Hi all, a friend found this forum and suggested I join, so here I am!
Had mx Jan 20th and waiting for chemo appt to come through…just got letter through the door, deep breathing! Pre treatment meeting on 29th feb and treatment starts 2nd March. Like most ladies I have six treatments of FEC. I am going to print a calendar today and mark off all the dates.
look forward to all of us getting through this - i try to view it as i am lucky that i can have this treatment to kill off the cancer.
lea xx
Just popping in from the October thread to say good luck to you ladies starting chemo next month. It is not pleasant, but you will be amazed at how quickly it goes in many respects - you suddenly start living your life in three week cycles! Hopefully most of you won’t suffer too badly with the SEs and will have one week out of the 3 when you feel relatively normal, and can actually get out and about a bit.
Look after yourselves, use plenty of hand gel (esp if you have children constantly having colds like I did!) and take it easy - don’t push yoursleves too hard.
I had 3 TAC and then 3 FEC - not a normal regime, I was supposed to have 6 TAC but was too poorly so they swapped me. Have just finished chemo, now looking forward (NOT!) to Mx and node clearance next week, which some of you have already done.
Pop into us on previous months threads if you want any advice.
BTW yes the photo is of me with my wig, my hair is actually now about 1/2 a centimetre long all over so already beginning to grow.
Teresa x
Goodf Luck Magge May, pop in and let us know how you are doing from time to time!
Welcome Lea, I start my chemo on 1st March, 3x FEC, 3x TAC. Its all happening quickly now after feeling in limbo for a little while. I am very positive about what has happened to me MOST of the time. I am so grateful that things are not worse, which they could have been, and feel so sorry for those in a worse situation than me. I must say though that I am feeling a bit panicky and emotional about it all today (must be my hormones). This will pass though and I know I will feel in control agian soon!!
Thanks for poppin in Teresa, your wig looks great! Good luck with the op, I had my mx in January and like any operation, the anaesthetic takes a while to get over. Make sure you do your exercies religiously though, even when you don’t feel like it!!!
Joan x
Hi Lea and welcome to the BCC forums
In addition to the support and information you have here please feel free to call our helpliners, they are here to offer you support and a listening ear when you need one on 0808 800 6000 weekdays 9-5 and Sat 9-2
I am posting a link to the BCC treatments information link which I hope you will find helpful:
breastcancercare.org.uk/diagnosis
Take care
Lucy BCC
Hi ladies
Joan you lucky thing we must be doing the same things at the same time. I’m also starting 6 x FEC next Thursday and strangely contacted LGFB yesterday but waiting to hear from them. I’m hoping I can get booked in after second treatment. Have spent a great day with my sister, and talked through loads and she finally made me realise I need to ask for help more and keep them posted. Have got lift sorted for first visit to chemo and now second to boot. Plus also met mother in law ( now she is an inspiration at 85charges around like a Tasmanian devil and not a sign of any I’ll health.). Both her and dad in law feel useless at not being able to take me to appointments so have been so generous and given me a cheque which I’m already planning on using for a post chemo holiday with OH. You realise how fab people are when you need them. Seeing work colleagues tomorrow so that’ll also cheer me up. At least this time next week I’ll know what’s happening and when so on count down now.
Fingers crossed for you getting to The Stranglers on 1st I’m sure all of us will be cheering you on.
Love and hugs to all and a bug thank you to those post chemo’s who keep popping in your words of wisdom and experience keep us going.
Carolyn xxx
Carolyn
I think you said you are going to Lister for your chemo, first session 1st March? So am I, not sure if we may be there at the same time? My appt is 10.30am. Where are you going for your LGFB session?
SuperSie, how did you get on at the hospital today?
Joan x
Hi Joan
Yes 1st but appt 1.30 so you may still be there. I looked on LGFB web site and they have workshops every two weeks at Mount Vernon which is where I’ll have radio ( you too probably by the sounds of it). It would be good if we were there at the same time you get to feel you know people.
Carolyn xxx
Hi Carolyn
I am having my rads at Addenbrooks in Cambridge as I live in North Herts and that is much closer for me. I am only about 15 miles from Cambridge. I am also going there for the LGFB. I expect I will still be at Lister at 1.30 so I will look out for you! I will be wearing a big red carnation!! Ha ha!
Your lovely parents-in-law! How kind of them! Better than my work colleague who today asked me ‘am I not making a bit much of going for chemo?!’ After all, I don’t know how I am going to be so would it be better if I didn’t make such a fuss about it (which I am NOT!!!) till I know what my side effects will be?!
GRRRRRR!
Hi Joan
Ok I’ll definitely look out for you I’ll be carrying a copy of the days newspaper ( wink wink).
Lovely unpractical advice from your work then, as like most of us I know this has to happen it’s just the unknown that’s the worst bit. Luckily my work colleagues gave been great and if anything make me laugh about lots if it. I’m trying not to read too much about advice etc until I see them next week but it’s hard as I also want to be prepared.
