Oh well, at long last the day I have been dreading is nearly here - I start my chemo tomorrow (6 FEC). Very scared but resigned to the fact that it has to happen. From reading the threads lots seem have started chemo just lately so I will be in good company.
Love to everyone going through this.
Lenise XXX
Good luck to you and best wishes! (I start the same treatment in 2 weeks).
Fingers crossed
Vicky
I go for my 2nd FEC tomorrow. First one was a breeze, still waiting to be ill!! Hair has just started to thin out. No sickness, just toilet trouble with the anti sickness pills. Drink lots of water and eat prunes you’ll be fine…
Hope you are like me and well with it.
Vanessa
Hi Vicky and Vanessa
Have just caught up on the thread Insensitive or what! and it totally took my mind off tomorrow - having a good laugh really lifts your spirits - this thread really makes you laugh out loud.
Vicky - let us know how you get on when your chemo starts and good luck.
Vanessa - it really puts your mind at ease to hear how doable the chemo is - somehow I expect to leave the hospital glowing and I don’t mean a rosy glow.
Oh well, onwards and upwards.
Take care Love Lenise XXX
Hi Lenise
Good luck for tomorrow. I was so nervous but the staff were brill. I have been very well. My hair started thinnning thurs/friday and by sunday am coming out in handfuls - so husband clipped my hair. Grade 0 - look like Sinead Oconner - it was quite liberating really - although cold. Have even decided might not wear wig - like my scarves too much!!!
Let us know how you get on.
Vanessa - good lick also for your 2nd fec - have mine friday - so only a few days behind you. What is your regime - mine is 3 fec and 3 tax.
Take Care, Love
Annex
Hi all,
I had my first EC 11 days ago, apart from being sick the next day (in the Drs!!!) I have been fine.
Went back to work today and real tired in the afternoon and some breathlessness after climbing stairs but other wize was pleased that I managed the day. Am writing this in bed and off to sleep now.
Good luck,
Jackie xx
Hi Lenise,
Hope the 1st chemo went well and the side effects minimal.
Vanessa, Anne and Jackie, good luck with your second lot…mine is next week!
Vicky, let us know when you are due to start yours.
Love A xx
Hi Lenise
Hope the chemo went well.
Andrea- thanks for the good luck wishes for 2nd fec - good luck for yours next week. How is your hair holding up. Mine started coming out 14 days post - so decided to have it shaved on sunday. Have a wig ready -but too be honest will probably not wear it - quite likt the sinead oconner look - or my du-rags.
Hope everyone is feeling well.
Love
Annex
Hi Lenise,
Hope your treatment went well and you’re feeling okay. Take it easy, rest loads if you need to, keep on top of any sickness with the anti-sickness tablets and eat little and often. I found I did feel quite sick for about four days and have put in request for different/more anti-sickness for next time (next Thurs).
Hi Vanessa, Anne, Jackie, Andrea, here’s to two down!
Love,
Louisa xx
Hi Anne
It’s 14 days since 1st FEC and my hair had just started falling out (in handfuls). I have a wig and lots of hats but I am still very nervous about losing my hair. I feel it just won’t be the same ‘me’ looking back in the mirror. I don’t think the children are too worried though as I told them mummy’s medicine will make her hair fall out - he he!! and this morning, on her way out the front door to school, my five year old’s comment was ‘mummy - you’ll need to wear your wig soon!’
It’s just another piece of feminity this blasted disease robs us of. As if we didn’t have enough to occupy our minds with! Oh well…as long as the medicine makes us better us women will do ANYTHING.
Anyway, enough about me, me, me.
Hope all you guys are ok.
Louisa - what anti sickness meds did you take? I had Dexamethasone and Graniselvon which I found were really good and didn’t need anything extra.
Jackie - well done for working through the treatment. Don’t forget to get lots of rest.
A xx
Hi Andrea had exactly the same anti sickness meds as you as well as the neulasta shot, 7 days since 1st fec and no ill effects whatsoever apart from tiredness in the evenings (although a 2 year old waking at 5 each day doesnt help)
Cally
Hi Cally,
Pleased to hear your 1st FEC wasn’t too bad, just wondered why you had the neulasta shot?
A xx
Hi Andrea,
I had Dexamethasone and Domperidone which did help, but I did feel really quite sick for the first 3-4 days.
