Chemo 5 day 18

Chemo 5 Day 18

Even though my chemo was reduced to an 85% dosage I've still had a bad time with it. Seems like the side effects are cumulative with this drug. I'm so worn out now it's scary, I can't walk more than 10 steps without sitting down, I can't stand for long and I can't do much with my hands due to the peripheral neuropathy and thin sore skin. I went to the doctors today for my bloods and I had to stand in a queue, I ended up sitting on the floor in the queue I just couldn't stand any more! I'm using pure coconut oil and wearing cotton gloves and socks when I go to bed at the moment, that seems to help a bit with the sore skin.

I still have no taste buds but I can smell now. I say no taste buds, I can taste vinegar but my tongue can't stand it right now. Well I went for the 15 prunes and 15 apricots and ended up going the opposite way for the first time this year, made a nice change to start but I ended up not being able to go anywhere as I was scared to leave the house lol. I can laugh now as I'm almost back to normal.

I've suffered with acid reflux more this time too because the chemo has destroyed my mucous membrane so I'm permanently on medication for that at the moment. Still injecting blood thinners too, hoping that can stop soon. Looking forward to the end of chemo symptoms and no medication for a few weeks so much. But first I have to tackle my last chemo on Friday which I really don't want and would do anything to not go there ever again. Wish me luck!

Posh beans on toast

This made me laugh

Chemo 5 day 9

Chemo 5 Day 9

Well that was a rough week yet again, slightly better than chemo 4 but not much. If chemo 4 was 10/10 then chemo 5 was 9/10. I've had all the same symptoms as last time on Docetaxel even though the dosage was reduced to 85%, apart from the severe rash, so not much different. Morphine has been my life saver that's for sure, definitely going to make sure I have some next time too. The bone pain has been 9/10 and the muscular pain 8/10, I only find this out from how bad it is when I wake as the medication has worn of through the night.

Nausea has been bad this time but within half an hour of taking the new medication it goes, shame I can't take it more regular because it actually works but it's only allowed 3 times a day. At least I've not actually been sick this time though. By Thursday I started to feel more human and could actually walk around a bit so managed to sit in the garden for half an hour.

On a slightly smellier note I've been to the toilet every day this time and all I can put that down to is having 10 prunes and 10 apricots a day hehe, the packets recommend 3-4 a day but I'd had enough of being constipated and looking 6 months pregnant and thought sod it. So a great week in that department until Friday when I started having bad stomach cramps, and I've now not been for a number 2 since Thursday morning, maybe I need 20 prunes and 20 apricots haha ;-)

My skin is so thin now mainly on my hands and feet, along with the nerve damage I'm finding it hard to do most things now, I can't even get my medication out of the packet, so had a little melt down the other day, just hope it does get better! But one good thing is I've got rid of any hard skin I had which is a bonus, flip flop feet here I come :-) Shame about the weather though they won't be coming out today grrr.

It was also a rough week as we've lost a few online friends to cancer the last few weeks, so many tears have been shed for them and their families. R.I.P. Jojo & Rosie xxxx

I've had some new scarves and a wig to add to my collection  too. Some lovely Poppy cuddles. Thank you to Angie for staying with me this week you've been an Angel, such lovely company and I couldn't have coped without you, thank you for everything you've done for me. Also thank you to Jan for visiting me and my little gifts. Have a good weekend all. xxxx



Breast Cancer NOW new advert
http://breastcancernow.org/thelastone/

Sad to lose another online friend to Cancer. Thoughts are with your family. R.I.P. Jojo & Rosie. xxxx
https://fightinggenghis.wordpress.com/2015/06/12/the-end/
http://jojogingerhead.co.uk/final-status/

Another young ladies story from the Young Breast Cancer Network. xx
http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/you-feel-like-youve-destroyed-5887028#ICID=sharebar_twitter

Medical Marijuana and the future of Breast Cancer
http://thespiritscience.net/2015/06/11/is-medical-marijuana-the-future-of-breast-cancer-therapy/

More trials
http://www.iflscience.com/brain/human-trial-investigating-cannabis-brain-cancer-treatment-set-commence-year-embargoed-11-jun

My Lilly's are open :-)

Not very attractive I know, but Poppy cuddles are the best :-)

Chemo 5 day 3

Chemo 5 Day 3

Lack of sleep definitely caught up with me, I managed 5 hours sleep, woke at 5 am then about 7am fell back asleep for about 2 hours thankfully. Woke up not feeling too bad, just the nausea and a bit achy, had breakfast which I couldn't taste but need to eat to take my medication. The bone pain is starting to kick in now and Dihydrocodeine with Naproxen and Paracetamol isn't going to be enough, thankfully I have the Morphine ready.

