Lily you poor thing, really feel for you thats all you need - maybe it will clear up tomorrow as its day 14 so immune system should fight it for you, maybe! That’s all you need. I was told to veer away from takeaways but I thought it was incase food had been sitting around or re heated etc. but then I started thinking its not much different from restuarants and they havent said about staying away from them. My nurse also said if its a takeaway that youve always used and had no problem before should be okay. Ive munched on chip shop chips too! when it comes to it that also means what happens if friends cook for you etc,… wish I could nip out and get you some immodium, hope someone gets you some theres nothing worse - here’s to you picking up in time for some good days before D day you poor thing.
Hey we’ve all got fighting spirit just sometimes hard to find it, i thought Id been through the worst experience ever 5 years ago and now this, everyone says Im strong but I dont feel like it just have no option but to fight like mad
Here’s to immodium! Might have to get some in, got the old Movicol to hand after a 12 day expereince after surgery! p.s. what type of take away was it and was it nice?
Hi thanks
Lisa It was the best chinese and a place I always go to - crispy duck, eggfried rice, sweet and sour chicken and the other dishes I did not eat. No-one else is ill! Trying to act casual as my son has 2 important GCSEs tomorrow and another each day of this week. I will feel much worse if he blows them worrying about me going in. Feel much better now by munching paracetamol and apparently they give you constipation, well not enough to hold this back, I am sure!! Oh what a nuisance, thanks for replying and willl post tomorrow on what happens. I have until Tueasday to recover for my next one. Good luck for tomorrow Angie
Lily x
Hi Ladies,
I haven’t been on this thread for a couple of weeks.Too busy at hospitals visiting mum and sister and having scans etc.Finally about to start chemo this Thursday.On accelerated TACT2 trials Using cold cap so won’t be using fancy shampoos,straighteners etc.I’ve had my hair chopped into a bob and hate it.When I let it dry naturally it looks like orphan Annie! Not cool at all,so have wig on order anyway.
I’ve been reading all the comments about eyebrows.Couldn’t someone with theatre experience not invent something to be used by ordinary gals? I’m so glad I didn’t start chemo the same week as everyone else,as I now have the benefit of your combined wisdom. No takeaways for me and I’ll try to be sensible.Just drink at the DDI I think!
If you would like to contact the ‘Headstrong’ team here at BCC I’m sure they’ll be able to help you with the matter of eyebrows. The number for Headstrong is 0845 077 1893 or alternatively phone the helpline and they’ll direct you to Headstrong. Helpline number (calls are free) 0808 800 6000.
weetricia
I am on the TACT2 trial too, but got arm one so 7 months of chemo boo hoo. I had my first epi on 20 May and go back on 10 June. I have an orphan Annie too but reading that you are using the cold cap, I guess you are going for any H is good H and I’ll try anything once. I hope this is not a trick to make me say H because I would try just about anything to keep some. You will find other threads for TACT 2 and ladies on exactly the same treatment if you do a search. Are you arm 2 or 4?
Lily x
My hair has grown 3mm between Tax 1 and Tax 2 (in my case a month - finally had it today - whooppee)
So growing at least as fast as usual - it’s never been fast
still falling out though … quite a lot each day! … confused …think treatment delys are making it allmore confusing and hard to work out what is going on!
love FB xxx
I m going to the make up day this month if not yuk from the next dose and apparently they show you how to draw eyebrows on, so will report back with anything useful. I have been tugging H in various spots and nothing so obviously the big hit is still to come, I reckon it must be this week. Will be worried in the morning. Oh dear.
FB really glad to hear you were able to have your next dose and hope the break means maybe you won’t suffer so many side effects this time
Lily x
Hi everyone
hope you are all ok, its gone a bit quiet. Leraning from my lesson, I have eaten carefully today and will add another day before testing myself on something nice. Actually that is not strictly true because I sneaked into town and had a han baguette and the yummiest piece of victoria sandwich in Debenhams. You should ahve seen how many things I did resist though. When I go back to work, nothing is going to fit at all. By the way H still trying to make it to dose 2 on Tuesday but a bit of a reaction coming in an upwards direction. I will be miffed if it goes after being a frozen fishfinger for another 3 hours plus.
Hope you are all on the mend or out wrecking yourself before the next one!!!
