Oh my goodness, you girls make me feel tired just reading about all your exercise and physical activity! I couldn’t do it normally, let alone when going thru chemo… hats off to you all.
But I am a bit of an old bird, its more about comfort than speed for me these days but still glamming it up as well… think chubbier Joan Collins!!
Dramaminx, I have my second treatment next thursday, but I have to admit I was sat yesterday thinking, why can’t I have it today, I felt perfectly ok for it … but I have no idea what my blood count etc is doing. So I am back to sitting on my hands!!
If there is anything worrying you, use this group to air your concerns, someone will have done it and got the t-shirt as well!
Hi Rabbit28 I was also surprised when my oncologist said he was happy for me to continue swimming as it was the thing I missed the most whist recovering from surgery. My surgeon said swimming was an absolute No due to infection whilst wounds healed. I went swimming yesterday which felt fantastic…might be a while before I attempt crawl again. The physio said it’s great exercise when trying to gain full arm movement after lymph nodes taken out. Also put my name down for Nordic walking group that came highly recommended for breast surgery recovery. Beautiful sunny day here! Scooter x
Hi Kirsty just thought I would pop on the thread and let you know I did my first fun since chemo this morning! I couldn’t quite get there on my first cycle but this week I went for reflexology on Wednesday and it feels like my body got lighter and so decided to give it a go!
I was relatively surprised as despite a break of about 5 weeks I was able to run about the same level as b4 chemo (which isn’t marathon standard I should add but do have my heart set on a half marathon next year to show cancer who is boss!)
Perhaps all those performance enhancing drugs they pump us with might have some beneficial SEs ??? Certainly none of us could consider competing in the Tour de France after all the steroids and blood proliferators!! ?
Hi Ruth, aw fab well done on your first run since chemo starting, that’s amazing that you haven’t felt a difference in level either.
Haha yeah must look on the bright side and maybe some performance enhancers ??
Go for it with the half marathon! I’ve run 4 obstacles races this year with my crazy team I train with and my goal will be to get back to that next year after all this hopefully… start some fundraising through the runs too I hope. Thanks so much for the link, I’ll have a read ? xx
Also meant to say Dramaminx that there are quite few of us TN girls around going thru genetics testing. I am waiting for results, should be January time??
Hi Ruth07 KirstyH I also had a look at liz.oriordan yesterday & found some of her information so useful. Rabbit28 I’m in York, blue skies today…but the temperature has dropped now & it’s FREEZING! I’m impressed you’ve attempted doing crawl swim already. I still have cording in my arm so taking it abit slower. I’m sure you will remain in fairly good shape as it must have taken you some will power to achieve your previous weight loss. Just be kind to yourself along the way.
Had a Pixie hair cut today & went for a wig fitting too. I was pleasantly surprised with the quality of wigs but not sure if I’ll prefer just hats & scarfs.
Scooter
I prefer my hats and scarves, look at YouTube for tying tips. I’ve finally found a use for my drawer full of scarves and an excuse to buy more ?. You can have fun matching with outfits and accessorizing.
Hi ladies, I’m from the November thread and just had chemo 2. My hair is shedding like autumn leaves, from around day 16 and am wearing my turbans, my wig is on standby.
When I was at the hospital the other day, this lady walked in and totally outshone everyone. She was totally bald; which is very on trend- think Cara Delevene (?), had stunning strong make up, she had enhanced her eyes, eyebrows, bright lipstick. She wore dangly earrings and looked so beautiful. I wanted to applaud her and thought kudos to her, she made me feel positive about losing my hair.
Wishing you all well and hoping you are enjoying this glorious weather
Xxx ?????
I think if it were spring or summer and I didn’t have a large mole on top of my head which somewhat messes with the symmetry, I would go bare headed and proud. I actually think it’s a great look. Too cold at the moment though!
Hello everyone, starting FEC 100 on the 5th December. I’m hoping this thread will help get me thru treatment. I’m grade 3. Had a lumpectomy with clear margins and nodes. So I’m lucky. Very scared about chemo. Feeling in limbo right now. Xx
Cmcorry hi I’m from Oct thread, if you read back in this thread there are tip for coping with fec, is it fec you are having or fec-t? All the threads look after each other on this journey, so you will get a lot of love, support, compassion and the most wonderful friendships, 24/7 support and any question or concerns can be asked and someone will answer. Everything gets covered from ?tips to our shopping binges online from the steriod rush we all seem to get and everything in between. Take your meds as your team will tell you, if they don’t appear to work, tell your team so they can change them, take one chemo at a time as se’s can differ each one, drink 2l+ of fluids a day, like I say? Look back on this thread there are lists of top that some of us have already put up to try and help Dec starters. Keep strong and positive we will all get through this ???shi xx
Welcome cmccorry. You will find loads of support here. The reaction to FEC is very varied. The most common side effect (SE) seems to be nausea. Take your anti sickness meds and if you still feel nauseated tell your team right away because they can advise you in either I increasing the dose or add an extra one in. It’s easier to prevent the nausea than it is to treat it once vomiting starts. Some people have very few SEs some really struggle it’s hard to predict. I’m 3 cycles into FEC 75 and I’ve found the nausea really hard but I’m only quite small so I suspect that’s why I’m on 75 not 100. The first week is the worst then first cycle you should get two weeks of relative normality. It does get tougher round by round but you also get better at managing SEs with your meds. The drinking loads is important to flush everything through and guard against UTIs I have a glass of cranberry juice every day because I find my wee gets acidic especially during first week and a half. Using a good moisturising mouthwash that’s alcohol free is also important to help prevent ulcers and oral thrush I use Biotene and Biotene toothpaste so far so good ?.
Some people get diarrhea but more seem to get constipation from the anti sickness meds especially Ondansetron I took dulcoease this time and it’s helped a lot. It’s worth having Imodium and stool softener on hand as well as pile cream and flushable toilet paper wipes.
Eat little and often when nauseous, bland carbs and almonds are my go to foods and if you have someone who can cook for you and tempt you to eat proper food without having to prep it yourself then use them.
Best wishes for your treatment, I can’t emphasize enough how supportive this forum is we give each other invaluable advice and also plenty of laughs x
Morning ladies, thank you for all the tips so far from the ones who have started. It is great to have the support and tips before starting. 3 days to go for me then it begins x
Thank you so much for the tips and supportive words. I will most definitely stay with the thread and look in on other months. I think knowledge does give you a little control back. Feeling prepared mentally I hope will help me. Chaffinch I too am small but the 75 FEC had not been mentioned so I may discuss this tomorrow with my onco . Even though he does not like me asking too many questions. I’ve asked him for zoladex to preserve my ovaries during chemo however he has said no to this. I’m 41 so I think he just thinks I’m too old anyway. Hard to take. Grieving for this alongside my own diagnosis.
Hi cmcorry, your oncologist is there to answer any questions you have, please don’t be put off by him & go armed with your questions, you have a right to answers!! Good luck for tomorrow & I hope you get your answers ?
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Cmcorry21 I can relate to you on that as I am 34 and we had planned to start a family next year, now this may never happen so it is like grieving for the loss of that on top.of everything else. I went to the fertility clinic to discuss ivf amd them freezing embryos but it was going to delay the start in my chemo treatment buy a week or two and I just couldn’t cope with putting myself through that (for a 20% chance of the ivf working anyway) so we have decided to take our chances as I wanted my own treatment to come first. I had a rough couple of days after that app but am now focusing on getting treatment started. Sending hugs xx
but still glamming it up as well… think chubbier Joan Collins!! 
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