*TAMOXIGANG* All the fours...44!

[GoodbyeRubyTuesday]

Apologies for the bingo reference, couldn't think of a witty title but the other thread is very nearly full.

In honour of our new thread I have piled extra apple pudding on the trolley so tuck in :)

Flying by super quickly to say good luck tomorrow Marshy for surgery, and Really for your onc appointment x

weebarra I've used my private medical insurance for my treatment so far. I started off in my local (large internationally famous teaching) hospital via an NHS referral and have seen the same consultants at the private hospital. The difference has been:

1. You always see the consultant (and the same consultant each time) rather than registrars etc
2. Things happen a little quicker ... but NHS treatment for cancer isn't slow
3. I've got a few things that I wouldn't have got on the NHS - e.g. portacath (I think NHS would only fit one if other methods had not been successful) and a bone cancer injection that NICE currently hasn't approved for use on NHS as it is more expensive than the generally used injection
4. A nice lunch when I go for chemo and a generally less busy place than my local hospital (which treats 200 people daily with radiography)

One of the consultants said to me that going private was more like going premium economy/club class on a long haul flight - you get to the same destination at the same time, but with a bit more comfort.

tiny port-a-cath insertion went fine. I'm quite tender where the insertions are, but nothing extra strength nurofen can't handle. Getting it in was pain free, I was given sedatitive and it was done under local anaesthetic I've chemo #2 on Mon, and also a CT scan. So will get some immediate use from it. My SIL is a paeds nurse, she says they are fantastic, that kids cope very well with them. So we should be OK!

Amber - I love you! Thank you so much, I think I will speak to onc about asprin, the other stuff I can do myself. I am now off to have an early night in a very dark room!

KitKat - Hat's off to you, I don't think there would be many people who could take doing chemo every week.

Night, Night All.

Morning all

Hope everyone had a better nights sleep than I did. Think I saw every hour on the clock. So pathetic. I'm only seeing the Oncologist today, don't really know what I am so worried about!

I suppose part of the worry is that this is one step nearer to the Chemo 'really' happening. Rather than just being a word that gets put into the conversation, now and again.

I know it's got to be done, so no point stressing about it. Thank goodness I am working this morn. Won't have time to worry.

Good luck and best wishes to Marshy hope today flies by and you are up and about soon.

KitKat hope your Chemo goes okay. Sounds like you've been having a rough time. Let's hope today goes problem free xx

Hope everyone else has a good day. Will probably be on later to let you know what happened.

Xxxxx

Morning really sorry you did not sleep. Time for and a . I'm off work this morning but must get up soon.

Morning all, sorry about the lack of sleep really I know the feeling well. Although I did actually sleep all night last night. A very rare occurrence these day.

Need to ring my bcn to check I have MRI appt, it all seemed a bit disirganised last week when I saw onc and nobody ha the right emissions to book it!
Also have my lovely niece and her new baby coming over which will be lovely. She is the daughter of my sister who died last year and I am now her surrogate mum.

Morning all
Kitkat good luck for your chemo , sorry you've had a bad week I think it's the cumulative effect of all the drugs but we will both be finished soon
Marshy good luck for your surgery hope it goes smoothly
Really good luck for your onc appointment. I was terrified of chemo I didn't know anyone who had been through it and thought I would be in bed puking all of the time ! It really hasn't been as bad as I thought you'll be fine too. If you get side effects they have drugs to deal with them you don't need to suffer
Foo foo enjoy lots of new baby snuggles

Had a nice meal with my friend last night though was shattered by the time I went to bed. She said she was glad I hadn't lost my eyebrows and lashes, told her I'd lost most of both but at least the make up must be working !

Morning.

I had a better sleep last night - was awake for a few hours at 4am but slept before and afterwards so feeling better today.
Chemo is early today - the nurse is coming between 9 & 9:30 so have had to get the kids up as my DH is taking them out.

Really - you will be fine - it really bothered me that I had to see an onc until I actually did and it was fine - it's just another hurddle to get over. Hopefully your onc will be lovely .

