Hi all, am day 12, popped in to work today for a couple of hours to see everyone and tonight have been out for a few drinks. Am feeling like my normal self, I just get tired quicker and ache more than normal. My throat feels a little sore, but that may be down to me talking a lot tonight, have checked my temp which is all fine. 10 days until the next cycle so am going to enjoy feeling well while I can. I hope everyone else is doing okay?! Xx
Hi everyone
Glad to hear you are doing ok Cassy, better than I was on first!! Sounds like everyone seems to be managing well and side effects don’t seem too bad. Kim I hope you get sorted in Monday.
I went to see oncologist on Thursday and she is putting me on Emend anti sickness for next cycle so I am pleased about that, they also forgot to give me an sickness 1 hour before treatment last time which wasn’t good.
I’m on my next challenge tonight, I collected my wig today so my OH is going to shave my hair off!!! I’m on day 15 and it is just falling out, feels like it’s just hanging on, very weird!! My shower this morning was awful so decided that is that!!! I’ll let you know how it feels/goes etc, think I’ll need a g&t first!!
Debbie x
Morning, hope everyone has had a good night.
All went well with hair, had tears and a good laugh too!!! Does feel very weird, but actually a relief from how it felt before, I haven’t left the house yet though! All the firsts to deal with, like going to the shop, school run, meeting friends. The kids were a little shocked this morning but are getting used to it, I told them the fairies took my hair away in the night!! I do like my ‘new hair’ but it is getting used to it always looking like I’ve been to the hairdressers!!! We used grade 2, I hadn’t heard about not going below grade 3? Has anyone else started loosing there hair? Debbie x
They definitely keep me going!!! I have a 6 year old boy and 4 year old boy/girl twins. We are only telling them stage by stage, I’m having chemo before surgery, so they know that Mummy is going to hospital for special medicine!!! X
Hello all, I’m day 14 now, the hair on my head doesn’t seem to be doing anything yet, I’ve had my hair cut into a short style in preperation. The only hair that does seem to be going is my lady garden hair, is this normal? it makes me worry that the drugs aren’t working?! Xx
Claire, I felt so much better after 7-9 days, I’m day 17 now and I have felt normal since day 10. Last week made me realise that I’m going to have to accept that the week after each cycle I try and do as little as possible and arrange as much help with the kids as I can, then I can catch up on jobs once I feel a little better. Keep trying different wigs, sure you’ll find 1 that looks ok. I found if I tucked the hair behind my ears the wigs looked loads better.
Sissy, I noticed my hair on day 13 i pulled my hair and some came out quite easily, then it started feeling lifeless, like it was just hanging on, by day 16 it was falling out very easily and I found it awful in the shower. I haven’t noticed my lady garden yet though!!! Do the pull test Sissy?
Ellie, it is normal to feel nervous, have you got a wig or headwear sorted?
X
Hi I’m starting 12 weeks of paclitaxel tomorrow. I’ve found it really useful reading about everyone’s experiences. Feeling a little more prepared from all the advice you have been sharing. Thank you. Very nervous but know it has to be done. Going to try the cold cap from reading about other people’s experiences it sounds like it’s worth a try. Will let you know how it goes.
Well, I’ve been so lazy today! Woke up with a headache took 2 paracetamol and dozed off for a couple of hours more. Have done absolutely nothing except read the papers, eat and doze off. Actually, I did shower and get dressed just to feel Id put the effort in!
Still feel ‘out of it’ - best described as ‘meh’ but if I don’t get any worse than I’ve been feeling the past couple of days then I’m considering myself lucky this time around!
Well done for doing your injection yourself Cassy! Maybe if I have to I’d manage, but I am thankful Mark is happy to do them for me right now! If I’m being really picky then possibly I do ache a little more than usual - but I reckon it’s more from inactivity!!
Decided to go bra-less to help ease the seroma buildup and it seems to have eased, feels much more comfortable so I’ll be wearing scarves to disguise my lopsidedness for the time being!!
Well done Debbie for taking the plunge and shaving your head AND for coping so well with 3 small children!! You don’t have the ‘luxury’ to say ‘what the hell’ and be lazy like I have - I do admire you 
I’m happier with my wig now it’s home, but it is so different from my now grey short flat hair that I’ll be really self conscious wearing it!! I look at myself in the mirror and feel I’ve aged 10 years!! But then again when this is all over and our hair recovers - how young and beautiful we will all feel!!
Loads of good luck tomorrow Kay (not sure if that’s your name) Hope it all goes well and your side effects are minimal. It’s a relief when it’s started bizzarely! Hope you feel the same.
And have a really good week everyone else! Any of you due to start the next round next week? Loads of good luck to you if you are
Take care xxx
Hi Sorry it’s Alison not Kay. Can anyone tell me how I show my name rather than email address? Can’t work out what I have done. Thanks for well wishes… also hoping for good night sleep before tomorrow. Xx
You must have put your email address as your username? You might be able to edit it if you’re using a laptop, probably not if you’re on your phone.
Xxx
Hi All,
I haven’t posted for ages, but have been keeping up with all the goings on. I had my first fec on the 11th and similar experiences to most of you- feeling meh, out of it, bit sick. Felt better after a week. Has been therapeutic reading over others’ experiences.
