May 2024 chemo starters

I heard the shedding calms down and to continue with the cold capping. I hope it stops soon for you. It must be frustrating but hopefully your blood results will improve by the next session.

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Oh @specialk2 that must have been a blow - especially if youā€™d been feeling relatively okay and were mentally ready for round 2. Fingers crossed for a week on Tuesday for you. Iā€™m scheduled for this coming Thursday, seeing the oncologist on Wednesday.

I was due to see Take That tomorrow night in Nottingham as one of my 60th birthday treats, but Iā€™m being sensible and giving it a miss - it would have been very tiring and the potential for norovirus/coronavirus or anything else, is just too risky. A shame, but there will be plenty of time to celebrate when all this is over.

My hair is shedding a lot now too, since I hit that day 15 that people seem to talk about (no cold cap for me though). Iā€™m booked in to get it :razor: on Tuesday, trying not to touch it too much until then. Losing hair elsewhere too, which Iā€™m quite happy about!

Hope everyone is coping okay after their second EC this week xx

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Ugh! 2nd EC has hit me hard! I asked for stronger anti-nausea tablets and they said no :cry: i think it might have been because I wasnā€™t actually sickā€¦well I was this time. Finally having a phone call with my oncologist this week so will ask him. Got to the point even smelling ginger makes me want to heave.
@specialk2 Iā€™m shedding lots too but I saw a facebook post about it slowing down as @rosa1 said, so as long as you can mentally and physically cope with it keep going with the cold cap and fingers crossed for your next session.
@hopefulheart Iā€™m gutted for you missing Take That! Can one of your friends write to their PR and explain why you missed it, they might send some goodies? I do think it was a sensible decision though xxx

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:heart: your team should tweak your meds till they get right combination for you, donā€™t let them gob you off :heart: no need to have to battle through they should be tweaking them. Stand your ground :muscle::heart::two_hearts::two_hearts::sparkles::sparkles:Shi xx

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Fob you off, sorry typo :two_hearts::two_hearts::sparkles::sparkles:Shi xx

Hi everyone, had my 2nd EC on Friday, feeling ok, very tired but canā€™t sleep beyond 5am and didnā€™t manage to have any catnaps yesterday. I think itā€™s the steroids but at least they are keeping the nausea at bay, Iā€™m really sorry youā€™re suffering with that @tori123 - I hope you get some help with that when you speak to your oncologist. I did cold capping again this time but I had major shedding that evening, still got hair all over but definite bald streak down my centre parting and my scalp feels really tender - will have to see how much remains when itā€™s time for round 3 to see if itā€™s worth continuing. Every time I touch my head more hair falls out!
Got a very warm face at the moment and waiting to see how my bowels are going to behave this week - such fun we have to go through.
@specialk2 that is disappointing having to wait another week, I hope youā€™re doing ok.
@hopefulheart what a shame you have to miss your birthday treat but it does sound like a sensible decision, itā€™s really disappointing having to turn down invites but as you say plenty of time to celebrate when the treatment is over and we can enjoy it more.

Keep strong everyone x

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Sorry to hear of your delay @specialk2 . I havenā€™t even started and although Iā€™m nervous to start, already I want all cycles over with so fingers crossed youā€™re ok for next week.

How annoying re Take That @hopefulheart, is it wrong to wish they have a reason to cancel and reschedule the gig for after your chemo ! and the sickness and lack of sleep for others sounds grim.

Iā€™ve been a bit emotional the last few days finally feeling better and ā€˜normalā€™ after my op only to be heading into more next week . But I shook it off today and got out for a long walk - feel much better now. Itā€™s a rollercoaster this cancer stuff.

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@snoop182 you have such a lot going on itā€™s no surprise youā€™re feeling emotional! glad youā€™re healing and recovering well from your surgery and all goes to plan on Wednesday.

@tori123 good idea to tap up TTā€™s PR team, my friends are on it! Iā€™m sure they have a lot of people in a similar position but it would be amazing to get a response! Hope you get somewhere with your oncologist when you speak, and they prescribe you some stronger anti-emetics for next time :crossed_fingers:t3:

@dragonk really hope the steroids are still doing their thing for you and managing any sickness/nausea - and that you get some good sleep soon.

Iā€™m trying to keep my hair going until Wednesdayā€™s appointment :razor: but it looks a bit like an old birds nest now! :joy: itā€™s obviously dead, and I feel like it would just fall off in one go if something knocked it!!

Sending strength to everyone xx

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Iā€™m so sorry youā€™ve been shedding a lot of hair. Our hair means everything but at least it should grow back. Worse case, thereā€™s plenty of scarves that look nice or you could get a wig if more comes out. Cancer is just horrible.

