Hi everyone, I’d love a quick check with those who’ve had chemo with dexamethasone.
My next chemo is on Wednesday 28th May, and I was told to take dexamethasone for 3 days starting the day before chemo. But the written dates I was given say to start on Sunday 25th May, which seems too early and would mean I finish before chemo day.
For those on a 3-day steroid plan, did you take dex on:
The day before chemo
Chemo day
And the day after?
Would really appreciate if anyone can share how their schedule was done, just want to be sure I’m not missing a dose on chemo day!
Thanks @susan501, lots of funky head coverings on that website I also had a look on Etsy and some nice ones there too. I had wig fitting yesterday, which didn’t start great as decided I’d walk to appointment for some exercise but didn’t appreciate how humid it was and was a sweaty mess by time I got there After cooling down I tried on 3 and tbh I wasn’t loving any but more due to the fact they were not in my colour or similar style. She is going to get more in for me to try next week. My issue is I have fine flat hair normally and the wigs have so much more volume. I’m sure now she has seen what my hair is like just now then the next wigs will be more my style
Thanks @sim2, I always suffer with caffeine withdrawal but just now the headaches are kept to a minimum if I manage to have one coffee in the morning. Maybe soon I’ll be able to swop the coffee with tea - I’ve never like tea so maybe this will force me to face my fear of it
I have dexamethasone too, but I start mine the day after chemo. My chemo is on a Tuesday and I take the steroids, Wednesday, Thursday and finish on Friday. I’m on EC, not sure if that makes a difference
I have really fine hair too and am struggling with wigs and how much hair they have. My hair is starting to shed now. Im considering asking a hairdresser to shave it for me tomorrow or Tuesday. Hoping it might make it easier to cope with. I thought I was ok with losing my hair but now it’s becoming a reality I’m struggling
Hi all, how are your post op wounds doing? Overall mine healed all well, but I’m now 6.5 weeks post op(lumpectomy and axillary clearance) and still if I do anything a bit more my breast swells up. Also the nerve pain/ pulling that I was having in my upper arm, has now shifted down to the lower arm. Anyone else experienced this?
It’s not all too bad, but just wondering if this normal or whether I should go reporting it…
I will be the same. Just now I’m in denial about it but when I start seeing it shed the reality will hit and I’ll have to decide how I go forward. I know I might not lose all my hair but at the moment I feel like I’d rather shave it all than have bald patches, however I might think differently when that time comes. The wigs I tried on didn’t look like wigs - if they were on someone else - but for me it was very obvious they were. Maybe I can get one I can use hair straightners on to keep volume down? I really need to research it more
I like the idea that if you decide to shave your hair then you have taken control over when it goes, not the chemo
Hi I had lumpectomy with therapeutic mammoplasty & auxiliary clearance 9 weeks ago & im experiencing similar to you. Sometimes a bit more swelling all round and a tight feeling in the inside of my elbow which used to be higher up. Not painful exactly but a bit tight. I put it down to doing more than usual as I’m now healed well on the outside but I think it takes longer to heal on the inside so I’m guessing scar tissue can still be forming inside maybe. I find it get better once I’ve done my stretches / exercises. Are you still doing your exercises? Definitely reach out to your team if it’s worrying you. I’m keeping a close eye on mine for now. Hope you’re doing ok despite this x
My mum had her PICC fitted on 19th May and she had her second chemo done on 21st May.
She completed her EC.
She is doing fine and the lump has shrunk even more and no more redness. So I guess it’s responding well
However where the PICC is, she has pain sometimes but goes away or gets better after taking paracetamol. This is what they have advised to do if she has pain. Has anyone else experienced anything similar
I had pain in mine the day of cleaning and the day after. Mine felt like the dead arm you get after an injection. I also spiked a temperature so I’m now on an antibiotic as a precaution.
It could be settling pain but I would keep a close eye on temperature and any other symptoms. First sign of anything call the helpline
Hi @sim2 and @twinks77 like both of you I had lumpectomy and axillary clearance 8 weeks ago and all had healed fine but this week I’ve had more swelling and feeling tighter underarm. It coincided with start of chemo so not sure if that makes a difference? I’m also probably not as disciplined about doing exercises now @twinks77 so perhaps will be making sure I do 3x a day
Mine has started to feel tighter again too since the chemo started last week. Back to using ice and heat. But have let the exercises slide so back to them again.
Yes last week with all the chemo overwhelm I let the exercises slide a bit, so back to them 3 times a day. I’ll give a ring to the nurse team on Tuesday… as someone suggested it does look like I’m developing some cording… Nice to hear many of us have similar symptoms so I guess it’s ‘normal’.
Today I’ve started having an itchy scalp, and my mouth, not sore, but is changing in texture, lips got really dry. It sort of put me back in touch with the reality as I realised many symptoms start at around d 14 or after the second cycle… Trying not to worry too much though…
I also had a look on Etsy and some nice ones there too. I had wig fitting yesterday, which didn’t start great as decided I’d walk to appointment for some exercise but didn’t appreciate how humid it was and was a sweaty mess by time I got there 
After cooling down I tried on 3 and tbh I wasn’t loving any but more due to the fact they were not in my colour or similar style. She is going to get more in for me to try next week. My issue is I have fine flat hair normally and the wigs have so much more volume. I’m sure now she has seen what my hair is like just now then the next wigs will be more my style 
also see if you are getting a seroma too that might need draining 
