Hi from England

sparklewings said:

BlownAway60
Hi donna, thanks for the cyber hugs! You've had a journey and half. Were you suffering badly with sickness etc not sure what big D is. At least you've finished with all that now so you must feel grateful for that! I've heard that rads isnt that bad it just makes the area sore so i think i can cope with that, i hate being sick! and popping pills even better once thats gone.

lots of love

kim x

sparklewings said:

miss murphy
Thanks hun for the warm welcome. I already feel at home here! I'm quite a strong person but this has knocked me for 6. I now feel i have this weight hanging over me for at least the next 10 yrs always waiting and wondering if its going to return. Does this go? I was told by my nurse the other day that i was the unlucky one cos my sister hasn't got it and that really hit home. Why me, not her? Am i going to see my kids grow up or these horrible thoughts!

Then the other day a friend said how she admired me cos i don't appear to have changed in attitude, still laughing as normal which i suppose i am, i've got it which doesn't seem real, and have to deal with it, theres no choice cos i'm not going to give up!

Are you having any side effects with tamoxifen cos i have to go on that once i've finished chemo and rads.

Have you been to England and whereabouts? There are some lovely areas and indeed lovely people but you guys have it all!

Lots of love x kim

Verite said:

Treatment in UK
I recognise your photo! Like you, I am English, and have just joined this chatroom to try and get more information. It is a real shame that twenty years ago British cancer treatment was some of best in world, and I lived right next to Royal Marsden hospital, where staff were constantly being asked to conferences abroad to talk about ground-breaking work they were doing. But by time I went there, they are 'over-NHS-ed' and don't have time to do more than short consultations on basics.

I had horrible side effects - became blind in one eye and developed skin lesions all over body. When I wrote 'all I was told was do you want to come off the drug?' I was hauled over coals and told I was being disloyal to hospital! No offer to help. So I went to France (superb treatment which sorted out side effects and helped me stay on drugs), and then started www.after-cancer.com to help others who have problems with side effects, and want to know what hospitals in France and USA are doing to treat these.

Thanks to wonderful email help from Dana-Farber Hospital in USA I have been sent down path to go and see an Accredited Medical Genetic Oncologist (only one in UK!)to find out if there is something in my blood that caused side effects (also carpal tunnel syndrome, seven-hour heart operation, osteoporosis, etc). Apparently this type of detective work is becoming norm in US - when I mention it to medics in London they look at me as though I am speaking a foreign language! If I find anything, will be mentioning this on after-cancer.com. I have to pay for consultation, even though if the Medical Oncologist finds out what is causing my side effects, this will save NHS money (heaven knows what heart op cost!).

So all is not doom and gloom, but like you I bless the Internet and the help one gets from medics in USA, who think looking on Internet is sensible part of treatment!

Verite

katznc said:

Hi from North Carolina (NC)
Hi Sparklewings

So glad to have you join us. Anytime you need to ask what something is, someone or some ten will be glad to answer. Its funny cause I love England and am a big history fan. I hope to go back soon for another vacation. You have lots of wonderful things there, like great public tranportation, beautiful countryside, fatastic old buildings.

I have a friend who has been living in Cobham, Surry for about 4 years and is coming back to the states this summer. She is both glad and sad and I have been totally jealous of her for getting to live there.

Hugs and welcome
Debby

chenheart said:

Hello SparkleWings!I LOVE
Hello SparkleWings!

I LOVE England! I was raised in Germany, and my parents went to England as often as possible; mostly to Basingstoke, where my moms best friend lived...

As far as I can tell, your chemo regimin, FEC is similar to, though not exactly the "cocktail", or mixture of chemo drugs we get here in the US. As long as it does battle with the beast and kills it~bring on the chemicals! Please remember to drink plenty of water~ it flushes and hydrates the system, and helps stave off possible constipation. I know many get the exact opposite of constipation, but believe me, you want neither of those extremes if you can avoid it! Keep a vigilant watch on your temperature...if it goes up even atiny bit, it is time to call your Dr! Chemo depletes the infection fighting white blood cells, and we are simply not capable to fighting off an infection. The slightly elevated body temps we experienced before cancer , which we safely ignored, cannot be ignored DURING chemo. We live by a different set of rules while we are in treatment~keep that in mind.

I had a lumpectomy with lymphnode removal 7 years ago in March, and so far I am doing fine! Our "personal odometers" don't exactly go back to zero after we reach a magic 5 year mark, but every day without cancer is a good one!

We welcome you to our Family of amazing, supportive, empathetic Kindred Spirits~ come in often...we are always here!

Hugs,
Chen♥