Annakarenina I am also having my first treatment on Thursday - we can hold hands and jump in the deep end together :smileyhappy:
I had my long hair cut off this week in preparation - everyone says it looks great, but I’m not feeling the love, but I actually think that it will help in a weird way - I wont be as bother when it all disappears. I have some wigs (went slightly OTT on the purchasing) and some bamboo ‘hats’ as well for around the house.
I work for myself and tend to work from home so I will be trying to do as much as I can over the coming weeks - but listening to my body at the same time.
There is one office that I do a lot of work with and I popped in to see them last week, we had a giggle about my hair going short but thought it was a bit odd when they asked if I would let them know when I lost in completely … turns out that 8 of the guys in the office are going to shave their heads to join me in my bald moment!! I know its different for blokes, but 5 of them are younger and have lovely hair and are very up there with the fashion … I was so touched.
Bizarrely, BC has restored my faith in mankind … people have been so kind and thoughtful.
I live alone, I only see my partner at the weekends but he is only a phone call away.
My son is in London and very busy with work. I worry he is struggling to deal with this, his partner lost her mum in June with pancreatic cancer, I found my lump 2 weeks later. But we have had some very honest conversations about where I am and likely outcomes. And he knows I will continue to be honest with him.
Sorry about the Sunday morning brain dump - but I am one of those annoying people who finds it catharic to get things ‘down on paper’. I am sure as the chemo brain cuts in I will dry up.
Have a lovely Sunday - I hope the sun is shining on you as brightly as it is in Kent :smileylol:
The getting things down on paper side is what we’re here for ?.
I’m finding my hair loss strangely amusing. I went from shoulder length bob to pixie cut which I loved to shaved to 1cm. I’m day 12 post cycle 2 and look like a very moth eaten teddy bear if I’m being kind to myself or something from The Witches if I’m not! A lot of my hair loss has happened in the last week. It was loose from day 17 of cycle one though.
Hope SE are being kind to you all and that you are enjoying the crisp weather this weekend. Try to get out for a short walk each day, it is very mood boosting helps the blood circulation to prevent clots forming and helps with both fatigue and sleep. You won’t feel like it but will feel better for it xx
Hello All! ? Finally have my head above water for a day and am enjoying food today. Nausea manageable, horrible taste in mouth and I’m thirsty all the time but no longer flat on my back. Victory!! I actually think my antiemetics were knobbling me as I’ve been slightly more with it since I’ve cut them down… I’ll have a chat to onc about it as I went home with dexamethason, ondansetron, domperidone and aprepitant, so someone was clearly expecting me to have a rough time. One of them, I suspect Ondansetron, was making me very ? in the daytimes
Great work getting ready for chemo, I did the same thing and very glad I did as it made this week so much easier. I also had a cleaner come in for a deep clean and this has been a godsend.
Is there anything else anyone is finding useful? A friend has sent me a little puffy humidifier which I’ve had on in the the evenings with some lavender oil. Some time with this and the Headspace App doing some mindfulness mediation has been great when I’ve been agitated.
It’s been lovely here so managed a gentle walk, and after having my daily injection had a little sleep. A roast dinner is being prepared by the family now so thank goodness nausea has passed.
Have been sucking on gin gins and riccola berry sweets to get rid of yucky taste. About to have my daily glass of Guinness for iron xx
Hello, also have head above water!!!
Decided this chemo cocktail requires 4 day hangover :0)
Even made an appearance at work today, walked dog, extra quick supermarket wiz and cooked dinner, although nothing fancy!!!
Going to try wig shopping on Wednesday, already tried two places and left empty handed maybe I’m just too fussy but wig lady told me it has to make me feel fabulous. Almost convinced myself hair has started to come out but not sure. Lady at work made a hat so wearing it round the house so I get used to it. Glad to see everyone reappearing here tho xxx
Thanks Meesh, also cold capping just started to pay more attention to my hair ha!!! Got my 36cm ponytail chopped off to donate to kiddie wigs so rocking a bob right now. Maybe too many hairstyles making wig choosing tricky. What are you ladies drinking coconut water for???x
Just re read lady tuft bit!!! Day 10 of round 1???
Had some beard whiskers, grew them before chemo hoping it would kill them quickly. Gave up and plucked them today! Easiest they have ever come out!!! All about the positives xxx
Thanks for tips Meesh - I shall be adding kiwis to shopping list. Not sure about skins though ? I agree it’s good to try anything to get through this journey
Hi Milliemoo you asked about side effects on the injections? From our experience on the Oct thread and the other lovely ladies who popped in to share their advice it can be quite a wide range (as with everything really). But a couple of us did have quite a lot of pain - a warning sign was a complete tightening up of all joints especially the hips.
Many ladies only had mild aches and pains but if you do get a stronger reaction I would advise you to reach out to your nurse or doctor pretty quickly in case you need something stronger than paracetamol or ibuprofen. Don’t think you have to put up with the pain and I would recommend nipping it in the bud.
Take good care of yourselves ladies ???
Make sure you take something to ease that. Lactose is supposed to be very gentle. You don’t want haemoroids to start, a few of us October ladies have suffered!
Hello all, can i ask how long after operation you have waited to see the oncologist?
I saw the consultant two weeks ago today and still don’t have the appointment for the heart scan or the oncologist but he advised it would be within a couple of weeks.
It was about 2.5 weeks I think in my case for the appointment to come through then the appointment was about a week after that. This is the tough part. Hope you hear soon x
Hi rabbit - I had my operation beginning of July. Saw consultant after op who suggested oncotype dx test - there was a delay in sending this off. Chemo was mentioned at the end of September, saw an oncologist a week later but it has taken until now to start my chemo. I’ve also had missing ecg’s and missing appointment letters for echocardiogram but got there in the end.
Good idea to chase them - good luck ?xx
Hi rabbit, I had my op 7 Aug, then had to wait for all the test results to come back to confirm I needed chemo, that took about 6 weeks, then had onto appointment the week after and the chemo started about 2 weeks after that. I was worried as about the delay as the literature says they have 31 day target but was also told it should be within 12 weeks.
Another thing to consider is the time between surgery and chemo - they dont want to start you on chemo until you are fully healed - I’ve been told that they like 6 weeks as a minimum.
Hello ladies, just popping in to say hi and sorry that you find yourselves in this place, but hope that this site gives you the support you need and a place to air your thoughts and feelings.
I was diagnosed in September 2014, had single mastectomy with immediate implant reconstruction followed by chemo (3 x FEC plus 11 x weekly taxol) starting on 31st October so joined the November starters group too. I successfully cold capped throughout chemo and my hair is now in better condition than it had been in years!
I went on to have radiotherapy in July 2015. Recently I had the implant replaced by DIEP reconstruction.
I’m here to listen and offer support to you all, please feel free to quiz me about treatment and I’ll help wherever I can through my own experience.
Sending positive thoughts and virtual hugs. It’s tough, but you’ll get through it.
Sorry to hear your news Otter, it’s the last thing you need right now.
Take your time with your application, write bits out as you think of them before filling it in so it makes sense.
Good luck ???
Hi Sue, hi everyone ?
Day 7 today and i literally have not been out of bed…feels like soneone is holding me down!
Yesterday was so different, i walked the dog for an hour and a half, drove around finishing off some errands and went to watch my daughter swim.
Think I may have over done it yesterday…
