Hello my name is Heather I have just been diagnosed with brest cancer last week for the first time (and last I hope) Both my sisters have had cancer,one died seven month ago Im a bit scared of what to expect with the chemo. Can anyone tell me how soon after the treatment do you start to feel ill? How soon do you lose your hair?
Hello everyone, hey Chelle your husband will be singing, "I bet you wish your girlfriend is bald like mine don't ya" after you have seen the Sugababes lol.
Just been updating myself on all your news and welcome to new people again so sorry you have to be here
Unfortunately I have had a difficult few days. On Sunday I was admitted to hospital it turned out i had an infection and my neutrophils were o.30 and my WBC 0.6. Then my veins gave up and I had to have a temporary long line fitted and THEN my hair started to fall out!!
I am home now and feeling better but not sure if my next chemo will be postphoned (due next week) Also I will need to have a Hickman Line fitted has anyone had one? Also am having hair shaved off tomorrow - any tips do you have to go shiny bald and should the electric razer blades be sterilised - my hairdresser is coming to the house - what if she nicks me?
Sorry bit of a miserable post but hopefully things will improve
Sorry it's been so rubbish for you this week :( I was in charge of getting rid of Vicky's (my wife) hair this week (2nd dose of taxotere). Started by gently removing as much as I could by hand, then using scissors to cut as short as possible, finally a razor to finish off. I think you can really go as short as you want but it will still come out and go down your back if you leave any ;)
Vicky has a ghroshong (sp?) line in her chest, is the Hickman line the same as a picc? Or is it just another name for the same type of line?
Chelle, with regards to DLA. Vicky got her macmillan nurse to help when filling in the forms and she got it without appealing but they did need to get a ds1400 form (I think that's the right one). She now gets the higher level and they have even approved disabled status for the road fund licence.
Camilla - Sorry to hear about your infection. I had a Hickman fitted on Tuesday and had my chemo on Wednesday. Do you have the leaflet telling you about it? You can have a look at my story on top of page 79, but don't be scared about my vein size - my veins are not the easiest to work with...
Have been to JobCentre today and left the DLA form, and I also had to get a confirmation that I am on benefits to get travel and parking money back from the hospital - they did not agree that Employment and Support Allowance is a form of Income Support. The Employment and Support Allowance is the new title for Disability benefit or whatever it was called before (I have ever only claimed for employment when I have been out of work for a little while). So I'll have to see what they say next time I go to hopital.
I had a booster jab yesterday - doctor warned me that I could get pains in spine and hips. But have any of you had pains in your knee???
Anyway, going to start preparing dinner now - lambs liver with persillade. Very nice. Hope the most of you have your taste buds back by now.
Camilla sorry youve been having rough time, my friend shaved mine with her spaniels clippers - they were brand new as she'd just got them from argos she did it on a number 2 i think then few days later i did it on no guard then just got the razor and went smooth, i have found that it keeps growing back - but only in places i just going to keep in no guard length or razor it as it feels prickly on pillow if not kept smooth.
Paula Great you got some brill nights out to look forward to - i went to see girls aloud 2wks after lumpectomy and lymph nodes removed and waved one arm around it was already planned for my daughters 13th birthday with her friend and her mum who is my mate. Yes i sleeping very well too slept full night then went sleep 12.30 - 3.30pm but as today has gone on the taste buds are worsening - pineapple is really not good as Jean suggested and it got lots of tins in now - will have to send them to jean :-) did online tesco shop last night and it just been delivered - funny thing is i must have missed off my hubbys cans (woops its the only thing that missing). Got a beautiful rib eye steak for next fridays tea - when it will taste good also some ben and jerrys choc and macadamia nut ice cream - do you find milky stuff vile and just attempted a tangerine and had to throw it it was yacky. I also seem to be gaining weight STILL and am being more careful - though do like choccy at night :-) - Are you gaining or have you stabilised. My 16yr old son thinks i not ill and im just moaning about nothing if i say i tired he says well that not too bad is it, hes lovely but finds hard to show emotions but is very cuddly when he wants.
Chelle hope you are enjoying your concerts - you will be there now. i am also leaving holiday till next year as would hate to be too tired to enjoy it. I am not getting out much as try and have sleep in afternoons and trevor sleeps with me so feel like have to take him good walk in morning and play with him. and cant just bomb off in my car, tried Trev few times in the car and he in boot and barks all way there, he was better if the kids are sat in back seat so still might venture up rivington if weather ok sunday and i got some energy. last time i ended up going to manchester instead with girls shopping and really enjoyed it. Told Hannah we go to Manchester on train when she breaks up from school and have lunch at La Tasca - i got La Tasca voucher 50% off - go to martin lewis money expert page and look under vouchers and meal deals?? also got voucher for Malmaison £29 for 2 to dine having 2 courses from fresh and local produce menu and a jug of pims or bottle of wine plus coffees - so will book it for me and mum to go (went before with voucher and its excellent dining for the price). Also got the look good feel good day on 22nd July to look forward to, and my Willow Foundation weekend in the lakes :-)
Kev your jokes are worse than mine - hahaha - "its dont you wish your girlfriend" come on get with it :-)
Lailla what is Persillade - never heard of that before, i had beer battered haddock - chips broccoli and parsley sauce, then 2 turkish delight and a snickers duo. woops!!
