Hi to each and everyone of you don't you think that we are all quite amazing to be able to even be able to come on here and tell our stories I feel like I'v made so many new friends.

Anyway Leonie I'm so glad that you've managed to get some funding for nursery at least you know that Charley will be having a nice time whilst you gain some energy back. You really are having a rough time of it but how nie that you could get to the beach, I take it you live nearby to one. That must be lovely. As for having a looney doctor me too!! Just nice to be able to speak to someone who doesn't judge and you can say what you want about anything!!!!

Don't know bout you lot but I have all different feelings creep up on me when I least expect them. People who are close to you want to see you positive all the time and tell you how well you look and now i'v lost my hair how much it suits me but no matter what personally I just don't feel remotely like the same person. People say losing hair and putting weight on are least of worries but it does alter how I feel about myself and has affected my confidence.

Anyway each and everyone of you if I don't mention you by name doesn't mean I'm not acknowleding your messages but I do think about you all.We are all at different stages and will hopefully stick together through thick and thin.

Take care and hope you are all ok

love Lou

Well said Lou,

There are so many of us on this site now .Good luck and bless you all and the lovely people who care for us.

Rose xxx

Hi guys

felt a little better today, even had some toast for breakfast, will try the ginger biscuits and my mum has bought me some complan....so the battle continues! I'm trying to be positive its just the road ahead seams so long and the finish line so far away, some days I just feel like giving up....However! I wont and thanks to all of you I don't feel quite so alone.

God bless you all Lee xx

Hi Lee

sorry your not feeling too great, I personally thing the first 3-4 days are the worst, I usually feel better once ive finished taking the steroid tablets, so hopefully you'll be the same, i dont take the anti sickness tablets for the 5 days i only take them for 3-4. Food will taste bland but have things that are tasty to start with, im just about to have heinz tomato soup and last night i had a sweet and sour chicken wiht fried rice, so my appetiite is def not gone just yet. Take care and hopefully you'll feel better tomorrow and remember you can have paracetamol for your headaches. Col x

Hi to all of you, hope you don't mind me joining in here. I had my first of 6 TAC Chemo on Thurs. Today I feel awful and my bones really ache - has anyone else has this. I can just about cope with sickness and tiredness but the pain in all my joints is really bad. I am taking lots of painkillers but the pain won't go away. Is this normal?

Hi Colly

Thanks for the advice, today was a little better again, eating is definately important to ease the sickness, I actually had a full sunday roast yesterday and between you and I a naughty lemon pudding to follow! have decided to stop taking the sickness tablets as they really don't seem to make any difference, have started taking the antibiotics today so think I'm having my fill of tablets for now. The paracetamol helps the headaches so will keep you posted, how's the hair coming along, ive booked into the hairdressers tomorrow for a cut and blow dry.

Take care

lots of love Lee xx

Hi Stesi

I have just looked up the tac chemo as im on fec and wasnt sure what the difference was, anyway they do appear to be very similar but the muscle aches and pains in joints seems to be a normal side effect, however if it is persistent you must inform your doctor and they can give you suitable painkillers. The chemo is rough I haven't had the best time with t either but keep positive and inform your doctor or nurse if things get too bad, we don't have to do this alone.

Take care

Lee xx

Hi all you ladies on here,

Sorry the dreaded SEs are affecting you all in some shape or form.A hot water bottle is my best friend when and aches start.Ive even had 2 bottles on the go at once.

I have been really breathless for a couple of weeks and my oncologist has given me thyroid tabs as certain treatments affect the thyroid so keep a look out for this.

The tomato soup made me smile Colly.when i was pregnant i had awful sickness all day and all I ate for 3 months was tomato soup.No wonder my son had auburn hair !!

Good luck to you all

Rose xxx

Hi Sitesi,

How is Andy?Sorry you are suffering.Have you tried heat? a water bottle worked for me but is difficult if all the joints ache.hopefully it will be for a couple of days at a time.and then will wear off.You deserve to have a trouble free time.

Rose xxxxx

Hi Girls,

Well I have just finished my last radiotherpy treatment, so I am now sat here with a glass of something. Eight months ago when I was given my diagnosis and told that I would have to have an mastectomy, followed by chemo and radiotherapy, all I could see stretching ahead of me was unending hospital appointments and no glimmer of light at the end of the tunnel.

Well today I walked out into the bright light (metaphorically speaking, as it's been absolutely pouring down with rain all day and still we have a hose pipe ban and what magic words they are. It's not stopped raining since they imposed it.) and feel like a great weight has been lifted from my shoulders.

So what can I say girls, don't give up. It will pass, although you may not think so and that it feels like it's going on for ever, especially if you are suffering from some of those side effects.

What I need now is a holiday!

Patricia x

How wonderful for you - your treatment sounds the same as mine. I've only had 1 chemo so far but thats one less than this time last week. Have a wonderful holiday - roll on mine next year

Hi Lee,

Sorry to hear that you have been suffering with the side effects from the chemo. I found anything ginger helped me with nausea, ginger biscuits, ginger beer, ginger marmarlade. The last one helped me get those anti sickness pills down in the first three days. Are you having the neulasta injection, this causes a lot of the aches and pains, for me it felt like flu. Fortunately these symptoms only last for about a week at the most, the rest of the time it's okay. Just listen to your body and rest. I soon learnt that I was important, everything else could wait.

