Hi Red Robin
im from the November chemo thread so not far infront of you
Obviously we cant tell you what to do but as others have said Radiotherapy is targetted and chemo is aimdd at getting anything thats gone off elsewhere either into your breast too small to see or other pargs of your body. Im 36 I have a 7-8cm lump and am having neoadjuvant chemo which will end in March then a mastectomy plus a full node clearance so in theory everything should be gone after a that, I am still having a month of radiotherapy which wil more than likely include a booster week and I see that alongside the 18 herceptin injections I will have into 2017 as sort of insurance. I can honestly say then that I have done everything to stop it coming back.
I only got diagnosed in October and honestly things seem scary now but just deal with one step at a time and it does start to feel easier x
And plan for SEs but dont expect them all some lucny people (like me) get hardly any , make sure you loom after your mouth and skin for sure , try keep a routine for bedtime waking up etc and unless you are absolutley exhausted try not to nap for more than an hour or it really does throw you out for sleeping at night.
Enjoy your good days get out when and where its not too busy and try and get some fresh air and even a small walk everyday.
Tina x big hug. Bibi has cold capped and done really well with it so if you want to try then go for it it does work for some people as for SEs some people like me (up to now and I have 3rd next week) have very very mild side effects so you may get none. But even those that have slightly worse have good days if you read threads the girls are out and about just being careful with timing but they are off to the pub, meLs out etc . Chemo is scary im not saying itll be a walk in the park but I can honestly say its nowhere near as scary as I thought it would be. Not everyone gets every side effect and you get used to the temporary new look honest x
Hi Tina I don’t know if it was our posts you read (feel bad now!), but I am still glad I have kept my hair for the last 3-4 months, even if it doesn’t look perfect anymore. If you don’t give it a go, then it’s definitely all coming off, I’m afraid, so surely worth a try? Make sure you take 2 painkillers an hour before & if there are any machines request them. I got the bald patch because the nurse suddenly decided to put a small cap over a medium inner & it sat up, with not enough scalp contact. If that hadn’t happened, I would still be fine, albeit that hair has thinned a lot. Have faith & don’t wash your hair too much at the beginning. Sounds scuzzy, but it needs washing less anyway as you go along. Also regrowth is supposed to be speeded up by 1-2 months, so worth it even just for that perhaps, if the cap doesn’t bother you too much. Good luck & don’t think of the whole nightmare, just face what happens week by week. I am on the last few treatments & still playing golf 3x a week & my nails are fine. All the best xx
Hi Gillian
Not doing too bad, had a rough couple of days. Struggling to sleep and have really bad tummy upset, loose stools and bad wind! Did you have any of these? I started the injection for the bones on Monday and it’s been since then that I’ve had the most difficulty. I’ve got my second chemo on news years eve.
I’m having fec-t plus goserelin and zoledronic injections. I’ve also had the raging thirst couldn’t find anything to quench it. Went out and brought about £20 worth of different drinks, finally settled on tesco lemon and lme sparkling water, and lilt! I think I’m going to have to call the Doctor tomorrow as I can’t keep off the lol! I haven’t gone for the cold cap as didn’t want to put myself through anything else with no gauruntee that it would work. I have 2 children one aged 14 and one who is 15 months old. Do you have any? X
Haven’t written for a few days as been feeling really rough. All the usual side effects mentioned here and a general sense of not being able to cope. Luckily my other half comes home for lunch everyday too as it is quite a lonely experience. Have been eating well even with the awful taste.
Think I’m coming out of it already (chemo was Friday).
One thing I felt was that everything bothered me, and if the rubbish had been closer I think I would have thrown all my clutter out! Certainly making me evaluate things.
Hope everyone else is coping and not too many side effects.
Hello all
6 days after my first chemo andI’m good today , going to get out of my pjs today as my pal coming for lunch .
I have had my other half off with me since last week but today he’s gone to work .
Marina sorry to read you are having it so tough
Love to you all . We can do this xx
Thanks Carol. I totally forgot to go and buy new shampoo… I’ll have to see what gentle one I can get in tesco tomorrow for now!? Would baby shampoo be mild enough? I’ve got bits to take in with me tomorrow to pass time and snack on. What was the lorazepam for? Someone said to take painkillers before I went? Or should I wait till there!? Xx
Hi all. Thank you for your kind comments. Been having a bit of a sore arm after the picc line went in yesterday. Also seem to be having a reaction to the plaster. I was waiting around so long before I went in as they were running very late that I almost threw up from the anxiety.
