Love to all sleep well ?
Hello everyone,
I just wanted to say hi, as I’ve been reading the thread everyday, and I think is what’s kept me going - thank you ?
I’m due my 2nd FEC 100 on Thursday, so starting to feel a little anxious, as the first one really knocked me & I felt awful.
I don’t feel that supported by my team either, so I’m really grateful for this, as talking to Mum Dad & my sister about it is difficult.
I tried the cold cap for my first FEC, and am still undecided if I’ll do it again, or just know that my hair will fall out. It’s been coming out today when I run my fingers through my hair, and I’ve had times of fizzing follicles, so I’m not sure if it has worked - is it a bit of thinning that you cAn expect with cold cap, or is my hair falling out? I don’t know!!!
I’m really hoping my next chemo isn’t as bad as the first - I felt so faint, breathless, nauseous and so fatigued. I was expecting the fatigue and nausea and vomiting, but not to feel so awful. I really found it hard to eat and drink, and even have the antisickness tablets!
I was diagnosed with grade 2/3 IDC in the summer. I had a WLE with ANC and then a reexcision as didn’t have clear margins. After being told before the op my lymph nodes looked unaffected, they found 23/26 removed had cancer in. The report said that it had extracspsular spread too - I’ve no idea what that means but it doesn’t sound too good. I’m ER+ve and HER2 -ve.
Anyway, just wanted to say hi and thank you. Let’s do this together - we can all do it ???
Thank you Lesley.
Yes, am seeing the onc (finally!) on Tuesday so will ask loads of questions then - I have all sorts of things written down ready!!
Is it normal to feel that rough with the chemo? I did say I wouldn’t do it again but then I got really frightened about the future. I’m only mid 30s and terrified.
The other thing I’ve been wondering about is whether you can have chemo every 2 weeks rather than 3, as after the first week or so I felt ok and I just want this over & done with - like us all.
Thank you for the hug, and the giggles on the thread - it really does help 
Hi Poppywheel so sorry you find yourself here 
I have my third FEC on Thursday and am starting to get nervous as I too have a pretty strong reaction to it. After my first one my Onc prescribed lorazepam in advance of chemo (night before and morning before) so that it would reduce any anxiety and any anticipatory sickness. It did work and made chemo day less stressful but I would say didn’t reduce my subsequent issues that much (my other meds were tweaked too but the fact is my body just hates FEC and GCSF). If they haven’t already maybe let your onc know how you are feeling so that they can look at what other meds might support you? ? Hug too from me. Hope you have had some good days too
I have received copies of every letter sent from oncology team and surgeon to my doctors so if you need to see things in writing to try and get your head around things ask for copies too I didn’t have to ask I just think it’s the way my authority do things
If I had questions after receiving letters I rang bc nurses who are fab but I agree do not use google a lot of the facts and figures on there are outdated
My daughter is 26 and my son is 21 and I told them not to google either and to read my official letters or ask me or come to appointments but I know my son has looked on google by some of the questions he has asked
I really agree with the friend thing some step up and some disappearing fast but then I guess that means they are just ‘good time’ friends and they needn’t come back when I am out the other side
I have had kindness shown from some of the most unlikely places and take the live and support from where ever it’s offered
I am October chemo starter but also look at September to get tips and come here in the hope that I can pass on some of the support I have recieved from them to the November starters by ‘paying it forward ‘
We are all strong women who can do this with the love and support of each other, where in real life can we discuss ? and lady tufts after all ?x
Hugs ? to one and all xx
Poppy as Ruth says speak to your onc about the SE in detail, they don’t anyone suffering unnecessarily so they’ll do all they can to help you thru this.
I’m glad you’re got all your questions written down, make sure you write the answers down too and don’t let them rush you!
I’ve found the nurses in the chemo unit to be angels, have you spoken to them??
I too was ready for the next round after 2 weeks but they know what they’re doing. 2nd round for me on Thursday too - I’ll hold your hand!!!
Xx
Hello Poppywheel x I’m not cold capping so not sure, but ladies who are say to persevere with it; you will lose some hair, but eventually it stops falling out. Even if not … I’m sporting a new Sinead O’Connor / Demi Moore / Kate Blanchet looks now we can do it ???
