Hi all,
I’m on day 17 after having first of 3 EC noticed hair thinning on day 15 and today really noticed how much was shedding !! I did cold cap so was hoping would be minimal loss but not to be ? Have wig ready but just not sure if I’m ready to "brave the shave yet " ?? xx
Tracy
Traceybev
You will know when you are ready
I just couldn’t bear finding it everywhere and when I showered well it was just coming away
I cried when we shaved it short but within an hour I was over it
And now I just don’t care
Round two of EC today then I’m half way through EC , dreading the next week and half now I know what to expect xx
Thanks for the comments - it’s nice to know others are going through the same thing, even if I wish you weren’t. Hair now cut down to a centimetre but still coming out.Not as horrifying as having a hairbrush full of hair. I have a selection of hats but I haven’t tried the wig yet, it still feels odd.Eyebrows and eyelashes still there but my eyes have been really runny and sore. Bloods and swabs today in readiness for round 2 on Wednesday. Fingers crossed that it isn’t too bad.xx
Doesn’t feel less hurtful when you don’t brush your hair and have to clean up all the bits that come out
Number two done now I’m officially half way through my EC ??xx
Hi anitmth, thanks for your comment about the portacath, booked in to do it Friday and wondering whether to funk out as hard to face more medical procedures when I’m still suffering from 1st chemo session. However breastcare nurse and the one who looked after me during chemo both thought it would be a less stressful option for me, seeing as how worked up I was getting. So I think I will just take the plunge and hopefully have it easier in the long term.
Hi everyone!! Got out of hospital yesterday after having 2 days on intravenous antibiotics for a suspected chest infection but not confirmed as I feel absolutely fine ? Saw my oncologist yesterday and get said if he had been on when I went in on Saturday he wouldn’t have kept me in after thoroughly checking me over. As I’m on the trial I think the consultant who saw me Saturday panicked and knew my oncologist was due in on the Monday so kept me until he saw me. A bit of a farce but was well looked after and better to be safe than sorry I suppose. Just on my way for my 3rd treatment in as many weeks for Paclitaxel only. Apart from the tiredness and even my little trip to hospital I’ve felt fine for the last week. Day 14 and noticed my hair shedding after I washed it this morning ? I had long hair and had it cut into a short bob a couple of weeks ago so it wouldn’t be as traumatic but think it still will be no matter how short your hair is. Got scarves, hats and wig at the ready. I even purchased a clip on fringe to clip onto my hats. Ready for every eventuality. Take care everyone xx
Glad to hear your back home and feeling well juzcooper. Saw my oncologist today and because of my abcess she has deferred my second cycle of EC to next week which has completely buggered up my plans but hey ho that’s life! Still got my hair but if I play with it, which I have a tendency to do I get some strands coming out so got my wig voucher today, just in case. Hope all of you who are on your 2nd or 3rd cycle are doing OK:heart:
I had cycle 2 last Wednesday and have felt so ill till today. Had the shivers Thursday and Friday, the unit sent me straight to A&E, I’ve got to say they were brilliant, got through super fast with every examination going, the concern was sepsis, but thank god, every thing came back ok, clearly the drugs had a worse affect than the 1st time.
I started eating today, just very little bits, so it doesn’t go through me again. I feel exhausted and I’ve lost 3lb since last week.
The worst bit has been the emotional roller coaster, I never cry, but that’s all I’ve done since last Wednesday, just couldn’t stop, even my community nurse said I looked really ill, believe me, my face has been white until yesterday, I looked in the mirror and it was like a ghost looking back.
This has been so difficult compaired to the 1st cycle, I hope the 3rd one is not as bad.
Can’t believe I’ve got nine months of this.
Thanks for all your comments and glad to be home and feeling okay ?
Hi pinklily. So sorry you’ve had such a bad time of it and fingers crossed your next cycle is kinder to you xx
Hi Harkes. Glad to be home and my 3rd treatment, end of 1st cycle on this trial, went well yesterday and feel okay today. Mind you, I slept through half of it after the premeds ? A bit of a pain having to put your treatment back but it’s what’s best for you at this moment in time and you’ll be back on track in no time ? xx
Hi Lisa. Yes, the injections are the devil ? Although, after last weekends admission it’s shown my white cells are sky high with having them which could have resulted in my high temperature! So they’ve dropped me down to just 2 instead of 3 this week, so we’ll see what effect that has. Got use to injecting myself but don’t like the aching legs, hips and back ? It’s not unbearable is it just god damn annoying. Nothing a couple of paracetamol doesn’t cure by just taking the edge off. Not looking forward to next Tues as will you be about Friday I bet ? Altho, I didn’t have any bad side effects after both drugs it was the 4 day hangover feeling I didn’t find very pleasant but again managable, slept through most of it. Good luck for Friday and keep me posted how you’re getting on xx
Take care everyone ? xx
Hi all, Pinklily sorry you’re having a hard time again. Think the psychological weight of the sessions to come is so hard to handle, just have to tick them off. I’m still feeling mega rough and I’m only on Day 7 of my 1st. Thought I would be feeling a bit better by now but still really nauseous and weak. Yesterday all I could do was curl up in a ball in bed. Today I’ve managed to get up and shower but just drying myself off seemed like a feat! Encouraged by those of you who mention work, really hoping I can think about that soon as I would mean I would be feeling more normal. Just discovered the joy of lime cordial which I haven’t had since I was a child, water tasted like it had come straight from a mine so much nicer.
