Hi Girlies

Patricia you make me laugh so much lol. Met with the Oncologist today, I've to have my bloods taken next thurs and chemo was supposed to be next day but we had tickets booked for the Ayr Races that day (alexandra burke is singing at it), nurse said fine and has booked me in for mon 21st, my big day, oh god it's going to be like a first day in a new job lol, I've to have FEC-T Chemo so Flurourcil, Epirubicin, Cyclophosphamide & Taxotere (docetaxel). It all sounds so scary, the wigs havent arrived yet, but I've bought a new dress for the races lol so thats made up for it. Speak to you all soon. Enjoy your weekend everybody xx

Hi Colly,

LOL who needs a wig, I've now got this vision of you ( don't know what you look like but go with it, I've a vivid imagination) in a stunning dress with one of those big hats they wear at Ascot. Don't know what the protocol is at Ayr races but perhaps you could start a new trend! Nice to see that the hospital let you alter your start date.

I'm feeling slightly better today up to press, long may it continue.

Patricia x

Great advice from Patricia there, Colly - she's absolutely right about keeping the chemo nurses posted with how you're feeling/sickness etc. They can give you other anti-sickness drugs for this time and adjust them accordingly for next time. Don't be frightened to give them or your breast nurse a call.

Just keep focused. You've managed to tick one chemo off the list, so well done you. I can tell you, that when all the chemos are done and out of your system, it feels GREAT, so keep going!

shents

Hi Shents,

How ya doing? I hear you had a great time on holiday, if not a little eventful!

I agree with you when you have your last chemo and you walk out of the unit, it's like a great weight has been lifted from your shoulders and the feeling is wonderful.

I start my rads on Tuesday 29th June for 3 weeks. By all accounts it's a lot easier than the chemo. When do you start yours and do you have far to travel? I have about a forty minute each way car journey, my mum has offered to take me (a lot better than the estimated two and a half hours by the hospital transport, no wonder people get tired!)

Love Patricia x

Hi gals

thanks for the advice, i did ring the unit earlier and nurse said because i was sick about half an hour after taking the tabs, some of it would be absorbed, so just to take next lot as normal and see how i go, i think its cause i cant eat in morning, she did say even to take a glass of milk before steroids to line my stomach, so i'll try that and see how it goes. Just the injection to get when joh comes home at lunch time, that'll be a laugh, it better not be sore or he's sacked lol. Keep you posted. Col x

Hi Patricia

I'm exactly the same day as you to start radio for 3 weeks. The hospital is about 40 mins away, and I've plenty family and friends who have offered to help with transport. There's also a local charity that provide door to door free transport, but I'd rather leave them to the people without help and who live further away. The hospital covers a huge rural area. What a great service that charity provides.

I'll be finished on 20th July - more sparkles on that day, a few weeks to recover, then back to work in Sept. Time then, I think, to try and put it all behind me and move on - funnily enough, that's the very subject I've chosen to write about in the blog today. Nice to hear you've been reading it, and yes we had a great hol - just what we all needed!

Good luck for Tuesday, Patricia - and Colly - well done for sorting out stuff with your nurses - in a few days you'll start to pick up, so just dig in there.

Best wishes

shents

Hi Shents,

Good luck for tomorrow. More of into the unknown, don't know about you but will be glad to get the first one over and be able to start ticking that calendar!

Patricia x

Thanks Patricia - and good luck to you too - I'll also be glad to start putting a tick in all those boxes! I'm playing in a cricket match a couple of hours afterwards (crazy planning on my part - I will be knackered) Life is so good when you can see that finishing post though, and I seem to be saying yes to everything!

Wonderful advice for Lee - I would agree with you on all points. Keep posting, Lee - we're all here to help you

shents x

Hi girls

Sorry not been on for ages but last week was a good week and three of my children were on two different shows so I was running back and forth to different theatres- that kept me busy!!

