Hi Angels, Thank you for all the welcomes. Not long for me now - eleven hours and counting down. Starting to get a bit jittery and have an enormous cold sore erupting as I sit here typing.
Had to smile when I read your post, Kim. Not only are we on the same regimen but the best wig I tried on today was a Danni !!! They’re holding one for me till I get the prescription sorted. Pre wig shop visit, I intended to try the cold cap so I’d still have my own hair for my birthday in early May. Now, having read some of the latest posts and having seen Pauline’s inspiring picture, I feel more positive about saying s*d it, I’ll have a wig for my birthday instead. Kim, I’m having my chemo at Pinderfields, but will be going to Jimmy’s for rads.
Lola, I do hope this phlebitis doesn’t cause you too many problems and keep those wonderfully informative posts coming!
Good night’s sleep to all, Moira xx
FEC T Cycle 1, day 11
Morning ladies, still can’t shake off this cold completely so have phoned gp for another course of antibiotics. Not too bad and apart from that, everything else ok
Kate / Kim - glad your first cycles went ok, hope the s/e’s keep well at bay!
Moira - thinking about you today x
Hope everyone else is doing well
Take care Angel’s
Pauline xx
EC Cycle 1 day 3
had to go back to the chemo unit this morning as a large red area appeared overnight where the cannula was sited, luckily it is just a bruise! Never had a red bruise before. whilst I was there the nurse checked my sore mouth and recommended I carry on with the 2 -3 litres of fluids a day and to suck boiled sweets or pineapple, it may develop into thrush or mucusitus next week when my blood count goes down. If this happens I have to give them a ring and they will prescribe some medication.
Pauline - hope your cold clears up soon
Moira - I had my diagnosis, op and oncology visits at Pinderfields and I must they everyone was excellent and I can’t believe how quickly i hav been treated. I hope your first day goes well. As far as the wig goes…great minds think alike.
spudgirl/Katgo hope the liquorice works
Kim x
AC cycle 1 day 2
Sorry to hear you got a bruise around the cannula site - thought they were supposed to reduce the bruising! I have a portacath and apart from the swelling from when it was put it there has been no problems with it - just hope it stays that way for the next 16 weeks!
Well its day 2 and so far I feel very well! I was tired by 10pm last night so went to bed and slept quite well, had indigestion at 3am so had Gaviscon and went back to sleep about an hour later. Woke this morning feeling fine - went out for a walk into town and had lunch out with my OH and now sitting on sofa getting over my ‘self administered’ (well hubby administered!) white cell enhancer injection. Only problem I seem to have is too many visits to toilet as I’m drinking 2 to 3 litres of water as they recommended…long may it continue if thats the only problem I have! 
Hope you are all doing well today
Kate
x
hi all fec 1 day 2
i feel like ive had a night on the town but otherwise holding up quite nice.
katebil - i was told ice lollies help ulcer prevention too, i love liqourice too so i’ll try that. ditto with the loo visits too.
pcmartin - hair looks cool, im going next week, number 1, doubt i’ll be brave enough to have a picture on, well done you!
got lots of bruising to the picc line site and swelling but it worked fine, i think its because i had it in and out twice. looks bad but feels ok.
apart from that so far so good.
good health to all, drink well ladies!
angie xx
Great to hear you are doing okay too Angiepops! Hope your picc line calms down before the next one and it gets easier. I have my homemade pineapple ice lollies ready in the fridge but so far liquorice, mouthwash and special toothpaste are doing me okay - if it gets warmer I might be tempted with ice lollies but its still only about 12 degrees here so ice lollies aren’t my choice - they are for hot sunny days sitting in the garden!
Long may you all feel okay
Kate
x
Fec-t cycle 1, day 8
Feel so much better today! ! Stopped feeling sick. I went off tea for a couple of days but woke this morning craving tea and toast. OH said it’s great to have me back again. Tried on wigs yesterday and bought a great hat in monsoon today - hats are really in this summer. Booked a place on look good feel better - nearest one 30 miles away but looking forward to it. A week ago I wasn’t sure that I could handle this treatment but now feel it’s going to be okay. It really is a roller coaster but hang in there it does get better.
Love the new picture PC - well done.
Best wishes to all you Angels - we really are Awesome!!!
Hello all you Angels, EC cycle 1 day 1
Well first treatment over and done with and it wasn’t too bad. In and out in under two hours - no cc. Had the most wonderful chemo nurse who was so calming and reassuring. Couldn’t believe the amount I had pumped into my arm. Just thought of it as three glasses of merlot and two of sauvignon blanc with a couple of pints of water to wash it down and yes, Kate , I too am weeing red already! I must say that without doubt the biggest reason I felt so calm today was because of reading everyone’s posts and knowing that we can all get through this. Of course this is probably the calm before the storm - I’m due to take my ondansetron anti-sickness right about now! Kim , You are so right, Pinders has been magnificent, the staff in the unit are a credit to the NHS. Hope your mouth sorts itself out and, by the way, my wig is having highlights! Pauline , hope the cold gets better soon and I reckon that in a week or two I’ll be having a haircut just like yours!
