Hi I have just finished radio therapy on my right breast and talking  to the people at my hospital a few of them have had your side affects when I asked my team about sickness they said it's quite common if your treatment is on the left side is that the case with you X 

Hello Ellie.  Thank you for that.  I'm having external radiotherapy to the pelvic area and have been told that it's possible the treatment may also be "touching" on the lower part of my stomach causing some side-effects.  Once the treatment is over though, I hope that it's not too long before my appetite comes back and makes up for these past weeks,  How are you feeling Ellie now you've finished your treatment?

Do take care.

BBx 

Hi Carol,

Another week over, not long now for you, then you can have your official birthday!

Do you know, I never knew anything about the IRA blowing up that gas holder at Greenwich.  If it was in 1971 my dad would still have been there, he retired in 1973 at 65, but I don't remember him mentioning it at all.  Isn't that odd?  It obviously happened as you say you saw the fire, maybe he didn't want to worry me at the time.  

I spent most of the morning at my hospital waiting to see one of my oncology team for check-up re last chemo and booking of the 4th one, though he couldn't get through to the chemo unit so still don't know when that will be - some time in early Jan probably, allowing for Christmas hols. The whole department seemed to be running about an hour behind schedule today, may have been the effect of the dreaded Black Friday on transport as I noticed a few of the staff rushing in to apologise to their colleagues for being late. Then I had my flu jab this afternoon - I checked with the hospital if it was OK first, had to get the timing right between chemos - so have had a fairly busy day.  (At least I didn't have to be there at 7am though, like you.)

Take care, Carol, have a nice rest and a couple of lie-ins over the weekend, and enjoy the croissants and bacon!

Hazel xxx

PS, don't know why this is so far down the page, tried to correct it but it wouldn't have it!

Hello Hazel.  I'm sorry I've not replied before now but I was a dozy bundle over the weekend and yesterday, when I came home, I had the "runs" and griping stomach pains which made me feel really bad.  Yes, two days down, three to go for me.  I'm leaving at 7am tomorrow but Thursday's and Friday's appointments are 11am.  I just can't remember the year of the gasometer explosion Hazel but I'll never forget the heat and the red night sky.  What a full day you had on Friday but still not able to get your fourth chemo session booked.  Have you heard anything yet?  And how are you feeling after your 'flu jab?  All right I hope.  I gave up work to become a full-time carer for my lovely Mum and had to have a 'flu jab each year but oh, did it play me up.  It was almost like 'flu itself and for those few days, my poor Mum had to look after me!  Yes, croissants have nearly all gone and so have the marzipan fruits.  I don't know why; it's not as if I eat them!  I think it's where I've been so cold, I've turned up the heating and it's melted them.  Well, that's my story and I'm sticking to it.  Oh, my hospital is a miserable hospital.  I asked the receptionist at the main reception when they intended to put up the Christmas tree and she mumbled that they don't have one.  By the look on her face, perhaps it's just as well; one look from her and the poor tree would wither.  I must say that most of the receptionists in the radiotherapy department are very nice and helpful.  Which reminds me, there was one used to work with many years ago who always reminded me of John Prescott in drag.  The number of complaints we used to get about her was unbelievable but she'd been there so (too) long that no-one had to heart to tell her so she just carried on intimidating people.  I hope you had a well-deserved rest over the weekend Hazel ready to face a new week.  Keep warm and take care.  Until next , Carol xxx

