Thanks Aneeebel! So pleased to hear that you’re doing so well after your first chemo. Woohoo! ??
I hope you’re feeling ok, Lou, after starting chemo yesterday. I have my picc line insertion tomorrow and then chemo (FEC-T) on Friday. Felt great today having full recovered from my extra surgeries, even went in for a full day at work! Possibly in denial about the whole thing… I suppose it will all become more real in the next few days! ??
For the ladies asking about wigs and headwear, I asked a similar question to the YBCN (young breast cancer network) ladies and received some super helpful replies. I’ve purchased a hat and a turban from Suburban Turban, for the days I don’t feel like going to any effort. After being encouraged by fabulous photos of beautiful scarves tied in interesting ways - and super helpful YouTube videos - I now own several new scarves from High Street stores (avoid silk and tassels) and am a bit excited to try them out. I also picked up a few beanies, as I figure the weather is getting cooler. Had issues booking an appointment to arrange a wig but this is now sorted for next week. Intend to brave the shave soon too. Don’t think I’ll be able to handle it all falling out! ?
Hi fiona i feel ok at the moment just taking all the drugs they gave me to combat sickness and stuff i am on fec t ,the clip is so small isnt it my mom was same she joked about setting alarms off in shops good job that wont happen, its funny you given it a name mines called carrie ?
Nice to hear off you take care and stay ? too x
Hi elliesmum i am doing fine so far i am on fec t aswell ,i was very anxious on the day but it wasnt as bad as i imagined everyone was real nice it took
about two hours,
Good luck for friday ?
Lou ?
Thanks Fiona! I’ll let you know how I get on with the first round of FEC. ?
The waiting is so frustrating, isn’t it! I was supposed to start two weeks ago but kept being delayed by post-surgery infection complications. I hope the wait passes quickly for you, and that you manage to get everything prepared ahead of time. If you do have 2 weeks to wait, have you thought of getting your eyebrows microbladed? I’d never even heard of it (my “beauty” routine is very minimalist, with a 1 year old at home and working full time ?) but was advised to look into it. I just had time to squeeze it in, as it is typically advised that you have it done 2 weeks or more before starting chemo due to the small infection risk. So pleased I had it done! You can’t even tell at the moment, but if/when eyebrows go I’ll have something there. Didn’t have time to get the follow-up treatment in, so it will be a bit patchy, but can use eyebrow pencil to fill in the gaps. Just an idea! Xox
Morning ladies! Chemo starts for me today, been up for hours but feeling positive and just keep thinking one down after today, I think it’s the side effects I feel more daunted by but reading so many positive comments is helpful
Ellie’s mum did you just get normal scarves like you’d normally get from primark etc? A friend suggested that to me, would be good if that’s an option
Hope you all have a lovely day
Yes, Sar_ah, scarves from Primark and the like are perfect. We can all look fabulous with beautiful headwear whilst going through treatment! ???
Best of luck starting chemo today, too. I’ll be thinking of you too! Xox ???
Hi Sarah, I bought some semi shaped scarves from Amazon and some square scarves from the high street. Avoid the shiny ones as they don’t stay in place!! Kx
Morning fiona thanks for the advice on sickness bands i will get some just incase day 3 for me on fec and touch wood i feel okay dont wont to jinx it though i have a bit of a sweat on in the night and my face feels a bit flushed but other than that i doing okay,
Hope you going okay ,
Lou ?
Thank you Lou
I’ve just finished the first lot of chemo and have an hour left of the cold cap, feeling ok just a bit spaced out, will see how tonight goes. The cold cap wasn’t as bad as expected, I just look a bit silly ?
Do you have some time off work before treatment Fiona?
I’m not sure why they suggested the port to be honest Ktk but it seems to be there preferred method, I still haven’t decided
Good luck with the cold cap, Sarah! One chemo down. ?
I went in to have my picc line inserted this morning… and ended up in theatre having a Hickman line put in instead. ?♀️ Nothing seems to be straightforward with me for the moment! Very lucky that they managed to squeeze me in and do it immediately, so I can still start chemo tomorrow (as has already been delayed twice). Very sore right now, though! Apparently my upper arm veins are rubbish; too small and too close to the arteries for them to safely insert a picc line. So Hickman line it is. Sigh. I was feeling good this morning! Hopefully the pain subsides a bit before first chemo tomorrow ?
Hi sarah glad you got through your first round okay, how was the cold cap i decided against it i have short hair anyway but i have said when it starts to come out i will brave the shave ?,
Take it easy and just do what your body tells you to mine told me to have a kip this afternoon so i did ?,
Lou ?
Hi elliesmum sorry to hear you having a bit of a nightmare with things but at least you sorted now and ready for tomorrow good luck hope it goes okay,
Take care stay ?,
Lou ?
Sounds like you’re having a wonderful day ? How do you actually feel?
I’ve just finished work for the day and am enjoying a half of cider before driving my husband and his 21 year old son home so that they can go out drinking for the afternoon ??
I’m from the June Chemo thread and have just finished my 3 x Fec and 3 x T chemo sessions so can fully relate to all your worries. I have to say the thought of chemo was definately a lot worse than the actual chemo itself, although of course I didn’t escape side effect free. I found the FEC affects usually begain about day 4-5 and felt a bit like morning sickness when pregnant, I even got strange cravings… beetroot and salt n vinegar crisps! Take the anti-sickness tablets you are given, even if you don’t feel sick, after a cycle you will find that you know when and how often you require them. I used the travel bands too for FEC, almost got too scared to take them off as wasn’t sure if they were working or not. After about day 7 I found I felt a lot better and pretty much normal for the next 2 weeks so make the most of the good days, plan nice things to do. I did, however, lose my hair by day 12 of first FEC, I braved the shave on day 15 and although that was distressting at the time, once it had gone you quickly adapt and its quite liberating. There are lots of cheap scarves and hats on line, and remember to get your prescription for help with a wig if you want one, my hospital gave me one and I had to pay £70 for my wig, its very nice and nobody can tell, but its not for everyone and I must confess I like to be wig free a lot of the time. Also by 2nd T my hair had started to grow back and now I have a full covering, albeit fluffy and white and very very short but it is definately coming back! The T part of the chemo was different set of side effects, more mouth issues and the tiredness does build up so rest when you can and don’t be afraid to just go to bed if you need to!
I found keeping a chemo diary helped, I wrote in when I took my medication as you can end up with quite a few to take, and also you get to recognise a pattern in th cycles and can plan for it.
Please don’t be afraid to call the chemo hotline if you have any questions, or your nurses, thats what they are there for, the hotline is great for offering advise and they want to keep you safe.
Be strong, you will do it and keep on talking on here, it really does help.