Hi All

Well appointment went well. Had a good laugh with my BCN and Oncologist was nice! He explained 'why' they wanted to do the Chemo, and then explained which type, and the side effects. Now I wait for a call from a VERY good looking registrar to tell me when it will start.

I am having FEC-T you probably all know more about it than me! But it's 3 doses of the FEC then 3 of the T part. He said people tend to find the second 3 doses the hardest to deal with!

But we shall see. Like he said to me, in 6 months time the worst part of this will be over! I think that's a good way to look at it.

Hope everyone had a good day. Seems very quiet on here today. Hope your Chemo went as well as it could KitKat xx

Glad it went well Really -sounds like you have a nice team which will help you a lot.

Chemo went OK today but I feel a bit nauseous which is unexpected but it is the first chemo i have had whilst taking the metformin as well so who knows what is causing it - otherwise all OK - slept through it all as usual .

Glad it went ok Kitkat but boo to the nausea hope it passes quickly. How many more have you got left ?

Really fec t is what I and a lot of us had so feel free to ask anything I've found the tax harder than the fec but that may be the build up of everything having it's affect too. Have you got a thermometer to check your temperature as that's important though don't be paranoid and check several times a day like I did at the start

hi malt - 4 more to go so not too bad - will all be done by end of Nov. The nausea is not awful, just niggly and a surprise because I've not had any of it on tax so far.

BTW - in answer to your FB question I think it will be at least 4 months, if not 6, after last chemo before you have decent hair. It's a pain isn't it - mind you you have your fast shampoo ready don't you .

I finished FEC-T at the end of June. I left home today without my wig (don't ask) and had to go to a lecture this afternoon with lots of colleagues, students etc. One of the students said "Oh, I've haven't seen you since you got you hair cut so short. It looks really great." Our Graduate students aren't generally know for their tact (think Sheldon from Big Bang Theory) so I take it that hair can be ready for the big reveal after 4 months Or at least it can be in a room full of Sheldon's

Amber can I echo tiny's thanks to you for reassuring us re the TNBC? Really appreciate it - keep telling myself that longitudinal studies are by definition out of date but...you know how it is!
Went to my private hosp today to meet the staff and have bloods etc done. They seem lovely. So, heart scan on Fri, portacath Tues and chemo commences Wed. When I have a wee meal out planned with some school mums.
Would I be insane to still plan to go?

weebarra - i think you should go out if you feel OK - there are no risks to worry about however it would be wise to give the others a heads up that you might not make it. It's quite emotionally draining the first time so you might you tired - or then again you might be steroid powered and raring to go!!
I was beside myself with nausea at that point and I think Betsy was already sick but others have been fine so there's no knowing until you have it .

Looks like at least 4 months then, that will be march I will be sick to death of my wig by then ! I have cut all the long bits of my hair off tonight and it looks better
Hi UKsounding have you finished all of your treatment now ? Are you new to the thread, welcome if you are
Weebarra I agree with Kitkat you'll have to see how you feel really, I'm always quite tired on chemo day and just want to chill and have an early night but it affects everyone differently

Evening all, sorry haven't been around, have been reading all your stories and news.

Chemo #1 was far easier than last time, minimal side effects, and actually felt normal afterwards. We had a weekend away - to take my DM home who did a fab job of getting dd2 to take bottles, then a night in Cardiff as DH and DS had tickets for the rugby league World Cup opening and first match.

We went back to my parents and left DS and dd1 there for a few days of half term fun and dd2 and I got to grips with exclusive ff all on our own. I have also cleared out three black sacks of toys from the playroom and almost finished the Thomas the Tank Engine Mural I started a year ago in the big ones bedroom.

DS and dd1 came back today with DH and were over the moon with the mural.

I've now got 2 days of half term & Halloween stuff to get through before bloods, flu jabs and chemo number two next Wednesday!!

