Sorry to hear about your symptoms @teenie87. I was also a bit all over the place for the first few days - constipated for 4 days, which I tried to alleviate with prunes and prune juice. Didn’t seem to be working so I took a senokot tablet and that over corrected things somewhat! Seems to have settled down a bit in the last few days (I’m on day 10 now). I’ve been sporadically using the mouthwash I was prescribed and that seems to be keeping the sore bits in my mouth at bay.
My hair does seem to be starting to go so I’ve lined up a friend to come and do me a pixie cut in the next few days, to ease the transition.
Other than that I’m (touch wood) feeling ok - but I’ve recognised that I’m a bit up and down, don’t know from one day to the next what my energy levels are going to be like.
Hope you do start to feel better soon. The heat is definitely making everything more difficult!
Thanks @hedgehog, it’s reassuring to know we’re all in the same boat sometimes. I think I’ve done a very similar thing with over correcting from the constipation! Fingers crossed I’ll get the balance right soon!
I have said the exact same about the cold cap! The nurse said it’s because I have thick hair, but once it starts to go and my scalp is more exposed, I will probably find it more uncomfortable then. So far I think only a regular amount has fallen out, but I’m only on day 8.
@teenie87 so sorry to hear about your digestive issues. I have had some cramping, but managed to sort it with Teapigs peppermint tea. I haven’t had much of an appetite though until yesterday. Been nibbling on soft foods and then in the evening a bit of something more solid to balance it out. I have also been drinking a lot of coconut water. These are all my tips so far
Sending love to everyone starting chemo this week!
Im doing much better just in time for round 2!
I am now a cheetah as my hair has gome in dmall round patches, we shaved it right down as i was tired of hair falling in my eyes.
Have you been given nystatin fir your mouth? They gave me it at hospital, cleared my mouth up quickly.
I also have laxido which i find helps balance the movements, i dont take it every day. I also cant taste many foods so my diet is soft comfort foods and veg/ fruit. My low level nausea just drives a lively hunger.
I hope that those of you suffering with any side effecys find a way to relive them if albeit momentarily.
Im not good at typing but wanted you to know thinking of you all.
Good luck @trix1, you’ve got this and we’re with you in spirit.
I’m finding a mindfulness technique quite useful at the moment when my mind starts spiralling. You name 5 things you can see, 4 things you can hear, 3 things you can feel. By the time you’ve done that, it sort of settles your mind from anxiety. Hope that helps xx
Hi there
I started chemo on 1st July and had the port fitted prior.
I had a local and it had to go up my vein in the neck then back accross too, which caught me off guard and I really struggled
But after having one EC via canula and my second cycle via port. I can confirm it was worth the insert
Hi everyone,
Just been reading through all your updates.
So glad that you are both feeling better @trix1 and @hedgehog. I hope today went as well as it could have @trix1. I definitely need to try some more mindfulness techniques so thank you for the suggestion .
The only thing that I do which I find helpful is ‘rectangular breathing’ - it definitely helped when I was feeling anxious during the scans.
So sorry about the nits @cat801, that’s the last thing you need on top of everything else but I hope you’ve managed to get rid of them now.
@teenie87 I hope you are starting to feel a little better at least from your side effects and with the digestive issues - can’t offer any help yet I’m afraid but I do hope things have settled. And I hope the team are supportive and can offer some medications if needed.
@rach49 I haven’t watched that but will definitely try it, thank you.
@peapoddon I’m sorry that the process of fitting the port was traumatic but glad it feels like it was worth it now. They’ve suggested I try a cannula first so will see how it goes but good to know.
I have my first cycle tomorrow and can’t wait to just get started - never in a million years thought I’d be looking forward to chemo. Have had my hair cut in a long bob today in preparation but going to give the cold cap a go!
Hope everyone is doing ok! And hope the first cycle went as well as it could @here.we.go and your next one was alright @trix1. There’s some lovely mini breathing and mindfulness audios on this podcast that are worth a listen for managing any nerves or poor sleep Meditation Minis Podcast - Podcast - Apple Podcasts
The cheetah hair sounds fab @trix1! Love it! I also did a long bob pre-cold capping @here.we.go and it’s working well for managing so far. But I’ve not hit the big shed with hair yet.
I will ask about the different mouthwashes and ideas suggested, thanks all. I am also having a time of it with the filgistram injections and as they’ve made a bit of an administrative error with my oncologist appointment they are having to push back next treatment cycle by a week as they can’t get me an appointment slot. Quite frustrating. They have been excellent up to this point so trying not to dwell too much. I’ve had the anti sickness meds changed which has helped, and other than the headaches from the filgistram the other side effects are definitely easing off now (day 7/8). I’ve had the full array, but nothing very serious or in need of being in hospital, and life hasn’t stopped. I made it into the gym on Tuesday and I’m still doing reduced hours at work. Just to reassure others starting too! Good moments and bad moments
Well done @teenie87 for going to the gym. I dithered about that and in the end have frozen my membership as I felt confused about whether it was ok to go. I enjoy swimming and classes and felt that I probably wasnt going to be able to do either of those very much. Instead I’m trying to do a long walk every day and some yoga, with some occasional strength training thrown in when I can be bothered!
