Thinking of you all starting chemo very soon, or in progress.
Strength in the many. 
We CAN certainly do this. Feel the fear and bash it out of the way. 
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Thank you @poppy261 
Absolutely the spirit and the energy we need!
I even took a little inspiration from your bravery and got my hair cut shorter, now above my shoulders! All feeling a lot more real now it’s so near
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Well done you @daffodil_dream for braving another haircut.
I dont regret getting mine cut.
Will be thinking of you on Friday much love and hugs sent your way. Xxx
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Thanks for your lovely messages . Deep deep down in the back of my mind I too fear its already spread but not visible on scans or not causing enough trouble to be symptomatic yet. But im staying positive 99.9% of the time. I actually feel like its a 2nd chance at life in some small way, the same week i received my diagnosis my brothers best friend died unexpectedly. He didnt get a chance to fight, I have that chance.
Hoping we can manage the chemo so close together and have a few good days in between at the very least. The chemo seems to come armed with supplies to combat all sorts of side effects so we will be well looked after. Plenty of rest for us, and hopefully lots of sunny days over the summer to brighten our moods.
Well done on making a start on the hair. Ive the fuzziest curliest turning grey hair that I dont think I will miss too much. Hoping it grows back straight and a lovely brown 
. Booked an appointment to try some wigs and get some caps this weekend.
Great idea about having a bag ready in case a trip to hospital is needed. Il take that advice. Il be getting the dreaded Picc line too, ive small veins and also cant use the side where lymph nodes were removed. Dreading that to be honest.
Will be thinking of you on Friday @daffodil_dream , it will be over before u know it xxx and u can give us all the tips.
S
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You are right @want2beme , it is a second chance. It gives us time to really think about what matters. To cherish the smaller nicer things in life. Rather than pushing for huge and expensive.
They say Lobular is slow growing and hormone sensitive. So Im hoping the hormone treatment will starve any remaining pesky micro cells until they shrivel up and no longer exist.
My friend loves travelling the world. Whereas I love staying local. My friend spends hours caught up in Customs Red Tape. I just get in my car and travel. Britain is a beautiful place. Ireland is stunning. Im happy to see the beauty on my doorstep.
Im sorry to hear about your brothers best friend. He, and his family must miss him deeply. So young as well. Life pulls its punches and we have to try and work with the cards we are given. Not easy. Often not fair.
Its fine to get angry, as well as embrace positives. Im a firm believer in grumbles being allowed and respected. We are human. Things hurt.
Lets be ready to be here when we have bad days as well as good. Im more than happy to hear about the awful bits.
I hope you find some good wigs to try. Only pick the one you really like though. If its not there dont choose it. Although I have got a cheap one for the garden. Must remember the 50+ sunscreen as well 
sooo many things to remember. 
I wear bands and hats to keep my wigs in place as they can be unpredictable. 
. They actually look better with hairbands and hats.
Ive also bought some beautiful silk scarves for tender head days. Ive been practising how to tie them. Getting there, I think .
You give those adorable mini people lots of cuddles. You never know having chemo days may mean instead of rushing around like a headless chicken doing housework, you will have a perfect reason to just sit on the sofa and enjoy watching films together, chatting more and hugging more. 
Thinking of you all. 
Good luck for Friday @daffodil_dream
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Poppy re silk scarves. They stay on if you have enough hair to ancor them. If you lose Ìt they slip off. Best worn over something like a Bold beanie cap.
An alternative that does stay on are cotton scarves, suburban turban sell some very good self gripping textured pure cotton head-wrapping scarves that are cool to wear without leaving your head chilled. Range of nice block colours. You can also use one as an under scarf and jazz it up with a silk one over the top.
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That’s a wonderful perspective @want2beme - to truly appreciate what matters most and not to get so hung up about the little things
Truly sorry for your loss in the family, especially at a time like this. You’re absolutely right that you have this chance to fight back 
You’re so right, really solid advice to utilise the medicines we’re given to manage any affects - and to use the emergency helpline too for if we need that extra help
Planning on having a small bag to take to my sessions with a snack and entertainment supply to keep me distracted 
But also have another overnight bag to one side just in case of any additional hospital visits - a very handy tip from a previous monthly forum Means my partner doesn’t have to rush around gathering things up.
Sending my best wishes for your PICC fitting - it must be quite daunting! I’m sure you will be in expect hands and they will make sure you’re comfortable. The March Starters forum had some great insights for their experiences and various tips to look after your PICC too, if you haven’t read them already.
