortunately - no more bad hair days eh?  Just bad eyebrow days for me!

Your viens sound worse than mine, my port is now 2 weeks old and feels fine now, was still a little tender Monday but was good enough to use today and didn't hurt as much as repeated attempts with cannula, hope your op went as well as mine did.

Whats' the single drug you're switching to?  I do hope its as good to you as the one that you have been taking as you've done well throughout so far, like me.

Crikey you have weekly and 15 of them, I'm on 3rd of 4 of first drug, every 3 wks then move to 2nd drug and have 4 of them every 2 wks so should be all done for chemo by early Jan.

Best wishes X

Ho Jodie and welcome (? Not that anyone wants to be here but all the same)

Spunds like your treatment is similar to mine, I'm on 4 x EC every 3 wks then switch to taxol but have mine 4 lots every 2 weeks, may chemo is also pre surgery etc but as have IBC will most likely have delayed reconstruction ( will be walking round in circles for a bit but what's new eh?).  AS am oestrogen positive will also be joining you on years of hormone tablets.

You come across as a practical, grounded lass and am sure, like me, you will approach this with a positive mental attitude, I do think it really helps not only you but others around you ( be that friends & family or others with cancer).

I hope, like me & Nel you have very few side effects, think that as we've both kept ourselves busy & healthy that has helped too.

Good luck X

All

Please note that as I currently have a face pack on I do not have my reading specs on so if I've written a load of drivel ignore it, it made sense when my fingers typed and also ignore any spelling misatkes too.

X

Hi Sam

Iam so glad with every news you wrote me today, firstly so glad healthwise you are doing well,back to bike cycling, waw whisper in the ear of cancer that "I am to win so so soonxyou burger, no more stress"

And secondly port is well, mine dear cant believe newly  fitted  on monday ready to use it the next day, tuesday,couldn't flash back, was even resistant  nurse tied to flash some drugs in and send me home to come back today, when  I went back today couldn't work so i used my hands again but not so bad so am going back on friday to detect where the line is trouble & get it done.

Yes iam enjoying balded head honestly but with the cold mmmm wont be suitable. Today I used wig and because of very empty head I had to use head band to hook in the combs for holding the wig,oh myyyyyy wind was strong so had to catch it 100metres away from me lol,.eft my balded again in middle of time,another thing to laugh at at later stage when battle is gone.

My eyebrows and lashes are still ok although not as thick as before but they still protecting  me.

On 30 th shifting to Paclitaxel which will be weekly for 22 weeks, by the grace of God plan is to complete end of January so hopefully heaven will have mercy in me.

Am sure your head,chest is full of drugs now like me,mmmm eyes watery, feels sleepy eith branded visitors (drugs)but in few days will be back to feet.

Have a lovely week Sam my friend,May The Lord really heal and perfect all that concerns you and everyone

Night night

Nel

Thanks Yorkshire_defector!

Yes, I think I have been 'relatively' calm since my diagnoses.. I think for me, I sort of 'knew' that this was not a lump.. I was originally told it was an infection and I had to ask for a biopsy to be done.. it was that which gave them the answer of cancer. My family, friends and work have been very supportive.. which has been a major pick-up for me I think. 

When I was told.. I didn't even flinch.. since then everything has been one appointment to the next.. since having my first chemo I thought I was okay (ha),, four days later I was in so much pain on my back.. I realised then I had that 'sun burn' feeling.. next day it went all over my body and followed by indigestion for a couple of days.. I am on day 6 of my injections now and I am starting to feel better.. the one thing which is driving me insanse is waking up at night at 11 and 2 for the last week. Last night I was awake every hour which drove me NUTS! I was off work this week coicindently so at least I had the week to rest but now I am hoping my sleeping pattern is back to normal before Monday...

I hope you have been having a good week :):)

Jodie

Morning Nel

Gorgeous photo - you look amazingly good!  And I thought I looked good with short hair, very nice indeed.  I always tell people that if I was even the slightest photogenic (think you've got all my share in that department) I would have been a supermodel & not a bl00dy accountant..oh that and a taller, smaller body...minor things.

Yeah, am loving the cycling, before I had a broken hip incident (cycling) 2 yrs ago I used to do up to 50 miles a weekend, am very slow & steady but love being out in woods & quiet roads - just can't stand cycling on busy roads with idiot car drivers.  Luckily where I am have lots of good options to get very muddy this time of year...yay!

Sorry to hear re port challenges, I don't know a lot about it but using it the next day after installation seems a bit soon!  Hope it gets sorted as mine is worth its weight in blue cheese ( more valuable than gold to me as I love it & can't eat it currently).

I know what you mean re cold head post shave, I suppose balding man have a period of time to adapt to the cooling impact on their bonce, I have some woolly hats for when its cooler and some chemo caps for day & night currently and they do a good job of warming when needed, and you don't need to chase down the street after them (keeps up exercise levels though I guess?).  Can't be bothered with wig though apparently my sister has found me a fetching turquoise one that I can too chase down the streets...as long as we don't lose our wigs on the same street we'll be safe!

I have the same re eyebrows and lashes but still enough to slather make up on and make myself even more lovely looking!!

That's a lot of paclitaxel!  I'm on accelerated paclitaxel which is maybe why I only get 4 lots every 2 weeks?  Who knows eh? On my current plan am due to have last chemo 2nd Jan so guess that's a happy new year-ish?

Still having a good time post no. 1 chemo (had 3rd on Thursday) and feeling very chipper, keeping busy and loving life (oddly) so thanks.  Hope you & daughter are well and having a lovely (if somewhat wet) weekend.

Sam X

Jodie

Its a bit sad that you had to insist on a biopsy isn't it, am lucky my doc was more risk averse than yours and immediately shoved me off to the breast cancer clinic.

I think I also knew that mine would be cancer (thanks google!) which didn't really bother me hugely, not really afraid of death me, can think of more enjoyable ways to go though!

Which chemo plan are you following?  Its strange, but not unexpected how may different options there are but also how side effects for the same regime impact people differently.  I've been very lucky I think on mine (quite like Nel aka Praise also on thread) and only really "suffered" (though even still far too strong a work to use) post no 1 chemo and the GCSF injections on since have put paid to that, so happy days!

Are you on the same injections?  Your pain and discomfort sounds worse than anything I've had so am glad its being sorted for you.

I do find those pesky steroids do interfere with my usual beauty sleep of a solid 8 hrs a night, usually from 3-4 am onwards have fitful sleep, it's annoying isn't it?

Glad your work are being flexible, one thing I've learned is that you've got to look after no 1 so if you need more flexibility please do ask for it.

Hope the sleep has improved & the injections have done their stuff.

Sam X