Hi,
Just would like to hear from anyone who may be starting Chemo on or around 8th Jan 09, 6 x FEC, followed by tamoxifen and herceptin??
Could do with someone to chat to, worried i may bore the entire family to death!!
Would be good to have some buddies!
love and hugs to all,
tillie45
Hi Tillie, I’m starting chemo on 5th Jan but am on 4 x Epi and 4xCMF 28 weeks in all, takes me through to end of school year!!!
My family hardly want to discuss it, children, 17, 15 and 10 infact 17 year old hates it. I just hope they will be OK when or if I’m feeling bad. I had WLE for grade 1 tumour which was 20mm, then had to go back and have all lymph nodes out after having been told they were clear.
Well must get on and do some ironing, been putting it off for days.
All the best on 8th.
Alison
Hi Tillie and Alison, I have my first appointment with the chemo squad on 8th jan,so i guess they’ll be telling me what i’m in for! I’m a bit apprehensive to say the least, and like you, my family finds it hard to talk about in depth, though they have been truly amazing since diagnosis.So, yes, maybe we can support each other through all this??
Hi,
New here too. I was dx in mid-October, had WLE and all lymph nodes removed in November (had to go back in to get clear margins) and started chemo 18th Dec. Tumour was 2.5cm and Grade 3. I’m having 3xFEC and 3 Taxotere. I was terrified of having chemo but have coped quite well so far. The first few days were ropey, mainly the nausea but now not so bad, apart from awful constipation!!! I haven’t posted before, mainly because of the fear of everything but also I get so worried when you read about bad side effects. But everyone reacts differently, don’t they. I tried to approach my first chemo with an open mind and just take each day as it comes. It would be good to support each other. Since being off work my mind has become numb with daytime tv! Hope you all managed to have a good xmas.
Thankyou so much for the replies!!! I feel better already, knowing we can support each other through the good,bad and indifferent!!
My tumour was 35mm in size with lots of pre cancer behind - a mastectomy being the only option but no lymph nodes involved, but four were removed.
I really worry about wittering on to my OH - bless him!!! I worry if i talk about it too much i’ll worry him even more, even though he’s been brill!
So, ladies, here’s to January and all it throws at us,
be in touch again very soon,
Tillie45 xxx
Will be watching this post with interest. Have oncology appointment to discuss which chemo advised following bilateral mastectomy and right LNS on 16th Dec, what a great way to prepare for Christmas! still at least hubby stepped into breach and has catered ALL meals including Christmas lunch since then!
So Tillie and Co, keep posting updates and lets meet this head on!
Hi all, Happy New Year to everyone. Gill, my husband and son have also taken on the cooking duties, which is great ! Good luck for your oncology appt, when I had mine I was expecting to go away for a week and then go back, sign consent and then get started but all mine was done in the first few days. I figured I might as well get started asap, regardless of xmas and it really wasn’t so bad. Just getting a bit nervous about losing my hair now, but once it’s done I’ll get over it, and everyone says it grows back really well, so fingers crossed… All the best to everyone,
Pat x
Best wishes to you beautiful ladies on this thread, and all others starting chemo this month. You will have good days and bad days, but mostly it’s rather boring for everyone! You learn to “go with the flow”. I’ve finished my chemo and rads, just recuperating now.It can leave you feeling very tired.
It’s great if your husbands can willingly take over the cooking, and maybe do at least their own ironing! I’ve told mine I’m expecting him to continue ironing his own now he knows how to do it. I have got loads of spring cleaning to catch up with after months of inactivity!
The hair loss is very hard, but be reassured it does grow back, sometimes sooner than you think. Losing your eyelashes is also hard, but they come back even quicker. I don’t think other people notice it a much as we might think.
Remember, however lost you may feel inside, with emotions all over the place at times, you are still YOU, and the cancer and the harsh treatment cannot take that away. If any of you would like prayer for specific things, there is a prayer thread on Chitchat and Fun. You will receive a lot of support from others on this bcc site. it’s a real lifeline! Also, I recommend ringing the Helpline when you need to talk to someone who understands. They are brilliant!
May you all find hope and some measure of happiness this new year, and may you receive the care and understanding you deserve, from everyone.
Ann XX
hi all 
Happy New Year!
i had my first chemo of AC on 30th Dec 08 and have just been so tired and achey, but have had a bath and am hoping to go for a short walk for some fresh air this avo. hoping the first few days are the worst then it gets a bit better! i am having 8 chemo sessions, one every two wks, firs four are AC and last 4 are Taxol. I had a full mastectomy of my left breast late november and removal of all lymph nodes under the arm too.
i am finding it hard as i live with my boyfriend, who is amazingly supportive but he has to do so much for me, and i find that frustrating too.
i wish you all lots of luck with your treatments and hope to speak soon x
Hi ladies,
Happy New Year to you all!!!
