May 2026 chemo starters

Going through breast cancer treatment Chemotherapy monthly threads
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Lovely to hear from you @daffodil_dream :heart::heart::wink::smiling_face_with_three_hearts: and that you have been less yeuk this time round.

You know me, there is no expectation to Post, as we all know its a tough ride, and some weeks all we want to do is hide. :sleeping_face::sleeping_face::sleeping_face::person_in_lotus_position::person_getting_massage:.

Im just happy sending out positive vibes :heart::heart::smiling_face_with_three_hearts::bouquet::bouquet::heart_exclamation::flexed_biceps::people_hugging::sunflower:

I am so glad you rang 24/7 re your arm.

Im confident in knowing the Nurses prioritise people, so if they feel I can survive, I will be last on their list :wink:.

But I have it in capital letters in my records book, from my Team….ring them ASAP for anything SMALL. Their principle is….they can cure little things easier than big things. :wink::heart:. So “catch that irritating runny nose before it turns into Sepsis”. :sneezing_face::face_with_medical_mask::face_with_thermometer::smiling_face_with_three_hearts::bouquet::people_hugging:. So I know they want us to ring. Which is very unusual for me as I rarely contact my GP. Never for little things.

But thats cancer for us. We ring about little things, and we feel less nausea when we eat. :thinking:. Very counter intuitive, but it works. :person_in_lotus_position::smiling_face_with_three_hearts:

You sound as if you made the right decision re cold capping. Well done you for giving it a go. :heart_exclamation::flexed_biceps::sunflower:

I definitely couldnt have coped with it. :cold_face: . Plus I love my wig. To date, everyone thinks its my real hair. :shushing_face::rofl:. Although hot days were a bit of a challenge, :hot_face::hot_face: I just had to be careful where I went. Air con shops only. :wink:

We are all coping so well. Even when we dont feel we are. We are here. :heart_exclamation::person_getting_massage::person_in_lotus_position::flexed_biceps::people_hugging::sunflower::wink:

Enjoy your dog walks :dog::heart_exclamation:

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Thank you hoping i can feel some sort of normal next week. However today iv managed to do more then yesterday which to me is a win lol. My partner cant drive at the mo which is also making things tricky for school runs etc but we will get there.

Really fancied a curry today so ended up with one at 11am :rofl:.

Small wins!

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Love the Curry at 11am :rofl::rofl::rofl: @jordx90

Our strange eating habits may just catch on soon :wink::smiling_face_with_three_hearts::curry_rice::moon_cake:.

After my first chemo I had fish at 4am :rofl::bouquet:.

Hope school runs get easier. :heart: I cant drive this week, as I’m too sleepy/not safe… so I can understand how tricky that is for you all. Sometimes schools can find people to help. Worth asking. :thinking::crossed_fingers:

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I went to bed at 2pm today, slept for three hours and have been sat in bed drinking coffee whilst web surfing for the last couple of hours.

I think it’s safe to say that normal life has left the building!

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Maybe life will become more interesting. More free even :thinking::rofl::wink::smiling_face_with_three_hearts:. Lets surf those waves…:tornado::ocean::person_surfing:.

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Second chemo cycle toay, done! All 4 chemo wards at the hospital - a 60 mile round trip for me and not an easy journey with endless roadworks - were chock a block and there were patients waiting for a space, and the hourly chemo drug delivery was late, but those chemo nurses are brilliant! Hats - or wigs! - off to them for their dedication, their lovely sense of humour, their positivity and their unflagging kindness. Mine was saying she worked a ten hour shift, with one 15 minute tea break and 30 minutes for lunch. I was there about 2.5 hours, and she never stopped for a moment. It’s a great place for a nosey old woman like me to sit and people-watch!

Got an appointment for my wig, courtesy NHS Prosthetics dept, on June 18th. Very limited range as my head’s ‘Petite’ - unlike the rest of me! I wanted a spiky pixie cut or a ‘Judi Dench’ so we’ll have to see what I end up with. The lady I’ll be seeing has already ordered it in the shade I think will be best.

