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.
Oh @specialk2 that must have been a blow - especially if youād been feeling relatively okay and were mentally ready for round 2. Fingers crossed for a week on Tuesday for you. Iām 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 Iām 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). Iām booked in to get it on Tuesday, trying not to touch it too much until then. Losing hair elsewhere too, which Iām quite happy about!
Hope everyone is coping okay after their second EC this week xx
Ugh! 2nd EC has hit me hard! I asked for stronger anti-nausea tablets and they said no i think it might have been because I wasnāt 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 Iām 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 Iām 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
your team should tweak your meds till they get right combination for you, donāt let them gob you off no need to have to battle through they should be tweaking them. Stand your ground Shi xx
Fob you off, sorry typo Shi xx
Hi everyone, had my 2nd EC on Friday, feeling ok, very tired but canāt sleep beyond 5am and didnāt manage to have any catnaps yesterday. I think itās the steroids but at least they are keeping the nausea at bay, Iām really sorry youāre 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 itās time for round 3 to see if itās 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 youāre doing ok.
@hopefulheart what a shame you have to miss your birthday treat but it does sound like a sensible decision, itās 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
Sorry to hear of your delay @specialk2 . I havenāt even started and although Iām nervous to start, already I want all cycles over with so fingers crossed youāre 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.
Iāve been a bit emotional the last few days finally feeling better and ānormalā 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. Itās a rollercoaster this cancer stuff.
@snoop182 you have such a lot going on itās no surprise youāre feeling emotional! glad youāre healing and recovering well from your surgery and all goes to plan on Wednesday.
@tori123 good idea to tap up TTās PR team, my friends are on it! Iām 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
@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.
Iām trying to keep my hair going until Wednesdayās appointment but it looks a bit like an old birds nest now! itās obviously dead, and I feel like it would just fall off in one go if something knocked it!!
Sending strength to everyone xx
Iām so sorry youāve been shedding a lot of hair. Our hair means everything but at least it should grow back. Worse case, thereās 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.
@tori123 how are you feeling now? hopefully the nausea/sickness is passing now youāre a few days in
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 ECās) that thatās one of the side effects to expect - but my legs are really tingly already! Only when Iām sitting still, and itās not pain, just like pins and needles. Iāll mention it to the oncologist when I see him tomorrow before Thursdayās infusion, just so he knows.
I bought a really cute baseball type soft cap off Amazon which came today - Iām actually looking forward to trying it on tomorrow after Iāve been to the hairdressers. I might post a photo if Iām brave enough! xx
Yes thank you, Iām now making up for all the food I didnāt eat. I need to lose 8kg to qualify for reconstructionā¦not sure Iām going to be able to do it.
I donāt think Iāve 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!
@hopefulheart Iām on EC. Iāve only had one cycle and havenāt had this. I did get some minor aches.
Thanks @rosa1. There are so many things happening to our bodies arenāt there - I guess we canāt expect be pumped full of drugs without consequences can we hopefully they are all temporary xx
Yes itās horrible what it does to our bodies. Hopefully it wonāt be for too long. How many EC are they aiming for? I have to have 3-4 more cycles before having a short break.
Gosh @tori123 itās hard enough getting through this as smoothly as possible without having to think about losing weight as well Iām sure Iām turning into a carboholic - Iām eating all sorts of rubbish! Just look after yourself, thatās the most important thing xx
Iām 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. Itās a long slog.
Good for your body to have a break - although in some ways Iām sure you just want it done. This is such a test of strength isnāt it - weāll get there xx
Iām 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 thatās 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 itās just hair and it will grow but itās 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 doesnāt want me to cold cap as he doesnāt want me to struggle anymore than necessary but I donāt know what to do. Also worried about side effects of cycle 2 after experiencing so much from cycle 1.
Iām so sorry youāre shedding lots of hair. Iām on day 14 and not looking forward to this part. Every day Iām thinking is this the day I start shedding. Donāt 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 thereās less hair to cushion the scalp. I hope your second EC goes well. Mine is next Thursday as mine is 3 weekly. X
Iām 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 Iām trying to decide what to do. I donāt 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 donāt think I will be able to manage coldcapping weekly. I donāt think Iām ready for the shave yet but definitely wonāt 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.
Iāve found my side effects have been the same this second time but the tiredness has been harder.
Sorry @shahz4169 Iāve only just seen your post. Iām sorry to hear that youāre shedding so much. I think youāll 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 thinking of you, my second EC is tomorrow xx