1st FEC!!

Hi everyone

Mizzy - you are also a day ahead of me. Both have tax to look forward to over christmas!!! I think I am having 6 weeks of rads waiting to see radiologist for that. No herceptin for me as her2 negative but tamoxifen for 5 years.
I often have nothing on at home (head wise) but then forget and answer door!!!
Vicky - glad it not just me with the hot and cold thing (although would not wish this on anyone). Glad the kids were pleased to see you. What year do you teach?
Margaret - the scarf and gloves sound like a good idea.
Lorna- Good luck with 1st fec tomorrow. I think the not knowing what is happening is the worst. Once you have the 1st you will be more comfortable about the rest.
Caroline - My manager is looking to see if I am allowed to do paperwork at home and then take the time back when I am eventually allowed back to work. To be honest really missing it but also not sure I could do it.

TAke care, Love

Anne xx

Waiting for FEC No3 as I speak. Sat in MacMillan unit in their lovely internet cafe…
Better than the gloomy waiting room. Appt was at 1030, now 1205!!! Waited yesterday too for bloods and see onc at 3pm eventually got in at 6.10… This cancer thing is time consumming isnt it. Getting very very impatient. Still this is my last FEC, roll on the TAX just before Christmas (oh I have more steriods to take for three days before TAX, anyone else?)
Glad you are all still doing well. Has anyone found they are very forgettful? I call it chemo head… As if I’m blond. Hey it could come back that way…

love Vanessa

Hi theres lots of us on this thread now , how about we are say where we’re up to ! could be a laugh … yeh right

Cally : 3rd Fec on dec 12th : Hair gone , eyebrows and eylelashes holding tight , wig by day , scarf after 7 …

Hi all

Mel - 3rd Fec on 10th Dec : Hair gone, eyebrows & eyelashes still there, wig by day, hats by night…

Hello

Vicky: 7 days after first FEC, feeling okay. Prepared with wigs/hat/scarves for next week. 2nd FEC on Dec 12th.

(Anne, I teach Year 6, final year of primary 10-11 yr olds. Best age!)

Hello everyone,
First FEC tomorrow. Full head of hair (although cut off short to lessen the blow). Been panic buying hats which I will probably never wear. Wig on standby but not too keen.
I look forward to talking to you all once I’ve got this first FEC under my belt.
Love Lorna XXX

Hi all

Anne- 3rd fec on friday 30th november, hair gone, eyelashes and eyebrows still their but thinning. Bandanas by day and commando!! by night. (Head of course!!!)

Vanessa - it is a document side effect of chemo - short term memory loss - I call it chemo brain!! Hope all went well today.

Love Anne x

Hi All

3rd fec thursday 29th most of hair gone, eyelashes/eyebrows still intact as is hair elsewhere!!! bandannas by day ski hat in bed ( although i have stretched it to make it more comfy and my partner says i look like a smurf when i get up in the morning ) but hey who cares what you look like i’d rather have a nice warm head and i think smurfs are cute!!!

Love To All MIZZY****

Hi all

Pretty much the same as Lorna - 1st FEC tomorrow, just had hair cut shorter to lessen impact, been buying loads of ‘baker boy’ style hats (which I actually quite like lol) - wig fitting prior to FEC tomorrow but I can’t imagine ever wearing it?

Just want to get it over with now

best wishes to all

margaret x

You ladies are AMAZING!!!

Haven’t been on the site for ages or read this thread before. Was feeling really low after my second FEC on Friday but after reading your posts for the past hour have been inspired and cheered up no end. Thank you!

Someone wrote how they were feeling low after 2nd FEC, so pleased others feel the same way too (well, not pleased you feel low, but so grateful you understand). I thought I was failing miserably. I used the cold cap but it hasn’t worked. Hair is falling out all over the place. Now understand why it’s good to cut it shorter first. Have used a whole reel of celotape pulling hair off my clothes. I think the reality of everything that is happening and has happened has started to sink in. It’s a big deal isn’t it? I’d forgotten that.

Ladies, you have inspired me to go shopping and buy headscarves, to eat chocolate, to have magazine time, to watch Gordon Ramsey and to not be too hard on myself.

Right, I’m getting out of these PJs (it’s 11:15am) and going to start some serious treating of myself!!!

All the best to you lovely women.
A very grateful Liz
xxxxxx

Hi Everyone

Hope today is a good day for you all. Love reading the threads and sharing with others who really do undertand ~ you are all a real inspiration!

My state of play just had FEC 4 yesterday, had a break of 5 weeks for 20 Rads ~ certainly got my chemo head on today!! Just to cheer me up though I received a new Buff today (Pooh Bear one!).

I too forget to cover the head when answering the door! Because I now feel as if I have ‘quite a bit of hair’ relatively speaking!! I wonder what people are looking at!

Anyway, back to bed for me I think!

