Hello out there all you lovely people. Please come in, have a seat, a cup of your favourite beverage (hot or cold ;- ) ) and relax. Yes, feel free to put your feet up I do not mind.

Not sure how I am today. I am writing this post last Monday in the hope that I am going to have the third round of chemotherapy today. The week of chemotherapy has been a bit of an out time for me the last couple of times.

On the day of chemo, I am very sick. Then comes some sleepless nights. Exhaustion. Then the brain fog. I also had some trouble I do not mention on here. How strange. I just wrote “we” instead of “I”. I used to think as “we” rather than “I”. Hmmm… Maybe I still need to get a proper assessment for DID.

Today is going to be the last of the FEC chemotherapy. It is also half-way through. Afterwards, I get the T-part of chemotherapy.

According to BreastCancerNow:

“FEC-T is a combination of four chemotherapy drugs used to treat breast cancer.

 It takes its name from the initials of these drugs: 

• 5 fluorouracil (also known as 5FU) 
• epirubicin 
• cyclophosphamide 
• docetaxel (also known as Taxotere) 

FEC-T destroys cancer cells by interfering with their ability to divide and grow.” (source: FEC-T chemotherapy on BreastCancerNow).

I am not quite sure I want to know what these things exactly do but hey ho let’s get a little more into detail:

Fluorouracil is an anti-metabolism drug which means it stops cancer cells from having the ability to divide. It is used for

• breast cancer 
• head and neck cancers
• anal cancer
• stomach cancer
• colon cancer
• some skin cancers (as a cream)

(info from Cancer Research)

Epirubicin is a chemotherapy drug that destroys the DNA in cancer cells. It belongs to a group that is called anthracyclines and is used for a lot of cancers.

(info from Cancer Research)

Cyclophosphamide also helps to stop cancer cells to divide, however, it is also a immunosuppressant. It supresses your immunesystem which is why I have to shield currently. Getting into contact with the Corona-Virus wouldn’t do me any good. That is also why it is used for some other conditions than cancer like rheumatoid arthritis.

(info taken from: Patient.Info)

Taxotere is a drug of the taxane group which slow down cell growth.

(info taken from: WebMD)

The trouble is that all these drugs do not only work on cancer cells; they do affect healthy cells too. That is why there is this long list of side-effects.

I was just wondering if the T-part will be different than the FEC part. From what I read so far, there isn’t much difference. But I am going to have a phone appointment both with a nurse from the Weybourne Unit which is responsible for the chemotherapy and an oncologist too on Friday. So I will ask and find out.

Ok, let’s get away from this challenging topic of beating cancer and get away to the Czech Republic. I’ve never been down there. The only thing I know about the Czech Republic is that they make brilliant beer, that the capital Prague is beautiful, that it used to be a communist country and that Kafka lived in Prague.

Lonely Planet added to my knowledge a vast array of castles everywhere in the Czech Republic. Its location in the middle of Europe made it prone to raids by tribes and conquering armies. However, the rich and famous also allowed themselves some lovely summer escapes to beautiful chateaux. Sounds like it’s definitely worth a visit. Let’s have a look here:

That made me want to go this very moment… if only… you know … cancer and virus and…. never mind.

Here is another video that should give you a lovely insight into this beautiful country:

Feel free to have a look at YouTube and check out the many videos about this lovely country. Even though I was rather shocked how many like to point out what shocked them about the country. But maybe that’s just a “headline” thing to get more views. I very much hope so.

If you want to find out more have a look here:

CzechTourism.com

Kafkadesk about the question which name is right: Czech Republic or Czechia

I think I saw a documentary once about this one: Cat and Duck Blog ~ Zemenka Earthship, Czech Republic

And “Grammy Writes” about their visit o Prague: City Scene: Prague

And for the music? Let’s see:

I have chosen a band called “Monkey Business” which according to News.Expat.cz exists since 1999 and does what it says on the tin: Monkey business. They are known for crazy stage shows and videos but according to the page are “clean fun”. I think the video I chose is a little provocative, at least when you are from Germany. I couldn’t find any lyrics to the video and didn’t understand much either, but I started to wonder if it is a parody of good ol’ Mr Trump. The part that I understood says: “Worse lover ever but I am so clever…”. Please make up your own mind 🙂

Well…. 😉

And where are we going next week?

Come Away With Me 2020 Musical Challenge Country for Monday, July 6th, 2020

I am taking a rather random route around the world, but sometimes it makes sense. Next week we move a little more south to Slovakia. Please find Slovakian musicians here on the Last.FM page.

As for the suggestions to take part:

1. Join in! No matter where, when and with what. You missed the first week? Don’t worry. Just jump in when it suits you.
2. Send us the link! The ping-back option does not always work so please leave a link in the comments of the post on the day you take part. Or leave it at the “Come Away With Me 2020 FB page“
3. Tag your post either with ” Come Away With Me Musical Challenge”/ #CoAwWiMeMuCh” / “Come Away with Me 2020 Musical Challenge” o/“CoAwWiMe2020MuCh” / . You can also use these as hashtags for Twitter and other Social Networks to give your post more exposure. If you add #blog and #music with your hashtags it will get you more readers.
4. No matter which music or country the prompt favours you create with it whatever you please. This is supposed to be a fun challenge and no chore.
5. I post a prompt for the next week with every “Come Away With Me 2020 post” I write.
6. If you like, use this picture for your readers to find the posts.

Please stay a little longer and find my poetry posts on The Bee Creates… on Weebly. Thanks!

You are more into photography? Then please check out my photo posts on Bee Wordless on Blogger.

You can also find my photos on Dreamstime (affiliate link, you do not need to buy anything but if you do I get 10% from your purchase).

Just one more thing before you go: The hospital that is treating me is fundraising for a dedicated breast cancer unit which would allow same-day diagnosis and better premises for patients and staff.

Please, if you can spare a little money hop over to their Just Giving Page and give as little or much as you can. Or share the page on your social media. Your support means a lot to me! Thank you very much.

Thanks my dears, for staying with me until the end. I appreciate your presence. Please stay safe, stay kind and remember that you rock!