A Happy and Healthy 2013 to you all!

I'm facing exactly the same time scale as you- so we'll head into 2013 battling!!

All the best and happy new year all

Xx

Absolutely, we will battle this together with full 'belts and braces'!!

xx

.... And I'm here to help you just sitting here getting my last chemo today. I have lumpectomy end of jan and then radiotherapy . If you look back on posts anriocht we've counselled neadie on the loss of hair. Honestly it's not as bad as you think, once it's gone it's gone and you get on with it. I've got used to it kind of forget what it was like to have hair. After today things will be going the other way for me, I'll get my energy back and my hair eventually . You want help or to know anything I'm here xxxx. Happy 2013

Will be with you girls too......we will help each other along - its funny the way some people are doing it chemo first like me then mascetomy and then people are the other way around. I am due mamo and mri in three weeks so am so hoping the tumour has shrunk will be very disappointed if it hasnt.

Heres to murdering cancer - hip hip hoorrayyyyy

Thanks WicklowLady and Dee,

So pleased for you Wicklowlady that you are at the end of the chemo. It is definitely onwards and upwards for you from here on! I am sure you will notice your hair coming back soon.

Fingers crossed for you Dee on the mammogram and MRI, I am sure all will be well for you. Thanks also for your post on explaining the baldness to four year olds. Although I am still thinking of just getting wig on as soon as it is shaved and just tell her that I got a new hairstyle, but I think that would be somewhat of a risk. No doubt there is a chance things may 'slip' over next six months or so and then I would really have some explaining to do!!

Neadi, best of luck next week, I am in for 9.30 am Tuesday (attending James's, but will have chemo at Hermitage, which is virtually on my doorstep, so that was an unexpected bonus, journey won't be too long for me).

Thanks again to you all for your wonderful support.

Mxx

Hi guys!

Andriocht, I'm 2 days behind you. I start next Thursday 10th Jan. Fun times ahead. Went mad today getting stuff to prevent mouth sores, a digital thermometer, hand gel, e45, god ifci don't have OCD I sure will by the end of April!! I'm having something similar to you TAC...just the other way around....

Dee just reading over your super blog again. Looking forward to seeing you next week- any tips on the steroids? Do they have awful side effects?? Do they keep you awake all night? How long do you take them? Do they give you anything else??

Mary, hope you're enjoying the finishing feeling still.

Xx

I'm not too bad very very tired but I just sleep it off.

Neadie you worry too much I never slept as well as when I was on the chemo. Did the hospital not give you the thermometer? They will prescribe your mouth wash in the hospital all you need is mycostatin and bio extra mouth wash. I got bio extra toothpaste as I found it good. I never got as much as a blister and I just used those 2. What's the E45 for. You're making me feel inadequate lol. You take the steroids for five days so you'll be finished on the Monday. A piece of advice take your back up nausea for a little longer until you feel you're out of it, but steroids finish on fifth day. You're expecting it to be a lot worse than it is xxx

Thanks for that WicklowLady,

Certainly very comforting to learn that it can be fairly manageable.

My consultant did mention too that the anti sickness meds have improved dramatically and that the nausea and some side effects are not like they used to be, which is good!

Thanks, An Ríocht.

The e45 was for my mastectomy site. I was up with plastics yest and they wantvme to put that on it- so nothing really to do with chemo

I keep waking up wondering how on earth I will be feeling next week and what will be happening to me then?

Yuck

Oh it's manageable it's just the fear of the unknown I went through that before i started it but go in positive you'll be fine. As I said the only time I vomited had nothing to do with the chemo it was the vomiting bug I got. The meds are great , of course you will feel out of sorts but it'll pass and you will have a life between chemos.

Thanks Mary!

My friends and family see it as getting better and just counting them down.....I'm just Plain scared. Hubbie at work, I'm still here in bed and the mind just wanders and wanders.....

One piece of advice I'd give to ppl starting chemo is stay well! It's not worth catching colds coughs or flus!

So get some hand sanitisers by the doors and make everyone who comes into the house use it!
Limit contact with people esp on your low days- no greeting kisses, fewer hugs, handshakes (with sanitiser) or a friendly wave instead for the next six months.

This is advice I didnt take, and I allowed a gathering of ppl in my house after my first chemo (they were all well) I ended up in A&E with a high temp and an outrageous head cold! Not worth it. You have to live your life but you have to be careful. Good luck girls it won't be as bad as you thought, you won't get all the side effects, but you will get some and after the first one is done you can plan the next few and life will motor on

Thanks Ania,

Yes, that was one of the most important pieces of advice the Con. said he had was 'to keep away from sick people', which may be a little difficult as I will have children attending school everyday and I am sure they would be bringing some nice bugs home with them, but as you say, having the hand sanitiser at the ready should help!

