One Life Live It

Chemo nail damage

Irishgirl16

I finished my 6th and final round of chemo 3 weeks ago and I noticed in the last 2 cycles my finger nails were tender, feeling bruised, like I managed to shut both hands in a door. Today I removed the UV nail varnish that was meant to keep them...
- 31 Jul 2021
Paperwork Problems

Irishgirl16

I know I am very fortunate to have my treatment funded by my company’s health insurance, but today it all went a little wrong. Somehow, between the oncologist, the healthcare at home provider and Axa, they failed to approve the next cycle in my...
- 28 Jul 2021
A little bit of normal

Irishgirl16

The worst of the side effects of my last chemo are now well and truly over and done with and it's 2 weeks until surgery so I have the chance to feel normal again. On the positive side, I will be released from the “pregnancy diet” in a...
- 24 Jul 2021
Pre op assessment excitement

Irishgirl16

I'm totally exaggerating about the excitement part, though SailGP last weekend (see photo) was indeed pretty exciting. Anyway, I digress…. The pre op assessment that was due to last 60-90 mins took all of 30! They took my height and weig...
- 20 Jul 2021
A day at work

Irishgirl16

It's been precisely 16 months since our work team physically met and so we decided that it felt reasonably safe to have a socially distant outdoor meeting this week. Day 6 of my chemo cycle wasn't exactly ideal for this, but I was so ex...
- 15 Jul 2021
Humbled by support of friends, colleagues & family

Irishgirl16

Having just finished 6 cycles of chemo, I can truly say I have been amazed, humbled and eternally grateful for the support from a number of people. Let me start with those who diligently remember each 3rd Thursday by sending the most thoughtful gift...
- 9 Jul 2021
End of Phase 1

Irishgirl16

Tomorrow I will have my last chemo session, 15 weeks and 2 days since my first one in March. I am counting down the days….in 6 days I will be through the worst of the side effects, the nausea and the tiredness. In 12 days my sore mouth will be...
- 8 Jul 2021
Camping during chemo

Irishgirl16

At the start of chemo, which is an age ago now, I remember asking my oncologist about travelling and some weekends away. Looking back, I think she thought I was bonkers, but I do recall her saying that she would not recommend staying in a hotel...
- 27 Jun 2021
What a week

Irishgirl16

Cycle 5; Day 9. How quickly I have become accustomed to counting the days in this way. And what a week. Whilst I managed the dreaded Day 4 quite smugly, Day 5 was another matter. Monday woke me up, slapped me round the head and kicked me down the sta...
- 25 Jun 2021
Cycle 5: The Penultimate

Irishgirl16

Only one more to go after this…..it feels so good to be saying that at this point. In less than 3 weeks I will have my last treatment and I'll be pretty much over the side effects in about 4 weeks from now. I know I still have surgery and all ...
- 20 Jun 2021
Good news really, but disappointing

Irishgirl16

I got my 2nd mid chemo MRI results today and it's shrunk by only about 1mm. Now for those who you who think this is great and I should be shouting with joy from the rooftops, let's get a little bit of context. My 1st mid chemo MRI shrunk...
- 16 Jun 2021
Cheering Sunny Weather

Irishgirl16

I've realised these last few weeks that this recent period of sunnier weather makes quite a difference to my mental attitude. The persistent rain in May made the days and weeks stretch and chemo seemed like it was lasting forever. Tha...
- 13 Jun 2021
Chemo Side Effects - Hints & Tips

Irishgirl16

Feeling like a pro after 4 cycles of Docetaxel, Carboplatin, Herceptin and Pertuzumab, I thought I'd share a few things I wish I'd known before chemo started to help me manage it more effectively from the start. My first piece of advice is - Don't Pa...
- 5 Jun 2021
Chemo Cycle 4 (2 more to go)

Irishgirl16

The pattern of side effects continues to be remarkably similar. No issues for the first 3 days, then days 4-6 saw a little nausea and indigestion (but no sickness) but once again a strong need for Imodium tablets and retaining close proximity t...
- 5 Jun 2021
Sunny Bank Holiday Weekend

Irishgirl16

Wow! Summer has arrived in the South West....at last. The wettest of wet Mays really began to get to me but this weekend weather was superb. It felt like we were on holiday in Europe, relaxing in the garden, nice BBQs, using the pizza ove...
- 31 May 2021
A balancing act

Irishgirl16

Not the circus type of balancing act unfortunately, but trying to manage the impacts of various drugs in my body on the days around my 3 weekly chemo treatment. First the steroids, 4 tablets with both breakfast and lunch the day before, 4 with breakf...
- 27 May 2021
It’s been a long 21 days

Irishgirl16

It feels like a very long time since cycle 3, not helped by the wettest, coldest, windiest May on record. On a positive note, I had my side effects well under control this time; the weird taste and nausea was shorter and I was definitely less tired, ...
- 26 May 2021
A feel good week

Irishgirl16

Now into the second half of chemo cycle 3 and, though I may be tempting fate by saying this, I feel good. This third cycle seems more manageable than the first two. I had no sickness, just a bit of nausea, no heartburn at all and a little tired...
- 20 May 2021
Overcoming Grumpiness - a day out in Dorset

Irishgirl16

I've been a bit grumpy this weekend and I don't really know why. I've been managing my side effects ok, but the weird taste in my mouth is just annoying as food doesn't taste quite right and nothing is helped by the weather, as clearly it's decided t...
- 16 May 2021
Halfway to somewhere

Irishgirl16

I've completed the 3rd (of 6) chemo treatments so in my mind I am half way there. My oncologist kindly reminded me this is halfway through phase 1, but in my head the chemo is THE worst so I'm going with half way. Yes, yes, I know my maths, I&n...
- 13 May 2021
The dreaded day 4

Irishgirl16

It's a very strange feeling to wake up anticipating that you're going to be ill. I mean, ok, when you have a night out on the tiles you might think about the potential hangover, but this is quite different. In both my prior chemo cycles, Day 4 ...
- 9 May 2021
Self Injections - a “how not to” guide!

Irishgirl16

After each cycle I need to inject myself with Filgrastim, which boosts my blood count and helps my immune system fight the chemo. Despite an understandable nervousness from the most non medical person in the world, the first time, I manage...
- 8 May 2021
Life in 3 week cycles

Irishgirl16

Chemo No3 today and I feel like a pro. I had chemo at home today, and as it is a relatively boring 6 hours of sitting still, I logged onto a 4 hour zoom call at work to pass the time. I think the chemo nurse was a bit bemused! It's remarkably ...
- 6 May 2021
A sneaky weekend away

Irishgirl16

My pre lockdown life involved travelling for work pretty much on a weekly basis and a decent number of weekends away camping or visiting friends or simply exploring so it's fair to say that our first weekend away in four months was indeed a treat, ev...
- 3 May 2021
Early (cautious) Celebrations

Irishgirl16

Remember the 56mm lump that started all this? Well, after 2 cycles of chemo, my MRI shows that said lump is now reduced to 11mm! Yes....you read that right, a whopping great reduction of 45mm!!!! Apparently I have had a fantastic response to tr...
- 30 Apr 2021

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