Lily x
Hiya
Glad the H is staying - mine defo isnt, shortback and sides which everyone really likes - not dropping out but a tug (which I cant help doing) produces handfuls, nothing on the pillow but styled it this morning and hands were covered - its very stange how it comes out. The Dennis’ have thinned a tad too, dont know where too mind! Leg hair not budging. Glad you feeling better - Ive vbeen feeling great and trying not to let the hair get to me until after the weekend, when the panic will commence about wednesday. Im going to see my BCN tomorrow to discuss my pat report in more details as I was a bit upset about it but trying to forget it all at the moment and enjoy! Ive put lots of weight on - not surprising thou! Ive transfered my meringue fetish for a couple of days onto a much healthier warn treacle tart with local honeycomb crunch icecream (not!!!).
Anyhow off to chill as been to work today and was worried (especially after I tried to open someone elses car yesterday, and got peed off that wouldnt open, nearly kicked it then realised I was about 50yrds away from my car)! I had nice time at work and managed like I used to (well half day).
Oh and I have reiki today - posted seperately!!
Hope everyone is trying to enjoy themselves
xxx
Hi ladies,
I’ve just had my first major wobbly and upset hubby.Chemo is not starting until next week.Some sort of admin muck up at NHS admin side.I’m feeling really frustrated as I’ve had several occasions where admin has been poor,so have finally made a complaint.The request from my insurance company for a report for my critical illness claim(6 weeks ago) has not been responded to.This is despite the fact that a reminder has been sent and I’ve had to do all the follow up with the admin staff myself. I feel morally bound to make a stand as not everyone feels able to make a complaint and the waiting around is definitely one of the most stressful part of this whole BC thing.How many ladies are there out there who are really suffering and not being dealt with properly?ther’e just no excuse in this day and age for incompetence.Computers make these things so much easier to administer.Grrrr. Maybe I should head off to the DDI!
Anyway,I had a reall Annie Rooney.Weeping and wailing and moaning about everything (especially my Orphan Annie hair!).Poor hubby has never seen me like this.I felt really ashamed yesterday when I woke up as I hadn’t made up before bedtime.A first in our 35year relationship.We went out for a meal last night (after I’d spent an hour trying to make my hair look normal).What on earth will I be like when I start chemo and go through the menopause?My hubby wasn’t looking forward to the “possible mood swings”.Oh well,he’s just had a taster.I guess I’ve just never been truly angry in my life up until now.
I still haven’t received official notification of my chemo appuintments.Once again,I had to contact the hospital and request the dates.I guess I’ll have to pick up the paperwork when I get there next week.
Looking on the bright side(oh,Pollyanna’s back!) I have another week where I can eat and drink whatever I fancy and can pick up a few more tips from you guys.Take care All
Luv
Tricia
xxx
Im so so sorry for that, glad you are complaining as that’s awful! Hope youare a bit better today, least you can have a good week - although I know the waiting is worse but do some things that you think you wont be able to during chemo!
xx
Weetricia
I feel so disappointed for you. Being private you should be bombing along, try some emotional blackmail on them. Tell them ‘you have cancer and they are making it much worse for you.’
Keep fighting you know how important it is to you but to them it is another claim
Good luck and stay cheerful if you can
Lily x
H Guys
Can I barge in on this thread again. Yes it was me in comment N0 3 declaring how grateful I was for my hair and have read all your stories at regular intervals with great hilarity. You guys have really kept me going!. Well in the shower this morning I watched my free brazilian appear in front of my eyes as the plug gradually filled with hair!! and my hair is shedding everywhere! am sick of finding bits in my mouth!!. Also my scalp is so sore!!! did anyone get this before their hair fell out?? I don’t have bald patches yet but it is so thin. I have decided am not using the cold cap anymore, the chemo nurse said it was doubtful it would work for Tax anyway. Am just wondering whether I should bite the bullet and shave it off or hold out a bit longer??
Bite the bullet and get it off - it feels soooo much better! No more pulling it off yourself after the shower and no more finding bits in bed.
I shaved mine off a little over 4 weeks ago just before the 2nd FEC. I have,and all my family have got used to seeing me bald. I wear my wig only to take son to and from school and shopping etc… When I am in the house I go commando or wear a buff.
eal69eal,
so sorry to hear about the you know what and I hope you are not the next victim because of the curse of this thread ! It is a difficult decision whether to chop it off yourself and I think I will soon be at that point myself. Any day now it will go I am sure. I should read through the thread a bit because a lot of people seem to say the wig is more comfy with some H or go shorter first before shaving it. As long as you are ok with it, it is the right decision. I am hanging on to the bitter end until forced to do something. Even thin hair can peep out under a scarf or hat. Lots of love as you make your decision but no need to rush it. Glad you enjoyed the laughs too and I think the sore head is one of the signs of it going.
