Hi marie, i am having 6 weekly taxol, have had 2 so far and 3rd 1 today. It is a lot more manageable and the side effects are a lot milder. It is more inconvenient but well worth doing , save putting you through the harsh chemo… hope you find it ok x
Hi Boodles thank you for that I feel a little better now. I was thinking maybe side effects and symptoms would be easier to manage x thanks again hope today goes well for you x
All Nikki got was a call to say she has a chemotherapy appointment next Thursday. Surely she will have a pre-appointment to show her around and look at her veins first?
Barry, I have my first dose this Friday. Someone called me from the unit last Friday just to confirm and assumed that I had already been shown around the unit/met with a nurse in advance to talk about cold capping and side effects etc. At that point I’d not been scheduled a pre-meeting so they put me in for this afternoon and also to do my bloods to check I’m fit for Friday. For your own peace of mind I’d chase it up because they had got a bit confused in my case although were lovely and apologetic when they realised. x
It makes it so frantic. We need to do some shopping this weekend! x
Apparently our NHS Trust don’t as a rule do picc or hickman lines unless they encounter problems. How long are the sessions for people cold capping? Nikki’s been told her session will be 11-3pm but that includes the discussion about CC and SEs beforehand
Bazza I have to have cold cap on half an hour before treatment then during treatment which takes about 40 mins and hour and half after so probably a total of just under 3 hours altogether. Hope that’s helps! Xx
Thanks Shazza. That sounds about right as it’s Nikki’s first one. How’s it going with the cold cap? And any tips with it? x
Yes it’s going ok, I’ve used it twice now. It is bearable the first 10/15 mins are cold but once you get past that it’s ok. The down side is how much longer it makes the chemo sessions. So far I’ve lost some hair - probably a hairbrush full each morning but you can’t notice by looking at me yet! I’m just going to wait and see what happens although I do have a wig ready. I haven’t had to take any painkillers before using I did ask the first time and my nurse said people usually don’t? Although I’ve read on this forum some do, it may be worth asking? I had a bit of a headache after last session but nothing too bad. Good luck it’s worth trying xxx
Afternoon everyone, starting to get a bit jittery one, my first chemo is tomorrow. I’ve just rung the unit as my onc prescribed me lorazapem to take the night before and on the morning of the chemo, but my appointment isn’t till 3.30pm, they were really lovely and told me to take it when I get up and then again about 2pm. They even said if you are anxious we can put you in a side room. They really put me at ease and hope tomorrow goes as well. Hope you are all feeling ok today, much love Jayne xxx
Hi Jayne, how comes you were given Lorazepram? Did you request it? x
Hi Barry, I mentioned that my anaesthetist said I had rubbishy veins, and that was the only thing I could honestly say I was anxious about. She reassured me that the chemo nurses were very experienced with rubbishy veins and they only use a child’s cannula, but she said to relax me and take away my anxiety she would prescribe me something to chill me out, she has also prescribed me some of the clean the put on kids hands to numb it. Just ask, they seem to be very accommodating and don’t want you stressed out. If ?Nikki is anxious it’s worth it, I’ll let you know tomorrow if it worked x
Evening all. Just back from my pre-first chemo chat and bloods. The unit was very tranquil and the nurses lovely. I am still dithering about the cold cap but your experience might persuade me to do it Shazza. Need to make my mind up soon, i.e. next 24 hours. I’ll see how I like my new short haircut tomorrow.
Good luck tomorrow Jayne. This time tomorrow you’ll have one under your belt. x
Good luck tomorrow Jayne, sounds like you’re all prepared. Hope your haircut turns out well Ruth, I was surprised how much I liked having mine cut short, given that I’ve had it long for nearly 30 years (and I have to confess, was my crowning glory 
) Having said that, I’m not cold capping so another week or so and it will prob be completely gone! Hope everyone else is doing ok - I’m continuing to feel well apart from craving certain foods and going right off others! X x
Good luck tomorrow Jayne! I guess you don’t know if you don’t try Peggycat,and if you don’t like it you can always stop.
Glad to hear your managing well Ele! Take care lovely ladies xxxx
Good luck for tomorrow Jayne, and well done Ele J - I think you are in the lead so far??! Peggycat, I am also having my hair cut short tomorrow! The Look Good Feel Better workshop was great - I would definitely recommend it. You get a bag stuffed full of facial toiletries and make up - all different makes, some Clinique, some L’Oreal, No 7 etc etc. Then you spend the afternoon learning how to use them all! Apart from the pampering aspect, you also get to meet other ladies going through treatment for various cancers and of course lots of story swapping goes on! One interesting fact was another BC lady referred to her ‘Macmillan Nurse’. I haven’t got one of these and it seemed to vary even round the room when we were all from the same county and been treated in the same hospital! Do any of you have a Macmilan nurse? I do have Breast Care Nurses I can call at any time, but these are apparently in addition to this and can be good ‘problem solvers’. Just wondering!
I think Jojo also had her chemo the same day as me, so I’m hoping she’s not been on the forum much after the first couple of days because she’s so well and therefore busy doing other things! I have a Macmillan nurse but she is also my breast care nurse, so just happens to be funded and/or trained by Macmillan I think?! I’m embarrassed to say I didn’t really know what Macmillan did until I got BC…I think I had them confused with Marie Curie and that it was all about terminal illness, but I know better now!! My daughter’s signed up to do a 10k run now to fund raise…a big ask to train for a 10k in your final year at uni with all those parties to go to and hangovers to deal with ? X
Glad you enjoyed the Look Good Feel Better session Chris and goodie bag sounds great. I so hope I’m feeling okay for mine next week.
I’ve seen one of the BCNs in my clinic with a Macmillan badge on but the two I’ve had most contact with haven’t so I’m not sure what’s going on there.
Trying to work out what to ask for in the hairdresser tomorrow. Thinking along the lines of an Audrey Tatou or Anne Hathaway pixie cut. Alas I don’t have the youthful facial features of Audrey nor Anne and probably a lot more grey than both of them put together. Oh well, it might not last long anyway so not sure why I’m worrying!
I had my hair cut the other week at my local college. I normally go to the barbers about every 18 months for a trim!
The poor student was very stressed about cutting of 18" or so of hair when I said I wanted a pixie cut. she checked with one of the tutors then took a before picture and cut off my pony tail. She spent 2 hours on me! Not quite what I had in mind but it is growing on me and hopefully it will look good in her portfolio.
I was after a Audrey Hepburn type cut and maybe if I don’t lose it I will have it done again by a fully trained hairdresser.
I had my first session 12 days ago. Have started to lose body hair but so far my new haircut is ok (I got through 3 cold caps during my treatment). I think I should know by the weekend whether or not they did the trick!
Best wishes to everyone starting tomorrow. Remember that the chemo is your friend, it is there to help
Liz
Evening girls no start date yet elej waiting for call from chemo nurse and flu jab on Friday. I’m starting think I’m quite lucky having chemo weekly. Good advice peggycat to chase things up as sometimes things do get missed they have so many of us to look after unfortunately.
Really good information about the cold cap shazza I think I may just give it a try? Hair cut short for me next week it’s only shoulder length now so maybe a bob! Good luck tomoz Jayne. Liz…chemo is your friend I think that’s my new mantra!! x x