Hi J
Your first session won’t necessarily be ‘hard’. Everyone is individual and what one person finds difficult with, won’t be for the next.
Drink plenty of water before, during and after chemo. Nap when you want, go for short walks when you feel able and try to stay positive. And think of that #### shrinking with each treatment! Xx
Hi Ladies. Thanks to everyone for your comments. May I dare say that I enjoy dipping into this forum. As when you are thinking is this normal to feel this etc I can be reassured that someone somewhere has been there, done that and worn the t-shirt. Always helps. I am trying to keep my energy levels up by watching World’s Strongest Man at the moment. Rahhhhhh!!!. Xx
Hi J. Sounds to me like you are going through the same process as me. Chemo first to shrink the tumour. I had my first one on Weds. The forum ladies have told me that it has worked for them in shrinking it which has helped me stay positive as all the nurses at the hospital don’t appear to have done it this way before. Good luck with it all. Xx
Hi J, welcome. The anticipation of what to expect is definitely the hardest part. It’s so true that everyone has a different experience though. I didn’t suffer with nausea at all from my first FEC. The meds they gave me kept that really under control. But if you do suffer then let them know. There are plenty of ladies who have suffered and had meds altered the next time and not had it at all. So it’s always worth mentioning.
Dianabrew, I’m sorry you didn’t have a good night. I didn’t sleep well the first few nights after chemo last time. Luckily got back to normal after about a week. Hoping you are feeling ok today.
Nellie, my kids have been fine with the head shave. They keep feeling it at the moment (so do I!!) But I’m sure the novelty will wear off eventually and they will just think it’s as boring as my normal hair!! Lol
xx
Hi Fluffy, welcome : ) I have nothing helpful to say as I’m having my first chemotherapy session on Wednesday, but I just wanted to thank you for admitting that you watch World’s Strongest Man! My husband teases me that I’m the only woman alive who likes it ; ))))
Hello ladies,
Not been on here for a few days so hard to catch up with individual posts. Hope you are doing well. Also, welcome to all the newbies. This is a great place for support and advice.
I’m now on Day 13 of first TC chemo treatment and “hopefully” (crosses fingers so as not to tempt fate) I’m over the worst of the side effects until my next treatment on the 29th July. I’m getting cheeky four days extra reprieve as my first chemo was on a Monday but all my dates were changed to a Friday.
I did however get my period yesterday, a week early too. :smileyfrustrated: Always something. I hoped they might stop during chemo or stop altogether in fact. I’ve just turned 48.
Hope you all have a good weekend.
Best Wishes
Hazel. x
DIAGNOSED WITH HER 2+ BREAST TUMOR…GOT OPERATED ON 30TH JUNE…SENTINEL LYMPH NODE BOPSY REPORTED NEGATIVE FOR MALIGNANCY…DOCTOR SAID IT HASNT SPREAD…CHEMOTHERAPY WILL BEGIN FROM 27TH OF JULY…FEELING NERVOUS,SCARED…GOD HELP ME…
Hello Supti
Please be reassured that, as Sue says, we all react differently to chemo and really is it is not bad for everyone. I am 9 days after my first EC and, apart from feeling rough for the first two days, I have felt remarkably well to the point that I feel a fraud being off work. I am feeling so good I am planning to get back on my bike today for a long ride. I know I might have some side. effects this coming week as my white cell count falls but for now I am doing great.
Celebrate that your lymph nodes are clear and think of the chemo as an insurance policy to ensure that any rogue cancer cells are destroyed - ‘hit it hard, early’ is what my oncologist recommends.
Hopefully you will get lots of support from this site to lift you at this difficult time.
Morning ladies, hope everyone is feeling well today?? I’m on countdown to round 2 on Tuesday. Feeling ready for it. Just wishing it wasn’t the same day school finishes for the summer!!!
Nellie, I’m quite happy without a hat on around the house. Only wear one if my head gets chilly (which is does quite a bit with this weather!!). Hubby thinks it won’t be long before I forget I have no hair and answer the door without putting a hat on ?
