I’m finding it incredibly annoying with it falling out everywhere, especially in the morning when I’m trying to style it !!
Styled it standing in the shower this morning so I could wash it into the shower trap !!!
I imagine it’ll get to to a point where I’ll either get so fed up with it shedding or it’ll be so thin I’ll shave it off !!!
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I agree, it’s absolutely annoying. I cut it shorter and I feel like I’m shedding less but still leaving hairs everywhere. My scalp is also pretty sensitive atm, need to be careful when scratching etc.
Hello darlings
EC number 2 done. Was easier this time. Thankfully they took my extreme steroid reaction completely seriously (was worried they would just think I was a neurotic mentalist) and they immediately halved them and told me that as they were only for sickness then to stop if I didn’t need them. Consequently I slept last night and only took 1 x 4mg Dexamethasone this morning and my kitchen is much dirtier than it was 2 weeks ago when I spent the night cleaning it! I don’t feel that manic high that I did so am not expecting the crash. It was that that sent my emotions into overdrive. I don’t feel remotely sick and didn’t the last time round either so am already learning that it’s not just the chemo to take into consideration but the other drugs too.
@prairiedog Your hair is lovely and looks like you have so much of it that you should be fine losing quite a bit of it. Unfortuntely I have fine hair so have my chosen wigs on standby. I feel it only right here to also post the pic of the hair that my cousin knitted for me. 
Glad my relatives are taking my plight seriously. @kartoffel
@Vibby Thanks for the Loratadine tip. Must get some this afternoon. I hear you re the crying. I was always at it and expect to do so for the duration. I think it’s quite important to get the emotion out but it is debilitating. Still…not much I can do about it so cry away, I say!! Like you say, there are positive days and crash on the sofa in a darkened room days so we have to go with the flow and not fight it. @starapple I try to walk every day too. Try, that is.
@taniak Good luck for today. x
@averley2024 How are you darling? Been thinking of you.
Anyway, I’m ok apart from having a streaming cold break today so that will teach me to be blasé about mixing with people when I’d been told to rein it in.
Better get back to work, while I can!
Love to you all
Salbert
x
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@Vibby thanks, the thought of us all rushing out to do the moonwalk had me laughing out loud.
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Sorry to hear you are feeling a bit isolated, might be worth speaking to your BCN as they may know of local groups.
I know what you mean about your mental health, it certainly does take a battering.
Its good that we can at least be honest with each other here as despite friends/family asking how you are I am not sure they would want to deal with the honest response when I am having a bad day
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@salbert I love it. Can your cousin knit one for me? 
Had my 2nd round of EC this morning and am feeling a bit rough. The 3 weeks was just long enough to forget how tired I was the first couple of days of the last round! I’m glad it held off long enough for me to drive home from the hospital as I had to drive myself today instead of getting a ride. We’ve just adopted a puppy and my husband was on puppy duty instead of chauffeur duty. He’s just been out running around our back garden so I think he’s as tired as I am… 
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@kartoffel Your puppy is beautiful!! 
I love his jumper. So gorgeous. Animals are good for the soul. We lost our dog recently (just another horrid thing to deal with over the past 3 months) but I still have an ancient cat who bothers the hell out of me but who I absolutely adore. Sorry to hear you are feeling rough. I’m expecting to hit a wall on Sunday if the last time is anything to go by. Well done for driving. I don’t think I could do it but I suppose if you have no choice you just have to get on with it.
@shonas The mental health really does take a battering. I have found the counselling and support of understanding friends invaluable. I simply don’t know how anyone goes through this alone which is why the Breast Cancer Now nurses phone line is so good. I’ve rung that a couple of times during meltdowns.
I’ve just had my Pegfilgrastim injection so must go and dig out my wheat pack ready for the hip pain. 
Salbert
x
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Hi Sammybp,
I’m sorry to hear you’re new to your area. A few days after my diagnosis my dental hygienist told me her mum was part of a bc group in the town and they have a facebook group abd meetings.
