*** April BC Chemo Club 2020 ***

Northerner Hi there, I liked that you "cheated", I'm all for that sort of cheat!  I have written the recipe down and will make it as soon as I can get out to shop for the food items again, though not sure when that will be now.  Hubby and I are in self isolation and not allowed out, having to rely on food parcels and so far, due to dietary constraints, I haven't been given much that I can actually eat, though hubby can eat it.  The porridge, apples and Satsumas are okay for me, but nothing else!  Then I learnt that our local butcher who was to deliver our meat each week has also gone into self isolation and the shop has sadly shut for now, so we can't get any meat now, only the food parcels, as we don't have anyone who can get our shopping for us!  So we will shortly be on a very restricted diet indeed.  I hope you are all doing okay?  It is uncertain for chemo treatments now too, as it seems all cancer patient appointments are being cancelled.  I had my three weekly Herceptin injection last week, so that's one thing, nasty though they are, I hope they continue through this difficult time.  Good luck to all out there with their treatment plans going forward.  Best of luck everyone.

Hi Giuliella

Sorry you haven't got anything sorted yet regards shopping have a look on council site to see if they have set up a local volunteer group I know it's happened here . They will get prescriptions and shopping for people who cannot go out .

ive been lucky bringing tins and dry goods back from the caravan has filled my store cupboards. I have a Morrisons delivery on the 18th which I can edit til night before .

Then this morning someone posted that Iceland had slots for tomorrow if you were vulnerable ( think they keeping their delivery slots for oap  and vulnerable )

They might be worth a try online I dont know what their delivery charge is only that it free if you spend £35  . Which I did cos I've larger freezer space than yourself. .

Register as customer then shop then look for delveryit should keep your trolley if you can't get slot straight away .

if you pick delivery slot first you get 1hour to complete your shop . 

They do have a reasonable range of veg and fresh meat, cereals bread and dairy .

You might get lucky 

Margaret x

Coronavirus and Chemotherapy latest information from Cancer Research UK (CRUK)

Will my chemotherapy and other cancer treatments continue?

Your healthcare team might review your cancer treatment plan.

Doctors are looking at ways to try and minimise the impact of the coronavirus outbreak on cancer patients. They will aim to continue with your treatment wherever possible. But they might need to change your treatment or prioritise certain treatments over others.

Your team will contact you if there are any changes to your care or treatment. 

How do doctors decide about changes to my treatment plan?

When you start cancer treatment, your doctors weigh up the risks and benefits of treatment and discuss these with you. But the risks of your current treatment plan might have changed because of the coronavirus.  

Treatment risks include:

• how your cancer treatments affect your immune system - you’re more at risk of becoming seriously ill from COVID 19 if your immune system is weak after treatment
• exposure to the virus during hospital visits – your team might look at how you have your treatment to reduce your hospital visits

Treatment benefit usually refers to the aim of your treatment. Your treatment might aim to:

• cure your cancer
• lower the chance of your cancer coming back
• help you live longer with your cancer
• control symptoms so you are more comfortable

Your doctors will carefully weigh up the treatment benefit with the risks of treatment.  They will also consider how urgent it is to give you cancer treatment at the moment. They will discuss this with you.

Your doctors also have to consider the impact of the coronavirus outbreak on all health services. For example, it’s likely that there will be staff and bed shortages. This means they might need to delay or rearrange treatments. Because of this they might need to prioritise some treatments over others.

Hope you don't get messed about too much, G n' J

Any advice on taking ibuprofen or paracetamol during chemo? Is it ok? - my wisdom tooth is causing lots of pain 

Hi

Loads here have taken both ibuprofen and paracetamol during chemo alternating two hourly for chemo aches so I would assume the same applies to toothache. As long as you are careful not to take any other tablets that include paracetamol like co-codamol etc.

There has been some reports about taking ibuprofen while this coronavirus is around so I just 'grabbed' this from the UK.Gov website -

We are aware there has been concern spreading about the use of ibuprofen and other non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medications (NSAIDs) in relation to COVID-19.

