I’m due to start chemo next week and have a 2 and 4 year old, wondering whether anyone has positive stories of getting through chemo and staying relatively well when looking after 2 snot bags?! Or any tips on boosting immune system / how to to stay as well as possible
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This experience is based on a career in teaching rather than cancer treatment.
Eat your fruit & veg and take a multivitamin if you’re allowed. Smoothies if you want to boost your intake and Actimel also works for me. Drink plenty and ALWAYS wash your hands before eating and drinking and after blowing (anyone’s) nose. Soap will kill bugs that hand sanitiser doesn’t, notably Norovirus. Air your house daily and don’t share towels.
I hope your treatment runs smoothly.
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Hey I also have 2 snot bags at home 
3 and 5 years old girls and I’m 4 of 6 sessions through chemo. I’ve had the odd little bug and we did have a chicken pox scare but they said as I’ve had it already and had no symptoms I was fine to go ahead. The 1st round I had the absolute worst cough which started about a week before and lasted weeks, I was sure they wouldn’t even let me onto the ward!!
I’ve stayed active, going to the gym early when it’s abit quieter, walking lots, high protein, lots of fruit and veg, hydrate with water, broth and high water fruits like watermelon, wash/sanitise hands more regularly especially after wiping those snotty noses 
and prob the hardest one is trying to get my youngest to not sneeze into my actual eyeballs 
A lovely lady on here swears by organic 100% cocoa to keep blood counts up!
Tbh I’ve probably not been the best chemo patient apart from the above though I’m pretty much just going about life as normal but with more precautions. We still do 2 or 3 playgroups a week but again take a few more precautions, a couple of them have good outdoor areas now it’s nice weather or if indoors I choose the ones I know are abit quieter. We do lots of days out but I’ve stayed away from busy soft plays at weekend other than a couple of parties when nobody else was free to take them! I still meet up with friends and it’s getting even easier now the weathers warm. I spent Easter weekend cuddling baby lambs at the farm and it dawned on my hours later that was probably pretty stupid of me during chemo 
I did ring the hotline who advised me what to look out for but luckily all was OK!!!
I’m so glad that I didn’t have to have it during winter because my girls were constantly poorly!!
Hope all goes well xxxxxxx
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Hi @tm89 
I had a 3 year old just starting preschool and a newborn when I started chemo. I had a chat with the head teacher and asked them to contact me as soon as they were aware of any of the more serious bugs going around. The frustrating part for you will be when they are ill you won’t be able to comfort them as much as you would probably want to, but if you have friends or family they feel safe and comfortable with then don’t hesitate in asking for some help.
Wishing you all the best and fingers crossed your treatment goes well x
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Oh wow this is really reassuring, thank you 
. I have the same challenge with my youngest also seeming to aim for my whole face anytime she goes to sneeze or cough 
. Im also pleased about the weather as thinking it’ll be much easier to just stick to outdoor activities as much as possible! It’s good to hear you’ve still been able to do lots with your 2 as I’m hoping I’ll be able to do the same. Do you mind me asking what chemo regime you’ve been on? Hope your last 2 go well too xx
Thank you so much, my eldest will be starting school when I’m part way through but I’m hoping I’ll be in the swing of things by then and it’ll seem less daunting! Xx
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Glad it’s give you some reassurance, kids have honestly humbled me through all this! But tbh it’s done me good to crack on as normal and not dwell too much 
Of course! I did 3 x EC spaced 3 weeks apart and have just done 2 docetaxel 3 weeks apart, 2nd docetaxel was yesterday and we’ve been at a huge estate today with my daughters in a rubber duck fountain splashing around, a fairy forest play area, played all day etc. Don’t get me wrong I have a couple of days per cycle where I’m really tired but you get to know your pattern and when you need to take it easy! Thank you so much, one more to go in 19 days. I know it feels like a huge mountain in the beginning but distract yourself and keep living your life as much as you can in between your cycles, rest and get your sleep in as much as possible
What regime are you on? Xxxxx
Thank you it’s really good to hear . I’ll also be starting with 3xEC 3 weeks apart but will then move on to weekly paclitaxel for 12 weeks. I’m really hopeful I can be like you and crack on as much as possible! I’ve been so conscious of what I’m eating since finding out and exercising more regularly than normal so hoping all of that will help too. Amazing that you have 1 more to go, I can’t wait to get to that stage of this journey xx
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Sorry @tm89 I’ve only just seen your message!
Ahhh a friend of mine is on a similar one to you, she’s just completed her 4th and final EC and moves on to weekly paclitaxel for 12 weeks too. I’m sure the healthy eating and exercise will help lots!
I genuinely think it’s flown by because I’ve carried on living and having fun, you’ll be coming to the end of it before you know it (I know it doesn’t feel like that at the beginning though). None of my friends or school Mum friends know Ive even been diagnosed, I’ve only told immediate family members and my 1 friend who was also diagnosed not long after me (October 25) as we’re under the same hospital and oncologist I figured we would bump into each other at some point , I wanted to keep life as normal as possible for my girls and I think I’ve just about pulled it off with a well placed wig topper and a good eyebrow pencil
Good luck with your treatments xxxxx