Some days I cope better than others. Distraction is my best weapon. Plan fun things to do on the days you know you’ll be well. I’ve accessed sound baths and a gardening club which is lovely. I have an upcoming oncology massage.
I terms of symptoms from chemo, My mood is worse on days 5 through to 10. It’s like full on depression so I have started journaling and I reassure my future self this too shall pass. Sometimes I need the reminder that the way I feel is because the chemo is affecting my mood.
I’ve had neutropenia twice so I understand the fear of germs. My daughter seems to coincide catching colds with my episodes of neutropenia. Just phone the emergency hotline if you’re ever worried. The nurses are always the best people to advise you. You’ve got this.
I have the immunotherapy during chemo because the licence dictates it can’t be given without chemo and it’ll carry on after surgery. It’s a long road of treatment but so far it’s fine. I’m going to give it all I’ve got.
Have they said if you’re clinical stage 1, 2, 3 etc? It’s determined by the size of tumor and lymph node involvement and helps determine your treatment plan…
In terms of cold capping. Take paracetamol before hand. You’ll need a fabric headband and conditioner. I use simple conditioner. I also use an antioxidant serum although I only introduced that after the 3rd cycle after I read about it in the news. https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cx20p3e31x0o.amp
The main thing is to keep the cold cap going before and after treatment. I found different nurses had various opinions on using it…one nurse took it off me after id finished the taxol and she said i wouldn’t need it for the carboplatin. Big mistake. That was the cycle i shed the most so now when i go in, I’m adamant I’m keeping it on for the whole cycle.
im on a slightly different plan to you. I’m on TCHP. My friend did EC first but she didn’t cold cap…x
Awwwww an oncology massage sounds perfect and what a nice treat to finish the first hurdle!!
So i’ve been having weekly Paclitax and every three weeks that and carbo and immunotherapy.
So i feel i’m finding day 3 is my worst day where i feel miserable and most sick
i would say nausea has been my main thing in battling plus arm pain weirdly!
i think i might start journaling as something to look back at. And you’re right your future self will look back and think what a phase and massive hurdle you have climbed!
Bless you how old is your daughter? my daughters are 4 and 10 so really in the thick of primary school bugs!!
I’m just trying my best at every angle with hand hygiene uniforms off as soon as the enter the house and if i notice the slightest sniffle i’ll pop my mask on!
which isn’t practical but what more can you do and i’m a real smother mum haaaaa so it’s so hard!!
I think they said i’d be on the immunotherapy for a year
and next treatment is Wednesday it’s the start of cycle two so the long day!
Have you got a date for surgery?
Is your last treatment wednesday too?
Good luck!! well done you xx
@cass2 I’m interested to know more about the antioxidant serum to use with cold capping. The article doesnt mention what the serum is nor how and when to use. Could uou tell us what you used, when, how often etc? Many thanks xx
I got something from The Ordinary. It was the closest thing I could find to the ingredients mentioned in the article. I just put it on before the conditioner. Like I said though, it’s difficult to know if it has helped or not. I might have responded the same without it. X
@cass2 my lymph nodes are all clear and tumour is 22mm so caught it early.
Oo thats an interesting read, thank you! Which antioxidant serum have you got?
Putting together a shopping list to buy before first chemo. Do you use a leave in conditioner?
Thank you!
Blood test for me today and then starting steroids tomorrow. I’ve also got the zoom eyebrow and eyelash workshop on Tuesday evening, so I’m hoping that’s a nice distraction.
I’m feeling confident about the actual chemo day on Wednesday as last time was a positive experience, but having to give self pep talks as quailing a bit at the thought of days 2 to 9 which were not fun for me on cycle 1…
Hay
we’ve got this i’m not sure about you but i feel it’s achievement right now that cycle 2 starts Wednesday .
I’m also waiting for bloods today and tomorrow i have a pre assessment with the pharmacist then full swing for Wednesday.
I am so sorry i can’t remember your treatment schedule are u on the EC to start?
So tomorrow is my long day so i have the two chemos and the immunotherapy and cold capping! so i have that every 3 weeks and weekly paclitax. After 4 cycles of that then i’m EC for 4 cycles
And every time i have been in it’s been such a positive experience and i’ve taken so much to entertain myself but just end up talking the whole time .
I’ve been finding day 3 the worst but this week hasn’t been too bad and very manageable with only needing anti-sickness a few times! woooo!
I hope your bloods are all good and we’ve got this bring on cycle 2!
Take care xx
And @dilly@slc1 good luck for Weds for your 2nd cycle.
Week on Weds 29th will be my first cycle and it’ll be EC which I’ll be having fortnightly. Anxiety is growing, but all I can do, like all of us, is wait and see. I’m currently sporting a massive bruise from my blood test last week but I have a surgery wound check today, and my chemo pre-assessment tomorrow.
Hope everyone else is doing ok and good luck for any appointments this week
I can defiantly vouch for the anticipation is definitely the worst part awaiting to start!
But before you know it your have one treatment under your belt and i wish you all the best!
You will be absolutely fine and honestly the care and support i’ve received at the day centre has been so good.
good luck with your wound check and pre assessment tomorrow!
You got this girl!
and Good luck to everyone this week and whose starting treatment today!
@slc1 I’m HER2 Positive, so on 3 cycles of Docetaxel with Phesgo (targeted drug therapy), then 3 of EC. Then I’ll be having a single mastectomy and full node clearance as I have one definite positive node and some smaller funny looking ones!
I’m telling myself cycle 2 will be two steps closer to being cancer free!
Thank you @Mairead_49 almost done now. It’s gone ok. They said I will likely be tired later I will update later / tomorrow as we on same treatment I believe xx
Well done, one down. The anticipation scaries were the worst. I am on day 5. Days 1-3 were not too bad. Yesterday a bit worse and today i have quite bad chemo belly. Indigestion and bloating with nausea. Considering the list of side affects i dont think i am fairing too bad so far. I have to start the csf injections today. Not looking forward to that.
I hope everyone is doing ok. X
Hi, I am curious has anyone lost their eyebrows or eye lashes? Been so worried about hair i hadnt thought about the face.
The mass of appointments for next week has started coming in!
Chemo is on the friday and so far have 4 face to face appointments and 1 phone one before chemo its so many!!!
For conditioner I just use Simple. I have to wash it out as soon as I get home as I can no longer stand the smell. My biggest tip is don’t use your nicest conditioners in case you’re like me and develop an association between the smell and having chemo. I bought clothes specifically to wear for chemo so I can pop them in a black black and hide them in the hope I never need them again…
and i’m a real smother mum haaaaa so it’s so hard!!
well done you 
xx
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8nims left of cold cap now and I’m done for 2 weeks.