47,700 - 50,000 women and 300 men are diagnosed with BC every year in the UK

I had a lovely soak in the bath last night, a place I can light my candles, switch off the lights, play some music and RELAX. A place I can take off my cotton jersey sleep cap and dunk into hot water, although it is cold to the back of the head on the bath tub. 

On pulling the plug, I was still very surprised to how many hairs were in the bath and noticed that my eyelashes are now thinning on the top lashes, my eyebrows are still here, but these are likely to thin over the next couple of cycles.

I'm 5 days post FEC#3 and finished this cycles anti sickness tablets yesterday and still have 3 days left of 7am immune injections -
Nivestim/Filgrastim to go (administered day 2-8 post each cycle). In layman terms it makes more white blood cells in your lower back to counterbalance the healthy ones the chemo are killing off).

http://www.nivestim.eu/patient/nivestim-at-home/step-by-step.php

I have the upmost respect to anyone who has to inject themselves everyday for the rest of their life. 

I had previously pointed out in an earlier blog post that I had found a breast cancer forum very unhelpful and after reflecting upon this, it was because I was virtually surrounded by people zapping my positivity and energy.

http://www.accidentalcreative.com/teams/people-factor/

I am a strong advocate of the Macmillan website and I have since joined the Macmillan Community forums. It has been a positive experience in gaining a wealth of information, where mainly women are coming together to support each other. If you only had one website to access, this would be the one.

I've had the usual uncomfortable dry retching and lack of sleep, hot and cold sweats, stabbing pains to my head and stomach cramps but have breezed through this cycle better than the others. I really can't complain.

I'm still adhering to a good diet, even though it feels like a bit of a struggle, especially when I can imagine the taste of that gherkin pickle in a Mcdonald's cheesburger.... nom nom nom.


Drinking water with slices of lemon (keep a bowl of lemon slices in the fridge)
Drinking shots of wheatgrass when I feel rubbish
Weetabix for breakfast with drizzled honey or 1 banana to 2 eggs pancake mix
Stews (easy - just throw vegetables and stewing steak into slow cooker)
Fresh fruit and veg 
Fruit teas - no caffeine
Popcorn as a snack
Jelly (0% fat trace/8 calories)
Cottage cheese on oatcakes
Rice and Chicken
Natural Yoghurt

Links to check your bits and bobs.
Early detection is the key

http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/2013/09/27/tlc-touch-look-check_n_4001415.html

http://www.coppafeel.org/page/boobcheck

http://www.breakthrough.org.uk/about-breast-cancer/touch-look-check

http://www.breastcancercare.org.uk/breast-cancer-information/breast-awareness/being-breast-aware/changes-look-feel

http://www.breastcancer.org/symptoms/testing/types/self_exam/bse_steps



Picture of the day :)

Another brilliant blog post
http://denise4health.wordpress.com/2012/04/11/what-to-say-to-a-cancer-patient-what-not-to-say-to-a-cancer-patient-part-2/

Thanks for reading and any comments welcomed and encouraged 
Anything you'd like to see included?
Tam xx

Chemo isn't just Chemo!!!!!!!

Since my diagnosis on 30/09/2013 I have a greater understanding of cancer and in particular cancer treatments. 

Its important to remember that Chemo isn't 'one size fits all'. 

AND

It is this point that needs highlighting.

A chemotherapy drug can be given on its own or as a combination with other drugs. 

Macmillan have a comprehensive list of each individual chemotherapy drug, how each drug is given and possible side effects. 

http://www.macmillan.org.uk/Cancerinformation/Cancertreatment/Treatmenttypes/Chemotherapy/Individualdrugs/Individualdrugs.aspx

The side effects you will experience will entirely depend on the chemotherapy drugs you're having. 

In a previous post last year, I mentioned that my treatment was a combination regimen called FEC which is specifically used to treat breast cancer. 


FEC is made up of 
F - Fluorouracil (5FU) 
E - Epirubicin   (Pharmorubicin)
C - Cyclophosphamide

I am on the highest dose of chemotherapy of this regimen. With my treatment it is the E that has caused the hair loss and I have more E administered that the F & C.

Here is the link to the combination regimen/treatments:

http://www.macmillan.org.uk/Cancerinformation/Cancertreatment/Treatmenttypes/Chemotherapy/Combinationregimen/Combinationregimen.aspx

and more specifically FEC

http://www.macmillan.org.uk/Cancerinformation/Cancertreatment/Treatmenttypes/Chemotherapy/Combinationregimen/FEC.aspx

Each cycle of FEC takes 21 days (three weeks). At the end of the 21 days you start FEC cycle 2. You have 4 to six cycles.