That sounds frustrating re your appointments but yes it’s good not to get wound up about these things when the care is generally very good.
I was lucky with the filgastrim, didn’t have any side effects but wasn’t brave enough to inject myself. I got my husband to do them all! My main issue so far has been having to come off HRT (even though I’m ER/PR-, they advised me to stop HRT). So I’m back to how I was before I started it, weepy and exhausted all the time (with added cancer angst layered on top). Finding that quite hard to deal with.
On that note, I’m going to put my big girl pants on and go for a walk - getting outside always helps!
Hope everyone who’s done round 2 already is getting on ok.
Hello all - I’m not sure if I’m using this correctly as I’m new to this. Anyhow, just to introduce myself. I was diagnosed with breast cancer (HER2 positive). I had my first chemo treatment on Friday 11th - one of three EC cycles and then 4 more cycles of PHESGO and something else! I’ve not had an easy week mainly because I couldn’t sleep (due mainly to steroid tablets I think)but last night I slept really well. I feel much better today. Im hoping I might have turned a corner but I don’t want to speak too soon. I’d be interested to know how others have managed around a household (live with my husband and one teenager and one young adult) when the immune system is likely suppressed- what you do/ avoid. Sleep in separate beds to partners? Hoping to link in with others in a similar position. Sending everyone hugs
Welcome @athletics2025 - yes you’re using the forum correctly. Good to hear that your sleep has improved.
I also have a busy household of husband, teenager and young adult. They’re all out and about working, meeting up with friends etc and the older one’s girlfriend stays quite often. I’ve also had my parents staying as my husband was away when I had my first chemo so they came to help out. I’m taking the view that my family need to carry on living their lives, and I also want family life to feel as normal as possible for them. I’m avoiding hugging the children during my lowest immunity days (which I’ve been told are days 5-12), and and am making sure I wash my hands really frequently, have my own bath and hand towels (different colour from rest of family) and we are using antibac wipes frequently to wipe down bathroom taps etc. having said that I was in hospital with a high temperature on day 7, and they couldn’t work out what had caused it!
Welcome to the club nobody wants to join! I’m more fortunate in that only my husband and I live together, we don’t share towels, wipe loo seat and double flush, sleep separately for about a week after chemo and then put pillow between our pillows when we do sleep together again! We also have kept seeing the grandchildren to a minimum (very hard) might be overkill but it seems to have worked for us! Good luck with your journey!
Newbie so hope I’m posting in the correct place:woman_facepalming: like most on here the club nobody wants to join but have to say I’ve met some lovely people along my journey so far and have reached an acceptance that on on my own path! It’s been a rollercoasters of a year after being diagnosed following routine mammogram in February with DCIS stage 2, E- P- HER2+ . Following further mammograms biopsies ultrasound and MRI all with varying dimensions the information overload with all the treatment options was mind boggling. Eventually it was agreed to perform surgery first definitely radiotherapy and herceptin then a discussion about chemo once the histology results were in. Thankfully no nodal involvement but excision margins were a bit tight so they agreed chemo was back on the table. Had my Picc line fitted 2 days before I was meant to start, took my pre day steroids and they cancelled me the night before,as my echocardiogram hadn’t been arranged in time for herceptin to start I received my first round on Wednesday this week. I am pleased to finally get underway:partying_face:. Thankfully no reactions at the time. Day 3 and apart from being a bit constipated nothing I wasn’t prepared for. Cold capped tolerated ok. Injected myself. Just wondering if I should be taking any of the bucketloads of anti sickness domperidone and odansetron or should I wait until I feel sick:cold_sweat:. Keep safe and well everyone Thanks xxx
@hedgehog that sounds really tough with the HRT medication change. You sound like you’re managing it really well, but I imagine it’s a real challenge experiencing the emotional side of that alongside everything else right now. I’m glad you can get out for a walk and being outside helps. My friend took me on a hunt for sea glass the other day and I found that very mindful! Have you much support from friends?
@athletics2025 welcome to the group! I am a mum of two small children (3 and 6) who are both in school/nursery. I’m also still working, and my husband works on building sites…! I haven’t much choice but to continue to live as normal in any of those respects so I am probably exposed more than most! But I am choosing to live life as normally as possible. Similarly to @hedgehog I am using separate towels, regularly wiping down ‘touch points’ in the house, washing hands regularly/and using anti bac gel, wiping down gym equipment/office surfaces etc. But otherwise I’m just limiting indoor/busy environments and trying to keep away from anyone with illness/reminding my friends/family to keep that in mind. We’ll see how it goes!
. Keep safe and well everyone 
Thanks xxx