My skin is starting to burn again, soles and palms are really sore, using Aloe Vera at the moment to see if that's any better. Hoping the rash doesn't appear this time but Oncologist gave me anti allergy tablets and Hydrocortisone cream ready just in case as it was horrid last time.

Just done my 2 daily injections...finding a bruise free place is getting harder, and I have to alternate sides, but that's not possible when I'm having to do 2 the week after chemo. Oncologist said last week I need the Fragmin injections that thin my blood at least until after chemotherapy has finished. So hopefully another month on them, fingers crossed.

Had a little walk around my garden earlier to find my Canterbury Bells are in bloom. Finger tips are really sore so think I will log off and watch some catch up TV. xx

Aunt Sally cheeks from steroids

Who'll be my Worzel Gummidge
 

 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Worzel_Gummidge

 

 

 

My Canterbury Bells
 

Chemo 5 day 2

Chemo 5 Day 2

 

Well chemo went well yesterday, was only 30 minutes late getting in compared to 90 minutes last time. All the nurses are run of their feet bless. My first night I lost my taste by tea time but can just about taste crystallised ginger which I eat for nausea. So I got my taste buds and smell back for one day, how kind of you docetaxel! Had a bad case of nausea and I'm on 2 different tablets for that, but they supplied me with a third new one to try and said I could take one last night if needed, so I did, seems to have helped a little.

 

I've had insomnia for two nights now due to the amount of steroids I'm on. Last lot to take tonight thankfully, so I may sleep tomorrow. Can't believe I never slept with all the medication I'm on this week, I even resorted to morphine hoping it would knock me out but no. Dare I take a sleeping pill tonight, hate the things but I'm so tired think I got 3 hours each night after laying there for 6 hours. Can't drink alcohol at the moment either grrr.

 

Anyway fingers crossed my reduced dosage of chemo helps with the side effects and I don't suffer like last time. They started kicking in on the Monday and were really bad by the end of the day. Thankfully I keep a diary and can look back to compare. Best thing I've done during chemo. "Chemo brain" or "Chemonesia" (as I like to call it) has a damn lot to answer for. My hair surely will grow back blonde hehe, sorry blonde friends ;-)

 

Hope you're all having a nice weekend, even on this wet and miserable day. xx 

 

 

Waiting on the patio swings before chemo, a bit squinty eyed hehe

My view from the swing, not great but better than some.

Tired on the chemo suite after 3 hours sleep grrr

 

Chemo 4 day 20

Chemo 4 Day 20

After a visit to the hospital today to see my Oncologist and we talked through my last chemo and the side effects I suffered with, he decided to reduce the dosage of Docetaxel to 85%, which I'm happy with and also gave me Morphine for the bone/muscular pain (bare in mind I also have the pain condition Fibromyalgia), some new sickness drugs as I was so sick for a week last time and some steroid cream and antihistamine tablets for the severe rash I had on my neck. My chemo dosage has been reduced mainly because I suffered so many side effects but also because I have Stage 1 peripheral neuropathy and if it develops to stage 3 chemo will be stopped and my last chemo 4/7/15 won't go ahead. My blood tests were fine although the neutrophils are low at 2.8, they were 5.4 before chemo, if they go below 1.5 you can't have chemo. If they go down to 1.0 you are classed as Neutropenic, so I've been very lucky to receive G-CSF injections each round to help build my white cells backup.

