Hi Sam, Marina,
hope we you feel ok today, best advice is don’t try to do too much. I am day 11 now and yesterday felt almost my normal self again. Looking back the first three days I tried to do too much. Drink lots of water and chill.
Gillian x
Are you ok Nicola? X
How are you Sam? How did it go yesterday? I’m fine today but taking it easy.
Marina
Hi marina
Not feeling too bad , just a little tired but that could be due to lack of sleep from steroids .
Also not a good taste in my mouth but ducking pineapple and pear drops as recommended .
Taking it easy . Still can’t believe ice had chemo . I’m on TAC ladies xx
Hi Lynn, did you organise the wig fitting yourself then? I’ve not been told anything about it except that the NHS pays for 100 for it. I will check out the thread for ideas. Thanks you
I had EC.
Starting to feel a bit down which is not like me. I have been so positive up until now. Getting scared of SE and what is to come. Spent the afternoon on the sofa watching TV.
Marina
Marina it’s a tough time and lots to get our heads around , big hugs to you
Nadz I got my wig voucher at my first oncologist appointment do I can sort it out asap , voucher last Monday and wig fitting and wig received Thursday xx
Ah OK Sam, I only very briefly met my medical oncologist a couple weeks ago. There was a mix up with my apt(they had put the wrong person in) and the info she gave me wasnt really that helpful, she kept saying ti speak with my chemo nurses, who were meant to contact me within 2 days…never happened, had to get my bcn to chase it up for me. Finally booked for this Wednesday. Do you think they will provide me with the voucher? Getting a bit worried that I have missed out now and that I’m very unprepared
Just call BCN and ask if they have forwarded voucher to shop as I was told that was usual way however as I had a tight window they gave me to hand deliver.
You definitely won’t miss out .
I know you just want to be organised , same as me , wig , heathers hair , scarves , sleep hat … Xx
Thanks guys. Had my hair cut short and will be doing the cold cap, or I’m meant to be, as I’ve said I seriously know nothing about the next step. Currently undergoing ivf so my emotions are all over the show.
Feeling more positive today, just wiped out. Taking it easy. Thanks for all the support.
Marina
Totally exhausted here to Marina , I’ve been sleeping on and off all day.
Thank you for thinking of me it certainly helps xx
Hi Marina (and others!) I’m starting Ftiday 18th! ? Just found this thread and about to read all replies! ??
thanks for all the advice guys… Bibbi, what’s the stuff off amazon for? Hair thinning? I trying the head cooling system and dreading the list of side effects to come! Having 3 sessions of FEC then 3 of T…
Ive nit got any scarves,meats or wigs yet…? My Macmillan nurses has said she’s got my voucher ready but I haven’t a clue where to go or what to do with it!?.. My veins are not great so dreading that too xx hugs to all. Any further advice before Friday greatly appreciated! Thanks xx Tina
Hey Tina x the things bibi refers to are fibres you can sprinkle onto your scalp if your hair thins covers up the pinkness x key tip water try drink 2 litres a day and especially a couple of days before and afyer chemo before helps get your veins plumped and easier to find
Jen x
Hey Tandy, I was originally booked for the 18th but it got moved as I’m now having a port placed due to how bad my veins are! Though it works out a’s I’m having eggs collected on Friday instead! Good luck with it xx
Hi All I’m having my first lot of chemo on Thursday (17th) fec-t, have no idea what to expect… An thinking if I expect the worse it will be ok. I have children 2,4 and 14… Am hoping I will be ok for xmas x
Tandy don’t panic about getting wigs/scarfs. Mostly our hair fell out days 17-24 & over a period of time & for some even after chemo 2, so plenty of time to get all your headgear sorted out. All the best for your first one . . The waiting is the worst bit.
Nadz I have a port & it’s a godsend on chemo days, despite being slightly uncomfortable for the first few days, you will quickly get used to it. Best wishes to you too. BBxx
Hi Teresa, the treatment itself is actually ok. From my experience you are out of sorts for a week so by xmas should be on the up. My next one is 22nd so xmas will be a bit trying but will do my best to watch everyone cooking. My kids are up a son 25 and daughter 21 training to be a childrens nurse in Sheffield. She will be home this week for xmas.
hi Nicola, pleased you are over the worst. Did you get Emend anti sickness? If not ask for them they are really good and some areas only seem to give them if the cheaper ones dont work. I am having my treatment at the Nuffield as we have private health insurance through work so I think they give you the pricey stuff anyway. There are others on the forum though who did get them when they said the others didnt work.
Sam, Marina, hope you are ok you are getting there.
top of my scalp hurts now, I think it is the start of the hair falling out. Xxxx
Hi Red Robin
Sorry to hear you are feeling so rotten. It is difficult to deal with everything that gets thrown at you, and changes from what you were expecting are particularly hard.
I’m a bit ahead of you as had my last chemo on 2 Dec, and start 4 weeks of radiotherapy in Jan. From what I understand, radiotherapy is pretty standard these days in addition to chemo, and if you are younger (as I’m guessing you are from the age of your kids and your comment re fertility), they really like to do everything to give you the best chance of it never coming back.
The best advice I was given for all of this is to just take one step at a time. If you have surgery first, just focus on healing from that and getting your strength back. If you have chemo, just focus on dealing with any side effects rather than worrying about the next step. Easy to say but hard to do, I know, but defo good advice.
That said, the term I’ve heard loads of time on this site in relation to rads is that it’s a doddle, so I really would not be concerned about having rads after chemo. I’ll let you know if that’s true!
Good luck for your chemo…it won’t be anything like as bad as you’re imagining, and your fellow Dec ladies on here will be there for you!!
And a parting thought, if your first session is 18th I’d put money on you feeling pretty ok on Xmas day, so enjoy! ???
Red Robin So sorry to hear about your diagnosis. We’ve all been there & know how devastating it is. I don’t know if you are aware that the different treatments do different things. Surgery gets rid of the tumour, chemo goes on a search & destroy mission for any cancer cells that are floating around other parts of your body & radioT blasts the site in case there are any residual cancer cells they’ve missed. I believe radio reduces your chances of it recurring in the same place by a big % (for me 42%), so well worth having, I’m from August & if you have a look in our thread, one of the ladies started last week & tells us what it was like. It’s obviously your choice (& I really feel uncomfortable with the idea of radiation too, so really sympathise), but with young children you should defitely have a good think/chat with the doctors before refusing it. Also, if you’re in a spin, phone up your Macmillan nurse or the helpline. All the best. xxx