Hi ladies
How are you all doing
I’m day 5 post cycle two and well just rough as, I thought this one may be kinder to me but nope, today I want to just give up x
Hi ladies, hope you’re doing ok? I’ve made it to the 7 day marker since my first chemo this time last week so I’m a bit behind some of you. I’m pleased I’ve made it through the first week though and doing ok. I had my best day yesterday where I seemed to have lots of energy (fortunate really as my daughter was off school). I had been going stir crazy after feeling exhausted the previous 2 days so even a short walk lifted my spirits.
Unfortunately I had a bit of a wobbly start and on Monday had to go on to the day unit to be checked over (including a chest xray) as I was recording high temperatures so they have put me on a general antibiotic. I agree it’s a good idea to have an overnight bag packed as I hadn’t done this so when they told me to bring one I had to pull everything together just before we left. Fortunately it wasn’t needed!
Temperatures now normal (I’m still wondering if I had a dodgy thermometer so have a new one now!!!) I’ve not enjoyed the injections much but found a coping strategy doing them before bed, taking paracetomol before and a hot water bottle as I had bad aches after the one on Tues.
So now I’ve taken the next step of booking my appointment at the local wig shop and will go with my mum next week. It’s been in business since the 1960s so have been joking with friends that I may end up with a beehive! I still have my hair in a bob so going to decide next week about cutting it really short. It’s really good to hear all your tips and how you’ve been coping with the hair loss aspect as think this will be really hard.
Take care over the weekend. xxx
Hi Lou
The hair loss I dreaded , I had mine cut short for me before chemo then about day 17 post first cycle I went to a number three with a few tears ,
Well now I don’t care , well I don’t leave the house without my hat , haven’t worn my wig yet , but I will not panic if friends come round , I found my head was a little sore/ painful at times when it started falling out , but it soon eased of
One odd thing is what I have left has gone nearly white blonde , my husband said it’s loke living with Eminem hair lol
X
Hi Lou, I am on day 19 post my first cycle, got my next one on Tuesday, this past week I have felt practically normal apart from still some discomfort with my temporary implant, i’m hoping that my next cycle follows the same pattern and then I will know I can plan things for my week 3. For hair loss I used the cold cap and so far so good but I haven’t actually lost any hair not foo or legs so i’m not sure if the cold cap has worked or not, it could all just come later for me, so maybe it’s worth not being too hasty with the crop, just in case you are lucky and get a few extra weeks with hair - I think maybe chemo in winter is better than summer at least we won’t look too odd in our beanies! Hope everyone’s weekend is good ?
Hows everyone doing this fine Saturday? I started c2 yesterday and decided to stop cold capping. Was a hard decision to make as although my hair has come out loads, I have so much of it you would never know! I probably should have persevered with it but the thought of doing another 9 weekly sessions then 3, 3 weekly sessions was just too much for me. It’s not the cold, it 's how heavy it was and how miserable and disorientated it made me, the whole chemo session was 100% better without it. I have brought my wig a long GHD styled layered look in toffee peacan, makes me look loads younger so massive bonus ? Just need to see how hair loss goes now before braving the shave ? Have crimbo dinner with the work crew on Thursday so might need to be sooner rather than later or I’ll be eating chicken liver pate with a portion of hair on the side!?
Juzcooper1971, oncology appointment was promising, we have some shrinkage so good start. After the carboplatin and paclitaxol yesterday, feel totally fine, no nausea so far which is good. Will be those pesky injections starting tomorrow that bugger me up ?
Take care everyone Lisa xxx
Morning!! Day 19 today and feeling good. Well, I braved the shave yesterday ? My husband shaved it to a number 4. I got fed up with it shedding and being all over the house. I did have a cry I wouldn’t be human if I didn’t. Just find it so unfair that I’m feeling okay with the treatment and sometimes forget I’m poorly but this is now a constant reminder everytime I look in the mirror ? Altho, it’s a small price to pay and it’s not forever. I braved going out in my wig yesterday and was paranoid at first but then realised nobody was actually looking at me and had a lovely afternoon.
