@cridders good luck with the port today xxx
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@molly.m dexamethasone? I took with breakfast and an early lunch bc they can affect your sleep if you take them too late xxx
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Morning Rachel, I take it you mean Picc line? No, not heard a thing, was booked ( or possibly not, I am now thinking) back in August! No, today I have to give blood, as supposed to be having chemo 2 ( EC) on Monday, but it will depend on if the antibiotics have cleared up the infection. I hope you have a better day today, at least the bad days don’t seem to last. Jane x
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Morning Ailsa @molly.m , so pleased you get your treatment nearer to home. I travel around 45minutes, not too bad I expect. The pain is a bit better today, thankyou. I had to stop the Ibuprofen yesterday, after the first dose, as I was getting increasingly queasy and hadn’t eaten much for a couple of days ( they upset my stomach). So went cold turkey! Had a very rough night, but surprisingly a lower level of pain this morning. Off to give blood, in case Mondays chemo can go ahead. I have been out walking the dogs, with my shaved head, feels quite nice 
Morning Kim, hope that port fitting goes well today. The chemo sessions will be so much easier after that.
Jane x
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Hi everyone.
I’m starting chemo on Wednesday 24th September. I’m very ready to get going with it but also nervous with so many unknowns ahead! There is so much great advice on this chat, and others. I’ve been lurking and absorbing info while I waiting for my date.
My main question for now is for any recommendations for leave in conditioners to use while cold capping? I’ve just realised what a big collection of hair products I already have and I’m wondering if any are suitable,
or do I need to add to my collection? Thanks
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Hi all! Hope you are all good.
I’m from the June starters chat but wanted to share something I found this week. Asda have brought out an affordable adaptive clothing range which was spearheaded by a lady Nicky who lived with stage 4 BC, her Instagram is linked here
There are some lovely pieces with zips in all the right places for anyone with PICC lines or ports. Link here
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Please see my post at the beginning of the thread. A brilliant charity called Cancer Hair Care offer lots of help as well as Paxman cold cap website.
Good news, I’ve started to feel much better and had scan on bladder shows no debris. Such a relief going into weekend. You’re right Jane, the bad days don’t last xxx Kim hope your fitting went well and you’re not too groggy from general an. Catherine how is your port today?
Hi @dizzy3 that’s great you’ve got your date, scroll up a bit and I put a piccie of a bottle of simple conditioner on for cold cap xx
Have a peaceful weekend everyone, much love xxx
I got a parcel from my buddies today, pic below. I burst into tears x
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Hey ladies - thanks for all the check ins. Port fitting went well - was in at 7am and home by 2.30. Slept most of the afternoon and just having some late night munchies.
Bit tender and stiff so starting with paracetamol but got some good painkillers as back up. Expecting an uncomfortable few days but so glad it is in as my poor little hands can’t take much more! Even had to have a baby cannula for the GA today 
Hope all well and feeling positive today - my dad has carried on the flag of positivity in n to some hats 
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I just bought the blue seashell top! Perfect! Thanks for the link x
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Hi Everyone I’ll be starting chemo on Mon 29th September so just sneaked into this thread. Trying to work out what to take with me and how to prepare…
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Hi all, the chemo session itself went well, I was pleased that I managed to persist with cold cap initially strange sensation but keeping myself distracted with words puzzles helped.
Wednesday evening was rough though, sickness and diareah. Couldn’t tolerate the disolvable stronger anti sickness meds. Called the helpline who were very reassuring.
Day 2 got a little easier with the addition of steroids tablets and better regulation of anti sickness meds that you just swallow spent most of the day in bed. Very pleased that I managed the steroid injection in day 2. Not as daunting as I was thinking.
Day 3 easier again just a bit of nausea and fatigue. Was able to eat a bit more food today scrambled egg on toast was the highlight.
I’m on day 4 post chemo now and managed a small and slow walk around our housing estate about 15 minutes, feeling a bit tired now but good to get out of the house.
Just wondering how this compares to others experiences.
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That’s rough @sunflower1972 I’ve found the first week hard. Today is day 6 and I’ve got body aches like flu and still shattered. I’ve read so many different threads and we all experience different things, it’s difficult to share but a friend suggested antihistamine for body aches. I had a bit of neck and chest swelling (lymph build up I guess) and a walk really helped. This week has knocked me out but I’m trying to look forward and trust that my body will find a way. Keep checking your temp and sleep when you can:heart:
Welcome @emsd2025 congrats on your start day, there’s so much fantastic advice on here for your chemo bag, lists of really helpful stuff. Will you be doing cannula, picc or port? The most important thing is your comfort, so loose clothes, fluffy sox, something to do/read, snacks, drinks etc. I cold capped so my first session was 5 hours. I snoozed a bit too. That’s only every 3 weeks though, in between I only have Pax so shorter.
Rachel xxx
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Thanks so much Rachel - how did you feel after?
Hi @emsd2025 days 1/2 for me I felt fatigue in the afternoon. Midway through the week I had a cystitis scare and the nurses thought I wasn’t flushing toxins (pain in bladder) but scan was clear and with lots of water cleared on its own. Day 6 for me was my absolute worst. Headaches, aching all over. Today is day 7 and I’ve woken without pain. What I’ve learned from week 1 is every day is a new day. Look forward not back. You’ve got this xxx Rachel
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Thank you so so much Rachel! So kind!
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Thanks for your reply story1
It helps to know that I’m following a similar trajectory to others. I was just so shocked by how quickly the symptoms hit me Wednesday night. Thought I might have a day or 2 before it really hit me. Thankfully they do seem to be easy each day. I’m day 5 today and feeling positive,
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Hi Emsd2025
Did you get a chemo gift bag from the oncology team, I found mine really helpful, like Story1 said take things to keep your mind busy it really does help especially if you are using the cold cap.
Take plenty of water, a blanket again especially if using cold cap and wear loose fitting top so the team have easy access for obs and chemo access to port if you have one.
I have a port which is really useful however for me when they first accessed it that was the most painful part of the procedure, hoping I’ll be better prepared for it in my 2nd cycle now I know what to expect.
My cycles are every 2 weeks for 4 cycles i’m in EC. Then 12 weekly cycle of PAC.
Good luck on 29th.
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Morning ladies - feeling a bit battered and bruised from the port fitting today so just resting up. Almost forgot my injection yesterday so ended up doing it at 9.30pm which might be my new tactic as can then be in bed/resting when my hip pains kick in. Don’t feel I’m in a rhythm yet as not sure if I’m feeling rough due to infusions or the surgery.
Hoping to get out for a walk today as I’m bored as hell but going to take it steady.
But I did at least paint my nails yesterday! Got some bright water based ones…
Sending you all positive energy!!
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