Do you not get a free wig on the NHS?
I had a voucher for £100 and had to put £90 towards the wig. They gave cheaper ones but I went for one with a scalp in to make it look more natural. You’re really brave Belle. I hope I’m as strong as you the night I shave mine off. The hairdresser has offered to do it for free for me once I start losing, but I think I’d rather do it in the privacy of my own home xx
Blimey Belle only day 11, that’s really soon, poor you. I assume you’ve had your chop by now so hopefully it’s gone ok and wasn’t too upsetting. I’ve been out today and it was quite windy and I kept feeling hair falling down my back so don’t think it will be long before I am following in your footsteps. Like the others ladies said, once it’s gone it’s one less thing to be concentrating on.
Julie my wig cost £210 but I think they range from like £70-over £500 with the more expensive ones being real hair. Also in terms of the wig, the type you want that has a more natural scalp is called mono filament and it means you can put a parting anywhere in the wig as it looks like scalp across the whole cap.
C xx
Hi C. Thanks for that. I’m cold capping and was hoping not to have to bother with a wig but maybe I’m going to have to. I’ve tried scarves and they don’t look good. Maybe with a bit of practice.
Belle. You look amazing. And you are brave. You are taking control and that is important.
Belle you look amazing!! If I can carry it off like you I’ll be one happy lady! Very much with you on the control freak thing. Is actually one of the reasons I’ve decided not to cold cap. Would rather be the one to decide it all goes, than let the cold cap decide how much gets to stay. Maybe a crazy logic but it works for me!!xx
Belle you look amazing. You all inspire me.
Slightly off current topic but can I ask if any of you going through chemo or even due to start are still working? Or working but reduced hours? I’m due to start chemo tomorrow but my boss kinda thinks I’ll just be off tomorrow and think he’s expecting me to work as normal. We left on and terms on Friday because I said he needed to take it seriously and if I wasn’t well enough to work I wouldn’t be working. Sounds bad but for my own sanity I’m thinking of taking some time away so I don’t even have to think about work. I’m going in today but dreading it. Thanks x
Hi Anon16, I have decided not to work in the first week at all then if I really feel up work a mixture of office and WFH the second and third week. I am in 2nd week now and feel fine, so am thinking of returning this week. But week 1 will be a no go.
Belle - you look Ab Fab! , I hope I have a beautiful head like yours underneath all of my hair! Xxx
Morning all,
Belle you look amazing! I don’t think I’ll be brave enough to post that sort of photo when my time arrives. I trundled my way through your blog yesterday, you are a very talented writer and had me in stitches several times. How you kept it all together with house renovations too!! Keep it up!
I’ve got through the first weekend with very little difficulty…had a mad craving for a cheese sandwich at 4am on Sunday, bit odd but easy to sort out! Appt this afternoon to get results of sentinal node, bit nervous, but hoping for good news. Will also ask about the white cell injections…
Have a good day everyone.
Judith63
Morning, for the past week I’ve been able to say ‘it’s ok, don’t start chemo til next week’ but woken up with horrible realisation I can no longer say that … it’s 48 hours time! I’m absolutely petrified; have just been sick and given myself terrible headache as can’t stop crying. Just keep thinking I won’t cope as well as everyone else on here seems to. Did any of you feel the slightest bit like this before starting?
In a way I keep thinking this is the end rather than the beginning of getting better as so scared. I’m starting FEC and petrified it’s going to do such awful things to me; I still can’t believe it’s happening to me. Can I have something to ‘relax’ me when I go in (like I won’t have enough drugs pumped in!!). Am I the only one who has ever been this petrified? I feel I’m a bit of a wimp, trying to get myself out of feeling like it, but how???x
I admire everyone who is working through this!! I’m on maternity leave so haven’t been at work at all during biopsy/diagnosis/treatment and don’t plan on going back until it is all done. I work as a midwife though so I don’t think I’d have been working even if I wasn’t on mat leave at the moment.
Good luck today Judith, hope your appointment goes well xx
Hi ladies,
here is the interloper from the May 9th thread…again, lol
Belle you look absolutely fabulous - you really rock that look!
As to work - it is a very individual decision and it will also very much depend on your side effects.
Belle is absolutely right, you do not have to - but unfortunately, like me - some of us simply have to.