How are you all coping? @poppy261 has said before about drinking loads of fluids but yes, I’ll repeat those wise words! My chemo nurse said 3 litres/6 pints every day, certainly during the first 72 hours, if you can. Flush out those poisons. Ginger or ginger and orange, or Lime and Mint cordial diluted with sparkling mineral water is nice enough. I’ve managed 2 litres today already! I’ll be peeing for Britain later. Don’t need to cook tonight, made a huge moussaka yesterday, so plenty of protein and carbs! Sorted.

Best of luck to you all this week, I’ll be thinking of you.

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Ah well done you @bea4 for a 60mile round trip as well as chemo. :heart::bouquet: Thats a long way when your feeling yeuk :nauseated_face::heart:

Make sure you rest rest rest, :person_in_bed::person_in_lotus_position::person_taking_bath:

drink drink drink, :cup_with_straw::bubble_tea::beverage_box::glass_of_milk::teacup_without_handle:,

and pee pee pee. :woozy_face::nauseated_face::toilet::roll_of_paper::person_running:.

Lots of toilet trips, but its worth it. Ive kept a log this time to make sure I hit the 3lts mark. Its hard drinking so much. But sooo important.

Im 5 days in from my second. Worst is chronic fatigue and lingering nausea.

I Could sleep forever but constant dreams of needing the toilet, waking up confused, rush to the loo, then back to bed, keeps me busy :rofl::rofl::rofl::wink::toilet::person_running:.

Things we have to do hey :wink::rofl::heart:.

Eaten plenty. I feel less nauseous after eating. :thinking: Which is odd. Counter intuitive. But it works.

You make sure you have lots of TLC from your lovely husband. :person_getting_massage::bouquet::person_taking_bath::smiling_face_with_three_hearts::people_hugging::flexed_biceps::clap:

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Speaking of keeping a log of symptoms, @poppy261 , feelings etc. does everyone get given a Cancer Research UK Treatment Record book? They’re good for recording day to day issues throughout each cycle. I have to take mine in to each chemo session and the nurse fills in the results of blood tests, lists the chemo meds and dosage I’ve had, and reminds me to book my next pre-treatment bloods, when to begin the belly jabs, etc. I know loads of chemo diaries can be bought online, but these are free, so kinder on the overstretched pursestrings at a time when we’re spending more than we might otherwise. I’m not sure if all NHS Health Authorities issue them. Curious.

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Yes @bea4 ,i was given one via Nurses. Though they never look at it​:thinking::person_shrugging:

They filled in my initial bloods and meds, but last time they just brushed it off. Said they never checked it. :thinking::person_shrugging:

I fill it in for my own reference now, as symptoms are easy to forget. Plus I write in if ive contacted 24/7. So its good to have and use daily. :wink:

You can get them free from Cancer Research anytime. So not hospital dependent. Plus they also do a book 2. Follow on. I sent off for both and they came within 2 days.

I have to ask for my blood results and the Nurses print them off during chemo. Quicker for Nurses when they are busy I guess. :smiling_face_with_three_hearts::heart:

Xxxx

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Well had a full 9 days of fatigue and just feeling less smogged up this morning​:folded_hands::person_in_bed:.

I guess thats the Cumulative Effect :thinking::woozy_face:. Not sure where the week went. :sleeping_face::sleeping_face::person_getting_massage::smiling_face_with_three_hearts:

Had a couple of mouth bleeds/tenderness :tongue::mouth:but NHS mouthwashes have helped. I needed to be right on the ball with it though. But sleeping so much was a tad of a hindrance as I kept forgetting to do it. Oops. :wink::heart::sleeping_face:

Now most of my hair has gone (no more hair cuts :barber_pole: will save a fortune :smiling_face_with_three_hearts:)….my nose​:nose: is definitely dryer and bled a tiny bit yesterday. :scream:So Ive used a Saline Spray to keep it moist…Sterimar. I then add a tiny bit of Vaseline to hold in the moisture. Seems to help. :thinking::heart:. No big nose bleeds to date. :crossed_fingers:

Think ive drank all the water in valleys and mountains :national_park::droplet::smiling_face_with_three_hearts:.

