Sorry Edel, autocorrect stepped in for your name!
I saw Victoria Derbeyshires piece. I had commented to my family a couple of weeks ago t thought she was wearing a wig, so the cold cap mustn’t have worked! It does seem to save some hair in some people and then maybe the grow back is quicker.
Much as I don’t relish losing my hair, I have managed to convince myself it is a necessary part of the treatment, so decided against the cold cap. I made an appointment for the ‘radical’ haircut and wig fitting/trim this Friday. I would have rather have waited a bit longer but the next time I could see the ‘wig lady’ was Friday 15th, the day after my next chemo, so that was not going to work. I reckon this Friday might be too soon, but I’ll make my mind up on the day!
Amanda x
Hi Amanda, just popped over from the November thread, I didn’t cold cap either and shaved around day 18 after first cycle, as it was falling out in lumps and all over my clothes. I did choose a wig beforehand so felt prepared and had something to wear. It did need adjusting slightly after the hair came off as it felt a little big. I ordered a second one in a smaller size. It was quite liberating to take control of this one thing when everything seems to be so controlled by others! Good luck with the wig fitting and your second on the 15th xxx
lesley
has anyone come out in boils . i have no end in my hair , on my forehead mouth chin, groin back well everywhere really . plus painful . i think i might pop to see my dr in the morning.
Thanks for that Lesley, I do think that anticipation about hair loss is worse than losing it, and as you said, deciding to get on with the ‘off’ gives a small semblance of control!
Well done Pammy, get the wig sorted, best to be prepared, one less thing to do! I chose the first one I tried on, then it was just a matter of colour matching then.
Fredflowerpot, definitely see your GP, or even phone your chemo help line, that sounds horrible and you don’t want to put up with that!
Amanda x
Hi ladies I have used lipocils & still have lashes, albeit that the ends have snapped off, so they are shorter. It hasn’t worked so well for eyebrows . . I would say I have lost 50-60% of them, but I found some eyebrow mascara, which makes them look ok-ish. I wasn’t very good at the powder/pencil thing & they looked like what they were I.e. Painted on. Although lipocils is expensive, I am still using the original pots & I started chemo in August, so it goes a long way. x
Thanks, Bibi44, that’s encouraging and I will carry on with Lipocils. I have 2 types, one is a thicker formulation for eyebrows and the other is the original for eyelashes. So far I haven’t lost any but I’ve only had 1 dose, 20 days ago now.
Day 12 after first FEC and the hair is coming out rapidly! Looks like I will be ready for the major cut and wig fitting / trim on Friday! It’s not bothering me that much atm, but I think it might when I have it cut!
I am going to rely on my make-up savvy 20 year old daughter to take care of my eyebrows for me, and maybe putting on eyeliner for and eyelash effect.
Amanda x
Aw girls you’re all coping and doing so well! I’m fretting about getting in shower and in at stage of hair thinning… Feel sick at thought if it coming out in handfuls! Praying cold cap is doing its job! Just plucked eyebrows for first time in a month, they came out easily ? Trying to be gentle with them. Do you all still wear mascara?
Got bloods today… but just had call from my nurse to say last bloods had (when concerned of infection) though ok, showed slight concern on liver function!.. says nothing to worry about as its a reaction from chemo drugs. If it’s not settled after today’s test they’ll either put session off for week ? Or alter drugs… Hope it doesn’t get delayed!!! ??? I’ll find out in the morning! And looks like I won’t be able to work between sessions. Says advised not to so dr will prob sign me off for next few months.
Have a good day guys xxxx Tina
Hi ladies in response to those asking about eyebrows / lashes, I’m three in and still have mine, I think they are slower to lose than your head hair so hopefully you’ll keep them xxx
lesley x
IT Turns out my spots are pvl staphylococcus cream now applied also given a spray for dry mouth feel so much better. go for false boob tomorow
Hi all.
Thanks Tina for the pastels info. Will check them out. The Zoladex is to shut off my ovaries and hopefully stand a better chance of having my fertility after all this. My fiancé and I had talked about having a baby together then all this started. I want him to have the best chance of having a child of his own. He is great with the boys but don’t want to take that chance away from him. I would feel awful. I hope you get the result you want. Why can’t you work? I work as a teaching assistant with 6/7 year olds.
I’m sorry can’t remember who said about the lady garden going but yeah I know the feeling. It’s thinning out. As is my hair even though cold capping. Although I believe without it it would be patchy. Think it is working, I just had very thick hair to start with. No one can tell the difference as yet. Keeping fingers crossed still and carrying on.
Hi Gillian not booked on yet but looking into it. Can’t seem to get them on the phone as yet. They do one close to me!
Pammy yes it’s the E that does the damage.
