Hi Glenda, like you I should probably be in September starters (actually I posted there today). I’m due to start chemo tomorrow so more or less October!
I’m 51, 3 children 24,20 and 13. Diagnosed in June with grade 2 ductal invasive bc with lymph involvement. Mastectomy July and node clearance august. In the last hour I’ve started to panic! Hope everything goes ok with you today and your SE are minimal xx
Good luck with the first chemo Glenda and Jo Jo, I have been to see onc for a second time today, first appt was 2 weeks ago was a washout as she was sick. Well I spent all of 5 minutes with her, she asked me when I’d had my first chemo (I haven’t even had my start date yet), and she prescribed me lorazepam for tbe day it does start. I have had my bloods done today and have my chemo new patient appointment tomorrow. Fingers crossed I get my date. Fed up of waiting ?
Peggy a girl I had only met twice at tennis, but who had BC in 2014, gave me something called lipocils for eyebrows/lashes. Very nice of her. It’s supposed to bush them up so if you lose some it won’t look too bad. She never lost hers. I think mine have got softer & look better as they were a bit overplucked. Don’t think you’re daft about the eyebrows, I more worried about losing my nails that my hair . . How weird! I am oiling & creaming them as often as possible & doing ice mitts/slippers. I’ve had 2 FEC & would have been fine for LGFB course on day 5 both times.
Marie I don’t find the BCN that responsive by phone, but if you can get their e-mail they’re pretty good at responding. Same for onc’s PA. we’re told to ring her, but she never answers, no voicemail . . One time I had something super urgent to sort & eventually e-mailed onc direct (once you have one e-mail you can work out the rest as they all have the same structure). Turned out PA was on holiday for the week!
All the best to you all. BBx
Morning everyone. Had my first FEC yesterday and didn’t feel too bad. Now feel like I have a massive hangover. Not sure what pain relief I can take. Good luck Jo Jo xx
Hi Jojo. Hope it all goes well today. Once you start treatment it feels better. You will manage really well. Take all the medicines they give you. As has already been said Drink lots. Listen to your body. All the best xx
Baby girl glad u survived round one. You can take paracetamol for headaches. Jojo let us know how you get on. Fiona I had a portocath & it was miles better than the 5 needle sticks I had with chemo 1. Also it’s under your skin, do not need to dress/flush between chemistry/you can have bath & do sport. If you do get one, make sure you put anaesthetic cream on at least an hour before. I found that out by chance when I had my bloods done, so went early & got it. The lady next door didn’t & she said hers really hurt. Funny how much of the info you pick up is off this site rather than official sources. In the interests of full & frank disclosure one lady earlier mentioned laxatives. I haven’t had any issues with that because I read the April 2015 thread where it was a popular topic . . Forewarned & all that! BBx
Sorry should say chemo not chemistry! Left that behind years ago when failed o’level!x
Good luck Ele, Jojo and Glenda x
Good luck all ladies having chemo today! Xxx
Hi Bibi, that’s the second recommendation on here for Liposils so sounds promising. I too am worrying about the nails - in an squeemish way rather than an asthetic one as mine have never been that fantastic anyway. I have got some of the Dr Organics Manuka Honey Hand and Nail cream that several people here seem to recommend. Anyway, I’ll add Liposils to my shopping list (along with laxatives after your later post :smileyhappy:)
And good luck to everyone having chemo today. Look after yourselves. xx
Good luck today ladies and hope your feeling better soon to yesterday’s starters!! Xx
Yeah, finally got my date, I start next Thursday 8th October, sounds weird but looking forward to getting started now. Hope today’s starters are ok x
Glad you have a date Jayney. We visited another fertility clinic, once we know if we are getting it they’ll be able to give us Nikki’s start date.
