I’m day 20 now, getting used to my grade 3 cut, went out today wearing a woolly hat, didn’t feel up to wearing the wig yet. I’m 35yrs old, initially found my lump 1.5yes ago, was initially assessed by breast clinic and told it was as a result of me stopping the pill. Went back on the pill last June time and the lump started to get bigger and hurt but put it down to hormones, September another lump appeared in arm pit, went back to breast clinic and diagnosed 01/10/15 with invasive ductal, grade 3, 6/13 lymph nodes positive, though only 2 for micromets. PET/CT scan showed no spread elsewhere. MX and ANC on 05/11/15. I think I may be one of the youngest out of us. Sissy xx
Hi mechele, I hope the oncologist will have a suggestion to manage a potential repeat of your gastric symptoms, whether dose reduction or use of loperamide/codeine to reduce loose stools. Dose reduction is not necessarily a bad thing. They work out doses as per body surface area and this is meant to ensure a tolerable dose. But people are so different and one size definitely does not fit all! So if the dose is tweaked to suit you and reduce toxicity it makes it more individualised, not “weaker”. Hope that helps, good luck Wednesday xxx
Hi Debbie. I hope the emend is working better for you today? I know T is meant to be less sick making (not much help to you this week I know!). Im afraid beyond Emend I don’t have any magic potions to recommend. I don’t know why I’m having T first or why some people have surgery first then chemo. I’m used to people arriving for treatment and giving it to them rather than knowing too much background! Xx
Hair update - day 14, yep - starting to go! Gently tugged it around the sides and back and bits came out easily. (OK I know I shouldn’t be tugging it!!) Might wear my sleeping cap tonight just in case it sheds over the pillow! I need to stop pulling at it - might not have any by bedtime if I carry on!
xxx
Kim, the hair pulling is quite addictive though, I was fascinated by seeing how much came out each time. Went out for lunch today with the husband and some friends, wasn’t brave enough to have my grade 3 hair on show or to wear the wig. Ended up wearing a cotton beanie hat with a woolly hat over the top. FEC 2 tomorrow, feeling nervous for some reason. The chemo nurse I saw on Friday said that the SE’s should stay the same as FEC 1, if anything I may be more tired. Fingers crossed xx
Good luck! Hope it all goes well xxx
Hi All,
Good luck today Sissy! Am also having my second fec today. Just had bloods done and waiting for results before chemo. Seeing onc today too. Hopefully will get details of oncotype test. Did anyone else have the oncotype test?
Just eaten massive cake to help me get through today!
Hair has almost all gone. Didn’t shave it but pulled a lot out! Suppose the last few bits will go this week. Getting used to it.
Anyway, hope you all have a good day.
Joss xxx
Good luck ladies who are having treatment today/this week! There is a blog with lots of useful links called “Breast Surgeon with Breast Cancer” that I have been reading. The surgeon had T-FEC then surgery then radiotherapy starting last August, but she links to lots of helpful sites re: hair loss, sepsis etc. X
Wearing one of my huge selection of headwear to prevent the shedding getting over my clothes! It’s not noticable yet, but I’m sure by the end of the week it will be. I’m fine about it so far…!
Hope all went well today Joss and Sissy xxx
Claire, hopefully it’s because the cold cap is working for you! Woke up this morning too scared to wash my hair in case it all fell out, so I went into a hairdressers this morning and had it cut to a grade 3!! I asked for it to be clippered. but this lovely young girl said she’d scissor cut it for me as it was kinder - how lovely was that?! My roots were quite sore and it feels so much better now. Hate the way it looks, but I’m covering it up. The next time it looks like this will be when it’s growing back and I’ll be pleased 
I had my first session of reflexology at The Haven which was so relaxing, then I treated myself to some Bee Lovely products from Neils Yard and had lunch out. I’ve decided this will be my good week ritual.
I read the “Breast Surgeon with Breast Cancer” blog you referred to Jolie - really interesting read, and like you say, some good links.
Getting closer to FEC 2 on Monday too. Go from being - ‘bring it on, lets get it over and done with’ to ‘Urgh, don’t want to go back to the chemo fog’
Hope you are all doing well xxx
Hi All, day 2 after second fec and not feeling too bad. Think I’m finding it easier to handle this time.
Gfinch- My oncotype was 28 so def needed chemo. Good luck with first T tomorrow ?
Ellie-glad your second fec went well today and that you are feeling ok.
Just wondering, those of you who drive, how long do you wait to drive after chemo?
Claire- good luck for Monday. Hope the cold cap has worked.
Kim- well done for braving the grade 3, it was kind of the lady to scissor cut it. Little things matter when dealing with hair loss! Hope your fec 2 goes well on Monday, I found the second one easier to handle.
Hi to everyone else and hope you are all doing well. Have chemo brain so can’t keep up with everyone ?
Think this might work as the link to the Breast Surgeon with Breast Cancer blog:
xxx
I’m the same re: driving. It was a full week til I felt remotely safe! I think it may be partly steroids making me dizzy & spaced out (and the chemo!). Still waiting for hair to go - day 14. My friend has viewed my wig and thinks it looks fine…but would she say otherwise when the alternative is a skinhead?! I’m glad cycle 2 is done for some of you. I’m not looking forward to going through it again, but as you say 1/3 of the way so we just have to keep going! Xx
Ellie, that’s so funny! I was exactly the same after surgery - I blame the codeine, was sooo painful then such a relief!! I just do t risk it now - any hint of constipation, I’m straight in the movical!
