**DECEMBER 2021 - MARCH 2022 BREAST CANCER CHEMO**

Wow, time is going so fast. Spoke to my oncologists nurse this afternoon. General questions about side effects after my third and final EC. My chemo normally falls on a Tuesday and she said the 28th Dec is a bank holiday so I won't have chemo that week it will be the following week and I'll miss a week. This has annoyed me a bit. My last chemo was supposed to be on 1st Feb, my birthday is on the 6th and I was so looking forward to celebrating a bit that weekend.

I know my chemo could be delayed for lots of different things but when you have a date in your head it's hard to accept it might not happen.

Oh well ️

Hi Jacala so frustrating when plans change isn't it?   I guess it's not much in the great scheme of things, but I had a couple of delays to the plans and it really annoyed me.  Hope you're doing ok xx

Jacala I recognise that frustration. Mine was due to end on NY Eve. Then a week got cancelled.

I thought I might find you all on a new thread. My consultant asked to see me on Monday after my hospital admission last week (I had one after first AC as well when I was neutropenic). Anyway Chemo is stopping - consultant recommended it and says I’ve done loads and it will be beneficial. She was thinking that way anyway based on my hospital admission last week because risks beginning to outweigh benefits. Then she saw my skin and says I’ve had an extreme reaction but I have done amazingly given my lung condition and all the extra things that have been in place. She said what I already thought. That radiotherapy might be undoable too so I’m having early appt with their radiology consultant.

I was rapidly trying to do the maths on my PREDICT scores which are not glorious to start with. We talked about the evidence on exercise so I figure that can give me 3-4 percent back I think (allowing for bad maths) I have lost. So it all ended weirdly with no great farewells to chemo nurses or celebration for completing. It was affirming to hear I had put up with a lot and I already feel improvement, but I can’t quite park the decision yet. 

Ill stay in touch and best wishes to you with treatment in the next few days 

Dear @Jacala

I can understand your annoyance as you'd have your eye on a good worry free celebration. Know that there are more birthdays to come and you can celebrate anyway regardless of date. 

I think once you have your mind and heart set you just are on a mission understandably.

Still waiting on chemo date for me. 

C x

Hi everyone

Morning

Does anyone know what is the wait time between surgery to chemo. Maybe I am delayed because of Christmas although onco said 6 to 8 weeks wait is acceptable while I heal. Just a bit apprehensive while waiting...as we all know the waiting is scary and builds anxiety. I have been having on off pains on wound and I guess it's healing and underarm still puffy and feels weird at times. I did some walking and feel breathless and dizzy afterwards. 

C x

Hi Historywoman

Sounds like you have been through a lot and well done, you have come so far despite it all. I think we have to take expert advice I guess.

It's really a fine balancing act with chemo as what my onco says. I was worried how strong the treatment would be and how I will cope and manage with it all. Nervous seem to be an understatement!

I got covid booster jab today after weeks of chasing and highlighting I am going to be immunosuppressed.

Good luck with it all...it must be tough not know what next as you thought it may be RT...but now not. Are you taking an anti hormones? Sorry if they aren't the right term. 

C x

Hello! Just completed 3rd and final EC, my next carbo + paclitaxel combo due 23 Dec but I’ve asked to move it out so I can enjoy the festive period with my family. There’s always a risk dates could move such as holidays, bloods not recovering, covid etc. so I’ve assumed the dates aren’t fixed. 

Compared to the previous round, handling this one a lot better so far. I think bingeing on Christmas films helps…..oh and a special advent calendar I was given to help brighten up each day. 

I hope that treatment is being kind to you all x

Hey 

Very well done with moving forward with the next bit after completing your EC.

Feeling Christmassy can perk up spirits for sure...keep going, and hope all goes OK as can be on 23 Dec.

Cx

I had my PICC line removed after my second EC, my veins are very narrow and it just hurt. The veins in my arm have hurt ever since. I also noticed a similar pain in my right leg in my calf. It feels like the veins are sore. It's been painful to walk on but once I get going it eases. I've mentioned this to my oncologists nurse who made a note on Wednesday.

Today I realised the pain had moved to my ankle, so I took my sock off and wow my ankle was so swollen. I rang the chemo emergency number and they arranged for me to go to Ambulatory Emergency Care. It took 2 nurses 3 attempts to get blood, they said my veins are hardened and the blood was dribbling out. I actually cried as it hurt and I just felt so pathetic. I'm  so bruised. I was sent for a scan and there is no evidence of a clot and bloods have come back normal. My ankle is still swollen, I've sat with it raised all evening. I was given no advice really other than that. 

I think I need to speak to my oncologist on Monday as the situation with my veins is quite worrying. I have 9 pac to go with the necessary bloods too. 

I hate feeling so vulnerable and powerless. 

Hang in there Jacala, your oncologist should know what’s wrong and how it can be treated, otherwise keep on at the acute  care as that’s their job. I had trouble with back spasms which I still get but not as painful. No one knew what it was but it turned out it was the chemo bringing back a trauma from when I pulled my back years ago. The pain went up to my chest and I panicked I was having a heart attack or blood clot! Chemo makes you more anxious. 
BringMeSunshine21 you’re having the same chemo as me. Hold in there it’s so worth it. I had trouble with my liver though with CPP so I suggest drinking and eating anything with antioxidants in and vitamin C. Also cut out red meat if you can. It will keep the liver working more efficiently. They put my 2nd cycle of CPP back a week cos of my liver function.

My Larry has shrunk and ready for the op! He’ll be removed yippee in a weeks time. 
Im very anxious about the op and what I’ll look like after. Been told my breast will be smaller. I’m a large chested lady so it’s playing on my mind. Worried my partner won’t fancy me when he sees it Something I need to talk about to my cancer psychologist about. 

Im off to a healing session in Glastonbury today. Hope to settle me and give me positive thoughts. 
Take care my lovelies xxx