Dental Work whilst on Chemo.

HI Marianne26

I'm sorry to hear that you are so worried and I really hope that the antibiotics sort out your toothache.

I would think that your oncologist decided to delay your chemo because of your toothache.  Often chemo is stopped if you have any type of infection and your oncologist is just being careful to keep you as well as can be whilst on chemo.

Have another chat with your Specialist Nurse and explain your worries to her, and also let her know about your gun disease.  

I was on Capecitabine Tablets, and I had to stop treatment a couple of times, but was able to carry on and finish the course. It is quite common to delay treatment for a week or so.

Going through chemo is very hard, and it can be a very stressful time, I know I worried about my treatment, but I was lucky to have a very helpful Specialist Nurse who I could contact at any time, and she would reassure me that what I was experiencing was normal or talk to my oncologist and get back to me with advice, or ask me back in for another appointment.  Things are probably different at the moment because of Covid.  I always collected my tablets from the hospital, but as yours are being delivered you don't have the same one to one contact with your chemo team, but they will be happy for you to contact them with your concerns.

Take care.

VickiLynne

Thanks Vicki

Yes, obviously my oncologist delayed treatment and prescribed antibiotics as a matter of caution...just in case it's an infection.

I think I just wanted to vent my concern about my stupid teeth yesterday!!

I'm only getting my Tabs. delivered as I'm shielding & 15 miles away from the Hospital, plus my car is prone to flat battery, through lack of driving right now.

I'm not having the infusion...just the Cap. Tabs, (8 cycles,) which fortunately, I am tolerating very well at present, with no discernable side effects. Although I'm not currently having one to ones with my oncologist; we have a telephone consultation at the end of each cycle. Plus, there's always my two wonderful  colorectal nurses, who have been on this journey with me for the past year, & are always a phone call away for any advice/ concerns I may have.....but mostly, I just live my life normally (well, as normal as can be in the present climate!) & don't give much thought to having cancer. 

Wishing you well

M x

Hi Marianne

You sound in much better spirits today, This whole Covid crisis is a nightmare.  

I started with an infusion plus tablets, but after the third infusion I was so unwell I talked to my oncologist and continued on with an increased dose of the Cap tablets.

I'm so glad to hear that you have two really supportive Specialist Nurses, having them at the end of a phone line to advise  us and sometimes tell us that some of the things we are experiencing are normal really help us to come to terms with our treatment.  I was lucky that I had the similar support but many patients don't have the same regular contact.  

You are right to concentrate getting back to a normal life (Covid apart).  When I was diagnosed I didn't want to know my staging all I just wanted to concentrate on getting better and getting on with my life.  I finished chemo in 2012.

It's also good to hear that you are having your regular one to ones with your oncologist, it seems that you team are looking after you really well.

I now take my car for a little trip out every week, as when I had left it standing for several weeks the tyres had all lost pressure.  My son in law sorted it, and every time I get it in now it makes me smile as I had put £50 of fuel into it just before lockdown and its still more than three quarters full.  Also had a surprise rebate on my car insurance. 

Take care and keep safe,

VickiLynne 

Hi VickiLynne

Thanks again!

Yes, Covid is a pain...& is even more of a pain for those suffering with cancer & other debilitating illnesses. Just small things - like visiting the dentist (though not so small in my case!) & remembering to run the car battery now & again...seem suddenly to be major problems in our lives...taking us out of the 'new normal' routine of having to shield for over 3 months. It's like being cushioned in a nest of sorts - then someone suddenly saying - you have to get out & do this - & thinking but I'm not sure I want to!

Apart from my 3 weekly 10 min. walks to my Health centre for Blood Tests, I haven't ventured out for 3 mths. However, I had a sneaky little walk with a friend a couple of weeks ago, on a nice warm day - & it felt wonderful & freeing! And, I aim to start doing this more on a regular basis...as I can see that my thigh muscles are weakening...& that's not good. Plus, I live in an area that has relatively low numbers of Covid..so am not unduly worried. I believe that you may be fairly near to me? If I recall, I remember you mentioning East Devon? If so, I'm in West Dorset.

M x

Hi Marrianne26

Yes, I'm on the Jurassic Coast - and not too far from Dorset.

I'm the same, I really want to go out but I am worried because of all the holiday makers and the numbers on our town beach.  I haven't heard of any trouble here but there was trouble on the beach just a few miles down the coast.  The number of Covid cases have been lower than other parts of the country, but that could quickly change.  One of my neighbours has given going for walks along the sea front and another goes down there at 6:30 in the morning to avoid the crowds.  I know I'm lucky to live by the sea and I can understand that people want to visit our coastal town and other inland tourists spots, but some of them are making it difficult for those of us who live here by completely ignoring the government recommendation.  But I hope you can enjoy your walks.

