Thank you very much 
I really hope you get your treatment plan and dates asap, it really does help with the mind. I have now started applying the Polybalm, as it says a few days in advance to start ( and then all the way through treatment). The set consists of 2 small bottles, one for feet and one for hands, a bit like lip gloss, with the same sort of applicator. Strange stuff, a sort of soft wax, that you apply to the cuticles and then massage in. The reviews are very good and it has been tested on chemo patients ( was developed for them), so fingers crossed it works. Will let you know how I get on, on Monday. I am not cold capping, so shouldn’t be in there quite as long, I hope!
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Hi I’m starting chemo on the 10th Sept,
How do I join/post to this thread other than reply to users? Thanks
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Hi @SMBW18 welcome. I hope your ok.
To just add a comment to this post if you scroll to the bottom, under the last comment theres a separate bar with an arrow for the whole thing rather than replying to one person.
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Thanks. Gaw I know I’m going crazy waiting. Getting to me today. Sick of feeling out of contol. I’m not cold capping either. I think the first one is the longest just because of forn filling and making sure we dont have any reactions.
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Yes I think you are right, the first one I was told to allow an extra hour, in case. I know how you feel, the waiting is the hardest bit. I used to spend some time, scrolling through the previous few months, chemo starters and write down all the helpful tips and then quickly buy ( off Amazon usually :)) all the things mentioned. So I have boxes with moisturisers ( Aveeno), mouth pastilles ( for sore mouth/ulcers) soft childrens toothbrushes, immodium, laxative (laxido) skin numbing cream ( Emla, for the stomach and leg injections), Gaviscon chewable tablets, for indigestion/acid reflux, I bought a Picc-line cover, soft and stretchy, for sleeping in, another waterproof one for showers - although I still haven’t got an appointment for the Picc-line yet! This was how I kept my mind busy, by doing practical things, while I was active thinking of helping any future problems, it seemed to calm my mind a bit. Hope my list doesn’t worry you - I just wanted to be prepared for any eventuality!!
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Hi. Not at all aha I’v been doing the same. I have my chemo basket ready with a symptoms journal and pens, lip balm, hand sanatizer and such on the go. I’m going to borrow your list
And we have movement. Just had a call, I have my appointment for bloods and to meet my oncologist on the 11th with a hope to start Chemo the following week. Just happens that that afternoon I’ll be watching Moulin Rouge in Manchester and my appointments are in the morning in Manchester aswell feel like a weight has been lifted
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Ok, got the post know how now.
I’m a secondary BC patient been through targeted treatment Ribociclib and oral chemo tablets - Capecitabine.
I didnt have chemo at primary diagnosis as I was considered low risk for reoccurrence, but 5 years later….!
So now 3rd line treatment and 2 years post MBC due to have my first chemo E&C plus G-CSF and steroids starting on the 10th September for 4-6 rounds depending on tolerance.
Port being fitted next Friday as it will IV moving forward now.
Feeling apprehensive about managing side effects, any advice appreciated
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Brilliant news!!! You wont be far behind me hopefully. It must be fate intervening, with both things happening in Manchester on the same day. You can relax now while watching Moulin Rouge
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Hello, welcome and so sorry to hear that this is the second time round for you. I wont be much help to you I am afraid, as I don’t start Chemo ( EC x 3 rounds, then Paclitaxel x 12 ), until 1st September, Monday. However I will be able to perhaps be of more help after Monday. Did you notice I mentioned ‘Polybalm’ for protecting your nails during chemo, in a previous post? I have just started to apply it and it should help stop the nails dropping off (yikes). It is expensive, around £50 on Amazon, but previous ladies have mentioned that it does last through the whole treatment usually. Aveeno moisturiser also gets mentioned on these threads and my oncology nurse told me to use that one, to help keep the skin a bit better conditioned ( only used on my hands/nails so far as I don’t usually use body creams). So for advance preparation, that is all I can suggest. Good luck with everything and I expect we will all be sharing more tips as we travel along this road together.
So sorry your going through this again. Were here to help in any way we are able.
Try and have a toot through some of the months previous chemo threads. Thats where we are looking through to see what some of the side effects could be like and they share tips on how they are managing and things to get before hand so your ready. @bellbert wrote a good list a little higher up of things to have on hand. I’ve also read compression socks may be a good thing too.
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@molly.m has explained how to use this thread replying to one person or the whole thread.
This is a how to get started on the forum which may help.
I’m sorry to hear about your secondary diagnosis and wanted to signpost you to the area of the forum that may be helpful. You have to apply to join the threads. There is also a separate chat group you can join.