I have been updating my blog, so you can always check up on me there

Can't get back to sleep after DS woke at 5 - teething. Needless to say he and the rest of the house are all fast asleep now! dH has a remarkable ability to sleep through[hmmm].
Well, it's last chemo day today, I won't miss the SE's of Tax that's for sure but I will still have to visit the chemo suit every 3 weeks for my Herceptin infusion, so not totally escaped yet.
My breast surgeon has agreed to perform an elective preventative mastectomy on the remaining boob. I would rather it be gone and with it the chances of a recurrance on that side. She'll do that when I have my r sided node clearance at the end of November.

Have a good day everyone, I suspect come 1.30 I'll be studying the back of my eyelids in a comfy chair on chemo suite!

Congratulations Picture on your last Chemo hope it goes well.

Hope everyone has a good day. Xx

Morning everyone
Knitting sounds like you've been busy glad to hear you're doing ok
Picture yay for last chemo hope it all goes smoothly
I was also up in the night, think it was the cat that woke me up at 4 but then couldn't get back to sleep, always seems worse in the middle of the night that's when I get very dark thoughts
Have a friend coming round today and were going out for lunch
Hope everyone has a good day

Morning all.

Knitting - I'm glad things have gone well for you - hopefully the chemo will remain SE free.

Picture - congrats on getting to final chemo - let's hope it goes smoothly . And yeah for preventative mx going ahead.

I've also got a friend coming round this morning (and kids as half-term here and where she lives) and then both of my DC need ferrying to various Halloween events. I'm up bright and early as I have a lot of work to get through today (as month-end again....) - thankfully as 1 day post chemo I am full of steroids .

I was woken at 4:30pm, DD2 and sleepover guest wanted to get up! They couldn't go back to sleep (after about 4 hours sleep or less). I made beds up infront of TV in sitting room hoping they would fall back to sleep. No luck, and they are still full of energy. They are both 9. I went back to sleep until 10am.

Major hair loss this morning, after washing hair. Hair still looks fine, it is quite thick. But I'm shedding like a dog. Just made appt to get rest taken off and get my wig fitted for 1pm today. I'm not emotional about it yet. Wonder if that will hold up when I actually do it.

knitting I have chemo #2 on Monday. My chemo #1 went pretty OK too. Crossing fingers next cycle will also be pretty OK

Weebarra I felt OKish on day of chemo, but I was shattered tired by 8pm. However, I was at the shopping center immediately after the chemo, feeling fine, and also fit in 30 minute walk after coming home. So as the others say, play it ear, you won't know how you feel until the time. But I'd say make the meal time as early as possible.

malt My sister was out of her wig (with GI Jane type hair but full coverage) 2 months after final tax. She was able to do an organic hair colour at that stage too (onc approved). Now at four months later, she has a stylish short cut. Her hair grows much faster than mine, she used to have very long hair when she was younger

Picture yeah for you!

Weebarra I ended up back in hospital after my first chemo, although I was told that I was very, very unlucky. (I did feel fine for the first few hours after though.) Make sure you drink plenty of water, and once you have done that, drink some more......

Kniting Good to hear that your chemo is going well and your not having many SE, as you sound very busy. Do you have a link to your blog - is the Thomas mural there? I have a two year old who is absolutely Thomas mad!

Picture Yay, for your last chemo session. Also good to hear that your feeling positive about the surgery that you are planning. I haven't given that side of things much thought, I am sure I will start thinking and will be back with a list of questions.

Mumof2 and Malt Did you both do the cold cap? How has hair loss gone? I am really not sure if I can be bothered with it as I feel everyone still loses there hair anyway.

I am off to a kids Halloween party later - I don't have an outfit, but my hair is pretty scarey at the moment, so perhaps no costume is needed!

Weebarra - Our 'plan of action' seems similar, however it seems like most ladies have had surgery before chemo. Where you told why? (I think mine is to shrink the tumour, although I don't know what surgery is planned.) Also do you know what chemo you are having? Mine seems to differ from everyone else's - 4 rounds of EC and then 4 rounds of Tax - again that might be because I am having chemo before surgery.