Hi Ladies

Nina, I cannot believe how quickly time has gone, to think you are on your 4th chemo.  I will be on my last one on the 25/11 - Hooray!  My hair seems to be growing back but now my eyebrows and lashes are thinning.  Are you have a different chemo for the last 3?  The doxitel has made me a lot more tired and taken 2 weeks to get over, but I am feeling my old self today so I am thankful for that, helps to forget the last 2 weeks!  We even went out last night for a friends birthday and did not get in until midnight!  That is a first in a long long time.  It made me feel normal again, although it can be quite over whelming.

Sara - everyone is different I know but I decided to cut my hair (Hubby did) all over with a number 1 on the clippers.  I bought a wig, but mostly at home I either go without or wear a beanie. I think it can look quite attractive when you have made up your eyes, my son said i should go out like it, but I am not that brave.  I think when it starts to come back I am going to dye it blond and have a Annie Lennox look lol!

Best wishes to you all and hope the next week is better for you.

Love

Anne

x

Hi Anne,

25/Nov - Not long now....I love the profile picture

How brilliant that you are staying out late - I take it you enjoyed yourself?

It is funny (not ha ha) that we worry so much, I am on my second lot of chemo this Friday and didn't think hair loss would worry me as I have a no 4 on top and no 2 on the sides. My hair is okay for the moment but I am told it has a good chance of dropping out....like I said, didn't think I would be worried but now started to think a bit about it...as a youngster I had my head shaved as a skinhead and liked the attention and the staring but this is different...people will see that I am ill and see/ treat me differently. I suppose it is natural to worry or look at people but I don't want to be ill and have people look and treat me differently. I am not going to wear a wig but can see me wearing a beanie! We'll see how that goes.

Much love to you all, you are inspirations...

On that word inspiration...It only really means something when the person saying it actually acts on the 'inspirational' thoughts...you all inspire me to keep going and stop moaning as you all go through so much and still manage a smile!

Tony xxxx

Hi All,

nina, I have my 2nd chemo Friday, how are you feeling now? Your treatment seems to be flying by.

Tony, I have my hair cropped and yet it is still falling out and making a mess everywhere. My dad lost his hair with chemo many years ago and he always wore a hat. I think it is harder for a man to hide hair loss than a woman for so many reasons. I am not brave enough to let my neighbours see me without the long red wig, but indoors i sport my new moulting look with a little bit of pride. It is the new me and a look i can live with when the hair grows back. My hair has been below my shoulders for over 35 years so a short hair do is a real shock for me, but i am learning to live with it. I agree with you though, my biggest fear was people looking and thinking i was sick. It does make you feel vunerable. And the wig is itchy so i wear it for short bursts - like driving to the school to pick up my grandaughter or walking to the local shops. The funny thing is - i went ot my local post office today - ive known the people there for a good few years. no one batted an eye lid, so it made me feel better. My daughter did say to me though that when i wore the wig i tended to hold my face down and not walk so upright and she said that was the biggest difference in me. So all shoulders back, head up and lets face the world with pride.

Anyway I only called in tonight as i couldn't sleep - head itches and keep getting mouthfuls of hair, and for some reason i just feel fretful but not over anything i can put my finger on. I thought I'd call in and say hi and then get back to some writing and wear my self out. Sigh..... what it is to be a lady of leisure and not think about getting up in the morning.....

love to all

sara x

Hi sara, anne, lee, leonie, caz, tony, gosh there are so many of us now, rose,shents,nina, who have i missed lol

Sara I know what your daughter means with your head being down, i tend not to move my head properly whilst wearing wig and finish up with a sore neck. The last 3 treatments of chemo, taxotere, or doxitere do make your bones very sore and takes longer to recover. Hope you are all doing well, you too tony. Tho my question is really aimed at the women lol so tony cover your eyes!

During my 3rd chemo my period stopped and ive been having really bad night time sweats, its awful, anyone else getting these? Breast doc says to be patient that my period may come back, but if i have gone into early menopause i dont think i can put up with this, they are awful, any tips?