Thank you both so much for the well wishes!! I’ll be sure to pass on any extra information and tips I get from my first treatment It’s such a comfort to know I have my May cheerleaders in my pocket - absolutely agree that I’m happy to be here for the good and the bad days. Absolutely going to utilise the outdoors and enjoy what we have on our doorsteps (with factor 50 of course!)
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Thanks for that @wibbles I never thought of that.
My problem is I struggle with cotton if I get eczema/sore skin. Even with emollients. All the cotton gloves I was advised to get were like sandpaper to my skin 
. The only gloves that helped were the silk ones.
So Im trying to think of alternatives.Mmmm. I do have a wig gripper band that I could try. 
. But I guess I wont really know what works until all my hair goes. 
I have bought some cotton chemo hats and some stretchy night caps from Oncology. The night caps are lighter, and different colours so I could try those underneath. But they are nylon mix . Which should be OK if my scalp isnt sore. But not sure if my skin is tender. The cotton chemo are all very thick double layered. I was concerned hot days in Summer could be a challenge. 
Im stuck with online, as I never do online. Long story . However, some suppliers do do orders over the phone, so I shall have another search.
Goodness there is such a lot to think about. I think we should do an IQ test after all this. Our minds will be so pumped up with problem solving grey matter, we could end up geniuses .
The great thing is, it stops me thinking about the actual chemo. . If chemo slips in then I think of chocolate 
Go girl @daffodil_dream . You’ve cracked this. 
Cheerleader support group at the ready.
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Poppy, Bold beanies are single layer chemotheraphy hats.
Suburban Turban make silk and bamboo scarves but you might need to find a headband you can tolerate that the silk scarves can grip onto. Bamboo scarves can also be a bit slippy.
Hope. you manage to fine some suitable chemo headwear that is silk to wear. watch out for the linings. the Charm Chemotheraphy Sun hat which is organic cotton lined can be worn over a silk scarf. I wear mine over a Bold Beanie or a loose tied cotton suburban turban cotton headscarf.
You could try Dermasilk if you do need a silk base layer between your skin and outer wear. (Good grief its not cheap and to think I thought organic cotton eczema clothing was a bit pricey) Good luck.
Thankyou sooo much @wibbles .
I will certainly look into all of these. 
. Its such an unknown. So many … What Ifs. Xxx
I wore a front fastening cotton shirt after my mastectomy. Within days my right upper arm was soooo tender. . After lymph removal.
I tried putting a large surgical bandage over the skin that was tender, but that created a flare up between the edges of the bandage and my skin. Weird.. it didnt flare up with the adhesive. 
, just the edge.
Then I tried crepe bandages. They kept slipping down.
So I ended up buying a silk shirt from M&S. Cost two weeks shopping bill !!! £90. But the difference was worth it.
Cancer is sooo expensive. ,
I will be bankrupt by the end of all this.
Jumping on to say hi and wish you all well for treatment!
I start chemo next Wednesday - 4 x 2 weekly EC then 4 x 2weekly Paclitaxel. Nervous about being floored as I have a 19 month old. My husband has set up a group chat (I’m not in it 
) with friends and family so he can keep them updated if I’m not up to messaging or phoning loads of people and also so he can ask for help if we need it. They had a similar one for when my mother in law was going through treatment and it worked really well.
Got my waist length hair chopped into a short bob (13” off to The Little Princess Trust), eyebrows have been tattooed, work reorganised, ordered everything I think I might need and the freezer is full. My peer worker said she lived on ice lollies when her mouth was sore and everything tasted weird so weve stocked up on them too.
Lets do this I guess?!
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Good look for today @daffodil_dream sending you huge amounts of love and hugs.
Goodness @neonnomad going through all this with a teeny tiny tot. Total respect .
Welcome to the May group.
And Wow! You have planned for everything as well. 
. You are amazing girl.
What a good idea to donate your hair. Mine was too split ended to be of any use. So Ive kept it in a plait instead .
You are on the same plan as me. Mine starts on Friday. 
.
Strength sent to us all. We will need it. Ive heard mixed experiences on our plan. Some sail through, others not as easy. Fingers crossed our bodies are sea worthy boats, and are in the ‘sail through it’ group. 
Will be thinking of you on Wednesday.
What a great idea having a Support Group set up with family and friends. That is a must with tiny tots.
