Morning lovely ladies.
I’ve been and had my hair cut short this morning. I’ve had 10 inches cut off and have donated it to a charity that makes wigs for children who have cancer. I love it. Makes me feel more in control.
Xx
I love it. I’m really happy that the hair is being put to good use as well otherwise it would just be thrown away.
Xx
Hello Ladies,
I may be joining you on the June starters or I might be an early “July” starter.
I was diagnosed with BC on 7th April at Breast Clinic. Had Lumpectomy/SNB on 18th May. When I got my results on 25th May I was told my lymph nodes were clear, had clear margins, ER/PR negative BUT HER positive, oh and an 18mm Grade 3 tumour. They told me then that they wanted me to have chemo but I was very reluctant.
Anyway, met with my Oncologist yesterday, who was really lovely and patiently answered all my questions and spent a lot of time explaining everything in detail. As I am HER positive I knew already that I should really have chemo and in the week before my Onc appt I had been looking at wigs, headscarves, thermometers etc. online and reading all the posts on here of course!
Onc told me that I had roughly 70% survival in ten years with no chemo, however with chemo and herceptin (which is only licensed to be given with chemo) that brought the stats up to around 88% approx, he used the NHS Predict tool. Interestingly though he said that this tool underestimates the good that herceptin does in his opinion.
After a lengthy conversation and me crying, we decided that I would have 4 cycles of TC chemo rather than the 6 FEC/FECT which is probably what most of you are having. I will also get my first Herceptin injection, into my thigh, not iv alongside my first chemo. He is also going to give me lorazepam to take as I have a long term anxiety disorder/depression and have been under the care of a psychiatrist since I was 21, I’m 47, well 48 in two weeks. I have also have a phobia of vomiting so we discussed anti sickness meds as well. I’m hoping the lorazepam will counter effect the side effects of the steriods along with my usual diazepam and sleeping tablets. Being agitated and having panic attacks will only add to my SE’s with chemo otherwise.
I’m having a Ventricular heart function test on the 23rd June at another hospital which includes a radioactive dye being injected into my arm??
My assessment is on the 29th June (my Birthday 
) and they said I would start chemo the next day or the day after.
I’ve got an appointment to have my eyebrows tattooed on Monday (won’t bother with top up as I will have started my chemo by then), got my wig voucher and have had a look online at some salons and made an appt for one next Wednesday.
I’ll get my hair shaved off shortly before chemo and once I get my wig and some headscarves, can’t be doing with my hair shedding all over the place as I have really thick hair although above shoulder length.
The wait from the 25th May to the 15th June seemed like forever and nothing was happening, now it seems like “all systems go”. Trying to get things organised before my chemo starts.
I’m a bit concerned about the fact I live alone and how I will cope after the first few days after chemo, anyone else live alone?
Wishing you all well, off to Annabandanna website now.
Best Wishes.
Hazel. x
Hi Hazel
It’s lovely to see you on here. Your team really are looking after you and that’s good to hear. Sometimes it’s really hard for me to think of the right questions to ask but it looks like you are asking lots of really good
ones.
I’m just like you at the moment, trying to get myself ready to start and being organised.
Wishing you well.
Lots of love Sonya xx
Hi Ladies,
Sonya and Sue, we’ve spoken before. Belle, lovely to meet you, if only it were under different circumstances. Ah well!
Belle, I have asked to see a “cancer specific” counsellor ages ago from one of my local cancer charities but they have a huge waiting list. The Nurse I spoke to yesterday at the Oncology Dept said she would refer me to someone there. I have a CPN who I saw today but their speciality is Mental Health so I think I would find it very helpful to have some counselling relating to cancer. Fingers crossed.
Thanks all of you for your helpful tips.
Best Wishes
Hazel. xx
Hiya, I start chemotherapy next Wednesday. I’ve been out of my mind with worry. Reading all of your comments has really helped as I don’t feel so alone in this now. It’s so nice to see such positivity and I guess it’s positivity that gets us through. Still obviously very worried about the first session. … I guess get that done and then start taking some control back. I’ve got 3 x fec followed by 3 x tax - anyone else had/having similar?
I don’t know if anyone knows about a great website for hair loss, but my oncologist recommended urban turban and there are lots of lovely scarfs and turbans to choose from x
Hi Emma,
Nice to meet you. I’m not very positive at all, I might sound it but I’m actually really scared but I think it’s normal to feel scared and apprehensive prior to chemo.
Thanks for the name of that website, will check it out. Another one is Hats4Heads, they’re really reasonably priced and I’ve already mentioned the Annabandana website.
Best Wishes
Hazel. x
HI Hazel
I know what youre saying, it is hard to be positive. I keep searching the Internet for positive stories. Even found a random one by Olivia Newton-John who went through the same some years ago and she says although she had low points, the fear and apprehension was far far worse than reality and I’ve read many similar stories along the same lines. I know everyone is different and everyone handles things differently but if we all try to hold on to that, then that is something. We will all have some bad days but through that need to remember it’s not forever and good days will follow bad days. It’ll all be worth it in the end.