Hello Hazel.  I'm sorry I've not replied before now but I was a dozy bundle over the weekend and yesterday, when I came home, I had the "runs" and griping stomach pains which made me feel really bad.  Yes, two days down, three to go for me.  I'm leaving at 7am tomorrow but Thursday's and Friday's appointments are 11am.  I just can't remember the year of the gasometer explosion Hazel but I'll never forget the heat and the red night sky.  What a full day you had on Friday but still not able to get your fourth chemo session booked.  Have you heard anything yet?  And how are you feeling after your 'flu jab?  All right I hope.  I gave up work to become a full-time carer for my lovely Mum and had to have a 'flu jab each year but oh, did it play me up.  It was almost like 'flu itself and for those few days, my poor Mum had to look after me!  Yes, croissants have nearly all gone and so have the marzipan fruits.  I don't know why; it's not as if I eat them!  I think it's where I've been so cold, I've turned up the heating and it's melted them.  Well, that's my story and I'm sticking to it.  Oh, my hospital is a miserable hospital.  I asked the receptionist at the main reception when they intended to put up the Christmas tree and she mumbled that they don't have one.  By the look on her face, perhaps it's just as well; one look from her and the poor tree would wither.  I must say that most of the receptionists in the radiotherapy department are very nice and helpful.  Which reminds me, there was one used to work with many years ago who always reminded me of John Prescott in drag.  The number of complaints we used to get about her was unbelievable but she'd been there so (too) long that no-one had to heart to tell her so she just carried on intimidating people.  I hope you had a well-deserved rest over the weekend Hazel ready to face a new week.  Keep warm and take care.  Until next , Carol xxx

Hi Carol, 

God, the gremlins on this site are dreadful, I've just nearly finished a message and now lost it somehow/somewhere!  Extremely annoying.  So if you get an unfinished message as well as this one, sorry, but it ain't my fault!

Anyway, let's try again.

I was saying how awful for you getting the runs when you already felt like nothing on earth, you poor girl.  Hope you are a bit better now?  I bet you've now lost any weight you managed to put on with the lovely croissants, but at least you enjoyed them (I hope).  Years ago when I worked at Barking hospital croissants were on the breakfast menu and if there were ever any leftovers all the staff made a beeline for them, including me, yet I never think to get them to have at home for some reason.

I'll be thinking of you over the next three days - nearly there!  I have a pre-chemo blood test tomorrow morning, so will be out fairly early but to still not 7am like you.  Thank goodness Thurs and Fri are at a more reasonable time for you.  Then on Fri I have my 3rd chemo, but that's not until 1.15pm.  No, I still don't know when no.4 will be, but doubtless they will let me know on Friday.   Also have a CT scan pending, but that's anybody's guess!  

My flu jab was OK, luckily I never seem to have much of a reaction, just an achey muscle for a few days, though I know some people do feel a bit rough with it, as you did.

You did make me chuckle, Carol, with your comments about the receptionist, reckon she's in the wrong job, and your work colleague - I can't stand it when someone like that gets away with all sorts just because they've been in the job a long time.  I've known a few like that as well.

I have accepted your friend request, by the way, thanks.

Keep well, 

Hazel xxx

PS does marzipan melt?  x

Hi haze44

Sorry about the gremlins!

We have posted an explanation here about what our technical wizards are doing to try to sort things out. 

Don't worry, us moderators are looking out for duplicate posts when they pop up and we will be able to remove them.

Best wishes

Jane

Hi, Jane,

Thanks for your message - I had read about the technical problems and the multiple posts (I managed to send 3 the same the other day!) but it is a bit frustrating sometimes when a nearly finished message disappears into the ether!  Never mind, I'm sure your techie wizards will sort it out in time.  The worst problem I have is that the cursor jumps about all over the place, it's a bit like 'Where's Wallie?"

You girls certainly have your work cut out keeping tabs on everything! 

Thanks again,

Hazel

Hi BB

where are you, is everything okay - did you jump on that big ship and living it up around the caribbean?  Please let me know you alright.

Big hugs and bit miffed you haven't picked me up on that boat trip :)

JB

xx

Hello JB

Thanks for your post and your big hugs; I do appreciate that.  I'm not too bad thanks.  Finished the radiotherapy on 4 December but just can't seem to get rid of the fatigue, aches and pains and tingly legs and feet.  I know others must feel the same, and some of you worse, so instead of complaining in my posts on here, I decided not to post for a while.  I had a CT scan yesterday and am due to see the oncologist on Tuesday so I'm keeping everything crossed (perhaps that's why I get so many aches and pains!!).

A few ships have gone up (and down) but not to my specifications and so I've just turned up my nose at them until something suitable comes along for us (!!).  As soon as it does, I'll come round and pick you up and off we'll go for a few months.  The Caribbean sounds lovely and I've always rather fancied the Panama Canal and perhaps Hawaii for good measure?