Hey Lisa, I saw the oncologist on Friday and I have shrinkage too! Not bad after just one cycle, I’m chuffed to bits and bet you are too. I knew it had as my lump was quite prominent and has also stopped aching. Makes it worth while knowing the treatment is working. I did ask that if after week 12 and an MRI scan and it has gone would I still have to have the 3 EC’s. I was hoping she’d say no but no such luck and wishful thinking on my part. The full treatment has to happen especially with being on the trial too. How are you feeling today? I was expecting to feel rubbish next Tues after the Carb and Pac but you’very given me a bit of hope now ? I wasn’t too bad to be fair after the first lot just the 4 day hangover feeling which was managable.
Take care everyone xxxx
Hi everyone,
I’m on day 5 of chemo for grade 3 breast cancer, which has spread to the lymph nodes. Undergoing EC chemo x 4, then further chemo, surgery and radiotherapy. It looks likely I have the mutation in the BRCA 2 gene. I’m 33 and do not have anyone looking after me properly, I have a sister who lives in a different city, and I have friends and a flatmate but can’t fully rely on any of them, am feeling very alone and scared. I work full time but can;t get out of bed currenty due to nausea and tiredness and dizziness. Can’t think straight and I can’t understand what’s happening to me. It feels like everyone’s been sugar coating the whole future for me, telling me,‘the chemo won;t be that bad’, or, you should be able to keep your job up etc… right now it’s taking all my effort to lift my arms to type this and I have months of this ahead of me. I am stuggling to see how I can get through this. I’ve called the acute oncology number to tell them I am still feeling sick and tired and they suggested I wait it out a few more days, but I’m sinking into a hole and I don’t want to loose my mind…
Emily I am so sorry you are having such a rough time. Do you have the number of your Breast Care nurse? I would ring her as soon as possible. Another source of help would be Macmillan or your local cancer charity centre. You are not alone in how you feel, but you must get some help. Btw, I don’t think you have been given the correct advice from your chemo helpline. I would ring again!! Lots of love and hugs Kxxx
Well I’m finally feeling well enough to post on the forum. Today is day 12 after my 2nd c, I never imagined it would hit me so hard, I really did get away with it lightly on the 1st c, had the chemo on the Wed and by the Saturday I felt more like my old self, this time, it felt like I’d been hit by a sledge hammer. To make matters worse my emotions have been a roller coaster ride and ladies, I’m a bit of a control freak regarding my emotions, I only ever cry at Lassie films, so don’t watch them.
I wonder if anyone else has allowed irrational emotions to influence thier decision about having further chemo treatment. I won’t bore you with all the details, but restrictions of not being able to dance and other things, seem to be taunting me to throw in the towel. Today of course I’m back on the level, thank goodness, and realise how irrational my thoughts were. It did’nt help I just kept crying all the time, every day all day, for no reason.
I’ve only ever had flu once, I was so ill and the chemo made me feel like I had flu, all day every day. I was only able to eat dry cream crackers and rice biscuets for seven days, started eating soup on day eight and by day 10, I was back to normal.
Now my brain has gone into overdrive and I’m going mad blanching veg for the freezer and other mad hatter things, almost trying to make up for lost time.
I’ve got to say, the nurses at the chemo unit are wonderful, so careing and kind, even my community nurse who gives me my injections is a wonder and spares time to help with questions and always gives me a big hug and says how well I’m doing. I’ve not seen or heard anything from my bcn since just after my op, when she mis diagnosed me as not having an infection in my wound and it was infected.
Does anyone else get support from there bcn?
I love reading how a lot of ladies on here are getting support from their families and friends, it gives me a feel good factor for them, but feel sad for those that are on their own, I just want to rap my arms around you.
If anyone had said a year ago I would be going through this, I would have thought, no I’ve got too many things I want to do next year, I won’t have time to get cancer. But what it has revealed is the truth about those who said they cared about me and the surprise of those who hardly know me but have stepped forward to offer support, even complete strangers.
When I think about giving up chemo, I read about those of you who have young children and how you are working through this and think, if these mums can do it, then so can I.
I so admire you all and even though our daughter has turned her back on us, my freind said, what about all the hedgehogs you look after, they need you, you can’t give up on them.
My doctor told me to eat loads of green veg, it helps raise the white count, when I’ve finished all this next year, I’m going to look like a cabbage, spring green or kale, but it does work and so far both times, by count has been high, but I do draw the line at brussel sprouts.
Has anyone on here, who does sewing, carried on, I want to get my machine out and make some tunics, but the nurse at the unit said she has concerns about injury with needles etc to my hands and can you give any advise?
I am so glad I have you all to talk too, on the days when I feel I’m totally alone, I read your posts and feel just a little bit better.
Emily I am so sorry you are having such a rough time. Do you have the number of your Breast Care nurse? I would ring her as soon as possible. Another source of help would be Macmillan or your local cancer charity centre. You are not alone in how you feel, but you must get some help. Btw, I don’t think you have been given the correct advice from your chemo helpline. I would ring again!! Lots of love and hugs Kxxx