However, there is currently no research into ibuprofen and the new coronavirus. This includes:

• the link between ibuprofen and the likelihood of contracting the virus
• the link between ibuprofen and the worsening of coronavirus symptoms

Hope the pain eases and this is of some help, G n' J

Hi all for April chemo, 

I just got my call to say my treatment is carrying on ( thank the heavens), i was more scared of that than bloody covid19 

Anyway i am on no. 4 of my FEC-T treatment , start Docxatel on 8th april & Transzumbtab & perjeta 

Off for my hear test on Friday AT NUCLEAR medicine scan whatever that is - & hoping to avoid any human beings on the way. 

Had a rough ride this last week after chemo 3, I realised I was chemically depressed, could not stop weeping, so unlike me, & really horrible paranoid thoughts for about 3-4 days. 

So relieved to be out the otherside of that , I looked it up and chemotherapy depression is an actual thing !!! 

Good luck to all this month, as if Big C isn't enough Weve now got a double whammy to fight /avoid  along with bigC19

xxxx

Hi 

That will most probably be a MUGA scan which is normal prior to going onto Herceptin.

It measures the ejection pressure of blood pumping at the left ventricle in real time to give them a base level figure as herceptin can weaken the heart muscles slightly. You will be given more muga scans as the herceptin sessions get ticked off to keep a check on this figure.

There is a little more info about it in this leaflet https://community.macmillan.org.uk/cfs-file/__key/communityserver-discussions-components-files/38/Heart-tests.pdf The scan is carried out on a more open CT type scan table.

Great to see you are continuing with treatment - lengthy treatment period for HER2+ isn't it  ? :-/

Take care, G n' J

Hi everyone,  

Just checking in to the April club. I was a march starter.  My 2nd cycle was due today but unfortunately cancelled due to high liver function result after having blood test. Delayed for a week , but have to have another blood test before we proceed next week. 

Hope everyone is keeping safe and well. A warm welcome to any newbies joining us , you will get through this. One day at a time 

Best wishes to all 

Julie  xx

Northernerhello again.  I tried the council website, no luck.  I tried phoning several supermarkets and only got a recorded message which was anything but helpful, then they cut you off and I've not managed to get an online shopping delivery slot with anyone, I did try Iceland too, so no luck again.  We are living out of what is in our tiny freezer now, so as someone from the local council called a day or two ago and asked me about my food intolerances, I'm hoping that the next food box to be delivered to us free will contain something in it for me, but for now, we're doing okay.  It's probably good to dig through to the back of the freezer as we go now and eat up all the old stuff which is in there and has been for around eight months or more!  I found what I thought was two homemade faggots I'd done before my chemo started, then when it was defrosted, found that it was four and hubby could have had two, same as me, but I'd already defrosted a stuffed chicken thigh for him, which is best eaten hot, so the other two faggots are spare for another day now.  Mind you, I'd already taken out something for tomorrow, two black pudding sausages I can have with spaghetti and tinned tomatoes for me and some chicken mini breast fillets for hubby, which he will,have with boiled potato then fried.  Sounds like you are okay with your big freezer, which is good news.

Its a nice day today, so we had a little walk again, though hubby is so desperate to go into the shop at the bottom of the road for more food!  I keep telling him he can't, as he would touch the door handle, where any coronavirus could be lurking and then he could bring that into our home for us both to go down with it.  He's proving to be hard work at the moment, though I do love him!  I hope all is well with our little community out there, keep safe and well.  Not heard from Blackcat, HockeyNut or the rest of the gang of late, so I hope you are all doing well.  Have a great weekend all.

Hi Giuliella 

ive just received another letter telling me to stay at home and reintegrating the need to register so hopefully things will move along for you a bit more as Gov uk get the volunteers sorted put . I was pleased with iceland delivery they had everything I had ordered . They appear to be putting slots on each day at random times . These slots should only be for OAP and high risk . I still have a Morrisons slot booked to deliver on 18 th so consider my self lucky .i googled for fruit veg delivery for my area and two popped up .Had some delivered yesterday with eggs not a brilliant selection but better than nothing . So root veg stew for lunch yesterday and today .

How is your stamina are you getting stronger as chemo leaves your system ? I am but obviously not as fit as before need to use wii machine to build up .

both keep safe and well 

margaret x