February 2024 chemo starters

Going through breast cancer treatment Chemotherapy monthly threads
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@tinatin I think even you would struggle with the unappetising sandwiches we get… :rofl:

I’ve got one week (and a day) to go before my first round of docetaxel. I seem to always get antsy around this point in time in my treatment cycle because I feel like normal and it makes me want to just have the next round already so I can get this over and done with quicker. Also particularly antsy today because I’ve got my appointment with the oncologist today and I’m nervous about what they’re going to say. I’ve got an important meeting scheduled this morning and I’m going to struggle to concentrate - no idea why I did that to myself. :joy:

@salbert very stylish! Your family seems like a laugh… :laughing:

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@kartoffel good luck with your meeting! I hope it goes well.

I’m meeting with my plastic surgeon today to discuss the surgery and what is possible for me. I’m hoping he tells me I’ve got enough fat for both of my breasts and then I can just wait for the surgery to come. I’m not sure how I feel about implants. I’m fairly skinny and I’m afraid they will be showing under the skin (at least my oncologist surgeon was mentioning this). I’m planning a double mastectomy.

Looking forward to seeing some pics of nice boobs after the reconstruction to cheer me up!

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Hi everyone, hope you’re all doing ok (as can be).

I had my first Docetaxel yesterday and like some of you was really apprehensive. Luckily my oncologist reduced my dose slightly due to how bad I reacted on EC so this may have helped but to put minds at rest it went really well. No horrible nausea and managed to have a light tea and a walk this morning. I know it’s early days so we’ll see what happens in the next few days!
I’m did scalp cooling and I also did cooling gloves and feet coolers as I was told the neuropathy could be worse and it’s harsh on your nail beds. The only downside is I was absolutely freezing :joy: but again we’ll see if it helps.

I’m at the hairdresser’s on Sat to have a wig fitting, I lost about 70% of my hair and if it’s tied up you can’t tell but I do have a little bald patch right on my crown so a wig may help for special occasions.

I’ve also booked a holiday to Corfu on 6 June after my last chemo session in May. I’m very much looking forward to some sunshine, swimming and relaxation.

Good luck to all of you for your next treatment and keep us updated on any other trips or holidays. X

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Thanks for sharing @sammybp ! It’s great to hear that you’re doing well. Corfu sounds amazing! I went there a few years ago and it was so beautiful. The Italian food that they’ve got there (I guess before Brits got there it was part of Italy, hence the great pizza!) was sensational.

For the cold cap, I bought a cozy electric blanket which I switch on during the sessions. You can get one for £50 on Amazon and use later when working from home to save some gas! It’s so warm and cozy that I usually fall asleep during chemo (maybe that I how I react to the steroids).

Good luck with your wig appointment!

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@kartoffel I totally get that. I feel ok again today because it’s exactly one week from my last EC and I have exactly one week before starting Paclitaxel and who knows what that will be like. I hope your oncologist appointment went ok today. @sammybp That is very encouraging that you found your first Paclitaxel ok. Please keep us posted.

I’ve got my wig fitting today so here’s hoping and praying that she comes up with something spectacular or just passable actually. I reckon I’ve lost about 50% of my hair through cold capping and 4 ECs. I hate the cold cap with a passion but I’m going to carry on.

@tinatin I’ve just watched that Rachel Parriss stand-up routine. So funny! Absolutely spot-on. I have been known to pretend that I am feeling unwell when people see me without make-up and ask if I’m ok. It’s preferable to saying ‘No…this is actually what I look like’. I’ve got my plastic surgeon appointment a week today but unlike you, I am actually trying not to eat as much as normal as I want to have implants. The thought of that DIEP Flap procedure and staying in hospital for a few days has me running scared. My team seem to favour that option but I will be quite happy with an implant/implants. Won’t it be nice to post pics of us all perky-boobed with our hair growing back on our various holidays once all this is over.

@sammybp I love Corfu. I was at Blue Princess Hotel in Liapades in August 2022 and was reminded all over again what a beautiful island it is. I’m so pleased for you. I am hoping to be able to go on holiday after my mastectomy/ies which are scheduled for August so realistically we are looking at October but definitely something to aim for.

Big hugs to you, my buddies.

Salbert
xx

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@sammybp a holiday to Corfu sounds lovely… I’m jealous! I’m sure it’ll be extra relaxing after all the chemo. Have a cocktail for us! Did you get your cold gloves/socks from the hospital or did you buy some yourself? I’ve got compression gloves and socks but I’m not sure if I should buy some cooling ones instead.

I had my call with my oncologist (which was half an hour late… made me extra nervous!) and it turns out that my lump didn’t get wider. The last ultrasound didn’t show the full size of the lump, so the oncologist compared to my MRI instead and it’s 1-1.5 cm smaller and flatter which she seems happy about.

I need to get on arranging a holiday before everything good gets booked up for July… The one thing that’s keeping me from booking something is that I don’t know exactly when my surgery will be just yet. I don’t want to book a non-refundable holiday and then get told that my surgery is the same time that I’ll be away. I’m surprised that some of you are already speaking with your surgeons, I don’t think I’ll speak to mine until I’m done with chemo or at least closer to the end. Maybe you’ve got fewer sessions than I do, I’ve still got 4x docetaxel to go.