Kim, your relaxing day yesterday sounded great. I am still in my pjs!! My husband dropped the girls at school this morning and I am enjoying vegetating! I had a seroma for a few weeks after my wle and had it drained. I also have a fat necrosis where they took the lump out- joy! The consultant said it can take 3-6 months to go away. Have you had your seroma drained?
Debbie, I also have youngish children (6 and 8). I can feel my head tingling today, 14 days after treatment. Think the hair will be going. Felt so emotional last night and had a good cry. I think the hair going is the hardest side effect for me. It makes it so obvious to all what is going on. I feel like I’m losing my identity from ‘Joss’ to ‘cancer patient’. I do have a lovely wig which looks like my hair, hopefully will get used to it. Is good to know I’m not the only one struggling a bit with this.
Claire, wind chime, Kim and Elli- I am also a teacher, although I teach Secondary. Missing the students, I had some great classes this year and I won’t be back until September. I’m having 4xFec and 12x weekly paclitaxel. Will be good to know how the weekly goes for you Alison.
Anyway, hope you all have a good day.
Joss xx
Hi joss, we started on the same day. Had a couple of pulls of my hair and I think it’s safe to say that the shedding has started, each time I pull at it a few more hairs come out, feeling sad about it also because I quite like the short style that I’d had it cut into. I’m so bored being off work at the moment, am occupying myself today with a big clean of the house and I any even treat myself to a trip to the supermarket for some baking ingredients. Hope you’re all having a good day and looking after yourselves xx
Early start this morning - had blood test at the hospital to check it was doing what it should, and then oncologist appointment at 10. So was up and out by 7:30 am!! Blood is doing what it should be, although low (in whatever its low in) he said that under those circumstances, if I was due my next dose of chemo today, then they would still go ahead. So the injections are clearly working. I asked why I have 7 and others I know of have 5, or 3 or more? He didn’t know, said what I’m having is standard for the chemo I’m having. He was a man of few words. I think it might be a Health Authority thing? I didn’t even think to ask about the seroma build up, I think he would have told me it was fine anyway and it’s not bothering me now so I’ll just wait until I see my consultant who did the surgery at the next appointment in 3 weeks time.
Despite the early start, I’m feeling quite human again!
xxx
Well I’m actually a teaching assistant, there’s no way I could be a teacher - waaaay too much stress!! I do love my job, I work with the lowest ability year 5s in the mornings and in the afternoons do family support (kind of like counselling for the kids, so rewarding) and admin support for the Special Needs coordinator.
Similarly I couldn’t be a nurse, I can’t even look when they take my blood!! I admire the nursing profession hugely!
Xxx
Hi ladies x just had my first app with oncolagist and start chemo in 4 weeks time , I live in epping essex can anyone advise of wig shops in essex area please x have decided not to do cold cap xx love and hugs to all
Hi Jilly, I live in Harlow. Just finished chemo and had mastectomy on Thursday. See Mr P on Monday for patology results. Waiting for appt for radiotherapy. If you want to meet up or just talk then pm me here. Sorry you had to join this club. I have found the forums to be an invaluable source of support through all this. Love suz xx
Jilly1989 so sorry to see you have to have chemo now. I know you are probably devastated, but the ladies on this or the Feb thread will help you through. All the best. At least you know you can come back & ask the ‘reluctant radiators’ about rads when you get that far xx
Hi All, hope you are all having a relaxing evening.
Sissy- we started on the same day! Are you doing Fec? Hair is very tingly but not actually started shedding- probably tom? I am doing 4 lots of fec and then 12 lots of weekly paclitaxel. Also feeling slightly bored this week. Think it’s because I feel almost normal and would usually hand much more to do. Most of my friends work. I have been doing a lot of cooking and some tidying.
Pop- teaching is fun. All the other box ticking, less so! My sister is a nurse. I also could never do it, I also can’t watch a needle going in ?
Kim- your job sounds lovely. Bet all the family support stuff makes s big difference.
Hi Jilly, this forum is fab. It has been so good to share experiences with others in similar positions. I also thought I’d escape chemo but a high intermediate oncotype test result means I need to do it.
Sorry if I missed anyone out
Joss ?
Hi joss, I’m having FEC X 3 and T X 3. I popped into work last week for a couple of hours to see my team, but I’m not allowed to go back properly because of infection risk. When I’m feeling well I’ve been catching up on housework, baking and trying to make more imaginative dinners. Ive also been watching a lot of box sets and planning some nice holidays and things to look forward to. As this is my good week before the next chemo on Monday I’ve arranged something for most days. We’re off to London on Thursday as I have an appointment at Guys hospital for gene tests.
My head hair is now defo on its way. If I give it a tug it comes out! Xx
Hi I had my first treatment on Monday. Found the cold cap a lot better than I expected to so planning to persevere with it. Had herceptin injection today. Been feeling ok but wondered if anyone else is having weekly lower doses of taxol as well - do you gradually feel worse over time or does it vary? Have also organised to go for wig fitting just in case the cold cap doesn’t work for me.
Kim - you were right it was a relief to start and it wasn’t as bad as I thought it would be.
I am also a teacher to so can relate to those of you who are not used to being at home. I have used my time to clear out all the cupboards that I haven’t done for years, caught up reading some books, set myself the challenge of improving my French for next holiday and I am aimimg to sort out all my photos.
Hope everyone has a good week.