Tamoxigang - 41 and counting

[KurriKurri]

Morning all, new thread, croissants on trolley, and I'll put a brew on.

Hi Diddy - I'm mid way through 8 cycles of chemo - Tax only, not FEC. Everyone is different, but, presuming your chemo will be every three weeks, and you don't have any complications, you will have one not great week, one better week and one almost normal week each time. The chemo process itself isn't unpleasant. You will probably start to notice change in taste/metal mouth pretty quickly. The real effect of the chemo hits me on Day 4.
I have chemo on Thursdays and am fine until later on Saturday. I then start feeling as though I have a combination of flu and morning sickness. Monday is always my worst day, then I start feeling a little better. The following Thursday I start taking antibiotics and after that feel much better.
It is important to try to drink a lot of fluid and to eat during the worst days ... little and often is probably best.
Sorry to hear your DH's employers aren't helpful. Do get your friends to help particularly during the bad days (my DC are grown up and my DH is able to help, despite work, so it is easier for me). It won't go on for ever but try to arrange a few treats for yourself and your family for the good days.

Hi diddy and welcome, although sorry you have had to join us.

The side effects vary between drugs and from person to person, o it is diffcult to predict. Once you have one cycle under your belt you will have a better idea of what your body does. (I'm on cycle 4 of FEC-T, just in case you are FEC-Ting and have any specific qus)

It it totally normal to be nervous/scared/apprehensive before your first chemo - but as the lovely ladies here told me (and they were right) the anticipation is honestly worse than the reality.

Oh and re DHs employers - cancer is automatically classed as a disability and as your DH is classed as a carer of someone with a disability, then his employer need to comply with equality legislation (if he works for a large company with an HR department it would be worth contacting them if local boss is not being helpful)

rubY fire sounds lovely, we are currently contemplating whether to light log burner laster

mas enjoy your meditation - my DS (5) is already quite a poser, can't imagine I'll be allowed to pick his clothes by the time he's a teen!

gigs loved the photo of you and the girls on FB :)

Hi Diddy
Sorry you're having to be here with us, but welcome.
I had four lots of FEC and four lots of Tax. And worked through all of it. So it shows how variable it all is. Some are flattened by chemo. Others, not.

Sip lots of cold water during chemo. Have ginger beer and ginger biscuits at home afterwards. Use Sea Bands from the chemists.
I kept going with lots of supplements all the way through chemo (my onc was happy with this) including aloe vera, ginger supplements for the three days before chemo, good vitamin/mineral including lots of Vit D, and lactoferrin (a milk protein you can buy on 't internet).

Trust your body. You'll be wired like a hyper thingy on the steroids for the first few days, then you'll have a middle week of tired, then feel pretty ok the third week, probably.
Don't suffer; if you feel sick, tell them. If you feel hot, contact them at once. Stay away from people riddled with colds and flu.
DH...is he in a union? I'd ask them. Cancer counts as a disability, and employers are not allowed to discriminate against someone caring for a disabled relative. Well worth asking union/his HR dept/a lawyer (many do half hour free).
www.macmillan.org.uk/Documents/GetInvolved/Campaigns/WorkingThroughCancer/EqualityAct2010workhomepage.pdf p13 gives some detail on employers allowing time off (though possibly unpaid)

Welcome diddy but sorry you are here.
Will just add to all good stuff already said that keep a diary of symptoms as chemo is very cyclical so can help you track your good days but also ask for help with any side effects. The meds they have now (ESP for nausea) are so good that can help with most stuff so there is no need to suffer.

On the radio, make sure you rub your skin with the cream they give you (varies from unit to unit but aqueous cream or aloe Vera usual). The sunburn effect will build up so early use does help. Also it is immensely tiring (think bone tired need a nap when come in) so I would always factor that in. Have you got someone to help with kids or just settle them in front of tv. The side effects build up and will carry on for couple of weeks after but they do subside pretty quickly (but chemo I got over Quickly too).

I assume it is breast cancer you are being treAted for?

5dc - wow. What ages etc? Just asking as have all ages on here so if helps can share how they have reacted etc.

Hi Diddy, I too am on FEC-T, the side effects for me, like Malt, have been very manageable, although this cycle of FEC (my third) the tiredness really hit me.
Tomorrow I'm going into hospital to have my portacath fitted in theatre under local anaesthetic....eeeekkk. God I am so much braver that I ever thought I could be. The minis have gone to the in laws tonight on the account of me having to me at the hospital at the crack of a sparrow's fart. I wouldn't mind but I'm last on the list! So I am using crapola TV as a distraction, whilst planning our mega Florida holiday next year after treatment has finished. Oh, and our woodburner is lit and the fire is roaring, very cosy.

What you watching picture? An finishing montalbano here.

Port will be great once in- no more faff for veins, I assume won't take long to do . My picc took about 20 mins,

x factor

Well lunch went ok considering, nice cafe, clean loos. It is traditional that I throw up on dh's birthday, this must be about the fifth time it has happened. Usually vodka or babies, not fancy chemo drugs.

I agree with the others Diddy, chemo is lots of just about bearable experiences strung together over months. So long as you take a day at a time you will cope. If you tried to deal with the whole shitstorm in one go you would go mad.

I hope some of your dcs are old enough to help out. I have mine trained nicely to bring me tea and blankets and breakfast in bed, and she is only 7.

My portacath took an hour. But worth every minute of it.