My chemo starts next Thursday - when it was arranged last week i could say it starts next year,now it’s only next week!! I had a fitting for a wig on Tuesday which made me feel really uncomfortable, mainly cos all the colours were not my natural colour so i looked very different! On the lighter side, all i could think of was that i looked like something from the old TV show, Russ Abbots Saturday madhouse!
It’s a shame really, as I know this will make me feel really naff, and my arm and back pain has now just receded so much.Driving is/can be a little uncomfortable but on the whole is ok.
The men in our lives are great aren’t they? My OH has done so much for me and I think i’m going to need his ironing/cooking skills again soon!
take care all,
Louise xxx
Hi Ladies
Im new to the site but just thought id share my experience with everyone with the hope it might help someone. I was DX 31st Oct, WLE 13th Nov. Had 3cm tumor which was Eos+ HER+ but thankfully node negative. Im to have x4 Epirubicin and x4 CMF. I had my 1st cycle of Epi yesturday and have been absolutly dreading it. Think it was the fear of entering the unknown. Should have been there approx 2 hours, however due to Dr not signing conscent for ended up being there for 4 hours which was hell! Anyway enough moaning had the treatment and walked out feeling ok. At home went the loo and had loveley red wee, other than that so far i am very fortunate not to have suffered any other side effects YET!!! Have taken my anti-emetics religiously and drank lots of water. Keep checking my shoulders for hair loss and now becoming paronaid about it and its only the next day. Im sure that my next post may not be as positive but fingers crossed. This makes my life a little easier as i have a 1 & 5 yr old and also hope to carry on working through treatment. I know that there will be many days when i don’t have the energy to get out of bed but thankfully my boss is aware of this. I have ordered my wig which was yet another experience i never thought id ever end up doing in my lifetime. I took a very good friend with me for her honest opinion and i was surprised at how real some of them looked. I didn’t go through the hospital as they couldn’t colour match my hair so i went to a shop. Im not brave enough to go for a complete change i just want the closest match possible as i don’t want people to notice where possible, not that im ashamed at having cancer just that i don’t want to be discussing it with people who i don’t feel comfortable with ie: the playground mums. I just hope that can gain the strength that most of you ladies seem to have and fight this horrible disease. Please if anybody is further on with the same treatment i would appreciate there advice and insight as what to expect and where about during the cycles.
Lots Of Love
HelenL
Hi
I have just had my 4th epi and start my cmf on the 9th jan, my advice is if you have any side effects that are bad phone your chemo ward and they will give you diffrent drugs.
Helen i have had alot of side effects on epi and as i got to my 4th one really tired but everyone is diffrent there is a good thread on tips for chemo.
My hair fell out on day 13 of my 1st epi but on my 3rd one had started to grow back but my body hair has not
The best thing is to try and relax and drink plenty of water before and after chemo as it get the veins nice and fat for chemo and flushes it through after and try get some fresh air but you must rest when you need to help get your bloods back up.
It is all doable and i am not that brave but once you get in to your 3 week cycle it goes over .
Take care
Poppet
Morning!
Anyone else up at this ridiculous time of the day?? 2.37am and i’m wide awake. My chest has decided its going to play at being uncomfortable again(just as i said it felt heaps better!!) AND I CAN’T SLEEP!!!
aaarrggghhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh
My mind is whirring all over the place today. I suddenly have this thought in my head that i could have all the RX and what happens if this b… disease retuns on the other side???
The onc said last week they could cure what i have but could not promise to cure me!! marvellous
sorry everyone for the miseries, think i’m having a rubbish day already,hope you are all not feeling too bad??
Grumble over!
Love to all, Louise xxx
Hi All,
Louise you feel free to grumble away! I worry about it coming back the other side but just figure that, with the chemo it’s like a mopping up process to get any stray cells. The first few weeks after I was dx I worried about every ache and pain but have relaxed a bit more now. I’m just taking it one day at a time and there are more good days than rubbish ones at the moment.
Ladies, am I the only one freaking out about losing my hair? I’ve had wig fitting, bought hats and scarves and talk it about it (being bald) with everyone in a jokey fashion. But inside I’m really upset about it and I know once it’s happened, I’ll deal with it and be fine but it’s still seems unreal. I won’t have my wig til 29th Jan which is when I have my 3rd FEC but I’m sure hair will be long gone by then.