I am having 6 cycles of FEC

My last cycle will finish on 17/04/2014

I will then start a course of daily radiotherapy for 10-14 days about 4-6 weeks after chemotherapy (time frame of treatment to be confirmed)

Apart from the significant hair loss, FEC #2 has felt easier to manage. The first 7 days of each cycle is when the side effects seem to hit me, which have been hot/cold sweats,nausea and tiredness. 

On each cycle around day 3-4 I lose any ability to taste food and I am sensitive to smells (tobacco smoke/perfume)which make me gag.

FEC#2 has been easier than FEC#1. BUT again some people find treatment harder at the start, middle or end (completely individual). As the chemotherapy has an accumulative effect I will update you as and when.

I have made a positive change in my diet, cut out all processed food from my diet, only have one coffee as a treat in the morning and eat fresh fruit and veg/raw/juicing. I have also managed to exercise a little this cycle(#2).

I lose half a stone cycle#1 and have maintained a weight lose of 3-4 lbs through healthy eating and juicing this cycle. With Triple Negative Breast Cancer, they recommend that you maintain your weight during chemotherapy.

For the last two weeks, my skin has been baby smooth (chemo glow) and I have read that this is because the chemotherapy drugs remove all the toxins from your body. However last night I had a spot breakout.

Day 1-7   Side effects and drugs/injections given to counterbalance nausea and low immune system (stay indoors due to feeling rough)

Day 7-14  Avoid people/public places - low immune system (stay indoors or go for a walk)

Day 14-20 Fairly normal activity

Day 21 Next cycle


Thanks for reading peeps x

Urrgh

Thursday 2nd of January
After eating lunch at home with my Mum post 2nd chemo, I was really impressed that I had not resorted to the duvet cover and more surprised that I was actually feeling really hungry.

Unfortunately I then spend most of the evening through to the early/late hours of the morning taking additional anti sickness tablets and Gaviscon and feeling like I wanted to vomit my insides OUT. My Hubster looked after me all night and I felt so bad for him going to work on a couple hours sleep.

Last night after having a temperature of 37.4 all day and feeling as cold as a frozen popsicle,  I went to bed at 20:00 and experienced the most erratic heart palpitations and sweated through two vest tops throughout the night, which prompted me to strip everything off the bed and myself this morning.

Saturday 4th of January
I initially woke up at 6:45 to remove the immune injection from the fridge, which is injected into the stomach at 7am and to take 1 anti sickness tablet, I then managed to sleep until 10:30am and took my second dose of a different anti-sickness tablet x 2 with two ginger biscuits (as the second tablets need to be taken with or after food).

I had a fried egg on toast for breakfast with a wheatgrass shot
A small slice of cottage pie with spinach for lunch/dinner
A Blueberry smoothie

I had an appointment for Acupuncture at 14:45 but after a ten minute consultation was postponed as my heart palpitations/blood pressure is too high and was advised to go home and rest and drink plenty of water and to return again next Tuesday, when the acupuncture can counter-balance the further side effects.

16:30 - x 2 more anti-sickness tablets 

My scalp is very tender and it feels like my hair has been in a high ponytail - the Croydon facelift - if I had some hair of course.

Chemotherapy uses anti-cancer drugs to destroy cancer cells. The drugs work by attacking the cancer cells and disrupting their growth. Unfortunately, they can also affect the normal cells in the body, including the cells of the hair follicles (Macmillan)

Daniel Field http://danielfield.net/cancer-care/ has an informative guide designed to support those who have decided to undergo chemotherapy, before during and afterward.

Hair diary 

My hair is lifting out of the hair follicles and is thinning by the day. I'll be glad when its all lifted out and then I can give it a good buff and shine :)

However I'm feeling much better post chemo #2 than I did #1 - I hope I haven't spoken too soon.

Sunday 5th of January 

Oh , what a difference a day makes.

Quote of the Day:
You can't stop the waves, but you can learn to surf 
Joseph Goldstein

Survival kit, Diet and Exercise

The sudden diagnosis of cancer doesn't come cheap, that's for sure. This is the stuff no one tells you about and to be honest if someone was struggling financially, this would seriously push anyone to their limit at an already fraught and stressful time.  You can get an NHS medical exemption card  by asking your GP to fill out the appropriate forms and send these off for you. Prescriptions are free to cancer patients in England. My exemption card is valid for five years. However saying that its not always feasible to be sitting in a waiting room with lots of ill people waiting to discuss with your GP all the side effects your experiencing and what medications you need.  However what is evident is the increase in day to day living and the costs incurred. 