My husband and I loved visiting Lyme Regis - out of season - and have missed visiting this year.  The drive along the coast from Devon and dropping down into to Lyme is lovely. We also enjoyed visiting West Bay beach at Bridport. Hopefully we can venture that way again once this Covid crisis is over.  My husband is now in a care home and I have promised to take him to Lyme as soon as I am able to take him out for an afternoon.

Take care x

Hi .....Yes, I'm in Bridport town, just a short distance from West Bay (my local beach.) I have been here for 20 years, but prior to that, I lived in Beer for 10 years...so I am very familiar with the whole coastline extending to Exmouth (where my Ex. lives.) x& yes, we are very fortunate to live in such beautiful surroundings!

I hope that you are able to take your husband out for a trip soon.

x

Vickylynne and Marianne26, 

You both live in beautiful places, I couldn't chose between Beer and Lyme Regis which I like the best!

Many happy holidays spent here in Lyme Regis and Exmouth and the whole of the coastline. Memories of the children looking for fossils at Charmouth (None were ever found!) and walking along the promenade in Lyme Regis with ice-creams, me and mum spending hours in that big shop that sells antiques and then fish and chips on the Cobb... and my daughter pretending to be The French Leiutenant's woman!

I can't wait to be able to come back! Me and my husband came last summer and we are hoping to get a few days away later in the year, treatment and virus permitting

Beautiful part of the country and I hope that you remain virus free so you can have walks in your your lovely surroundings, and I hope your husband will be able to have his trip to Lyme Regis later in the year. All that lovely air will perk him up loads.

Take care xxx

Hi Phoebeb21

First of all Phoebe I'm so sorry to hear about your dad, it  must have been so hard with you going through treatment and the virus to contend with and I really hope that you and your husband will be able to get back this way once this dreadful crisis is over.

I'm in Budleigh - with its beautiful pebble beaches -   we overlook the sea, and it was looking out to sea that got me out of bed every morning when I was going through chemo.

My husband unfortunately had to go into the care home at quite an early age, I think he is one of the youngest there, but it's a nice home and he is well looked after, and it's also quite close to the sea too, We moved here almost twenty years ago when we were both fit and well,  and we often drove to Lyme.  Lyme is so different to Budleigh.   We would walk along the Cob in all weathers, and I would often think of those scenes from The French Lieutenants woman, then we would climb up through the gardens and walk back down through the town.  

It is a beautiful part of the country and we are so lucky to be able to live here.

Marianne26 - yes, we are not too far away from each other, and I have memories of walking on West Bay beach in the pouring rain and the wind but still enjoying being there.  My daughter and her husband usually go to that rather nice fish restaurant for special occasion celebrations.

Take care

VickiLynne

VickiLynne, 

Budleigh is gorgeous too, we had a lovely walk along the beach up to the river last summer. I admit to relieving the beach of a couple of the beautiful stones streaked with red that I varnished and have in the garden. What a wonderful place to live. We live in Warwickshire and although very pretty, I love the sea.

Yes, we miss Dad enormously but I don't know how he would have managed with the corona virus as he loved everyone popping to see him, he would have missed the grandchildren so much. I was diagnosed just after he passed away, he never knew I was unwell and I am glad as both my sisters have had cancer .. one was just last year, and he was heartbroken.

Hopefully life will get a bit better for everyone soon, I think the lockdown has made a lot of people realise how important family and friends are and how little material things matter.

I hope you are able to see more of your husband soon and have some quality time together with your family.

Lots of love xxx

Hi Phoebeb21

The pebbles on Budleigh Beach are really beautiful and my husband (who taught geography and geology) told me that they were swept here from France during the last Ice Age.

We moved here from Warwickshire, and my one daughter is in Stratford-upon-Avon and I am missing going over to see her.  That part of central England is also very beautiful and a lovely part of the country to live.

There is another lovely walk along the River Otter from Budleigh to Otterton, where you can pop into The Mill for a coffee or cream tea.    It's my daughter's favourite place for a cream tea when she visits.

You are right about your dad not knowing about your diagnosis, no matter how old our children are we still worry about them.  

I have two video calls with my husband every week and I am now able to have a garden visit once a week too. 

Take care,

Sending hugs xx