Morning @katie91 … I said exactly the same thing to my friend yesterday, that having no eyelashes makes me look like an alien!!! 
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We are beautiful strong aliens! I’m actually getting used to it now 
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Well done @wibbles what a time you’ve had going through it 
Had a slight panic as my temp had dipped to 36.1c overnight thought it was a delay reaction starting to the one-off infusion pre surgery or a warning sign Ìt had finally set off neutropenia sepsis till l worked out I had slept totally in the nip with the fan on full minus all bedding including the cotton sheet. Got up put some clothes on now back to 36.6c. This is the first time on day 1 post Chemotheraphy l have been able to get up get dressed, ate anything and even managed a gentle walk round the block. Not sure if it’s down to relief that was the last of heavy dose chemotheraphy was yesterday or if my very caring oncologist has finally come up with a mix of drugs that actually manage the side effects Ìt throws me that have frankly been wrecking me. Could be both.
Plan on resting a lot today to cope with heatwave, inherited red heads skin plus chemo makes my ability to cope with heat rather low and heat exhaustion is not fun.. Not bed rotting as I am doing gentle strengthening physio in very short bursts with walks round my garden and actually managed a gentle walk round the block whilst it was still cool. Something I have not been able to do for the past three rounds. It was nice to see other people’s lawns have gone like dry hay and walk past the edge of the National nature reserve parkland. Going to keep trying to build up some physical fitness pre surgery and have appointment with cancer care centres dietician and nutritionist to help me start eating again. (I want to eat but Chemotheraphy hit my digestive tract like an out of control lorry then ran over it a few more times. Add in everything tasting awful and having to eat meat when you have been a veggie for years food has become longer fun. The only thing that tastes of what it describes itself as is a decent latte. Oncologist has said they hope this starts to improves post chemo week 4 and to keep trying to eat a balanced diet as best I can. The only bonus of that has been losing 5 inches from my waist and dropping down 4 dress sizes. DH who has promised to take me shopping for clothes with his work bonus as everything is literally hanging off me once I recover from surgery.
hope all is heading in a better direction now you have had time to quiz surgeons et al over your possible best options. Best advice my BCN gave me was to go away, think about my options and give myself a bit of time to let it all settle as the one I was continually drawn to was the most likely best one for me personally and the ones that made me feel ill to think about agreeing to where not. For me that is aesthetic flat closure. My abdomen is a mess of scars from 3 life threatening em and preterm c/secs, assorted gyni surgeries and a patchwork from a gall bladder removal on the same side the first surgeon thought a DIEP would not be any issue as he never listened to me trying to flag I have a lot of scar tissue making a DIEP technically a nightmare. I would not want any reconstruction that has the potential to restrict my getting back to fell walking and serious gardening in the future either.
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Thanks @clarabelle1
I’m having 19 sessions in total. 1st one went ahead and was fine. Very uneventful and they popped out to do some checks and then a few minutes later the machine made a noise and moved to the other side and then a minute later they came back in and said it was done! I thought it was going to be zapping me and making loads of noise had my 2nd one today and I was in and put in 10 mins. 2 down 17 to go!!
Xxxx
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Well done on finishing @wibbles I know it’s been a long journey for you to say the least!! Xxx
Not even long enough to feel like you’ve been to a spa! Keep ticking them off xx
I know!!
For anybody reading that’s going on to radiotherapy after chemo it’s an absolute breeze in my experience compared with chemo 
How you doing @foxgem xxxx
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@kawan i finished a month ago today and unfortunately my lashes and brows (which remained in situ largely during treatment) have shedded a lot since. They definitely are not growing back yet.
I saw someone who finished chemotherapy at the start of the year say hers grew back and then she lost them again. So I’m psychologically preparing that a regrowth may not be final. But with a good brow pen I am surviving!
Re the cold cap I took 2 x Paracetomol at least 30 mins prior to putting the cap on. It really helped (placebo or otherwise!) xx
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@katie91 you poor thing that’s so stressful! I’m glad everything looks benign though! I hope radiotherapy goes well. Do let us know how it goes.
Have bought some of the H&B rosemary oil! Xx
@wibbles hurrah for finishing! Very pleased for you!
I am a few days off mastectomy surgery 
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Hope all goes well for you and that this heatwave subsides before your op.
glad I have finished the intense chemo before surgery too. got to lunchtime and the 
started up. pretty certain it’s from the magnesium supplement I need to take but the fact everything tastes of cardboard makes me go here we go again. I am NOT going to miss this.
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Good to hear all went OK @katie91 and what to expect when it’s my turn too - I had thought there would be some zapping - funny what we imagine isn’t it. I know it can lead to fatigue but it sounds a lot easier than chemo which is a blessing
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Good luck with your surgery @jululemon
Hopefully all eyebrows and lashes will play ball and grow back as you start to recover from that - we live in hope don’t we 
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I can’t wait to get my taste back either - I feel you ! xxx
Congrats on the last chemo and your temp worries made me giggle. I did similar taking my temp after a shower (don’t do it! ) I hope the post chemo symptom rollercoaster is not too bumpy and you are soon feeling better and looking forward to August.
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I’m doing ok thank you. Got my surgery date… 23rd July! Double mastectomy with immediate reconstruction, 250cc silicone tear drop smooth, non nipple sparing with a bio mesh to help prevent iinfection and rejection. I think thats all the info haha
So I have 2 weeks to get myself as fit as I can for then (help me its hard after 2 months of mostly rest and recovery haha) I’m eating mindfully, getting all my steps in…. attempting to sleep. That last part seems impossible in this heat
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Well done @foxgem - you have a plan! I’ve been doing the same - really trying to do some exercise frequently pre-surgery! I’ve partly succeeded. But it’s sooo hot. How are you feeling about it? Thank goodness genetic testing can give you this knowledge to take these steps… so hopefully we will still be checking in on this thread in 30 years! Definitely also try to enjoy some treatment free time before the surgery xxx
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I think exercise wise for pre op any movement we do counts. We arent looking to become body builders or athletes before surgery just feel a bit stronger
Knowledge is indeed power. In general I feel ok! And this still suprises me daily. How are you?
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So glad you have a surgery date and pathway sorted @foxgem - that’s 2 days after me ! I’m a much simpler procedure though (lumpectomy) particularly now my tumour is much smaller than it was originally. I’m so glad you’ve been able to get to grips with what works best for you. It’s such a minefield but you’ve worked through and found your solution .
I’m in the ‘thinking about getting fitter’ place but I only had my last chemo on 30th June so mine will definitely be a best endeavours at this point !
Sometimes it felt like I’d never get to this place and I know others are still battling through chemo so sending love to all the March ladies whatever part of the path you’re on
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