Very best wishes and hugs!
Pat

Go Liz! Sounds like a great day you have in store!

Must have chemo brain as I’ve just bought 3 seasonal chipmunks singing on a snowy rooftop for 35 quid !!

Hi All,

Cally - you are a star!! can you tell me what exactly makes a chipmunk seasonal?

Anyway, I’m at 3rd FEC next Thurs 6th, hair not completely gone but only left with sparse stubble (head not chin!) eyebrows and eyelashes intact (inspected in minute detail on daily basis!) currently favouring headscarves by day and evening as fear I look like Pam Ayres in my wig (chestnut bob).

Am spending the day internet shopping for xmas - husbands - what to get them? Don’t know if I’ll get away with a bottle of port and a giant toblerone(?) which is where I’m at the moment!

Lots of love to everyone,

Louisa xxx

Hi
Louisa , they are in red /green scarves and woolly hats of course ! each sings solo then they all come together for the big finale.
My 2 year old thinks its the best thing ever , but when hubby gets back from work trip will just tell him it cost a couple of quid from home and bargain.

I have bought my husband a retro female tin robot from robot island (way cheaper than the chipmunks ) . I dont know what I was thinking at the time but as he’s having a new office built a bit of female company who cant answer him back may have been the idea.

I would keep the toblerone for yourself…

Hi all

Well that’s me had first FEC today - part from the immediate effect of red pee - was ok, initially. since 5pm have felt quite nauseous but took sickness tablets then and it seems to have calmed down a bit - can’t stop eating now though (I’m assuming that’s because of the steroid one?!) And was soooooooo tired - not yawny sleepy tired, just ‘raggy doll’ limp and listless but appear to be waking up big style now (again assume that my be the steroid!)

Will just have to see what tomorrow brings…

take care all
Margaret x

Hi all

Hope this finds you all well.
Margaret - glad you are feeling ok. How are you today. Keep taking the meds even if you do not feel sick - they work much better that way.
Lorna - hope your first fec went ok too.
Lizzie- Welcome. Have found this site amazing and so helpful. I do believe we have “spoken before” - could be wrong mind you - chemo brain!! It is so good to have people that really understand.
Cally - You do really make me laugh with yur chipmunks - we must spend too much time shopping !!! No - retail therapy gives us the feel good factor.
Vanessa -hope 3rd chemo went all ok.
Well, better go - awaiting my blood results to see if 3rd and half-way chemo will go ahead tomorrow.

Take Care, Love

Anne xx

Hi All,

Chipmunks sound fab Cally, am very tempted! Am taking my two youngest out of school next Wednesday for trip up to London to Harrods toy department and Hamleys - v exciting!! will look out for seasonal chipmunks singing in harmony! Drove past that way other night and saw there is an ice-skating rink outside Natural History Museum so might have a go at that too - old dogs, new tricks and all that!!

Good to hear your first FEC went okay Margaret, keep on top of the sickness with the anti-sick pills. The first few days I take everything on offer, even if I’m not feeling sick, just to stay one step ahead! Also, found got really constipated first time round, think because I waited till I was, before taking anything so last time started with Lactulose next day which again really made a difference.

Lorna, hope your 1st one went okay, let us know how you’re doing…Good luck for tomorrow Anne.

Love to everyone,

Louisa xxx

Hello everyone,
Can’t believe the time has come when I can say I had the first FEC yesterday. The drugs went in fine and I felt fine. Just kept taking all the sickness pills and tried to eat little and often. Managed to get some sleep although had a couple of really hot sweats in the night. I really was and still am OK. Just feel in a ‘can’t be bothered mood’ now. Coming on here has cheered me up as ever.

Margaret - so glad you seem to be doing well. Look forward to hearing how you are today.

I am having a couple of GCSF injections on friday and saturday ( to reduce the risk of infection as my wound is still bleeding slightly). Has anyone else had them and how do they make you feel.

Anne - Good luck with 3rd FEC tomorrow.

Mizzy - hope you feel OK today.

Wonder how vanessa is? No news since she was due to have 3rd FEC two days ago.

THERE IS ONE THING…this chemo brain you all talk about… I think I know what it is now. I just keep saying the wrong words and I couldn’t even follow the thread on How to Look Good Naked last night…

Love lorna XXX

Hi All

I have just had my 3rd FEC today (30th Nov) and then moving on to 3xTAX and Herceptin on 20th Dec. I have been assured I should feel good for Xmas…

I have no hair on my head but a colourful range of scarves and a wig for those fun nights out, I also still have eyebrows and eyelashes although I haven’t had to shave my arms or legs for a couple of weeks now. Also very sparse ‘down below’, don’t think I need that Brazilian just yet!

I am planning on spending the next 4-5 days at home chilling out and letting my husband play ‘Mummy’ to the littlies over the weekend.

Take care ladies,

Caroline xx