Hi everyone, hope you all enjoy the weekend. Got my dad's 90th birthday party today, shame about the weather. 

Greeny80, hope you are feeling OK after your last treatment.

NGS, last treatment on Tuesday, that must be such a great feeling. Hope all goes well.

Carol, have a lovely weekend away. 

Xxx

Have a fab time at your Dad's 90th. Hope it is a gorgeous day/evening fiull of celebration. The weather has perked up a little here so i hope you've managed to enjoy some sunshine too.

I'm doing ok. Just going through the motions. Yesterday was probably the toughest day but it's all manageable still, just bad nausea, tiredness, achy etc...but you just have to go through the motions and let your body work through the side effects!...feeling a little brighter today and i can feel the nausea easing so hoping i'm over the worst! Just taken the dog out inbetween the showers and now back on the sofa!....My kids are off on a residential with school all next week so as much as i'll miss them it will be nice to have a very restful week! Let's see how much rest i end up doing!! Not very good at doing nothing!!

One more to go though so that's good!...saw my radiotherapist on Thursday and i start 3 weeks of radio on the 29th July. Sorry if i've already said that!!!!

NGS - yes good luck for your last treatment!!! Amazing!!!!!!!!! So nearly there!!!!

Carol - sorry i missed that you were away, where are you off to? Have fun!

Enjoy the festivities hits weekend Pippin and good luck for your next treatment too.

Take care everyone and enjoy your weekend xx

xx

Morning all 

lovely catching up on everyone’s news 

Pippin - sounds like you had a lovely time celebrating your Dads 90 th and making precious memories. - weirdly I feel icky on non alcoholic fizz too 

carol - I hope you too had a great weekend 

greeny - enjoy the child free rest - before you know it they will be home with boundless energy 

so pippin - after today you have just one more to go.  What an achievement.  
you too now Greeny - you’ll have smashed it - the hardest part will be done 

I’m in at 1 pm today.  I feel quite emotional 

last chemo.  Last cold cap - last day with PICC line - last round on injections 

I’ve not bounced back as well since last treatment but likely cumulative build up of docetaxel.   I’m still struggling with food.  I get jaw pain when I start to chew which I’m guessing is the bone infusion.  - I speak to oncologist again Friday so will ask him then. Also still have the taste of metal and heartburn.  

i have an appointment with breast surgeon on 2 nd July - pippin I would ask as ultimately it’s your decision.  

wishing everyone positive vibes for either treatment today  , or recovery - the sun is shining so hope you can make the most of it 

best wishes all xx 

Morning ladies!

So good to hear from you all.

Good luck today NGS - wow yes there must be all sorts of emotions...really hope you get through this round smoothly..and then you're done! Well with chemo at least but that's definitely a milestone worth celebrating! Sorry about the jaw pain though, that sounds horrid. My treatment is definitley cumulative..this round was harder than the previous...but just holding on to the fact i only have to do it ONCE MORE!!!! How long do you have to have the bone infusions for? The taste thing is so frustrating too isn't it? I'm drinking a coffee but it tastes weird but i think i'm just craving the ritual and the normality!..and the caffeine! Good luck with all your appts. Hope you get some answers and perhaps a surgery date too.

Pippin good luck today too. Penultimate one!!! I always do ALL the chores the day before chemo too, think the steroids help me be super productive but also just gives me peace of mind that the house is in order when you're not feeling your Sunday best! Hope your side effects are minimal this time around. Rest up but enjoy those walks! So nearly there! Glad you had a good follow up appt though, sounds like it was very productive and hopefully you'll get some answers soon.

Carol hope you're doing ok!

I'm feeling a lot better. Just have achy bones today - i think just from the last filgrastim injection. I was going to go for a run this morning but my body i think needs another day! Find it so hard to listen to my body but i'm trying really hard!!!! Maybe a gentle pilates and a stretch may be better! Off to meet a friend for a dog walk so that will be nice....i'm not sure why i'm up and at it so early when i have no school run but here we are!!! Enjoying some peace and quiet and not having to shout at the kids to brush their teeth a million times!!!...i am missing them though!!...

