Hey @cooper1, welcome aboard!
Oof @lumpybyebye that sounds awful, I’m so sorry you’ve had such a rough time. I am day 5 of first TC cycle today and also finding it the worst day so far (although to a much lesser extent than you bless you 
)
Glad you are home safe and sound and hope you can now get some good R&R at home, take it easy … And have a chippy tea tonight!!
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Hi @cooper1 and welcome! 
Glad you’re home @lumpybyebye what a journey you’re having, rest up! Thank you for letting us know been to the football and was thinking about you!
Lots of love everyone 
I’m ready for a sleepless night as picc line tomorrow 
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Welcome @cooper1!
@lumpybyebye glad you are home and feeling a bit better
Arm port fitting for me tomorrow @loupy so I’ll be thinking of you. Good luck!
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Ah @Mairead_49 I will think of you too!
Hope everything goes ok! I’m so scared next step I keep telling myself, next step 
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Same here, but I think maybe part of our anxiety is that it takes us closer to the first chemo session and all that entails - feels like that for me anyway!
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@lumpybyebye so glad you’re home safe. Enjoy eating the yummy things and well done for getting through the crisis. Hope things get smoother x
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Hi everyone,
Joining in as I’ll be starting chemo on Thursday I only found out the start date because I was pestering my oncologist’s secretary to let me know when it was starting, otherwise I’d have presumably found out Monday morning for a Thursday start she that seems like horribly short notice! Feels silly to say that when I’ve known for a week that I’ll be having chemo, but the stress mage me exhausted so I haven’t really thought about what I need to do to get ready.
I’m having 3x EC and 3x docetaxel. I want to try to get my eyebrows microbladed tomorrow and get vaccinations. Also need to sort out ESA application as I’ve been on SSP for six months now. Want to get my hair cut as well, not sure if I need to get that in before the first chemo or whether I can wait till after.
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Welcome @orchid2 
there’s a few of us starting soon, I’m Tuesday and some on here have started and are helpfully sharing everything going on now! I wanted to get my eyebrows done but as my white cells were playing up was told not to risk it! I think you can leave your hair until after first chemo, unless you’re cold capping when I think you need it shorter before… others will be able to assist there!
@Mairead_49 I’ve got PICC tomorrow then first chemo Tuesday so definitely anxiety with it all, not sure which appointment I’m dreading more 
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Welcome @cooper1
@lumpybyebye hope you’re feeling a lot better at home.
@rbf hope you’re doing ok
@loupy hope all goes well with picc line tomorrow
@Mairead_49 hope you’re feeling brighter today and that port fitting goes well
@dilly hope side effects have eased. BTW I’d be pleased with myself if I managed 3 walks a week at the moment! Be kind to yourself x
@talentedsmile I’m glad you’ve joined us
@tigress42 hope you’re in a calmer place now. I find focusing on the things I can control helpful when so much is out of my control x
To anyone I’ve missed take care, whatever point you’re at. There’s some amazing people on this forum. You are not alone xxx
Wishing everyone a good night’s sleep xxx
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Welcome @orchid2 @cooper1 .
I am also starting on thursday. I had my heart echo scan today. I am still getting used to the picc line fitted last thursday.
I had read that there are things that we shouldn’t eat on chemo so this weekend i had my last rare steak and a cheeseboard with unpasteurized, blue and rinded cheese. It was yum. I might have time to fit in sushi before i start too.
Good to hear you are home @lumpybyebye. I hope you are ok and that you got your fish and chips.
I hope everyone is doing ok. Good luck to others starting this week x
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Welcome @orchid2
Hope all goes well on Thursday x
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I like your style @nastynork ! Take the pleasure where you can x
Hope your first treatment goes well xx
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@nastynork funny enough my taste buds have gone very strange and I absolutely cannot stomach the idea of a cup of tea, or a piece of cheese, or a nice glass of rosé… Some of my favourite things!! I wonder if my body is protecting me having an ongoing aversion to them by putting me off them during chemo?!