But actually got more creative as the week went on, as water got a bit boring. :hugs:. So ive had: lots of milk smoothies; juice smoothies; milk; juice; herbal teas; soup; Bovril; home made broth, and yes water. The smoothies really helped with taste/enjoying drinking. :glass_of_milk::beverage_box::bubble_tea::cup_with_straw::teacup_without_handle:. But the broth gave me fluids in my main meal. :steaming_bowl::pot_of_food::bowl_with_spoon:

I also read eating: water mellon; honey dew mellon; tomatoes; cucumbers; fruit etc, adds to the water intake. So im going to buy some of those next time. :kiwi_fruit::melon::tangerine::watermelon::strawberry::grapes::blueberries:

I avoid too much white bread as that bungs me up. :bread::baguette_bread::woozy_face::scream:. So, if I have white bread I also have lots of fruit and veg. :broccoli::avocado::leafy_green::banana::mango::carrot::cucumber: To date my body has coped OK.

Definitely had chemo brain fog more this time….forgetting names/words, muddling things up. :zany_face::face_with_monocle::exploding_head::face_with_spiral_eyes: Or is that just me and Im using chemo as an excuse :face_with_monocle::smiling_face_with_three_hearts::thinking: :rofl::joy:.

Nausea was on odd one…worse this time….:nauseated_face:. But it oddly went as soon as I ate :thinking:. I had all my anti sickness first 3 days, then probably 2 days of no more than 2 extra “as and when”, tablets. But in truth, eating light meals worked better.

Ive stayed off tea and coffee.

So all in all, its definitely been a tough week, fatigue wise, but I just gave into it. I tried to go shopping yesterday :shopping_cart:before my PICC cleaning, but had to call it off as I was struggling to walk round town. So I just went to the hospital :hospital:earlier and rested. :person_in_lotus_position::person_in_lotus_position:. Then got a yummy, freshly made, takeaway lunch from the hospitals lovely cafe. My Pamper Moment. :smiling_face_with_three_hearts:

My biggest “thank goodness” was having my freezer jammed with ready made meals, fruit for smoothies; having my cupboards jammed with cans, micro rice, dried fruit, nuts. Not having to make meals…just microwave/airfry, was a huge help.

So plan for next week….stock up. !!! :smiling_face_with_three_hearts::rofl:

Sending love and strength to all you lovely ladies and an extra special shout out to all you young mums. Who I think are beyond amazing having to go through chemo and look after children/teenagers. The strength you have is inspirational. :flexed_biceps::mechanical_arm::mechanical_leg::leg: :smiling_face_with_three_hearts::bouquet::bouquet::sunflower::rosette::people_hugging::heart:

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How are all you lovelies doing this weekend?

I’ve spent most of the week resting in bed with assorted bone pain and just crazy tiredness.

Highlight of my week has been developing a blood clot in my picc line arm. I ended up in A&E yesterday having an ultrasound and now I’m on blood thinning meds for the next three months to clear it. Nothing like adding to the endless meds :woman_facepalming:

Still tonight is my last injection for this cycle, so I’m looking forward to feeling better from Monday for a few days :raising_hands:

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Hi @alannah172 . Goodness that must have been scary. Seems a common problem with PICCS. Not sure how we can prevent them though. :thinking::people_hugging::heart:

Seems the blood thinners are the “go to”. :bouquet:

We just rattle these days dont we with all the meds :syringe::pill::test_tube::hospital::health_worker:. I would rarely take Ibuprofen or pain killers before cancer. :face_with_spiral_eyes::face_with_monocle::zany_face::nauseated_face:

