Hello

Golly Anne-marie, you must have great oncol. staff I have never been offered anything, even when I wanted a script for the dexamethasone as I won't have enough for the last cycle I was told to go to my GP. must be because I do not come from the town that I have to go to for the chemo. And when the nausea got bad and the maxolon wasn't working I rang them and she said she wasn't worried as I wasn't vomiting!!!! I rang my GP and he gave me a script for Zofran as they only give you the exact amount each time so I had none spare.

Well hope you enjoy the pictures and do have a good laugh.

Looking forward to hearing from you again.

Jacqui xx

Don't be sorry Jacqui.  Like I said I am going in knowing the worst and hoping for the best.  Everyone is different and our bodies all react to the side effects differently.  I was nervous regardless as it is unknown territory.  I think I will go for the 'magic pill' to calm my nerves before chemo tomorrow.  They always offer it to me but I haven't needed it since my first chemo.

This afternoon I am going to the movies (gold class) to see Bridesmaids with 30 girlfriends.  That should be a good laugh and help me take my mind off things.

Will let you know how I go later in the week

Ann-Marie xx

Hi Ann-Marie, I hope I haven't scared you with what I have written, I am really sorry if I have but it is honestly just how it has been for me, just remember that you may be like Loretta and sail through it like the Queen Mary. I just wish I had been more prepared and should have asked more questions I suppose but I am a trusting person and believed what they told me.

The nausea has not been as bad as with the FEC it comes more in waves for me unfortunately you never know when it will come, like in the middle of a phone conversation with the boss and you have to abruptly say gotta go!!!

I just can't believe this last night our electric blanket gave up.....it was such a good source of relief so will have to get another one but honestly what a year........since Jan .........things that have broken and had to be replaced..........washing machine, fridge, pool pump, fish tank pump and now the blanket got to be smooth sailing from now on surely!!!!! none of these were cheap to replace and just when I am not working much...whinge whinge, whinge.

I also find concentrating very difficult I love doing crosswords and reading but read a page and can't remember what I read 10 minutes later.

I would keep the hand cream up I did and my hands are still peeling.

Well I am all stocked up with Tic Tacs, lemonade ice blocks, bulls eye lollies, 1 ltr sorbelen cream, plus aveeno moisturiser, 1ltr alpha keri intensive cream cleanser (really good on the skin for washing), maxalon,zofran, biotene products, can anyone think of anything I have forgotten as we live out of town and not easy to duck in on the spur of the moment to get things.

Oh and will get a blanket!!!!

Good luck tomorrow Ann-marie, I am sure you will be ok, keep in touch.

Cheerio for now,

Jacqui xx

 

Hi Ann-Marie, I hope I haven't scared you with what I have written, I am really sorry if I have but it is honestly just how it has been for me, just remember that you may be like Loretta and sail through it like the Queen Mary. I just wish I had been more prepared and should have asked more questions I suppose but I am a trusting person and believed what they told me.

The nausea has not been as bad as with the FEC it comes more in waves for me unfortunately you never know when it will come, like in the middle of a phone conversation with the boss and you have to abruptly say gotta go!!!

I just can't believe this last night our electric blanket gave up.....it was such a good source of relief so will have to get another one but honestly what a year........since Jan .........things that have broken and had to be replaced..........washing machine, fridge, pool pump, fish tank pump and now the blanket got to be smooth sailing from now on surely!!!!! none of these were cheap to replace and just when I am not working much...whinge whinge, whinge.

I also find concentrating very difficult I love doing crosswords and reading but read a page and can't remember what I read 10 minutes later.

I would keep the hand cream up I did and my hands are still peeling.

Well I am all stocked up with Tic Tacs, lemonade ice blocks, bulls eye lollies, 1 ltr sorbelen cream, plus aveeno moisturiser, 1ltr alpha keri intensive cream cleanser (really good on the skin for washing), maxalon,zofran, biotene products, can anyone think of anything I have forgotten as we live out of town and not easy to duck in on the spur of the moment to get things.

Oh and will get a blanket!!!!

Good luck tomorrow Ann-marie, I am sure you will be ok, keep in touch.

Cheerio for now,

Jacqui xx

 

 

Hi Ladies

I have my 1st of 3 taxotere tomorrow after 3 rounds of FEC and feeling a little nervous.  I have been keeping a close eye on this blog and now have a picture of how it might be for me in the coming weeks.  Although I am now going in with an open mind and doing what Jacquie would have preferred - know the worst and hope for the best.

Looking back over the last 3 chemo rounds it has been hard but manageable so i'm hoping taxotere won't be harder just different.  Let's hope I get less nausea - I can't stand that - and that the truck that hits me is not a semi!  

So far ...

