Yes I think we are on the same path LiF? How is your hair? Mine’s been coming out for the last three days, so I got OH to shave it off today. I’ve been wearing my Pella hats from Suburban Turban indoors. Wore my wig to my French class this morning and had several compliments - it’s better behaved than my hair!
I really don’t mind about the hair - much easier to cope with than seeing my son in such despair. OH is very good and tries to get him involved in physical outdoor tasks.
I’m trying to make the most of these last few good days - going out for a meal with friends on Wednesday before FEC 2 on Thursday (all being well with bloods etc).
Hi All,
Back from first session this morning. Feeling a bit weird more than anything. And the medication they give you! I needed a carrier bag. I had to laugh when my teenage daughter asked if I thought all that was good for me!
Did without the cold cap as planned- so this will be tough this month with my hair coming out. Just trying to both relax, and keep busy now- as I feel I’m sort of waiting expectantly for some of the side effects I’ve been told about. Had planned to meet friends for a coffee in morning- what do you reason my chances are…?
Tracey
Tracey, I would say don’t sit around waiting for side effects to happen, just get on with things as normal but listen to your body. If you feel tired have a lie down and you’ll feel better for it.
I went out for lunch the day after my second FEC. I was fine but because I didn’t drink as much water as I should have during the day I suffered for it later. So if you feel ok tomorrow, go out but remember to take water with you and keep drinking. It really does help keep side effects at bay. (in my case it does anyway).
Good luck anyway
Debs
x
Hi Tracey,
Really pleased it went well for you, Thats your first one over so now your on countdown,i felt a bit strange when i got home too after my first, got my second this friday so off we go again ! As far as the hair goes ive been losing it for a few days now,keep thinking i will wake up and my full head of hair will be on the pillow but it’s still there! really thought it would be gone by now on day 18 after first one and just bits ,very nervously washed it today and dried it carefully!
Everyone is different i felt ok when i got home, when i woke the next day i was pretty exhausted so try not to do too much and rest when you need too.
Stella - i have my ‘kimmy’ hat from S-Turban at the ready quite looking forward to wearing it! i’m also making the most of my last few days till TAC 2 on Friday, bloods pending Thur. going for coffee with friends and shopping is a real lift .
Shell x
Hi Tracey
Checked my chemo diary and hair started to fall out on day 14 counting day of FEC1 as day one. I had enough left to pin the remainder up but most of the rest fell out day 14 of FEC2. My head gets tender each cycle on about day 10. My se’s don’t tend to impact until day 3-4 each time amd I agree with buzzy, the more water I drink the better I feel.
Enjoy your coffee with your friends tomorrow,
Ali.
x
Dear All,
Thank you. Glad you all hammered home about the water- as not as much emphasis was put on this at hospital-I guess it became lost in all the other do’s and don’ts.
Good luck for Friday Shell- you sound like you will take it in your stride. I found it very comforting in a way, as the drugs were being pushed in- because I haven’t had surgery yet, it is good to feel something is finally combating those ghastly cancer cells!
Tracey
Hope you feel up to a coffee with friends. I only felt like lying down with my eyes shut and I had no appetite. Took me ten days before I could enjoy a cup of tea.
On the hair front, started having a prickly feeling on my scalp about day 12, started coming out about day 14, only a few hairs first couple of days, then quite a lot, but still probably only one third gone in total by day 19, but patchy so shaved it off.
Blood test today, so hope will all be OK for FEC 2 on Thursday.
Hope you don’t get many SEs. I thought I drank plenty of water last time, but maybe not enough. I’ll try upping it this time.
Hi All,
Yes Tracey it is strangely comforting thinking its destroying all those grotty cells -iv’e had all my surgery now so this is getting to the end part thank goodness although having radiotherapy once the chemo is finished then the tablets
I will also be drinking more water this time it is strange how they don’t stress how important your diet is and drinking water is, because it does make a huge difference, my diet was terrible before, mainly cakes and cereal! but now its green veg, chicken, soups,wholemeal bread and rice all the way ! and i feel so much better for it, should of done it years ago so maybe every cloud does have a silver lining !
stella - hope i can be brave enough to shave it off soon although seem to still be getting away with a thin short cut.
Shell x
Hi all
Tracey, well done on getting the first one out of the way. Hope you were able to have your coffee this morning. I agree with Buzzy, listen to your body - if you feel like doing things then do, but rest when you need to. I find I’m pretty wiped out when I get home from the hospital after having chemo, but each time I’ve found that when I take the anti-sickness pills and steroids the next morning I feel much better. But then my energy really goes down from about day 5-10, and gradually comes back the second half of the cycle. As for the hair, I suddenly noticed the top of my head felt quite sore on day 14 of the first cycle and it started to fall out on day 15. Just a bit at first. I think it took about 2 weeks to get to the point where it looked so pathetic I knew I would have to start wearing my wig and so I shaved off what was left of it. I would also recommend Suburban Turban - yes they are a bit expensive but I’ve got a couple of hats from them and am really pleased with them.
Well, as FEC4 got put back to Thursday I am enjoying a few extra days of feeling relatively OK. I live in London and love to walk by the river but I haven’t even seen it for 2 months, till yesterday I managed to get to the South Bank and have a walk. Feels like I’m on holiday!