Hope all is well with everyone and hope i havent missed anybody, xxx

hi all

lovely to catch up on your news. just got few bits useless info that might help. firstly sara my head really itched i found using some sort of oil helped i bought wheatgerm oil from holland and barrat (cos it has no smell i somtimes put it on my face thoght it might help th wrinkles!! my skin alo gets dry so i use baby oil other wise itchin drives me mad .

i had my 4th chemo yesterday and i was realy dreading it as i felt rubbish after last one mainly sickness despite extra meds .but so far so good i bought those sea sick bands thay are wrist bands that are suppose to work on the pressure points on wrists thet are abot £7 from chemist i dont know if its tem or what but iam not takin them off in case.

iam having just fec not the other regeime apparently they chose either regeime a or b so glad only 2 left it feels better to be over half way new year new star last one will be 7th jan its my birtday 16th jan so plan to celebrate and in april when all finished i am having big thank fec its over party wish u all live closer and could come !!!!

colly re ?prem menopause it is a recognised side affect not sur how olsd u are i am 46 and have fibroids so bled all the time (it is the reason i went to dr in first place as they wanted me to have hysterectomy until i found the flipping lump !! so iam hoping chemo shrinks them and stops bleeding no luck yet although i did have flush yesterday so know wht u mean !!. not sure how much we can do as normally they are controlled by replacing oestrogen which of course we can do !! ther are some "natural products which are suppose to help but not sure how mix with chemo . certainly there is so evidence that soya products help milk. quorn etc but not sur how much u have to consume . i think its just case cold fannel cahnge clthes i like u be very interested in what girls have you say .

hope all well with everyone going to do some online xmas shopping to try to feel organised !!

lots love and hugs nina xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

hi girls

colly i had the hot sweats but they seem to have calmed down, maybe cos its too bloody cold! havent had as many the last 4/6 weeks though, but still dont have any periods. who knows if this is the change, spose i'll find out next year. its not nice waking up wet n not being able to sleep because of them but we dont really have a choice. at least our chemo has finished.

nina will be thinking of you n cheering you on, roll on 7th jan. 2 more n you are finished. thats my birthday, n i'll be toasting you. hope you are managing alright.

tony i cant believe you are having to go through it all again. i didnt know. im so sorry! you just make sure you take all our love n add it to your strength n fight all the way. my heart goes out to you n your family at this awful time. wish you all the strength to get through this. lots of love coming your way.    leonie xxxxxxxxxx

Hi Everyone

Hope you are all doing well, I thought I would drop a line as I have been busy with my Radiotherapy, work etc and now only 3 more to go then that is it until next Summer when I have my reconstruction and I cannot wait to get my life back to a certain level.

Lonie like you I have terrible sweats but mine seem to be midday, the nurse has said to take my tablets in the evening and this should help, when do you take yours or are you having heceptin.

Colly how are you doing as I have not heard from you in a little while, hope all is okay with you

Tony I have not contacted you as I did not know what to say except I am so sorry to hear your news, YOU WILL BEAT IT THIS TIME. My thoughts are with you and your family but you know where we all are if you need us. Once again Tony you can give us all your words of wisdom as I know without them I would not of got through my really dark days that I had where my husband was concerned without them you are a real gem, your wife is soooooooooooooooooo lucky to have you. I will not depress you today ha ha but drop me a line so we may have a chat when your feeling up to it.

Sara how are things going with you as nobody has been on here in a while, has your infection cleared up now?

Anyway all take care of yourselves and speak to you all soon

Littlesis xxxxxx

Hi girlies and tony, thanks to you who got back to me re night time sweats lol, leonie ive started my 5 yr tamoxifen and although they are supposed to cause the sweats ive not had them as much, as you say prob cause its cold, little sis thanks to you too. Anyway radio started last fri and seems to be going ok, prob later on the tiredness and maybe sore breast will start, did anyone else get a sore breast with radio? Got my eyelashes done today £50 bu well worth it as my were very sparse(is that the right word lol) it lasts for 2 months, fab to have lashes again and got eye brows tinted to darken uo the little i had, hair coming through, but looks grey lol, im only 46 hope its just at the roots, will get it coloured as soon as its thick enough. Lee my babe where are you? Anyone who has facebook, add me if you wish- Colette Jameson, think im the only one. Radio finishes 7th jan so roll on 2011. Night night, up early for hosp, got voluntary driver to take me as too much to drive every day. lots of love xx

Hey Littlesis,

I keep telling myself I will beat it as they say you can beat anything with positive thoughts but the 'Terminal' tag just keeps slipping back in to my mind...

You only have 3 to go, fantastic...have a celebration and let us know how it goes!

You are a lovely lady and will check in on you soon so we can have a proper chat.

Much Love

T xxx