Yes @dragonk the steroids can keep you awake. I found I slept better when I took the second dose by 2pm but did still wake up to use the toilet.

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@tori123 how are you feeling now? hopefully the nausea/sickness is passing now youā€™re a few days in :crossed_fingers:t3:

I have a question for those on EC - has anyone else experienced any neuropathy at all? I was told that when I start Paclitaxel in July (after 3 ECā€™s) that thatā€™s one of the side effects to expect - but my legs are really tingly already! Only when Iā€™m sitting still, and itā€™s not pain, just like pins and needles. Iā€™ll mention it to the oncologist when I see him tomorrow before Thursdayā€™s infusion, just so he knows.

I bought a really cute baseball type soft cap off Amazon which came today - Iā€™m actually looking forward to trying it on tomorrow after Iā€™ve been to the hairdressers. I might post a photo if Iā€™m brave enough! xx

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Yes thank you, Iā€™m now making up for all the food I didnā€™t eat. I need to lose 8kg to qualify for reconstructionā€¦not sure Iā€™m going to be able to do it.

I donā€™t think Iā€™ve had any neuropathy, the first 12 hours I do feel like my skin is crawling though. Hope you get some answers.

Good luck with the hair appointment tomorrow, looking forward to the photo!

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@hopefulheart Iā€™m on EC. Iā€™ve only had one cycle and havenā€™t had this. I did get some minor aches.

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Thanks @rosa1. There are so many things happening to our bodies arenā€™t there - I guess we canā€™t expect be pumped full of drugs without consequences can we :roll_eyes:hopefully they are all temporary xx

Yes itā€™s horrible what it does to our bodies. Hopefully it wonā€™t be for too long. How many EC are they aiming for? I have to have 3-4 more cycles before having a short break.

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Gosh @tori123 itā€™s hard enough getting through this as smoothly as possible without having to think about losing weight as well :hugs: Iā€™m sure Iā€™m turning into a carboholic - Iā€™m eating all sorts of rubbish! Just look after yourself, thatā€™s the most important thing xx

Iā€™m having 2 more EC (second of three this week) and then changing to weekly Paclitaxel (similar to Docetaxol i think) for 9 weeks, with 3-weekly Herceptin injections for a year. Bit nervous about all that but trying not to look ahead. Itā€™s a long slog.

Good for your body to have a break - although in some ways Iā€™m sure you just want it done. This is such a test of strength isnā€™t it - weā€™ll get there xx

Iā€™m having my second EC today and yesterday was day 15 post first EC and the shedding is so bad. I did cold cap but the amount thatā€™s coming out is scaring me a little and not sure if I should continue to cold cap. My hair was past my bottom, very long and thick and I cut it to just above my shoulders which was very hard to do as my hair has always been my safety blanket. I know itā€™s just hair and it will grow but itā€™s still hard to see it go. Will the shedding stop or does it get worse every cycle? Anyone also shedding quite bad despite cold capping? My husband doesnā€™t want me to cold cap as he doesnā€™t want me to struggle anymore than necessary but I donā€™t know what to do. Also worried about side effects of cycle 2 after experiencing so much from cycle 1. :frowning:

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Iā€™m so sorry youā€™re shedding lots of hair. Iā€™m on day 14 and not looking forward to this part. Every day Iā€™m thinking is this the day I start shedding. Donā€™t have any suggestions. Some people continue with the cold capping even when they start losing lots of hair for the regrowth but I did hear it gets harder as thereā€™s less hair to cushion the scalp. I hope your second EC goes well. Mine is next Thursday as mine is 3 weekly. X

Iā€™m currently having EC every 3 weeks and had my second 5 days ago. I have cold capped both times but when I went for my second EC (day 22) that was my worst day of shedding. I still have hair but a really noticeable bald patch on top now and Iā€™m trying to decide what to do. I donā€™t think I will carry on with the cold capping. I still have 2 more sessions of EC to go and then I switch to paclitaxel once a week for 12 weeks and I donā€™t think I will be able to manage coldcapping weekly. I donā€™t think Iā€™m ready for the shave yet but definitely wonā€™t leave the house without some form of headwear now - I braved a short walk round the block yesterday evening and felt so self conscious in my hat. I also felt really bad about how slow I was having to walk, it took so much effort - the filgastrim injections are making my whole back ache.

Iā€™ve found my side effects have been the same this second time but the tiredness has been harder.

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Sorry @shahz4169 Iā€™ve only just seen your post. Iā€™m sorry to hear that youā€™re shedding so much. I think youā€™ll know for sure next time whether to continue, but you may have already made the decision today, the nurses will most likely be helpful.

I hope you get through the next few days without feeling too poorly. We have so much going on :pensive: thinking of you, my second EC is tomorrow xx