What now?

Hi Sazzy1,

I am feeling exactly like you! So like you I could have written your message myself!

I have just come to the end of six cycles of Docetaxel, over 18 weeks and will go on to have targeted hormone treatment too. I trusted the Docetaxel to keep it all at bay and now it all seems so uncertain again. I suppose for the duration of our chemo it was just a case of getting through the weeks/months and now it feels like "now what"?

I was a perfectly well 60 year old, no medical conditions, enjoying work and life in general...now I have incurable cancer, I don't even know who I am anymore! 

I suppose it's all a journey and we'll have our up's and downs. I am looking forward to returning to work and scared in equal measures'  in case I can't cope.

Oh and like you  I have told the oncology team that I only want to the bare minimum too. 

Good luck and keep in touch

Judith xx

Hi Sazzy1 and Jude 3,

I think you are following the same path as me, only I had the targeted hormone treatment first.   Mine was palbociclib, letrozole etc and it gave me 16 cycles virtually free of side effects.  The timetable all sounds a bit complicated but really it is not, and you just take a tablet for it every morning.   It was very effective and my scan looked a lot healthier by the end of it.  I swapped after 16 cycles when it stopped working for me.

I may be wrong, but I am at the end of 9 cycles of paclitaxel, another 9 to go.  I am finding the side effects mcuh harder now than with the targeted hormone, eg thin skin, lhair loss.  You may be pleasantly surprised.  I hope so.

Hope this helps

Hi Judith 

thank you for reply it was really nice to hear someone else feels the same as me (obviously not nice but I’m sure you know what I mean!!?) I’m feeling a lot more positive today it’s my last chemo eve and I’m fully prepared for tomorrow after that who knows? Once the scans are done I have a lovely family holiday to look forward to and at last a drink and believe me it’ll be a HUGE drink I can practically taste it!! Wishing you all the best within your treatment Judith are you using the cold cap? I have and my hair has got thinner but it’s still there!! I think if you’re feeling we’ll work will be a good thing maybe on a phased return and see how you go that’s what I’m planning on doing? 
please take care and keep positive your right I think we all have them “offdays” we  have to just up get dressed and remember who we are and that is amazing ️️

Hi Alstev 

Thank you for your reply it was really reassuring to hear how well you coped with the hormone treatment I’m sorry your finding the pac more difficult, I found the first few months I had really low eergy and unable to walk very far I got some fresubin from my go and this helped with my energy levels I also had to half the dose of steroids as I was basically off my head for 5 days seriously couln’t sleep and felt really wired!!  I found my skin also got really thin and bruised so easily and everything takes longer to heal I noticed a big change in my skin by using palmers cocoa butter it’squite thick so you don’t need too much maybe worth a try? Wishing all the luck in the world you’re half way through and doing fantastic please take care and remember who you are which is amazing ake care ️️

The menopausal symptoms after injection  are harsh but manageable, I mimic all you issues , and despite what they say don’t take anything herbal to help as contains fake oestru, bone injections are a breeze I do both myself at home , they massively help with pain and reduction. In size or tumours z