April 2018 Chemo Starters

Hi Linda

I have been scalp cooling each week and haven’t had a problem with the tangeled hair but i was wondering how they treated your hair when they used the cap. when mine is done it is soaked in water and then they spray it with a detangle spray. i think it is a childrens variety. i then comb it through when the cap is removed using a wide tooth comb. if they dont use a spray perhaps you could take some with you next time. There are so many dos and don’ts it is diffucult to know what works for each person. i hope next time is better. 

 

 

Hi all
I’ve bought the Mel life honey too after seeing the Dr Chris item. I’ve ordered it online and it hasn’t arrived yet, hopefully it will come before my next round of chemo.
I’m still struggling with upset tummy even after taking lots of immodium and eating foods that block. I think it can be caused by herceptin and perjeta so I hope I don’t have it for 12 months! I have also felt really achey down my sides this weekend, a bit like I’ve been kicked in the ribs (not that I’ve ever been kicked in the ribs!) Despite this I’m having a lovely weekend, bought some more plants for the garden, it’s really looking great but I think I need to stop buying plants now! We also drove down to Exeter for the day to see my eldest daughter which was lovely. We were there to collect some of her things and she is coming home on Friday for the summer so I’m looking forward to that! Just got to think of some things to do tomorrow. I’m ok as long as I’m busy and feel like I’ve achieved something.

Gigi - I hope you have recovered from your ordeal on Friday and your port is less sore and settled down ready for chemo on Monday.

Linda - sorry I’m late to this but I had exactly the same thing, a big tangled mess on the top of my head. I found it so upsetting. My daughter sat for about 45 minutes de tangling and although lots came out it was ok. Since then I have used a jug to slowly tip water onto my head and I use simple shampoo and don’t use conditioner. It seems to be working as it hasn’t been tangled since. I’ve now had my 3rd cycle of chemo and still have a lot of hair left so the cold cap seems to be working too.

I hope everyone is ok and enjoying the bank holiday weekend x

They put a sea conditioner in my hair and said to leave it for 2 days after if possible. Big mistake as 4 days later it is still in a smaller mass of tangled hair. We will get it out though but I don’t know how much hair I have lost yet as I have so much olive oil in all my hair. When its entangled I will was it with a paragon free shampoo such as Palmers or Simple. I think my hair was in bad condition anyway as its highlighted and I always find it hard to get anything through it. I am also using Aussie entangling spray as its so dry to keep it wet and oily whilst entangling it. 

I think you’re right Michelle, I also find it easier to cope with the symptoms if I keep busy. It seems to me that garden centres must do a roaring trade with chemo patients. I’ve also applied a temporary halt on further plant buying as I love passing the time there and then in the garden.

I hope that the pain subsides in your ribs and that your tummy settles today.

Best of luck today Gigi, I hope it isn’t too arduous.

I hoping that the sun starts to shine for you all this Monday but in the mean time I’m starting to pack for my trip to Scotland and Shetland on Thursday… Im ridiculously excited at the prospect of seeing puffins!

Xx

Hi everyone hope you all had a sunny day. Had chemo: that makes me halfway through chemo. Whoop whoop!

Yay Gygi! Great milestone! I’ll be joining you there tomorrow. If only it was 6 of the same chemo and not a different one for 4, 5 and 6 but hey, half way is half way.
Been out to Erdigg, a local National Trust place today. My boys love the Wolf Den there - a wooded area with lots of logs to climb on and den building materials. The rest of half term is likely to be fairly low key for them so wanted them to have a good day today. Mind you they also have 2 PD days on June 4th and 5th so hopefully Mummy will be feeling a bit more with it by then!

Glad you are back on track Gigi and hope it goes well for you tomorrow Sarah.
Have a great time in Scotland Fiona, enjoy the Puffins, isn’t it chick season? Who doesn’t love a baby puffin?! X

Would anyone not having chemo believe we would be glad to have it?  But each chemo treatment means one more done.  I hope the next few days are not too bad Gygi  I’m joining you for chemo 3 next Monday, the last EC one.  Week 3 is my Wonderwoman week and I’m making the most of it even if that means no more than doing ordinary things.  Ordinary is wonderful.

 

 

Thanks everyone. Slept well woke up at 4 but stayed in bed and feel rested.
Hope your chemo goes well today Sarah.
Dorabel hope your superwoman week is wonderful. Michelle I’m going to try to go for walks this week every day. Might go with my daughter and the dog today if I feel up to it.
We put up the solar nights I bought as chemo gift the night Sunday night and they look so lovely in the evenings. They sparkle up the end of my day.
Here I am on my swing chair in the garden listening to the birds…so many. Hope everyone is getting on ok. Yes Dorabel 10 day delay made me realise that getting through on schedule is a positive.
Take care Gigix

I love listening to the birds, Gygi. I just wish I could identify more than pigeons! I need Chris Packham to come and live here for a bit…?

Yes, it is puffin chick time so hoping for some good sightings.
This morning I feel I’m getting over the first hump of Fridays final EC chemo tho as ever the symptoms threw me and I felt far more nausea than last time, despite the same drugs, and the fatigue was overwhelming yesterday but today is an improvement, so far. I’m tempted to go to the pottery studio even for an hour to keep occupied as its raining here today. I find my anxiety levels are quite high on the first week and so doing and making things help alleviate those feelings which can tend to mushroom if left undistracted.

