Forum Discussion

BirdGirl's avatar
BirdGirl
Member
14 years ago

Time flies!

Well here we are, it is the middle of July already! I have now finished chemotherapy...wahoo and hip hip hooray for that! Got through my six cycles without any delays so that was lucky. So glad that part is over with.

I lost most of my eyebrows and lashes but now have hair growing back on my head at last. It came through as a soft fuzz (which I then shaved down) and now I have a 'number 2' all over....and plenty of grey coming back! Not happy Jan...pass me the hair dye quick!

I am now well into radiation treatment. No, the fun doesn't end. I was prescribed 25 sessions over 5 weeks and I now have only 7 more to go.

Side effects? I recommend putting paw paw ointment on radiation burns, certainly helps and my skin has just a slight pink tinge to it (looks a little like mild sunburn). I found the sorbolene absorbed too quickly and I had to keep reapplying throughout the day.

Have had a sore throat for the past week or so too. Radiation side effect when treating neck region. I have been eating plenty of soft foods, like rice pudding, ice cream, custards and mousse! Hope the soreness goes quickly after treatment ends.

Tiredness? A little. But most of that is the driving in and out of town for treatment each day. Appointments can be all over the place (time wise) so it disrupts normal routines.

Have my script for Tamoxifen ready to begin the last phase in another week. Have also changed my other medications to ones that are safe to take with hormone therapy. My cupboard looks like a chemist shop!

BCNA forum in Cairns a few weeks back was very informative. I am now looking forward to attending the national conference in Sydney in October. I have been lucky enough to win financial support to attend. I will be travelling with another 'pink friend' I have met in Cairns who is also on her own breast cancer journey. We are both looking forward to getting away from our kids and partners for a few days!

Take care and hope you are all doing well.

Natalie :)

1 Reply

  • LisaG's avatar
    LisaG
    Member
    14 years ago

    Hi Birdgirl

    Thanks for sharing. It has been a big help to read of your reactions to Taxotere. I am now on day 14 of my first cycle of this combined with Cyclophosphamide. I also found it hit me in the mouth and throat. My tongue was grey and festy by day 3 and has some interesting and stingy blisters at the back and down the sides (so that they catch between my teeth sometimes - ouch). I was using biotene but then I have just spent several days in hospital after turning nuetropaenic when my white cells shrunk to zero last week. The nurses there recommended I go on to a routine of "Sodibic" mouthwash - a preparation made with bicarb soda and menthol - and a swish with "Nilstat" to finish after each meal. It seems to be helping.

    I guess its probably too late now to tell you that I have had a couple of friends now who have been down this road and swear by a cream you can buy online called "Radx" for radiation burn. You rub it on straight after your zapping and they reckon its magic. You can check it out on a website called "lessons learned". Otherwise you can just order it online yourself but Jillian orders it in bulk to Brisbane. I am planning to give it a go myself but I just need to get myself through the next few weeks first. I am on four cycles of chemo and five weeks of radiation (not sure how many till I have my appt next week with the radiation oncologist).

    I am also in Cairns. Perhaps we can catch up sometime.  :-)

    Good luck with the last zaps!