Welcome Supti, try and focus on all the positive things people say on here. While you are waiting to start chemo it is so easy to focus on all the possible side effects and it can seem overwhelming. But the reality is, very very few people are unlucky enough to suffer with too many of them. And the onc team are really focussed on controlling as many as possible with med adjustment. We really shouldn’t be having to put up with things like nausea or vomiting, so if you find it a problem speak to them. Oncewild is right, celebrate the fact you have clear nodes. The sooner it is diagnosed and treated, the better. So that’s really good news for you. Try and focus as much on the positives as you can. There will always be days when that seems impossible, but keep them few and the good days plenty!
xx
Not sure how things are going to pan out this coming week for me? I’m due to have 2nd FEC on Weds. Am having a blood test tomorrow beforehand. Thing is our daughter, son-in-law and grandson came down from Cambridge last Weds on my ‘good’ week. Grandson was ok on that day but on the Thurs developed a cold, son-in-law had sore throat and came out with a cold Fri, daughter on Saturday, my hubby yesterday and last night I developed a sore throat! Been gargling with TCP 4 times today! Will my blood test be ok? Even if it is ok how can I go into chemo unit on Weds with a streaming cold! Not fair on all the other patients! Will my chemo be cancelled? I really don’t need this!! Any thoughts anybody on what might happen? Xx
Evening everyone. Nellie I’m so sorry to hear about your cold, unfortunately I can’t answer your questions it might be worth seeing if anyone on the earlier threads have had a similar issue. Fingers crossed it might just be a bit of a cold and clear up in a day or two. It’s chemo eve for me so I’m drinking as much water as possible. I’ve had a lovely week and now the weathers come good, such a shame I’ll feel a bit grotty next week. Taran I’ve given up having anything on my head and even answer the door without a hat. Should have seen the postmans face 
Supti please be reassured that it’s doable, not pleasant but no where near as bad as your imagining. Some have a challenging few days but everyone on here has got through it and still going strong. Diana I hope your feeling better and over the worst. Make sure you all put your sun cream on this week, don’t think I’ll be seeing much if it but at least I won’t burn my bald head xx
Hello
I don’t know if I’m in the right ‘thread’ but I have had my lumpectomy and one lymph node removed. I will be starting Chemotherapy some time in August - I’m awaiting an appointment. At the moment I feel very scared of it all. Anyone else in this position? thanks
Thanks. The surgery was OK and the lymph node removed was clear. It is hard waiting for the appointment for chemo as it gives me time to worry about all the side effects! It’s good to know I can get tips on how to deal with it. Xx
Hey ladies,
Just windering if anyone had had a skin breakout after their 1st chemo, my fore head and chest are very spotty and tender and im starting to get spots behind my ears and scalp. Any tips? Aj xx
Hi Sue and H. So lovely to read your comments and knowing I can speak to others who are going through the same as me. It’s really reassuring. Sue, the links are great, I’m going to be studying them in lots more detail! I’m really grateful for your help. X
Suze65, hope you get a good nights sleep in preparation for tomorrow. Fingers crossed we do ok with first session!
Mad hatter, have you got any further with getting a start date? Thinking of you.
X
Thanks so much Sue, just knowing its kinds normal makes me feel a bit better about it xxx
Good luck today Alex and Suze. I will be joining you for my second round. Keeping fingers crossed for few side effects for us all!
Kath, welcome. I had surgery in May and started chemo end of June. Really and honestly, the waiting is the worst part. Try not to cross bridges until you come to them. It is so easy to worry about every possibility. But we are all here too listen on the days it just seems too much to handle. We will all get through this together.
How’s everyone else doing? The change in the weather has come at the wrong time for me, just as in needing to wear head coverings!! So after keeping a very short shave because of my sunburnt scalp, I got hubby to take the rest off last night so I can at least put sun cream on my head!! It’s got a horrible rough stubble feel now, so I’m hoping what’s left falls out quickly and I can be silky smooth instead ??
Good luck today Taran and any other lovely ladies having round 1 or 2 today. Bella Boo, hope yesterday went OK for you.
Nellie, I hope your cold is better. Kids are such germy little blighters…trouble is, they’re also too cute to stay away from!
Welcome Kath, I’m one of the few on this thread who has yet to experience the delights of chemotherapy, my first infusion is tomorrow. It has been five weeks since my surgery and it has actually gone quite quickly, but the anticipation and fear of the unknown is quite draining. It’s doable though and just another hurdle to clamber over!
AJ, so sorry to hear that your skin has been playing up. It’s a side effect that I hadn’t heard about but hopefully it’ll pass quickly.
i had my very long, curly hair cut off into a pixie crop yesterday. I showed them pictures of Audrey Tatou and Natalie Portman. The hair looks great, sadly, they couldn’t do anything with the face ; ))
PICC line goes in today, feeling a bit squeamish about it…and I have no hair to hide behind ; (
P x
Good luck everyone having chemotherapy today. Round 2 for me too today too. Feeling really wobbly even though I know what to expect but the staff at the unit are brilliant, so once I’m there they’ll sort me out! They even did my bloods yesterday so I know I’m good to go today without any hanging round for blood results. I think I’m more frustrated that yesterday was the first day I felt vaguely human and now it’s all kicking off again! But it’s that anticipation thing isn’t it plus I’m a first class worrier! X