Hi, BB.  I hesitate to say 'Happy Birthday' cos it probably hasn't been!  Let us know when the 'official' one is then we can all send our best wishes when you're feeling better, hopefully.  

I had radiotherapy years ago for breast cancer (currently trying to kick recurrent ovarian into touch) but I never had any problem apart from a few radiation burns under the half-boob I had remaining - I still have a scar there.  I suppose it depends which part of the body is being treated as to the side effects.  I have always found chemo to be much the worst of the two treatments.  

Hope you enjoy your sarnie!  

Hazel x

Hi, BB.  I hesitate to say 'Happy Birthday' cos it probably hasn't been!  Let us know when the 'official' one is then we can all send our best wishes when you're feeling better, hopefully.  

I had radiotherapy years ago for breast cancer (currently trying to kick recurrent ovarian into touch) but I never had any problem apart from a few radiation burns under the half-boob I had remaining - I still have a scar there.  I suppose it depends which part of the body is being treated as to the side effects.  I have always found chemo to be much the worst of the two treatments.  

Hope you enjoy your sarnie!  

Hazel x

Thank you for your good wishes Hazel.  I am so sorry to read that you're currently fighting ovarian cancer.  Are you having chemo at the moment?  Yes, chemo is extremely nasty but, for me, and I know I'm most probably in a minority of one here, I preferred (if that's the right word) chemo to radiotherapy.  With the chemo I knew that after a couple of days I would feel like nothing on earth and was able to prepare for that each time.  For two or three days I was fit for absolutely nothing but then I started to return to the land of the living and was able to plan and do things in my own time.  With radtiotherapy, five days a week for five weeks is really taking it out of me and by the end of each week all I seem able to do is rest and sleep in readiness for the following week.  There are quite a few shops near the hospital, all decorated for Christmas and normally I would love to look in them but all I want to do is come home and rest.  The way I feel at the moment, Scrooge has nothing on me.

Do take care Hazel, and I wish you all the very best.

BB x

Thank you, BB.

Yes, I am now having 6 more chemos following another op at the end of July for the recurrence of ovarian first diagnosed in 2012.  I had 3 fairly good years in between, for which I must be grateful!  My reaction to the chemo in 2012 was the same as yourself BB, but I am on a different and lower dosage this time so it's more manageable, especially now I have been given omeprazole and extra domperidone for the dreaded nausea.  I do get very tired though, and like you keep falling asleep on the settee and missing my favourite telly progs.  Mind you, missing all the Christmas ads is no hardship, I must admit!

I do hope you feel better soon in time for your official birthday.

Hazel x

PS, by the way, I must apologise to everyone for seemingly popping up out of nowhere in lots of places on here lately, but I was on the site 3 years ago for quite a while and never gave a thought to reintroducing myself this time. You all must be thinking, "Who is this rude person who keeps interrupting?", sorry!  H

Hello Hazel.  Yes, that was my first thought when you replied yesterday: "who is this rude person who keeps interrupting?" (hee hee).  Now, I know it's coming up to Christmas and we're all entitled to be even more silly than we normally are if we want to be but I'll have no more talk like that otherwise I'll have words with Father Christmas and get his reindeer to do rude things down your chimney.  So 'nuff said on that.

I was glad to read that this course of chemo is not quite so gruelling for you as the last course as it has been "tweaked" a bit and omeprazole added.  How many chemo sessions have you had up to yet this time Hazel?  I do hope your course will be finished by Christmas.  Will you be spending Christmas at home or going away if you feel strong enough?

Take care, keep warm and don't get blown away in this wind.  In fact, it's been so windy here today that they stopped the Thames cable car crossing but they still let people walk on top of the O2 Arena!  Where do those people get the energy from?  It made my poor little fat legs ache even more just watching them.

Carol x

Hi Carol,sorry for the delay, have been busy blocking up my fireplaces!

Hope you are feeling OK, though still tired I expect from the radiotherapy.  Only one more week, isn't it, plus one day?  (Naughty girl,missing a day, detention for you!)

I've only had 2 chemos so far, at 4-weekly intervals, so I won't be finished until about March.  Don't know what I'll be doing at Christmas yet, really depends on how I'll be feeling by then, as you say.  