Macmillan's new research report reveals the sheer scale of the financial burden faced by people living with cancer*

• Four out of five cancer patients lose £570 a month

The cost of cancer is calculated as the loss of income and the additional costs experienced as a result of a person's diagnosis

• One in three lose £860 a month in earnings because they are unable to work or have to cut down their hours
• Six in seven see their monthly expenses increase by £270 a month

*Figures shown are averages

http://www.macmillan.org.uk/Documents/GetInvolved/Campaigns/Costofcancer/Cancers-Hidden-Price-Tag-report-England.pdf

All advice suggests a change of diet (mainly fresh and organic) and then there is the cosmetic side of things, headscarves, cotton hat and wig paraphernalia.

I have included some frivolous items of choice to make me feel better, the candles and nice notebook. Because lets face it for two weeks out of every three you feel like you've done ten rounds with Mike Tyson and then been hit by a bus. 

 My work colleagues gave me an amazon voucher so I used it wisely and purchased a mannequin head and some music, which I have been constantly playing - positive vibes.

Here is a list of all the things I have needed so far and I'm sure I will probably be adding to it at a later date.

Cotton PJ's - for menopausal sweats hot vs cold

Candles for bath time/relaxation

Sleeping tablets (GP) & Nytol

Childrens soft toothbrush (change each chemo cycle)

Difflam oral rinse mouthwash for mouth ulcers (GP)  and Bicarbonate of soda/salt water (good for mouth ulcers)
Nice notebook to keep track of appointments, conversations at oncologist appointments, diet, medication, telephone numbers and side effects. 

Wig shampoo

Wide tooth comb to comb wig.

Mannequin head

Baby wipes

Headband - to cover your ears and back of head and pop on under a woolly hat

A cotton hat to wear in bed to keep your head warm and helps when shedding hair
scarves http://www.boldbeanies.co.uk
Jersey sleep caps http://www.annabandana.co.uk/about-us-ezp-1.html

Anti-bacterial hand sanitiser
Anusol  haemorrhoids cream- chemotherapy does give you piles and for this I hate you.

Gaviscon for heartburn

Senokot for constipation 

Ibuprofen for headaches

Vaseline

Sudocrem for dry soles of feet

Dermol 500 (GP)

Dermol 600 Bath Emollient (GP)

Fake eyelashes + glue

Eyebrow pencil

Eyebrow stencil kit

Pink blusher/bronzer

Dark nail polish (http://www.bcna.org.au/new-diagnosis/treatment/chemotherapy/nail-changes)

Tissues for the constant runny nose when you no longer have nasal hairs (http://www.royalmarsden.nhs.uk/cancer-information/treatment/chemotherapy/side-effects/pages/hair.aspx)

Cough sweets for cold like symptoms and sniffles and sore throats, nasal spray.

Moroccan Argan Oil - to hydrate your scalp and massage into your scalp to stimulate hair follicles 

Optional

Clippers - for shaving your head 

Diet

Try and cut out meat and dairy products or at least only makes up 20% of your diet
Drink plenty of water - at least 2 litres per day

Spinach 

Blueberries/Cranberries

Dried apricots/pumpkin seeds
Lemons
Pineapple/Prunes
Cucumber/Kale/Ginger/Beetroot/Spinach/Broccoli 
Juicer

Green tea/fruit tea

100% orange fruit juice lollies for sore throats (but not great when your taste buds have gone, I felt like I was chowing down on a cows tongue)
Manuka honey 25+  (tastes vile)

Wheatgrass powder 

Exercise/Complementary therapies

Walking to feed the ducks (my favourite)

Acupuncture

Rebounding/mini trampoline (haven't managed to do this as yet, but its low impact on the knees and when I feel well enough will bounce like an uncontrollable bouncy person).

http://www.oprah.com/health/11-Tips-to-Get-Through-Chemotherapy

http://pollynoble.com/

http://www.bigjuiceltd.com/

http://www.juicemaster.com/juice-therapy/a-to-z-ailments/cancer

http://kriscarr.com/products/crazy-sexy-cancer/

Interesting articles and links

There are a couple of articles I've found which I would like to share.

http://www.notanotherbunchofflowers.com/

Not another bunch of flowers was set up by Anikka Burton. She was diagnosed with an aggressive, locally advanced breast cancer in 2011 at the age of 33 and during treatment wrote a blog to help others. 
You can read this at http://chemoforbeginners.com

