My breast cancer chemo diary

Radiotherapy well underway

2010-10-14T08:50:34Z

Well it's been a few weeks since I wrote anything. My chemo was thankfully finished, and then it suddenly seemed to be all go what with Tamoxifen starting, the radiotherapy - and the registrar started mentioning this monthly injection (she didn't explain it any further) if my ovaries are still doing their thang. Had a blood test and asked about it yesterday, and the nurse said all appeared normal but I'd have to speak to the doctor - who I'm not seeing till December now. So I'm a bit confused as to whether I'll get this injection now - I may chase it up next week as I'm a bit of a nag!

The radiotherapy so far is easy - in and out within about 10 minutes, and I just lie there while a machine whirrs away for a min or so. No particular sign of the side effects yet - the worst bit for me so far is the not wearing deodorant and being careful not to get anything perfumed on me! Turns washing and bathing into a bit of a hassle...luckily it's quite cold so the lack of deodorant isn't much of a problem.

And that's it really at the moment - going in daily till end of October so three weeks' worth. Herceptin is ongoing till next July - I did sign up for the clinical trial where they allocate 6 or 12 months, but got the regular dose randomly allocated, so no worries there.

Treatment 7 done!

2010-08-18T20:41:29Z

Had my second week of CMF today - one more cycle to go! No recurrence yet of the terrible sickness week thank goodness - touch wood!

Had a bit of back ache today and a tender spot around the back which has felt better as the day goes on. I find it difficult with these sorts of things - I surely got occasional aches and pains before all this kicked off, but now it of course gets magnified a hundred fold into something more serious! I have to tell myself constantly that something concerning would probably not get better and persist instead.

The breast care nurse gave me an interesting leaflet today - they're trying to help people coming towards the end of their treatment by teaming up with Breast Cancer Care to put on workshops over a month on things like diet, intimacy, adapting and adjusting, that sort of stuff. Sounds an excellent idea to me - I've been looking into this sort of stuff already but it'd be good for women who haven't yet and also be interesting to see what the experts say!

In yet more news, I'm setting up a fundraising group of volunteers for Macmillan in the local area to where I live (Northfield, Birmingham) so if anyone reading this is interested let me know!

Herceptin effects

2010-08-01T15:03:53Z

Hiya, well have recovered from my sicky week. That was the sickest I've been since the chemo started! I assumed it was after a weekend of mild excess but it carried on for a week and two days then suddenly disappeared! Haven't thrown up in years but certainly used to it now. The worst is the sharp mouthwashy feeling in the gullet and back of throat.

Be interesting to see if this is something that will happen after every CMF/Herceptin course or whether it was a one-off, maybe due to a bug, maybe due to getting a loading dose of Herceptin as well? Who knows. I'll tell the doc all about it anyway and see what he says.

Vicky

Well into CMF now and started Herceptin.

2010-07-19T08:06:43Z

Hiya all, well I feel icky this morning. Had a weekend of 'excess' as went to a wedding and had lots of food and some beers on the Friday. Didn't feel too bad while there but got home last night and - bleugh - out it all came! Since I haven't thrown up in years I found this mildly concerning, but apart from a tight tum this morning it's not reoccurred. Rather annoyed as had had some good fruit and stuff and it was all wasted!

I did wonder if it was a reaction to the Herceptin - anyone else been sick while on it? I had the first loading dose last Wed and have some more this Wed coming. It seemed to make me shivery and gave me a bad back towards the end of the treatment going in, but no further complications at the time. CMF is so far fine - I'm in the middle of my second dosage and the first was a breeze compared to the epi - no druggy chemically taste feelings, no complications. This, how I am today and last night, is the worst I've been.

Like I said, could be down to a weekend of some mild excesses. I'll monitor and see. Boo.

Last epi!

2010-06-06T12:06:54Z

Hi all,

Had my last epirubicin the other day, feels good! Going in much easier through the line. Am getting used to my new little friend in my chest, it doesn't feel too uncomfortable, just being careful about knocking it. The dressings have been changed and it's been flushed, easy peasy. Well I'll have it for a year or more so will have plenty of time to get used to it.

Flushing the line is easy - takes a minute or so. What takes longer is the waiting around - when I went in the other day the computers were down and they were well behind with the chemos, would have had to wait ages. Want to get it done at the hospital I work at preferably, can do it in my own time then.

So yeah onto the CMF at my next treatment. Bit nervous as it's a new drug, possibly new side effects. I'd be interested to hear whether people have felt any difference switching to CMF after having epi, or is it all part of the same mishmash of symptoms?

Groshong times...

