Chemo day 11

Chemo Day 11

I've had a lovely lazy weekend, no new side effects from chemo which I'm happy about. I'm very lethargic and my bones are permanently aching but it's bearable, I can walk about and do things now which is great. My sore mouth hasn't got any worse thankfully, but I don't like it at all, could never of imagined a dry scaly mouth before chemo!

I'm struggling to get to sleep and can be 2-3am before I do, but when I do I'm managing 7 hours, I'm taking 2 herbal sleeping pills which I take at 9pm and help me sleep through, I may increase it to 3 see if it helps me get to sleep.

Well that's my 5 days of injecting myself over with for 3 weeks, so happy I can now do it myself, still freaks me out the thought of injecting yourself but I do it :-)

I've had some lovely flowers today from my Neighbour Mickie, thank you so much they're beautiful xx

I had some lovely meals the weekend, Roast vegetable couscous on Friday and on Saturday we tried a new recipe Cauliflower and red pepper casserole, which we had with broccoli, baby corn and greens. I know you meat eaters out there are probably thinking yuk lol but I am veggie and I love what I'm eating, so grateful I can actually taste my food again for now.

Here's the recipe for those of you that want to try it:
http://12tomatoes.com/2014/10/baked-vegetable-recipe-ovenroasted-cauliflower-and-tomato-casserole.html

I talk about food as practicing healthy eating habits throughout cancer treatment is essential. Staying hydrated and maintaining muscle tissue with enough fluids, calories and nutrients can reduce treatment delays, boost your immune system and help minimize debilitating side effects such as fatigue.

This is the roasted garlic sweet potato soup recipe we tried was very yummy and will be using it again. Eating garlic regularly is not only good for us; it has been linked to reversing cancer and infections. Not that I'm expecting it to, but it may help you never know unless you try eh!

http://breastcanceryogablog.com/2015/03/02/garlic-recipe-for-healing-roasted-garlic-sweet-potato-soup/

I baked some cherry and almond cookies on Sunday, the first thing I have baked in my new NEFF oven, I love it. It hurt me to stir the ingredients and I had a little cry but it's only temporary as nearly two weeks since surgery now and I should be able to drive Wednesday. So I only baked one item, but look forward to more soon.

Hope you all had a lovely weekend xx

Flowers from my lovely neighbour Mickie xx

Cauliflower and red pepper casserole.

Mushrooms on toast I had for breakfast...yum yum!

Everyone seems to prefer this wig.

A wig I wore in the stage show
Cabaret and for my 3oth birthday party.

I managed a bit of sun before it rained all weekend!

Cherry & Almond cookies...and they're Vegan.

This made me really lol!

Chemo day 7

Chemo Day 7

Another OK day for me, I'm still lethargic, ache and have a headache but getting around much better. My mouth is getting worse so I've got my special mouth wash on stand by. Not slept again for 2nd night in a row since all my medication for surgery and chemo finished, so maybe a glass of vino tonight, I'm allowed a little drink ;) I also had another full meal today veggie sausage, mash, peas and gravy...yummy!

I have to have daily injections of Filgrastim day 5 to 9 after chemo, this is to help rebuild my white blood cells that the chemo killed off, I need to be fit and healthy ready for my next chemo. Today I injected myself for the first time :-)  I need to be able to do this so I can go back into the office in between future chemo sessions.

I'm so happy I now have 17 family & friends running/walking Race For Life with me, it's going to be a fun day.

I've had a lovely plant and card from all my Am-Dram friends at Rutland Arts Theatre Society, Thank you all so much xx



Hydrangea from RATS xxxx
 

RATS xxx

 

Proof of my red wee - sorry

 



Chemo day 6

Chemo Day 6

Well today is the first day since chemo I'm starting to feel a little more human! I can move about a bit more too so managed a little walk around the garden at lunch time. I slept through for 7 hours for the first time since diagnosis too. New symptom today is the inside of my mouth is dry and a nice little headache to go with it, on top of the lethargy, aching and sore throat.

I've eaten a fully cooked meal too for the first time which I'm so happy about, I need to build my white blood cells back up in time for my next chemo 10/04/15 and it tasted good. Pasta and meatless balls hehe :-)

I've also had a lovely bunch of flowers today from my work colleagues in the Stafford Office, thank you all so much they're beautiful, happy tears again hehe!