Oliver my only boy is having few problems at school and I've been so stressed about it. He's had such alot to deal with for a 7 year old what with the pssing of his daddy, accepting my new partner who he now calls daddy and now all this!!!!! he's not very good at communicating and lashes out when frustrated or angry. We've got a meeting at a support centre near us to discuss all the children (well not the baby because shes oblivious) but think they all need some councilling and help. School are being amazingly supportive too. Me and my oldest, 17 just keep rowing all the time and feel shes more bothered about her boyfriend and his family than she is us bit selfish but am I being selfish expecting her to be here giving Nigel a hand when I'm bad!!?? Alic is on school residential this week and missing her like crazy and poor Betsy has chicken pox!!

I had the second lot of my new chemo yesterday and lst week my hair was coming out so much that my sister got the shears out and did it with no guard it needs a bic on it now to make it smooth because there is a bit of stubble. I haven't gone for the wig and so far everyones said I'v been really creative with my bandanas accesorizing them with flowers. brooches and tying scarves rond them too!!! Still don't feel good though but still new so suppose will get use to it.

I walked the race for Life on 20 June. there were about 30 of us and all had my name on there back it was very emotional and then afterwards my boys football teems mums and dads presented me with a beautiful footbal charm for my pandora and £140 to treat myself I was completely overwhelmed and couldn't stop crying how lovely was that!!!

Colly- How lovely of John to surprise you like that at the races. You must have had a lovely time did you win? So sorry I didn't reply to you question about the cold cap. It did work for me with the FEC had only minimal hair loss so it was worth it but now has you will have read its now gone with my new chemo drug.

Leonie Hope you ar ok and nose bleeds under control you really are suffering from the side effects try to take it has easy as you can I know easier said than done! Must have been nice for you to have little help with the children from your mum in law. Please keep in touch and let us know how your doing keep strong and fighting!

Patricia Glad your loads better Patricia and hope the Rad doesn't course you any problems. Did you get your denture done. I've git a loose cap but dentist can't pull it out in case it cracks. Can you imagine when it does fall out naturally coz it will I'll looklike Pirate LLou with bandana and no tooth all thats missing is the parrot!!

LeeHi Lee and welcome to OUR CLUB but sorry you have had to join us and hope you can get support and strength from us. The crying thing is normal and like some of the others I've done lots of shouting and can't control it. The hair thing is such a big hurdle to get over and I like you did worry and I suppose most of us woman are concerend about how we look. I,ve got to say that when I'v got ready I still do my make up but probably wear a little more during the day than I normally would people do say that I look good. I don't quite feel complete as I said before but its just a matter of getting us to it . You are a lovely looking lady and there are some great wigs aroung but it looks like you might be alittle like me and quite creative and you can do so many things with the scarves etc. get some of youy girly friends around and have a play and you know scarves are very Sex and The City!!!!! Keep strong and on your down days pour it out on her!!

Go Girls

Take care

Love always Lou

Hi Lou glad your back lol, not so good about your boy, did you say that his dad died? sorry I didnt realise babe. As for your big girl shes at an awkward age, at 17 your boyfriends family always come first lol, its hard if you do need her help with the younger kids but you also want her to have a life, its a hard one that, i dunno what id do, prob better shes out and happy than in with her face like fizz lol, my girls are older 20 and 22 they both work full time but the youngest is going to take time off in july as john is taking his son to turkey, i was supposed to go but think i'll give it a miss and have a great holiday when this is all over. I really admire you girls who cope with this and have small kids, i only have myself to deal with and thats hard enough. Was a bit sick last thurs, day after 1st chemo but been fine apart from heart burn, just bored as everyone is at work and im trying to amuse myself. Im not going to go down the cold cap route, adds too much time onto the chemo and i just want in and out again, i'll just stick to the wig and my nice hats from monsoon, scarves just dont suit me but the skip hats do lol, everyone is different. The races were fun, we won a few pounds here and there but we weren't betting big money just a fiver here and there. Keep your chin up babe. Chat soon. Col x

Hi Patricia

Hope your radio went well yesterday. Feels good to be on the home straight doesnt it!

Scored 19 runs in the cricket last night - it felt great - beautiful night, but pretty knackered!