2010-05-25T12:23:09Z

Hi, well started a new chapter in my trreatment now in a way - treatment through the Groshong line. I had it put in yesterday. The procedure took about an hour (as nice young hunky doctor said, they take their time with these things...) and there was a fair amount of pushing and tugging to get it into the right position. I'd say it doesn't hurt as such (mainly due to the local anaesthetic) but you feel lots of pressure on your neck and chest as they tug away - it doesn't last long and my nurses and doctor talked me through what they were doing. They use an X-ray to make sure it's in the right position and get you to breathe deeply to take a picture and make sure the line is fixed correctly. I worried more about having a heavy drape over my face, so they let me have a bit to peek through at the nearby wall!!

Doesn't feel too bad today today - can't feel it as such though around the neclk is pulling a bit at the moment - think that's more the plaster tho! Got nice pipey bit sticking out the top of my boob - paranoid about breaking/bashing it but guess that's just something you get used to!

Third one in...

2010-05-12T16:44:46Z

Hi all, had my third treatment last week, and so far not a tremendous amount different. Though having said that, my self-ratings for fatigue have definitely slipped a ranking... I am still going to work, but just feel maybe slightly rougher round the edges if you see what I mean? Chemically taste - tick, got that back a bit. Slight weariness which may just be to do with being fed up with the chemo process! Got Groshong scheduled for 24th - but aargh they want me for a pre-assessment on the same day as I go up to Sheffield for a Young Persons cancer forum. I've been on the phone a couple of times about that. Seems bizarre to cancel a weekend I'm looking forward to just so they can haul me in to give bloods etc for a local anaesthetic procedure, but hey ho.

Looking into complementary therapies too - a local charity can offer free reiki and hynotherapy - any expert opinions out there on what these are like? They also offer a heavily subsidised 'Mindfulness' course - all about breathing, visualisation etc. Sounds fun!

Bearing up...

2010-04-30T19:47:51Z

Whoops, got a little busy this last week or so and my idea of updating this blog on a regular basis seems to have gone by the wayside! I am still at work and still having a fairly normal lifestyle at the moment. I have heard a couple of mutterings about it getting harder and more tiring after the third treatment but we'll see. That's next Thursday so I'll get on with the bank holiday weekend and worry about it next week! Worst thing this time round really has been the onset of the infamous chemically taste and woolly mouth syndrome. Bleurgh. Red wine - not good. I did wonder whether I should have had an ice lolly like I did this first time when I got home, so I'll try that next week and see what happens.

The chemically taste seemed to stop after about 10 days though to be fair. I was on gastro drugs as well due to getting an indigestiony thingy feeling the first time, which worked cos I didn't really suffer with that again. The funny taste stopped when I stopped the drug - coincidence? Who knows? The doc will no doubt get a full synopsis next week.

Have been on the phone lots today. I am scheduled for a Groshong line (anyone had one of these, what's it like, and more importantly does it hurt going in or coming out?) but no one's contacted me about this, so I rang and the nice nurse said she'd sort it out and ring me back. Nowt. Sigh... I'll be back on the phone next Tuesday then. I work in a Complaints dept and the complaints person in there was ringing people back even if she couldn't give any updates...wish my hospital would do the same...

Still, bank holiday coming up so hope all who are reading this have a good one!!

Second treatment and PICC line annoyance.

2010-04-15T16:07:58Z

Hi, well wasn't that fun?! I went in yesterday to have a PICC put in and my second treatment. The PICC went in fine...but went into my neck instead! I turned my head like a good girl but it wasn't going round that corner! Cue re-try, and the same thing happened again. So glad it wasn't a painful procedure, whether going in or out! They're referring me for a Groshong, straight into the chest under a local anaesth/sedative, so that sounds fun...

Had my treatment today instead, as they wanted to let me vein recover a bit. All went in ok, and came home loaded up like a pack horse with lots of drugs. I'd nicely summarised my main symptoms from the first time round - for me overall it affected my digestive system really - bit constipated and had acidy feeling for about a week or so, but they've dosed me up for that.

Having gone nice and short (everyone loved my short do which I had for a week or so, fantastic, I felt so girly funnily enough!!!) the hair has now been shaved off ready for the big fallout. We thought better do it before the second treatment as clippers round my bonce when I'm feeling potentially tender is not a good plan :-)

Gearing myself up for the hair chop

2010-04-03T16:08:07Z

Hi all, well this week has seen a big improvement in terms of general symptoms. I am on day 11 now and the indigestion type feelings have settled down a lot. I had a curry yesterday which was a little hotter than I realised at first it was going to be - but it was too yummy to leave - despite the tingly burny sensations I was getting. Luckily nothing untoward happened as a result, and today I've felt pretty good. I'm taking it a day at a time, not being very experienced obviously at this sort of thing, but 11 days in I am feeling more normal than before, so hopefully this means my blood levels are back on the up!

