Get Connected Day!

Hi, when I went through chemo I was very lucky and was never sick I just felt tired. One of the things that annoyed me the most was the aweful metal taste that came with chemo. A nurse got me onto little musk lollys. they helped heaps, I know my pharmacy here sells them in bags of 100 or so, they almost look like a fat tablet, also my chemo ladies used to give a few men icypoles during their chemo (obviously different chemo to mine) but that was nice and just another way to keep up your fluids.Take in some relaxing music or a good book,  drink heaps to help flush and we will be thinking of you through your journey.  Kaz

Hi,  I was very lucky and never had any burning with radiation although the day I started I had a lady show me her burns (unasked and shock /horror!!) but it made me more dilligent to keep up lotions. I used sorbolene with vit E and also Aloe Vera (100%)  I run a support group here in Geraldton,WA and often ask pharmacys for samples to give to any ladies heading to Perth for radiation so now know that -QV have a range of repair cream and shower wash and Blackmores have a natural Vit E cream. Make sure you dont use any perfumed products (deo, shampoo/cond etc) and 3 or 4 times a day  cream-up and hopefully you will have a burn free effect like me. best of luck

Suz,

I haven't started radiation yet that isn't till mid January . I will have to travel to Townsville and stay there for 5 weeks. We don't have any radiation faciliites in Cairns yet. Hope your radiation treatment gets better for you.

Deb

Hi, congrates for getting through, I am now 4 years on and have most of my strenght back, am back gardening, and doing most things I did before bc.  I found exercise really good for building up my stamina and this was something that was repeated many times at the 2nd conference for younger woman with BC. Start slow and before you know it BAM your almost ready to run a marathon, lol, good luck and I know what you mean about our men helping us through, it makes all the difference, on ya Brian xx

Kathy,

Thanks for your reply, all what you wrote is what I have gone through too. I have found ginger tablets to be of help too as the other antinausea tablets they were giving me made me  feel a little weird and very fatigued. I am also having treatments every 3 weeks - 4 to go now. Hope you are well.  Thanks again. Deb

Hi Celeste

Did you know that you can have a blood test that will test if your body is metobolising tamoxifen, that will tell you if the tamoxifen is working on you.

Might be worth mentioning to your doctor does this test while you are still on Zoloft (and if you are happy still taking Zoloft).  The test is not on the PBS, and is around $100.00 I believe.  The test has been available in the US for some time but I think it has only recently been available here in Australia.

Someone in your medical team could probably tell you a little more info about this and whether this would be appropriate for you.

Tanya

Hi, I'd be interested to hear from anyone who has switched from zoloft to another antidepressant due to zoloft apparently inhibiting the effectiveness of tamoxifen??...I've had mixed responses from my medical treatment team and read mixed responses from internet sites/drug interactor sites and media releases etc. Some research states without a doubt that zoloft shouldn't be taken while on tamoxifen, as it can interfere with the enzyme known as CYP2D6 that stimulates the activation of tamoxifen. BCNA website only refers to Aropax (paroxetine) as being a CYP2D6 inhibitor. Just wondering if anyone has switched from zoloft to a different anti-depressant because they are on tamoxifen...and if so which one, and how they are finding it? Celeste

Hi all, I've been browsing around for a week or so and only just now found this page....oh well better late than never. Iam just up to my 12 month mark for being diagnosed..so far everything is good..I am feeling back to my normal self where I can do things again and feel well. I was glad to finish my Chemo back in March as I had a bad reaction to the Docetaxel. Ireally don't know what I would have done without my Husband Brian..he virtually had to do everything for about 8 weeks....I couldn't walk or stand for any longer than a couple of mins...my feet were peeling and blistered and my muscles had seemed to stop working....but that is all behind me now and count my blessings every day..Life is wonderful.

Genevieve

I am also new and have just started radiotherapy yesterday - any good tips from anyone would be much appreciated - I have already had a reaction to the oil used to remove the treatment lines and now use sorbylene cream.  I have so many allergies to lanolin, nuts, all kinds of things including sunscreens.  I am also finding some difficulty with bras and have reorted to sports tops that seem to be working better for me. Any practical ideas would be welcome.

Suz

Hi Debbie, i had my first chemo 12 months ago tomorrow, i was very sick after my first one, but i mentioned it to my oncologist and he changed my anti nausea tablets and i wasn't too bad after that, other symptoms included, diarrhoea, constipation, tiredness. my hair started to come out  two weeks after my first treatment,   i used to have my treatments every three weeks on a friday, and i usually felt almost normal after the second week, as a treat my husband and i used to go out for dinner. i must admit it wasn't as bad as i was expecting it to be, stay positive

kathy