Sunflower - my head is very tingly rather than sore but my hair is coming out in handfuls now
Got a lovely wig today (on the NHS) - Dream Duluxe - the shop are going to cut a fringe in it for me & cut my hair but think I’m going to brave the shave as I can’t bear the prolonged moult!
Fran - I’m a bit worried that I might cry so admire you for going for the shave bravely!
Anna - chemo brain is definitely a condition, I’m struggling to string a sentence together sometimes & ‘lose’ words all the time
I’m on day 18 & I’ve got a face full of spots at 56, so you are not alone!
Still got hair down there but it does look to be thinner, my eyebrows & lashes are still ok but I haven’t had any new growth on the eyebrows for about a week. My hairdressers do semi permanent makeup for your eyebrows which is done in individual hair strokes & does look very good so might go for that when I lose my eyebrows
Like you say we are in a club of sharing strange things!
HI ladies, I remember the loose pubes too!.. Wasn’t expecting that, they have mostly all gone, just looks a bit like a “wrap over” style, very attractive… ho hum the things we have to put up with!:smileywink: I’m on day 4 of my 4 chemo (T now) and still have some eyebrows and eyelashes although a bit thinner so you may keep some of them anyway. Hair seem to be making a small growth spurt to which is very exciting although it looks white!
Hi everyone, i had my first EC chemo last week now on day 9. It has been challenging to say the least. Probably the worst part has been the gastric disturbance, hot flashes at night and insomnia. The constipation was relieved with Laxido recommended by a friend who has been through all of this. I opted to take part in the Optima trial and got assigned chemo for 6 cycles. Wondering if 6 is standard for the trial or in general? Will be asking my oncologist at next appointment. I had lumpectomy and node clearance although only sentinel node involved, got good margins too. Any tips for getting through all this gratefully received.
Day 15 for me now and had to go for the number 2 shave this morning as the hair shedding and painful scalp was driving me insane. Its the best decision I could have made as it feels much more comfortable.
The first week is the worse so hopefully you are coming out of the other side now. It’s surprising how quickly you forget how crap you felt.
If you talk to your breast care nurse or the chemo unit they may be able to change some meds which may help with any specific issues that you had
Sorry but I don’t know anything about the trial that you are on but I’m having 3 x EC & then 3 x T along with herceptin
I can’t tell you how relieved I was for it to go. I think you just get to the stage where it is so annoying and uncomfortable that anything is a welcome relief. There is still shedding happening going to a number 2 but much more manageable and it’s nice to wash your hair and rub the scalp without worrying about a handful coming away.
I too am dreading round 2 next Wednesday but do you know what…bring it on! What else can they throw at us?
Hi ladies new to this website, I’m 46 married with 3 children 2 girls aged 22 and 20 (21 in November really hope I can make her party which is all arranged ???) I had my first EC chemo yesterday having 4 x 3 weekly then 4 x Docetaxel alongside Pertuzumab and Trastuzumab Emtansine 3 weekly, then Surgery mascetomy on left side with full node clearance I believe, diagnosed mid July IDC grade 2 HER+, ER+ have 3 lumps 1 x 2.5cm and the others in the mm and also in my lymph nodes, wore the cold cap which I didnt find too bad and manageable just made it take 2 hours longer was there for 5 hours in total. Felt nauseous and heavy headed when got home and no appetite, had an early night slept ok just did lots of pink wees through the night, woke at 5.15 and had some toast and green tea which went down well and tasty which I was glad about because couldn’t even manage toast last night, so see how rest of day goes will probably try to have a little trip out if I can manage it, have a wig appt later which my hairdresser sister is taking me to which is very handy. Really nice to read your threads and picking up tips along the way and hope I can add to them. Wishing you all the best day possible under circumstances ?
Mills, I’ve finished my EC and am on to the T. I am cold capping and have kept the vast majority of my hair so far. Keep at it, it’s worth it. If you want to know anything I’m usually in the June chemo thread.
Amanda, your post made me laugh as I misread it as you shed when you poo (number 2)
that is so funny -my chemo brain did not engage there at all although it isn’t far from the truth. There has been hair everywhere I have gone…including the loo!!!
