Anyone due to start chemo in April? - Awesom April Angels

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Hi everyone this is my first post!
I too am due to start my chemo in April (16 to be precise!) and will also on FEC T!
I am feeling ok about things its more the fear of the unknown so just want to get started now. I have already had my haircut was well below my shoulders and now it’s in very short bob below my ears and my neck is very cold! Am also yet to do anything about sorting a wig but its next on my list - apparently my 8 year old needs one too!!!
Am going to give the cold cap a go but will see how we go with that as I am not a great lover of the cold!
Good luck to you all.

Jo
xxxx

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Hi lori
I hope you are coping well
I wont be joining you at Wansbeck for the chemo. The onc said I wont need it ( there would only be 3% benefit )
The tumour had clear margins and sentinel node was also clear the only negative he said was the size of the lump it was 51mm
I am to have 15 sessions of radiotherapy at Freeman first session on Tuesday and have to take Letrozole for 5yrs.
A two hour car journey every day but hey I’m not going to complain about that I think I have been really lucky

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Hi all, had my follow up appt following ANC today, they took another 18 nodes and another 7 had traces (so 11/28 in total) have ct and bone scans next week then onc on 15th and should start by end of the month.
Mel, new hair cut is growing on me, wasn’t sure at first but people seem to like it!
Hi Jo and Katie, welcome!
Debra, Amber and Lori hope you continue to be ok
have a good weekend everyone xxx

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I would like to join aaa on behalf of my mum who is not really computer savvy but is going need lots of support and I know she’ll benefit from all this positivity. We re all a little confused at the mo. mum is 66 5 weeks ago went for standard mammogram and a lump was found - she had lumpectomy to remove 9mm lump. Had brill op and really positive results clear margin no lumpectomy in lymph glands but some of the removed lump was her2 +. After first appt we knew that chemo and herceptin were on cards but yesterday the registrar said even with chemo and herceptin that the cancer could return in 24 months. If I’m being honest he didn’t phrase it as sensitively as that !! Mum doesn’t have cancer anywhere at midi how can doctothings such things !! I ve decided to make appointment with gp to go through done stuff but mum is bring really positive.

Im going to tell her all about you positive people and hopefully she will be able to add done positivity to this once her chemo starts in next few weeks :slight_smile:

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Hi to all AAA’s,
FEC-T cycle 1 Day 4
Welcome to Katie & Jo another 2 on the Fec-t along with Mel A, glad you’ve got a date. The unknown is so uncertain and worrying at times but now things are progressing, you can start ticking off the boxes.
Another reasonable day so can’t complain. Woke at 3.30am with a headache and nausea followed by indegestion took some meds and back to sleep until 8. Went out shopping and met friends for lunch, a bit tired later in the afternoon so had a nap. Felt a bit spaced out this evening for a bit but ok now. Still drinking loads and taking all the anti sickness meds.
Lori & Debra - hope your ok
enjoy the weekend everyone, been a glorious day here
xxx

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Ouick question please. The hospital phoned me the other day to say itheymade me an appointment in cardiology to have an echography which i think translates as ultrasound. The lady couldn’t tell me why. Any ideas what it might be for? Is it something to do with portacath fitting next Friday? Or chemo?
Thanks x

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Ouick question please. The hospital phoned me the other day to say itheymade me an appointment in cardiology to have an echography which i think translates as ultrasound. The lady couldn’t tell me why. Any ideas what it might be for? Is it something to do with portacath fitting next Friday? Or chemo?
Thanks x

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Hi Spudgirl,
It will be to check your heart before your chemo. It is part of the normal protocol before we start or as soon as possible afterwards, then at certain intervals during treatment. I had one a couple of weeks ago. The doctor uses ultrasound to check what levels your heart is pumping at. It is painless and takes about 15 minutes. Afterwards, if you ask, he might tell you what he found. Mine did and I was perfectly normal. Sometimes you have an ECHO scan (what you are having) and sometimes a MUGA scan which is a bit more complicated.

