Hi Ali49 my 1st flu jab is Thursday
Good luck x
Hello all - haven’t posted for a while but am finding help in all that you are sharing - incredible how different everyone’s experience has been even on the same chemo. Did anybody get advice as to when in the cycle the flu jab is safest? I am day 11 post fec and it has not been mentioned but I assume there is plenty of time to sort it. After a very rocky start for the first few days am having a really good couple of days and the taste in my mouth has even gone today and no Hair loss yet. I echo others saying when we are stronger there is more energy to reflect what we are going through - which is tough - we will get through till the end though - one day at a time. Hope everyone has a good night x
Hi Fairydust,
Hope your headaches are easing - are you drinking lots of fluids? At least 2 litres a day! Also you can take ibuprofen or paracetamol. Paracodol may be better but not if you are constipated as it will make that worse.
Lots of sympathy,
Cath x
Hi Mrs MEOW
My chemo nurse said to have flu jab as nearest to possible to next chemo. I have booked mine in for next Sat. Chemo is on Weds but they don’t have clinic in between but nurse said it’s fine.xx
Thanks SueW, Geordie and all the other strong ladies on here for our support to each other!
Sue W, that is a fabulous amount! Well done! That will go towards more people receiving the help they need to get through what we are going through.xxx
Today I went to work with a hat and got the ‘Is it a bad hair day?’ or 'whats with the hat?'many times! To those who I didn’t know I said yes hair is a mess but to people I know I told them. They felt so embarrassed and apologised so then I had to tell them it’s not a problem, they weren’t to know and told them not to feel bad, which in itself was tiring!
I feel I’m spending more time helping people to not be sad or feel bad when really they should be supporting me, but some really do not know how to respond. So I’ve decided ‘Bad hair day!’ is good or just simply ‘Brave the shave!’ as its that time of year!
Day 15 and as I was lying in bed I ran my fingers through my hair and some fell out! I started to giggle and shouted ‘It’s coming out, about bloody time, I’ve got coconut oil ready!!!’ My daughter wasnt impressed but I told her to lighten up as I am prepared but she is finding that side difficult! Again, I’m fine but having to put a brave face on for my mum and daughter! At that instance when some hair came out I really was excited as been waiting to see what I look like bald!!! At one stage I stuck a pair of natural tights over my head to see what I will look like!! I looked like a robber!!! We really do need to make light of what we are going through otherwise we would go crazy!
Black Silk nightcap on and I feel more like a nun!!!
Sister Act! We will do it!!!xxx
Haha, you made me laugh CK! Robber or nun? Both a great look!
Thanks for all your supportive messages, I am feeling better despite the remaining uncertainty re possible lung secondaries. My friend who had bowel cancer once told me that the only certain thing about cancer was the uncertainty… I can now understand what she meant.
My son’s 5th birthday party went very well and the bouncy castle was a great plan. I said hello to everyone as I squirted them liberally with antibacterial gel (!) but spent most of the party out of the way whilst my friend took control. One of his friends (aged 4) has a brain tumour and had chemo earlier in year. However horrible this is, I’m not sure it can compare with having a sick child.
Although I thought I was doing well in the side effects bIngo, bizarrely my taste has barely been affected, Am I the only one? Wine is not nice, and spicy food hurts my sore mouth but otherwise food is OK. Our meal rota set up by a friend has now been paused until next chemo round, I am usually a keen cook, but kind people have been cooking us delicious meals since my mastectomy on 1 Aug. My very slim husband now has a distinct tummy . … Menawhile, I was worried about getting fat on chemo, but then this week was worried I looked too bony. I’ve decided to embrace my skinny legs and am going to dig out all those clothes that felt a bit snug pre diagnosis and enjoy my new figure, whilst it lasts. Everyone keeps telling me how well I look and how they like my new short hair. I definitely don’t feel that well but glad I don’t look as rough as I feel and fake tan is definitely helping! . I’m doing that Look Good Feel Better course next week too.
Today I’m back to the hospital for my post op group appointment and fake boob fitting. I have adapted remarkably well to having one boob. Maybe I can’t quite register that loss yet.
Better go- bottom to wipe (not mine!)