Thanks again,
Mxx

I know guys! I'm a teacher so u can't even attempt a return back to work until chemo finishes completely!!

Just a question- what or when are the "low days"? I have a session with nurse in Monday so will prob get loads of info then, but always find everyone here gives better answers!!!

Work?.. What's that lol? I'm minding myself for the next year. It differs for people neadie but my black day was Sunday for the five and I'm presuming this will be the same. I have mine on a Monday. Once you get through the first one which isn't the hardest the pattern generally stays the same so you can work your life around it. At moment I have the bad taste on my mouth because I get carbo platin but that will ease after Sunday. You'll be fine and once you get started you can look forward to the end date xxx

I just can't wait to get back to school! I really really miss having the structure to my day and seeing my friends....

Chemo day for me will be a Thursday- so counting 7 from that, Wednesday's may be a bit grim??

I'm afraid neadie you may forget structure for the moment as chemo consumes you it's all you can think about even if its hoping for he days you'll be we'll or when you're well dreading going in for more. Just enjoy the rest and do what your body tells you. I started a diary and it was good for looking back on.

I'm hoping to get back to work in September- it's going to be a very long 9 months......

It will be if you let it. You won't be poorly for 9 months so you need to fill your time constructively. I'm looking forward to doing something different so I'll be visiting my local cancer support group and might help out if I can. Going to spend more time with my mother who is fantastic and turns 80 on 10th feb. Going to turn this horrible thing that has happened to me into a positive experience.

My dad wants me to do a bit of filing/ paperwork for him if I can so that will be a challenge I'll be taking on with welcome open arms!!!

Just get me to 18 weeks time.....it just seems so bloody long!

Xx

I know it's ok for me to say but it passes and I enjoyed the days I felt well and at this minute I'm looking forward to a lovely roast chicken dinner next week when I can taste again. That's what I hate the most the taste on my mouth and I don't know if you'll get that. It's horrible but it's not unbearable. I appreciate my food so much now. Makes you think different

Good luck Neadi with chemo. The information session is very good who are you with Aileen or Nollaig? They will give you a sheet with lots of useful info on. You will have to play it a bit by ear until the first one is over to see what your pattern is. Everyone is different. You might have injections to take others don't.

I finished my last chemo (of 2nd unexpected regieme) yesterday. Starting to feel the effects of nausea already but hopeful that this is the last one for me. As they told me in July that I was done with chemo this 2nd regieme came as a surprise so I am crossing my fingers but not holding my breath .... unable to multitask post cancer lol!

Seeing oncology on the 16th so god knows what the plan is next ...

Mary will be a couple of weeks before I can go to Bray but will contact you to hook up to join. Was hoping to do pottery or relaxation stuff but haven't received their programme of events yet.

Thinking good thoughts .... onwards and upwards.

Thanks Dane!

We'll be meeting nollaig on Monday. So apprehensive about everything- just don't know what to expect....

I hope that you've finally seen the end of chemo- keeping my fingers crossed for you

Xx

Yes it's all about the pattern so you need to get first one over with then you can deal with it. I'm in post chemo land with horrible taste on my mouth and dying for some nice dinner but couldn't stomach it. I'm wishing these few days away as by Tuesday I will be a happy woman. Love to go to sleep till then and just wake up but it's so good that hopefully this is the last time please God. I hate being presumptious but I am positive.

Yes dane7 I haven't gone in yet but I plan to do all that now that I'll be finished. If I go in next week I'll let you know what it was like

Hi Neadi and AnRiocht

Neadi you were asking about the "low days" you are on chemo every three weeks like me. Basically after day seven for the next seven days your immune system will be very low (I call this my cocoon period) this is when you should avoid say big get togethers in your hour or others. Make sure any house you visit ask if anyone is sick. They say to avoid cafes and shopping centres, public transport and the like. So basically the middle week you are at highest risk of infeciton so take it easy that week.

On the steriods I take them for three day safter chemo. Day One Sleep I always wake up at 4.20 (seriously same time) then I am usually wide awake however last time managed to go back to sleep again. Find in those days get a few hot flushes from them and try do a lot of things around the house suppose they give energy. Take them Sunday. Monday-Friday I would be feeling very tired, sort of dragging myself around the place, eat well but taste not great. From the Saturday onways for the next nearly 11 days I am usually ok. At the moment I am flying always am the last week. Only puked once and thats cos I didnt realise that I should take the anit-sickness even if you dont feel sick. I ALWAYS take my anti-sickness tablets they are preventative tablets so if you feel sick its too late to take them.

Thats about it hopefully the two of you will be like me and honestly thats no too bad at all

Best of luck M and see you on Thursday S

PS DANE deadly that you are finished