Thanks for sharing ice lolly aid. My freezer is jammed with pre cooked meals, but I may just try and squeeze some lollies in a corner.
I was plagued with mouth ulcers as a child. As an adult I realised they were triggered alot by sugar sweets. 
Boiled being the worst ones. 
So Im hoping if I keep sugar intake low it may help a tiny bit. In theory. But chemo hits from within so time will tell.
You make sure you get some rest between now and Wednesday. Huge shout out to your husband for being so lovely and looking after you so well. 
Xxx
Thank you so much @poppy261 Really appreciate your well wishes - will keep you all posted with how session one goes!!
Also welcome to our cheerleading squad @neonnomad - sending you all the positivity. You sound so organised already
Cheerleading Team already rooting for you. Xxx
Hello everyone!
Recently diagnosed (March 26) and due to start chemo on the 13th of May! Thankfully, it’s a Wednesday not a Friday!!
In phase 1, I am due to have weekly paclitaxel, and 3 weekly Carboplatin [and Pembrolizumab] - I am triple negative, with node involvement. In phase 2 of chemo it will be EC [+ Pembro]. Then I will have my surgery, and then more Pembro…
Scary stuff and not looking forward to it at all, but it has to happen!
I was planning on still working (from home) for the first lot of chemo, but have no idea how I will feel when treatment starts!
I am having my port fitted on the 6th and then ready to start…
I have had to have a tooth extraction and hoping it heels p.d.q! So it doesn’t jeopardise my chemo start date!!
I have filled the freezer with bits of batch cooking and thinking of cold capping. But because it’s weekly for something or other not sure if I will keep the cold capping up…Is anyone else cold capping on a weekly chemo cycle? If so how are you finding it?
Also has anyone thought about asking for acupuncture too, to help with any side effects like nausea??
Xx
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Welcome to the May Starters @drella74 . You sound as if you are having a tough time, but marching through it. Well done for filling freezer etc. It takes some prepping, but worth it in the long run.
Fingers crossed your tooth heals quickly. Ive had 3 wisdom teeth out in the past. My memory was they healed pretty quickly. Within a week/ two weeks I felt a lot better. Hoping you will be the same. I remember Ice cream being very soothing. 
Hope the port goes in easily on the 6th. . We will all be thinking of you.
My chemo starts on Friday. PICC going in on Thursday.
Re Acupuncture, I would check with Oncology. I think the main thing is hygiene, due to chemo making us more susceptible to infections. Therapists have to be more vigilant when giving the treatment to chemo patients. I had acupuncture years ago. I remember being sore for a week, which confused me as I know other people who love it and had no pain. So do your research. Its a very individual choice.
I considered Cold Capping but after reading up about it I was happy ( you get my gist) to just let my hair fall out. I had my hair cut into a Pixie, to get ready for the inevitable hair loss associated with my chemo plan.
I was thinking I would keep all my hair if I Cold Capped but found out that is not guaranteed. For some “yes”, for others they seem to have a % of hair remain. So its a very personal choice. And again, after reading up on success rates, you will then be in a better position to decide.
I also heard it can add on another hour or two to the chemo session. Being a person who will just want to get home asap, that also swayed me to choose against it.
But I think with everything around cancer, everyone reacts in so many different ways to the Treatments that the best advice, is to get fully informed. Then go with your GUT feeling. There is certainly no one-size-fits-all.
I guess you dont lose out if you try, but just be prepared it may not work. Someone posted that they were advised to sit with a bag of peas on their head, wrapped up in a towel to prevent frostbite, to see if they could tolerate the cold. 
. But again I would check with Oncology before doing anything like that. I like being comfortably warm .
Xxx
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Hello Poppy261 
Yea- I want to try cold capping but I didn’t realise I would be having weekly infusions! So I am not sure if I will keep it - as - like you say - it extends the treatment day… I’ll give it a go
I will speak to oncology team- wanted NHS acupuncture so that it is clinical and linked to treatment, but defo don’t want any infections!!!
Good luck on Thursday too, and please let us know how your treatment goes on Friday! I am going to look at wigs on Friday so I will defo be thinking about you!
Thanks @drella74 . D-Days come too quick .
I think, so long as you run everything through your Oncologist then at least, if there was a concern, they can talk it through with you. There are so many variables with different plans. Good to do wider research first about add-on Treatments, then go to Oncology fully informed with the final question (is this OK) .
NHS acupuncture sounds like a safe option 
. Anything that makes chemo easier has to be a good thing.
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