The Vagenda is a feminist online magazine launched in January 2012. 
A blog entry posted on July 10th - The Bald Truth, caught my eye and here is the link http://vagendamag.blogspot.co.uk/2013/07/the-bald-truth.html
twitter.com/vagendamagazine

A recent article written by Paula McGrath and Katy Watson for BBC News What's up, Doc? How comic strips are improving bedside manner. 
Here is the link:http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-25112785

Source: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-25112785

I came across this article, which is really thought provoking and worth a read.

 http://judesthinkin.wordpress.com/2013/11/06/the-coping-dance-cancer-and-mental-health/

Cured - But at what cost? Long term consequences of cancer and its treatment: Macmillan, July 2013.

Cancer and its treatment often leaves a gruelling physical and mental legacy for many years afterwards. It begs the question - do we really understand the true cost of being cured?

At least one in four of those living with cancer - around 500,000 people in the UK-face poor health or disability after cancer treatment http://www.macmillan.org.uk/Documents/AboutUs/Newsroom/Consequences_of_Treatment_June2013.pdf

Source: http://www.bettymagazine.org.uk/blog/coppafeel-boob-week/

http://www.coppafeel.org/Page/BoobCheck

Why I started this blog

With this diagnosis it has presented many challenges, particularly as the information you receive as part of this process is given in bite size chunks which you are informed about at each stage of the cancer pathway. This unfortunately gives you time to scare yourself shitless with the amount of "stuff" lurking on the internet.

I eventually gravitated towards sourcing my information from Macmillan and Cancer Research UK. 

It's a waiting game and you often feel left in the dark, lost in the system and often trying to piece the information together.

Source: Google images/http://rapgenius.com

I was also thrown another curve ball, in that the chemotherapy may render me infertile and I may hit early menopause after treatment, the percentage of patients who this affects is extremely high, In fact its probably inevitable. We had three eggs mature enough to be collected induced by fertility treatment and only one egg fertilised overnight, so we have one embryo frozen.

"Only good quality embryos will survive the freezing and thaw process."

There are significant differences that may occur in an age related `natural’ menopause compared with a treatment-induced menopause and I suspect I may need some advice on how to cope with an early menopause or the menopausal side effects of treatment *she says through hot and cold sweats*

http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2013/dec/05/cancer-diagnosis-fertility-baby-ghost


I joined a forum, specifically for people recently diagnosed with breast cancer, mainly because I didn't want to inflict the boredom of the subject on my friends and family anymore, with how I was feeling. I thought this would be a positive tool in helping me to share with others about how it was effecting me personally and emotionally, support others, source diet tips etc. I had a couples of responses to the group thread, but didn't feel any connection, for me this is working through a process - It just hasn't been the positive experience I thought it should/would be(I think I'm of the Jennifer Saunders ilk).


I've found having a supportive husband, family and friends a far more positive experience.


Real life, real love and real conversations

I have been following a couple of blogs on the wonderweb which I have found inspirational, informative and full of hints and tips in coping with the treatment and how to deal with the side effects and these have been invaluable.

After being diagnosed with cancer, each journey is different, individual in every sense, some have better coping strategies than others, some have side effects others not so much, treatment plans vary depending on a multitude of factors. You have to find your own path.

I'm off to hug a tree ♥

  

National Breast Cancer Awareness Month - October

Monday 1st of October

Ironically today is the start of National Breast Cancer Awareness Month.
I'm on a mission to get everyone I know to have a feel of their lovely jubbly wibbly wobby bits.
Spread the word

Went into work

tried to keep it together

didn't keep it together 

managed to keep it together, long enough to write a letter, a couple of emails and hand over my caseload

lost the plot

kept it together

lost the plot some more

cried some more
Pulled myself together
and eventually took myself home

Like those before me and those to come, only you can fathom the magnitude of those words and what the future holds. 

I think the recent Macmillan advert typifies (if that is the right word to use) how I felt when I was diagnosed and the impact it had on my Husband, Sister, Mum and Dad. 

Being told down the telephone that your wife, daughter and sister has breast cancer can not be easy and I can't even imagine what went through their minds in that very moment.

More information can be found at Macmillan.org

http://www.macmillan.org.uk/Aboutus/OurNotAlonecampaign/Ournotalonecampaign.aspx

or watch the campaign on Youtube 

Macmillan Cancer Support - Not Alone

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MLpS97XA5VA