Hope to see you next week to put a face to a name, and see what kind if person gies around wearing Big red carnation lol.
Carolyn xxx
Carolyn, you will spot me easily, I will be standing under the big clock!!
Hi All,
After waiting so long to see Onc (WLE and ANC 11th Jan), I received a phone call this morning and I’ve got pre-appointment at the chemo unit on Friday afternoon, and first chemo on Wednesday 29th - so offically I should be on the Feb thread, but only because it’s a leap year, so I hope you’ll let me stay here, you all seem a friendly crowd!
Carolyn and Joan, I wish I was there the day after with you as I’m at Lister too.
I feel so nervous now, and thought I was going to burst into tears in the middle of the office when I pit the phone down. Luckily my work are being really supportive. I don’t know whether to go in Monday and Tuesday, I don’t want to pick up any germs before chemo, and I work in a really unhealthy office - but it’s good to have something else to think about, and I will be going on to half pay at some point, so it would delay that a bit.
Good luck everyone, it’s so good to know you’re out there, and understand how I feel.
Caren
xx
Hi Caren
Glad you got your dates through at last! I did exactly the same when I got my phone call at work! I have been feeling anxious and emotional about it today, but I know its just fear of the unknown. I am sure we will all feel better once our first treat is over!
Good luck on Wednesday, I will be virtually holding your hand and thinking of you, so be brave and strong! What time is your appointment?
Joan x
Goodness! It looks like I have been on here all day! I really couldnt settle to anything at work today so I have been dipping in and out most of the day!!
How I love this forum. Some of you starting literally together, same day, same place… 
Which type of chemo will you be getting? Mine will be Adriamicina-Docetaxel X 6.
Is anyone starting on the 12th march week?
You might have bumped into this a million times, but just in case you haven’t. They’ve got beautiful silk head scarves over here, free for BC patients (we only have to pay shipping):
goodwishesscarves.org/good_wishes_scarves.php
I’m gonna scroll back and check what someone posted about eyebrow makeup. We better get it all ready now that we are still active and feeling good, right?
Many hugs and love,
Carmy xxx
Hi Carmy
See, I’m still here! I am having 3x FEC, 3x TAX.
I hadn’t seen the site for the scarves. What a lovely idea. Thank you for posting it, I will have a browse, in between my ramblings on here!
Eyebrows, well, today I have received a long lasting eyebrow kit. I havent tried it out yet (probably will be a disaster!) but I will let you know how it goes. Its meant to last 24 hours which I thought would be better than a pencil which I would probably wipe off or smudge in 10 minutes!!
Love and xxx
Joan
Me again!
Kitcat, thanks for the info on the cold cap! I asked my oncologist yesterday and she told me the do not have any access toone and she can’t give me any advice on how good they are, etc. I saw they are relatively ‘cheap’ and thought about getting one, but looking at pretty scarves and wrapping styles has made me feel a bit better about the hair loss, so I think I’ll give it a miss.
Angelherts, diagnosis and surgery buddy, nice to see you in this threat now (you know what I mean!). We will both be going through chemo at the exact same time too. Roll on July! We might be bold then, but we’ll be more glad than ever that the summer has arrived. 
Okay, and another link that I’ve found around that you might like - Chemo Angels! You sign up as a patient and you get assigned an “angel” that sends you little treats weekly during your treatment to cheer you up. It works internationally. How sweet is the idea? I signed up yesterday and am so curious about the whole thing:
Hugs and cookies for the march ladies.
Carmy xxx
Patchit, exciting about the eyebrow kit! Let us know how you like it.
xxxxx
Hi ladies
Snap Caren and Joan I also blubber when I got the call. Hope my message to you Caren makes sense as I’ve only just caught up on emails. I know what you mean about posting though Joan this site gets a little addictive.
That’s a great link and definitely worth a look at Carmy.
Let’s hope we can all hold hands together and finally get to meet as I think this thread is going to get very long 9 pages already and it’s not even March
I was recommended Benefit eyebrow stuff I’ll have to pluck up courage and go to their counter in John Lewis.
Love to all and keep posting
Carolyn xxx
While I was at the hospital today I was given a copy of the oncologist’s report and I’ll only be getting chemo next week if the CT scan is clear. I don’t know what happens if it isn’t clear, the only thing that is said in the report is that if it isn’t they will be having other discussions with me.
I suppose I assumed that even if there was a problem with the scan that the treatment would still be going ahead as it would be better than nothing.
Has anyone else had this issue?
Thanks
KC
Hi Kitcat
Did you have a CT scan because you are having dose intense chemo? Its all the hanging round which is so frustrating isn’t it? Fingers crossed that everything is ok for you. When do you have the scan?
Joan xx