And hi NMT are you feeling up for doing much?
Hi vic55 and sar41, I’ve not felt too bad but have been really flushed and aching shoulders and jaw like I’ve been holding myself really tense. I’ve been packing my house up today because we are due to move in the next week or so and we have a 10 month old daughter so I don’t get the chance to not do stuff, having said that it took until about 11am before I felt human today!
Hi everyone have caught up on a few posts this evening - lots made me smile and to the people who have already started chemo last and this week but are still posting thank you ! Knowing some of you are packing for house moves and looking after youngsters at the same time is inspiring! I start next week - but to take my mind off thinking about that my employer has kindly written to me and referred me to occupational health at the same time I’m starting chemo - due to my time off work since my breast operation - (I’ve been off since end of April) but have worked full hours at home for much of it as there were comlications after surgery I didnt get my full allocation of holidays last year due to work staffing issues and not a day off ill in 7 years - Worst bit is if I am unable to make the clinical appointments with occupational health I will have to reimburse my employer the cost of the OH appointment £200+ !! and if I’m too poorly say if it’s right after a chemo? I am trying hard not to be annoyed - well actually hurt after all the extra unrecognised work I’ve covered for them. But you can probably tell I am :-/ so thinking positively , maybe they just did it to take my mind off the cancer? … It worked! Employers who care - Hmmmm. Next time I might post how the chemo is for me for info for those of you after - and if I get an OH appointment next week why don’t I just go and puke on them - oops that’ll be the chemo sorry xx
Hi ladies
Looks like our little group is growing, hope you ladies are still feeling relatively ok today. One think that amazes me is that we’re all just cracking on. Work, kids, moving house - not too sure my husband would be doing the same if it was him, women are amazingly strong at times.
Vic , good luck today, you’re in my thoughts. One down and am sure you’ll feel the benefit of your line.
Well 1 done, 5 to go! Was genuinely ok, Hickman line made it simple to hook me up, spent most of time people watching and ear wigging! Home with a pile of anti sickness med and booster jabs. District nurse due tomorrow for that. Felt nervous waiting, weirdly cheerful when they got going. Oh, depending on what you have, a pretty much immediate side affect is red wee! E bit of FEC.
Ellie, hi! That’s a bit tough re work…but hopefully that doc should just listen or agree with your care plan. Feel oddly lucky as my boss has been nothing but helpful!
You will prob be fine, am going to ask nurse to ‘train’ me on how to do it. They did say its not that bad. Anti sick meds upstairs and 14 needles in fridge!!
Hi Ladies,
looks Iike I will be joining you too.
I had my first chemo last week and am not to bad this week.
I am on dose dense regime which is every 2 weeks and wonder is there anyone else doing this and what side effects you have had ?
Many thanks,
Lindy
Jabs not to bad, nurse watched me. Hi Lindy me too, bit tired but better than I thought! Not having dense dose though…what you having?
Hi all, think I’ve over done it a bit today, took my daughter to the park and now I feel like I’ve gone ten rounds in a boxing ring! And to top it all off I’ve got a sticking headache! Good news though our house move is on for Monday so I should have a few good days to get the new house sorted before my next round. I’m having chemo before surgery. Three rounds of EC and then three of T I think! Hope you are all feeling ok ? x
Yup got free parking at Warwick too, so far that seems to be the only benefit! Well another day, taken pile of anti sick meds and just took myself out for 30 min walk. NMT impressive on the house move! Keep thinking about my hair…decided when it starts to go, am getting husband to sort with clippers…good idea?? Patchy for days will distress me more I think.
Hi ladies
Hope you’re all feeling ok today.
My portacaths in, feels like I imagine it would of someone had tried to strangle you as my necks bruised, had my eyebrows waxed for probably the last time for a while and I’m off out for a big bloody steak for lunch because I still can!
In having my hair cut short at day 10, hoping that’ll make it easier when it starts falling out. Planning on leaving the hairdressers wigged up so to speak x
Ha sar you did exactly what I did last weekend re food. Went out for eggs benedict, hollandaise sauce and smoked salmon. Tasted lush! Enjoy the steak x
This week has mainly involved sushi, rare meat and runy eggs lol!
How you feeling??? Just wondering do I you feel slightly worse as the days past treatment tick by??? I think it’s like everything with this grim thing, the anxiety about what’s going to, or could, happen x
I met my oncologist yesterday and oddly enough I’m feeling kinda positive about the chemo now. My main fear is the hair loss. Chemo will starting in 2-3weeks. Have an appointment to get wig fitted next thurs and I’m gonna give the cold cap a try. Not sure how I’m gonna cope with the chemo but im gonna take each day as it comes. I should be finished chemo by November depending on when I get started 6 sessions in total. Just want to wish everyone of you good luck. Together we can do this. Only joined this forum last night and today has been my best day since being diagnosed so thank you all so much xx
Hi there lovely ladies! Just thought I’d say ‘hi’.