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@tinatin thanks for the blanket recommendation, I’ll certainly look into that for next time.

@kartoffel I bought these from Amazon Hand Hot or Cold Pack in Glove… Amazon.co.uk

I popped them in the freezer for about 2-3 hours before. Fingers crossed they work.

I’ll definitely raise a glass to all you brave, wonderful women when I get in the sunshine :sunny:

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@kartoffel Really good news that your lump is shrinking. I’m speaking to my plastic surgeon as apparently he gets very booked up so my consultant wanted to get the ball rolling now. I have 12 weekly Paclitaxels due to hopefully finish in July which is why she wanted to get August booked. I think everywhere seems to work differently.

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Saw this today and it made me think of this group: https://www.instagram.com/reel/C4GWIr7sW-7/?igsh=enBtNDJ4MnNyMHU0

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Ahaha @kartoffel so true! By the way, does your nickname have any link to the German word Kartoffeln :potato:?

I saw my plastic surgeon yesterday and it was a good meeting. I’m currently leaning toward double mastectomy because of my BRCA1 gene. I like the idea of having it all out of the system. I don’t have children and hope to have a child when it’s all over and it’s a bit sad that I won’t be able to breastfeed but alas so is life.

I’m still deciding between implants and a DIEP but at least the surgeon confirmed I’ve got enough fat in my tummy for both breasts. He showed really nice pics of ladies who had the surgery and their boobs looking amazing.

My husband is going on a work trip for a few days and I hope I’ll be fine in his absence. We have no family nearby and hopefully I don’t need to go to hospital on my own.

On the bright side, the weather in London has improved and I’m planning a trip to Canterbury next weekend :sunny:

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Has anyone else suffered dry eye. I have had it throughout EC x4 cycles and having just started paclitaxel last week, it does not seem to be easing.
I have tried Viscotears and also Hypromellose drops but neither seems to help. Any other suggestions?

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@tinatin close… it’s Danish :slight_smile: Same meaning though.

I have no idea what I want to do when it comes to be my turn for surgery. If I don’t have any more shrinkage, I’ll definitely have to have a mastectomy but I don’t really want implants. I think if I was going to have a double mastectomy, I’d probably just stay flat since it seems more practical but they won’t give me a double mastectomy unless I go through psychological testing and I don’t want to only have one boob. Such a difficult decision.

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I had dry sore eyes just for a couple of days. I wore sunglasses and it seemed to help. Felt like Roy Orbison #ifyouknowyouknow xx

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@Vibby hadn’t thought to try that. Thanks will give that a go and "drive all night " .x

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Hello ladies,

I hope you’re all having a decent weekend. I’m assuming there are no gents here. I wonder if there’s a separate forum link for them but they’d miss out on the helpful tips.

I’ve just realised that I might have some useful tips.

I started 1/4 Pactlitaxel on Thursday. It is definitely “easier” than EC in that when I got home I felt like going for a walk straight away -weather was gorgeous. I didn’t but I did feel like “what chemo?”.

Next day, again I felt great and other than the odd “electric” impulse on various parts of my body I’ve been fine. That’ll be the nerve endings and neuropathy desperate to make an appearance, I imagine.

So, I’ve done 3 rounds with iced gloves and mitts and always with my compression socks and gloves on too (2/4 on EC).

My centre provides the iced gear. For Paclitaxel we needed 3 sets cause it takes much longer than EC. Even then a 4th would’ve been good but they only have 3. Cause I’m cold capping, the precooling and post adds to the time and the iced gear eventually takes on your body temp so they need to be swapped out. Remember, you can’t use your hands once you’re iced so have everything set up.

I always take 2 paracetamol about 15 mins before I’m iced and I had 6 codeine left from my surgery so I’ve always taken that too but I won’t have any for my last 2 rounds.

I make up 3 hot water bottles at home, put them on my chair and a small blanket on top and sit on them.

I have an electric blanket - I think the same Amazon one already mentioned. It’s very thick so it’s warm enough even if you can’t plug it in.

Being put into chemical menopause, I’ve found I’m just naturally warmer anyway, rather than getting hot flushes. I walk around in t-shirts whilst my friends are in coats, gloves and scarves :rofl:

There was definitely a point where my fingers seemed to be getting frost bite but I tried to sleep and say lots of reassuring mindfulness stuff to myself and it passed. Just realised as Paclitaxel is longer I could probably have popped another paracetmol at that stage.

Hot drink in a flask of course to sip on.

I did buy a heated gilet from Amazon but sent it back when I realised that between the hot water bottles, electric blanket and layers plus now menopause I was ok. The gilet would be great to wear around the house if you didn’t want to turn on the heating!

I asked the nurses for a surgical cap for the cold cap this time as I definitely have bald spots but apparently it grows back with Paclitaxel…

Someone mentioned booking a holiday between chemo and surgery. I’d caution against anything non-refundable /abroad until treatment is done as insurance is unlikely to cover it.

