Vibby you might be entering your nadir phase around day 20 where your neutrophils could be low, please check with your team on this one to be on safe side 
Shi xx
1 Like
Sorry typo around day 10 not 20 Shi xx
Hi Charlie1,
So this is my 3rd day post chemo, and since yesterday Iāve been feeling:
-
An increasingly strange sensation in my mouth & tongue. Nothing tastes great. And it feels coated in something. Didnāt have any symptoms whilst still on steroids (get 3 days worth to start the day before each chemo cycle); but now Iāve stopped them things are creeping inā¦
-
The other thing I noticed yesterday was niggly āpain spotsā cropping up (dunno how else to describe it). Like thereās one that comes and goes at the neck-end of a collar bone; and then a spot at the bottom of one 1/2 of my front rib cage. Like Iāve banged/bruised them (except I havenāt).
-
Constipation
-
Dizziness the day I stopped steroids - dunno if directly related to that or to āstrainingā on the toilet beforehand (sorry!) When I stood up I sort of felt faint, and ended up on floor where I stayed 10 mins til the dizziness/ light-hardened left. No more of those episodes. Just generally sleeping lots nowā¦
And you?
My hair hasnāt started coming out; but thatās interesting youāre going for the chop before 2nd cycle starts? I heard itās typically after that cycle that it starts shedding. Are u going with wigs or just the headwrapping/ scarves? Iām 53 BTW.
1 Like
I feel like Iām sitting waiting for my hair to start shedding !!! Itās like everything about BC forever waiting !!!
1 Like
I was probably on the same cruise as you were! We changed our cruise to Rotterdam and Germany instead in October, as we are going to Florida in 2025.
Hi everyone 
I was initially diagnosed with DCIS in Oct 2023. But after a lumpectomy they discovered I had Grade 1 triple neg metaplastic BC tumour inside the DCIS. My chemo plan is EC-T in reverse spanning 18 weeks.
Started on docetaxol on 7th Feb and the first week was brutal with stomach cramps and migraines. I felt so low and just wanted to give up treatment! BUT things settled after 7 days and I started to feel more human again.
I chose not to do cold cap and cut my hair shorter to prep for hair loss. My scalp has been tingling for a while and then last night my hair started to come out when I ran my hands through my hair. Anyone had advice on best way to manage hair loss??
Keep strong 
4 Likes
Hello im starting chemo on Friday x
1 Like
Cripes, feel like if Iāve been hit by a truck today. Day 6 1st cycle EC.
Every other day, Iāve felt tired and muzzy headed but today can barely get out of bed.
Got a sore throat too, wondering if thatās the filgrastim ?? Itās listed under the side effects (4th jab today).
Donāt feel ill, just extremely fatigued, barely put one foot in front of the other !!;
Think itās a lounge wear and sofa day .
I hoped to get out and walk every day but not sure Iāll achieve that today. I guess that all my prepping now becomes useful.
Probably not helping that the diarrhoea from my pancreatic insufficiency is bad today !!! More pills 
Any advice gratefully received xx
Hope everyone is doing ok. Just a quick update for the newer chemo starters. By day 12 I felt completely back to my usual self. Lots of energy and no other side effects. Iām now using the last 10 days to my advantage, gardening, cleaning and getting out and about as much as I can. Sending lots of love x
Can I ask a quick question. Does having a Picc line hurt and any tips? Iām having one fitted next week before my second session.
2 Likes
I found the PICC was stingy for the first couple of days, but now I hardly feel it.
They use local anaesthetic to insert it, it was the following 24 hours that it stung. I did find after my chemo being put into it, that it stung again for a day, but nothing awful xx
1 Like
Hiya
I would make a note of your symptoms and report to the nurse so they can help you w all of that!
Difflam is quite good for mouth ulcers or mouth/tongue issues in general, it worked for me.
With regards to hair and cold capā¦
I had a lot of hair to start with and chose to do the cold cap. I started shedding pretty quickly, but more so half way through and now Iāve only lost the side bit around the ears where the cold cap wouldnāt go down. In high insight I wish I had cut my hair bob length and not a crop pixxy style. 3 weeks post chemo and a few days post op. I noticed my hair growing back. My eye lashes are also growing back and eyebrows. I lost those right towards the end of the weekly chemo (paclitaxel then Abraxane) and EC made sure I had none left this year 
but it grew back during 2nd session of EC so maybe it was just the taxane being nasty and the accumulative session of chemo.
Do wash your hair. I was scared to wash it post chemo but it actually keeps your scalp healthy. Use sold pillow case . And if you can attend the look good feel better workshop xx
2 Likes
I had a port fitted as I was having weekly chemo but also cause I was quite active and a horse rider. Less chance of picking up infection and so on w port.
Everyone has a different experience but I knew that the picc line wasnāt for me as I was way to sensitive. The port was the best decision I made and I am.glad I was guided through that as not knowing what is was and the difference between the two back then, you could say it was fluk I ended up w the port rather than picc line.
I did manage to ride all through out my chemo (not post chemo though letās not kid ourselves 
) and I was so glad I didnāt have anything in my arm.
The poet was fitted in my left upper chest just under collar bone . Cancer was in right breast and in left arm I had a beautiful seahorse tattoo xxx
2 Likes
Hi @Vibby do phone your chemo nurse and let them not youāre not feeling quite right and dealing w a lot. Itās normal to feel unwell but only you know if you feel more unwell than usual. Are you keeping track of your temperature? Thatās very important to take it every day round around the same time. I use to take me when I woke up .