Im so pleased to be finished this section of the treatment but as others have noted, I’m now very anxious about the unknown of the 12 weeks of Taxol though the experiences shared have definitely helped.

Dorabel, I love your term superwoman week… Enjoy yours x !

Your day with the boys sounds wonderful and I hope all goes well for you today Sarah xx

Fiona

Morning everyone I had chemo on Thursday so not been my best. im now having abraxane and cyclophosphamide.Its my 1st cycle of this this one. I don’t sleep too well when had chemo I’m 44 but feel 88 haha Has anyone else had the same combination as me .Hope everyone has a great day

Hi Everyone

 

very jealous of the Puffin trip. My husband does a lot of trips to photograph wild life and mentioned last night he wanted to do the Puffin trip as he had a contact that takes small groups of people off on a boat to photograph them. They did look lovely on Spring watch last night.

 

After a completely rubbish weekend where i have felt the worst i have felt so far, i am feeling better today. Trip to see the consultant today who will do the DIEP and to book the CT scan for the blood vessels. Not an easy direct trip on public transport so I will leave loads of time.

 

 I am not a gardener but i agree i do need something to distract me from the side effects. I do have the Royal Marsden cook book i think Michelle mentioned so i am goind to have a go at some of those to pack in some better energy foods. Going to try the cauliflower soup with garlic and turmeric first i think.

 

Great to hear the chemo etc went ok Gygi.

 

Sorry to hear how bad your weekend was Christine and glad to hear you are feeling a bit better today. I like baking too, hoping to tomorrow but then we have Roland Garrod and the tennis! I spent to day in my bedroom sorting out clothes that don’t show my port scar. The surgeon has made it very prominent so that the nurses can find it easily. I spent 3 hours before breakfast online browsing and then deleted everything and found lots to wear in my wardrobe. Going to make some scarve necklaces and lace inset thingumebobs for the more open tops. My daughter and I are going to experiment a bit tomorrow. She keeps nicking my scarves! I find music helps too Watching Jools Holland right now and we watched the big weekend music festival over the weekend. Weird how many lyrics I half know! How did your trip go to the surgeon? I had two ops in one the mastectomy and then the diep. My plastic surgeons are all women and I love going to see them. They are always so proud of their work. Lol. My next appointment in September and hopefully I’ll get a date for nipple and reduction so I’m even keel again. Although I kinda like it at (but not forever) Hope the trip back went ok. There are badges you can get with Cancer on board. I wore mine home Friday but no one noticed or everyone ignored it Not sure which I felt so yuck. Well I messaged to cheer you up and going on about me again. Big hugs. Sorry didn’t message earlier only half read it this morning…was chemofied I guess. Take care Gigi (with the hidden scar now)

I’ll report back Christine on the puffin trip. A friend sent me an article that they’re struggling in Farne Island so I’m hopeful they’re doing better on Shetland… And that we don’t get involved in any fictional murders while there!
Hope the trip to the hospital was a hassle free as possible and you managed to find a few distractions…that soup sounds delicious.
Hope you continue to keep feeling better

X

How’s wonderwoman week going Dorabel? I have noticed I start to feel like me by day 10 and that was the same with FEC and T (docetaxol).
Wildshell I know what you mean about feeling 88, I’ve been the same recently! Hope you feel better soon.
How did the cookery go Christine? I hope it was enough of a distraction to help you feel better. Do you recommend the soup? I haven’t cooked anything from the book yet but intend to now I am feeling better. Is the Diep a reconstruction? Have you already had surgery?
It sounds like you are doing ok since your recent chemo Gigi. I love a good old clothes sort out!
Well at the risk of being called a ‘copycat’ me and my husband have booked a night away to go and see Puffins! Not in Scotland but Wales, about 1hr 1/2 away from me. Even though I have lived here for over 20 years and often talked about going to see the Puffins have never got round to it. So with my new cancer driven ‘no time like the present’ we are going Sun/Mon! I was advised today to wear a hat, “for the cold or sun?” I asked, “no for the bird poo!” I was told.
I think after the last series there can’t be many people left alive on Shetland Fiona! Have a great trip x

Fantastic, let’s hope we both enjoy a puffin-fest! And good advice… I’ll make sure I take a hat too!!

How lovely you are both going to see Puffins. Enjoy. I’m watching tennis today. Didn’t get to sleep till 4am for 4 hours so another lazy day for me. I have a bald patch on the top of my head too but still cold capping. My online shop came this morning so got lots of lovely food in. Got some mouthwash from the nurses so hoping not to have the sore throat this time. My chemo gift to myself this time is a consultation with a gardener on Friday for an hour to give me ideas. Hope you are all having a good day x

Hope you enjoyed the tennis Gigi! A garden designer sounds really exciting, I am finding garden projects to keep me occupied too, although a lot of them involve my husband doing the heavy work so he’s not as keen!
The ladies on the January thread are using various oils and shampoos for hair regrowth, one that they recommended is Jamaican black caster oil. You can order it from amazon, I’m going to give it a go. My hair isn’t doing too bad but my parting is getting wider and I have to do bit of a comb over! X

Thanks Michelle. I’ll look it up. Quite happy with scarves atm.Getting better at tying them. How is it after Docetaxel and herceptin?