Lake district, Cotswold, Kent beaches, Dorset, Wales.

All my travel was booked before I was diagnosed at the beginning of Nov. With twins at school I book super early to get enough travel in at good deals. (Please forgive me planet earth!)

I did book something for December in March though - can’t help it! By then I’ll have moved onto the delights of hormone therapy. I’m doing everything possible now to stay active to reduce joint and bone pain and also so I’m not starting from scratch once active treatment is done.

I’d been going to the sauna regularly from 4 weeks post surgery (I always did before) and it stopped cording developing and just made me feel better.

Once my skin started peeling I had to stop going (no hot showers, baths, chlorine, saunas) but then I’ve started getting cording again! I’m still doing my exercises but I had definitely got lazy as the sauna helped and I’ve been doing “regular” exercise instead like pilates.

Cording and lymphodaema can happen at any stage, even years later and I’m particularly trying to ensure that I don’t have either as that can delay radiotherapy and radiotherapy can also help cause it… the joys!

There’s a charity in Kent called Harmony trust which can pay for reflexology (helped neuropathy in feet) and manual lymphatic drainage massages (trained specialist not at a spa) etc so it might be worth checking with your breast care nurses if there’s anything similar where you are.
I was paying for both myself -not sustainable-until I found out.

Sorry - I always seem to write long posts but I hope there’s something useful there for some of you.

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Thanks @healing24 for your long post, it’s really helpful!

I’m currently on weekly Paclitaxel and I barely notice it but I’m dreading the 4 cycles of EC that I have next once Paclitaxel is finished. I can imagine it would be a different game.

I never book non-refundable tickets haha! My inner control freak prohibits it. I don’t think my travel insurance would allow me to go to France although I desperately need it. Sometimes I miss the days when we were all in the same EU area and could move seamlessly between countries. My husband is German and I can’t even go with him to see his family (they are based in Germany and France), as it becomes an insurance nightmare if something happens.

I’m planning to go on a day trip to Canterbury next Saturday to celebrate the end of my Cycle 3 out of 8. I take all the milestones to celebrate that I can.

My hemoglobin has been going down and I noticed that I’m getting breathless after two flights of stairs (and I’m 35!). I started cycling, as it’s something that brings me joy and it’s not too strenuous physically if you go 7 km/h as I do. Yesterday I was coming back after a dinner party at a friend’s house and found myself locked in a park so had to climb out over a fence! I’m glad that life is still fun even during chemo. My husband jokes that on London streets as a cyclist I may get killed first by a cab driver before cancer gets to me. I guess I’ll take the odds!

I’ve lost so much hair this week but still trying not to wear a wig. Perhaps two more weeks and it becomes inevitable but still pretending my hair is just getting thinner.

I hope you ladies had a lovely weekend and hopefully next week will treat you well!

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Ha! I’m with you on the hair. I put mine in pigtails when I want to make an effort and it helps my denial. I can’t see the top of my head so doesn’t bother me :sweat_smile:

I have my treatment in Canterbury so let me know if you want any tips!

Love your story about the park and fence. Reminds me of the day I met my surgeon for the HER2 results and treatment plan. My friend drove me but had borrowed her husband’s car and the electrics were playing up. She took me to the supermarket to get my shop done and after it was all loaded in the boot none of the doors would unlock so she had to rollie pollie her way from the boot to the driver seat - just the laugh we needed!

It is confronting being out of breath and seeing the impact chemo has on our cells. On day 5 of EC round 2 I had to stop several times to sit on a bench during my 30 minute walk. At 39 this was very new to me but doing the walk did mean it was easier the next day and no stopping then.

Cycling is a great way to stay active! Hope you can bring your bike down to Kent!

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Hesling24 there are guys on the forum and the plumarade is a male community champion :+1: I will as Bernard who looks after all of us if he can put a link on here for you for guys section if you can’t find it :heart::two_hearts::two_hearts::sparkles::sparkles:Shi xx

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Hi @Vibby not sure if you spoke to your nurse about putting products in your hair and using hair dryer but I was discouraged heavily to save my hair as much as possible. EC was harsher for me than the weekly chemo I had before it so I feel you. The anxiety of hair washing is real… although mine just started to regrow, it’s not really left me and I am still looking at my hands to see if any hairs come out. It will pass I guess.
I also just learned that my lashes and eyes brows grew back but then fell off again and are now growing back again so don’t be alarmed if that happens to you!

Big hugs to all :heartbeat:

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Tbh I take the view that if the drugs are so toxic they kill the hair follicles, hair dye that is absorbed into the already dead hair isn’t going to make the foggiest bit of difference !!!
I wasn’t going to be miserable with grey hair for the weeks when I did still have hair !!!
Similar with the hairdryer, once the hair has left the follicle it’s going to come out sooner or later.
Also refuse to paint my nails black !!! Why would I want to look like a witch !!! I still have mine gelled, going easy on the cuticles and scrupulous hygiene in the beauticians.
There is no evidence base for not dying hair or for not having nails done, as long as your aware of the infection risk.
For me having some control over how I look, is one of the things that gets me through each day.

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