I was diagnosed with Cancer in March and although we knew it was Cancer its still a shock to be told it. I have had 2 chemo cycles now and have my 3rd at the end of the month. I would love to chat about the chemo side affects to anyone..
My name is Laura and I was diagnosed with ovarian cancer in December. I am up to my 3rd chemo on Feb 28, A Little nervous because I will probably lose the rest of my hair. My second treatment I was tired for 3 days and was not able to sleep, probably because I was taking nausea medicine. Now I am feeling just great.
I too lost my hair the first time around as I was on carbo/taxol, it didn't bother me though. It does now as I had lovely red hair and it grew back grey and curly, my curls have gone now as I have my hair cut every 4 weeks so it is now straight. I miss my hair though..
It is the steriods that keep you awake after the chemo which is such a pain.
Are you having the 6 cycles and are they going to operate ?
Darling, so sorry to read your news, makes me so cross that we have to wait to get things done. But Eileen, if anyone can do it, you can, you've done it before!
Eileen I am so sorry that you have to try yet another chemo, you haven't done well on the others so hopefully this one will be better for you. I thought about you yesterday wondering why they hadn't given you a picc line, I know when they offered me one I said no, then regretted it by the end of treatment. I just hope that all goes well with you.
Sorry to hear you couldn't understand the doctor, it is frustrating not knowing what is being said to you, I am sure you will get the chance to ask all the questions you need with your next appointment. Do you have your own nurse? I used to ring mine if I was concerned or needed to know something.
Just wanted to wish you well for your next chemo tomorrow! (I'm doing it now as I can never remember the time difference between UK & US - ignoramus that I am!)
Sorry Ladies it's me again back to vent because there is nowhere else I can do this. I have to be strong for Mary and for our family and friends, trying to keep things as normal as possible, because I will just crumble from too much fuss and kindness from friends.
We had a pretty good weekend but I guessed it would all come crashing down at some point! Mary was not feeling great this morning and had a planned visit from the Hospice nurse this afternoon, lovely lady, she has been a few times before but I'm not sure if it's good for Mary or not. I thought maybe it gives her a chance to get stuff off her chest that she may not want to speak to us about, but I'm not so sure now.
Well, Mary let her read her letter from the hospital to the doctor (which we get copied on), and although she was really nice, Mary thought her expression showed concern that her condition was far more serious than Mary originally thought, although she didn't say that. Too much technical jargon in the letter for us to understand, and not sure we want to know, just get on with treatment and hope for the best. The Oncology team seemed quite relaxed about it all at the hospital, of course cancer is always serious but you always have to believe and trust that you may have a chance of being cured.
So we had a lot of tears this evening, I cancelled my planned squash game so I could stay at home to support her. She say's the nurse is coming again next week and I feel like calling her and telling her not to bother, as she will probably just upset her again somehow.
I am finding this really tough at the moment, I know you have all had your share of low points too, and I know there are plenty of people who are worse off, just wanted to get it off of my chest. I know my (grown up) kids are worried too, we are all trying to put on a brave face and keep things normal, sometimes you feel like you need a shoulder but you don't want to burden anyone with your troubles.
We have a big family holiday planned in June, flights booked to Florida, now I'm wondering if it's going to happen!
I really hope this Chemo on Thursday makes her feel better, otherwise I dread to think what will happen next!
Anyway, thanks if you have read this and I hope you are all feeling as well as you can do under the circumstances.
My heart went out to you reading your message, you do seem to be carrying a lot of troubles on your shoulders and need to talk to someone so who better than us lot...Can I ask why a nurse from the hospice is calling on Mary, I myself would feel quite alarmed to be honest if someone came to see me. ( Or is she a friend as well )
I think you should take a few steps back and think that when Mary was first diagnosed how you coped and when the treatment started how things improved. You even managed a holiday abroad something I have always felt too weak / ill to do. So whatever is in the letter remember the Dr's don't always get it right and their are lots of people with cancer that are still here when they really should not be.
They are still giving all of us treatment and until the day comes when they say I am sorry but we can't do anymore then we will fight it. I have had 5 cycles of chemo my last on the 13th Jan only to find out that it hasn't worked. I have to start another 6 cycles of a very aggressive chemo and I am dreading it, but I am doing it because I don't want to die just yet.
So John take each day as it comes and wait and see what happens, and please try and take it easy as you won't be helping Mary if you become ill from stress.
John, Eileen has said almost exactly what I was going to say - you cannot take it all on your shoulders or you will be heading for a breakdown and where would Mary be then? By all means be strong for your closest family, but surely you are allowed to cry on a good friend's shoulder, why do you have to be strong for everybody?
Of course you can always let it out here, but we can't hold you and give you a hug, unfortunately - though I'm sure we all would if we could!
I think today must have something about it, as I haven't felt very well either, nor has my partner.
Tomorrow is another day, John, as the saying goes.
Sorry to see your not very good today, what is wrong ? xxxx
After I sent John that message last night, I thought after was I to blunt in saying it. But he works and looks after Mary so in my opinion he is taking on far to much. As you say he needs a hug. He should go for a few glasses of wine with a friend male / female and offload. I was telling my partner last night in bed and he said yeah I know how he feels, he agreed with with me. My partner is new and we have only been together 9 months but he is the most amazing man I have ever met. He makes me laugh and treats me like a queen but I know it is hard for him to see me suffer so god only knows how John feels as him and Mary have been together for years.
Jackie we need your help so hurry up back online. She is the wise old ( even though she is the youngest )
Anyway Hazel keep warm today and hope your feeling better soon.
I'm not so bad today, thanks - it's just that now and then my poor old squashed bowel won't work properly ( I think you know the feeling?!) and I get so bloated that everything is pressing on everything else and the pain is quite bad non-stop until I can go to the loo again. I sometimes wish I never had to eat again so that my insides could have a good rest! Anyway, I"ll try to stick to a liquid diet today - Complan, soup etc - which is almost as restful for the old insides, but I do like my food so it's a blooming nuisance!
Re. your message to John, I do think he needed to be told to let go a bit - typical bloke, has to try to be strong, when no true friend would mind if he let it all out now and then and had a good cry.
Have you decided whether you will go for your new chemo on Thursday? I really, really do hope you're feeling well enough, Eileen - keep us posted, anyway.
I'm not so bad today, thanks - it's just that now and then my poor old squashed bowel won't work properly ( I think you know the feeling?!) and I get so bloated that everything is pressing on everything else and the pain is quite bad non-stop until I can go to the loo again. I sometimes wish I never had to eat again so that my insides could have a good rest! Anyway, I"ll try to stick to a liquid diet today - Complan, soup etc - which is almost as restful for the old insides, but I do like my food so it's a blooming nuisance!
Re. your message to John, I do think he needed to be told to let go a bit - typical bloke, has to try to be strong, when no true friend would mind if he let it all out now and then and had a good cry.
Have you decided whether you will go for your new chemo on Thursday? I really, really do hope you're feeling well enough, Eileen - keep us posted, anyway.