Right will stop waffling! Good luck today ladies and yes make sure you ring that bell!....and when you're out the other side make sure you celebrate! Our bodies have been through a lot, you should be so proud of yourself and your body for getting through this gruelling and wearing treatment!

We're nearly through chemo ladies!!!!!!!!

Take care and sending positive vibes for mild side effects this time around....will be thinking of you xx

Oh wow! Good luck indeed NGS for your last chemo!  Woohoo!!!  Hope it goes well.  And you too Pippin24 , just 2 more to go including this one.  

So sorry to hear about the jaw pain NGS   That must be awful.  I'm dreading taking the Ibandronic acid because that can apparently cause bone pain too (I will be taking it in tablet form for 3 years).  Pippin24 yours sounds similar to mine, as I have to go to the dentist for a checkup before I start too because of the jaw necrosis issue.  Honestly it feels never ending, but I truly hope the worst is behind us all!   

I have my radiotherapy consultant appointment tomorrow afternoon so will have a better idea then what to expect and when radiotherapy will start. In the meantime I had a lovely weekend away in Kings Lynn and even had a go on the dodgems lol.  It was great fun and the weather was pretty kind to us too.  I've broken the fear of being away from home at least!

I used to clean the house before treatment too lol.  Like you guys, it was mainly so I didn't have to sit and look at the mess at the weekend and feel guilty because I couldn't do it. 

Hope everyone had an amazing weekend.  Enjoy your dog walk this afternoon Greeny80  xx

Hi Pippin,

You must be incredibly relieved to see the end of chemo in sight now. It's good to hear that you'll soon have an appointment to discuss your mastectomy. As I said before, most surgeons are reluctant to remove a good breast, as they say that there is no evidence to show that this improves our chances. However, make sure to discuss this with your surgeon.

Jolamine xx

Thanks Jolamine, will certainly have that discussion with the surgeon, but as you say it will likely be their decision. Just hoping to avoid going through all this again. I will post an update once I find out, after my appointment. Have a lovely day and thank you for your support. Xx

Hi Carol, Hope your radiotherapy appt went well today and you now have a clearer picture about what that looks like. Glad you had a fab time away in Kings Lynn! Nice to be doing some normal and fun things! 

Pippin/NGS - How are you feeling today? Hope you're doing ok. Really hope the jaw pain is ok NGS.

Pippin - are you HER2 Positive then? Is that why you're having the Phesgo injections. Good luck to the hubby!! Are you able to give them to yourself or is that not an option? Do you currently have the Filgastrim injections? I'm initially moving onto Zoladex and Anastrozole...and also Abemaciclib??  REALLY hoping and praying that my side effecst on those are ok...guess time will tell! That's good that you don't have to go into the hospital for the injections though, that will save a lot of time and hassle travelling to the hospital. 

I'm feeling good today, woke up and felt my energy levels were back! Hurrah! Even took myself off for a 6km run.... it wasn't pretty and it wasn't fast but it was GOOD for the soul!!

Anyway i just wanted to check in, hope you are all doing ok! xx

Hi Greeny80, yes I am HER2 positive and will be on phesgo fo a year as far as I know. You can learn to give them yourself, but I wasn't keen, so hubby is learning to do it. They went through all the do's and don'ts with him and he observed it being done. They then need to observe him administering two before he can do them at home. I have 7 days of filgrastim at the moment, starting on day 4 after chemo, hubby does these too. What are the Zoladex, Anastrozole and Abemaciclib for? Is it tablets, injection or infusions? Glad to hear that you are feeling good today and managed to get out for your run. The exercise definitely makes you feel so much better. I went on my usual walk this morning too, also managed to get my ironing done this afternoon. Only managed 4 hours of sleep last night, so glad it's last day of steroids. Hope the rest of your week is good and you can enjoy this lovely weather. Xxx 

Hey!

That's good your hubby is happy to do it and it sounds like they are being really thorough and making sure he's happy and confident to do it before he does it unsupervised. Sorry about your sleep..yes the steroid sleep is so bad isn't it? I've been sleeping so badly - waking so much with hot sweats...but last night was actually a lot better so hoping more of the same tonight....and hope you can get better sleep too for the rest of the week. Well done on the ironing, i've been doing the same!!!!..and glad you got out for your walk as well. Sounds like you're acing it again! 

