Hi Tedoris
Well at least we all understand each other, re, brain dead!!!
Yes l am having chemo, diag. 9th Feb had lumpectomy and nodes removal 16/18 positive!! then back in for more of margin, waiting for the results of that!! next Tuesday 27th to see if mx needed or go forth and start chemo!!!
Sandra xxx
Hi everyone,
thanks for writing on this thread, have just read and caught up with everyone’s news. Vomiting sounds awful, thank god that didn’t seem to last. Have been away for a few days with my family, taking the good days while i can. Getting increasingly nervous about Thursday though and fond myself staring at people in the theme park trying to see if anybody had wigs/caps/tell tale signs that they had had breast cancer too. Thats wierd behaviour isn’t it!
The trip round the chemo unit was brilliant. They talked my husband and I through all the possible side effects, then did the wellbeing holistic questionnaire with me and discussed it and my answers, which again really helped me. They showed me the unit, the treatment rooms, the cold caps and let me try them on for size. Then they showed us the syringes of chemotherapy and explained about the cannula and drip. It has made it seem more do-able now i can visualise it. Its a new thing they are offering, to show you round before your treatment, and they told me that i have to tell my consultant how fantasitc it is so he keeps letting the nurses show patients round, and i will def be singing its praises!
Then went to the wig shop, was all surreal really. Had expected a good fun time ( really, had envisaged this as lets be as upbeat as possible!) but was more subdued than that. Got a shorter wig than my hair is now as my own hairstyle looked really wiggish and fake when i chose similar wigs. But quite like my new wig, and the fact that its sat there waiting for me if i need it. I did try on a non-nhs one which was really nice but at £250 quid I will wait and see if i lose my hair firstly and secondly how the other wig goes on first! they didn’t discuss headscarves with me so will have to findout about all the tying techniques still. Has anybody looked into this, or into the trevor sorbie wig cutting service?
I went to the dentist on thursdy for a pre chemo hygenist appt, and now have to have 2 fillings tomorrow, pre treatment, and i am scared about the needles! - thats so sad isn’t it! So thats more injections on my needle tally before now and the end of chemo…
Thats all my news for now, hope everyone is having a “good” day today,
xxx
Hi everyone, just read Tors post, and yes I do too look round for the ‘cancer look’ so very sad…!
Glad to hear your trip to the unit went ok. I didn’t get the chance to do that, but on the day they did spend a lot of time chatting to me and getting me to feel more comfortable. Its sounds like a ‘one stop shop’ I had to have a separate trip to the wiggy lady but that was fine and I have now bought my wig and collect on Tuesday (not sure about it though but heyho…). I have bought scarves and hats and stuff just seen stuff and picked it up - not sure out how to wear them though. I did get some silk bandana’s from a website which I thought would be cool for the summer they seem ok but its hard to see when you have your own hair still poking through…
Well on day 5 of my first chemo I am very pleasantly surprised - not sure what I was expecting, but its not half as bad. My side effects have been extremely mild sickness (and once I have a table that goes) and so far thats it… I am sure I am not going to get away with just that - I do feel a bit tierd but can cope with that too. I am eating ok and sleeping ok but don’t fancy a glass of wine yet - so I am not that ok…
My husband gave me my first injection today - I couldn’t do it to myself… (coward) yes I am!! almost as bad as densist needles Tors. He’s going to do them all this time round and see if I can pluck up courgage for the 2nd cycle.
I have a ‘busy’ week next week! collecting my wig, getting a hair cut (in preparation for the loss) and getting my protheses (sp) fitted… I really don’t know how I had time to go to work… so I intend spend the rest of this lovely sunday relaxing. x
Dear Tors and saffronseed,
I have attached a link to the Breast Cancer Care booklet “Breast Cancer and Hair Loss”. It has practical hints and tips and lists where you can attend a free Headstrong appointment where you can talk through any concerns, try on hats, scarves and hairpieces and learn scarf tying techniques. I hope you find this helpful.
Very best wishes
Janet
Bcc Facilitator
thanK you Janet, I will have a look
Hello Ladies
Sorry to but into your thread but I wanted to send you all my love and positive vibes to get thru this stage of BC treatment. This time last yr I was planning for the chemo and vomiting, hair loss etc etc etc. If there is anything I can do to help you guys pls Pm me or ask on here or well what ever - equally I can but out too (LOL).
Anyway as i say thinking about you all - hugs ((())) Rachel
thanks for the offer, please keep reading the thread as i suspect i will have lots of questions when it starts on thursday! and the existing tips pages scare the life out of me so i can’t read them anymore, hence my thread to reinvent the whhel.
yes that makes perfect sense to me x
i have put your thread on my mu favourites list and will pop in every now and then xxxx
Hi everyone,
Just thought I’d mention there’s a website called bohemia-fashions.co.uk,which has nice scarves.etc.They have ones that you just pull on-no tying.Trendco also has nice scarves ,caps,and attached hair.
I now have an attractive 'friar’type bald patch,so will have to start wearing hats /wig.I actually quite like my wig now.I want to get a hairpiece,which has no hair on top,which you wear with a hat-looks cool for the hot weather.It wasn’t as bad as I thought when the hair came out-I was more concerned with how my 3 yr old felt.We had a nice cuddle.