Linda xxx

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Hi Everyone,

Just been catching up with your post and wanted ‘to get back to you’ - had my best day today, since starting on 27th March!
The only SE I have at the moment started to come on last night, my mouth was becoming quite dry, which was no surprise really and a small inconvenience compared to the headaches, nausea, reflux, tiredness & aching bones…thankfully not all together!! The problem seems to be with my saliva glands they have just stopped working - they feel hard, slightly swollen and very sore when you try to eat. Not sure if there is anything I can do about this but I will make a few enquiries, I’m back at hospital on Monday so may just pop-in and ask my BCN what she advises.

Debra, Amber, Glad you are both hanging in there, it is weird how this stuff really does effect us all in a slightly different way, I hope your SE’s are managable and not making you feel too miserable.

Anne, I am thrilled to hear that you don’t have this ‘Chemo Cloud’ hanging over you - great news! I will be thinking about you on Tuesday and yes every day after that too as unlike the chemo it is a daily treatment but hopefully quite a quick process and weather permitting not too much of a problem travelling up and down every day. Good Luck!

Pauline, I may not get a chance to log-in tomorrow but wanted to wish you all the best for Monday, you will sail it, I’m sure!! I hope your feeling ok and remember to watch out for those weird sensations as I posted on 27th March! I will be thinking about you, Good Luck!

It is hard to respond to everyone at once now as we have more people joining and we are all going through slightly different stages at the moment, results, treatments etc but I am getting a great deal of support, advice and clarity by reading all your posts. I hope you are all doing well and will catch up with others soon now that I am feeling much better. Welcome to all the new ladies too, it’s a great site and very helpful to be a part of - hope you find it a great support!

Next week is a busy one locally I have CT scan, Echo Cardiogram, Prosthesis fitting and Head Strong Class, the week after I have booked my Look Good Feel Better class…I feel like I am starting to need that one although (touch wood) this is day 11 for me and I am not losing any hair…YET!!

Take Care all,
Love Lori xx

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Evening Ladies,
Seems to be a pattern forming, woke about 6 usual slight nausea, headache and indigestion, took meds n back to bed. Had a good day with all the kids, did a belated Easter egg hunt as we were away last weekend, now it’s snowing!
Continuing to take all anti sickness meds and drink plenty, fingers crossed.
Lori - good to hear your doing ok, maybe try some pineapple ice lollies to help your mouth until you see your bcn on Monday.
Debra hope your ok and s/e not too bad
Ive definitely got the chemo fog, my brain can’t retain any info at the moment so I apologise if I miss any of you out when posting
Have a nice evening everyone xxx

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Hi AAA’s,
Thanks for the kind welcome - it’s so good not to be in this alone.
Amber, your SE’s sound manageable and I really hope they continue to be - you have given me a huge boost as I start on Friday 12th and then it’s the last weekend of my children’s school holidays and I would so love not to be completely out of action.
Has anyone any experience of a picc line? My chemo can’t start without it as I had a bilateral MX and ANC both sides. Just wondering how painful and how long to stop hurting?! Sounding like a wimp, but I’ve only just got proper movement back after surgery.
Good luck on Monday Pauline, keep taking the irn bru and whisky!
Hope you all picked the Grand National winner (I didn’t)!
xxx Katie xxx

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Hi everyone, I was diagnosed 15th feb and had mastectomy and expander implant on 21st March. I am feeling great so far, already been out and about every day since leaving hospital. I got my results last Thursday which unfortunately showed 3 independent areas of cancer that were 3 different grades and also some ‘rogue’ cancer cells floating around my sentinel lymph node. So although my lymph nodes are clear they don’t want to risk that other rogue cells have already made it past there so I am starting chemo in next 2 weeks and have to have radio after the 8 doses of chemo. I have 2 great surgeons and the oncologist who I met Thursday was clear in his communication, willing to spend time answering questions and also has a sense of humour that clicked with my husband so I’m hoping we will get through this with the right support. The one thing I don’t seem to have info on yet is wigs…and I can’t imagine being happy seeing myself bald gas I’d look too much like my brother I think (urgh!) that I’m now thinking my focus this week is wig ‘policy’ hunting so I can get myself sorted. Does anyone else know much about wigs yet?
Kate