After a few days of scalp tingles but only losing hair as I would do normally it’s definitely ramped up today - blond hair on a black bathroom carpet is definitely not a good look. To look at me I don’t think the hairloss is particularly noticeable (but not sure how long that may last) and as my scalp isn’t particularly sensitive just yet (now that statement could be a jinx) I’m trying to pretend it’s not happening and I’m styling my hair as I would do normally. I’ve got the wig, scarves and hats on standby as I do get that this is inevitable but I’d really like to hang on to it over the weekend just so I can feel like me a little longer.
Obviously I’ve not got to wig wearing yet but I’m imaging scenarios where it slips / gets knocked or pulled off / or is too hot for me. Am I alone in this paranoia??? Is anyone on here at the wig wearing stage yet that can share their experiences?
Dear SB1610, I am from the June chemo starters, and just had No 4 chemo. My hair started shedding at day 12 of first FEC cycle and then rapidly ramped up the shedding until day 15 when it was just floating around me all the time, that was the most distressing part I think. I got it shaved off that day, about Grade 1 I think, that was tough I won’t lie, took me a few days to get my head around it, and to be honest will be glad to see some hair again but, once it was gone the tingling, painful head stopped and was so easy to look after. Have to say some hair coming back by last FEC too! Not much mind, but its a start. I have a lovely wig, I do find it a bit hot when the weather is and it did take a while to get used to, to start off I found it felt like wearing a hat in doors but after a while, and definately once all hair gone its so much better. They fit so well these days my never slips or moves and nobody has ever realised its a wig. Even the chemo nurse forwarned me that my hair might come out on the T part of my cycle and was so suprised when i whipped my wig of to show her it had lone gone! Another tip, I have a bamboo wig liner, its small but so soft and makes the wig much more comfortable, I got mine at the wig shop. What you will find is you get so used to having no hair you may not find you want to wear the wig much, nices hats are good to, but around the house I don’t bother with anything, haven’t braved outside yet completely bald, but lots of ladies do and feel very happy with it, after all we having to deal with its up to the others out there to not stare!! You’ll get through it, and once the hair is gone thats one less thing to deal with, you quickly cope with it. If you go onto the June chemo starters thread you can see some photos of us rocking our baldies… .I suggest you post too, its very therapeutic…oh and of course you can see me on my profile picture here! Big hugs to you, be strong, xx Kip
I’ve already got some of the bamboo wig liners as I’d come across them when doing research. The wig I have is almost a perfect colour match to my hair and is in a very similar style and those that have seen photos of me wearing it couldn’t tell it was a wig so I guess that gives me some comfort.
Thanks for all the positive comments on my blog, I do feel it very therapeutic writing it & my friends find it useful as they understand it a lot more
I did brave the shave & feel a lot better for it, now I’m not losing swathes of hair at a time. My head is a little pink & sore but feels better.
The wig looks lovely & makes me feel like me again & does not move at all. The bandana / headwear look ok but people do look at you as if you are ill & thats still with eyebrows & lashes
So deep breathes for 2nd lot of chemo on Monday - we’ve got this ladies
and every one of you who have been at my side through last week, Thank You!
I am thankfully feeling better now since coming out of hospital.
Have my 2nd FEC on Thursday, and am not looking forward to it one bit, but having had a good week now and remembering this, is a bit more encouraging that there is some light at the end of the tunnel.
Kip, I am sorry you have these horrible aches and sore mouth etc. Have been watching you quite carefully to see how T is treating you… seems so hard that when we go through these SE’s, we know we will have to do it 3 or 4 times!.. I really hope you get the help you need from your team tomorrow.
Have just been catching up on the thread as it’s been a while since I posted. You have all been through a lot and are doing amazingly well! Loving the blogs too.
I had my first chemo session (FEC) on 11th August and had a grim 8 days of mega nausea and headaches (a couple of hospital visits for intravenous anti sickness and a change of meds). BUT, I’m out the other side and starting to feel more human again (apart from the mouth ulcers, tummy problems…but they are a walk in the park in comparison! :smileyhappy:)
It’s great to read your updates and know that we are walking this path together, slightly different routes but destination the same :smileyhappy:
Morning Mills (from the June thread). My first 4 cycles were EC and so far I’ve worked all the way through (commuting to Waterloo East daily) albeit on slightly shorter days do I can get s seat on the train. I had 2 days off with a blood clot and Fridays are chemo days but apart from that working has been fine.