I hope this is helpful.
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@bellbert hi lovely. Hope today went ok and your not feeling too bad xxx
Oh thank you for checking. The day was ok, a 3 hour delay getting the chemo drugs made up, but fine apart from that, didn’t really feel it going in, via cannula in hand - even got lunch! Was fine when I got home, ate GF pizza. Now, before I mention the next bit, I figured out today that I had the bad reaction to Ondansetron, anti sickness tablets. I took one at 8.30pm last night, on its own and around 30 to 40 minutes later, started to feel dreadful. Now I have low blood pressure normally and last night it started to drop rapidly, so did my temperature and I was cold and clammy. So when temp went under 36 degrees, phoned the emergency line and told to phone 999, due to other symptoms. Rather scarily my husband was told to get a local defibrillator straight away! Didn’t need to use it. I was a little better by the time the ambulance arrived, but vitals still too low and the ecg was a bit odd, a longer reading than normal ( now know it is a symptom of that tablet). So off to hospital, had full blood work done, all fine, the blood pressure and temperature started to rise ( as that tablet was working out of my system I now think). Was told it was a severe reaction to chemo ( but I think that particular tablet) I phoned the emergency oncology line this morning to ask if they thought it was that tablet and told ‘yes, quite likely’ so they are changing them for me. So it all ended well, now know how good the response is if you need help and when this tablet I took earlier ( to test my theory) is out of my system, I expect to feel much better, so don’t worry it was just a bad reaction I had to one tablet
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Hi Everyone. Joining as I’ll be starting on 9th September. 4 x AC dense dose and then 4 x docetaxol. Not cold capping and had eyebrows microbladed last week, highly recommend! Good luck everyone, look forward to sharing our journey together xx
Hi all. Had my pic line fitted today which wasn’t too bad and had a very informative chat with the chemo nurse. Start my EC on Friday and giving the cold cap a go but not giving myself any pressure if it’s too much. I’ll let you all know how I go xx
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@bellbert how are you doing ? My word what a start. I’m so glad your ok, and that it was found as to what was causing it. Hope your doing better
And welcome @springer77 and @mrsb6
Ive also had my eyebrows done ready I havent yet got an official date for starting so not sure what I’ll be on yet
I hope everything goes well for you tomorrow
Xx
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Hi all, I met my oncologist today. I need chemo and Herceptin. I’m likely to begin treatment the week of 22nd September. This is 2nd time for me. 1st time was 15 years ago.
I’ve already had a mastectomy back in March, with a follow up operation 4 weeks ago. Was really hoping I wouldn’t need chemo, but it wasn’t to be. The year is going to end as badly as it began, as I had my suspect mammogram in December 2024.
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Hi everyone, found out today I’m starting on the 11th.
I’m 42 and have a TN Grade 3, 30 mm lump in one boob. Was hoping I could just have it out but not to be. I’m going to be doing 4 cycles of Pac (weekly) + carbo (week 1 only) followed by 4 cycles of EC (week 1 only) with Pemb alongside for the full 8 cycles. Not getting port fitted until the 19th so will have two sessions via cannula unless they can move my port date up which I have requested.
How does it feel like the whole process is going incredibly slow but too fast all at the same time!
This is my “flag of positivity” for me to wave when I feel crappy… it’s my catch phrase at work and one of my lovely colleagues made it for me!
Glad to have this forum alongside me whilst stepping through this next stage
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Welcome Springer, I started my first EC chemo this Monday, not too bad apart from my bad reaction to one particular anti sickness drug, as per my previous post. Good luck with it all.
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Not doing too badly now thank you I think if I hadn’t been given that tablet I reacted to, I most likely would be have fine from the beginning ( will see with round 2!). Yesterday minus those tablets was so much better, virtually no low key nausea at all, but my head is woozy. I did get 2 optical migraines, one in the afternoon and one in the evening, but I am prone to them, n times of stress. Today our dog with the diabetes and one eye with glaucoma, has had a very high reading, so doing multiple eye drops this afternoon and back to vets at 5pm with everything crossed. If it keeps going up, the eye will have to be removed and I will be sleeping on a 3 inch camping mattress with her, in the lounge for the next 2 to 3 weeks, as before - good fun as I will be starting the Filgrastim leg injections tonight! Please keep your fingers crossed for this afternoon! Well done on getting your eyebrows done - i’m lazy and have bought one of those special pencils, you do the individual strokes with, I can change my expression on a day to day basis, depending on what sort of day I have had
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