Struggling through Chemo

Hello my fellow strugglers, I hope you all had a better Christmas than last year.

Today marks 1 year since my first chemo, I remember sitting in the car on the way to the appointment thinking 'this time next year chemo will be done and dusted'. 

1 year on I'm feeling almost normal, with the addition of some extra muscle aches, a not quite right right shoulder and the ongoing medication and appointments. None of these things really impact my day to day life, although the monthly injections are a bit of an inconvenience, especially when trying to figure out travel. My husband may need to expand his nursing duties now to include zolodex injections, or maybe I'll get my ovaries removed and solve that problem permanently.

Other than those niggling issues I'm feeling well, my hair has grown back pretty much like it was before, possibly a bit more wavey, but the colour is the same, and I've had my first proper haircut. I've lost about 10kg, which thankfully was a good silver lining for me. I feel a little bit reborn with the weight loss and new hair.

Life carries on, and I'm grateful to be living in a time when I can access all the treatment I've had, and continue to have access to, giving me a very good chance of a future I wouldn't have had. 

Wishing you all a happy and healthy 2025. 

Katie

Hi @Coastiejas, sorry to hear about the lymphodema 😔 but happy that everything else is going well. It will be interesting to see if the veroza works, I'm getting hot flushes, but coping with them so far.

My reduced dose abemaciclib (100x2 per day) is going well, I've started the second pack, and so far none of the horrid side effects, which kicked in after a week or so on the higher dose. Definitely an option if you are struggling with it.

Hi Ladies 
I had my lymphoedema sozo reading yesterday and unfortunately it was up so I'm back in the awful sleeve full-time again just in time for the stinking hot weather we have been having!  (They were weaning me out of it). But I also saw my oncologist who was happy with me, my bloods were "pristine" and she suggested trying veoza / fezolinetant for my hot flushes,  apparently it doesn't interfere with my other hormone medication (different action) and can be prescribed by my gp. Thought others may want to know about it too!
Hope everyone is going well and having a good weekend 😊 

Thanks @Tri
I hope you are going well also!
Onwards and upwards indeed! 👍 

Hi @Katie46 @GorgyS @Coastiejas and @Rona 
Just chiming in here to say 🌸👏🙌🙌🥳 “woot!! on your various stages of progress! I felt so happy to see this; wishing you all the best - onwards and upwards! 
 

thanks Katie46. I have started with 150 mg x 2 daily. I will be seeing the once in two weeks and will see what he says. I think the skin rash started with letrozole, but abemaciclib gives me a headache. Will see. Th

Hi @GorgyS, I had some skin issues with the paclitaxel and found that sorbolene really helped, I use Redwins sorbolene which is great value, and my fussy skin loves it. I also mix in a bit of Palmers Skin Therapy Oil, I was using it on my surgery scar, and love the scent, so I started adding it to the sorbolene.

If it doesn't settle down I'm sure your oncologist will look at an alternative for you. 

I've been on the lower dose abemaciclib (100mg × 2 tablets daily) for almost 4 weeks (with a few days break in the middle) and so far the lower dose is much better. I don't seem to be getting the same issues as before, other than  my appetite is a bit reduced, I just have to eat smaller portions.

thank you Rona 

Hey GorgyS, maybe just try for a while under instruction from your Oncologist. Side effects sometimes settle down after a few weeks. Try and reassure yourself that they would stop this medication if it was harmful. 

I have developed rash and itchy skin since on letrozole. My oncologist told me to keep it moisturized and take some antihistamines. I can still tolerate it but not sure how it is going to progress.