I am now day 11 past 2nd FEC. Generally slim, fit and healthy lady, I am very lucky as not to suffer much from side effects - as long as I keep taking the tablets…BUT…
The day of treatment - it may be best to take this off. I have my treatment at 14.00 on a Thursday, so have the afernoon off - I leave the treatment with a slightly buzzy head, which lasts for about 2hrs. Currently still able to drive home. Friday and Saturday - absolutely fine - thank you steroids!
Then, even after first cycle - it may get more challenging, as the blood counts start to drop and fatigue sets in. Sleep disturbance, need to nap when you can and possibly dizzyness from time to time.
During my first cycle I managed by mixing working from home and going out to see clients, even in the first week. week 2 and 3 were nearly as normal. However after the 2nd cycle - day 3-8 were much more challenging, as I was more dizzy than before and there were times I really could not drive, because of it. As these specific symptoms are cululative over the complete treatment cycle - I now understand why my oncologist said I should take the week after cycle 4 off…
We are now covered under the DDA (Disability Discrimination Act) for the rest of our lives. Your employer HAS TO accommodate your challenges.You might find info very helpful - which can be found via this link
Huge hugs to all
Sue xxx
Oh Emma, I’m sure loads of people feel the exact same way! I’m still in the “chemo starts next week which is ages away” stage, but I still have moments of panic wondering what side effects I’ll get, whether I’ll cope, if I’ll be able to look after my children ok. I just want to get the 1st session done because I think sometimes the unknown is the worst. Try and remember that your own imagination is usually much worse than reality xx
Hi everyone
I had my first FEC course on 16/06 and I’m really happy to have found this thread. It’s reassured me that some of the things happening to me are sort of normal, or at least ‘to be expected’ as none of this is ‘normal’ is it??
I had a local wide excision plus anciliary node clearence in April. 5 nodes affected, plus microscopic cells in 2 more and cells in the vascular system. I had to have a CT scan (probably the most stressful experience of this whole thing because I had to drink so much water and they couldn’t find a vein for the dye and i was convinced that i was going to wet myself in the scanner! The staff were v lovely while i sobbed at them for a few minutes). There seems to be no spread at this point.
I’m due another 2 x FEC plus 3 x T then radiotherapy then Tamoxifen.
A few days into chemo and I’ve felt sicky, drained, lightheaded and my sense of taste has become a bit peculiar. Salt tastes have disappeared and today it seems like the sweet is on it’s way out too.
I did the cold cap. I found the cold fine but the tightness and heaviness of the cap was really uncomfortable. The first strands of hair have started to fall today. I think I’ll try the cap again and see how it goes. I have already stockpiled an abundance of scarves to use if it doesn’t work!
Anyway, I hope everyone’s Monday goes OK.
Char
Hey ladies
So the hair loss got ridiculous this morning so I followed in Belles footsteps and shaved it all off. Went for a no. 4 so I still have a bit covering left and today is my wigs first outing! I’m gonna try and post the pictures but not sure how to get them here on the thread. Xx
So pretty charissecarson, both photos. You have a stunning face x
Woah Charisse,
You really look fab, No. 4 cut all the way!! You have a gorgeous face for that look! Also a very brave lady for posting straightaway. 
I didn’t get the news I wanted this aftenoon. Sentinal node had an 8mm tumour, not visible on the ultra sound or MRI … Seems like mastectomy is now definite, but whether they wait until after chemo or do it immediately depends on results of next lot of tests. As I live in the Netherlands luckily it’s all systems go and I get to have lung photos and a liver and bone scan tomorrow…Being told all this through a day 5 post AC haze has not been good:-(
Trying to remain positive, the sooner it all happens the sooner we get rid of the **bleep**…
Hugs all
Judith63
Judith, sorry to read your news. Always seems to be another battle with this disease. Xx Charisscarson and Belle, your photos are beautiful. Very brave of you both. Xx I start day 1 tomorrow, I don’t know quite how to feel about it. But all your positiveness is helping and so inspiring. Xx
Emma 111 sorry to hear you are feeling scared. You are not the only one. I think everyone undergoing chemo is scared if the Unknown. It is scary until you get the first one under your belt. Keep a diary of your side effects because for me they appear at the same day in each cycle. It will help you to manage the side effects as you go through the treatment. Remember there is a solution to every side effect so don’t put up with anything get on to your gp straight away and get the prescription to sort it out. Stay on top of everything. I promise you it is not half as bad as you think j it will be. Good luck.
Good luck Netti and everyone else starting tomorrow, I’ll be just a day behind you on the Wednesday xx
Thank you Lucy, every bit of advice helps xx