Following reflexology yesterday, I have noticed the seroma build up that I still have is easing - a coincidence maybe?
I’ve started following the Breast Surgeon with Breast cancer on Twitter, she’s waiting to heal from surgery before radiotherapy and from what I can see will be updating her blog soonish.
Well better get off all forms of social media and get showered and dressed. Wonder how much hair will disappear down the plug hole today!!
Take care everyone! Xxx
Ellie I share your joy. I had movicol to the rescue last week and it’s such a relief!!
And I recommend metoclopramide/domperodone three times a day for the first 2-3 days even if you don’t feel sick as a preventive measure xxx
Hi
Claire - it was my 50th in January so definitely not how I had planned to celebrate mine either. Had small celebration but planning something for later in year when everything sorted. The queen is allowed 2 birthdays so I think I’m allowed 2 after all this. How long has the cold cap been working for you? I have had 2 sessions of chemo and used cap but I’m on weekly chemo so not sure how long it will take before it might start falling out. everyone else seems to be on 3 week cycles.
D - yes I did go to Natural image and I’ m at the QE in Gateshead. I guess you must be from same area?
Hi to Gillian - also northerner! No I haven’t been to the freeman but have heard good reports about it. Are you having your treatment there too?
Summer sun I’m so glad to hear that someone else is having ‘chemo brain’ as you described it. I’m used to juggling umpteen things at once in a day normally and can’t manage 2 things at once at the moment!
Ellieb congratulations - it’s amazing how much better you can feel after that.
So many other useful info and experiences from everyone but too many to respond to. Hope everyone’s treatment goes well this week.
Alison x
Hi All, hope you have had a good day.
Had second fec on Mon and felt OK today. Spent most of the day watching tv and snacking (thanks to steroids!).
Claire- October birthday/house move/wedding anniversary party sounds great- something for you to look forward to ? Great news about hair.
Alison- you def deserve a second birthday! Are you doing weekly taxol? I’m doing that next.
I finish my chemo a couple of weeks before my 40th birthday, so will prob have a second birthday later in the year.
Ellie- well done!! ? Bet you felt much better. I had the opposite problem this morning (tmi!).
Jolie/Claire/Ellie- I felt OK to drive on day 6/7. Living in London, I’m quite close to shops etc.
Mechele- great you’ve not felt sick after fec. My head also feels sore. I still haven’t shaved it, even though it looks awful!
Kim- great blog- v honest. Glad seroma getting better. Funny things seromas. I had one after my wle and it was very sloshy. It’s been replaced with a fat necrosis. Has anyone else had one of these?
If I’ve missed anyone- hi! Brain still fuzzy.
Joss xx
Hi All
I’m day 7 after 2nd Chemo and to be honest I’ve found it a little harder than the 1st. I had Emend anti sickness which only helped in stopping me actually being sick but I’ve still been really nauseous. I phoned GP yesterday as Metoclopramide wasn’t helping, so now I am on Cyclizine (thank you bibi!) which is helping a lot, but on day 7 I didn’t expect to be still feeling like this. I also have an ache going down my right arm to my fingers, this is the arm that the drip was in, it is really getting me down as I can feel it all the time. Has anyone else experienced this. On Tuesday night the back of my neck was so sore to touch too!!
I feel like I am falling apart and have 4 more to go. My husband has been away for a couple of nights and I’ve really struggled with the kids, I have help but I just feel so low. I’m just hoping I’ll come out of this fog in a day or 2. I can’t stop thinking about the worst, and finding out that it had spread or whether I have made the right decision having chemo first, should I have gone ahead and had mastectomy straight away, could my lump still be growing. The path ahead is a long one and I should be positive, but the worries are always close by.
Sorry for the rant, it’s so hard getting your head round having treatment that totally knocks you, especially when you are used to being active and healthy.
Hope everyone is ok and coping/preparing for chemo 2. Please don’t be put off by my comments, I think I am just going to be a sicky one on chemo!!! Big hugs for World Cancer Day. ?
Debbie xx
Hello all, day 4 of 2nd FEC, feeling fed up and not as well as I did the first time around. Think that’s got me down as I expected it to be a bit easier for some reason! Even though the hair is a grade 3 it’s starting to look patchy and I’ve been wearing a bed hat whilst at home as my heads also feeling sore. All I want to do is lay about in bed and barely have the energy to make conversation. I know I should see the positives, as in my SE’s aren’t as bad as some peoples, Sorry to be so down. Sissy xx
Sissy, I think that’s why I feel so down as I expected it to be better, better anti sickness hasn’t really helped. It’s reality this time.
Welcome Natalie. My hair started coming out on day 12/13, we got the clippers out on day 16 and cut it to grade 2, it is now nearly all off. How old are your kids? Mine are quite young (6 year and 4 year old twins) and seem to have accepted it ok, my 6 year old has prob taken it the worst, but it is ‘our secret’ he gives me wrong if I tell anyone. I’m having chemo first, we told the kids that mummy has to go to hospital for special medicine and my hair will drop out, but it will grow back!!
Debbie x