Hi everyone, I need of a bit of advice, not sure if I need to go to a & e. Had my port fitted on Wednesday, which has been itchy for last couple of days. Thought it was just due to the healing process. However, last night I noticed what looked like two blisters right next to each other. But they're hard to the touch and really itchy. Also looks like they could have been leaking a clear fluid.  This area is not near the actual wound, but right near the corner of the dressing, which I've now peeled away from this area. Any thoughts?

Hi Pippin, 

Sorry you’re worried and sorry to hear it’s itchy…could you call you BCN? Or do you have a post op number you can call?

I think if you’re worried you should go in, they’ll know straight away. Better to get it seen to sooner rather than later and will then also stop you worrying..I’m sure it’s nothing and just the port settling, that can take a few days but I think when you’re dealing with Chemo and lower immune it’s always best to get it checked. At least speak to someone over the phone first if you can.

Are they blisters or part of the scab from the incision? Make sure you keep it clean…

really hope it’s ok and nothing to worry about..sure it’s just part of the healing process. Do you have a temperature? That’s a good sign of any infection..

let us know how you get on. Sending positive vibes your way xx

Hi Pippin! 

Thanks for checking in! Has been a long day…but feeling good and luckily no allergic reaction!  Hurrah!!

The cold cap adds quite a bit of time and I had my blood test this morning too so that added a couple of hours waiting for those results and then the docetaxol took just under 2 hours…!they do it slowly for the first two cycles I think then speed it up a bit!..and then I had the Cyclophosphamide! 

I was going to write to you to review the cold mitts and socks! My mitts weren’t great, they didn’t stay cold for very long, I ended up putting extra ice packs into the gloves but it does mean you can’t do anything with your hands!…the feet/socks were good. My feet were freezing!!!…but again I think they probably lasted an hour or so??and the docetaxol takes nearly 2 hours…. Maybe you need two pairs or some extra ice packs to go with the socks!? I think I’d try the socks again but not sure about the gloves..may as well just hold ice packs in your hands!?! Shout if you have any other questions as happy to chat!!

Hope you’re doing ok and enjoying feeling good for week 3! Xx

Pleased to hear your treatment has gone well today.  One more ticked off.  Xx keep us posted on any side effects but hope they are minimal.  Take care xxx 

Sounds wonderful. Hope you had a lovely lunch with your parents. Xx I agree with your hubby.  Lots of positive thoughts and things to focus on and look forward to xxx it’s the best remedy 

90 what a fabulous milestone.  
I hosted a party for my Dads 80 th last June.  

xx hope your enjoying the rest week before we go again next week.  It comes round quickly for sure 

xx 

Ah thank you!!! Yes let’s hope side effects are minimal…will be interesting to see how different I feel with these new ones…oncologist said worst days would be Fri/Sat/sun but mostly tiredness which I will take over nausea!!!! I guess time will tell! Can already feel my taste buds going again! So weird isn’t it and so funny how everyone reacts so differently..we are all unique!!

How are you doing?? Xx

Week 3 is so nice!! Makes you so grateful for feeling good and normal!! Hope all goes well for you next week too..although I’m sure we’ll chat before then!!

So pleased to hear all went well today and you're feeling OK. Does sound like you had a pretty long day though. Annoying having bloods done on the day, then having to wait for results before starting treatment. I usually have mine done at the end of the week before. I'm still debating the cold therapy, wasn't sure about not being able to use hands. Did you get any sensations in hands and feet while having the docetaxel at all? Have plenty of rest and I hope you continue to feel well. Xx

Lunch was great with mum and dad, I think they really enjoyed it too. Will be great to celebrate dad's 90th in June, as you say it is a pretty amazing milestone. I bet your dad really enjoyed the party you held for him. My daughter's coming over with the grandkids again tomorrow, which will be great. I'm making the most of seeing everyone, before next treatment on Monday. Just hope my liver function allows it to go ahead. How's things going with the hair loss for you at the moment? Hope all goes well with your treatment next week. Xx

Yes a huge milestone really hope you can enjoy the celebrations and timings work with treatment and feeling good! 

Have a lovely time with your daughter and grandkids today. Will keep everything crossed for your liver..when do you have your blood test, on Friday? Will keep everything crossed! 