It’s funny really cos at my first meeting with my onc he asked how much alchohol I normally drank per week - was about to lie and say ‘just a glass or two at the weekends’ then he told me he was only asking because apparently if you are a fairly regular alchohol drinker the sickness syptoms should be less - apparently I’ve not been drinking enough prior to this then! if only I’d known!!
I haven’t started to lose my hair yet, it’s two weeks tomorrow since my first FEC so am expecting it to go any day now really. Will have to dig out wig from top of wardrobe where I put it immediately after buying it weeks ago and tried to forget it was there. Btw, anyone recommend good internet site to get a cotton liner to wear under silk headscarves? saw one once and can’t find it now.
Love to everyone,
Louisa x
HI , am going private , its too boost your bone marrow - taken 24-48 hrs after the chemo it helps your immunity. I think you can buy it if you are NHS , dont know how much though. I think if you do need it on the NHS they will give it to you though.
Cally x
Just to add , its to do with your platelets , trying to get the hang of what boosts what but my sis travels to the states regularly and its used regularly over there too.
Louisa, hope they get the meds sorted for you. Maybe your onc will switch you to Graniselvon, or otherwise have a few drinks between now and your next FEC!!
Cally, I’m private too, and the neulasta is something I discussed with my onc who said not everyone needs it and it can really make your bones ache? I think it costs about £800 a shot!
A xx
HI , no problems at all with the shot thankfully. My onc just gave it to me without asking saying it would really help reduce chances of infection .
cally x
Hi
Anne5 snap, I’m having 3 FEC and 3 Tax. !st Tax is the 18 December. Hope that doesn’t knock me too much. Went and had my hair sheared today. Now have grade 3 with patches and very thin hairdo. Still feeling fit and will probably go walkies tomorrow in the sun shine I hope. 10 miles or so…
Vanessa
Hi everyone
Hope you are all well. Having bloods taken in the morning to check everything ok for chemo friday. Feeling really well - seems odd to say that. I always imagined (prior to diagnosis) that you would feel really rough on chemo - lets hope - long may it contine.
Have got used to the grade 0 hair cut -(the children helped Dadday to clip it) - quite like my scarves and I am pretty sure will not be wearing wig. Mind you do not think I would of had the courage to have it shaved without the wig being their just in case!!! (expensive haircut!!). My 5 year old would like me to have a pink wig like stephanie!!! and my 3 year old blue!!!
Vanessa - hope you are well - my first tax is 21st dec - by what I have read on this site looks like I could be in for a rough xmas day - never mind - just what the chemo over and done with.Hopefully willhave lots more xmas to look forward to. You must be 3 days ahead of me.How did 2nd FEC go you must of had it yesterday. A 10 mile walk sounds too much for me -
Lenise - How are you doing? HOpe you are ok.
Vicky - Good Luck for your chemo starting soon - it is not as bad as we all imagined.
Andrea - Hi, How many children do you have ? What are there ages. Mine are the ones that spur me on - I am determined to see them grow up!!
Jackie - well done for working through your chemo. I feel well enough to work but not allowed to as work with sick children and as we are all running on low immunity have to keep well away. Do miss it though.
Cally - hi , How old are your children. My 3 year old gets up at 5 ish - some mornings -m akes the day so long. How is the sickness?
Louisa - Hi - you may find it takes longer for your hair to fall out - my friend was 4 weeks. Not sure about the cotton skull cap - my headscarves are cotton - so seem ok - not sure how it will be with no hair though. So if you find a website please let me know and if I find one will let you know. Think I am going to be a scarf lady.
well, its late so off tobed.
Hope you are all well.
Take Care, Love
Anne x
Hi Anne,
Sounds like you have a lot more energy than me!
I have three children, two girls ages 8 and 5 and a little boy who is 16 months, and yes like you I am determined to see them grow up.
My hair is very fine now, I can’t wash it as I know it will all come out when I comb it thru, so I think the inevitable will happen tonight! or maybe I’ll put it off until tomorrow! I just can’t imagine myself bald. I suppose I’ll just have to get used to it like everyone else.
This week (two weeks post chemo) is the first time I’ve felt normal. The first week after chemo I felt menopausal - hot flushes and very warm. Temperature was ok though. The second week my temperature was fluctuating between 36.1 and 37.3, and I felt cold and shivery. I think it was the low blood count and my body trying to recover…has anyone else experienced this?!
Vanessa and Lenise, hope your second dose went ok, Anne - hope your bloods are ok and good luck for tomorrow.
A xx