My mouth and taste buds have been fine - I've been using biotene products since day 1. Will get some of the lollies suggested today.

My nails are getting bumpy and a red ring at the top of the nail bed???? Not sure what that's about.  I've been using polish, revitanail and hand cream sporadically - guess I need to be more vigilant with this.  Hubby does 90% of the dishes and I am now using gloves for the 10% I do.

My eyebrows are hanging in there and I actually have some hair growing on my head. It is very very sparse but evenly spread and about 1cm long.  I also need to wax my legs - why does it fall out where we want it and stay where we don't?

My skin seems fine, a little dry at times and I seem to bruise more easily.  I moisturise daily and use very gentle soap/body wash.  

The fatigue can be overwhelming,  I'm usually such an active person.  I have made some big changes in my life to combat this and had to learn to say no. I save all my energy for my kids and family.  

Motivation is low and some days (good days) I am so unproductive - cleaning, washing, ironing, work - I find myself going around in circles, getting very distracted and only achieving a 1/4 of what I set out to do.  Is this chemo brain?  I also find myself zoning out when people are talking to me - I used to be a good listener.

Well I wasn't planning on writing so much I just got on a roll.  I hope you are still feeling better Jacqui and that the rest of you are soldiering on too.  Tonya keep up the humour, I love it!

Keep smiling

Ann-Marie xx

 

Hi Ladies

I have my 1st of 3 taxotere tomorrow after 3 rounds of FEC and feeling a little nervous.  I have been keeping a close eye on this blog and now have a picture of how it might be for me in the coming weeks.  Although I am now going in with an open mind and doing what Jacquie would have preferred - know the worst and hope for the best.

Looking back over the last 3 chemo rounds it has been hard but manageable so i'm hoping taxotere won't be harder just different.  Let's hope I get less nausea - I can't stand that - and that the truck that hits me is not a semi!  

So far ...

My mouth and taste buds have been fine - I've been using biotene products since day 1. Will get some of the lollies suggested today.

My nails are getting bumpy and a red ring at the top of the nail bed???? Not sure what that's about.  I've been using polish, revitanail and hand cream sporadically - guess I need to be more vigilant with this.  Hubby does 90% of the dishes and I am now using gloves for the 10% I do.

My eyebrows are hanging in there and I actually have some hair growing on my head. It is very very sparse but evenly spread and about 1cm long.  I also need to wax my legs - why does it fall out where we want it and stay where we don't?

My skin seems fine, a little dry at times and I seem to bruise more easily.  I moisturise daily and use very gentle soap/body wash.  

The fatigue can be overwhelming,  I'm usually such an active person.  I have made some big changes in my life to combat this and had to learn to say no. I save all my energy for my kids and family.  

Motivation is low and some days (good days) I am so unproductive - cleaning, washing, ironing, work - I find myself going around in circles, getting very distracted and only achieving a 1/4 of what I set out to do.  Is this chemo brain?  I also find myself zoning out when people are talking to me - I used to be a good listener.

Well I wasn't planning on writing so much I just got on a roll.  I hope you are still feeling better Jacqui and that the rest of you are soldiering on too.  Tonya keep up the humour, I love it!

Keep smiling

Ann-Marie xx

Yep,I finished with chemo last August and my hair was a long time coming! I did radiotherapy 8yrs ago with my first bout of breast cancer.In hindsight it was a piece of cake compared to chemo.Take care.

                          Tonya xx

Yep,I finished with chemo last August and my hair was a long time coming! I did radiotherapy 8yrs ago with my first bout of breast cancer.In hindsight it was a piece of cake compared to chemo.Take care.

                          Tonya xx

I am wondering if it is a new psychological (if that's how you spell it) approach to try and keep you calm by telling you all this bs. I will not be holding back on Friday and will give them some advice on what they should be telling people, I am one of the people that appreciate the truth and manage much better with it even if it is not pleasant, lets face it you have to go through with it anyway so might as well know the worst and hope for the lesser.

How are you going Tonya, hair growing? what are you up to now, finished chemo? did you have to have radiotherapy?.

Thanks for the support,

Luv Jacqui xxx

Hi Loretta, I will tell my onc about the side effects that I have been having. I guess a lot may depend on how fit and healthy you are when you start the cancer journey, I am usually a fairly fit and healthy person but since Jan I have had 4 ops and now 4 cycles of chemo so my body is not at its healthiest, it hasn't had the chance to recover before the next round of ops/chemo begins, and mentally I think after 6 months of "recovering" you do get a bit down which probably doesn't help the process. And as you say maybe the next cycle will not effect me at all or not as severe.

Anyway I am very pleased for you that you are finding it  bearable and hope there are the majority of people out there that find it that way.

Cheerio for now,

Jacqui xxx