What has helped you through your journey?

I love this thread. In fact, I think it's the longest and most informed ( lol at times too) I've come across. Thank you for creating. Yes, water, water and more water. Walk each day to relieve those sore joints and as most have said stay clear of people with colds. I was having chemo over Xmas last year. Avoid if you can everyone wanting to kiss you during the festive season which I hadn't thought about until my nurses explained the possible risks. Just explain, friends won't be offended. Calcium for your bones and vitamin D to help absorb the calcium tablets eg. Caltrate. I hadn't realised that the steroid we take demexathone ( can't spell it at the moment) takes months to fully get out of your body. The added weight I put on and fluid retention is now starting to leave my system finally. It's taken well over 6mths. This may not be a side effect of everyone but it was for me. I'm thankful as its lifted my spirits. Oh and I love what someone said in the chemo ward to me, she said just think we are getting a face lift inside our body's with all our cells being replaced with new ones! Our complexions haven't looked better! All the best you gorgeous and wonderful people and happy new year ! Xoxo Donna

Great if all the posts help those starting the chemo train. Try not to get concerned when they give you the sheet of possible side effects. Al of us get some of them a few of us get ones not on the list but none of us get all of them. Stress is the biggest issue so do whatever it takes to reduce stress --- listen to your favourite music, try to relax and drink plenty of clear fluids before the chemo to make it easier for them to find a vein to get the stuff into you. Plenty more after to flush it out! the toilet is your friend as it means you are getting rid of the toxins and any residual cancer.

Just remember chemo attacks all fast growing cells hence hair loss, issues with sore mouth and gums and anywhere mucos is. It makes us more vulnerable to infections we otherwise might not catch so people with colds and infections should be avoided - you don't want to get pneumonia!

Think of it this way - some people do not require chemo at all but then others had 8 followed by another year of Herceptin infusions like me. Most then are symptom free for years even decades while some have recurrences or new primaries. There always is someone better off than you and plenty who are worse off.

Keep in touch with your humourous friends & family and make excuses to avoid those who always are sick, negative and complaining for your own sanity - your battle is hard enough without the naysayers and people who know of someone far worse than you who .........

I liked to think of myself as being pushed along by the medical train steamrollering me and my body into submission to remove that dratted cancer and any cells which had travelled. It was better than trying vainly to be in control of everything when clearly I was not.

 

Hope this helps,

remember you are on the way up now you have had diagnosis, srugery and are starting chemo. 2013 had got to be better healthwise for most of us

Carol

the fluffy grandma who is enjoying her Japanese spitz dogs and their 6 puppies born the week before Christmas

 

You're not preaching! Thanks for your support and advice. Including thinking I have a great attitude. Currently sitting here with my stomach in knots feeling sick with nerves but it will pass because it has to! Have spent too much time reading about cancer this past week (as one needs to) and it's impossible to not stumble across things that scare me ... so taking a little time out from too much research now decision is made to see if I can rebuild calm and confidence in my head and heart for what lies ahead next. xo

You're not preaching! Thanks for your support and advice. Including thinking I have a great attitude. Currently sitting here with my stomach in knots feeling sick with nerves but it will pass because it has to! Have spent too much time reading about cancer this past week (as one needs to) and it's impossible to not stumble across things that scare me ... so taking a little time out from too much research now decision is made to see if I can rebuild calm and confidence in my head and heart for what lies ahead next. xo

Pleased to see you found this blog... just remember to take it easy.. even when you are at work... and stay away from sick people!!

If I had to do it over again (god I hope not)..... I would

• Exercise more often - An easy 10 min walk is better than nothing (I did a lot of nothing)
• Drink more water, then drink some more - flush the shxxx out. Lemonade worked until my taste buds changed....
• Fibre, Fibre and more fibre - consipation comes hand in hand with Chemo, it creaps up and really sucks.... try a couple of Brazil nuts.. other friends juiced...

Sorry not here to preach.... you've read the blog and you have a fantastic attitude.... good luck.

Trina

Pleased to see you found this blog... just remember to take it easy.. even when you are at work... and stay away from sick people!!

If I had to do it over again (god I hope not)..... I would

• Exercise more often - An easy 10 min walk is better than nothing (I did a lot of nothing)
• Drink more water, then drink some more - flush the shxxx out. Lemonade worked until my taste buds changed....
• Fibre, Fibre and more fibre - consipation comes hand in hand with Chemo, it creaps up and really sucks.... try a couple of Brazil nuts.. other friends juiced...

Sorry not here to preach.... you've read the blog and you have a fantastic attitude.... good luck.

Trina

Hey Dawngirl

I also used to hate pink, was definitely not my colour 12 months ago but now half my wardrobe consists of pink!!!! I bought various pink outfits to go to the Sydney conference recently and I have just continued to buy pink. It goes nicely with my new grey and curly head of hair I now have hee hee.

I am glad you have been able to put a list together from our posts above and hopefully you will be armed and ready should you need it. I had my supplies on hand for when and if I needed them and I felt confident I was prepared for the necessary should it arise.

I also wish you a smooth road with your chemo and hope you sail through with not too many side effects. We will all be sending you good healthy vibes.

There are definitely pro's and cons of working for yourself from home.

Good luck. The waiting and the unknown is one of the worst parts of dealing with chemo. I believe if you are armed with knowledge then you know how to be prepared. I will be thinking of you.

Lots of love, Mich xoxo

what a fantastic thread to have been started....today I took the call that confirms my chemo starts next friday (four rounds, three months), and instead of having very little idea of what to do to prepare myself for this, I have read every post above and can draw up a shopping list of aids to help me get through some of the symptoms. I am of course going to be in denial about about those who have noted it takes twice or even three times as long to get over the treatment as the length of the treatment, but that's allowed for now isn't it ;-).

and i'm keeping all crossed I am one of those who are able to work through treatment....running my own business....oh how I wish I had a boss I could ring up and say I'm taking three/six months leave paid/unpaid whatever!

so booked in for friday sessions, so I can be ill and under a doona saturday, sunday and monday, and then crawl back into the office for at least a few hours a day tue-fri until the next round.

a huge thanks to everyone above for sharing your thoughts, ideas, insiders tips and spirits.

hope i can help someone along the way, in the way, you pink crew above have helped me.

speaking of which. hate pink. least favourite colour in the world. better get used to it, huh ;-)!

xx

I got the sore sore tongue.

mix 1 tsp bicarb with 1/4-1/2 tsp salt in warm water, mix to dissolve and gargle as often as you can, this really helped...

The salt can sting sometimes and when too bad I would leave the salt out and just use the bicarb, but it really helped, the other things that helped were biotene toothpaste , not as strong flavoured as most others, and biotene mouthwash, also not strong and no alcohol, which can dry the tissues out.

Hope this helps.

Good Luck, and congrats on being nearly finished, only 1 more to goo - woo hoo!!

Sharon

Hi Girls, I'm having 3rd round of FEC out of 4 tomorrow, looking forward to the end of the FEC chapter, then onto radio therepy, hope I don't burn too bad. At the moment feeling fine except this damn sore tongue and gum right up the back near my one and only wisdom tooth. It's so sore and annoying.....love Vicki