You seem similar to me with fatigue :sleeping_face::sleeping_face::sleeping_face:. I hope this next week gives you some time to do Pamper Time. :smiling_face_with_three_hearts:

Ive just been for a drive in the car with my friend. It was liberating after a week of no driving. :automobile::minibus: The world is my oyster now. :heart:Traffic lights were soo exciting :vertical_traffic_light::horizontal_traffic_light:, I saw boats,:sailboat::speedboat: on the river, felt rain on my face :cloud_with_rain::sun_behind_rain_cloud::umbrella_with_rain_drops:. Nearly saw a rainbow :rainbow:but the rain stopped just as it tried to peep out. Then picked some broccoli for tea. :broccoli::broccoli: It was lovely. :heart:

Embrace the Fun, Have Fun, Find that Fun. :heart::heart::rofl::rofl::rofl:

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Been MIA had a child home with a sick bug :sob:. Actually feeling normal this weekend had my picc fitted yesterday however have had a very dry scabby nose that is super sore. Next chemo session is Monday.

My chemo diary wasn’t completed by the nurses either I might ask about it on monday! X

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Hello! Popping in from December…I was the lucky one too that got the blood clot around my picc after my first EC-any continued discomfort do talk to your team-mine never settled at all & was uncomfortable every single day it was in which the nurses just put down to the dressing pinching. I’ve been left with alot of swelling on my arm & damage to my vein below where the picc was which I’ve been told may never improve (I’m 10 weeks out). I do wish I had raised it properly but in the midst of chemo madness didn’t know to & just left it in-it never caused any issues to having chemo or taking blood through the line so I thought it was ok but I think removing the line could of saved me this damage so just mentioning it-I do hope yours is ok now you’ve got the blood thinners & that I was just very unlucky x

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Hi ladies,

Had my 2nd AC 2 days ago. Id say im alot better than 1st cycle, i have nexium for acid reflux and that has made a huge difference for me. Hoping I dont crash on monday when my steroids finish.

@allanah_c sorry to hear about ur picc clot, what were yout symptoms if u dont mind me asking? I have very prominent veins in my hand in that arm. But the picc is not causing any discomfort.

@poppy261 glad you got out for a drive, u are doing so well getting through this

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Hi @jordx90 sorry to hear u have a sick kid. Mine were sniffling during my first cycle and I was very stressed about catching it. I did get 2 slightly sore throats on different days but I managed thankfully and my bloods were ok.

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Thank you so much for your advice, I’ll definitely keep it in mind.

I’m so sorry your experience with it has now caused further issues, hopefully something may come good down the line.

Honestly this whole thing is a complete s£&t show!!!

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@want2beme great to hear you’re faring better round two, I found the symptoms the same, just ramped up.

I noticed that basically my bingo wing hurt, like it was bruised, but thought it might be muscle pain from the injections! It got worse and spread to just by the crook of my elbow, and seemed swollen and warm. I phoned the cancer helpline and they told me to get to hospital.

If you think there is pain that’s not quite like your usual pain, give the helpline a call and talk them through it.

Fingers crossed it doesn’t happen to you :crossed_fingers:

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Thanks @alannah172 i will keep an eye for anything like that. I feel like its a guessing game half the day when little thing pop up. I hope your doing ok and arent left in pain. Sure is a big sh1t show :woozy_face:

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So pleased @want2beme that this time round has been more manageable. :heart:

I think we are all doing so well considering how tough it really is. :smiling_face_with_three_hearts::bouquet::flexed_biceps:

I will be thinking of you on Monday/Tuesday hoping you dont crash after the steroids. :people_hugging:Although I have to say I didnt notice any big change after the steroids. :thinking: I was just consistently, well and truly pooped for the week :sleeping_face::sleeping_face::zany_face::rofl::person_shrugging:.

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