Got first chemo tomorrow 8:30am. Going to try the cold cap. They have one that is like an ice pack in the freezer that they either, I assum,e change every so often or something. Not one plugged in which when looking at it must stay colder better.
Went to a wig appointment tonight but having a major nightmare to match up my colour. They had ordered some in but they were more dark brown or blonde than auburn. Going to call to try somewhere else tomorrow but where I am there seems to be only 2 places. One in Worthing and one in Hove to use the voucher. Really hope I keep my hair and feel ok for Christmas. Right now can’t sleep for worrying about it all. Can’t help it, so thought maybe reading comments on here and typing it all out may help. Other half out at his Christmas work do, kids asleep, so on my own this evening.
Yes btw whoever said you assumed I am young. I just turned 35 last week.
Been a rough few months as found out I had cancer on the friday before I started at a new school job, moved house 3rd October, then had op 7th, out for two weeks then back in for 5 days with an infection in the skin. Been a nightmare so far and don’t expect it to be much better until the end of next year at his rate. I am hoping you are all right and once got one out the way and know whats going on that I might feel a bit better in myself. It’s good to know I am not alone anyway and have you all to chat to. Thank you ladies and if anyone knows of any auburn wigs please let me know. I don’t want to end up sporting the ‘chemo look’ what with my kids and the 6/7 year olds I work with it would be too much for them and me.
Hi all I’m lesley and usually post in the Nov thread but read many posts from you all. This has given me tremendous support since September when I was first diagnosed.
I just wanted to say thinking about you red robin and Tina today I know you have your first chemo. I remember the anxiety that first time for me but wanted to reassure you both it wasn’t as bad as I expected , nor was it for my husband lol - he had worried about it all week!
Yes I got side effects afterwards but they were doable and you might not - everyone is different and there are a massive amount of medications that can help. Always remember each round is one step nearer to the goal of kicking cancers a*s# right back to where it belongs.
Good luck Tina and red robin thinking of you both.
Hi Gillian hope you have managed to Dort your wig ? And you are feeling good
All you ladies , sure help xx
Red Robin I don’t know if you tried Trendco. I found them to be really good, although I was looking for blonde bob rather than long auburn locks. I would say they were in Brighton, but I’m not a local, so it could have been Hove. I read elsewhere that you are due to get married soon, no wonder you were having a hair crisis! Really hope the cold cap works for you.
Pam sorry to hear about your diagnosis. Not sure if it’s better or worse to know what’s ahead?. There are a few people around who had/are having EC. The main issue for me was nausea/morning sickness feeling for a couple of days, a weird spacey/forgetful steroid feeling & low immunity week 2. Most of us felt back to normal after 3-4 days. My advice would be drink as much water as you can the day before, day of & day after chemo. A lot of ladies had quite bad constipation, so might be worth having some senna in. All the best. BBxx
Pam I am on EC x 3 before swapping to paclitaxel in new year, I have my 3rd next Tuesday and I am doing really well but as Bibi said bowels have been a slight prob so make sure you have something in for both eventualities and I only have this prob first week. Ive had mild heartburn too so some gaviscon or similar maybe and as Bibi said water water water (or sugar free squash in my case) I drink 2ltrs a day plus a couple of cups of tea.
To all your units will give you stuff for SEs just call and they will sort it so dont worry and dont suffer in silence. The thought and worry of chemo was worse than the actual infusion so please rest assured its doable x
So glad it went well Tina. My side effects started kicking in the following afternoon. In hindsite I tried to do too much on the 3rd day. Next time will definitely stay in PJs and possibly bed. Do not be fooled by thinking you are OK as later you will be worse. I know they say drink drink drink but I just couldn’t, will try harder next time!
as for SEs some people like me (up to now and I have 3rd next week) have very very mild side effects so you may get none. But even those that have slightly worse have good days if you read threads the girls are out and about just being careful with timing but they are off to the pub, meLs out etc . Chemo is scary im not saying itll be a walk in the park but I can honestly say its nowhere near as scary as I thought it would be. Not everyone gets every side effect and you get used to the temporary new look honest x