Yes my OH is being briliiant with cooking, cleaning (luckily he is addicted to hoovering! sadly not ironing) so it really helps. My kids are grown so they can look after themselves and are good round the house, too. My Labrador Millie provides the sloppy kisses and cuddles when everyone else is out!
Poppet, good tip about the water, I’m gonna drink loads before and after my 2nd on the 5th and hope veins behave themselves.
Helen, you’re a marvel if you can work, manage your young family and cope with the chemo. Just listen to your body and when it demands a rest, do it. Where did you sort your wig out, and are they styling it for you? I found the whole thing really surreal.
Well, take care all and speak soon.
Pat x
H all,
Beginning to get more anxious as the hours pass. Just been and collected some lorezepam prescribed by my onc to take on way in for chemo on monday. As you say it’s fear of the unknown. Just hate the thought of feeling or being sick, not worried about hair loss that much although my 15yr old boy has said I can’t go to his parents evening if I haven’t any hair. Still have loads to do to make sure everything is sorted , OH is not domesticated at all, nicknamed “crinkle” at work for his ironing, and as for cooking, breakfast is his limit, everything fried!!! 17yr old daughter is not much better despite having taken food GCSE, can’t do vegetables. To cap it all a rat has chewed through our freezer cable so until I get it repaired can’t even stock up the freezer. Have been to cattery and hopefully by next week should have cat to sort out mice and rats, the joys of living in the country!!!
Good luck to all, will update after monday.
Alison
Hi grittomum…looks like your family will have to learn to fend for themselves for a bit, your job is to get well! Let them take charge and sort themselves out, while you worry about YOU! Good luck xx
Hi all,
I’m not in the same boat as you as have actually just finished my chemo 2 weeks ago, but hopefully I can give you all some encouragement. Grittomum, I was really scared too, and in fact in the two days before my first chemo I had 3 migraines (I do suffer from migraines, but on average about one every two years!). However, it all went remarkably well, and in 8 cycles of chemo I was not sick once. All the staff were incredibly kind, caring and helpful, and genuinely interested in helping you to overcome any side effects. I had to call the ward a few times when I was unsure if what I was experiencing was normal, and they were always great at giving sensible advice.
Everyone reacts differently to the drugs, but there are loads of people on this site to encourage you, and you should get lots of support from your hospital too. Good luck to all,
Julie
x
Hi all,
Can I join this thread please, as having read through the posts I can identify with so much of what is being said! I was diag mid Oct, followed by WLE and SNB, then a reexcision to get clear margin. Started as grade 2 stage 1, but changed to grade 3 after WLE, so now waiting for app with onc, but been told to more or less def expect chemo.
Like you Alison I think it is fear of the unknown, and the thought of losing my hair horrifies me…I would never willingly go out without my hair looking immaculate, even though I keep it quite short! I suppose one benefit might be that I will find out what my natural colour is…been colouring it for 30 years!!
Also scared of how I will cope with sickness and all the side effects…I am such a wimp!
Kind of expecting the dreaded letter to arrive tomorrow and it will all become so real…in the meantime I wish I could sleep…2.55am!
Lyn x
Hi Elsie,
bless you… obviously you have joined those of us who ‘clock’ watch all night! New years day(early 2nd really) it was 4.10 a.m before i managed to nod off.My mind was a whole pickle of thoughts.
Last night(2nd) it was 2.45 - better i spose! even the dog was snoring - all except me!!!
Fear of the unknown is awful, and i’m sure thats whats keeping us up.I live in hope that i will feel fine during the whole treatment (well, you can hope!!) or will it hit hard?
Well, we’ll see next week and meet this thing with gusto!!!
love and hugs to all,
Louise x
Hi all,
Lots of you have mentioned the dreaded hair loss with chemo, but one of the unexpected bonuses for me was the wig - really! Choosing it was difficult, and wearing it did take a bit of getting used to, both the feel of it and the irrational fear that everyone else knows and is looking at you! However, once you’ve got past that, the wigs truly are fab, and so easy. Elsie (Lyn) - you say you always want your hair to look immaculate - well mine does now in about 20 seconds! I pull it on and tweak bits with my fingers and voila! And I only need to wash it every two weeks, and styling after washing only takes seconds too.
I couldn’t decide which wig to take when I was in the shop (I had a prescription for one free wig), so in the end I took my free one and bought another, figuring it was cheaper than the hairdressing costs I was going to save, and now it’s great to have a choice (and fun to confuse people too!) as I have one shortish blond layered style and the other darker and redder. One tip I followed from a friend who has already been through this is to go for something with a soft fringe, even if that is not your usual style, because it is more flattering if your eyebrows thin.
Lots of luck to you all!
Julie
x