How are you doing? X
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hey @stafford22 thanks for asking 
I was just abou to come on here with an update as the appoitments started pouring in yesterday and by the time Id added them into my calendar I felt completely overwhelmed. If it all goes to plan which it probably rarely does then Iāll be done chemo and radio by 12 September.
I dont know why it hit me so hard as Ive known exactly how long it will be but seeing it in black and white right beside all the things I need to cancel and will miss has mad me feel really really sad.
Im getting my equilibrium back and itāll be fine, but oomph!
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Itās really hard isnāt it as it goes from waiting to everything being thrown at you. I was like this last week. But you/we have a finish date for when this will all be over. Take each day as it comes. When is your first treatment? Did you sort the port? (That rhymes!). Be gentle on yourself. This is the hardest thing weāll ever go through. I cry every day, sometimes a few times a day. But we will get thru this. Iāve had my first treatment and the tiredness has been hard. No sickness tho and appetite is good. Try not to be too scared about chemo. They really keep an eye on you x
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I start on 7 April so have just jumped into the April starter thread too. Ive ordered Polybalm for my nails and Im looking to buy a good thermometer. Iāve booked loads of padel tennis for the next 2 weeks.
I spoke to a chemo nurse and she said they always start with a cannula in Bath but if I donāt get on with that theyāll sort me a port. Im a bit scared of that tbh as i hear the chemo messes up your veins.
Sorry to hear you have been so wiped out, are you on EC? Good to know youve not experienced sickness and have a good appetite thoughā¦ thats a bright side.
Im going to focus on gratitudes for the next 2 weeks!
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So itās day 5 for me and itās hit me even harder. I feel so weak, can just make it to the bathroom and back. Is this normal? I donāt have a temp but the weakness is bad.
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Hi
Mine started shedding the day before round three and two days later it was coming out in handfuls. It was awful so 5 days after it started, I had to get it shaved and a fringe cut into my wig. Iām now wearing my wig every day and getting used to it.
It was traumatic but nothing you can do to stop it.
K x
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Sorry @stafford22 youāre struggling, everyoneās experience is so different. Hopefully youāll get improvement very soon!
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Have you had any improvement @stafford22? They told me if I could barely get out of bed for days that it was not normal and to call my hotline to let them know. I am also going to receive EC but not started yet and this was the advice they gave me specific to my treatment plan. Saying that Iāve not actually started my EC yet so canāt say whatās ānormalā but also remember it is possible to have an infection without temperature rise. Maybe call your hospital number or hotline just to check? Better to have the peace of mind and be safe if you are concerned. I know everyone is different but maybe get some advice from them to be sure. Hope you feel a bit better soon.
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Stafford is your wee burning? I had burning wee but no temperature and it was a uti that needed antibiotics, if in doubt always ring your rapid response number even with no temperature, if you donāt feel right a quick call just to check is way to go, your team wonāt mind they will be happy you are being vigilant 
Shi xx
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First treatment done yesterday which I got Pembro and PC (paclitaxel and carboplatin). Took about 4 hours all up. So glad it is over and I got through it and now know what to expect on the day. Next week should be quicker I think as Iāll just have PC and the Pembro is only every 3rd week. No immediate side effects on the day and mainly just felt a bit dazed and high from whatever pre med antihistamines they gave me so that took the edge off.
Luckily I felt ok overnight. A few stomach cramps after eating and am very tired from not sleeping well but overall taking that as a massive win for now as I know itās going to get progressively worse through the weeks.
Was really happy they were able to use my port and it all worked well. I think the nurses were a little gentler with it and another day of healing was better for the pain compared to when I had my bloods the day before. Annoyingly they had to redo one of the blood tests the morning of due to a lost sample but was all good to go ahead by the afternoon. By treatment day next week though the swelling and bruising should be much reduced and hopefully theyāll have an easier time finding it under the skin. Spoke to a woman next to me who also had one who loved it even though they thought it was blocked and she had to have an X-ray which was a delay for her. She still thought it was great so that may be useful info for some tossing up the option.
Off to do my dreaded filgrastim injection now. Not looking forward to doing it or the side effects which seem grim. Any tips or hints welcome.
Hope everyone is doing ok today.
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Sorry for late reply, itās been a rough day. I phoned the 24 hr number and Iāve got oral thrush and I told them how poorly I feel. Theyāve given me a prescription for the thrush and I have to keep an eye on temp. Iāve never felt so weak as I did today. Iām on day 5 and it hit me so hard. Not sure if itās because Iām not on the steroids. Hopefully Iāll feel a bit better tomorrow.,thanks for your messages x
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The nurse on 24:7 call said itās normal to feel this weak but my oncologist did say a week ago that I shouldnāt feel bed ridden, just the odd day. So if I feel like this tomorrow then Iāll call them again x
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Fingers crossed you feel better tomorrow. Glad you gave them a call and got your prescription at least. Really hope you get some respite soon.
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Thank you. Just had my injection and hopefully will have a good sleep and tomorrow will be better. I donāt know if itās the chemo or injection or both!
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With the injection do you take it out of the fridge 30 mins before? I do this and take two paracetamols!
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Im day 6/7 injections, only advise I have is to take it out the fridge an hr before, once done, leave needle in 30 sec, this will stop a little droplet leaking out, so far I have no SE from them so fingers crossed for a pain free time ahead for us all.
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Thanks @stafford22 and @cruising for the suggestions. The nurse had said to take them out for a bit to come to room temp. Iāll take these tips on board!
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Hi everyone! Sorry to see that some of you having bad days and some nasty side effects. Good thing weāre moving towards the end of the process with each day
Had my head shaved yesterday, that was once in a life experienceā¦ Iām still getting little scared and shocked when I pass the mirror 
the scalp is very sensitive too, it almost hurts to touch the head.
Spent all day at home today feeling nauseous and weak but partially because Iām insecure about my new style. The wig feels weird and Iām not used to it yet, all hats sit weird without hair and I donāt dare to go bald yet. I guess I just need to jump in and embrace itā¦
I hope youāll have a good rest of the week 
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well I guess I spoke to soon woke 3am throbbing lower back pain/headache, just did temp and its normal, so taken 2 paracetamol, now on sofa with a herbal tea, ginger biscuits. I do have an old lower back injury that throws a wobble now and then but this is right across.
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Hopefully you got fluconzole Stafford and not fibbed off with drops 
ask you onc to give you box of fluconzole in your goody bag each round so you can head it off as you see it starting 
lots of us previously had thrush both during chemo itās another se. But if youāve got those in your goody bag ready you can stop it each round Shi xx
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