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

FEC #3 - We're Cooking on Gas

Catch up from the last 6 days

Monday was a big occasion. I went and found Jim Hawkins from BBC Radio Shropshire as he features a segment in his show where he sits on a bench and randomly talks to people who find him. He posts the location of where he will be sitting and what time on his Twitter feed. I thought he'd be outside the library but I found him inside and completely forgot about being in a public place - I was on a mission.

I wanted to talk to him about early detection, particularly for people under 40 and my treatment plan and that you must be persistent with your GP if you have any concerns about lumps and bumps. It was aired on Friday 17th of January.

I revealed my new 'baldy' look to him and it was the first time I'd been in public since the dramatic hair loss. 

It was emotional ...... my head was revealed TA DA

Jim took photographic evidence and uploaded it to his Twitter account @jimallthetime

http://us4.campaign-archive1.com/?u=f62e5262b6d16e8c404038874&id=64e8c70bf4
(highlight link and right click on your mouse and search with search engine - Go to http://us4.)

As they say in social work

1) Acknowledge
2) Recognise
3) Confront

and Move on AND that's exactly what I did.

I met up with some friends on Thursday evening - happy, bald and comfortable. 

However
I decided to give the wig an outing on Friday night, which would have been alright, except it felt uncomfortable in every way. I ran my fingers through it, I sprayed it with dry shampoo and fiddled and fiddled. I clipped bits up and then took them out. I spent hours trying to make it look as natural as possible. It's slightly Farah Fawcett esque and so quite glamorous for me, so I must have changed my top to go with the wig at least 3 times (absolutely ridiculous if you think about it)

I was hot, it was itchy and it felt like a dead ferret on my head - very self conscious indeed. 

I WILL NOT BE WEARING IT AGAIN!

Someone even questioned to whether I should be drinking at all - advice given -all in moderation - although I did wobble home "my bag". 

Hubster and I went to the Butterfly farm in Stratford upon Avon on Sunday and had a lovely relaxing lunch and walk. I was just the tonic we needed and such a beautiful clear day with blue skies.

Foolery, Sir, does walk about the orb like the sun: It shines everywhere. (Twelfth Night)

So now back to today 23/01/2014

The nurse who administered the FEC today gave me a copy of my bloods. I explained how I had completely changed my diet and she said to continue with what I'm doing,because its working :) My bloods are apparently very good.

Some people lose weight on FEC,some gain weight. From what I have read, FEC is full of steroids, as is the anti sickness medication, so I am happy to be below my starting weight but maintaining it, rather than being a bloater.

The slow cooker is great for stews and the Market Hall in Shrewsbury is such a fantastic place to shop. This week I made homemade hummus and an avocado dip to eat with celery sticks and tortilla wraps with freshly squeezed apple juice. I am following recipes, rather than throwing everything from the fridge into something and hoping it works and even thinking about baking some vegan/gluten free cookies. I have a notebook of recipes to try out and I'm genuinely excited about this. 
The motor on the blender and juicer may burn out soon with all the wear and tear ;)

I have a top up of Senokot (as I never want to experience constipation like before
 ever again)and some eye drops as my eyes are very itchy and watery. 

Love Tam
x

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

Juices

Immune System Blood Builder Booster Juice 

2 Beetroot
2 Carrot
2 Apple
1/2 Lemon

Super Blend Blood Builder Booster Juice

2 Apples
1/2 Cucumber
1/2 Lemon
1 tomato
4 Beetroot
1 Carrot
2 Broccoli heads
2cm of Fresh Ginger
1 teaspoon of Wheatgrass Powder (optional)

Jason Vale Juice Recipes

2 Apples
2 Stalks of Celery
1/3 Cucumber
1 Lime Peeled
3cm Chunk of Ginger
One Half Avocado
Ice


6 x organic Cucumbers
3 x Large Beetroot
2 Bunches of Spinach
1 Bunch Kale
Fresh Garlic and Ginger
One Bunch Organic Carrots
Stick of Celery

1/4 Small Pineapple
1/2 Celery Stick
1 inch Chunk of Cucumber
1 Small Handful of Spinach Leaves
1 Small Piece of Peeled Lime
2 Apples (Golden Delicious or Royal Gala)
1/4 Avocado
Ice Cubes


2 Golden Delicious or Royal Gala Apples
A Small Chunk of Carrot
1/2 Stick of Celery
1 Large Handful of Mixed Green Leaves (Watercress, Kale, Parsley, Spinach)
1 inch Slice of Cucumber
1/2 inch of Broccoli Stem
1 Handful of Sprouts
1/4 inch Unpeeled Raw Beetroot
1/4 inch Slice Courgette
1 Small piece of Lemon (peeled with pithe)
1/4 inch Slice of Ginger

Good for fighting infection

2 Apples
1/2 Beetroot
2 Small Carrots
1 Small Parsnip
1/4 Lemon

Morning Ginger Shot

1/2 Apple
2cm Chunk of Ginger


Blueberry smoothie/frozen dessert (easy peasy Tam's recipe)

125 x 2 Natural Yogurt Greek Style
2-3 Handfuls of Fresh Blueberries

Blend together

Eat with a spoon or  decant into a container to pop into the freezer (sorbet)

Spot the Difference Sunday

Spot the difference

The goal is to find a number of differences between two near-identical images.

Find 6 differences

Answers on a postcard

Bristol Stool Chart

How to 'go' from type 0 - type 7 in less than 12 hours

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

If you are constipated DO NOT then gorge your own body weight in fresh fruit and nibbles.

1.5 litres of water
Green tea
Blueberries
Natural yogurt
Honey
4 satsumas
Senokot x 4
1 small black coffee
Cottage pie
Movolax


and let's not forget  

+ 1 litre of prune juice


I'm sure you are wondering why I posted not ONE but TWO posts on shit, (politely faeces) and in truth I probably should have limited it to one. 

BUT .................

Who knew there was a Bristol Stool Chart?

 http://twitpic.com/photos/mh_evans

  

















and 

Why would you NOT share that?

http://kriscarr.com/blog/your-guide-to-healthy-poop/

Bear with No Hair

Thursday 9th of January 2014

http://www.durkbond.com/bear-with-no-hair1.html (Click image to enlarge and read)

The term "Fuzzy Wuzzy" originated in the 1800s.  British Soldiers gave the nickname, "fuzzy wuzzy" to the Hadendoa warriors that were a nomadic tribe along the Red Sea in Sudan. The Hadendoa were a formidable fighting force that gained the respect of the better trained British forces. The Hadendoa warriors wore their hair matted which gave a "fuzzy" appearance.  

The British were eventually victorious over the Fuzzy Wuzzies but with a greater fight than other enemies.

Rudyard Kipling wrote a poem in 1890, Fuzzy Wuzzy that praised the Hadendoa warriors for their fighting skills. "So 'ere's to you, Fuzzy-Wuzzy, at your 'ome in the Soudan; / You're a pore benighted 'eathen but a first-class fightin' man"

Today Fuzzy Wuzzy is known more as the nursery rhyme many of us learned as children.

The Original Fuzzy Wuzzy Rhyme

Fuzzy Wuzzy

 Fuzzy Wuzzy was a bear, 

Fuzzy Wuzzy had no hair,

Fuzzy Wuzzy wasn't fuzzy, was he?

Long establish nursery rhyme, Author unknown.

The last line had many variations:

"Fuzzy Wuzzy Wasn't so very Fuzzy, was he?"

"So Fuzzy Wuzzy was not fuzzy, was he?" 

Click image to enlarge