hi poppet,
the group at christies was good, all being well i’ll be going to the next one in august (21st). Was just nice to meet people face-to-face who were at different stages of their treatment. As you can see from the pic - not more freezer head for me - decided it would be put to much better if i shaved it off for charity. Actually feel tonnes better about it now…something good has come out of this and we raised over £600 so far for BCC!
Hope both you and samuel make a speedy recovery from surgery.
xx
Hi poppet
Also in for mx next week after initial lumpectomy with bilateral reduction and recon on right side. But no clear margins so ‘righty’ also has to go. Wish you well with yours and should start chemo around about the same time. Have also opted for cold cap but not too sure about how succesful it is. Would love to hear from anyone who opted for this as BCN said between 50 to 80% effective which sounds a little optimistic???!
Denise x
Hello All
A brief update, starting the Chemo next Wed (2nd Sept) this was pushed back after my MX which I’m pleased to say is healing nicely and I’ve regained 90% mobility back in my right arm. Just been given my prosthesis this morning which is fab, will road test it on Saturday night as out in Manchester having a bit of a blow out prior to the ‘Swamp Juice’ kicking in!! I seem to have done so much since my diagnosis back in June just hoping the Chemo fly’s by too…roll on 2010 so I can bid a farewell to my sh*tty summer of 2009!!!
I’m attending the Young Womens Forum in Warrington next month, would love to hear from any other Manchester gals who are also attending.
TTFN
X
Hi poppet, Hope you enjoyed your night out in manchester - good luck with the chemo - what are they giving you? Glad the recovery is going well. I’m almost halfway through my chemo now due 4th of 4 epi on friday then onto 4 cmf which i’m told is a breeze in comparison. Not had a bad time of it so far - still managing to have the odd blowout inbetween cycles - it keeps me sane and feeling ‘normal’! I’ll be at the warrington forum all being well, so hopefully see you there.
good luck on wednesday - i take it your at christies? Get there in plenty of time for your bloods, it can get rather busy!
xx
Hi!
Am hoping to attend the Warrington Forum (am a Wigan lass but live in London now.)Just hope i am feeling ok to make the journey up there! Am 35 and diagnosed 1st July, had a WLE 16mm lump removed no node involvement and triple negative. Starting chemo on Monday and terrified!! Really want to keep my hair, don’t want to feel robbed of everything. Saw the cap today and it is really very cold!
Hope to see some of you up in Manchester and all the advice and comments are fab, it really does help !
Hope to see some of you in Warrington for a few vodkas and a kebab!
xx
Hiya All
How’s everyone doing?
Welcome Trumpet… best of luck for Monday. I found the build up to the start of chemo very scary but once you’re on the way with it, and establish a “routine”, the time does progress quickly. I had my 4th FEC on Wed, and since the first lot, it really has flown by for me.
Hope to see you in Warrington, along with the other lovely ladies!
Vodka & Kebabs… sounds like a plan to me!! Ha ha! 
Bigs hugs to all
AM xx
hi all,
Trumpet - the hair loss was a HUGE factor for me too, but since i took control and shaved it off of my own accord and not left it to chemo to take it away i felt 100% better about it. Now i actually sort of like it - i enjoy trying out new wigs (the latest blue one is quite funky) and am looking forward to totally reinventing myself after all this is done - a complete new look post chemo!!
Will hopefully see you too in warrington - perhaps we should all wear big badges with our user names on so we know who we all are - wot with different hairstyles, scarves and wigs going on as well!
Pixie (aka andrea)
xx
Hi Andrea
just want to say, I saw your pic and was inspired to do the same - I just needed to take some control back in all this - and I love it! My oh also loves it and fondles my skinhead evertime he goes past, so a big thank you from both of us! Like you I am playing about with my fab wig and scarves etc, but I’m usually just bare headed, it just feels fine
monica x
Hello All
Wow looks like we have a good crowd attending Warrington, should be an excellent couple of days…defo think we should have name badges a bit like Anne Summers Parties but not as rude…well after the vodka who knows!!!
I may or may not be sporting a new bald head really depends on how the hair holds up, my experience of the cold cap was that it wasn’t that cold (maybe all those years of paper rounds in the winter as a kid has hardened me up) anyhoo I didn’t think it was that bad, by the event though it will be around day 17 of my first cycle so if it’s on its way out so will be the clippers!!!
Really looking forward to seeing everyone there.
XX
Hello girls
Saw the reference to Christies and just wanted to say hello.
By way of background Im 40, married with a 3 year old daughter. Had a mx in July and full auxillary clearance in Aug (3 out 4 lymph nodes).
1st chemo session (EC) at Christies was end of August with my next one on 18th September.
Just thought it might be nice to introduce myself if anyone else happens to be there that day. Also thought it would be nice to share experiences as it would appear we are all in the early stages of chemo.
Thanks also for info on the support group. I didnt know about this either
Paula
hi all,
thanks for your comments monica - feeling a bit low today and they gave me a good boost! Funny tho, cos i’ve just posted on another thread about how fab you are too!!!