The Zoladex is an injection, given by the GP (Which is better than hopsital as closer!) it's given once a month into my tummy to basically stop my ovaries from working. The anastrozole is an Aromatase inhibitor which is a daily pill and i think the Abemacicclib is a type of targeted cancer drug, i think attacks a certain protein??...and i think i'm on that one as it has spread to my lymph? I think!? Not due to start those for 8 weeks or so...Radiotherapy first!

Ah yes this weather is so very nice and so very welcome!!!

Hope you've got your feet up now!..and hope you remain feeling good! xx

Hi Greeny80, sorry to hear you also have been having sleep issues, it is so annoying. Thanks for the info on your future treatments, always handy to know about in case they are offered. I definitely don't need Zoladex as I previously had a hysterectomy and had my ovaries removed as well. I was also told that I have one lymph node affected, remains to be seen if it's any more. They're all being removed when I have my surgery. I wish my next step was radiotherapy  but need to get through the surgery first. Feeling  very nervous about that now. Not so much the operation, more the recovery and the effects of how much I will be able to do around the house. Fingers crossed for a good night's sleep for both of us. Xx

Morning all

Radiotherapy appointment was good Thanks.  They want to give me 5 "normal" doses followed by 4 "boosts".  The "normal" ones treat the whole breast area whereas the "boost" targets where the cancer was.  I'm quite relieved, as I was expecting 15, so to only have 9 appointments is a bonus!  I will have an appointment first to be taught how to breathe and hold your breath during treatment (only for 20 seconds, but apparently there's a special technique that helps protect the heart), then I'll have a planning appointment which will include a CT (thankfully not an MRI else I'd be back to my GP for more diazepam!).  They expect actual treatment to start around 4 weeks from yesterday.  Apparently I can have both radiotherapy and immunotherapy on the same day if the appointments don't clash timewise. Side effects don't sound too bad and he said although there will be some tiredness, it won't be anywhere near as bad as chemo. 

Well done Greeny80 for doing a 6k run!  I could hardly drag myself off the sofa when I was having chemo. 

Pippin24  glad you're feeling ok too.  Hope finishing the steroids will help you sleep properly soon.  

xx

Morning all

Radiotherapy appointment was good Thanks.  They want to give me 5 "normal" doses followed by 4 "boosts".  The "normal" ones treat the whole breast area whereas the "boost" targets where the cancer was.  I'm quite relieved, as I was expecting 15, so to only have 9 appointments is a bonus!  I will have an appointment first to be taught how to breathe and hold your breath during treatment (only for 20 seconds, but apparently there's a special technique that helps protect the heart), then I'll have a planning appointment which will include a CT (thankfully not an MRI else I'd be back to my GP for more diazepam!).  They expect actual treatment to start around 4 weeks from yesterday.  Apparently I can have both radiotherapy and immunotherapy on the same day if the appointments don't clash timewise. Side effects don't sound too bad and he said although there will be some tiredness, it won't be anywhere near as bad as chemo. 

Well done Greeny80 for doing a 6k run!  I could hardly drag myself off the sofa when I was having chemo. 

Pippin24  glad you're feeling ok too.  Hope finishing the steroids will help you sleep properly soon.  

xx

Hi,

Thanks for updating us all Carol. Glad the meeting went well. 9 appts is definitely a bonus to 15, hopefully less tiredness with less radio!..yes i was told about the breathing techniques too, to make your lung inflate so they don't get as affected by the radiotherapy..,..i've been practising...i was told 30 seconds, it's actually quite a long time to hold your breath!!!!!!!..but hoping they'll give me some hints and tips on technique when i go for the planning appt. Glad it was a good appt though and great that you're starting so soon...what happens after radiotherapy? How long do you have immunotherpy for?

Pippin - hope you had a slightly better sleep.