I hope things are as well as they can be for you.  Let me know how you are (and if you need another suitcase).

Do take care and keep your sealegs handy.

Love BB xx 

Hey BB 

Awesome to hear from you and you can complain whenever you like but yes I understand where you coming from. Shame I heard from other people fatigue is the biggest affect from radiotherapy! Hang in as it does sounds like you coping as well as possible considering the circumstance. I too have aching feet, hands and lower back and mentally have been struggling to keep positive but I'm getting there and guess it helped that my first scan gave me great news of being clear!! Lol I'll do the crossing for you how about that? 

Hmmm I trust your choice in ship so we will wait for the perfect one to pass by, my suitcase remains packed and ready to go when you give the shout!! Yes regularly cleaning my ears so I don't miss your yell haha

Stay strong friend I'm still with you every step of the way 

Big hugs always

JB

Hello JB and thanks so much for replying so soon. I'm SO glad to read that your first scan gave you the great news of being clear.  It must have been so emotional for you after all you'd been through.  At times like that it is certainly worth the months of treatment and after-effects.  But I'm sorry you're still having difficulties with pain and trying to keep positive but, as you say, we are getting there slowly but surely and at least we are still here to complain!  I put some washing out this morning and even the tops of my arms as well as my wrists are aching now where I reached up to peg it.  I suppose the only answer is not to do washing (therefore no ironing; what a good idea) unless absolutely necessary.

Yes,do keep your ears on alert for "the yell" and we'll be off!

Do take care and thank you for your kind words.

Love BB xx 

Hey BB not heard from you or seen any activity for a while.  I just want you to know I'm thinking of you and hope you ok

JB X

Hello JB. Thanks so much for your kind words.  I've not posted as I feel a bit sorry for myself and a bit of a fraud.  This time last year I was told I had incurable cancer.  Thanks to surgery, chemo- and radio-therapy (not thanks at the time as you all know) I have now been told that I am clear (fingers and everything else crossed as I don't want to tempt fate).  So in that respect I feel a bit of a fraud if I post on this forum - but - I still feel so fatigued (feeling sorry for myself).  Some days I can do almost as much as I did before all this but then I spend the next 2 or 3 days flaked out in the chair just about being able to do a sandwich for myself.  I've told the doctors who have said I'm anaemic and put me on liquid iron (which upset my stomach) so I am now on tablets.  One even asked if I'd had a transfusion!  And on top of all that, I seem to have lost a lot of muscle tone.  Has/is anyone else gone/going through this?

But on a lighter note, my hair is getting longer, I think, as I can't tell as the top and sides are growing straight up and out.  I now look like a cross between Harpo Marx and a stick of candy floss.  Someone suggested that I get it straightened (I suggested that they shut up) but I'm not going to do that as it still seems quite fragile and I want to keep all that I've now got!

I hope things are as well as they can be with you JB and, once again, thank you.

Look after yourself..

Carol xx

Hey thats AWESOME news!!! Sooooooooooooo happy for you.  I know you struggled through it, and understand you still have side effects.  My hands and feet do too, but other than that I too so far have kept getting the "all clear" after my bloods and CT scans, next CT scan is 18th August.

You definitely not and shouldn't feel like a fraud!!! I don't come here often but like to pop in now and then to check everybody is okay and sometimes say hello to newbies :)

Other than that wow we into August - yay or nay??? Can't make up my mind, still waiting for my ship to come in hahaha although I have been so busy it could quite easily have sailed past a few times and I didn't notice! 

I had two weeks in Portugal, Algarve - beautiful and really needed it! Loved it so much and somehow for a split second thought I was rockerfella instead of the other fella and without hesitation went and booked a 14night holiday in CUBA!!! :)  next year May so have some waiting to do, but I don't mind its given me something to look forward too.

Great hearing from you, and I am really happy to hear your news!! Hopefully in time you will rid all the side affects, I too am waiting for that day! :)

Take care

JB xx