I haven’t been as I have a few local friends and get enough from the forums but I did join their FB group and see regular weekly updates so may be try that.
I’m sure Macmillan support should be able to point you in the right direction of local support groups too.
I hope you find something x
I hope everyone copes well through the weekend with the recent infusion days this week.
@salbert I’m glad you reported your symptoms and were listened to.
I saw my onco on Monday and told her about the neuropathy in both my hands and feet. She immediately said she’d reduce the dosage by 25% - I knew that would be the solution in any case especially as neuropathy on EC is quite rare. It is still my only real side effect alongside some shedding of the pubes.
So I had round 3 of EC on Thursday. I woke up feeling well and did a 4 hour dog walk with my friend in the countrysude, along the beach and stopped for tea and croissant at the golf club.
The weather was delightful like round 1 and I know having biblical weather during round 2 definitely made my neuropathy worse- movement and fresh air really help with the circulation.
I wore iced gloves and iced socks alongside my compression gloves and compression socks to help with the neuropathy.
It wasn’t until the Sunday that it started after round 2 so fingers crossed it works. I’m still wearing the compression socks and put on gloves as I remember.
If I can keep moving and if the weather can behave then I’m hoping round 3 will feel closer to round 1 then it’s just 1 last EC before paclitaxel.
Bit concerned as Paclitaxel is the one where neuropathy should be an issue.
I also cut my hair to a bob in one swoop on my way to round 3 as I have locs and I could tell the weight was starting to impact my poor roots, which have been hanging on for dear life thanks to the cold capping!
Wishing you all so many positive vibes and self compassion as we all take 1 day at a time and do definitely report anything not tolerable to your teams soon so adjustments can be made in time before next infusion day, if needed x
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@healing24 I have not shed any hair yet anywhere so I don’t know if the cold cap is working. It’s Day 16 now. Wouldn’t mind shedding some pubes though. I’ve done nothing with mine for months as figured they’d be falling out and it’s all rather unsightly! 
Sorry if that’s too much information, everyone.
So great that you felt well and went walking after EC 3. That has inspired me to go for a stroll. How many Paclitaxel’s are you having? I have EC x 4 and then 12 weekly Paclitaxel. Due to finish in July and then mastectomy and reconstruction in August. I’m told that needs about 5 - 6 weeks to heal and then it’s radiotherapy and Herceptin comes in somewhere during all that.
Today, apart from a streaming cold, my taste buds have turned rubbish. 
Nothing else for it, I’m off for a walk.
xx
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I hope you managed to go for your stroll and that you felt better.
My cancer is very oestrogen positive so I had a mastectomy in Dec and now 4 x EC then 4 x Paclitaxel followed by 5 days of radiotherapy and hormone therapy for 5-7-10 years.
Already on zoladex and when I asked my onco about bone density earlier this week she said I could start the zoledrenic acid on round 6 rather than after chemo. Bone strengthening.
My taste buds went funny at round 2 too but some days they were fine. Do you have a mouth wash?
Is yours HER2 positive?
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My big black chin hairs have stopped growing !!! Thought it would be just my luck that they’d be the only hairs I’d be left with. So taking it as a small win !!!
Head hair shedding like mad, total pain everywhere. Body hair otherwise seems unchanged. Eyebrows and eyelashes hanging on there. Eyebrows were semi permanent tattooed prior to chemo so hopefully will not look too bad. If I don’t lose them, I blew £150 for nothing !!!
Day 4 after 2nd EC, muzzy headed and inability to drive etc slowly changing over to wearing a lead suit feeling !!!
I documented everything on number 1 EC in the hope I could predict and cope better.
Saying that never has a woman been so prepped for chemo !!!
Batch cooked, enough food in the house for another pandemic, including toilet roll !!!