Paula - shame you have your chemo on the same day as the warrington forum, i have mine on a fiday too at christies but its the week after (my birthday weekend) and as i’m on CMF i’ll be having it the week after that too (booo - no birthday celebrations for me this year!). Maybe catch up with you at the Christies support group at some point.
Poppet - i’m getting quite excited about the forum now - feels like a holiday! Looking forward to getting out of these 4 walls for a couple of days!
Be seeing you soon
xx
Hi All!
Just checking in to say hello and hope everyone is ok?
Hi Paula - so we have another member of the Christies clan! Hope you are getting through your first chemo ok? Its a shame we wont see you in Warrington but we’ll keep you up to speed with the goings-on! I’m hoping to get to the support group at Christies too, as I’ve not had the chance to attend yet.
Trumpet and Poppet, how are you both also getting on after your first chemo? Hope your getting through it ok and coping with any SE that come your way. Stay strong girlies!!! Glad the cold cap was ok for you Poppet! Ha ha, those paper rounds as a kid in the cold Manchester weather defo have their benefits!
Andrea, hope you are ok too! Lovin the sound of your funky blue wig, thats ace!!! I had a look on ebay at wigs as you suggested, and they have some brill ones!! I will be making some perchases me thinks! Sorry to hear that you were feeling a bit down the other day. I’ve had a similar experience on this chemo (4th)… just been very emotional and down, and it’s taking me much longer to spring back to my normal self this time. I’m sure it’ll pass tho!
Hope all of the other lovely ladies on the thread are doing ok. Big hugs to all!
Really looking forward to meeting everyone in Warrington next week!!
AM (aka Anne-Marie) xx
AM & girls
Thanks for your responses.
Hope you all enjoy your Warrington forum a week on Friday while I relax in my recliner for the day with my riding hat and saline drip for company.
I have had a very good two weeks since my 1st chemo and have been back in work this week. Had backache when I woke up this morning (day 13) and legs were aching by the time I left work tonight. Starting to lose a bit of hair from the nether regions. Hair on head in tact though. I was a papergirl too and have used the cold cap. Hopefully it will still be there in the morning!
Anyway - please keep in touch
Paula
x
Hi Paula
Hows your hair holding out??? I’m on day 13 cycle one and its still ok although my lady garden is starting to malt (not too bothered about that really) sorry to hear you can’t make the forum, if there is anything your particularly interested in let me know and I’ll get the info for you.
Good luck with cycle 2 and let me know how the hair is doing.
TTFN
XX
Thanks Poppet
How did the Warrington forum go for you all? Any good tips?
When are you all meeting again?
Hows the chemo going for everyone?
Chemo cycle 2 was ok on Friday. Bit of a disaster with the cold cap. Machine managed to get unplugged & had to be cooled down again & then by the end my hair was totally frozen. By Saturday hair was a complete matted tangled mess. Ive had it cut short - no alternative! Think its ok… just about. Still falling out a little but not quite as bad now. Dont think its going to last the distance. Perhaps I only did my paper round when it was warm!
My tip, from experience now, is that I should have had it cut shorter before I started with the cold cap. It may have then been more effective. Maybe!
Went into work yesterday but really shouldnt have - felt very shaky so have had a day at home today doing nothing really. Feeling better and ready for an early night and work tomorrow.
Please all keep in touch - its nice to communicate with everyone
Paula
i thought i had posted on this last night so it must have disappeared…or chemo brain has well and truely set in!! Had a fab time in warrington definitely recommend folk to book on one. These forums are great but it does really help to meet people face-to-face who are going through this.
Katie - the cold cap incident sounds very traumatic!! Are you managing to work through your treatment then? I’ve just gone back to work (sort of) i’m doing a couple of morinings voluntary work for a charity that i link with in my normal job , but definitely don’t feel up to going into my normal job - its great to feel useful though and keep my hand in so to speak!
Poppet - hope the se’s aren’t so bad and the head shave wasnt too traumatic?
1st cmf for me tomorrow - hopefully won’t be as bad as the epi, so i’m told!
take care all
xx
Hi Paula
Sorry to hear about the cold cap mishap, not what you needed!! Sadly I’ve taken the clippers to my hair, my hair was still in tact and even in coverage but was malting rapidly and quite frankly I was fed up following myself around with the hoover!! My 2nd FEC went ok on Wed but my veins are a bit of a concern finally got one on the 4th attempt. Had the normal SE’s sickness and tiredness but starting to feel like myself again (Just got a pal to take me to McD’s and had 6 chicken nuggets). Just a tip have your head of ‘Buffs’ there really good headscarfs you can get them on the internet but are £13 each however you may find your hospital can do them cheaper (Christies do them for £7.00)I’ve got 2 good wigs and have plenty of headscarfs so hoping I get used to my GI Jane look soon!
Stay positive Everyone
X
sorry to butt in matalan do really good cheap scarfs where I got all mine from . xx
i’m thinking its time to invest in some big woolly hats now the winter is setting in…any ideas where they sell some funky (preferably stripey) ones anyone???
xx
Hi, i found ebay was quite good for woolley hats. Huge selection and reasonably priced. I love when its cloudy out and i can wear my woolley hat instead of a scalf.
hope this helps
anna