Keep a log of your symptoms and phone the helpline on BCN or your nurse
Like a friend of mine said, a pj day is a well earned day! Youāre going through a lot and your body is a marvelous machine (Iād suggest watching Marida Peers it worked for me and helped me focus on my healing when pain and side effects were really bad) , healing you every day that passes by. I would normally start turning a corner by the weekend or early the following week (mine was weekly Tuesday) hang in there youāre stronger than you think . Big hugs 
All the very best eat your favourite food, donāt worry too much about that first session, it might hit you it might not, but any side effects youāll get might give you an Idea of what you may have to manage going forward. Monitor your temperature and let nurses know how you feel. Youāre not on youāre own. Weāre all here to help and come back here! 
@welshie
There is a this charity https://lookgoodfeelbetter.co.uk/ which can help answer any questions you may have w hair loss.
I made a mix for myself of almond oil and just a few drops of essential tea tree oils. It helps my scalp post cold cap and I religiously used it every time it was itchy but yes the tingling and itchy is one of the precursor for hair loss. I found silk pillowcase helped. Still use it. And I bought paxman shampoo and conditioner which is supposed to be better, expensive but hey if itās genuinely got less chemicalā¦ Donāt hair dry your hair, be gentle w combing,I used a microfiber towel from decathlon and be gentle when drying it, I used to pat it dry xxx
1 Like
Hi all.
Itās my day 6 post chemo-1st cycle of EC. I was fine for 2 days post chemo. I even had a short walk around the neighbourhood. 3rd day comes when I felt tired-like the feeling of not wanting to do anything. I mostly stayed in bed or on the sofa. Mild nausea, cravings and sensitive to smell were others too.
Today, I am feeling much better but weather is not helping-wet and cold.
It feels like I am waking up each day thinking what is awaiting for me? 
I am supposed to travel today with husband as itās our anniversary week but cancelled. 
xxx
1 Like
Hi Ross24
I also had the loss of taste and constipation. For me, after the 1st chemo, I felt the worst on day 4 to day 8 with major fatigue, nausea and diarrhoea. I had the filgrastim self injections for 5 days, so not sure if they made me feel worse too.
After day 8 I started to feel a lot better and went back to work.
Last week my face broke out in sores/acne, so they checked my bloods, prescribed antibiotics and cream which helped.
Unfortunately my hair started shedding on day 11 and by day 13 I had bald patches on the back of my head and I was sick of my shoulder length hair everywhere! Felt better for shaving it off, although itās still heartbreaking isnāt it.
I wore a wig on Monday to work and everyone said it looked good, but I didnāt feel right in it, so am headwrapping and scarves and feel much more comfortable. Iām similar age to you am 50. I have 2nd chemo this Friday so will see if side effects follow similar pattern to the first one.
How are you feeling now? Hope you are doing well Xx
1 Like
Hi Welshie
Hope you are doing well.
My hair started shedding on day 11 and the few days following, a lot more came out and I had bald patch at the back of my head. On day 14 I shaved it all off with help from my daughter.
It was a relief as my head was itching and sore and I think it was more distressing seeing it constantly fall out. Felt better, although itās not what any of us wants to do I know.
Best wishes xx
2 Likes
Hi Charlie1,
Well the rash I initially just had around my port insertion site (specifically at the edges of the plaster theyād initially put on) has now spread up to my neck on same side and cheek on other side. Instead of just being blotchy read wheals, some tiny pustules appeared yesterday (5th day after infusion) and they prescribed me Fucidin H - I thought it was helping, but actually itās not really reduced itā¦.maybe just reduced the itch a bit.
The thing thatās bothering me the most is ānappy rashā if u can call it that. Intense itching ano-genitally. Itās left my skin very āroughā and swollen. And this evening, peeing is irritating that area too. I tried calamine lotion to take the heat out of it, but itās just made it more dry. I tried some canestan cream I happened to find in the bathroom cabinet too ā¦ temporary relief for a bit, but it soon comes back. Iām wearing loose soft cotton, when I have to be clothed. Donāt know what else to do.
No hair loss yet; but Iāve noticed my cuticles (or a thin strip of skin just below them) turning dark since yesterday. Iām moisturising them often.
Constipation has stopped, but may be going the other way ā¦ too early to properly tell. I can see a sore on the roof of my mouth - a white patch with bright red around it. It makes swallowing uncomfortable but not impossible (Iām mouth rinsing with alcohol-free biotine that I bought off Amazon). My oesophagus was also feeling raw/ burning. Ugh!
1 Like
I had a Picc line fitted yesterday. You lie flat and still for 45 mins, could be a little longer but mine was done quickly.
Only felt the local anesthetic, then they checked if it had worked with tiny pin pricks. Some slight pressure , like a BP cuff for 10 seconds, I thought the chap was still scanning me but heād done the line! I felt nothing.
They used ultrasound and then a machine which looked at the location of it in my chest. They send some patients for an X-ray to check the location, but I didnāt need that. They said if you need an X-ray not to worry, itās just a double check.
My arm feels a little tender but nothing worthy of pain relief.
I was grateful during my first treatment, straight after the Picc line appt, that they just plugged into the Picc line and added or took away whatever was needed.
2 Likes
Have you tried sudocream? And please do check with your team if you suspect uti even with no temperature spike. I ended up in casa nhs with a uti after first chemo and no temperature spike. Keep safe 
Shi xx
1 Like