JUST ABOUT TO START CHEMO

Hi
I’m new the forum but have used it to look at other people’s comments. Everything I have read has been useful and so here I am as a member.
I am visiting the chemo unit this week and start treatment next week. Not looking forward to it and ful of trepidation. Will it be ok? At the moment I think my fear of infection is the greatest. I knoe that I am being offered the cool cap so have a chance of keeping my hair! Fingers crossed.

Hi JewJew

I finished my treatment (mast/chemo/rads) last June and have just had reconstruction. I must say it was OK. My advice is to take all anti sicknss on offer and keep active. I too had a cold cap and lost about a third of my hair - it looked OK. I was able to work all non chemo weeks and actually felt OK. I must say that my husband and brilliant friends and family were very very supportive. I was open with everyone and freely talked about my experience - at 37 and in good health with no family history it was a shock. I remain genuinely positive.

Good luck

Jan xx

Hi Jewjew

Welcome to the site - sorry you have had to join us, but you’ll get loads of support, advice and encouragement on here. It’s been a life-saver for me !

I was diagnosed on 4th April, and am having chemo before mastectomy, and last Friday had my 7th out of 8th,so I’m nearly done. Yes it is scary, but the nurses are so nice and will explain everything they are doing; you will be given anti sickness tablets (or intraveously) before the chemo, and you’ll have a load of tablets to take home too. You’ll be inundated with information at first, and like you I panicked about infections etc - I was so paranoid I was taking my temperature every single day even though I didnt need to ! Luckily, I’ve stayed pretty well throughout my chemo (even having two kids who are always picking up bugs!).

I was offered the cool cap but didnt go with it, as I was told I would lose my hair anyway. Yes, it wasnt great when it started coming out, but you do get used to it. Like I’ve said to other ladies, on the bright side, showers take no time at all now - no hair to wash, and nothing to shave ! And just think how much we’re saving on hairdressing bills !

Overall, its still early days for you and I know how scared you must be feeling now, but I promise you it does get better and you will start to feel more positive once your treatment gets started.

Please let us know how you get on - and remember we’re all here for you !

Lots of love and a big hug

Julie xxx

Thanks for that - good to see you continued to work! I made the decision to stay at home but hope to do some things from here to keep up to date.
And Julie you have cheered me up no end, the infection thing already feels less scary!

Hi Jewjew

Good luck with your chemo. It is doable but just listen to your body and rest when you need to. Don’t be a hero.

I am due my last chemo next week. I have been lucky with very few side effects - hair loss and tiredness being the main ones. Apart from that, I have had no sickness (although, of course, have taken all the anti sickness drugs given me), just a bit of indigestion from time to time. I have had a dry mouth too as you don’t make so much saliva when you are on chemo so ensure you drink lots of water.

I have been unable to go to work as I commute by train into London and my onc forbade me from travelling on public transport. Fortunately I have been able to work from home on email and phone so have been able to keep in touch and keep my brain going. Hopefully you can do the same

All the best
Sharon x

Hi Jewjew

I started my chemo on 8th August and next one due on 29th August. I was absolutely petrified about it and very emotional. But I have to say it is doable, rather be doing something else, but no pain and not as bad as I feared. I have had no side effects, although did take the antisickness tablets as advised and not been sick or anything.

I was a wreck before treatment started as worrying that it was getting worse or spreading more (I have bc and a spread to my liver), but once treatment started I became more positive and not so much of a wreck. Still have my bad emotional days, but pretty good on the whole. I am 39 with a 3 yr old and 9 month old.

Just remember to listen to your body and try not to worry (easy said). Let us know how you get on and remember you will get so much support on here and it will help you through.

Love
Dawn
x

Just loving the feeling I’m getting from these messages! It’s like all these things I guess, the stories with problems are the ones you remember and yet there are loads of people out there who manage ok. My children are grown up and both just married so I don’t have to worry about them being dependent on me. Unfortunately for me at 50 I decided I fancied a new job and just had three months before I was diagnosed. Not so happy about having all the time off but hope to keep up ta date as the weeks go by. Colleagues are very supportive and hope to help me stay in the loop.

