Hi Everyone don't knw if you have missed me but I have certainly missed all you lot and have noticed a few new recruits. I haven't had a computer since July it had something seriously wrong with it and it has drove me mad not being able to chat!!! I haven't had chance to do a complete read through everything so could some of you bring me up to date with a few things. I'v noticed all your fab photos though you all look stunning and I hope you are all keeping as well as you can I'v missed you all terribly.

A quick up date on me! I had a scan in August after 3 lots of FEC and 3 lots of pacitaxol and gemcitibine. To cut long story short it has shrunk everywhere and since the scan I have had 2 more cycles of chemo and I'm now on tamoxifen.My consultant has said he is pleased with the shrinkage and now the tamoxifen should keep it at bay, hopefully!!!!! Its a bit scary knowing the poison has stopped think it was my comfort blanket!

I've now stopped wearing the bandanas they have started irritating me and give me a bit of a headache. Once i had gone out without it I feel theres no looking back. I have got a little covering of downy hair that the kids love.

My eldest Sophie went off to dance college, Alice started Comp and oliver juniors all on the same day and guess what I was having chemo!! Little Betsy is walking and is never still shes a little monkey!!!!!

I'm looking forward to not having to be up and down to the hospital and to hopefully tryingto lead a fairly normal life. The kids activities are keeping me busy and I'm hoping me and Nigel can get a little bit of us as a couple back, it has impacted on us so much sometimes I get so upset when I think about what has happened to us.I love all my family so much and sometimes I feel that this could have easily destroyed us!!!

Anyway sorry to go on please let me know how you are all doing and thanks for reading. I won't ever let myself be away for that long again.

Love to you all

Lou

dear girls n tony

cant tell you how worried ive been about you lou, im so glad you are ok n finished the awful stuff. was not a nice feeling wondering all about you for so long but what a great feeling to hear from you again. please dont do that to us again. theres always someone that can get a quick message to us. cor im so glad you are back hun.

tony you made me cry aswell! what a lovely comment. im so glad your life is becoming more normal for you n your family. its also comforting to know you feel like us, you are like a god on here. you have such words of wisdom n time for anybody, its good to know you are human, if you know what i mean.

anne, i still have many side affects from treatment. im not sure what is what. doc did tell me that herceptin can stop you from healing properly. i still have sores up my nose that wont heal n herceptin doesnt help. i put them down to immune system but who knows what does what. you'll be fine the further away you get from chemo.

hope you ladies on chemo are doing ok, feel for you so much. sara im so pleased for you, congratulations hun! unfortunately life still goes on, however mental it gets. think you could have a few years left of this if i was anything to go by! chin up ey.

you know i said about the car accident we had when i was pregnant? well i forgot to say the day i got the money through, was the day i found out i had cancer. it was always planned for family holiday, but took 22 months to get it. we now have the accomadation, flights n passports sorted as of tuesday. what happened wed,.....chicken pox at play group! so we have to keep charly off till next week just incase! would be a nightmare if charly gets ill.

rose im glad you are ok n the family are coping n enjoying that new little bundle. things will never be how they were before cancer, but we have a new ,enlightened life now. each day is an achievement in its self. got to be happy, just wish it didnt hurt so much.

love you all, loads! take care my special ones.

leonie xxxxxxxxxxxx

Absolutely wonderful news, Caz - I am so, so pleased for you!

xx

Hi Caroline

I just wanted to offer you my congratulations on your results, that is such good news and I shall keep my fingers crossed that you wont need chemo.

Hi to all the girls andTony , I read often the messages and love to hear how you all are, your all never out of my thoughts and prayers.

Much love always Lee xx

Hi everyone. I am Lonie's mum Ro. Someone has cancelled Lonie's telephone line and internet connection for some reason, so she is unable to chat to you all for the time being. She is going on holiday with her family very soon and will sort things out when she returns and will be back on line very soon. Lonie sends her love and wants you all to know that she is thinking of you and wishes you all the best.

Hi all, has anyone had FEC chemo? I am not sure if will have 6 cycles or 3 followed by 3 of another drug, but FEC comes first. I expect to be starting this in the next couple of weeks and although I have read the leaflets on FEC, it is not quite the same as hearing from someone who has actually had expereince. I am bit nervous but looking forward in a way to getting started so I can be finished quicker. I worry about the effect it will have on my family especially as I have my two grandchildren staying for a couple of months, and i want them to be able to carry on as normal and not feel restricted if i feel lousy. Any one have any clues or tips on making the whole thing easier? love sara xx

Hi Sarah I had 6 sessions of fec-t so 3 of the fec first then 3 of the T if this is what you have to get, the fec isn't too bad as long as you take your anti sickness tablets, I usually found I was quite tired for the first 3-4 days but didn't feel too bad at all, as you will prob know FEC is 3 separate drugs that you get given together through the back of your hand, the E is the one unfortunately that makes the hair fall out, and your wee will be red for a few days. The next thing is 3 sessions of T which I found to be the most difficult, I have 1 session of this left to get on we'd then that's my chemo finished then just radio, anyway the T makes your bones quite sore or very sore lol, I felt fine for 2 days then wham! I felt as though I had been run over by a steam roller, I ended up in hospital over night as I was in agony all over, the second session wasn't quite as bad as I knew what to expect and took co-coda mol regularly, just felt very tired and stayed in bed for 4 days, just remember this is my experience and you may not have the same symptoms, just listen to your body, if you need to sleep go to bed and if your in pain take pain killers. Chemo for me hasn't been any where as bad as I expected it to be, the worst thing for me is the hair loss lol, very vain but true, I have a wig but just can't get used to at all, even tho everyone says it's lovely. Anyway good luck and keep me posted. It has been a quick 18 weeks, it will fly bye. Love col x