Patricia x

Hi Lee,

Sorry to hear that you have been suffering with the side effects from the chemo. I found anything ginger helped me with nausea, ginger biscuits, ginger beer, ginger marmarlade. The last one helped me get those anti sickness pills down in the first three days. Are you having the neulasta injection, this causes a lot of the aches and pains, for me it felt like flu. Fortunately these symptoms only last for about a week at the most, the rest of the time it's okay. Just listen to your body and rest. I soon learnt that I was important, everything else could wait.

Patricia x

Dear Patricia

I'm shoo very happy you have come to the end of your treatments, its so nice to hear when people get through this, I have a packet of ginger nut biscuits at the side of the bed which I must admit really do help when I'm taking the tablets, I guess this is the worst week anyway I'm kind of expecting everything what with the white cell count being so low and the anxious wait for the hair to start falling out, I went to see the psychologist yesterday and found talking to someone about all this really helped(did a fair bit of crying though) anyway she made me realise that its ok to feel sad aslong as you remember this wont be forever, and hearing you have now finished has really cheered me up, I hope this wont be the last time we get to hear from you as you are now our inspiration.

Take care lots of love Lee xx

Hi Lee and Colly,

Just wondering how you are both getting on.Hope the treatments are not too bad and you are both coping.

Good luck to you both:)

Rose xxx

Hi Rose, I've been staying with my brother the last week as he always cheers me up and his house is always busy so it keeps my mind of the sickness, the nurses have changed my tablets now so I don't feel so sick and my appetite has come back, but the dreaded hairloss has begun and its coming out thick and fast, i still don't know what to do, cut it all off!!! or wait and see how thin it becomes I really don't know what to do for the best anyway I got back yesterday and this morning when I read the messages I was so sad to see both Lonie and Patricia having a bad time, I guess I look up to them so much and knowing that they are so much further ahead than I, I just wished it would get easier for them x

Well how are you and what's been happening in your life and how are you feeling, I haven't heard from Colly in a while so ..,COLLY! how ya doin girl xx

I have missed everyone and I'm glad to be back

lots of love lee xx

Hi Lee,

Good to hear from you again and glad you had a break.I have had 2 weeks off treatment as I was very breathless and worn out and by the end felt almost normal.havent had such a clear head for a long time.Back on it now but feel better for the break.We are waiting for our grandaughter to appear.She is due next weekend and is our sons first.We have a 3 year old grandson and a 7 month old grandaughter with our daughter so I have a very good reason to fight on !!!

It is awful to hear what the other girls are going through,especially when there are children as well.It is strange how different it is for everyone.Fingers crossed you get through with mimimum problems.

Love Rose xxx

Hi Rose, Lee, Leonie, Tricia and all the other guys and gals, thanks for asking after me, I'm doing grand, no problems at all, the first 4 days after chemo I feel a bit queazy and tired and I had a few mouth ulcers but after that I feel good. I still have quite a lot of hair tho has become very thhi, but i clip it up at back and put a little hairband on and it looks fine, there is def too much to shave it off and to be honest that would be my biggest hurdle if I had to do that. Lee glad your starting to get your appetite back and Rose a little baby how beautiful, leonie and patricia hope you guys are doing well. John has been away in Turkey all week and is back fri night, ive really missed him but time has flown by. Take care loasdsa love Col xxx

Glad you are not suffering too much,it makes such a change!Hope it continues all through.

Hope John brings you a fab prezzie ;)

Rose xxx

nice to hear from you/about you. im so glad you dont seem to be suffering too much from the chemo. n im sorry about your hair lee but maybe you'll be more like colly. she seems to be hanging on to hers. when is next chemo for you both?

lou where are you love? i hope you are not suffering too much. keep telling myself your busy n not feeling too bad but cant believe it til we hear from you. sending you lots of love n think of you often.

love leonie xxxxxx

Hi Leonie, hows things with you? Im feeling grand and looking forward to John coming home tonight, still dont seem to be moulting so much with my hair, so the longer i hold on to it the better lol. Im due my 3rd chemo next wednesday then after that i only have 1 more FEC the E being the one that maked the hair fall out then the next 4 after that are the T or D as some call it, so ticking them off on the calender. Hope everyone is well and have a lovely weekend, weather not to great here today but hopefully pick up for the weekend, we always seem to have our summer in may/june up here in scotland, drives me mad the rain does. Love to you all. Col xxx

Hello Ladies

Hope you do not mind me jumping in but I had my first lot of Taxatere last Friday, well I was not expecting the side effects that I got as when I had the Fec all was fine concidering. I found with the Tax I did not have any energy for a few days and everything seemed to be an effort even a walk to the shops, all my joints seemed to ache etc etc. Can anyone let me know how they felt on it or what to expect as I have another 3 to go and not looking forward to it, 8 weeks today and all chemo finished yipeeeeeeeee .

Looking forward to any advise or help

Take Care

Littlesis

Hi Leonie,

Just a quickie to say good luck with the radiotherapy tomorrow. Hope you don't have to far to travel.

Patricia x