I was you this time last year. I had my first chemo a year ago yesterday and my last of 1st October '14.
It’s a tough old journey but it will come to an end and you will feel normal (ish!) again.
I thought I’d share a couple of things that helped me through the 6 sessions. …
The chemo has a cumulative effect so don’t feel bad if you don’t recover as quickly after each session (some people are fine and sail through - I wasn’t and didn’t!!) . I kept a diary as I thought that it was something I was doing (too much sleep/too little sleep/overdoing it etc etc) that was making me feel rough. It’s not!
Lots of people will offer to help - take it!! It’s hard when people say a general ‘if there’s anything I can do’ but take any help! Quite apart from anything else people around you feel a bit helpless and it’s good for them to be able to do something practical!
I found that sparkling water was the only liquid that tasted good. A bit of elderflower cordial in it was also nice as a change! But drink lots and lots - it helps.
After each session I had a lingering nasty taste and feeling in the back of my throat and windpipe and found eating really hard - it appears it was heartburn! I’d never had heartburn before so had no idea. A Zantac tablet later - what a relief!
Keep up with the anti-sickness medication - you might think you’re feeling ok but if you stop and the sickness comes back on it’s much harder to get under control.
Sleep! Lots!! Quite apart from anything else it makes the days pass quicker!
If I felt my mouth becoming a bit sore I would suck a strepsil (the ones with the antiseptic). Don’t know if it was that but I only got one or two little mouth ulcers.
After session 3 when people are saying ‘ooh half way through - hasn’t it gone quick’ - resist the urge to grab them by the throat! They are trying to be kind and positive - they don’t understand!!
When, after chemo has finished, people expect you to snap back to ‘normal’, resist the temptation to grab them by the throat. They don’t understand!!!
Seriously tho, it’s hard for those around you to imagine how it all feels without (god forbid) going through it themselves. Hopefully they’ll never find out.
Keep feeling proud of yourself for getting through all of this - this time last year I read something on here that said ‘one day you’ll feel like it all happened to someone else’ and it does (well, kind of). Keeping hold of that thought really got me through tho.
Be kind to yourselves. A little treat just before each session when you’re feeling better gives you something to focus on.
And…If you’re doing the cold cap, don’t use your favourite conditioner as you’ll never be able to stand the smell of it again after treatment finishes!!
Sending you lots and lots of love and luck. Take care xxxxxxxxxxxx
Good evening everybody, it’s been great reading through all of your updates. I had my hair cut short as soon as I found out that I will probably loose and got my wig on Wednesday, as soon as it starts going I’m going to get it shaved off and start wearing the wig, I’m not sure about scarves I think they will make me look more poorly! is anybody else finding that they are constantly hungry? I had three days of steroids but I’m into my second week and I’m still really hungry!
Hi NMR_1
I admire your positivity re the hair loss, I’m still finding it very hard to come to terms with although going with the flow. I have a wig fitting next thurs and intend on trying the cold cap. Don’t yet have a start date for chemo but should be in the next 2-3 weeks. Need 6 sessions the op November and rads possibly January so for the rest of the year you could say I’m otherwise engaged lol xx
Thank you ladies for taking the time to write what your experiences have been and what we should focus on.
Even down to having ice lollies.
my next session is Tuesday so tomorrow and monday will be busy cooking and stocking up.
My problem will be controlling my thoughts… I can get quite negative and with 10 mth old twins I focus on my future with them. I’m not a support group kinda gal although I may have to join one if I keep this up !!
But I will read the articles that you have mentioned and if there are any more people can recommend then
I would appreciate it.
Many thanks !
Lindy
Hi ladies, hope all doing ok. Lindy, I admire you tons for going through this and looking after twins! I just have me to look after. Ok, no desire to sound like raging hippy, but am trying to keep positive by think 1 sodding tumour has given me wonky boob, 1 less nipple, and is going to make me bald and a bit cack over next few mths. It can seriously sod off if it thinks it can take more. I was lucky my tumour was found early and zipped out quick, no nodes and good margins. This chemo is to stop it rearing its ugly little ahead again. So, my mindset has to be balls to you cancer. You will not beat me. You have trashed 2015, but the rest is mine. Right, am off for some fresh somewhat rainy air. Keep smiling ladies xx