Stella you are exactly a week ahead of me! Do you speak French? I have a house there and will probably pop over this weekend if sea not too rough! I speak French to everyone with very poor grammar but what the heck LOL! I have been wrking a lot this week and its great to have a normal week ready for the tests and chemo next week.
Agree there are lots of things not mentioned at the hospital and eating really well and drinking gallons of water is one! They gave me a booklet about how to eat whilst on chemo…WELL! it was full of what to eat if losing weight…I would treble my weight in a month if I ate the stuff recommended in there! Totally unhealthy!
Tea is a funny thing…tasted foul for a bit but back to normal now…and I love tea!
Hair…well now on day 14 and still well attached to my head…my daughter said I should be moulting like a dog by next week…think I will take the hair net option at night if that happens as don’t want to get it all over the place as I have very thick short cropped hair!
Well done Tracey, don’t sit and wait for side effects but get out or in and enjoy yourself doing something distracting and they may not happen!
Was at a Look Good, Feel Better workshop at our local Macmillan Centre today. Couldn’t have had a better way to take my mind off FEC 4 tomorrow. We were shown everything from cleansing to basic make up to how to draw on eyebrows and make the most of sparse eyelashes. Plus we got an amazing goody bag to take home.
If you haven’t been to one, find out where the nearest one is and book yourselves in - does exactly what it says on the tin!
I have been trying to book a place on one of thr workshops, but there is nothing in the local hospitals and the three that I have tried are all booked up until next February!
Hi All,
Lilac -That sounds like a fab idea- sounds like you have to book early- so might find out about those in preparation for hair loss etc. Only had first FEC on Monday- but very itchy head last night.
On the same sort of topic- has everyone been able to stick to their normal skin care and make-up- or not? I tend to use quite simple things anyway, as my skin is prone to reacting to things. Last thing I want is to be bald, AND puffy!!
Tracey
Will look into the LGFB, better book now for cheering up later.
LiF, I speak French a bit - better that the average Brit, but far from fluent. Can manage to read most things, can about make myself understood, find listening the hardest.
Where is your house in France. Hope you manage to get there for the weekend
I gave up French after O level, but then stayed with my penfriend’s family for one month and three weeks in the following two years, which improved my confidence. We have friends with a house near the Lot, so decided to go to classes once a week at the local college. I’ve been going for three years, so I’m very slowly getting better and it stops me forgetting. My son worked in France (Valence)last year and we visited him three times.
Strange how ‘hair’ can hurt. Off to see the onc this morning.
Did you manage the coffee with friends, Tracey?
Hi All,
Lilac-LGFB sounds like what we all need! i sent off for the CD and booklet which takes you through all the 12 stages its really good but i would like to go to one of the workshops never thought about a waiting list though- i better make a call !
Tracey-I have kept doing the same with my skin it seems ok so far but a lot drier than normal
My hair is very thin now still haven’t plucked up the courage to shave it off keep thinking i can keep it for one more day,but the pillow this morning told another story, as long as i don’t stand under the halogen lights in the kitchen i can get away with it !!!
There are no LGFB sessions withing miles and miles of here…so I don’t think I wll ever get to one! Mind you I have never used make up so it would be a treat to go and find out how!
Stella, my house is in Brittany, 30 mins from Roscoff which is lovely and means I can get off the ferry and be in with a cuppa quite quick. I was hopeless at French at school but like you have spent time immersed and it is valuable. I can read write and speak but have to ask those who speak to me to go slowly…esp on the phone! I love the Bretons they are a great lot!
I’m getting quite worried re hair as I have lost about 10 hairs, its feeling fine and I’m beginning to wonder if it will all go on one day! Everyone here at home keeps pulling at it and commenting on it…
Hi lif
Yes my kids keep walking past me and pulling it, problem is they are getting quite a handful now ! I thought mine would all come out at once but it’s been quite gradual started off with scalp being a bit sore then a few hairs and more each day but still there !
Shell x
Agree with the above on hair, mine was gradual from day 17 after the first chemo, and more again day 17 ish after chemo two, but I still have a fuzz after chemo 4 and what is left is actually growing! Pubic hair and leg hair took longer but is just about all gone now, nose hair gone too and half of eyebrows/ lashes.
I too remember thinking ‘how can hair hurt’ it is funny isn’t it? I find my hair is sore in a similar way now when I wear a hat/ scarf/ wig for long periods.
Lilac I enjoyed LGFB too, but booked it about the same time as starting chemo, got a place at Oxford just before chemo 3. It was a 75 mile round trip but worth it, especially as it was a practice run for radiotherapy which is at the same hospital. I am wearing more makeup than I ever used to, you’d have been lucky to see me with more than foundation and mascara before. Eyebrow pencil has been a revelation to me! And concealer!
X
Rusty
Saw the onc. last week and when discussing se’s effects told him I was suffering from deafness. He assured me I wasn’t going deaf but as I had lost the hairs in my ears any earwax was not being moved out. Suggested next time I had a shower to fill then empty my ears with the warm water. Tried it, result, tv volume returned to normal level, however YD now deaf from tv being on high volume for last few weeks (ha ha), bless her she never complained,
Ali.