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Evening everyone,
Fec-t cycle 1 day 6
Snowing again today!
Woke up to the usual s/tab meds sorted me out but have had a really woozy head most of the day and constipation, what joy! Quick visit to Tescos n now hopefully sorted fingers crossed. Can’t really taste my food today either, fancy something to eat and then when I get it don’t really want it. Apart from these minors all good.
Good Luck Pauline for tomorrow, tick the box!
Debra & Lori, hope s/e not too bad
Kate, I went to a hairdressers who specialise in wigs recommended by my oncology nurse for mine… She advised me to get one which was very similar to my own colour and style so that it wouldn’t be too much of a drastic change therefore avoiding people drawing attention to mine until I became more comfortable wearing it.
take care xxx

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I am very low today! 2nd chemotherapy was on Tues with cold cap. My hair is thining especially underneath and I can’t bear to comb it. I have 2 more of the red stuff before starting something which can be taken in tablet form. I can’t bear to loose my hair I find it so distressing, I am finding it hard to cope. Today I have not got dressed and cannot look in a mirror. My fiancé and I have been arguing today too. I don’t know what to next.
Debra xx

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Thanks Amber D, I think I need to speak to the nurse I met on Thursday and see what she suggests.
Katexx

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hi angels
not been on for a couple of pages due to waiting for my appointment to see the onc ,which finally came and now ive got to decide if i have the tube thing in the upper arm and chest? (not very medically inclined im afraid) to get blood out for tests and the chemo stuff to go in? has anyone got that, going on the 11th so i have to answer them tommorow morning (monday).
any info will help
thanks, angie xx

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Hi Debra,
Sorry to hear your not feeling so good. Losing my hair is a biggy for me too, it feels like everything’s being taken away and your out of control. I intend to regain control by cutting my hair short when my scalp starts to feel sore, then it’s my decision. I intend to start wearing my wig straight away as I dont think Iam strong enough to go out with short hair yet, have you got a wig sorted?
Cancer puts a big strain on relationships and we have to try and get through this the best we can with the support of our families and friends And all the lovely ladies on here. Your fiancé may be finding it difficult not knowing what to say sometimes. Some people may not think loosing your hair is a big issue but I totally understand where you are comming from.
Try to take control so you are the controlling the situation if you can, you’re allowed to have a down day this is a hard journey so take some time out for yourself and try have get some sleep.
Hope this helps even a little,
big hugs xxxxx

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Hi everyone,
I am also starting my treatment - tomorrow in fact! I am on TCH, starting with a loading dose of Herceptin tomorrow after my pre-chemo chat, then back on Tuesday for the chemo. I am terrified. Even more so than when I had my surgery. I think it’s a fear of the unknown. I am also having a portacath fitted on the 24th as they couldn’t do it before my first chemo so I asked if they could do it just before my 2nd so that I have a chance of fighting off any infection! Already had my hair cut really short which everyone says they like. Don’t know if they are just being kind or they didn’t like to say my hair was horrible before!!
Would really like to get back to work as I am self employed and after some very long phone calls to DWP have been told that I can’t claim any sort of benefit! I’ve always worked and paid into the system and it all seems so unfair. Are there any ladies who are having the same treatment? Just wondering how the SE’s are and if there will be days when I would be able to work. Carboplatin, Paclitaxel and Herceptin are the drugs I’ll be having - one thing I won’t be having though is the cold cap! My hair is really fine anyway and my head gets cold enough as it is!!! Good luck to everyone and Lola, I will see you tomorrow! Love Karen xxxxxxx

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Mamakaz - Good luck with your first treatment this week, I’m about a week behind you and waiting to see if I can get my portacath fitted before my first chemo session, are you having the white blood cell enhancement injections too?
I am thinking of having my hair cut short this week before I start chemo and then when it falls out having a short wig too…but can’t decide! I have my sister and niece staying at the moment and they want to take me to try some wigs on as a ‘girlie’ day out so I could be spending tomorrow wig hunting and not in a hospital! :slight_smile:
Kate

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Mamakaz - Good luck with your first treatment this week, I’m about a week behind you and waiting to see if I can get my portacath fitted before my first chemo session, are you having the white blood cell enhancement injections too?
I am thinking of having my hair cut short this week before I start chemo and then when it falls out having a short wig too…but can’t decide! I have my sister and niece staying at the moment and they want to take me to try some wigs on as a ‘girlie’ day out so I could be spending tomorrow wig hunting and not in a hospital! :slight_smile:
Kate