I didn’t have any weird feelings in hand or feet..nothing at all…not sure how quickly the neuropathy kicks in…I think it may not be until the 2nd/3rd cycle. But not sure…will keep you posted. No idea if the socks did anything at all but glad I tried. Might need to tweak the ice pack situation 

Hope everyone else is doing ok?  Sending lots of love to you all xx

Yes I'm having bloods done Friday morning, first time using the port. A little nervous about that, as it's still slightly tender. Have phone call with oncologist on Friday afternoon, so hope they'll have the blood results available by then. Hopefully my liver function is no worse, so treatment can go ahead.Noticed a few hairs coming out again last night (not that there's much left anyway). Seems to happen at same time each cycle. If that's the case, I expect to be totally bald by next week. How's your hair doing, with using the cold cap? I thought the sensations in hands and feet happened quite quickly, but will have to look into it a bit more. Hope you managed to get some rest last night, I see you're awake early. Xx

Oh good luck for Friday and will be keeping everything crossed that your liver is playing ball, If not maybe they'll just reduce your dose a little or push it back a week to give your liver time to recover a little. They said to me they would be surprised if there wasn't a week or two when they had to delay by a week so although frustrating i think it's very common. Let us know how it goes on Friday

My hair has been totally intact...but i would say today is the first day i've noticed a few more strands coming away..barely notieable but wonder if it's the start of something more drastic??

Yes was up early...actually worrying about my dog as she ate an Easter Egg yesterday while my husband came to collect me from the hospital. She woke up at 3am pacing around and retching so I had to watch her..needless to say didn't get much sleep after that but more because of the dog rather than the chemo and steroids...she seems to be ok today though and acting pretty normally amazingly, took her out for a nice long walk and she's been eating and behaving normally...assuming she has a stomach of steel...hope she's ok.

Not feeling so nauseous with the TC vs the EC i had last week so really hoping that lasts..just the weird taste in my mouth and my food tastes pretty odd! Tired and a bit jaded today but have been up and about and cooking and ferrying my kids around so doing ok so far!...start my injections tomorrow though..dont' like those!

Hope you had a good day today! xx

Oh good luck for Friday and will be keeping everything crossed that your liver is playing ball, If not maybe they'll just reduce your dose a little or push it back a week to give your liver time to recover a little. They said to me they would be surprised if there wasn't a week or two when they had to delay by a week so although frustrating i think it's very common. Let us know how it goes on Friday

My hair has been totally intact...but i would say today is the first day i've noticed a few more strands coming away..barely notieable but wonder if it's the start of something more drastic??

Yes was up early...actually worrying about my dog as she ate an Easter Egg yesterday while my husband came to collect me from the hospital. She woke up at 3am pacing around and retching so I had to watch her..needless to say didn't get much sleep after that but more because of the dog rather than the chemo and steroids...she seems to be ok today though and acting pretty normally amazingly, took her out for a nice long walk and she's been eating and behaving normally...assuming she has a stomach of steel...hope she's ok.

Not feeling so nauseous with the TC vs the EC i had last week so really hoping that lasts..just the weird taste in my mouth and my food tastes pretty odd! Tired and a bit jaded today but have been up and about and cooking and ferrying my kids around so doing ok so far!...start my injections tomorrow though..dont' like those!

Hope you had a good day today! xx

So glad to hear that you're doing so well regarding your hair. Finger's crossed any loss will be minimal. I have a friend who's hair only thinned a little while using the cold cap. Very unfortunate that your dog eat an easter egg, hope she'll be OK. It's good to gear that you feel less nauseous on the TC, hope the injections don't give you too much trouble this time. Xx

Morning Greeny 

how is your dog doing ?   They are as much a worry as children at times eh ? 
hope you continue to do well with minimum side effects xxx 

Ah she's doing ok thanks, thanks for asking...eating and behaving normally so clearly she has a stomach of steel...but yes you're so right, just as much worry as the kids!! There's always something or someone to worry about!! But i guess i should be grateful for that alone!

Ah that's so lovely about your first grandchild about to enter the world! Lovely, happy news!...and yes something lovely look forward to and hopefully distract you a little from your treatment. Good that you're not losing too much hair..i have also heard that Docetaxol might not cause hair loss...but then have also heard it can cause alopecia so who knows! My oncologist definitely advised to continue with the cold cap though and so far so good...glad you're coping well with yours

haha Pippin, i was hopeful i wouldn't have to shave my legs or armpits either but no such joy!!!  Thought maybe i could benefit from one of the side effects!

I'm feeling ok today..deifnitely better than the EC. The steroids I think have played havoc with my sleep as was awake again at 3am last night and then just couldn't get back to sleep and felt super wired so ended up reading my book.(very good by the way, it's called the Nightingale, sad, based on WW2 but very good)...so feeling a bit tired but think it's just that rather than chemo side effects? I would say maybe an underlying nausea but again think that may be because my taste has changed so i have a permanent weird taste in my mouth which makes me feel a bit sick but it's all very manageable and I managed to take the dog for a lovely long walk this morning and now my youngest has a friend over for a playdate...no rest for the wicked!!

Will be thinking of you both for your next treatments and on Friday Pippin for good blood results. xx

Hi Greeny80, looks like things are going better for you this time around, which is great. I seem to get the odd bad night, while on the meds. You're probably right about it being the steroids. I have my oncologist phone appointment tomorrow afternoon, so I'm hoping the bloods will be available in time for them to see if treatment can go ahead. Will let you know how it goes. Xx