4 cycles EC finished

Dear Parkrunner,

Thank you for posting about the Taxol blackening your big toenails.

I asked the chemo nurse and a gp and they were so unconcerned and unphased by the look of my nail.

In fact, the chemo nurse said that the nail issue was nothing to do with the chemo!!!

It saddens me that these are words that other less inquisitive ladies may take seriously.

The gp wasn't actually my regular doctor. She insisted that my oncologist is the one to ask about the prosthetic and new bra.

I just am feeling extremely critical of these women.

I had a week that began with a lie and stuff up regarding my transport, then this followed through to the end of the week when my homecare cleaner was booked to clean at 10.15am Friday morning. No arrival so at 10.50am I had to phone homecare to finally be told that cleaning would happen after shopping at 3pm.

I busted myself to prepare for the cleaning at 10.15am, for absolutely no reason.

I phoned to ask when my doctor would be available, as it is the holidays. I was told by one of her receptionists, "This Saturday, between 8am and 4pm."

Jumped out of bed this morning to leave home at 7.25am to see my beloved doctor. Got to the medical centre to be told that she wasn't there and wouldn't be there until tomorrow.

Even a chemo brain understands the difference between Saturday and Sunday. I've spoken english my whole life and this was the final crap for the week.

This afternoon was great as the washing has been folded and put away. I managed to watch Fellowship of the Ring and feel satisfied that tomorrow will be a much better day.

I have my second dose of Taxol on Tuesday, if my bloods are ok Monday.

I really have no reason to be grumpy about anything tonight.

Just a shower and clean pjs for bed and then everything will be perfect. In fact, they're perfect right now.

My mouth is clean after brushing and rinsing. My tummy is full after yummy dinner. I have everything I need and I am content.

How did you treat your nails? The gp reckons I just need to let it grow out. I will have to wait a couple of months and put teatree oil on them. I don't have any sort of infection or fungal growth on my feet.

I read that having Vitamin B5 is helpful?

I trust the info that doctors and nurses give me, not so much after this week.

The issue with the transport on Monday was covered by my sending my bloods and chemo schedule to the person responsible for organising my drivers. He has no excuse to not get it right now. How simple did I make it for him? Simple enough that a child in primary school could understand it. :)

Happy New Year if I am unable to come on line before. Am still feeling tired from AC and unable to do my arm exercises each day. I still do my best to remember to do the slide up the door way and to pull my shoulder blades together. I helps stop the pain and aching under my armpit.:)

I stopped taking the panadol osteo tabs 3 times a day and this is why the pain crept back in.

Now when I feel the pain, I have a couple of the panadol osteo tabs(once or twice a day), rather than just having them for the sake of having them. They're working better this way and I feel the benefit of them relieving the pain.:)