May 2017 chemo starters

Oh Mai7 hope you don’t catch it!

Williams500, I had that too last week I gargled with salt water and used a tea tree mouthwash and it cleared up pretty quickly didn’t get any worse and was gone in a day or so.

Misyangel it is a blessing in disguise you aren’t going to work, I planned the same too but then my oncologist didn’t want me an office environment and work didn’t want me to work from home. So grateful now really.Can focus on myself and rest when I need to or even go out for lunch / cofree with friends. It’s nice not having to think about it xx

Anniej I’ve booked onto one of those courses but its not till June although that isn’t to far away now is it! Hopefully the time will keep flying!

Hope everyone else is doing ok xx

Morning ladies. I have had a rough/ furry mouth for days and found ginger and fizzy drinks hurt my tongue but otherwise fine. Has anyone else broken out with acne? Also bloating and wind. I don’t know if anyone is on my chemo. No one seems to mention my drugs. Herceptin, perjeta, docetaxel & carboplatin.

Hi AnnieA. I also got my wig 2 days before starting. I was actually a bit excited. Helped me feel prepared. I am not cold capping and no hair loss yet on day 9. My kids have seen it in the box and wanted to hide in in each others beds to scare them. As you can see my kids seem to be coping well ?. I have also been practising tying scarfs.

Hi Mai7. I believe the perjeta is new. And works with Herceptin for Her2 positive. I am ER -. I hear lots about FEC -T but I’m not on it. I don’t believe I am on a trial. I am having all 4 drugs together which I why treatment day takes 8 hours!!!

Oh my gosh treehouse! No wonder u are feeling rubbish. 8 hours!

I’m having 3 EC and then 9 weekly T I think it is x

Hi I’m after some advice please, I’ve had my mastectomy and reconstruction 2 weeks ago and I feel great, but I start my EC chemo next week and can’t decide on whether to shave my head before it starts or to wait until it starts to fall out? I have always had short hair, but not sure if I should just do it or wait in case it doesn’t fall out? Any advice would be great. Thanks max

Hi max85, I’m struggling with the hair thing to. I decided to wait i had my first EC 13 days ago now and haven’t lost any. I didn’t cold cap either. Think I’m just going to wait for it to happen and then just get rid. I’ve got my wigs waiting x

Hi max85. I am having chemo first and surgery after so would love to hear your experience of mastectomy and reconstruction. I have not lost any hair yet but talking to a lady on my chemo ward she left some hair at the front so she didn’t feel totally bald with a scarf on. She also said you can buy just a strip of a wig to do the same thing. I will wait to see if I go patchy or just thin before I get the razor out. One step at a time.

Hi max85 I’ve had my hair cut into a short pixie cut but won’t shave it until I need to. I’m rinsing it but not using shampoo as often. I’ve got a start date of next Wednesday. Bring it on!

Hi treehouse
My surgeon is brilliant, she really has done a fantastic job on my boob, I went in on Thursday 27th and was out Friday lunch time, I put a front opening bra on , on the Friday and it was really comfy and didn’t hurt, I had 2 drains in for 2 weeks. I did think I wouldn’t go out with them, but I felt fine by Tuesday and even went into work for a chat with people.
I did feel sick for a few days and couldn’t eat, so I just had yogurt. The only thing I find uncomfortable now is under my arm, it feels like a golf ball is there and my under arm is still numb after having 19 lymph nodes taken out. Hope all goes well with you

Max 85 thanks for that it is reassuring to hear your positive experience. Is that an implant or one of the flap types? I am day 9 and starting to feel human again ? . Finding this forum really helpful.

Hi all. I’m new to this forum. I was diagnosed with Invasive ductal carcinoma in November last year and I’m currently awaiting my last cycle of chemotherapy which I’m hoping will be next week. I will then have a few weeks recovery before having a single mastectomy in July and an immediate reconstruction with a tummy flap operation - which I am totally dreading!   I’ve just seen the discussions about wether to shave off hair before it falls. I completely agree that it is personal preference. I didn’t cold cap and was told by my chemo nurses that I will most definitely lose my hair. I waited until it started to fall out and one morning I had a big clump come out in my hand so I asked my husband to shave it off for me. It was really the only thing I felt I had control over at the time and I was glad I did it as watching the hair come out can be very upsetting. 

 

Has anyone else on here had reconstructive surgery yet - particularly the tummy flap? I’d be very interested to hear others experiences. 

 

thanks

sarah 

Hi everyone

 

I am on 3 x Fec then 3 x T. I am triple negative so no tablets for me. I regret not getting my hair cut shorter before chemo, it is in a bob, but I didn’t have time to get it cut before chemo started.

 

I had single Mx no reconstruction, having chemo no rads.

 

Had genetics test today, had to draw up a family tree and then had blood test which will take 8 weeks for results. Testing for BRCA1 and BRCA2 only.

 

Hair is less itchy today, even blow dried it as was going out. Tried to avoid germs at hospital but where ever I went there were people and waiting rooms. Got though a lot of hand sanitizer!!

 

Heather

Hi. I’m on 6 FEC. It’s the E of the FEC that makes your hair fall out. I had my hair shaved to about 9mm before my 1st chemo, it was quite long before. I was told by the nurse that by the time I go for my next treatment (3 week cycle) them most of it will be gone by them. I’m on day 14 now and no signs of it leaving yet. I’m expecting it to fall out in the next week or so.
I have got a very spotty head though and some acne on my face over the last few days. The grumbly belly has finally disappeared thankfully.

Oops. Predictive text keeps putting in ‘them’ instead if ‘then’ - or I’ve got fat fingers! Note to self - read it before hitting the post button.

You can go via the option button on right to edit, most of the time I just type n post, sometimes autocorrect is funny, makes my chemo brain seem normal!

Treehouse
I went for an expandable implant as I was told if I picked a normal implant and then had radiation, it could cause the implant to go out of shape and they wouldn’t be able to change it, so I’ve got a permanent implant that can be pumped up to the size that’s right for me and if my radiation causes it to move around then they can put more stuff in or out through a really small tube and re-shape it and then when happy take the tube out and implant stays in. Hope this helps xx

Sarah19
I’ve just had reconstructed surgery, but I didn’t go for the tummy , I was told it would be a long surgery 6-8 hrs and I wouldn’t be able to have it at my local hospital, do I went for an expandable implant

Anniej I love your posts you do make me giggle! Although I have to admit I took wipes with me when food shopping to clean the trolley handle too xx

We went shopping yesterday. I didn’t wipe the trolley handle or wear gloves. I just used loads of antibacterial lotion on my hand when I got back in the car and then thoroughly washed them when I got home. I always wash my hands before preparing food or eating anything so hoping I am ok!