My symptoms on Docetaxel (Taxotere):

Bone pain
Muscular pain
No taste or smell for a week, also burning tongue and ulcers
Sickness/Nausea
Rash
Pin & needles in veins
Thinner skin so sore palms, soles of feet, eyes, mouth and nose
Peripheral Neuropathy in hands and feet
Constipation
Nose bleeds

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neutropenia

http://www.macmillan.org.uk/information-and-support/coping/side-effects-and-symptoms/other-side-effects/peripheral-neuropathy.html

http://www.cancerresearchuk.org/about-cancer/cancers-in-general/treatment/cancer-drugs/docetaxel

Chemo 4 day 17

Chemo 4 Day 17

Not doing too bad now, had a lovely relaxing weekend with family and managed to enjoy some sun in the garden. But Thursday I ended up in hospital after phoning my Oncologist and mentioning my nose bleeds. Chemotherapy can make you more vulnerable to excessive bleeding and bruising. This can cause easily bruised skin, nose bleeds and bleeding gums. So after 7 hours in hospital and various tests, I ended up with new medication for my nausea which has been bad this time and having my nose cauterised using a chemical swab. This seals the blood vessels and builds scar tissue to help prevent more bleeding. So I now have silver in my nose, maybe I should get a gold tooth! I can't blow or pick my nose, only dab it so it's still sore as constantly running, I also have a pea size ball of blood in my nose, I'm told this will drop off itself in time.

As you can see below this chemo is damaging my nails too, they've gone dark, ridges and ripping off as so thin. My hair is falling out again, the little spikes that I had growing on my head has bald patches appearing all over. I think I have 4 eyebrow hairs on each side left lol!

Anyway last week I won a competition for 3 months supply from Vegan tuck box, very exciting and I never win anything. I've received my first one, see picture below. http://www.vegantuckbox.co.uk/

My mom sent for a Bob’s Boxes which is a service that provides free post-mastectomy care packages for women with breast cancer. Filled with useful, quality items, they are designed to make the days after surgery more comfortable and to provide a pick-me-up for women going through this difficult time. I had some lovely things and it felt like my birthday again hehe. http://bobsboxes.org/

Anyway I'm of for a bath going into the office tomorrow afternoon as long as no one has any illnesses. Have a good week xxxx

Bored in hospital

Lauren trying out her Race For Life gear

Sue's pink cancer garden

Beautiful flowers from Mel, Richard and Lousie xxx

 

Bob's boxes

Vegan tuck box

My hideous nails on docetaxel

Enjoying some sun

Dylan in my wig

Freya in my wig

Chemo 4 day 13

Chemo 4 Day 13

After a fab day on Sunday at Race For Life I suffered with backache, but I'm sure my warriors suffered more with their sore muscles and blisters. Since then I've gradually improved every day, sadly I've had a nose bleed every day for the last week and last 2 days they've been really bad. I will phone my Oncologist tomorrow just to check it's not going into interfere with my blood count and next chemo. Still have all my other general smaller side effects and still injecting daily but that's my life at the moment eh!

Today I went to see my consultant for a check up and surgery discussions. I came away a happy bunny as he listened to me last time and told me everything I wanted to hear and I'm getting the Breast implants I wanted. So I go back to see him 15th July to get measured up and book my surgery date for August 2015 hopefully.

I still work from home and next week I'm planning on a few days in the office around hospital and doctors appointments. Looking forward to it as this is my vulnerable week again grrr. Why does my busy appointment week have to fall on my better week of my 3 week cycles...typical eh!

Looks like summer is on it's way at last, about time. Enjoy the lovely weather one and all. xxxx

Me and my Mom xxxx <3

Me and my niece xxxx <3

Beautiful flowers from Angie & Frank xxxx <3

Race For Life Gerberas to add to my collection

Race For Life

Race For Life Stamford

I have had the most amazing day with AJ's Warriors even though I spent it in a wheelchair looking like a granny, thank you Jan & Nige for all your help with that...I think, no I mean it there is no way I could have been there otherwise. Thank you to each and every one of you who walked, jogged and ran, you were all amazing, so proud of you all, it was so amazing having you all together for such a special day. Thank you to all of AJ's Warriors supporters, family and friends that came and travelled 188 mile round trips to be there. Thank you to Amber my little warrior princess for making and selling all those amazing loom band bracelets and key rings. Thank you all for the amazing singing and Jan for the lyrics. Just Thank you all each and everyone of you. I LOVE YOU ALL. xxxxx