Hi everyone, hope you're all doing OK and enjoying the lovely weather. Have managed a walk this morning, but am noticeably more tired. Have developed a bit of a strange taste in my mouth, which I know is one of the known side effects, also chest feels a but achy. Started my injections last night, I have noticed some aching in joints, but nothing too bad. Had planned to do some gardening today, but not sure I have the energy. Phoned yesterday about lung ct scan, but results not back, apparently outsourcing them as so busy. Told me to phone back next week. Love to hear what you're all up to this weekend. Xx

Hi Pippin,

Sorry you're feeling a little more tired but glad you still got out for a walk...maybe instead of gardening you can find a lovely spot in the shade and have a nap this afternoon!...Sorry to hear about your taste too. I had that, and still have that, from my first dose!..it's so weird and annoyingly does take away some of the enjoyment of eating...fruit in particular tastes very odd and un appetising.

Sorry about the aching joints too. Hopefully it doesn't get worse and that it's just the jabs and that will ease as soon as you stop those again. I had horrid joint pain on day 5 of the jabs and then they quickly eased again...

I have just been to watch my son in a football match it was a final, sadly they lost but it was an amazing game, very close. My daughter had dance classes this morning and is now off to a Go Karting party so just about to drop her and a friend to that and then heading to another friends house for a bit this afternoon....and then tomorrow my son has a cricket match!...a typical weekend of playing taxi to the kids!!...but i wouldn't have it any other way!

Loving this sunshine and hope you manage to enjoy it too but look after yourself. The weekends are always the hardest for me after my Tuesday chemo but then you do come out the other side...so hope you bounce back again soon. But take it easy today and tomorrow and hope your energy returns soon..

take care xx

Hi Greeny80, I chilled out in front of the TV this afternoon and did manage a nap. I'm now feeling much better and feel like I have a bit more energy. You're right, it is annoying about the food taste, hope this improves. Sounds like you have been busy today, just reading your post made me feel tired lol! It's a shame your son lost the final, but pleased it was an enjoyable game. Sounds like your daughter has had a lot going on today as well. I remember when mine were all young and always had something going on. Good luck to your son at his cricket match tomorrow, but try to fit in a rest yourself at some point. Xx

Hi everyone 

sorry I’ve been quiet. It’s been a tough ride.  Ended up in hospital Friday after shivery then sweats Thursday and temperature spiking Friday and heart rate high. Another IV infusion of anti biotics and saline as body showed sign of infection. Eventually sent home with more anti biotics and morphine for pain which is excruitiating I’m really struggling this time.  Have awful night sweats mouth ulcers not fancying to eat much as throat hurts and horrendous bone pain and muscle aches throughout.  Only positive is not got tiredness I had before but I’ve been bed bound for last few days so unwell.  
no idea if it’s zometa , docetaxel or injections or the triple whammy of it all 

I have two more cycles but right now I cannot face this at all 

thankfully have call with oncologist this Thursday 

Hi everyone 

sorry I’ve been quiet. It’s been a tough ride.  Ended up in hospital Friday after shivery then sweats Thursday and temperature spiking Friday and heart rate high. Another IV infusion of anti biotics and saline as body showed sign of infection. Eventually sent home with more anti biotics and morphine for pain which is excruitiating I’m really struggling this time.  Have awful night sweats mouth ulcers not fancying to eat much as throat hurts and horrendous bone pain and muscle aches throughout.  Only positive is not got tiredness I had before but I’ve been bed bound for last few days so unwell.  
no idea if it’s zometa , docetaxel or injections or the triple whammy of it all 

I have two more cycles but right now I cannot face this at all 

thankfully have call with oncologist this Thursday 

Hi NGS, so sorry to hear you ended up in the hospital, sounds as if you have had a really difficult time. I know facing two more cycles must feel daunting, but stay strong,you can do this. This time I have felt more tired, strange how it effects everyone so differently. I've also had a sore throat and slight changes of taste in my mouth. I've also started to get some shooting pains in my knee joints. Not sure if it's down to the new phesgo injection ( this is instead of the Herceptin, a combination drug that apparently does the same thing), I'm now having, or the filgrastim injections, although these haven't been an issue before. I have three more cycles to go, but feel better knowing I'm now past the half way mark. Hope you have a better week this week and your appointment with the oncologist goes well. Xx

Oh gosh NGS, that must have been scary. You poor thing. Glad you're home now but sorry you've got so much joint pain. It's so hard. LIke PIppin says it's so strange as the drugs do the same thing to each of us but it's so odd how it effects everyone so differently. 2 more to go, you've totally got this...hang on in there, the end is in site. We are here too whenever you need...hope you get some respite before the next one...will they push it back a week as you've been so poorly this time around? When are you due to have your next chemo?

Sending you huge virtual hug and just so sorry you've had such a rough time. Just think how amazing you'll feel once this is done and how proud of yourself you'll be for totally nailing it and for getting through it all....you'll have to arrange a big celebration when it's over!

hope oncology appt goes well.

