Struggling through Chemo

Congratulations Coastiejas! Hope you get a little break before Radiation. Let us know how you go. Here we all go….. off on another journey 😊

Hi Ladies 
I rang the bell today!!!!!!!! 🥳🥳🥳
I'm tired but relieved that's behind me.... bring on the next lot of treatment!

@Coastiejas have fun ringing the bell 🔔 🔔 tomorrow 🥳 it's a great feeling to get it finished.

@Rona, they told me no raw food and no soft cheese, no runny eggs while my immune system was down. So, of course, that's all I could think about for 5 months 🙄

I will have radiation on my left side as well. My oncologist has explained the process, but she hasn't scared me too much about the part where I need to hold my breath to protect my heart from damage. I have gone through a lot with the tests and treatments, and I am determined to beat this. :) 

Hi Ladies 
I have my last chemo tomorrow all being well! I bought my victory Bell 🔔  on the weekend and have been practising ringing it! Well done @Katie46 for finishing chemo🥳 and we'll done @Paris_24 for finishing up the AC🥳 -the paclitaxel hopefully will be kinder to you..... keep up the treat regime! 
@Rona thanks for the heads up about the snorkelling, I will probably have something like that too as mine was left side and I  remember being told about having to hold my breath to avoid damage to the heart...oh joy!
I have a CT and mapping coming up but apparently I don't get tattoos which is disappointing! 
My hair is already regrowing but blonde and fluffy....I was blonde before it fell out.... don't say it's white, call it platinum blonde.... and don't call it grey..... it's ash blonde!!! 😉 The hair seems to grow back everywhere you don't want it to.... like the sides of my face which is fluffy like a peach.... 
One of my nurses who has been through all of this herself did warn me about tearing up after the last chemo...apparently it's quite common!
Keep calm and carry on Ladies.... we've got this! Xxoo

Hey Katie, it sounds like you are doing well and yes, it’s great to finally finish chemo but with that twist of “goodbye for ever), it’s emotional. 

Sorry to hear you're feeling a bit down Rona, but I'm sure that's completely natural. Getting chemo done is such an achievement and a bit of a high, and then you have to prepare to soldier on with the next stage of the journey. 

I got a bit emotional ringing the bell 🔔, everyone cheered, and my husband printed me a Last Chemo sign, which made me cry (happy tears). 

@Paris_24 and @GorgyS my oncologist said I'd have 3-4 week break after chemo. My McGrath nurse organised my CT scan and set up to be done on a day when I was already there, I did have an appointment for 3 June, but a free appointment must have come up. No mention of holding my breath they just got me settled into position on my beanbag which they pumped air into to mold to my shape in the position they wanted, and it was comfortable enough. I will use this for each appointment so I'm in the same position.They took a load of measurements and gave me 2 freckle marker tattoos, and used 2 of my actual freckles as well. My cancer was in my inside right breast, so I'll be getting radiation to my right breast, under arm and clavicle. I am practising holding my breath just in case. If they hand me a snorkel Rona, at least you have me prepared! 

I've been told I can eat goats cheese and sushi in four weeks. My white blood count is only slightly down, so my immune system should be good to go then.

Hopefully your taste will come back soon Rona, I was lucky and never completely lost mine, and I didn't get the strange taste in my mouth either. It's improved a bit on the reduced dose, so I'm hopeful it will be back to normal fairly soon.

I have an appointment with my oncologist on Friday, and we'll be discussing hormone therapy, I assume I'll be starting that sooner rather than later. 

The thought of radiation therapy doesn't bother me too much, I'm not looking forward to hormone therapy and hoping I don't get too many side effects, particularly as I think they said I'd be on it for 7-10 years.

Congratulations Katie! I’m glad to hear they had a bell for you to ring. I felt a bit emotional leaving there for the last time but I’m over it now 😂.
They certainly aren’t wasting any time for you Katie, I’ve only just had my mapping done yesterday too. I don’t want to alarm anyone bout the radiation but for me I’m actually terrified. I had cancer in my left breast and had a mastectomy (was made aware yesterday that treatment is different for left and right) so I have to have a hose with a mouth piece to breathe through, with my nose clamped off! I have to inhale to full capacity then the air is switched off! I then have to hold my breath for 30 seconds whilst in the machine having radiation delivered. This will occur up to ten times per session 😢. This is to keep my heart from being radiated as much as possible……. I had a dummy run yesterday and I am not looking forward to this at all!! I just have to keep a strong head to get me through. I had no idea this is what it would be like. I have constant pain in my left arm and was actually grateful I didn’t have cancer on the right…… now I’m not so sure 😩.
I also had an oncologist appointment on Friday, she wants me to start tamoxifen already, have a bone density scan blah blah. I’m just over it all tbh…..I’m still struggling with fatigue and the taste thing. I’m still losing weight and I just want a break and my old life back…….I should be grateful I know for having my life saved but negative Nancy has kicked in. 

well done, Katie46. I have the same question as Paris_24. I have 5 more of Taxol to go through and started really looking forward to the radiation part. 

@Katie46 congratulations Katie for finishing your chemo regime and moving onto radiation readiness.  Are they giving you a break in between or do you just keep rolling through?