Hi Jewjew,
Best of luck. Just bear in mind we are all different and some people are lucky enough to get through chemo feeling fairly OK, able to keep on working etc. I hope you’re one of those, but if you are not, remember it’s not your fault, just bad luck and make sure you tell the medical staff how you are feeling as soon as possible- there’s all kinds of medication they have available to help you deal with the more unpleasant effects of chemo.
I wasn’t able to carry on working- I only felt well enough while on epirubicin for about 1 week in three and to be honest by that third week I had so much family/ home/ me stuff to catch up on, I didn’t want to spend it working. My job is very demanding, physically (primary school teacher). Also I’m lucky enough to have an understanding head and good extensive sick pay provision.
Be prepared to feel quite wobbly on your first chemo- I did and a few other people I’ve spoken too did as well. I nearly burst into tears a couple of times and I know a few people who did actually cry. For me I think it was a fear of the unknown and at last realising that my illness was serious (I didn’t believe it till then really as I was fit and healthy and my small lump was my only symptom) A couple of other patients made me feel much better and the nurses were great, so the wobblies didn’t last long. Of course, you might be absolutely fine the first time, but whatever happens, after the first one, emotionally the chemos were a lot easier for me. The worst thing for me was the cannula and again, if trying to get the cannula in hurts (it may not) tell them- I didn’t and sat there grimacing in silence, thinking well, this must be how it is- grin and bear it. A male patient next to me noticed the faces I was pulling and said " You’re allowed to scream if it hurts you know!" The nurse looked up and said, “Oh, I am hurting, you must say if it hurts.” she then went and got hot water to bring my veins up a bit more and eventually got their "real expert "(the most experienced chemo nurse on the ward) to do it. On subsequent visits, I always had her to do it.
So good luck and remember, ask for help and support whenever you need from wherever it’s available, support groups, medical professionals whatever and wherever.
Jane

Dear jewjew

Welcome to the forums, where I am sure you will continue to recieve valuable support and advice from your fellow users, in addition, Breast Cancer Care have published a Resources Pack specifically for anyone newly diagnosed with breast cancer which can be ordered on line, it is filled with information to help you better understand your diagnosis, test results and the various treatments available. breastcancercare.org.uk//content.php?page_id=7514 You are also welcome to contact our freephone confidential helpline on 0808 800 6000 for further support, advice and information. The helpline is open Monday to Friday 9am-5pm and Saturday 9am-2pm. I do hope you find this information useful.

Kind Regards
Sam
Moderator
Breast Cancer Care

Hi Jew Jew

I agree with all the above comments. The most important one is listen to your body - if you need to lie down then lie down. It was about 4 days after my first chemo I could not get off the couch for 3-4 days - its frustrating not being able to do things when you are normally fit and active but the best thing is to accept this. Also i drank 2 litres of water before/during/after chemo which helps fllush it all through.

I tried the cold cap (it was the fancy plug in type) - to be honest it was pretty much torture and I had it on for 4 hours in total. A lot of my hair has now fallen out (due 2nd chemo tomorrow), so am gonna get my OH to take the rest off tonight - really not looking forward to it and I know I will be so upset, BUT at least I wont look back and think to myself “i wander if the cold cap would have worked for me” - because I know I would have done that - it does work for some people!!

Anyway good luck when it happens - take all the meds they prescribe you - and accept help from other people - and forget about the housework - it will get done when it gets done!!

Sending hugs to you and everyone else
Fiona
xx

Hi JJ, I am new in here as well, both to BC and to the board. My diagnosis was 04.07, my op (mastectomy right side) was on the 11/07, and I just had my first chemo session last Thursday.

I was a complete basket case before! in the last week I couldn’t do anything more than sobbing softly (well, almost), so I find some good valerian pills (over the counter, calming), and I also started adding vitamins and Magnesium to my routine. This definitely helped.

Once the chemo rolled around, it was actually… a lot easier that I feared. I had it on Thu morning, and felt normal on thu and friday. then on Saturday I was very tired, but no other side effects: some metallic taste in my mouth, and a bit of tummy upset (no nausea thought, I took all the meds). On sunday I was back on my feet…

I feel I want more naps than usually: but I cannot tell if it is self-suggestion or real. Anyway, I am taking the naps, relaxing and letting myself live. I have the choice to work or not… I probably will work some 20 or 30%, but definitely not full time. I am seeing this as a signal from my body saying “SLOW DOWN”!!! so I am trying to listen.

Hi
Thanks for all the positive messages it makes me feel much better.
Lilith, like you my op was July, for me the 10th so close to you. My chemo was delayed due to onc. on holiday and me getting an infection after three weeks!
Not sure what vitamins to add to my diet, haven’t been advised any. Have had a pre treatment visit today and staff were lovely. I am sure I too will be a nervous wreck by the first one but am trying to be positive and keep my eye on the future.

Hi everyone i am about to start chemo in the next two weeks,
3 x fec and 3 x tax
followed by rads and tam for five years.
i have asked for a picc line
Has anybody had this same combination, how did you find it?
I have also been asked to take part in a trail

Hi LP
I have had 4 FEC, 3 TAX, WLE and axillary clearance last week. Due to have rads in June and then tamoxifin. I found FEC ok, I was sick after the first two, changed my antisckness drugs then was ok for the other 2. I was able to lead a pretty normal life on FEC then had TAX which to be honest I found hard. It made my joints ache, I had peripheral neuropathy and suffered with painful fingers and toes. I was given painkillers but was told that the side effects were the same as FEC which I didnt agree! If you are sick with FEC tell your onc and they will try diff anti-sick drugs, take each day as it comes, accept offers of help and most of all look afteryourself and listen to your body. You will get through it. I will let you know how the rads are once I have started. all the best. ness xxxxx