The next big thing is the big hair chop. I've been putting it off as much as possible, but I do want it short before it starts coming out (it's shoulder length and quite thick at the moment), and this weekend was picked as my second course is coming up in just over a week. It's a bit of a scary thing seeing as all my lovely hair will be disappearing for possibly months and months...there is an element of control if we do it rather than the drugs though...but it'll still be scary!!

Update on progress

2010-03-30T11:18:14Z

Hi all, well am having the day off work today. Had a sore throat this morning and since the period of low blood levels is starting tomorrow, I thought it best to have a rest. I am not too bad otherwise. Energy levels are fairly good. I've had an on and off poppy tummy and that embarrassing burping, though I think that was down to the anti sickness drugs as certainly the last couple of days since I came off the drugs seems to have calmed that down a bit.

So, just watching myself lots at the moment to see what happens with the throat and any other symptoms. I also have a bit of a buzzy ear! If I am tired or a bit stressed I get a pulsey/buzzy thing in my ear which is a bit annoying. I get it on and off but it's been pretty constant the last couple of days, which is a bit irritating.

Ordered some wigs online from hothair.com which came today so looking forward to trying them on! Another thing I've noticed last couple of days is I feel very dry - hair, skin, mouth - I've had a bit of the cotton-woolly feeling in my mouth which I've heard others report on and it does seem rather dehydration-related. So on that note I'm going to go and get some lunch and a big glass of water!

Vicky xx

My first course done...

2010-03-26T07:07:03Z

Hi all, well I went along on Wednesday. Pretty terrified actually due to the famous side effects, and it has been 6 weeks since I had a cannula in me! They are probably going to use a PICC line as it's my hospital's policy to use these as much as poss to protect the veins, so I've got that to look forward to!

The process itself was easy, took less than an hour once I'd done the wait bit (3 hours). I came in Tuesday for the initial chat and to give some blood, so that probably made the process a bit quicker. The nurse was lovely, though she did worry me a bit by going into a coughing fit! She is funnily enough allergic to one of the drugs given the patient before me, but apologised lots! Two gradual squeezes of the big syringe thing and it was done. The saline made my arm freezing cold, but they use heat pads before to bring the veins up, so my arm was nice and hot anyway.

Since then I've been pretty good. Had my meals, and am taking my anti sickness steroids and stomach lining acid medicines, and, apart from a little bit of burping and grumbly tummy, been not too bad so far. I went to work yesterday (office job so not a tremendous amount of effort needed) and left a little early. Not got any fatigue particularly yet or diarrheoa/constipation problems (which they said would definitely happen) and my husband had a funny tummy anyway so anything I get could be a little bug. Being positive and taking each day as it comes. The blood levels will start dropping soon so maybe there'll be some more effects next week but we'll see how it goes.

I think I had more effects the first day when it was all put in - what with the funny tummy and I ate a doughnut far too late in the evening so had a wave or two of nausea which quickly passed. Sleep's not been a problem for me personally, though they did say the steroids would probably interfere with that. I'm taking them for 3 days and the stomach lining stuff for 5 days. They loaded me up with some more anti sickness just in case and some mouthwash as I tend to get bleeding gums. Went shopping for a softer toothbrush and hairbrush and some other bits and bobs including a thermometer, so feel a bit prepared now!

Thanks for the comments left on this page so far by the way, nice to know people are reading and know what I'm going through!

Starting on this blog idea...

2010-03-17T15:33:44Z

I am keen to keep a record of my experiences with chemo and treatment for breast cancer. So introductions...I was diagnosed mid-December last year after finding a lump in November. Couldn't believe it when the scans and biopsy showed it was cancer though I was suspicious when in my follow up appt from the biopsy I was called for ultrasound and mammagrams again...anyway since then I have had a mastectomy and axillary node clearance. Sentinal node biopsy came back with 2 of the 3 nodes showing pre-cancerous cells, so they took another 7 out in a second op, but all came back clear. I am now facing chemotherapy next week - four courses of epirubicin, and 4 courses (involving two visits each over two weeks) of CMF. I had an appointment with the radiotherapist today and 15 days of that will follow the chemo, then 5 years of Tamoxifen. Herceptin will slot in as well - they're giving me everything - the nurse did say I may feel over treated, but it's all for my benefit.

Emotionally this is obviously a difficult time and I have found the Breast care nurses a great help with this. I have their phone number to ring with any questions or concerns, and they have been present at most appointments to talk to afterwards and check my wound. I would like to do some sort of complementary therapy so am looking into this to help my chemo experience as well, and have had a first wig fitting and permanent prosthesis fitting.

That'll do for now. I will add things and feelings as they occur to me, but at the moment it's waiting for next Wed and the start of the treatment pathway!