Hugs all round, Moira xxx
hi zoe
i have a picc line, so glad i did, just so easy to use. took a couple of attempts to get it at the right place but well worth it for me.
angie xx
hi
has anyone had issues with thermometers, mine seems very erratic. i dont know if its giving me a proper reading.
Thanks
angie xx
I have portacath so nothing external to worry about - shower as normal, had it installed under GA and was in and out of hospital in about 5 hours. Some are done under Local but not sure why some hospitals chose one anaestetic over another. I was impressed how easy it was to use yesterday (once they found the dimples through the swelling as I had mine 5 days before first chemo) - normally they do the next but I requested dates for chemo that they fitted in to. I am due to go on a 2 day ‘girlie’ cruise at the end of May with my mum, 2 sisters and niece so wanted to be on a ‘good’ weekend at that point!
Hope everyone has a good night tonight with no SE’s
Kate
x
FEC-T Cycle 2 Day 2
Hi everyone -
Day 1 was’nt too bad this time just a little headache in the evening.
Today a little nausea but so far so good. Great tip about the sickness bands its got to be worth a try…one on each wrist n ankle for me - I’m a right woose when it comes to sickness ha!!
Well had the chop today…time to upload the profile pic!!
This page is proving a great support for everyone whether to obtain advice, share experiences and most importantly to be in the company of others going down the same road…I can’t wait until we are all safely at the end of it!
Keep strong everybody, love Lori xx
Fec-t cycle 1 Day 17
Just lost my last post, the gremlins are out again, hope I can remember what I said
Onc appointment went well yesterday, got a load more meds on prescription and Oralife drops for my nails in preparation for Tax. Don’t have to see Onc again until just before 5th cycle unless there are any problems.
Hair started comming out big style yesterday so have gone from the short bob cut on Sat to a Pixie, not so brave as you Pauline and Lori. I was prepared to shave but my friend persuaded me to go Pixie first, she’s been doing a gradual process as my hair was so thick and long.
Kim, Kate, Moira and Angie well done on ticking the first box
Spudgirl - Pixies are us!
Diggy - glad you’re feeling better and not feeling sick anymore
Paulne - that colds dragging on a bit hope you get better soon
Christine - see you tomorrow
Lori - love the pic
Zoe, Primrosehill and all others hope your s/e are not too bad
sending big hugs to all xx
E-cmf day-1
had my picc line fitted today and it wasn’t as bad as i expected. think i’m just a wuss really! anyway it’s in the right place and rather sore. start epirubicin tomorrow. I’m nowhere near as organised as all you ladies. i don’t have liquorice or ice lollies or pineapple juice, a wig or even a thermometer at the moment.( will get one on the way to hospital!) and i don’t even know what special toothpaste you’re supposed to use. I do have bottle of wine though and am working my way through it! I think OH will be constantly dispatched to shop over the weekend. cheers! Mel x
Hi Maisiecake
Angiepops is struggling with her thermometer not being consistent so be careful which you buy…the one I have is £24 ish on Amazon but £40ish in boots. So far it seems consistent and remembers your last temperature so you can compare.
http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B0001D0LMS/ref=oh\_details\_o00\_s00\_i00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
Good luck with your first chemo tomorrow, hope you have an easy time of it and no SE’s.
I’ve worked my way through loads of liquorice today - don’t know if its made any difference to my mouth/constipation risk but its made me happy as I love it!
Kate
x
Love the photo Lori28 - I’m not sure how brave I’ll be with my shaved/bald head when it comes!
Kate
x
Hi Kate. thanks for that I think it will have to be Boots or it won’t arrive until saturday pm, and i suppose I’ll need it tomorrow? Glad you’re enjoying your liquorice - it’s got to taste better than corsodyl!
Maisiecake - the wine sounds lovely, good luck for tomorrow xx
Maisiecake
I didn’t use my thermometer yesterday on day 1 and only did it today as I had a red face…my OH says I have a red face always so not to worry and it was fine…so its up to you but I wouldn’t have thought on day 1 you’d have infections which is what causes your temp to rise but might be worth checking with unit before you set off?
Kate
x
Maisiecake
I have Difflam (or equivalent) mouthwash and liquorice is definitely better than that! Your wine would be even better though - my chemo nurse said I was allowed to drink wine in moderation - not sure I know what moderation means when it comes to wine (or liquorice now its for medical purposes!)
Kate
x