Wow loads of great advice, thank you.
I have cervical cancer stage 2 (despite regular smears) . My chemo drug is Cisplatin. I'm very lucky in that it doesn't cause hair loss so that's one less thing to worry about.
I don't think unions will be able to help with DHs twatty bosses. He was made redundant 4 months ago. He luckily got his present job straight away at a large family run hotel. Trouble is they keep all their staff on 3 monthly contracts renewing as they go. If DH kicked up a fuss they would just not renew his contract.
gigondas my dc are 6, 8, 10, 12 and 13. I also have a grown up DD. I call them mine but actually only 2 are my birth dc. I long term foster 3 of them and my youngest dd is adopted. She is struggling as he has a quite insecure attachment to me. She needs to know at all times what I'm doing and where I am. She hates me going to hospital and has been having some major tantrums as she struggles to cope. I have bought a little crystal angel which she will keep with her while I'm at hospital on the understanding she gives it back to me when I come home. I hope that will reassure her that I am coming home, especially when I have to stay in for internal radiotherapy.
SS have been very supportive but as two of the dc have severe attachment disorders we don't want to have respite as that would possibly damage any progress we have made with them.

It's a hateful illness isn't it?. It totally disrupts lives. Not just for the sufferers but everyone around them. Sometimes I get so angry about it all.

Picture good luck for tomorrow hope it goes smoothly. Florida holiday sounds fab, weve been twice with the kids and absolutely loved it

Gigs trashy tv here what a surprise, x factor and big brother, don't envy your rugby!

Diddy you've got a lot on your plate bless you, good idea with the angel for your little dd. Take 1 day at a time and let us know how you get on, someone will be able to suggest something to help for any side effects

Amber hope you and dh are feeling better

That is a lot on your plate but good idea about angel. I also gave big gig (5) a worry doll that you tell your worries, put under the pillow as you sleep then it takes the worries away.

The disruption is a big part of it - having to juggle and cope .

How did I forget X factor . Itv player I think. Probably better view than private practice which has been a little too emotional and addictive so going to try something else to each try to sleep earlier. I was wrecked today and can't go on like this.

Malt I am so used to rugby that don't notice now.

Give me rugby over football anyday. Unfortunately, DH prefers football.

Picture I had a portacath fitted before my 1st chemo. No problems - minor op under mild sedation and I had a light meal as soon as I got back to the ward. No problems since it has been in and makes chemo session easier - both arms free and no problems finding veins etc.

That's great to know Lily, we're playing hunt the vein at the moment so it would be good to get it fitted. No more bruised arm. Did you have to get it seen to between sessions or not?

diddy I can't add to what others have said on chemo but re angel both my DDs had favourite cuddly toys and I sprayed each of them with my perfume, they were 6 and 9. They still spray them with perfume when they go away, the 21 year old is at Bestival, I don't suppose you will be able to detect the smell of perfume amongst the other odours when I pick her up tomorrow You sound to be doing an amazing job of providing these children with a home

Just been to see alpha papa, I may have been extremely embarrassing snorting with laughter, and yelping when shock event happened, or at least that is what I am told by Little Pigeons....... I didn't really like Alan Partridge, uncomfortable funny but the film is very funny, and well up to Ianucci's usual standard.

No ones mentioned having one to me, took 3 attempts to get a vein this time but think it was just that the girl I had was lovely but not quite as competent as the man who got it in first time

Had lovely bath and will read in bed till I fall asleep
Night all

I asked for one Malt.

Diddy I'm not sure, but I don't think anyone on the thread has had cervical cancer so probably not had the exact same chemo. I had oxaliplatin for stage 3 bowel cancer and according to my quick Googling they may be somewhat similar.

Oxaliplatin doesn't cause hair loss either, but it did thin a fair bit. It seemed like lots was falling out, so much that at one point I did think I would end up with bald patches, but amazingly I didn't. I think it grew back quite quickly and I was very anaemic for a lot of the time I was having chemo so that may well have caused the hair thinning, especially as it's still falling out now and I had my last chemo in July.

I'd recommend you avoid Google in general as so much is out of date or just plain wrong, but the Macmillan website has good guides on the different drugs if you want more information on what to expect. I've just had a look at the page for my drug and the side effects I got most are under Possible side effects and I only really had one or two from Less common side effects and those weren't every cycle. Of course everyone is different but I expect they are quite well researched, my oncologist actually printed the pages from the Macmillan website for me to read.

Have you had any help from charities for your children? I'm under 25 so I got help from CLIC Sargent instead of a Macmillan nurse but I think they also provide support for children with a parent with cancer. They might be able to recommend other techniques to help your daughter cope with your treatment.

at your husband's work, what a terrible way to treat people. It seems ridiculous they won't just fit the shifts around your treatment as surely it makes little difference who does which shift as long as they are all covered. Just another added stress which you really don't need at this time!

Waving to everyone else, night night x

Just noticed the number of posts, nearly time for number 42.

Yes, both recovering from virus thanks.

portacath...it has to be flushed out every 3 weeks from memory

Thanks Amber. At least that means no going up to the hospital between chemo/herceptin sessions.,

Blimey Ruby, your under 25!! Gosh that seems an awfully long time ago to me - seeing as I am double your age.

Been up a couple of hours - just catching up on my ER episodes, reliving the early years.

Morning all,

Thanks for all the kind, supportive and loving replies. You made me cry Its good to feel welcome somewhere, even if it's somewhere I would rather not NEED to be! If you see what I mean!

I bought myself a nice soft bra, to sleep in yesterday! I also bought one of those triangular support pillows. And I actually managed some sleep last night I was still waking every couple of hours, but I was able to go right back off! I feel semi human this morning.

Hope you all had a good night, and you all have a good day today.

Xxxxxxx