April 2026 chemo starters

Hope everyone that started treatment today is doing ok.

Here is a little bunch of virtual flowers :slight_smile:

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How lovely- thank you

All went well. The ward and nurses were great. Managed the cold cap. My oncologist said to tie, with a scarf, a large bag of frozen peas (in a pillowcase) onto my head to practice. I thought the machine would be much worse but it was fine.

Had an hours sleep as soon as I got home then an hours walk(while I can​:grin:).

Hope today’s other starters went on ok. See what tomorrow brings xx

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My Little Lifts box was delivered while I was there and there’s alsorts of treats​:grin:

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So was mine Sue what a lovely surprise to return home to!:heart:

Love all the updates, I have a 10 year old, and 2 step children (17 and 19).

Round 1 done yesterday (7 to go) :flexed_biceps: the anticipation was worse, it was fine and once all the pre drugs started pumping in it was a pretty calm experience-wee is wild :rofl:. I had a few bites of lunch while I was there and finished back at home. Felt totally wired though in avo pottering around and couldn’t sit still popped some paracetamol as did have a bit of a headache. Enjoyed a nice walk in sunshine with hubby then about 6pm I have to be honest and say I felt pretty grim. Husband was cooking dinner and I had to hide upstairs as smell made me want to vom, I took another anti-sickness med but my lesson is to take it earlier to be on top of it. I didn’t eat any dinner as felt too bleurgh, but planinng lots of snacks little and often today.

Oh and it’s 3am and I’m awake but thats my annoying brain :rofl:

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Love that frozen pea prep :rofl: you are a star​:flexed_biceps::flexed_biceps:

Hi Everyone,

I start chemo on Thursday (2nd April).

I am pre op and due to have 4 x EC followed by 4 x taxol on a 2 weekly cycle throughout to try to shrink my tumour/kill off some of the cancer cells before surgery (muscinous so I’m not expecting the size to change dramatically as the mucin will remain anyway but who knows?)

Absolutely dreading it but also desperate to have treatment start.

Got 2 teenage girls and my husband works away half the time which makes me nervous but I’m so amazed at all the folk with toddlers dealing with this and it’s inspiring me to put my big girl pants on and suck it up.

I too have a huge amazon basket and have just ordered eyebrow transfers (who knew they existed?) from Australia randomly.

Have my echo tomorrow to double check all ok before starting Thursday.

Good luck to everyone xxxxx

Oh yeah and sleeping all night has become an impossible feat so hello to all the 4am wide awakers!

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Hello

Just to say best wishes to the Wed & Thur starters.

I woke with a rolling stomach which went away as soon as I took the 5 meds. Managed an hour at the park with our Grandsons- took my chair in a bag. An hours nap after.

I feel well, a little spaced out but eating normally.

I’m expecting things to change tomorrow as I think it ā€˜kicks in’ then.

Hope you are feeling ok El after yours.

Best wishes to you all​:heart:

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Sorry eagere- saw you started yesterday too. Hope all went well

Thank you. It was manageable. Haven’t been too bad. The pre meds must have done their job. I hope when they wear off it’s still manageable.

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Hi everyone, just read that @katie91 popped over from our March starters and so I thought id join and just second what she’s said. I am 2 down and 6 to go! 4x EC and then 4x paclitaxel. Cancer type ER/PR positive HER2 negative.

The hardest part was sitting in that chemo chair for the first time. I really nearly lost my sh** but I was instantly swept up by one of the nurses. There’s no pain, there’s no real discomfort honestly nothing bad about the day at all really. Its a good few hours to read books I’ve been meaning to finish. The only thing you need to do is concentrate when they tell you what meds to take when you get home. And make sure you do as you are told. The biggest side effect is nausea but thankfully its also the easiest to treat as long as you take the meds. My nurse told me, as soon as I even think ā€œdo I feel a sick?ā€ Take a pill haha (keeping within the doses) I only really need them the first week, the 2nd week so far ive not needed them at all. I feel yucky the first week but its managable. Small meals only when I’m hungry. If I cant eat I drink protein shakes and make fruit smoothies. Think protein and fibre. The antisickness meds can give you constipation so ive started taking senokot the night before chemo and a few days after.

I’ve cold capped and it’s going ok. I make sure ive had enough paracetamol the morning before which must help. Its cold. Its exactly like have a cold wet head :sweat_smile: but with a blanket its ok. It doesnt hurt me, just tingles but eventually you barely feel anything. Currently ive had minimal shedding but I cut my hair into a very short pixie cut in preparation so ive not had to wash or brush it at all. I do think this has helped. Cold capping adds about 2 hours to the time you are there so keep that in mind.

Another thing to add to your basket would be a silk/satin pillow case. This will help keep your hair from tangling too much at night.

A large flask of hot tea will also do you wonders on the day as the tea ladies can be quite busy. One of the best things we can do to combat side effects is hydrate so the more you drink on the day and the days after the better.

Like Katie said try to live as normal on your good days. Yes you need to be very careful of germs but walking everyday, getting your chores done in between resting it will all help :heart:

Sorry for the essay but I hope it helps a bit.

Big hugs to you all :heart:

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Hello April ladies! Pleased to say I’ve just finished chemo! If anyone would like a free set of suzzipads for use during doxetaxel/nab-paclitaxel etc please send me a message & be pleased to pop in the post to you-only used the 3 times & its scary how much all this stuff costs so happy to pass on to another who may be in need x

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Thank you Foxgem for popping over with all those tips. You seem to be coping well. :heart:

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Hey @whataloadof if they haven’t already gone I would love the suzupads please and happy to pay for them! I move onto docetaxel after my last EC in a couple of weeks :heart:

@katie91 All yours Katie! Just PM me your address & I’ll get them in the post to you. I’ll pop some of my pack of 10 groovy compression knee high socks in as well as only wore a couple of those. What a to-do but hopefully really does help with peripheral neuropathy which no-one wants! Xx

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You’re absolutely not weird at all, that feeling of wanting to just get started is something I remember so well :white_heart:

It sounds like you’ve already been through so much, and you’re approaching this next step with such strength and clarity. Wishing you all the best as you begin your chemo journey, you’re not alone in this :white_heart:

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Thank you so much!!! I’ll pass them on once I’ve finished with them in Summer Xx

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@katie91 You are so so welcome. Hope you get through treatment smoothly x

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Hi there :waving_hand: So did you use compression socks and surgical gloves underneath your Suzzipads? I have heard this and have popped both in my basket :slight_smile:

:hibiscus:

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Hi there everyone,

So Echocardiogram and PET scan were done yesterday and now waiting to hear from the Scheduler who will book me in to the ā€œWelcome to the Chemo Unitā€ for new starters.

Does anybody have any good recommendations for face and body moisturiser? Obviously my basket isn’t fully enough yet :joy: I have super sensitive skin anyway. Thinking along the lines of Moogoo or Aveeno.

Thank you :hibiscus:

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