Hi Tracey,

hope all went well with your fourth session. I am due for my fourth in another fortnight and like you, it will be different as I move on from the FEC to the T bit. Hope the side effects aren't too bad! It'll be interesting to hear how you get on. 

No date for the lumpectomy/ mastectomy yet. Won't find out until I am referred back to the surgical team after my fifth session of chemo. Dreading the thought really. Feel that I've put up with enough already and that this business will never end. It just seems to drag on and on. Typical of impatient me, always wanting something done yesterday!!

Hope you feel better, Margaret.

love to all,

Floraxx 

Hi Flora

Round 4 went well, I'm feeling okay today, I've done a bit of washing and hung it outside to dry.  I'm just a bit tired and wonder when/if the side effects of the T part will kick in.  I've got 7 days worth of injections this time to boost my white blood cells - it was 5 last time, but I was okay with them before.

We all are impatient wanting it all to be done with, I try not to count how many weeks/months of treatment I've got left but we will get there!!!

I hope you're doing well Margaret and your infection is clearing.

Have a nice weekend everyone.  I will be celebrating my beautiiful grandaughter's 2nd birthday tomorrow, she is the sunshine of my life and her sweet innocence has kept me smiling through all of this, no matter how sad or ill I may be feeling she always makes things better again with her lovely smiley face, giggles and  her constant chattering :)

Best wishes
Tracey xx

Hello Flora and Tracey,  hope you are both doing well. I have been following your posts, but have been feeling poorly for a while.  The infection is cleared up now, thank goodness, and the lymphodema under control with the sleeve but I have had a lot of intense pain in my arm and having spent most of today in hospital, they have found I have blood clots. Just how much more can go wrong? The treatment is three months of giving myself injections in the stomach, and you know how I feel about that ! But, I did it myself today for the first time because the alternative of having to be at home every day for a nurse for three months would really impact on any quality of life.   Hubby is having his knee replacement op in the middle of November and I need to be mobile for that.

Tracey, I start the 'T' a week on Friday, so do let me know how it goes for you. The nurse today said that you don't feel so sick, but more tired. So will have to see. And Flora, have you got the date for your op yet?

take care everyone, best wishes and hugs to all xxx. Margaret

So sorry you are having such a rough time Margaret. Hope it eases for you soon. The injections aren't too bad really. I just get fed up with them and am glad when their  week is over. I don't know what to expect with this new round of the T chemo which I start next week. So far, the side effects have been more of a nuisance than anything, nothing major, just little niggles like sore eyes, lack of sleep and  yet feeling tired. Hope There's no sickness involved with the bext round. 

No date for op as have to be referred back to the surgical team once chemo is over. Dreading that too.

really hope you feel better soon, Margaret.

love,

Flora

Hi Flora & Margaret

I hope you're both well.

Side effects of the T part - not too bad, I was okay but tired and even went out Saturday with my sister for a drink.  However I woke up at 4.30 am Sunday morning aching all over (not the wine I might add!!) I dosed up on painkillers and went to my grandaughter's birthday party (which was at my daughter's house) and was waited on hand and foot.  I wasn't going to miss it for anything!!

I went to bed at 7pm Sunday, was tired and achy yesterday but not too bad today.  I haven't felt sick at all on this lot of chemo so I suppose that's a bonus. I seem to have a bit of a sore throat but I had my flu jab on Saturday which has left a lovely red mark on my arm, so don't know if it's due to that.  I am fine really though, I expected to be lying down feeling sorry for myself by this stage.  I do feel a bit sorry for myself sometimes but then treat myself to a glass of wine then it's not too bad lol!!

I intend going back to work again part time next week as I have been doing in between chemos, it gives me a bit of "normal" My employer has been absolutely brilliant allowing me to come and go as I please, I really couldn't have asked for more.  

I'm due to see the consultant about radiotherapy 28/10/15 so hopefully I might have some sort of idea when that will start.

Take care everyone, hope you're feeling better Margaret, you seem to be getting a bad deal at the moment.

Tracey xx

Hi Tracey and Margaret,

hope you are both ok.

Margaret, you seem to be going through a really tough time at the moment. I hope that everything will sort itself out for you soon and that you will be on the road to recovety again.

i had my first session of T today. Took longer than I thought but so far no side effects apart from not being able to sleep because of the increased steroids. Will see how i get on ovef the next few days . My nurse told me to expect flu like symptoms and a sore mouth, so we will see. I am nervous of the sore mouth because of the recent abscess i had. Just hope that doesn't flare up again. 

So much for keeping my cancer to myself. Saw two ladies I know from the same town as me today in the cancer ward. Oh well, we are all in the same boat, so will probably chat to them next time. We were all too preoccupied with treatment today to have a chat. It was their first visit. I don't know if they recognised me as I had a scarf on rather than a wig and I think it changes your appearance more than the wig. We shall see!! 

Hope you both keep well and keep in touch,

love,

Flora x

Hi Flora

How are you doing the day after T?  I ached for about a week after, my sense of taste has totally gone and some things are starting to taste awful - this morning's porridge tasted like wallpaper paste, not that I usually eat wallpaper paste. I also seem to be losing my appetite, not that it will hurt me as I've already put on more than half a stone since my diagnosis.

I'm back at work part time this week, my bit of therapy as I call it. It's also good for hubby too as it means I've got someone else to talk to and don't talk his ears off when he get in from work lol!

No hospital appointments this week so things fairly normal for me - whatever normal is these days.

Take care

Tracey xx

Hi Margaret

How are you doing? I'm sure you will be fine with the T on Friday, I was.  I did ache more and was more tired, but only for about a week.  I'm back at work part time this week and no hospital apoointments until next week.

I'm due to start herceptin next week alongside chemo number 5.  Apparently I've got to stay in hospital all day (not overnight) to be monitored so we'll see how that goes.

Take care

Tracey xx

Hi Flora and Tracey, glad to hear you are both doing ok. I am not doing too badly now and things seem to be on the way to settling down.  There is not much improvement with the clots, but I have been to hospital today and they say within a week things should be noticeably improving and the injections are best. I am managing that reasonably well, a case of gritting teeth and doing it! I had to have my T today, there was a bit of a debate whether they would give it to me or make me wait a week, but decided in the end they could find a good enough vein. Tomorrow I have the herceptin and like you Tracey, have to stay I for six hours to be monitored. The injection itself In thigh takes 3 to 5 mins, and then a long wait, but just the the once I am pleased to say ( the wait I mean, not the injections)

Hubby has his op date for 19 Nov,which fits in with my treatment, and in am treating granddaughter to a trip to London soon for her birthday, just her and me for a memory-making day out and iam really looking forward to it!

Sorry you have been spotted Flora, I am still continuing the subterfuge. Had a narrow squeak on Monday as I had to take my full sharps box for disposal and they were standing guard on the pavement opposite. I stuffed the box up my jacket with a wry smile that I could be accused of being the only expecting 63 year old! Ha! That'll throw them off the scent!

best wishes to you both, hugs xxxxxxx Margaret