Jean i got pineapple overload as pressed the wrong number required on tesco online (never done online shop before) and it tastes gross - ill stick with the tomato juice :-) - shall i send you some pineapple hahaha.
I haven't posted lately because my computer died. I'm using my son's one at the moment Ispending the weekend with him) but I must be quick cos he wants to use it. I'll hopefully get mine looked at next week and will catch up then. Still off the fags.
Hi Kay nice to hear from you. great you still not smoking i found that on tamoxifen i didnt enjoy cigs that when i gonna attempt to stop when i finished chemo and radio then start the tamoxifen again. Keep up the good work and enjoy all your clothes smelling fresh and tasting food as it should taste. Well Done. x stef
Hiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii!!!!!!!!!!!! Spoke too soon, it's 3am and as Jean would put it I am bouncing off the walls like Tigger on speed!!! Steff weight seems to have calmed down BUT only due to me watching what I eat. If I am being honest could probably eat twice as much at times.Other times when not hungry I am force feeding myself because I can't take my tabs on empty stomach.Options hot chocolate is my favourite at the moment, it takes any sweet cravings away and calms my chemo cough down (does anyone else get this, it's driving me mad). I have planned a shopping day in Portsmouth for next Wednesday when I feel better. Hopefully going to get some new clothes and meet my daughters for lunch as they are based at HMS Nelson. I am still hoping to get my winter hols as it is the only time we can go on holiday anyway, if the kids can get time off we are hoping to hit Dominican Republic for Xmas all being well, not sure if I will have hair then.Trevor sounds really good company Steff, looks like you got him at the right time. I am doing a dinner party for friends next Friday, how does salmon and trout roulade to start, baked lamb shank in redcurrant sauce and lemon tart sound?? Any ideas and recipes appreciated as I want it to come off well, it's to thank some people who have been really kind to me although we are not close friends they have rang every day and are always sending me flowers and plants. Kay keep the good work up, you are doing fantastic!!!!!!! Chelle, Jean, WAKE UP!! How dare you sleep when I'm not lol xxxxxx
Poor Laila and Paula. Those Tigger times are a pain in the bum! I’ve gone the opposite way now. Conked out last night about 10.00 and slept until about 6.30. Sorry I couldn’t keep you company, girls.
Yes, Paula, I get the chemo cough and tickly throat for about 2 weeks after every chemo. I’m just getting over that and the taste buds start to work again when it is time to get another dose of chemo. It drives me daft. By the way, my fingers are a bit better today.
Your menu sounds fab. Lots of things there to tickle the taste buds. We should start a menu sharing club, when we find something that gets the old mouth working again.
Enjoy your nights out, Chelle and Paula. I had to cancel 2 nights out to shows at the beginning of the year. We had booked them last year, before this crap kicked in. We missed the first one as I was in hospital getting carved up and missed the second one because I was feeling so lousy.
Camilla I’m sorry you are suffering at the moment. Just go for the head shave. It doesn’t hurt and is so much better than bits falling out everywhere, choking wash basins and shower!
Stef, what a shame the pineapple didn’t work for you. Just crate it up and I’ll collect it when we all meet up at Paula’s after we are through all this! It’s great that you are getting so much fun with Trevor.
Hey Kev, keep making us laugh with your funnies and observations. You must think we are all half crazy. Put it this way, if we weren’t crazy before all this, we will be by the end of it! By the way, I got my DLA form yesterday, so that’s filled in and in the post. Will keep you informed if anything transpires.
Chrissi, I’ve got the “My breast are killing me” on my V+ box. I’ll look out for you!
Please let us know how you get on on Tuesday. Fingers crossed that everything turns out well for you.
Kay………well done, girl! One day at a time, as they say.
Blossom, Lorraine, Marian, Margaret, and anyone else I’ve forgotten, hope you are all OK and coping with anything that’s being thrown at you at the moment.
Heather coped better with her last lot of chemo. She is having Tigger time too. Barney Boo is fine too. (Heather’s little dog, for those of you who don’t know) At least, now she knows that if she has to take time off work, they will pay her. So that’s a worry she doesn’t have to cope with anymore.
hello all, just a quick question, i had my operation 2 weeks ago yesterday, and ive started doing exercises. my lymph node side is really painfull. Is this normal........Im going to see breast care nurse on monday. Just wondered if anyone else experienced this.
