Starting chemo on 6th MAY 2015 - triple positive with HER2 - tips please?

Hi Weeble

That's fab news! You must be so relieved. Hope you are getting on ok. 

Sid

Hi sidney

I'm really well thanks. Fingers crossed your next chemo is better than the 1st.

Ive started tamoxifen now but not liking it much. I think I'll have to give serious consideration to whether I continue or not.

x

Hi Weeble,

How are you getting on? 

What choices will they give you if you stop the tamoxifen? Are the side effects too awful to continue with it? I can't offer any advice as I've not had it yet. 

I've got my 2nd FEC next week. A week of freedom! Yay. Nearly back to normal too. Oh well.

Hope you start feeling better

Sid

Hi Sid

im really good thanks for asking. The bcn didn't really give me any alternatives to the tamoxifen apart from letrosol which they don't want to give to women who are premenopausal at diagnosis. Apparently it can thin the bones and give you osteoporosis. She advised me to take megace which could help with the flushes etc but once I discovered that is an appetite stimulant I decided against it. More weight gain I can do without lol. They lecture you on bmi etc and then give you drugs that make you fat. 

Think im just struggling with the fact I was so healthy and having regular periods etc before all this. My thrawn (Scottish word for contrary) nature won't allow me to accept that this could be the new norm for me.

im going to see my gp today and will mention it to see what he thinks tho I suppose I already know. It's a decision for me to make but it's a hard one.

lots of luck with your next chemo

x

Morning Weeble

How're you doing? Did it go ok with the GP? Did you manage to sort anything out and come to any decision? 

Weight gain sucks - I know what you mean about the healthy bit - and I am sure you will get that health back.  I was advised that during treatment it might bring on menopausal symptoms but then they go?? And I guess any supplements that we are safely allowed to take to combat the thinning of bones etc should be considered.

Have you got enough energy to keep exercising? I've been trying to exercise everyday (albeit gentle) and walk every day. My appetite has improved but not overly. I'm convinced that if we work hard at it we will get our 'norm' back. Don't give in to the foodie urges!!!

Hope you have a good day and keep smiling

Sid

Hiya Sid

Yes, my visit to my GP was pretty encouraging. He didn't tell me what I should do or judge me at all. Totally ageed that quality of life is more important than quantity. I stopped the tamoxifen straight away.

I feel so much better just having made a decision. I saw my bcn yesterday to have fluid drained again and told her. She didn't look too thrilled but i'm sure i'm not the only person who doesn't conform 100% to what they recommend. I've taken everything else they've thrown at me positively and with a smile (most of the time anyway) lol.

She's made an appointment with the oncologist in June for me, It'll be like a naughty child being summoned to the head teacher but I intend to stand my ground.

My local council offer a free gym membership for cancer patients so I'm just waiting to hear from them and I'm looking forward to that. Take myself in hand and hopefully I wont look so much like a weeble for much longer.

Hope all is well with you

x

Hi Weeble,

Glad it went ok with the GP. Your choice, your decision. Must be a relief to have made a decision and now you can move on a bit.

Good luck with the oncologist in June. Put a hard book down your pants - just in case the cane comes out!!

Great news about the gym. Nothing better than a good work out to make you feel better and more in control. Good for you.

I'm doing ok thanks. Just counting the days to session number 2. 3 more days of freedom.

Have a good bank holiday weekend.

Sid

You too Sid. It's not really a holiday up here but as I'm not back at work yet, I have the day off this year for a change.

Yes, i'll be a bit nervous seeing the onco this time. She'll be trying to scare me with statistics but I'll be standing my ground.

Good luck with the next chemo. I have prosthesis fitting and Herceptin this week. Also, the dentist.

I don't know how I ever had time to work.

x

Hibi am triple positive er 8/8 pr 7/8 her2 positive, what was you. Start fec-t tomorrow. Best wishes xx