September 2024 chemo starters

No one knows. I’m back here again and been told it may or may not reurn. Read yesterday re where mine is which is very rare. It’s in the Axillary Tale (of Spence). Anyone else had or got a lump there? There’s no defined treatment plan and the prognosis although not sure if it applies to me is worse than before. Does anyone know how it is decided if it’s a recurrence or a new primary? I’m told DNA testing can be done but it’s not been mentioned to me. Maybe I should ask although can they do that if it was in 2018?

In an ideal world you’d be concentrating on you and not having to worry about work. I don’t think they can expect you to work normally for the next few months. Perhaps you could negotiate an arrangement whereby you go in when you feel able to.
I too have chemo acne. I didn’t want to go out of the house when my face first erupted. They took it very seriously at the hospital and gave me antibiotic/steroid cream for a week then stronger antibiotic tablets for another week and to my great relief it’s fading fast.

1 Like

When I went in for my first cycle my nurse asked if I wanted an appointment with the wig lady. I’d been told NHS wigs are terrible so I didn’t show any great enthusiasm - which I regret now. She said she’d make an appointment and I didn’t need to go through with it if I didn’t want to. I’m now 3 cycles in and I haven’t heard any more.

Where I am as long as you use their designated people I think you get money off whatever wig or price it is. I had £120 voucher off my wig through the NHS and feel it is really good quality x

1 Like

Hope it goes okay today. Now I have none adhesive cover with bandage my blistering is healing up.

2 Likes

Hope youre feeling better today. Im struggling with sleep too. Don’t get more than an hour or 2 tops in one go.
I was told not to work because of all the germy little ones I’m a TA in EY.

1 Like

I know some people have had some great experiences with their NHS wigs but it wasn’t for me unfortunately - I would have been more self conscious wearing it than not I think.

I actually got some funky cheap ones online, one is a bright red bob and I absolutely love it!

Is anyone nearing shaving the lot off yet? I’m teetering on the brink, don’t know what is holding me back really as I am sooooo not happy with how what is left looks :grimacing:

1 Like

Mine has only just started to come out so it doesn’t look too bad yet. It’s very fine and so I’ve suddenly got strands of hair in my mouth all the time and floating in front of my eyes. I’m always brushing it away. I’ll shave it when the time comes. The only thing that’ll hold me back is vanity. I’m certain I haven’t got a beautifully shaped Sinead O’Connor-type head.

3 Likes

That’s a very good discount. I’ve been looking online at the ones by Simply Wigs. The synthetic ones are about £200 and there’s a huge range.

Thank you.
I’ve contacted work - they are being very supportive of my decision to focus on me.
I will contact the hospital about the chemo acne and hopefully they will prescribe me something similar.

5 Likes

Bless her, my best friend keeps calling me a warrior and a hero and I just want to tell her I spent most of yesterday on the loo afraid to pass wind. :rofl:

4 Likes

Hi @warrior1
I worked as a HLTA for over 20 years and my head teacher told me to stay off once I was diagnosed as I need to get to terms with my diagnosis. I was then signed off by my oncology team until my Herceptin finished. This was a total of 15 months, I have now taken redundancy.

I understand you’re a head teacher but as you know very well schools are full of germs, many of them can make you very poorly being immune suppressed. My school had scarlet fever, measles, covid and many other infections that are not good for someone with your health condition. It’s also a very stressful job. Locally to me a headteacher was off for a year to have his treatment and the deputy headteacher stepped in. That’s what they are there for. I popped into my old school this week and there were people off with Covid and lots of coughs and cold.

If you search school or teacher in the forum you can see many people have started a post. It is wildly thought school is not a place for someone on chemotherapy. What does your oncology team think? Mine told me it would be best not to work in a school until I’d finished all my treatment that affected my immune system.

If you want to return, speak to HR, phased return/ work from home is possible for many head teacher tasks.

I hope you make a decision that works for you :smiling_face_with_three_hearts:

Just seen your later post that you have made a decision. :smiling_face_with_three_hearts:

2 Likes

I used Epsom salts during my chemo with no issue. It helps to ease your aches and pains and a nice bath is good before bed.
:smiling_face_with_three_hearts:

1 Like

@nicnac17 @sharlou for me lately I’ve had “you look well” a lot. (And I really don’t - greasy hair, dirty tracksuit bottoms, no makeup!). I want to scream “what - you mean for a cancer patient” :see_no_evil::flushed: :fu:t2:and I mean, how do they expect me to look? I guess no hair and ill-looking?

2 Likes

It did thank you, I’ve done something to one of my rotator cuffs, so at least it’s not anything sinister but could take several months for it to right itself.

That’s good you’re healing, you’re feeling OK otherwise?

1 Like

Aww I’ve had that too. I just say “oh do I thank you”.

1 Like

That is good news, is it a relief? Focus is you :heart_eyes:

I’m jealous…no one has told me I look well for ages :rofl: Although the steroid bloat deflated a bit yesterday and the husband said I no longer look pregnant. Which was nice :thinking::rofl:

5 Likes

Sorry to hear this as I know they are tricky little buggers but like you say at least nothing more sinister. Do they think having the PICC has made you use your arm funny and that’s how you’ve done it? Or was it a pre existing injury? Like we need more medical crap to deal with!

Oh @shalou Im absolutely the same, my love of chocolate and coffee is kaput. I too have discovered apple juice and pineapple juice, both taste so good to me.

I do hope everyone is getting through this, and send you all my linked arm.

I had my first Self injection of Filgrastim last night and had a reaction within a few minutes of taking it, I thought I was going to die. I couldn’t breathe, my husband got me an inhaler which seemed to help but I became sweaty (no temp) and feeling sick and faint and I felt so weak. It lasted for about 40 mins altogether and frightened me a lot. Unfortunately, I’d taken my Fitbit watch off to charge so I don’t know my stats.

I telephoned the help line, and as I was feeling a little better by this time, they said to not bother coming into a&e as it was so busy and there were no beds anyway. (I didn’t want to go in but the thought of it if I had to … gulp). The nurse just said she’d pass my symptoms into my oncology suite as if it was quite normal.

The thought of me having to go through that 4 more times is a little daunting to say the least.

But what’s the alternative? Anyone else had such a reaction?

Janie x