Lily x
I had my son shave my head down to a cm before first Tax (of 3 to be followed by 3 Fec - they do it in a different order here in Finland). I used one of those dense diving suit type cold caps, changing every 20 minutes but starting and finishing with the drip treatment so it didn’t add any time to each session. Boychik cut it again before second treatment because it was thinning at the sides and I reckoned it would go before the third, which was yesterday. My onc nurse, who is sceptical about cold caps was astonished by how much hair I still have. I’d decided not to bother with the cap again, because I am not impressed by my hair cover at all (it’s pretty sad after having it more-or-less waistlength for decades) but her response encouraged me and I did it again. It’s quite pleasant, really - though I don’t like the sound of these ice cube affairs. And I wouldn’t hang around for 3 hours afterwards.
Oh, and I’ve also been avoiding shampoo in favour of just conditioner & massaging my scalp under ice cold shower water several times a week - which having it short facilitates, because you’re not pulling hair out at the same time. I don’t wear my wig (which I am certain is a destructive instrument), because a scarf covers the thinnish stuff at the sides and hair is still brave where it pops out at the front, back and beside my ears - even a wide headband does the trick. It’s always grown so fast - a couple of centimetres a month - and I’m not going to clip it short again for the moment because it is growing to cover the thinner bits and the ends are softer and itch less when they get inside my underwear. I, too, always go commando around the house, garden & to the little local store where they are used to me - I’m sure this helps to reduce ‘hair-stress’ and scalp pain.
One plus factor is the utter, feminine absence of facial hair - though lashes & brows seem much the same - and hairless underarms which is convenient. However leg hair is long and lush and I seem to be developing the reverse of a bikini wax - bald in the middle and flourishing at the edges! Wouldn’t you know it? Y’gotta laugh.
Its three in the morning and i keep waiting on my H to come out oh what a sad life i have its itching like mad but its like the nightmare on elm street films, maybe if i dont go to sleep it wont come out (Ye right). To be honest i wish it would just come out in one go as its thin anyway. I now keep it in a ponytail at night so if it comes away I can usr it with my baseball cap LOL my grandkids think iam the coolest gran in town now.
Yes I had the same as you, hair coming out and annoying me getting in my mouth, clinging to you in shower etc.
I’d had my shoulder length hair cut into a shorter style before FEC No 1, with cold cap, which I didn’t like but would have kept with if the hair had! All was well until about 3 days before 2nd FEC when my parting was becoming a lot wider. I figured it would only get worse and I’d have to cover up anyway so decided not to continue with cold cap for 2nd FEC. I got my daughter to cut my hair to about 1 cm all over, but a bit longer at the front to show under headcovers etc, straight after finishing chemo. My parting is now like the red sea with a few reeds still waving! However, so far, the rest of my head hair is growing strong, like Emelle says, about half a cm in a week, but I expect that to go when the 2nd FEC kicks in. It has been easier for me to deal with gradually going shorter and it’s not been such a shock to my family - who are the only ones I’ve let see me with my Bobby Charlton look! It is also easier to deal with hoovering up shorter hair and it doesn’t get in your mouth etc as much.
And, again yes, my scalp is sore where the hair has come out, as if it’s bruised.
Only plus sides are lack of facial hair - the unwanted kind! and underarms very smooth and legs going the same way, plus the free Brazilian!
Do what’s best for you though. I personally hate having bald bits but I also wouldn’t have kept covering up odd bits as I’m not a scarf/hat sort of person - which is really testing me at the moment!
Hi ladies,
I’m much better today as I’ve done all my complaining to the right folk and feel better for it.I was with two really good mates last night.We demolished a couple of bottles of vino and laughed all night.One of the girls was telling us about her friend who had BC and was bald as a coot for ages.However,her hair now resembles a Jackson 5 70’s style affro.She always had thin hair and finds it hilarious that she has the thickest curliest hair she has ever seen.since I already have thick hair we were tryig to imagine what I’ll be like if I lose it and it grows back twice as thick.I’ll look like a yet or something!
Oh well,I’ll know soon enough whether it’s going to fall out and will just need to make sure I have the wig ready! I do hope everything except the eyelashes falls out though.
As the weather was so lovely today I had my roof down on my car and can report that the wig stayed in place at 60mph. So all you ladies worrying about whether to go out on a windy day - you should be fine! Having said that, make sure it’s feeling right to begin with, a slight air pocket could have been disasterous!
Good Luck with H everyone and also anyone having treatment this week.