I’m home, all was ok, worst bit was getting the cannula in, the veins in my hand were not being very helpful so it was put in my arm! The whole process of giving chemo only took about 30 minutes, my appointment was 9.30 and we were out by 12, the rest of the time was talking through treatment and giving anti sickness drugs. I now feel just a little woozy, just trying to keep drinking lots of water. X
My chemo doesn’t start until after 18 Jan, which was the first date they could give me for a group pre-assessment which they have said leave a minimum of 3 hours for! It includes a video and then you have a one to one session with a chemo nurse. They said as long as my prescription had arrived then I could start any day after that. Did any of you have that? Or is it a Shropshire thing I wonder.
I went and had my haircut today - I dont have to best head of hair at the best of times, but I’m quite happy with it short again, but I didn’t have it coloured so i do have grey roots, but they dont look too bad actually.
So - my wig … Urgh!! The good news is that the one I chose will be covered by my NHS prescription (didn’t realise that would happen!) but whether I will wear it is another thing. It looks like I’ve got masses of hair compared to my normal look! I guess they don’t do flat wigs!! The style I tried was in a dark chestnut, so they are ordering me in a light brown so I’m hoping it will look better.
I’ve just ordered 2 scarves from a website called Annabandana, which were only £7 each so if I really like them I will order more and maybe just wear different scarves. I did think I would prefer a wig to a scarf, but now I’m not so sure! Oh well, it is temporary, I’ll get used to it!
I’m pleased that those of you who have started you chemo aren’t having too bad SE at the moment - long may it last 
Debbie, I’m glad today went well too
This week has flown by even though I’ve been at home. Busy week next week, appointment at The Haven on Monday, hoping to have a few nice treatments there. A hospital appointment with my surgeon and BC nurse, pre chemo bloods at my Dr surgery and then of course picking up the wig! My chemo start date will arrive quickly after that!
Well, I think I’ve rattled on long enough - typing this on my laptop rather than my phone, so much easier!
Have a good weekend everyone and good luck to you guys atrting chemo next week!
xxx
Hello all, had my pre chemo meeting yesterday with bloods taken, so am good to go on Monday afternoon. Got all my dates for the other sessions so I now know what my good weeks will be, last chemo will be 25/04/16. It was so busy at my chemo unit, our appointment was 45 mins late, everyone seemed nice though. I’m at work for the next two nights, then Sunday off and then no work for a few months, which I feel quite sad about.
I hope everyone else is doing okay, the not knowing how I’ll react is making me very anxious, I just want to get on with it now! Sissy xx
Thank you Claire, once I get the first one under my belt I’ll feel happier. How was your wig appointment? Did you choose one? Xx
Hi all, day 3 after the first treatment with fec for me today. Feeling a little worse now, though still no no sickness yet, happy about that. I think the steroids are really effecting me now. Find it a bit hard to think straight. Very tired and exhausted but at the same time going at speed?!? Sleeping is difficult. But even with all that I’m actually surprised that there is no more. Hopefully I’m not going down much further. Tina xxxx
After my earlier post saying everything was fine, I’ve had a bit of a night! Started feeling a little quesy at 5ish so went for a lie down, then was sick twice between 7.45 and 9.15. I’ve taken more anti sickness drugs that I came home with, I’ve also spoken to out of hours nurse for advice. I am feeling a lot better now, feels like a really bad hangover. I really did not expect this today at all, I know they can change the anti sickness drugs for my next one. I don’t think it is that common that people are too bad anymore so don’t be alarmed those that are waiting to start, I think I have just been unlucky. I’m off to try and sleep. Night night x
Oh no 
Hope you manage to get some sleep and you’re feeling better in the morning. I was told it affects us all differently, but hopefully you won’t feel any worse.
Sending lots of love xxx
Thank you, it is so true, everyone is different. I’ve just gone into the spare room, hopefully the kids will let me sleep tomorrow morning and wake Daddy instead!! X
i work in a school (TA) and was told that I shouldn’t work, that I’d be off for 6 months. My GP has signed me off for 3 initially and previously we’ve been told at school that if we’ve been signed off insurance won’t cover is for work - we can come and visit, but no working!! I went in last week to the staffroom and it was great to catch up with everyone and I’m hoping I can drop in maybe once a month on my good weeks but I was told they’d let me know first if chicken pox, etc were going round as it would be best to stay away.
At the end of the day it’s best to stay as healthy as we can through all of this.
Hope you’re feeling better today mummybreenster, and the rest of you are doing well too. I’ve started to get nervous waiting now - want it to start so I can get it over and done with!!
