HER2+ and need some buddies

@hoggie same regime that I had, and I cold capped xx

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Definitely a good idea to give cold capping a go if you’re on docetaxel. There’s a risk of permanent hair loss with that particular drug and the cold cap is the only thing that’s been shown to reduce that risk.

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I’m so happy for you @salbert, what a great way to celebrate. Both the cow slapping and the fairy house tears have really cheered/bolstered me up with the thought that we can all have a bit of this in our own time.
@hoggie its great you have a plan to work with now. I’m the same, hiding from this part of my life amongst lovely colleague’s and my great work is a great distraction.
If there are 2 things I’ve learnt from this journey is to become resilient to the constant resetting from the unexpected surprises, as its quite the rollercoaster and that I’ve weirdly become quite fearless in life. I stood up and spoke in front of 20 people with 5 mins prep the other day and quite enjoyed it. Who would of thought there was a bonus to all this!

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@salbert, lovely words for the fairy house, thank you for that inspiration.
I am limited to aspirations in miniature! I entered a ā€˜make a miniature garden on a 10" dinner plate’ today and just told I won. A friend delivered it for me as I was at chemo today. I was amused friend had entered a garden made of woolly pom poms! Well the spec didn’t say it had to be living plant materials! Given I felt quite rubbish yesterday I was pleased i even entered! Will try and attach pic, @salbert - you’ll have to do an Alice in Wonderland shrink to walk in this one.

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Blimey! Really? Well I had better give it a go then :flushed:

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If paracetamol doesn’t help with the cold capping, and you can tolerate it, I switched to cocodamol instead and found it far more effective.
Both are not for everybody but once I switched it was so much easier and if you need it it may help (I’m a migraine/adenomyosis sufferer so paracetamol does little for pain for me, I only really take it for fevers, my body needs hard drugs for pain). I kept reading people giving up cos paracetamol didn’t help them, I was determined to keep going and that modification of meds helped me to.

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Congratulations :tada::tada::tada: What a fantastic and strong woman you are! Yay to all the wonderful people on Kadcyla and making it count! Wishing you loads of health and happiness :blush:

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How beautiful :star_struck: It was meant to be.

Enjoy your holiday.
:smiling_face_with_three_hearts:

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So pleased you now have your plan and hope it all gets organised before Easter.

I would suggest from my own view is to see the cold cap as a positive thing that will help prevent some hair loss and will help improve regrowth. I have found in this cancer journey that positive attitudes can help so much, it’s not always easy but it can help set your mindset in a different way. If you try it and you find it very uncomfortable then at least you can you tried. It’s not for everyone.

I would also suggest taking paracetamol 30 minutes before to help with the initial 10/15 minutes and do something to distract yourself such as read a book, listen to a podcast or watch something on your phone or tablet.

You are strong and you can do this.

:smiling_face_with_three_hearts:

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Thanks for this. I am the same with paracetamol. Will ask if I can take stronger drugs.

Do really appreciate your trip and advice.

Xxx

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Sorry ā€œhelp and advice!ā€ Bloody auto correct :rofl::rofl:

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Thanks @naughty_boob that’s good advice. I am going to think about it that I have to do it if I possibly can, as if it is part of the treatment that I have to do. I think that will help me (that and the drugs :rofl:). It’s definitely next Friday. I have had a call from the hospital this morning with lots of appointments before then so it’s gonna be a busy couple of weeks. Also back at work today for a bit of a distraction, although all anyone wants to talk about is my situation and how I am tbh!
Had a chat with our HR director just now and work are being really supportive so that is great.
Going to join the April starters forum too - or should it be May if so late in the month to start?

Appreciate all your help. Thanks for being there

Xx

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@hoggie I took hot ribena to sip in the first half hour of cold capping and also those little hand warmers to hold on my cheeks. I’m so glad I cold capped xx

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@hoggie join the April starters - they are a fab bunch of ladies xx

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If it was me I would go with the April group as that’s the month you start and there will be others starting later in the month. You will also have some who will be on the next cycle or those on weekly can be a couple of weeks in. Then they can share their side effects and how they cope.

I personally joined two groups as I thought I was having chemo first then I had surgery first. I stayed with both groups and funnily enough the first one still chat occasionally whereas the group I had chemo with is very quiet.

It’s good news your work are being so supportive.

:smiling_face_with_three_hearts:

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I love this!

Fabulous and fearless. I want to be the same! I was pretty fearless before this and I have been a bit lost for a couple of months, but the fearless me is still in there somewhere.

Have a date now to start chemo and just going to get on with it now.

Thanks for your support xx

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@hoggie It’s not a common side effect, but it does happen and I find that a lot of people haven’t been adequately informed so I make sure to point it out when I see people starting their courses of docetaxel. I don’t know if you’ve seen jo (tit_less_wonder on instagram) but she had it happen to her, so she’s particularly outspoken about it. There’s loads of info on her instagram if you’re interested in reading more about it.

I found that for me with the cold capping, it helped to set a timer on my watch. I knew that after about 10-15 minutes, my scalp would be numb so it really helped to see that timer ticking down to numbness.

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Great advice thanks. I will do the same xx

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Have done now. Thanks @gromit12 xx