Good luck for the rest of the rads

shents

Hi Shents,

The radio yesterday, well what can I say, is it me? My appointment was 11.45. We arrived at hospital with half an hour to spare, good job really, it took that long trying to find a parking space! What is annoying is the spaces alloted for radiotherapy patients has a whacking great mobile unit parked there taking up twelve parking spaces.

Anyway, walked into the unit, have now calmed down a bit, booked in and got mum and myself our free coffee. Was just enjoying this when my name was called, great I think, nearly on time, it's only supposed to take about 15 mins so should be out soon. Oh no, not me!! An hour I was in that room laid on that table. These two technicians were having trouble lining me up with the my tattoo dots and, of course, it has to be precise. All the time they were talking about millimeters. At one point they let me sit up and relax my arms so they could start again. That didn't help, next thing I know they've recruited a third person, I got the impression someone more senior, to help. Eventually they cracked it and I got my first zapping done. Thank god for that I'm thinking as trying to keep perfectly still for an hour is b*******y hard I can tell you. Counting the tiles and lights in the ceiling helped slightly but kept thinking a big picture of 'Where's Wally' would be really good. LOL. Felt sorry for the people after me as this has now knocked their appointment times out of the window. Anyway new day today and hopefully armed with all the new measurements taken yesterday it will be quicker, fingers crossed

I hope yours was more successful. 19 runs that was good, did you win though? Just noticed your post time, could you not sleep? You will be knackered tonight!

I was so glad to tick of yesterday on the calendar, only 14 more to go. Good luck with the rest of your rads.

Patricia x

Hi Shents,

The radio yesterday, well what can I say, is it me? My appointment was 11.45. We arrived at hospital with half an hour to spare, good job really, it took that long trying to find a parking space! What is annoying is the spaces alloted for radiotherapy patients has a whacking great mobile unit parked there taking up twelve parking spaces.

Anyway, walked into the unit, have now calmed down a bit, booked in and got mum and myself our free coffee. Was just enjoying this when my name was called, great I think, nearly on time, it's only supposed to take about 15 mins so should be out soon. Oh no, not me!! An hour I was in that room laid on that table. These two technicians were having trouble lining me up with the my tattoo dots and, of course, it has to be precise. All the time they were talking about millimeters. At one point they let me sit up and relax my arms so they could start again. That didn't help, next thing I know they've recruited a third person, I got the impression someone more senior, to help. Eventually they cracked it and I got my first zapping done. Thank god for that I'm thinking as trying to keep perfectly still for an hour is b*******y hard I can tell you. Counting the tiles and lights in the ceiling helped slightly but kept thinking a big picture of 'Where's Wally' would be really good. LOL. Felt sorry for the people after me as this has now knocked their appointment times out of the window. Anyway new day today and hopefully armed with all the new measurements taken yesterday it will be quicker, fingers crossed

I hope yours was more successful. 19 runs that was good, did you win though? Just noticed your post time, could you not sleep? You will be knackered tonight!

I was so glad to tick of yesterday on the calendar, only 14 more to go. Good luck with the rest of your rads.

Patricia x

Hey Patricia

Sounds like you've had a right old palava for your first zapping! I loved your use of the 'b' word - I'm presuming it rhymes with Dick Dastardly?!

On another post - Harryeleri says that in their radiotherapy bit, they have a slideshow of lovely holiday destinations to watch as you lie on the bed - how cool is that! I had to listen to Stevie Wonder's 'I just called to say I love you' today. Not sure what was worse - the zapping or the music! Seriously though - all over with in a few mins - nowt like the Dick Dastardly chemo. I really hope you've had a better day today.

Re the early morning post - yes, I was wide awake at 4.20am (not like me) - still buzzing from the cricket match, which we lost, but all enjoyed. We have just set the team up this year and entered a league, but expectations aren't too high!

take care and hope the radio experience improves for you!

shents x

Hi Shents,

Today went much better. Was able to find a parking space first time and was in and out within 20 minutes, hope it continues like this. Plenty of time to do some shopping after LOL. Love the idea of the slideshow, there's only so many times one can count ceiling tiles!

Sorry you lost the match but well done you for finding the energy to be able to play. Well I hope you sleep better tonight.

Patricia x