Have a good day all
Jo
Fairy dust - I have been told paracetamol is ok if you take your temperature first and it’s normal i.e. 36.5 ish, so I took some when I had a headache. I don’t like ibuprofen either x
Jow- glad the party went well. And good luck with the new boob.
Ck- great you have the confidence to go to work in your hats and are embracing the hair loss. I will have to try and follow suit, though I must admit I still feel very self conscious. Glad I am home alone today so I can be bald comfortably hat free!
Welcome back Mrs Meow, after the first chemo fog. It’s such a reluef isn’t it when the side effects start to lift!
If any one is interested in diet and lifestyle for cancer protection there is a free online series at the moment on squareone.chrisbeatcancer.com
It’s only available for a few more days and I am just taking on board the things I think I can apply to my life now and after the treatment to try and stay cancer free and keep my immune system as healthy as possible.
Off to the dentist now for check up and tips on dental care during chemo,
Cath x
CK you do make us all laugh…it helps so much. I also have struggled with people’s reactions and find the best friends are those that make the odd joke and check in on the school run, I’ll know they’ll be there. Some people feel bad when I don’t accept help, sometimes it’s too much too soon, then I come across as ungrateful…my daughter can’t cope with people popping in or sudden plan changes so I need to protect her too. It’s such an emotional rollercoaster when you are already physically drained!!
Didn’t help that I went orange for the first week and looked really perky!!
Geordie, being told you “have to fight it” does put pressure on, you’re so right!
Jo, so glad the party went well xx it’s sooo hard not to over think…they did my chemo first so I can feel one of my two tumours, it’s day 11 and it’s not shrunk that I can feel. I keep checking the flipping thing…the only one that feels smaller is a supposedly benign fibroadenoma that I’ve had three years at least - I don’t understand why this is either. its impossible to know what’s going on in there and waiting for results is tough. I’m also playing catch up to shrink the tumours to where they were a year ago when they didn’t biopsy them. Trying not to think how it may have spread in that time as it’s now in my lymphs. Some times are easier than others to put these things to the back of your mind! X
Fairy dust, I hope your BCN helps you to clear your headaches soon…I had dry eyes and constipation, masses of just water helps keep everything hydrated, don’t think I realised how little I drank before!
Right off to Sainsbury’s between school run and lunch to stock up on anusol ?, figure it’ll be quieter then…probably look really dodgy avoiding everyone and checking out all the tills in case a cashier has a cold lol
Take care ladies xx
CK you made me laugh - I can now picture us all as nuns on the run (Eric Idle and Robbie Coltrane aside!)
Michelle - I feel your anusol pain quite literally - my doctor prescribed me uniroid which is working a treat!
Jow - I had the same wait for info on secondaries but it all came back ok so hoping it’s the same for you - like you say the uncertainty is the only certain thing, and also the waiting is the worst bit! My taste buds don’t seem to have been impacted at all, although I’ve given up alcohol and caffeine for the duration so haven’t tested them on those. I’ve been eating ultra healthy and drinking loads of water since the beginning so think that has had a really positive effect in avoiding most unpleasant symptoms. Can’t avoid the constipation caused by my anti-sickness meds though and also I have a new one for my bingo card today - conjunctivitis! Seems to be going by itself but GP has prescribed me antibiotic eye drops just in case.
Cath - thanks for the advice on the diet and lifestyle - I’ll take a look at that! I would also recommend the book “Anti Cancer - A new way of life” by Dr David Servan-Schreiber. It was recommended to me by a lovely lady I met at the Haven who is a GP 6 years post treatment and it groups together all the latest evidence on diet and lifestyle to prolong life with and after cancer, in an easy to read format based on the stories of the author (who was himself living with brain cancer) and other patients. It is a hugely positive book that is already making me feel a lot better and like I have some control over my future - very useful for all of us planners and control freaks on here 
Anyone else here suffer from eczema? I’ve had my allergies under control for years but finding that they’re coming back with a vengeance as my immune system recovers and I have eczema on my head now. GP has given me the choice of using the eczema treatments and shampoos on my scalp, and risking undoing the good work of my cold cap, or risking infection and all that entails … not much of a choice really :womanfrustrated:
Geordie x
Ladies, I can see us all doing a song from Sister Act with our black silk night caps on!