I’m going for my 2nd chemo on Tuesday, Lesley is going the day after, aren’t you Lesley? This forum has been my life saver ??? as I’m all alone in this with two young daughters xxxx
You’re in great company xxxx we all understand your worries and feelings, good you’ve decided to join ?
Hi Poppywheel
So sorry that you find yourself here too but as everyone has said we are here to support each other.
I am a week behind you with my second FEC on the 7th December. I am cold capping and hoping to stick with it I am expecting that my hair will thin and that I will get patches but I am hoping it is manageable.
The sickness meds that I had and appear to work okay, did feel rough for a while though are EMEND and ondansetron.
Big hugs Carole x
My first official outing… I’m off to Wales to present to the exec board of a health board!
It’s windy and rainy … so I’ve decided to travel without the wig!!
I’ll stuck it on when I get there!!
The bag that my Liz Earle hair goodies arrived in has made the ideal travel bag for Wendy The Wig!
Wish me luck!! ?
I have been following you lovely ladies for a week or so as I have my 1st FEC this Thursday so only just a November starter. You are an amazing bunch and I feel more informed than any leaflets they hand you.
I’m ER+ and HER2+ SNB clear so will start herceptin after chemo. Have a meeting with the pharmacist this morning to discuss the different options for treatment. I found it hard being told different variations and almost ‘you choose’. I was put off starting the docetaxel from cycle 4 by his ‘possible permanent heart/lung damage risk’ chat. Also I have really severe sweats from stopping HRT instantly and I’m finding that so difficult to deal with. I have tried sage and Gabapentin and the magnet in your pants but nothing works. I am dripping wet a big chunk of each day, it is so unsociable and embarrassing. Has anyone tried anything else?
Tomorrow is wig appointment day (dreading it before I go, hoping I will be surprised by quality but they give me the eebygeebee’s) but decided not to try cold cap and will go with hats/scarves but wig so my mum who has altzheimers still recognised me. I have a telephone assessment for acupuncture that Maggies arranged to see if that will help the sweats. Busy busy.
Hope you all are ok on your next round.?x
Good luck Lesley, I find that Wales is often very wet and windy x
Good luck today Lesley ??as long as you’ve not put the wig on top of the hoodie like that photo ???otter, glad you have support from daughters. Hope your oh turns a corner and is able to find he is able to support you more on this journey. ??
shi xx
Morning everyone
Just wanted to say thank you to everyone for such a warm welcome
Let’s hope today is a good day for us all
Today has started ok as I still have head hair - yippee. It’s quite stressful though not knowing if it’s staying or going :/.
You ladies do make me giggle too - thank you
Take care ladies & good luck.
Hello Ladies, I’m due to start chemo in December and am after a bit of advice concerning wigs. Have any you ordered online and if so can you recommend a website?
I have ordered a wig from simplywigs.co.uk but I am now starting to believe this is a scam site in China. I’m currently pursueing it with the credit card company and Paypal. Seems there are a number of sites that appear to be in the UK but are not.
Any advice would be much appreciated.
Thank You xx
Hi rabbit I went to a specialist shop as they have special soft insides for hair loss where as some of the ones just if internet might not be as forgiving on a bald head
You should be entitled to s wig voucher which you will get from onco team or breast nurses and this can be used to put towards wig but they will advise you of where they are accepted
Xx
Hi rabbit
I’ve bought from simply wigs and they’ve been fine. I’ve also used Joseph wigs.
I’ve done it all online. I did get a liner cap as well and shampoo conditioner etc.
I’ve been pleased with my purchases
Xx
Lesley can you use wig vouchers on line? X
I was too scared to just buy on line as I wanted to try them on first xx
Sorry sue I don’t know. I’ve not been given a voucher ?
I’ve had some good ones off amazon for under 20 quid too, short pixie ones. I’m getting posh wig after chemo as I didn’t want the posh expensive one to remind me of the chemo bit of this journey, this is my chrysalis phase of the journey if that makes sense, ??shi xx
Lesley I believed everyone is entitled to one perhaps ask your team though value varies between authorities
I am in Birmingham and mine was worth £105 x