I know it’s a very bizarre concept going into hospital feeling ok (physically) and coming out feeling like **bleep** and that’s the weirdest part for me , having to feel worse before getting better … but need to remember 4 months of **bleep**tiness will end in a long life as a stronger person xx
Well I went to my hairdresser today intending to ask him to trim my bob ready for coping with ‘treatment’.
‘Treatment’ was certainly not a reality until I met the Oncologist on Friday… ?
My word for that meeting was ‘brutal’, although Prof C himself is actually lovely.
So I decided to go and ask for a ‘Chemo Cut’…
Gareth refused to scalp me, said it was too much of a shock. He just said leave it with me …
Its fab - short and stylish. He will trim it shorter in a week or so if needs be.
He’s offered to come with me to help me choose my wig - if fact he’s insisting, lol. With a cocktail included if I can! He showed me pics of 2 customers ( cancer patients) in wigs he had helped choose. I had no idea - they looked amazing!
Gareth is a friend now. I was taken to him originally by a friend after I came out of teaching with stress and burnout and my hair had fallen out! In 10 years, Gareth has made me feel fab and 10 yrs younger(without the surgery), at my lowest moments.
And he will help me through this!
After my cut, I decided it was too fab to call it a chemo cut and anyway that was a defeatist title. My daughter in law said "It’s a KICK CHEMO cut … " I really like that - and that’s what I’m calling it!
There is “Kick Cancer Cut” or “Kick A** Cut” etc etc … ?
Will post pic when I figure out how to get rid of my lob-sided profile photo.
Ange
I’ll be thinking of you today Rosie. The start of your journey to recovery and a happy future x
Hi ladies, can I join you on here please? I have my first chemo a week Tuesday (28th) so still a while to go but hoping it comes around quickly so I can just get on with it now. Had hair chopped yesterday to let my kids get used to seeing me looking different. So think I’m more or less ready now x
Hi all,
Now we’re all either well on our way to treatment or part way through our first cycle, I thought it might be worth a quick reminder about the risks of lymphoedema. I was quite shocked when I went to my pre-chemo chat as the chemo nurse I spoke to was adamant that my ‘at risk’ arm would be used for chemo. I did a lot of research when I got home, including speaking to my BCN, and I am right, nothing has changed - we are to avoid all iv access & bp monitoring in our affected side except in cases of emergency. I have only had SNB so the risk is smaller than with a full clearance but it is still there and I want to do all I can to minimise it.
I’m not sure why my chemo nurse said it was ok but I have since bought a medical id bracelet which I make sure is prominently on display whenever I go to the hospital. I got a silicone one from Amazon which was cheap and cheerful as I’m allergic to metal but there are some lovely ones out there:
amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B00SJ90SMY/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o01_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
universalmedicalid.com/prod_uk/lynx-shine-medical-id-bracelet-429
More info on Lymphoedema here:
breastcancer.org/treatment/lymphedema/risk_factors
Hope that helps,
B x
Hi ladies. Being curious… But how many of you are having chemo before surgery??? I am…and a bit paranoid about it. X netti x
Thanks Belle in might just do that. I’m reading thread after thread at the mo, to get some tips and advice. Hope your doing ok. Xx
Hi Netti, I am having chemo first, 6-8 cycles. Then mascetomy, FNC and rads. My consultant said there wasn’t any evidence that doing surgery or chemo first had a better outcome, but I think maybe because its in my lymph nodes they want to shrink it and the tumour is 3cm before surgery X
Hi Nettie37,
I had my first chemo today. So far not too bad, but am already in bed! My tumour is too big to operate now so am having chemo first too. I had sentinal node removed on Tuesday, so really feel I’ve had more than my fair share this week. Looking forward to no appointments this weekend.
Sending healing vibes to everyone.
J63x
Hi Rosie,
I was just scrolling through earlier threads and saw you were due to start today too. I’m doing 4 cycles of AC first. How did you get on with the cap? I didn’t think it was as bad as I’d imagined, very heavy though! Will persevere;-)
Had some major hot flushes since getting home, been having them for years, but these are 3x as bad…
Look after yourself and sleep well.
J63x
Hi Judith & RosieFlower,
Hope you get a good night’s sleep and aren’t too troubled by side effects. I found the first few days a bit rough but the first day/evening was by far the worst and you’re through that now.
much love,
B x
Morning all,
How’s everyone doing today? I woke this morning to an absence of rain which I’m hoping lasts the whole day - that would be a novelty, wouldn’t it?!
Thought I’d draw your attention to a thread running on the Chemotherapy board, Chemotherapy - Tips & Tricks forum.breastcancercare.org.uk/t5/Chemotherapy/Chemotherapy-Tips-and-Tricks/m-p/1017289#U1017289
I’ve picked up all sorts of helpful information and there’s currently a discussion on parabens free make up which I’m thinking could be handy. I don’t generally wear much in the way of make up but I’m thinking once my eyebrows have gone, I may need to up my game a little.
B x
Hi Belle, I’m trying to make my way through the tips thread. Do you know if there’s anything on there about keeping your nails? I know someone said that painting them dark colours can help, but does it make a difference if you get gels or maybe something like jamberry nail wraps? I don’t normally do anything more than nail varnish, but would give something else a try if it could help. Thanks!x
Hope all the ladies waking up after their first sessions yesterday are feeling ok xx