Currently up and pacing about feeling really bleugh 
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Afternoon,
Well bugger me chemo is SHIT!!!
Home after a weekend in Acute Medical Unit for side effects of TC came home and couch potatoed. Felt a bit more human and had a small roast dinner. 30mins later … SMOG it was the exorcist. TG id made it to the porcelain god in time. Im now blessed with acid reflux even with water. Arse.
I am gonna kick its arse back because i will push through the crappy to get to happy. On the plus side - i had, drum roll, 16hrs sleep! Yes, ladies sleep. No waking up over thinking, no over thinking so no sleeping. Sweet, restful sleep. I am awake with zero brain fog. Im hoping now that is the end of eugh and i can heal up for round 2 in two weeks time.
Honestly it is SHIT but it passes. Not pleasant but nurses and Drs were and of course my yummy hubby. Use that emergency number any doubt, shout out.
Hospital stays are not for rest - monitoring … so much monitoring - keeps you safe. Though burping and farting shouldnt be scary, lol you never know when it will have follow through. Love your loo, elasticated bottoms for quick removal …
My picc line covers have arrived so i feel a little less medical. Every cloud.
Stay happy boobie friends. We have got this. 🩷
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Can confirm that while days 2 to 9 were Hellish, from day 10 I have felt miles better. All side effects have gone, apart from occasional need to dash to the loo! Just very tired and napping a lot. Currently day 13 x
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@dilly TF respite is coming - ive had such an ass kicking. Wish the team had listened to my concerns more before I started … due to other medical conditions i already get many of the side effects that taxanes give. I said i was worried that they’ll be compounded by treatment and wanted to get ahead of trouble.
I was told to basically wait and see, ring helpline if needed. Everything that has hit me has been a multiplied effect - just what i worried about. Oncologist is getting a list from me at our catch up!!
Made me a bit cross.
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Oh my gosh that’s not good @lumpybyebye, I’m so sorry this has happened. Has oncology liaised with any other consultants involved in your care?
I have a rare neuromuscular disease, which can be worsened by chemo, to the point of being life threatening. My oncology team made my treatment plan around this, and liaised with my neurologist. They had other plans if my neurologist hadn’t given the ok for chemo. So far I’ve had no adverse reactions, and it was the first question they asked during my oncology call today.
I really hope things stabilise for you x
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@lumpybyebye sorry you’ve had such a rubbish time, think you’re entitled to be cross! What a lovely sleep 
! You’ve got this - we all have
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Welcome @orchid2!
Sorry @lumpybyebye and @dilly this journey ia hard enough with complications but glad you are coming out the other side now.
Port fitting in my arm today. I underestimated what a big procedure it actually is. As it was being done under local anaesthetic, I just assumed it would be in a consulting room by 1 person, but no, it was an operating theatre with a whole team. So that was a bit scary as it was unexpected.
Procedure took about an hour in total including them settling me in etc. I had to put a gown on and then the Dr used an ultrasound which nearly pushed me over the edge as the last ultrasound I had was the day I was diagnosed with breast cancer. I then had loads of the orange antiseptic stuff - lidocaine maybe, and then the local anaesthetic was injected which stung a bit but nothing really horrid. The Dr talked me through what he was doing and when. He did the catheter tube first and had a radiologist with a screen to direct it to the right place. That took a little while and I was injected a few times with contrast dye (like when you have a CT scan) to help him get it into position. Then he used his fingers to create a pocket under my skin and inserted the port, then attached it to the catheter, and voila! Stitched me up and good to go.
I have to keep it dry for 7-10 days which is shite as I literally only just experienced my first ‘normal’ shower the other day nearly 5 weeks after the mastectomy. But hey ho, this is the journey we are on hey.
Local anaesthetic means all is feeling fine for now but no doubt I’ll be feeling a bit battered and bruised later.
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