Keep those little legs going!

Hazel x

Hello Hazel.  What a busy little "blocker upper" you've been against the reindeer.  They'll have to find other chimneys now I expect.  As I explained in my other post, I have one more week and then three more days.  Oh I can see me being told to go and stand in the corner.  I'm so sorry about your chemo treatment lasting all that time.  You're not due for a session during the Christmas or New Year week, are you?  I do hope not.  My poor little fat legs haven't been quite themselves but I took them chuting (took the rubbish along to the chute) this morning and as it's the first time they've been out since Thursday they were quite pleased with that.  Hopefully (if that's the right word) I can get to radiotherapy tomorrow which is booked for 8.30am which means I have to be there at 7.30am so I'll have to leave home at 6.30am.  Eek.  Think I'll go to bed now.

Bye for now Hazel.  Do look after yourself.

Love Carol xx 

It's me again, hope you manage to get to RT OK tomorrow,  All these early starts and travelling don't help when you're already 'run down' from treatment, do they?  

Good luck, love Hazel x

No, you're right there Hazel.  At my hospital it's almost like a conveyor belt, where you go in one cubicle to change while someone is having treatment, then they go in the other cubicle to change back in their day clothes, while you have your treatment, and then the next customer steps up.  I know it's nice to run like clockwork but we are humans and not clockwork mice.  On a lighter note, I've been very remiss today; not only have I lost hair and eyebrows but I've now lost my voice.  So no Carol singing from me today (yes, I know, I can hear you groaning from here).

Thank you for your good wishes Hazel.  Night night, try to have a pleasant sleep.

Love Carol xx

Hi Carol, hope all went well today, and that you're feeling a bit better.  Has your voice come back yet?  I remember well the changing cubicle routine from my breast ca RT years ago - seems not much changes. (I had mine at the North Middlesex hospital)

My next chemo is due on 4th Dec, so with luck I may be reasonably OK For Christmas and New Year.  

By the way, you possibly could have heard me groaning as I am in Dagenham and I reckon you aren't that far up-river from me, and it was quite windy yesterday!

Have a good rest, take care,

Hazel x

PS Like your new avatar!

Hello Hazel.  Hopefully your chemo sessions have worked out all right for you over Christmas and the New Year.  I do hope so.  My voice is getting there but this morning at the hospital I was talking to someone and it just "went" mid-sentence.  I felt so silly: my mouth opening and lips moving but nothing coming out.  They just stared at me (perhaps they thought they'd gone deaf).  Yes, I don't live far from you Hazel.  I live near Canary Wharf in east London.  I'm glad you like my new avatar.  It's a photo of the Polish training ship "Dar Mlodziezy" (nice easy name; just slips off the tongue, doesn't it?) when they started on their Tall Ships Round the World Race last year.  I was well then and didn't know what was in store for me so took myself  and my camera up to the river and took photos galore.  Bit boring for anybody else, but I still like looking at them.  My appointments are getting even more silly and tomorrow I have to be at the hospital at 7.15am.  I think I may just knit a tent and stay up there overnight. Do take care and keep warm Hazel.  Until next time.

Carol xx 

Hi Carol, glad you managed to have your treatment today, despite being rendered almost voiceless!   When I read a while ago about the problems you've had with the journey I am just so pleased that when I had my RT they sent a car every morning to pick several of us up who lived this way, otherwise I don't know how I would ever have managed to get to the North Mid on my own by 7/8 am each day!  As it was, the journeys were quite pleasant because we all got to know each other and had a good natter.  Sometimes had hours to wait for transport going in this direction home though, but wasn't too bothered about that.  

I guessed you were in east London near to the river when you mentioned the river crossing and the people on the top of the O2 the other day when it was so windy. (My dear old dad used to work at Greenwich gas works where the O2 now is.)  Mind you, you did also mention the DLR so that might have been a clue!

The ship is a real beauty, isn't she?  I love sailing ships, wish I could have seen them all on their way down river, I bet it was a brilliant sight.  Also, I'm quite impressed with your photography skills, it's a lovely picture.

By the way, how many marzipan fruits have you had today?

Hazel xx