Take care everyone xxx
Hi all, I’m feeling lots better after upping the anti sickness tablets. Slept 12am- 6am which was better than I thought I would, then went back to bed at 9 for a couple of hours! Still feel a little nauseous and headaches come and go, but I think that is normal.
Kim, I felt really anxious last week too, just wanting to get going and the adventure of the Unknown?
Is there anyone else that is also having chemo first or have you all had surgery first?
Hi All,
Can I join? My chemo starts tomorrow and I’m feeling anxious! Glad to hear those of you who have started have not fared too badly. The unknown is scary though. I hadn’t expected to need chemo as I am stage 1 with no lymph node involvement. Had oncotype test which gave me a high intermediate recurrence score. Found out last Monday the test result and that I’d need chemo and had pre chemo meeting on Thursday. Got wig ordered, will arrive next Fri.
Is anyone having a port fitted? Having one fitted before chemo tomorrow.
Good luck to all those having chemo this week xx
Summersun, welcome aboard - love your name, I see it as what we’ll all be looking forward to as we’ll hopefully come to the end of chemo
I started this thread expecting to be one of the first January starters but I think I’m going to be one of the last!! I quite often drop into the Dec 2015 chemo starters thread to see how they are getting on too.
My cancer was found in 2 out of 9 lymph nodes so classed as invasive and I had a mastectomy because I’m just a 36A and once they’d removed the cancer there wouldn’t have been too much left even though it was under 2cm
I’m not aware that I’ve had an onco type test for reoccurrence - I’m really not sure if I want to know so may be I won’t ask!
Loads of good luck tomorrow, there is someone else starting this week too but I can’t seem to scroll down in my phone to remind myself who!
Good luck to everyone else starting this week! Xxx
Hi Summersun and welcome!!
It’s an awful time waiting, I felt very anxious too last week. I had my first on Friday, it was actually ok getting it, I had a bit of a time on Friday night but managed to control it with the anti sickness tablets so felt OK by Saturday lunchtime. I took my last steroids at lunchtime today so I’m not sure if I’ll feel different tomorrow, I have a lovely red glow though from the red chemo drug (can’t remember it’s name!). Are you getting FEC-T, that’s what I’m on. I’ve got grade 3 invasive Ductal and im having chemo first to hopefully reduce the tumour and I will only need lumpectomy, have you had any surgery or is that after chemo?
I think Sissy has her first tomorrow too???
Good luck guys, it’s another step closer to getting rid!!
Debbie xx
Have scrolled down now - yes it is Sissy. Good luck Sissy!!
Have also looked up oncotype testing and have decided they didn’t test me because it was invasive and so they would give my chemo and radiotherapy anyway. I may be totally wrong here mind!! Xx
I didn’t have oncotype testing either, I’m 6cm invasive ductal, so it’s a definite chemo, surgery and radiotherapy for me too!
I don’t know about anyone else but I’m already trying to work out my approximate end date. With having 3 little ones I am hoping I might be finished radiotherapy before the start of the school hols(19th July for us), I think it might over lap by a week or 2. I suppose it all depends on how my bloods recover after chemo before they do surgery and how long after surgery before radiotherapy starts. My worst nightmare would be me having radiotherapy 4 weeks out of the 6 weeks holiday!! Debbie xx
Hello all, yes I’m starting tomorrow as well. Last shift yesterday at work for a good few months. Have been out today gathering bits, nice drinks and some health food. Have nearly drunk by 2 litres of water for today. Treated myself to some expensive makeup today for when the eyebrows and lashes thin or go. Summer sun, what time is yours tomorrow? Mines a later one at 3.45. Sissy xx
I worked out that if I start chemo week beginning 18 Jan, then I should have finished chemo and 3 weeks of radiotherapy a week into June. Will be on half pay by then as I’ve been off since 7 Dec when I had surgery. Then I’ll have about 4 weeks in school on a phased return before we break up for summer. But that’s assuming there are no delays and I’m feeling well enough to return!! Xx
Hi All, yes, hopefully we will be done by the summer hols! I’m doing fecx4 and then weekly taxol. Has anyone had emand? Does it help with sickness? Xx
Ps good luck tomorrow Sissy. Are you having fec too? X
Yep, on FEC-T, three of each on a 3 weekly cycle, then 4 weeks off before three weeks of rads. My last chemo will be 25/04/16. When I had my planning appointment they gave me the dates for all my blood appointments and chemo days. Should be done by middle of June if all goes to plan. I’m going to Spain on 23/07/16 so have that to aim towards xx