Hope you are all having a ‘good’ day! Ive just spoken ro my chemo nurse as I got a scare when someone said to me the 3rd cycle is the worst as they dose you up!’ Well she said that this is not true!!! We all have different trearment plans and react differently but do not let anyone scare you by saying this! Bit like when a women said ‘I felt my while body was poisoned!’ which was 14 years ago! It doesn’t and treatment is more advanced since then! Flu jab is best ro book as nearest to next chemo as possible! So get booking if not yet had!
Anyway, on a lighter note!
I’ve been out for lunch and with mum and daughter and then a trip to Morrison’s and stocked up as daughter getting off to uni on Friday! Food shopping whilst hungry is not a good idea and even more so when going through chemo as we came back will all sorts of things we dont usually get:0 Figs, walnuts, soya milk, yoghurts, ice cream, blueberry jam, mint coc biscuits, mint aeros, porridge, advocado, fresh ginger, blueberries! And that’s only half!!!
Morrison’s have some anti bacterial cleaning spray at £1 if you need to get more. Garner sensitive shampoo is £2.50 from £3.90. And large Sanex shower gel with no perfume is 2x £4! 500mls of Palmolive anti bacterial hand gel is £1.50 and handbag size is £1!!!
I’ve also got some Bicarbonate of soda to drink with water and fresh lemon as researched that this is very good for us to drink or to rinse our mouths out. Also got some plastic utensils to eat with when have the metallic taste in our mouths!
Feeling tired now after a few hours out and went to work Fri, Sat and Sun so now resting after a cuppa and a mint chocolate biscuit!
Made me laugh how the old dears were complaining how cheap the supermarket was looking as its undergoing refurb and I was thinking ’ ‘That’s the last thing on my mind’!!! Bless em!!!
Thanks Daffodil. Sorry that you have to put up with the eczema outbreaks too! I’ve had mine under control for years but onc did warn me that this might happen! The steroid creams do seem to be helping a bit now.
CK - thanks for the shopping tips! I too find that I’m spending way more money on stuff to be prepared! We’re all a bunch of girl scouts (as well as nuns…!)
It starting… my hair !!!
I washed it this morning and lots of them on my hands. I was shaking and crying… its harder than I thought…
Hi Ladies
Vee…hair loss is traumatic. There’s no getting round it?
Are you going to shave it?
I left mine and wore scarves. All I can say is that after the initial shedding, you do sort of get use to it. Or resign yourself to it.
I know this isn’t helpful now, but it does grow back. It only takes a few months.
Sending a hug
Sue xx
Feeling for everyone shedding today - first day I am noticing it as well - it’s quite a big deal isn’t it?! Am well enough for a couple of days away with my husband tomorrow so will probably have the worst of it in a strange place where I don’t know anybody which suits me fine… I kept mine long wild and curly but everybody’s decision re shaving cutting etc is unique and love to all and thanks again for the generous sharing of experiences x
even though we expect the hair loss it’s still horrible isn’t it. I went for the shave on Sunday but only because my scalp was so tender as it was coming out in clumps. I’ve worn Maria (my wig) today for the first time. …but scruffed it up a bit with a clip in the back so it looks more me! in the house I’m totally commando which is weird but the kids and husband seem ok with it!
daffodil…bizarrely my psoriasis has all but disappeared since chemo started! another silver lining. …no doubt it’ll be back!
Geordie glad it helps!xx
My hair is slowly shedding now!
I got my new V shaped pillow £12 and Satin case £5 today from Dunelm Mill for sitting up in bed! Also invested in a Satin pillowcase £12.90 bit pricy but good for the scalp when hair is falling out. Have conditioned satin night cap ready too which is rhe one rhat makes me look like a nun!!!
Coconut wax ready to look after my scalp!
Also going to get another wig to change as hospital giving £80 towards.
Gosh, this is getting to be quite expensive.
Hope it’s not too upsetting for all.xxx
Thanks again ck I will be buying a satin night cap thought I had my head covered excuse the pun but that’s one thing I haven’t got yet xx
Good luck to all of us having our 2nd chemo this week! I’m in today so will be thinking about you all xxxx
Hope it goes well reading all your posts makes me feel so much better for when I start my chemo xx