I've also got two fundraising pages on the go, one for Breast Cancer Care for my hair cut and one for Cancer Research UK for Race for Life I am doing 31/05/15 in Stamford. There is still time to join me and my 11 warriors, get yourself signed up on the 5k run now, if you want to join my group use the code ZP2456 we're called AJ's Warriors. I will be walking it, I am no runner, never have been and never will be, or maybe I'll wear my roller skates and get dragged round, chemo depending, but I will get round the course no matter what. So please donate even if it's only a £1, we want a cure for Cancer NOW! :-D

Fundraising pages:

Hair cut for Breast Cancer Care


Race For Life for Cancer Research UK

Thank you Elster Stafford xxx
 

Beautiful flowers from Elster Stafford xx

Watch me kick it :-)

My beautiful Hyacinths are opening from Heather & Johnny xx

My neighbour Annie sent me some lovely daffodils xx

Chemo day 5

Chemo Day 5

Had a rough night, but only woke twice. Symptoms are starting to ease a little and getting about a bit better. I've managed to eat beans on toast today, my first solids, I sound like a baby lol! I look like a baby too now with my new hair cut...not!

So I'm all prepared for going bald, I managed to sit still long enough which surprised me too.  I've not had my hair this short for 20 years, so it's a bit of a shock and very cold round the neck and ears. But thank you goes to Alison Hornby my wonderful hairdresser who was very gentle with me. She plaited my hair first then cut them off before styling what was left. She's done an amazing job :-D

I was going to donate my hair to the Princes Trust that make wigs for children with cancer, but there sadly wouldn't be enough for them after cutting of all my split ends and all the colour I've had on it...bad girl for not looking after my hair. So I'm now going to sew my plaits into my hats :-)

If you would please sponsor me I'd be most grateful as Breast Cancer Care have helped me so much already and every £1 counts. xx

https://www.justgiving.com/Ajscancerjourney/

My wonderful hairdresser Alison Hornby, thank you so much xxx

"The Alien"
 (Lauren will know what we mean)

Chemo day 3

Chemo Day 3

Another very lazy day, feeling lethargic, heavy, aching and sick. Managing to get about and sit downstairs, drinking lots. But only managed a bit of soup today. My mom managed to wash my hair over the bath for me as I still can't raise my arms enough after surgery. It's been lovely having my mom here for the week, I miss her already. I managed to sit in the garden for half an hour which was lovely. Had a rough night with the nausea. xx

A bit of sun in the garden
 

Chemo day2

Chemo Day 2

A very lazy day, feeling lethargic, heavy, aching and sick. Managing to get about and sit downstairs, drinking lots and eating little and often.  I had a lovely key ring from Nicola and a card from Trevor and Heather. xx




Anchor keyring side 1 from Nicola



 

Anchor keyring side 2 from Nicola

Card from Trevor & Heather

My Aunt Sally Cheeks form the steroids

My surgery scars

My surgery scars
 

First Day of Chemotherapy

Well today's the day I start to kick cancers arse. Wig fitting at 12pm then chemotherapy at 1pm. Wig is just there in case I need it, doubt very much I will wear it, but best to have it there rather than not.  I picked the second wig I tried after trying many, typical eh!

 

Chemo Day1

Getting nervous now 1pm is approaching, decided to try the cold cap to save my hair, there is a 1 in 3 chance. It's - 5° and 15 minutes in I can't bare it, too much pressure and feel like my head is being crushed. Didn't think I would with my Fibromyalgia pain condition, was a bit upsetting but I gave it a go.

 

The chemotherapy treatment all went OK, felt cold when going down my arm and my arm was really cold to touch compared to the rest of my body, pictures below for those that want to see. I felt ok until I got home and felt tired then I got aching bones, headache, lethargic and dizzy. Later on I felt really heavy and felt like I had pins and needles through my whole body it was horrible. Then the nausea kicked in, it was so bad I had to phone the hospital and they bought my second lot of anti sickness pills forward. Tonight was the worst night of my life. I went to bed for a few hours sleep, woke at midnight to go to the toilet but by the time I got there I had to vomit, too much information I know! I went back to bed and had restless sleep.

Not impressed
 

Not too cold yet
 

Still ok
 

Maybe I can do this
 

Get it off me now, gutted

Angry but I tried

Sad but my red wee is funny

E part of FEC-T chemo

E part of FECT-T chemo

C part of FEC-T chemo



F part of FEC-T chemo...thank FEC for that!

My new wig