Suefag tandy (Tina) and I are also on same days as you on FEC. Think there was one more on same day wasn’t there Tina??
Ops hit the button before finished!
Suefag Inam working through mine as best I can. I work in a school asa teaching assistant. I also have 2 boys and my fiancé works in a school too. I figure with all that I might as well work too as there is probably no more risk with one extra school’s germs! Lol! The oncologist said it is fine as long as I feel I can.
Gillian I really feel for you and hope the rest of us in here are lucky and it all goes and doesn’t come back. I went through it with my mum 10 years ago. She was 48 at diagnosis. Unfortunately we lost her 8 months after diagnosis at just turned 49, as she was already terminal. It was found way too late. My point is you are lucky to have found it early.
Does anyone know the chances of keeping your eyelashes and eyebrows while on fec-t? I thought the chances of loosing them were quite slim until I read these posts. Now feeling worried about that too as my eyebrows have been itchy, like my head before it started thinning. Has anyone else had itchy head instead of a sensitive/sore one like I keep getting asked if I have by everyone who knows about cancer? I have just been itchy and had a few more headaches than usual.
Keep up the positivity ladies. I am scared as hell again for Friday but thinking at least I will be a 1/3 of the way through.
Hugs all xx
And Fredflowerpot good luck tomorrow and glad the spots are under control xx
I forgot about the cold feeling in head but getting that too. So much different advice out there as if to work or not. Seeing as we are both in schools you would have thought it would be the same. I am a class based ta now, doing gine motor, phonics and speech and language interventions. In my last 2 schools I worked as a 1:1 with Autisic children. Actually thinking about it with how much hard work they can sometimes be maybe that’s why you need to be off. Not sure I could cope working with them now as it was such high energy work shall we say. I’m sure you know what I mean.
You are not alone in looking tired either. Good place to come if you can’t sleep. Better get ready for work
xx
Hi Tandy4, yes my 2nd dose of AC is on Friday 8/1. I need 4 doses so I will then be halfway through the chemo and cold cap, which is some comfort at least. Still got all my hair but I’m getting my wig cut today so it’s ready when I need it. Good luck for the rest of your treatment.
Morning ladies, sorry I haven’t been on in a while, been a rather rough few days, emotionally that is and nausea came back in waves. Good luck to everyone going through their next cycle tomorrow. Mine is next Friday.
In regards to people working or not, I was told by my oncologist to stop work as I work in the health sector and the risk would be too great.
The lady garden is definitely loosing it’s greenery, I’m day 15 and noticed it day 13. I had waxed before chemo and nothing has grown back!
I’ve broken out in spots everywhere, and super heavy period arrived too. Saw that someone is taking a drug to improve chances of fertility after? We were literally about to start a family when this all kicked off but I wasnt offered this drug?but maybe it’s due to my cancer being hormone sensitive?
If you are suffering from dry mouth you can speak to your gp who should be able to prescribe you some false saliva spray’s. The pastilles are good as long as they are sugar free. I would also suggest asking your dentist to prescribe duraphat toothpaste to help against future tooth decay, which the risk off will increase due to our dry mouths and snacking on what we feel like eating.
Hope you all have a lovely day.
Hey I’m the 8th too… Eeek that’s tomorrow!!!
I have stopped working as was a community carer for the elderly and didn’t want to be exposed to any nasty bugs they may have. I am also at uni doing a degree. Have gone back this week (just done a presentation which I was meant to do the day I got my diagnosis) have decided to go part time though, to lesson the stress
Uni have been fab and very supportive! Found out yesterday my ct results were clear huge relief. And that I will be having herceptin for a year. Starting with my 4th cycle of chemo.
My side effects were minimal compared to some of yours,the main one was a feeling of being spaced out for a few days and the tiredness. Being active I think is good for sleeping, I have 2 small boys and a dog so have a reason to be active and walking. Now I have to be mentally active too and start with my essays.
Hope all goes well for everyone today, tomorrow and next week. We must remember to take care of ourselves and listen to our bodies xxx
How strict is everyone being in regards to not going outside during the low immune days and avoiding anyone who could be sick? I know in the early days I really wasn’t fit to go out. Couldn’t even go into the garden, though that was mainly due to knowing that if I did I would get upset at the weeds growing! I’ve been out into town for some sale shopping but struggled the whole time.
Anyone know how long our immune system is low for?
I’m trying not to risk anything but starting to go a little stir crazy. I also want to start exercising as I’m on the plus size as it is and with all this sexy bloat happening I’m feeling rather…bleugh.
Tina my next cycle is 15th! So sadly I’m not join you guys but will be monitoring to see how you guys feel xx
I’m day 15 now too! So that’'s good, as I really want to go and see Star wars!which is hilarious, wanting to be well enough to go see a movie, but need a date night! ?