April 2025 chemo starters

Gerbera1 :joy: I found steroid out of control shopping finger very therapeutic during chemo :grin::+1: like I’ve always said, do it your own way, whatever you need to do for you to get through :heart: our Oct17 chemo gang were music loving party hard foodies :joy: and we still speak each day and go away together few times a year, we hire big houses and meet up. We first did this after we all finished treatments we had a private 5 star lunch at the arch in London and we’d hired a big flat in London for the weekend, it was our treat to ourselves for getting each other through :grin::heart:keep looking forward :heart::two_hearts::two_hearts::sparkles::sparkles:Shi xx

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You can ring the number on here and also speak to your MacMillan team to discuss return to work :heart: put yourself first :heart: for you and your son :heart::two_hearts::two_hearts::sparkles::sparkles:Shi xx

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You look amazing and I’d never know you were wearing a wig if you hadn’t said. I might have to get looking as I’ve been putting it off to be honest.

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I have also been thinking the same about return to work, and I’m nowhere near active treatment end. I feel like there’ll be an expectation to just go back as soon as finished but I feel like I live at the hospital at the moment, always there for something or phoning for another thing. I want some time to recover afterwards, without having lingering appts and scans limiting me to where I can go/what I can do.
What sort of advice would MacMillan or the number here be giving? Support to adjust back at own pace?
I attended a psychology group run by my hospital the other day. It was only 2 hours but really struggled to focus as I haven’t had to focus like that since January… It’s definately going to be an adjustment.

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Hello ladies… just checking in after my second EC on Tuesday. I’m now on day 5, which is my first day without steroids. I hope the comedown is a little less brutal this time round.

So far, I’ve felt really good, even managed a night out on Thursday with my sister. We went to the Future Dreams Fashion Show in London. What an inspirational evening. Every women on the catwalk had had breast cancer and were in different stages of their recovery and they all looked beautiful. Did any of you ladies go?

Have any of you ladies had a sore throat and cough? I’ve had a dry cough for a couple of days now, which is really annoying. I don’t have any other symptoms. Any tips on what I should take? I’ve been taking paracetamol.

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:heart:phoning the number on here or speaking to your MacMillan at your trust should be able to give you full knowledge of your rights and what your company should be doing to assist you with any returns to work. You might already know everything and not need to use the number on here or your Macmillan, it was just a suggestion so you are fully prepared when you have any return to work meetings :heart: and also so you know what ongoing support and adjustments you are entitled to once back at work :heart::two_hearts::two_hearts:Shi xx

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Morning @maria1970! So pleased you’re doing well again. Having a night out must have felt great. I’ve heard of Future Dreams. Isn’t Sky’s Jacquie Beltrao involved?
You don’t get many days on steroids, presumably because you are fortnightly. I get send home with 5 days supply so day 7 is my first day without, although I’m tapering them for a couple of extra days this time. It really does knock you for 6 doesn’t it.
I did get a few days dry cough last time but as I was taking paracetamol daily anyway to keep the aches and pains at bay, it just stopped. So far I’m repeating my first experience, so fingers crossed :crossed_fingers:

I only get steroids for 3 days but didn’t notice much of a difference when I came off them last cycle. I seemed to sleep better after a few days too so maybe that made a difference.

Are you on EC? Fortnightly or 3 weekly?

Fortnightly EC. Though I’m going to ask for a week’s delay to my 4th treatment so I can be in good health for my Pulp concert on June 7th! :laughing:

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@greenqueen That’s why you only get 3 days meds. Part of me likes the idea of fortnightly just to get it over with quicker, but I think the extra week gives me time to build myself back up before it starts again.

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Yes, fortnightly is intense. Feel like I’m bouncing between appointments and trying to cram everything in to my ā€˜good week’. My liver hadn’t fully recovered either after my first treatment so they had to halve my dose of epirubicin for no 2. Can’t have helped that I was so sick the first time.

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Glad you are feeling good @maria1970. Your evening out sounds wonderful!

Xxx

@gerbera1 It was such a great night. I’m not sure about Jacquie’s involvement, but it’s a wonderful charity.

Apart from this cough my day 5 was good. I spent most of the day gardening… it was so lovely being outside in the sunshine. I decided to keep busy this time round to avoid the slump and it seems to have worked.

I’ve woken up this morning feeling energised, so I’m going to make the most of it. I’ve got the family coming round for an impromptu BBQ, so that will keep me busy.

My hair started falling out last night, day 19 for me. I’m so glad that I shave it off before it began to shed. My eyelashes are also beginning to look a bit sparse now. :sleepy:

I hope you stay well during this cycle, my lovely. Keeping everything crossed for you. :crossed_fingers:

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You guys look great in your wigs you really wouldn’t know it wasn’t your hair! I wore mine for one day but just found it uncomfy and it gave me a headache so I just wear the chemo hats day and night now as they are too comfortable :rofl::rofl:

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@maria1970 sounds like you’re managing really well! Hood you had a good bbq in the sun :sunny: x

Sorry good!

Once you’ve shaved your hair off, what do you use on scalp please for washing, and ? Anything else like moisturiser? Thankyou

Have you found the 2nd round not as hard as the first? My hair is coming out on round 1 day 12, dare not touch i! Wondering whether to shave it off short like you have. X

@fowkey72 For me cycle 2 is going better than the first. I had a real slump on days 5 & 6 which I haven’t had this time round.

I do however have a very annoying cough which seems to be getting worse, so I may reach out to my BCN tomorrow.

My hair is really shedding now… I’m sure it will be all gone in a few days. I am so glad I cut it beforehand as I’m still finding it really hard to see it fall out. It’s also such a weird sensation… it’s like pins and needles on my scalp.

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