Still feel sicky,but better than yesterday.Looking forward to hubbies birthday on the weekend.It’s important to have fun things to look forward to.
I get the district nurse to inject me-too chicken ,and so is hubbie.
I do the 'looking’thing too.I’m also obsessed with shampoo adverts,where they flick their hair around.Just keep thinking about what a friend said-if chemo does that to hair,just think what it’s doing to the cancer cells.
Hi
This is my first ever post on any kind of online forum!
Thought I’d like to join in.
Was diagnosed mid March and had lumpectomy 30th March. No more surgery needed which is great, but one lymph node affected and HER2+ as well as ER+ so they’re gong to ‘throw everything at it’ in the words of the dr at the post-op appointment! Great.
I’ve got my first oncologist appointment tomorrow and apparently will start chemo about 2 weeks later. Is anyone else at a similar stage? It remeinds me of pregnancy and the way it’s good to meet people going through the same stages… I’m 42 and have 2 children 11 and 9.
I’m trying to plan work too: I’m a teacher and it’s going to be very hard to know what I’ll be able to do while going through chemo and radio later. I’m going in today, having has the 4 weeks off post surgery. I’ve actually felt a bit of a skiver this last week as I feel more or less OK (tired due to dodgy sleep patterns). Pleased that cording on arm now much better too.
Think I’ve decided not to do cold cap as I think I’d rather lose all hair than lose it gradually/have thin hair. I guess I’ll learn more about the joys to come tomorrow.
All the best
Hi Scoobs,
Welcome to the Breast Cancer Care discussion forums, I’m sure you’ll get lots of support from the many informed users of this site, who have a wealth of experience and information between them.
If there’s anything you need to ask just ask, as I say the users are brilliant at supporting each other, the facilitators here will help direct you to BCC support services available if you need assistance, and should you like to talk to someone in confidence then the BCC helpline is here, calls are free, open Mon-Fri 9-5 and Sat 9-2, 0808 800 6000.
Take care,
Jo, Facilitator
Hi scoobs, yes this is a thread for those starting chemo end April time - there are other threads for february and the ladies there are a bit further ahead and its worth looking at. I had my first chemo last week and will use this thread to find out how others are getting on and getting general support.
I am planning on going back to work after my first cycle of chemo so I can see side effects etc and make sure I have medication in place. My job allows me to work from home to which is good - but I will go into the office as the whole point (for me) of going back to work is to get contact with my colleagues and get back into the swing.
so far with me so good, few side effects and managing to function almost normally - feel a bit fuzzy headed though! I didn’t go for cold cap either.
x
Hi scoobs
I have my first chemo on Thursday. I think I have decided to not use the cold cap as I am trying my best not to have an obsession on hair loss! They have said I can decide on day.
I am new to forums but have found this one great for information although alittle scary sometimes! Know when to stop looking!
I am also hoping to go back to work to try and have some normallity to life. They have offered me part time fexible days so can’t complain there.
Saffronseed
Glad to hear side effects not too bad.Why did you decide no cold cap,just interested in views?
Hope you continue doing well. x
Tors
Sounds like we are both going for treatment on same day. where are you in the country? Your trip around chemo unit sounds a brill idea!
Good luck for Thursday
All advice is more than welcome keep it coming. Thanks to everyone.
Hi tedoris
I read up a bit of the cold cap, but to be honest the decision maker for me was that my oncologist view (its just his view though) that the Chemo should get everywhere and having a cold cap restricts the chemo to that area of the head/skull. Whilst mets on head/skull are rare they do exist and given the size of my tumour and extensive lymph node involvement i don’t want to take any chances!
Like everyone else I don’t want to lose my hair but its a small price to pay if it saves my life.
x
Hi
Although not met with my oncologist, l did meet him 10 years ago while a friend was going through bc, he at that time said he didn’t agree with the cold cap, for the very reasons Saffronseed mentions, and l know he still has these views. Don’t know where your onc is Saffronseed, but mine is at the North Middlesex!
Sandra xxx
hi sandra my onc is based in west midlands, I am not sure how widely shared the view is (maybe they just like baldy ladies!)
Lol, Yes that is what we decided! some men have these sexual fetishism, Gosh l hope he doesn’t read these posts!!! might forget to give me my anti sick pills!!! Lovely man really!!
Sandra xxx
ps what a difference a few hours makes, re my earlier post!! xxx
hi All,
Sandra - glad u seem to be feeling a bit better and your sense of humour is still intact.
I think I may be an intruder in this post as I still have to have a second post op appointment on weds and I haven’t been to see oncologist yet but I suppose it will all happen soon :-{
Scoobs - I sent you a personal message, mainly because I didn’t want to intrude, any way my introduction is there for you to read 
Hugs to all
Sue xx
salsasuzi no its not an intrusion at all… please join in xxx
Just wanted to update that I have just shaved my hair.It had started to drop out and I had a patch on top,and got totally sick of finding hair in my mouth,clothes etc.It felt fantastic to get it off.Because of trying cold cap,I hadn’t been able to wash/brush it much ,which felt horrible.Feels much better to get rid of it.Just wanted to let everyone know that for my it wasn’t as bad as I thought.I feel quite rebellious-usually I’m a right girl.Hope everyone feels as positive when their hair starts to go.