Pippin - Sorry you're suffering a little bit too on this one...if you have any difflam mouthwash then use that, 2/3 times a day, it's really good for mouth ulcers and sore throats...the strange taste i can't help you with though! It's so weird isn't it?! Fruit is what tastes the weirdest for me?! Hoping my taste buds come back after treatment! Hope you get your CT scan results back soon too, must be on your mind...although i'm sure it will be good news but i know the waiting is hard so really hpoe you get those back soon.

i'm doing ok this week. Enjoying some normality before we go again for the next round, which is a week on Tuesday. 3 more to go! The end is in sight!!!!

Take care ladies and hope tomorrow is a better day for you both xx xx

Hi Greeny80, thanks for the tip on the difflam, will have to get some. The taste thing is more annoying than anything. We had a takeaway last night and I really didn't enjoy it at all. I haven't noticed it so much with the fruit though, I have a bowl every day for lunch and that seems fine. Pleased to hear you are feeling OK this week and can enjoy this time before the next cycle. As you say just three more to go, we can do this!! I am starting to feel a little anxious about having such a major surgery very soon, but maybe I'll feel reassured once I have another appointment with the surgeon. 

Wishing you all a lovely day, take care everyone. Xx

Hey everyone,

How are you all doing today? I hope you've all had a relatively easy day.

Pippin - I can totally understand about being a little anxious about the surgery but if any help my op went super smoothly and recovery was very straight forward, really hope yours is too. I had lumpectomy and node removal...are you having masectomy and reconstruction? Hope you can get some answers and some comfort from the surgeon when you see him. Do you have a date for the op yet? WIll that be after radiotherpay or before? I really want to know when my radio will be as most likely will impact summer plans...will be glad when the chemo is over though.

Have got itchy hands today but i think that might be to do with the gardening i did over the weekend....I'm hoping a slight irritation from a plant or something rather than anything to do with the chemo. Fingers crossed! Getting hot flushes at night, intermittently but otherwise am good this week and have had a productive day.

How are you feeling tiredness wise? Hope that's eased a little....And the joint pain? The taste is very annoying isn't it?...mine does get a little better towards the end of each cycle but definitley makes food less enjoyable....not that it stops me eating!!!!

NGS how are you doing today? I really hope you're turning a corner with side effects.

How are the new puppies settling in??

Hope everyone else is ok. xx

Hi Greeny80, still feeling pretty tired today. I did go out for a walk and managed to get some cleaning done this morning. I did chill out this afternoon and have a rest. As far as I know I will be having a mastectomy and reconstruction, which is what the surgeon initially told me. However, the breast care nurse said the reconstruction is often done later, after radiotherapy, so Im really not sure. I'm really hoping it will be done at the same time. During my last telephone review before chemo, I was told it would be recommended that I have another meeting with the surgeon. Hopefully I will find out a definite plan then, along with an idea of a date. I will be having node clearance too,  how did you find this during your recovery?  Radiotherapy will happen after the surgery, so a while away yet. Lovely that you managed to do some gardening over the weekend, one of my favourite hobbies. I find working in the garden very therapeutic. Hope the irritation on your hands clears up soon. Knee joints seem to have improved, but now seems to feel like I have restless legs. Didn't finish dinner tonight due to weird tast. Hope like you this improves as I get towards the end of the cycle. Chocolate seems to taste OK, which is nice. Do not usually have a sweet tooth, but have been eating more chocolate lately. Probably why I'm struggling with my weight! Hope you have some nice things planned before your treatment next week. Xx

Hi Pippin,

I'm sorry to hear that your consultant hasn't discussed the problems with having surgery before, or at the same time as radiotherapy. Most surgeons recommend that you wait until after you've had radiotherapy before you have any surgery.

As I understand it, this is because radiation can cause various changes in the breast. These include changes in the shape, position and size of the breast, as well as firming up of the breast tissue and other complications. These changes mean that the surgeon may have to alter the shape of the other breast, at the time of surgery, in order to restore symmetry. There can also be increased risk of infection, as radiotherapy affects the body's ability to heal.

It is certainly worth having a discussion with your surgeon about the advantages of delaying surgery until after your treatment is finished.

Hi Jolamine, I did have a really long chat with my surgeon, as soon as I was diagnosed and she was really lovely. She explained how the order of treatment would be, depending on some results they were waiting on. With both options it was always known that I would have radiotherapy at the end of my treatmen.Once the results were all back it was decided that I would need the chemo first. But with both options she mentioned doing the reconstruction at the same time as the mastectomy. It was only when I spoke to the BCN later that she said reconstruction is often done later. Hopefully, I will get more clarification of this at my second appointment with the breast surgeon. Thank you fore your response, I hope you are well. Xx

Hi NGS, just wondered how you are feeling at the moment. Haven't heard from you in a few days, hope you are doing OK. Xx