chemo

I'm sure lots of practical advice will be forthcoming * Ethelbags*. All I can offer is ((hugs)). Keep close to us all on GN and we will offer as much support as we can.

I am not scared anymore, I can face whats coming, I am anxious a bit but I know the staff are very experienced and the drugs have been used successfully for years. But I would still like to hear anyones experiences.

Very best wishes ethelbags (of course we're still talking to you, you can't get rid of us that easily!)
x

Best wishes to you

And hope you will be better before too long

Hello ethel - glad that you are feeling more confident now. A dear friend of mine has had a lot of intravenous chemo over a long period - she has a different sort of cancer from yours - hers cannot be eradicated like bowel cancer, but she is kept well with repeated chemo - so she is a bit of an expert on it.

She tells me that it made her feel a bit queer to start with, but that the staff monitor any side effects and provide drugs to counter those, and that these have been very effective.

It is just a normal part of her life now.

I am sure that there will be posters on here who have direct experience and I hope that they will be able to help you.

Do you know when you will start? I send all best wishes and lots of luck, and hope that you will be better before long.

I had chemo every three weeks for four months, spending a few hours in hospital each time - they needed to check the blood count to ensure one was up to the treatment.

It was not pleasant - or rather the side effects weren't, but as what you will have seems very different, I think the effects are likely to be very different as well, so I won't dwell too much on them. I lost all my hair (everywhere except for my legs, would you believe!) and was often sick and very tired. It is hard to believe that something that can make you feel so bad is actually curing you.

Just one of those things that you get on with - chin up and plough on. It worked....

Ariadne Brave lady.

All the very best to you ethelbags. to you too.

They told me all the side effects but it depends upon ever individual, I shouldn't lose my hair but it may thin, ive had it chopped off anyway.
My friend is on chemo for life as she has cancer everywhere, it is keeping her alive. She is such an inspiration, goes hiking, swimming and gardening and only complains that she gets a bit tired but with her active life in her 70s she would be tired anyway.
So I will bite the bullet and (as my DD says 'get some balls').

They should tell you this (although I didn't know) that your immune system will be lowered considerably, so be careful and try to keep away from people who are obviously sick with colds or flu if you can - and be careful if you have any cuts on your fingers - don't go digging in the garden like I did! I keep those vinyl gloves to use when peeling dirty vegetables or dealing with soil. Just a precaution.

thank you rose, I know to keep away from people with colds etc but I never thought that peeling veg etc would matter. Would cleaning my cat litter matter.

I think there are lots of different treatments so your experience may differ...DH had chemo last year after surgery for bowel cancer. We had to beware of bacteria in every form so cleanliness was paramount and he had to steer clear of eating out and take aways.
The staff were wonderful, so attentive. Do contact them with any and every concern they don't mind.
Take in books, knitting, iPod, whatever you may need during treatments. We were given free sandwiches and hot drinks but preferred to take our own in.
Hope all goes well for you. x

Just to add praise, once again, for the NHS and the Oncology unit where I was treated. Endless patience and kindness, as ever.

oh dear will I have to give up my trips to the coffee shops with DD and DGD and my fish and chips. (sniff)

You are a wonderful lot! If they can do it ethel, so can you. You only have one intravenous lot and then just tablets. I am sure you can do it.

ethelbags plastic gloves definitely for cleaning the cat litter. My husband has tablets for his cancer and hasn't had many side effects apart from tiredness- and some of that is probably down to the illness. One of my younger friends had bowel cancer in her 20's (for the second time!) and kept working all through her chemo. She had a line into her chest and a pump delivering the chemo. We were working in a cafe so it was all pretty physical but she didn't seem to be too badly affected by it.

I expect you will have a specialist nurse who you can contact with any questions or worries. Keep an eye on your temperature as this will be the first sign of infection. Good Luck !!!

I have been on oral chemo for twelve months for secondary breast cancer that has gone to my bones and a lung. The side effects are peeling and sore hands and feet which you get cream for and are monitored closely as with all chemo.

I do hope you'll get through it OK. There will be plenty of opportunity to ask questions so you must do that. It puts your mind at rest.

I hope all is well for you.

ethel I just tried to PM you but it says that you are not able to receive PMs???

sherish I have a friend who is going through that - so tough. xxxxx

I think all these posts are an inspiration and prove that there most certainly is life after chemo! You're all wonderful!

Im really scared, how will I know if im getting a cold or a huge infection. will I be carted off to hospital if I get a bug, I worry about who will look after my cats. Also I panic easily, I think that I have several illnesses in one day now and I haven't started on chemo yet. Im a total hypochondriac.
I have bought gloves for dirty jobs, lots of household cleaning stuff and ive started to wash my kitchen extra but it is such a chore. I never do much housework, I would leave my dishes for 2 days until I had no clean ones then do a massive wash up, also I never shower every day, I just wash in the sink and shower ever other day, cos washing my hair is a hassle. I don't think I can keep to a new clean regime. Also it is very expensive to keep the water heating on all day just for 1 person.

I am feeling really sorry for myself why did this happen to me.

Screwfix do big boxes of disposable plastic or vinyl gloves, much cheaper than the supermarket. I use them for dirty jobs, handling meat etc, definitely would use gloves for cat litter. I use stronger gloves for jobs like gardening etc.

You may never get an infection; they may give you a thermometer to keep a check on your temperature. Feeling cold with shivers is a sign of an infection.
They should give you plenty of advice and phone numbers if you are worried.

Hot cooked food should be fine, just be careful of salads etc when you are out as they may not be washed, blue cheese, prawns.

Remember - this is temporary on your road to recovery!

ethel you do not need to keep the immersion or whatever you use to heat your water on all day. I wash all dishes in the evening so I may switch on the hot water for 30 minutes and that covers a shower also. There is still sufficient left over for the next day for face washing etc.

Wear plastic gloves by all means but do not forget to wash your hands after you take them off.

Keep a separate pair specifically for when you sort out the litter tray.

Try not to be such a worry guts, I am sure that everything will be fine. You will be given loads of help once you start the treament. Apply common sense to whatever you do. Simples.

I live for today and I cant imagine a few months down the line. I wonder how long I would have if I tell them I don't want treatment and just live a normal life as long as poss. I have waited for about 6 weeks now with no treatment, my cancer has spread and I was told I would be having treatment this week. I still have no appointment with anyone. I cant stand being ill and dependant upon anyone, I hate having visitors and I just cant see getting better despite all your well meant comments. Anyway there is no cure for BC, they just talk of remission, I have to suffer all the side effects and it will end up with it coming back. I don't want to talk about this to anyone at the hosp as they are all busybodies and just want to interfere. I might be changing my life, washing dishes, cleaning and depriving myself for nothing. Why me.

Ethelbags1 have you contacted the Macmillan nurses yet.? They are there to offer practical and emotional support to people with cancer. They could be of great help to you.