Beating Breast Cancer | Symptoms And Breast Cancer Treatment

half way there

Well that's me half way there. Ten treatments of radiotherapy gone and ten to go. Four treatments of FEC over and four treatments of taxotere ahead of me.

Radiotherapy is strange.I had made my mind up that it would be a breeze-no sickness and less tiredness. Well I was wrong!!I've felt sick since the start and although this is uncommon in radiotherapy of the chest wall I'm told by my onc. that it does happen. Sods law really. I also feel SO tired. Maybe a build up effect, who knows?

The good news is that my hair has started to grow back(not however my eyelashes or eyebrows!)I'm sure it will all go again with the next round of chemo but it does feel nice. I keep a close look out for grey or curly ones-my biggest nightmare. Only joking.

I've invested in false eyelashes and they are great fun. They give a whole new look to my face. It's hard work going to bed-there are so many false bits to take off that I wonder if Gordon recognizes me!It's an amazing thing-6 months ago all of this would have horrified me but it quickly becomes 'normal'. The one thing that shocks me, no that's too strong a word,surprises me is my reflection in the mirror. I don't think I'll ever get used to my bald head. I don't think I look too bad but I still get a shock when I catch sight of myself.

AAARGH-WHO IS THAT WOMAN!!


Along with the dreaded fear that cancer brings along with it I have to admit to feeling bloody angry. Angry with healthy people, angry with beautiful people, angry with pretty much everyone. I hate this,it's not the nice dignified way I hoped to deal with it all.

Being with other people has become a bit of a struggle not to explode and shout out things like 'stop bloody moaning about trivial things and enjoy being healthy'. I should maybe try it, it might make me feel better. Would then be 'Marjory nae pals' so maybe not. I think people would be shocked if they knew just how much fear and resentment this disease brings with it.

Sorry to be less than cheery but, hey, cancers not fun.

Marjory

Labels: chemotherapy, radiotherapy

posted by Marjory @ 12:40 PM 5 comments

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Thank FEC it's over !

Well - thats's me finished with FEC and relatively unscathed. Mild nausea and tiredness but nothing to grumble about.

My hair never did fall out completely so Gordon helped me shave the remnants last night and I now have a beautiful smooth head - no more jaggy stubble - hurray !!

My eyelashes and eyebrows have only thinned a bit and not fallen out so I can cope with that but it did give me a good excuse to spend lots of money on posh makeup today - which cheered me up no end.

My next appointment at hospital is for a "simulator" which - despite sounding like something I would refuse to go at Alton Towers theme park - I'm assured has something to do with lining up the radiotherapy beams and ... wait for it ... tatoos !

So - four weeks of radiotherapy and four sessions of taxotere and then I'm done (a year of herceptin excluded of course)! Roll on - doesn't time fly when you're having fun !!!

Marjory

Labels: chemotherapy, epirubicin, hair-loss, radiotherapy

posted by Marjory @ 9:51 PM 3 comments

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All change.....

Well it's all change this year! Instead of rushing four children back to school this week its one to nursery, one to new school in Edinburgh, one to college and one to university. Boy the whole thing makes me feel old-how did it happen that I'm old enough to have a child at university?!

Anyway, I've been not too bad at all this time after FEC, maybe slightly more tired but all in all nothing to grumble about. I get my last dose of the awful stuff this Wednesday and can't wait to get it over and done with.

My month of radiotherapy seems quite attractive at the moment. A whole four weeks of peace and quiet driving myself to Edinburgh, 5 minutes in a machine then home again! What a sad life I must have if I find that something to look forward to. I really must get out more......

After radiotherapy I start my 4 sessions of Taxotere and Herceptin. I seem to have it in my head that Taxotere won't be as bad as FEC-less sickness, tiredness, etc. I'm I just being hopeful? Let me know anyone out there who's had it and how it affected you. Can't believe I'm just about half way thro' my chemo bit of treatment and I'm so grateful I've felt relatively well most of the time.

I have to say I'm finding it harder than I thought to stick to the dairy free diet. Feeling tired and sick some of the time just makes me want to cook and eat things I'm familiar with-real comfort food in other words! Since trying to stick to the diet I have a ridiculous craving for chocolate milk shakes-I didn't even like them before all this!

I suppose it's all about balance in everything.

Gordon and I have our wedding anniversary coming up and have booked a fantastic night away at a luxury hotel-I CAN'T WAIT. Normally I wouldn't have minded no summer holiday but this year I have minded....a lot. Can feel myself scowling at anyone enthusing about their fortnight in some sunny place. Not very charitable I know but I do hide it well (so far) Heaven help anyone who tells me they had a terrible holiday.

Wish me luck on Wednesday and here's hoping my bloods aren't too low to get the wicked stuff.

Marjory

Labels: cancer-diet, chemotherapy, herceptin, radiotherapy

posted by Marjory @ 9:01 AM 2 comments

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Radiotherapy - Advice About Radiotherapy Treatment

Surviving radiotherapy treatment

Marjory won't start radiotherapy until the four sessions of CEF chemotherapy (FEC chemotherapy in the UK) are over but we've already begun chatting about how she'll cope with phase two of her breast cancer treatment program - radiotherapy to the chest wall and to the supraclavicular lymph node area.

Where better to look for advice than to someone who has already been there, done that ... got the T shirt. Jacki Donaldson has a great post about surviving radiotherapy on the Cancer Blog.
Check it out - it's very well written and gives some great tips for dealing with radiotherapy side effects.

Labels: cancer-sites, chemotherapy, radiotherapy

posted by Marjory @ 2:55 PM 0 comments

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