Well done Ele hope it wasn’t as bad as you expected. Advice just take an anti sickness tab whilst you’re still feeling ok & drink loads of water. If u get queasy eat little & often . . Toast, rice, porridge, smoothies worked for me, but we’re all different. Big hugs & all the best for tonight xx
Barry - fingers crossed for you and Nikki ?, and I hope you have a good nights rest Ele xxx
Hi all, my name is Carolyn and I’m from Dublin (I hope its ok that I’m posting in a uk site). I was diagnosed with stage 1 grade 3 breast cancer 2 weeks ago. I’m still waiting for confirmation but they’re pretty sure its triple negative. I was living in Korea when I found the lump and got diagnosed so I had a very quick return to Ireland. I’ve opted for chemo first then surgery at the end. I’m due to start next week, this might be delayed depending on if I decide to get fertility treatment, I’m 29 years old. I’m going to be having 4 ac chemo treatments spread over 8 weeks and then 12 taxol treatments, one every week.
I’m really unsure whether to work through my treatment. My boss is super supportive and is not pressuring me in any way but I’m struggling to decide what will be the best option for me. 5-6 months off work is such a long time but I also want to make sure I don’t hinder my recovery.
It has been such whirlwind. I feel as if I’m coping well with everything but I also think it hasn’t fully hit me yet. It’s great reading the forum and hearing other peoples’ experiences and tips for getting through chemo.
Hi EleJ don’t put up with sickness, it can be dealt with. If you feel bad overnight you can always phone 111 for a Dr to come and give you an injection to stop you vomiting, or ringing your emergency number for advice. Then ring GP/chemo unit to prescribe different drugs tomorrow I was on a combination of 4 different ones
when you go back for your review or next chemo it will be worth mentioning your sickness as you may get prescribed Emmend. This made my chemo journey more pleasant. I also wore pregnancy/sea bands may have been psychological but they helped too.
Carolyn if you read the someone like me younger women section on the forum there is a thread about a private support group where sadly you will find lots of other triple negative women in their 20’s
I will keep lurking and reading your posts for a couple of weeks until you all get your 1st chemo done and offer any help I can as others do/did for me and then I will leave you to support each other
take it easy x
Hi Carolyn So sorry to hear your news. Must be a real shocker. I’m from August 2015 & we have a lady called Brave on ours who is on AC-T. Why don’t you pop in & ask her? I know she bobbed up from London to Glasgow during hers, so you may be OK to work. Probably best to blast it with the chemo first & stop it in its tracks. Some people’s tumours reduce by 50% or even go away completely during chemo if you read some of the earlier threads.
Ele sorry to hear about your sickness. It is miserable but it will go soon. Try & be strong. If it persists you need to call & get some non oral sickness meds. I had it for hours on chemo 1, but they tinkered around with the drugs on 2 & I’ve been fine. Did you have Emend? If not demand for chemo2. Some places don’t give first time. It’s brutal. Chin upxx
Hi Ele J. We seem to be sharing the same experiences. My 1st chemo was yesterday and really it was ok - felt a little light headed at times. Started to be sick about 6 hours later and more or less hourly since! I will give it an hour or so and if it hasn’t settled will ring the helpline. I’m worried as I haven’t kept the pills down. Speaking to a lady who was on her 3rd FEC treatment and has not suffered from many SE at all. We are all so different. Big hugs to all x
JoJo/Ele you poor things. I was just the same & hope u r through the worst now. I wrote my oncologist an e-mail politely but firmly demanding Emend with a blow by blow account of my 15 hour vomitathon. That’s how I got things to change for chemo2. I asked for Emend & so did my chemo nurse, but I had some upper middle class horsey type of registrar who was “stiff upper lip you’ll be fine”. She was wrong! Vile woman. I wasn’t assertive enough in the face of strong resistance. So basically my advice would be to request in writing & refuse 2 until they agree. Sounds extreme, but all they’re trying to do is save £70 per patient at the expense of our wellbeing. It’s immoral for such a small amount in the context of the cost of chemo £2-3k per cycle. Rant over?XxxX