Thursday, November 4, 2010

Conversation 2

Sorry didn't get back to you. Thought I'd mail and give you the full story. The actual day of the treatment was horrible – felt restless and very sleepy. Slept all day until the next day 4am. Irene said I may need a sleeping tablet after the meds had worn off but I just kept sleeping. Then not been feeling myself this weekend too – tired, lethargic. But it is so much better than the first few treatments. No nausea or anything else. Struggling though to keep away from sick people. My daughter has flu at the moment and people at work are sick too. 

Irene said she gives the full dose the first time and then she halves it for the second one and then keeps reducing it. So it should get better after this. I asked about my back pain and she said it's a common complaint and they don't know why it is that one gets body pain. Still had problems with finding a vein. I become really tearful each time they prod me. One woman told Paulina that what comes around goes around! There was much drama after that with the nurses being upset but I can understand her frustration with all the bruises she had on her arm.

Was interested in your sms about eating meat and ice-cream. Are you on a diet of some sort? I am just eating everything! In fact, I have chocolate almost every evening and indulge in frozen yoghurt whenever I feel like it. I know of another woman who doesn't eat dairy or meat but I know I won't be able to sustain it. So I'm hoping that it's okay to eat the way I am. Irene didn't say anything about a special diet, did she?

All the best with this week. It's likely to be better than before. Then it's only 8 more to go. It is different going weekly though – I feel like I'm only now recovering and I'll be back again this Thursday for more! 

Did you go on the iThamba walk? I didn't – thought there would be too many people. Heard from my colleagues that it was really great. 


Sorry for replying now only, I took some leave the past 2 days. I didnt realise that Thursday's Taxol would be so bad, sorry to hear that. And the vein story, ugh, it's the only thing I don't look forward to!

I have been rather bad with eating the last week but I just cut out a lot of sugar and meat and dairy in general. It's not that I can have it, it just helps, I think. My friend is a nutritional therapist and suggested it. That is one thing the "system" lacks – a dietician or nutritional therapist, just to give us some guidelines, you know? Maybe I will suggest it to Discovery ;-)

The walk was good, I must say, I had a teary moment at the beginning, seeing some women with banners around them with the word "survivor" on it. Anyway, it was good and there were loads of people, kids and dogs!

I wanted to ask you, why did you choose Taxol and not the 3 weekly treatment? Did Irene recommend it? I am having 2nd thoughts on the weekly chemo, the thought of going every Monday is not a particular nice one!


Good to hear from you!  When is your next treatment?  I decided on Taxol because Irene recommended it. She also said I'm less likely to get sick on the weekly one and said that the positive effects are the same if not better with Taxol. I'm not feeling myself though – still a bit fluey with a sore throat and my energy levels are definitely down. I do hope though I'm ok to get the next one tomorrow. The week goes by very quickly and I am dreading this weekly treatment but at least if it goes quick it can be over soon. Maybe speak to Irene again and see what she says. I don't know of anyone that continued with the 3 weekly injections. I know Kate too was doing the once a week as well.

I'm picking up weight so needing to exercise a bit and watch my diet. At the moment I'm just indulging – the thought of watching what I eat too is just too depressing. Also, I don't have the energy to exercise. 


I start on Monday. I just hope I can work on the Wednesday at least. I am sorry to hear about the flu, it's not nice, I know that certain levels of my blood wasn't 100% with my last chemo and Irene said it shows my body is fighting an infection. I also felt flu-ish but luckily it didn't get too bad. We aren't supposed to be taking any vitamins and stuff, I think. But eat oranges or drink lots of juice, I do believe in that.

I have now lost 6 kgs. I got a bit of a fright, to say the least. But i think it's mostly because I eat fruit and veg, and cut out the sugar in my coffee and tea. Otherwise I am feeling well. 

When is your last session? It is 9 treatments, right? Mine will only be 10 Jan 2011. Was hoping to be done with all of this in 2010 already ;-)

Do you have any idea about surgery dates? I wonder when it will be? Not sure if I told you, I saw Jenny last Saturday, she came past our oyster stall at the market...


I was back at work the next day and was ok

My last session is 23 December. Keep thinking about the op but wish in some ways that I had it done before the chemo. That way everything would be over. 

I'm seeing the geneticist next Friday. Jenny suggested I see her as I have a 11 year old daughter. Also, my brother has two daughters and his mother in law died of breast cancer so his children have it from both sides of their family. Poor things! So will see how the meeting goes. 

I'm not sure how long we have to wait until the chemo wears off before we can have the op done. I'm needing to either do it in early January or otherwise in March. Will need to check with Jenny but stalling it for now.


Thanks, sorry for all the questions, but my mind is working overtime! I understand the genetic thing, I might also look into it as it's in my family but I havent thought about it yet. I took unpaid leave for Jan but now I wonder if the op will take place, have not heard a word from Jenny and I don't have her email.


I know she's away in the UK in December, not sure when she's back in Jan. Maybe we should contact her and set up an appointment.  Irene said to wait till we finished chemo but maybe would be good to see her before she leaves in December.


Thanks. It seems that they don't operate immedaitely, in which case I guess Jan is out anyway. I feel so clueless about all these things. Have you emailed her at all?


I mailed her but did not hear from her. Mailed to thank her but didn't ask about the op or making an appointment. Think I will rather phone her and set up a time when I'm feeling ready. Still not ready to think too much about the op. I must tell you though I saw this beautiful woman, very funky, all dressed up come and say hi to the nurses a few weeks ago and it was so funny because she wanted to show them her new boobs and the nurses were too shy to look. It was really quite funny. I heard her saying that she used a very good plastic surgeon, a Dr Engelbrecht or something. Just dreading that whole conversation and all the things that can go wrong which they always need to tell you.


That might be us soon, wanting to show off our boobs!

Are you having a bilateral mast? I am. But I try not to think about it, like you. Not yet anyway, one day at a time. I realised the importance of this when I freaked out a bit 2 weeks ago, it was a bad week and I think it's because I was already thinking and dreading going once a week, for 9 weeks.  Plus the thought of a mastectomy didn't appeal to me much ;-)

Anyway, I know you told me in the hospital but I forgot your history? You had a lump before? Are you going for radiation? I am only doing mastectomy and then Tamoxifan for 5 years! I have stage 2 BC.

And I talk too much ;-)


Never a problem to talk too much. Good to have contact with you.

Yes, will have both removed if I go ahead. Don't want to have to deal with the anxiety again. Jenny said if I don't have the op then I would need radium but no radium if I go ahead with the op. I did have a fibroid adenoma removed last year around the same time but it was benign. What is Tamoxifan? Not heard about it. 

I think we must take it a day at a time and not think too much. We've already gone through so much and managed it quite well, I think (thankfully), so it will all be okay in the end...



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