Hi tell lonie and her family to have a wonderful holiday. Col x

Hi Sara

I am currently having fec chemo and Tues coming will be my 5th session, I understand this can be quite daunting and with the prospect of hair loss on top of everything else sometimes can feel so overwhelming, but my advice to you is try to keep active lots of fresh air, rest when your body tells you too and put yourself first for once, eat healthily and drink plenty of water, if you feel lousy don't put up with it they have so many different anti-sickness tablets available - so speak up and get them changed if they are not working for you. Cry if you feel like crying and shout if you feel like shouting and above all if you need us then just drop us a line and we shall be here for you. The sessions will pass quickly I promise I cant believe I'm about to have my 5th with just one more to go.

So hang on in there girl I'm routing for you'

Lots of love Lee xx

Hi lee how you doing? I must admit I've had a tough few days feeling sorry for myself, I can't get used to this wig at all, can't wait for my hair to grow back. Last chemo on wed so looking forward to seeing the light at the end of the tunnel. Do you have facebook, if so add me Colette Jameson and we can compare notes lol x

hi sara i think we have figured befor that our paths are fairly similar

I started fec had my first one 12 days ago and so far so good next one is monday week

apperntly there are 2 regiemes a or b one without the t bit the others were taliking about i am haven 6 fec only (no t bit )

mcmillian website talks a bit more in detail

.i was dreading it but apart from a liitle bit tired and nauseated about 3 days after i am preaty much same

(iam off work ) but that was advised as i am anurse and they worried that i would be at risk of infection. but i feel i could be working but i will do as told for change .

i keep busy and active while i can i know it might get worse but no complaints so far !1

also i still have my hair (for now )they reakon 3-4 weeks so we will see i did go look wigss not sure how feel about that felt bit of a wally!! but have scarfs ready in case.

i too was really worried about family but it has been fine they rally when called upon and friends are wonderful !!I have never been invited for so many luches i am goin to be fat as pig !!!

take care sweetie hope all goes well and remember we are all in this together !!

love and hugs nina xxxxxxxxxx

Hi Sara

I am on the FEC-T chemo, so same as Colly. I have had 3 of the FEC and symptons similar to others. I was always sick on the first night but seemed better after so stuck with same anti sickness. Ginger beer, ginger biscuits helps when appetite down. Keep the fluids up as I suffered badly with constipation!! Not nice. Always feel a bit down the first week after the chemo, but after a week I feel better and my mood changes. Also get very hot and sweaty - like menopausal symptons. I am eating like a horse and have taken to baking cakes A rare event in our house!

I decided to give the hair a number one all over as soon as it started to fall out, which was about 3-4 weeks after first FEC. I have got a wig which I do wear when I go out but as soon as I walk in the house it goes on the post at the end of the stairs! Keep your head oiled, olive oil is good. I also had a PICC line put in as my veins are not good, it is a bit of a pain as I have to have it flushed every week and it is a constant reminder but it will save my veins getting damaged. I have to continue for a further 9 months after the T bit with herceptin, not sure if I will be able to keep the PICC line all that time!!

Like the others have said it soon passes, I cannot believe I am half way through the chemo already. I am a bit nervous about the second half from what Colly said but we all react differently so I will let you know how I go.

Try and carry on as normal, my ironing is piling up and the house is not as clean as it could be - who cares. Get out in the fresh air and socialise to take your mind off it.

I have spent the whole weekend watching the Ryder Cup and I am lucky enough to have a ticket for Sunday so look out for me I will be the baldy one!!!!

Love to all

Anne

xx

Hi Sara

I am on the FEC-T chemo, so same as Colly. I have had 3 of the FEC and symptons similar to others. I was always sick on the first night but seemed better after so stuck with same anti sickness. Ginger beer, ginger biscuits helps when appetite down. Keep the fluids up as I suffered badly with constipation!! Not nice. Always feel a bit down the first week after the chemo, but after a week I feel better and my mood changes. Also get very hot and sweaty - like menopausal symptons. I am eating like a horse and have taken to baking cakes A rare event in our house!

I decided to give the hair a number one all over as soon as it started to fall out, which was about 3-4 weeks after first FEC. I have got a wig which I do wear when I go out but as soon as I walk in the house it goes on the post at the end of the stairs! Keep your head oiled, olive oil is good. I also had a PICC line put in as my veins are not good, it is a bit of a pain as I have to have it flushed every week and it is a constant reminder but it will save my veins getting damaged. I have to continue for a further 9 months after the T bit with herceptin, not sure if I will be able to keep the PICC line all that time!!

Like the others have said it soon passes, I cannot believe I am half way through the chemo already. I am a bit nervous about the second half from what Colly said but we all react differently so I will let you know how I go.

Try and carry on as normal, my ironing is piling up and the house is not as clean as it could be - who cares. Get out in the fresh air and socialise to take your mind off it.

I have spent the whole weekend watching the Ryder Cup and I am lucky enough to have a ticket for Sunday so look out for me I will be the baldy one!!!!

Love to all

Anne

xx