Hi @erica Im on the same regime as you. I did my first cold cap session last week. Make sure the cap is as well fitted as possible. I took a small fleece and was glad of it as I was generally cold. I was bored as couldn’t get either glasses or headphones on with the helmet. I’ve been trying all sorts of ideas to be able to wear my glasses. This morning I suddenly recalled a favourite uncle, who used a magnifying glass as he was never going to admit he needed glasses to read. I’ve located it in a drawer. It’s more difficult to drink with the chin strap restricting your jaw so I’m taking a straw! Good luck.
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Thank you for the magnifying glass tip, I wear reading glasses and planning on taking my book.
I’ll pop it on my chemo shopping list 
xx
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Ooh I love going for spa days and getting massages, thought i would need to give them up as the small print usually says they wont treat cancer patients (or something to that effect), also read something about deep tissue massage isnt good in case get lymphodemia but think I’ll look it it again, might just mean I speak to them to ensure the masseuses are qualified in this. Im due to start chemo on Fri and will be cold capping, my lovely friends bought me a fleecy shawl blanket thing and I will be ordering Polybalm for nails, silk pillowcase and caps and hats this week. I will also get a free wig voucher this week. And I’ll need to remember a straw!
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I hadn’t thought about headphones with a cold cap! Would in-ear ones be ok?
I got my pre assessment appointment through and it’s the day I come back from holiday. I hope they are ok with me delaying a week. Though if they absolutely insist I start I could quite happily fly home a day early leaving my husband to navigate Paris CDG with the tween and the teen.
Hi Erica and lizn1.
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Good luck for tomorrow, hope all goes well x
Thank you much appreciated 
@greenqueen I wore in ear headphones. I also wore my glasses under the cap and I did lose the hair just above my ears where they rested but no glasses would have stressed me too much xx
@erica I actually wore my glasses under my cap and did lose a little bit of hair where they rested but can hardly see without them!!! You could also use a glasses strap - I use one for exercise - over the cap xx
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Hi lizn1
Sorry to find you here, but you sound very positive. I wish you all the very best with your treatments.
Massage can be so relaxing can’t it. When I was doing my beauty therapy and aesthetician training - many moons ago, then massage was contraindicated for anyone with cancer.
Things have changed in that the therapist will avoid deep tissue massage for sure, but gentle massage is fine, away from the area.
Last year I asked my consultant if lymphatic drainage was safe after breast cancer and she said it was for me. I didn’t have any node involvement so that advice may be different for others. I think with anything, caution is best and as long as the therapist knows your full history then you will enjoy a lovely and relaxing treatment.
All the best.
Frances x
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Thanks @carrie5 I will save that idea for later, I’m sure it will be useful. I’ve found I have a very blinkered approach and only want to find out about what is relevant specifically to me and right now! Otherwise I pretty much have my fingers in my ears going la la la! Interesting the things you find out about yourself…
Thanks Frances. Yes I’ve had mixed messages about massage. Certainly my usual massage therapist doesn’t want to come anywhere near me! My lady sounds experienced though and I’ll make sure we talk everything through xx
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Good luck to everyone starting their chemo today - sorry can’t remember specifically who that is - but I’m thinking of you….
…and of that being me tomorrow xx
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Hello everyone!
I’m finally back home after my first EC (4hrs).
Took 3 attempts to find a good vein!
I was given an anti sickness tablet so had to wait 1hr before proceeding. I had 5 syringes of chemo to infuse all together.
No at home injections required thankfully.
Left with an anti sickness tablet to take prior to next session. Also given additional steroid tablets, reducing over the next 5 days. Sickness tablets for the next 2 days plus a box of nausea tablets if needed.
So far just a fuzzy head feeling, but I know this is the calm before the storm.
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Sounds like a bit of an ordeal, but great that you’re home and not feeling too many ill effects so far. Hope you have a restful evening.
Re massage: my aesthetician said she couldn’t massage anyone who’d had more than 2 nodes removed. Which was nice for me as that’s how many I had out. I might make use of that given she may not need to do my eyebrows and lashes for a while…… there are specialist lymphatic drainage practitioners who help lymphoedema sufferers https://mlduk.org.uk/find-a-therapist/
Hospital phoned this afternoon moving my Pre Assessment date to next Tuesday 22nd so I’m officially an April Chemo starter, virtual high fives to all you fellow badasses.
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Tried to message something later yesterday in response to someone but ‘wasn’t allowed’ as a newbie! Only allowed 3 posts or something!
I’m allowed now, so will catch up with all the messages!
What kind of things is it worth keeping track of once start chemo? Is there a decent specific ‘diary’ to do it in, or use a notebook?
And any recommendations for a decent ‘safe’ deodorant please? X
Welcome and ‘good luck’ for tomorrow x
Glad number 1 is done 
take care of yourself x
I was given a diary called ‘Your Treatment Record’ when I saw Oncologist. It’s by Cancer Research and has information in it as well as space to record treatments and side effects. Your treatment record – Cancer Research UK Publications
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@gerbera1 Well done my lovely… 
First one down! I hope the next few days pass without too many side effects.
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