Enjoy the sunshine ladies! xx

Hi Carol, good to hear that your radiotherapy appointment went well. It's a good result that you only need 9 sessions, rather than 15. Just wondered if you could share your time frames for surgery and radiotherapy, since finishing your chemo. We've had a holiday booked since last year to go to gran canaria, was hoping to possibly fit it in between surgery and radiotherapy. Just depends when they want to do the surgery and if I'll have enough recovery time. We might have to cancel and rearrange, but would be lovely to get away for a break. Feeling fine today and actually got plenty of sleep last night. Hope you are having a lovely day. Xx

Hi Greeny80, I hope you are feeling well. I didn't realise about learning all the breathing techniques for the radiotherapy, so it's good to know. I actually slept for 3 hours on the sofa last night  then went to bed and slept until 7.30am. Was quite surprised as I was still on the steroids yesterday, but must have really needed it. Strangely, still feel a bit tired today, although still went out for a walk and changed the beds. I bet your lookng forward to the kids coming home, have a lovely weekend. Xx

Hi Pippin.

chemo finished on 7 March and I had my op on 24th April.  Estimating radiotherapy to start around 17th July, so that’s around 4 months between end of chemo and start of radio.  It takes about 3 months to fully recover from surgery, ie enough to be able to return to normal lifting activities.  You can do light stuff after about 3-4 weeks as external wounds have pretty much healed but the inside of the breast takes longer to recover.  So no lifting heavy suitcases!  I can’t remember if you said you were having lumpectomy or mastectomy? If mastectomy and reconstruction it will be a longer recovery time.  I miss being able to walk my dog as I’m not allowed to do that for 3 months post surgery due to the risk of her pulling and damaging internal breast tissue. 

Hope that helps :) xx

Hi Greeny

30 seconds? Wow! That is quite a long time! It’s funny how each trust/hospital has slightly different approaches to things.

I will still be on immunotherapy after radiotherapy- I have 4 more of those and they happen every 6 weeks (next one 18 July).  I will also start to take ibandronic acid to help prevent any spread to the bones and will need to take those for 3 years.  I need a dental checkup first to make sure my teeth and gums are ok as if they’re not, the Ibandronic acid can cause necrosis of the jaw! Such fun!

I’ve been out for afternoon tea today with friends and now I can barely move lol xx

Hi Pippin,

Wow sounds like you really needed the sleep! Hope you get another good night tonight and hope the tiredness then lifts a little..sounds like you're still being fairly active and coping well again! Fab news!

Yes i think they talk you through the breathing etc. I've got a planning appt and CT scan boooked for the18th so can let you know what that involves...I then start radio on the 29th for 3 weeks.

ahhhhhhh I can't wait for the kids to come home!!...although i imagine they will be fairly broken...so I may have to tread very carefully around them until they've caught up some needed sleep. It's been so quiet without them though, I can't wait to pick them up tomorrow!!!!!! They've been so lucky with the weather too sounds like they've had a fab time from the school comms...although sadly a few of them have come down with this horrid sick bug, which Alfie actually had last week so a few have had to hot foot it down to isle of wight to collect poorly kids.....actually very glad Alfie had it last week it's horrid being poorly away from home. Poor things and poor teachers!

Have a lovely weekend too and enjoy the sunshine! Maybe a little nap outside in the cool breeze!

xx

Hey Carol,

Did you have masectomy and reconstruction or lumptectomy and any node removal?? How is everything feeling now? Hope you're recovering well...and great that you're now looking ahead to radio...Are you able to get a friend to walk the dog with you so they can hold the lead and you can walk alongside?? 

xx

Gosh cancer really is the gift that keeps on giving isn't it!!! necrosis of the jaw does not sounds nice....but hopefully the ibandronic acid will work its magic.

Ah so nice to have gone for afternoon tea!! I need to start planning some nice things..life is for living after all! Ah hope you had a gorgeous afternoon!

xx

Hi Greeny 

yes a friend has been taking her out for me but she’s poorly herself now with an infection! I do have a waist belt that I can hook the lead to so if Liz is still poorly tomorrow I may take a little chance and just go around the block with Pebbles. Pebbles came for afternoon tea too lol xx

Oh isn’t it just!  Yes hopefully I won’t get too many or any side effects on the ibandronic acid. Will need to see how it goes. 

I had lumpectomy and 2 sentinel nodes removed for biopsy.  Am happy to say they came back clear so it hasn’t spread anywhere else. Long may it stay that way! xx