June 2025 chemo starters

Oh @warmfuzzies I’m so sorry to hear about your cat-losing a much loved pet is devastating at the best of times. I hope you have people round you to support you through this tough time.
I’ve just been asked at the gym whether I always cover my hair for religious reasons. She looked horrified when I said it was because I was having chemo but at least I know that my hat collection doesn’t scream ‘cancer patient’ to everyone!

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Last chemo earrings

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@warmfuzzies I’m so sorry to hear about your cat passing. That must have been devastating. I hope you manage to find some joy in small steps forward x

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I’m so sorry about your cat. Thinking of you x

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So sorry. Your cat must have been hanging on until The end of your treatment.

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Love your earrings @nelly1-I’m going to wear my biggest ones for my final session tomorrow and my brightest lipstick!


I thought I’d share this Menopause and Cancer podcast episode which came out today and touches on many of the topics that have come up here as we approach the end of chemo. I found it really useful and used it as springboard (while tanked up on steroids) for writing a post for my employer’s intranet ostensibly for BC Awareness Month on what’s surprised me since diagnosis, but also to put it out there that it’s not going to be back to normal after active treatment and that the endocrine therapy is likely to be tough.

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That’s what my husband said. He’s looked after me so well :heart:

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Thanks for posting that @jenny4 I will have a listen!

Can I say hooray for @warmfuzzies husband and I love the earrings / headwear combo from @nelly1 very pretty.

Easy day here, I went to say lazy day but it’s not lazy to rest when we need it so I autocorrected myself!

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Hello, well I rang the bell today. Slightly marred by having my follow-up appointment this morning. I’ve fallen over a couple of times this week and have been feeling dizzy (blood pressure not low but my heart rate is astronomical). So the chemo was reduced to 75% and I’m having a head scan on Friday. And I’m terrified.

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Its so lovely to hear of so many of us finishing chemo. I feel so far off with another 5 weeks to go! But missed 2 treatments due to infections.
So sorry to hear of the loss of your cat @warmfuzzies, I have 3 cats myself who all know when I need some comfort. I feel your pain.
Hooe everyone is feeling ok today.

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@warmfuzzies

So sorry to hear about your cat, thats heartbreaking. Im oleased your husband has been supportive.

Thinking of you all coming,ending or nearing the end and preparing for next steps on the road.

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It’s good you had your last treatment but not good you’ve fallen over a couple of times and need a head scan. At least it’s soon and they aren’t making you wait weeks for it. I don’t know if you can but I’d try to keep busy to pass the time today, but I understand you feeling scared. Let us know how you get on x

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@nelly1 this sounds very frightening. But you have good blood pressure and chemo is a b*tch for raising the heart rate so hang on in there. Got everything crossed for you

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@cheche I have 6 weeks to go so I’ll still be comparing notes with you. And that’s if there are no further dramas along the way.

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Not sure whether I’m going to need the full 12 paclitaxel yet so either 5 or 2 left. And not sure if I’m changing to Abraxane rather than paclitaxel next week due to some rashes I have been getting on my face. But I read this morning that its not possible to cold cap with abraxane and kept most of my hair up till now. Dont want to lose it at the last hurdle!
My oncologist is going to phone me this afternoon so I’ll find out no doubt then!

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Thanks for the idea to write something for work @jenny4 - I have written an email to be sent out on my behalf about self-checks as it’s the awareness month. I added a link to the self-check bit on the NHS site and to CoppaFeel.

They sanitised the tiny reference I made to my own diagnosis as they said they can’t be seen to be sharing my personal health information which I think is good practice but does slightly lessen the impact of it. Still it might get them self-checking!

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It hadn’t occurred to me that sharing details of my diagnosis and treatment plan might not be allowed. I wonder if I’ll be asked to de-personalise my post too, though I do work for a medical charity that has a culture of encouraging openness so maybe it’ll pass…
I hope your final session goes well tomorrow. I had mine today-no bell but I did get a cheer from the nursing team!

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I hope you got clarity from your oncologist today and are content with the plan. You’ve done amazingly to keep most of your hair-I think I have about 50% left despite cold capping throughout.

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I really liked your idea, so you inspired me!

On the health information protection aspect - My employer is possibly being a bit paranoid (they have tremendous form in that area) since I gave them the info and it was only to say I found my BC on a self-check and everyone there knows by now I have BC anyway.

Also I put that in my email specifically to pass on to everyone in the team for a stated reason, so my consent and intent was documented in my cover email requesting it to be sent out. I guess that since my supervisor would be the one to send it out for me I think they are covering her backside. I suspect most employers would be fine with it. I read the sanitised version and it was still good, minimal change.

It’s nice though, I haven’t been into the office since starting chemo and it feels like a way to reach out to the ones I’m not in touch with and remind them that I exist! I’m popping in on Halloween all being well so that should be nice! Tempted to find my pointy witch hat and team it with my dangly bat earrings. Anyone think that’s a good idea?

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Well done for keeping so much hair. Ive probably lost 40%. It was so thick to start with its hard to tell!
Strangely I seem to be shedding more now on Paclitaxel than on EC.
Onco didnt phone this afternoon but I phoned Paxman head cooling lady who assures me that the cap should still work with Abraxane but will need to keep it on for 90 mins after treatment.

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