Every birthday card and present sorted for 4 months, jigsaws, boxed sets, books, colouring books, you name it I’ve got it
Plus a lovely hubby and 2 naughty dogs !!!
Mad to say under the circumstances but I am blessed !!!
In an hour I’ll be booing my eyes out about what a terrible thing has happened to me.
The rollercoaster continues 
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@shonas it’s absolutely fine to feel how you feel. It comes in waves and side effects can be different for everyone but for most it will affect your appetite, sleep and mess with your head. Take small wind where you can.
@Vibby no more black chin hair is defi a win!
EC is harsh there’s no doubt but got to hang in to that end feeling goal.
For gcsf / filgastrim injection take your paracetamol regularly and loratidine if you can too. Check w your chemo nurses.
It sometimes feels we’re alone in this but this forum is great to keep us united.
Some of us had made a playlist to encourage us to walk or simply to get through those first few days, and I danced on it quite a few times if constipated 
or awake from steroids!!
All the best ladies 
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@healing24 I have got some Corsodyl mouthwash and yes, I’m HER2 positive but hormone negative. I do hope taste buds improve. It’s most disappointing to eat a pack of Wheat Crunchies and find them bland.
@Vibby Great news re the black chin hairs! 
Find those minor triumphs and cling onto them, I say! Well done with all your prep.
I’ve had to have a largely sofa confined weekend but seem to be perking up again today. @pinklilli3s the music really helps to lift the mood, I’m finding. Today after I finish work I will be going for a walk with my headphones to do just that.
Happy Monday all.
Sal
x
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@Vibby you cracked me up with the chin hairs! there is always a silver lining 
Today is day 4 post round 2 of EC and I’m feeling super tired but cannot fall asleep at 11am, super frustrating. On the upside, it hasn’t been as rough as round 1.
Had a major hair shed this weekend, despite cold capping so looks like I’ll need to hunt down a decent wig. My friends say they are on top of this, though trust levels are not that high, they could send something like @salbert’s cousins
Well, I hope everyone has a fairly decent week and stay kind to yourselves. 
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@taniak Absolutely! I sincerely hope your friends are more sympathetic to your plight than my relatives!
Morning everyone
Great to hear that those on second round of treatment are doing well.
I’m just back from a walk with the dog with my music blaring - motivates me for the day even though the weather is miserable here today.
Was hoping to get in the garden for an hour or two but it’s absolutely soaking wet so I’m on the sofa with a book instead .
Got my second EC a week today and have an appointment with oncologist this Wednesday which I assume will be to discuss round 1 of EC? Then an appointment on Friday for bloods ready to go again.
I have an appointment Saturday to pick my wig up - finally got my nhs voucher through but it took ages!! Think this will just be in time as I’ve not started shedding yet but my scalp is very sensitive this week.
Xx
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@kitty77 Miserable weather here too but I shall be out in it with my music blaring also. It’s a real pick me up. But enjoy the book on the sofa today, for gardening would have been madness!
Despite having a cold chemo combo over the weekend, the cold is definitely on its way out and the only side effect I have now from EC number 2 last Thursday is a weird and claggy mouth. Once again, sorry if that’s too much information but I wanted to share that it is possible to feel good again so soon after a chemo session and cold at the same time. I think we have to celebrate every minor victory we have at present!
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@salbert I’ve also got the weird, claggy mouth thing going on… I feel like I need to keep brushing my teeth all the time
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@kartoffel It’s horrid, isn’t it! I was told by some other BC sisters that sucking on ice cubes or frozen grapes during chemo can help. I’m not sure I’m organised enough to transport anything frozen to my sessions. However, I can taste Marmite crisps so all is not lost!
May I ask an entirely unconnected question? Is your Username due to a love of potatoes? If so, then I hear you loud and clear. Just about my favourite things in the world!
Oh, and today I discovered my underarm hair has almost gone and when I brushed my hair it was definitely starting to shed. 
It’s begun. Sigh…
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