That is fabulous news!!! 
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@sunshineandunicorns at my last cycle my haemoglobin was 118. No idea what itās meant to be! 
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@sunshineandunicorns my HB is 121.
I had a blood transfusion years ago when I had my first son and it was fine / had no idea was being done .
I can put an apple ear pod under my cold cap- I put on the cap and outer cap and can slide it in ?
@galdiolus yay ! Thatās great news
My 3rd EC Tuesday and really donāt want to go. I keep looking at my chemo bag and feel sick already 
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@epic1 it definitely feels like countdown time, doesnāt it! Also round 3 Tuesday. Beginning of this week I was feeling pretty upbeat because I had more energy but as the weekend approaches the dread is kicking in.
Are you also having 4 ECās? I guess at least we will be almost done with EC after Tuesday 
@lizk im having 3 x EC so last one is this Tuesday. Then I have to choose between 3 x docitaxel or pacitaxel (not sure how many yet and not sure how to choose)
Hope your last EC goes as well as possibleā:crossed_fingers:t2:
. I am having 12 weekly paclitaxel after.
My oncologist said the side effects will be a little different and hopefully less intense 
Take care
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I hope you have a lovely day going for your wig fitting on Fri. I thought it would be awful but actually I found the whole experience ok. I brought a friend for a second opinion and the ladies in the shop were all so lovely. Iād advise trying on plenty until you find āthe oneā. When I got mine I just knew it was the one for me as it was the first one which looked like āmeā in the mirror. Iāve worn it quite a few times and people have even complimented me on my hair and asked if Iāve had a blow-dry 
I think itās terrible that you donāt get a wig for free in England. Iām shocked that N. Ireland healthcare has actually got something right for once! Someone should start a campaign for free wigs in England.
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I got mine free in England. Literally gave my name and DOB (no NGS no or proof of ID, medical confirmation or anything) I was shocked as anyone could have walked in and got a free wig.
They gave me a voucher and sent me to another room across the hall and walked out with a wig in less than 20mins, didnāt pay for anything.
The first I tried looked like my hair, I think the lady was just that good, as soon as I said I wanted to look the same she found a match but they did have loads and said if I wasnāt happy with any of their choices I could request to go to another wig service and use my voucher there (although they made clear another service may have used the voucher as a discount rather than make the whole wig free).
I think it depends where you live in the UK (like with certain meds prescribed).
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Roughly 2 1/2 - 3 hrs for me, but it does seem to go very fast. I had my 3rd round Monday and I have to say my brain isnāt functioning right. What comes out my mouth isnāt what my brain is thinking and both my hubby and daughter saying Iām not making sense. Iāve got a flushed face and neck tonight which Iāve not had on the first 2 rounds but all other symptoms remain the same, teeth wanting to leave my gums, acid reflux, strange mouth taste etc etc.
@bluesatsuma I have Docetaxel next Iām dreading the unknown again, Ive been told symptoms are pins and needles in fingers and toes and aching bones/joints have you experienced any of that?
I didnāt get either on Docetaxel. I have slight numbness on Paclitaxel now though.
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I have had 2 surgeries already first surgery was lumpectomy and sentinel node removal. Second surgery was for superior margin removals as cancer still found and cancer found in sentinel node so full axillary clearance. Both surgeries I had drains. In total they removed 14 nodes and it was only the nodes in the first two areas not nodes up my neck. I was told everyone is different some people could have 5 nodes some could have 30 but they cannot do it without nerve damage. Some of my arm is numb as is my armpit. I now have issues with my shoulders and my surgeon thinks i have damaged tendons as my scapula looks disjointed on my back when i put my arm up and across. I am waiting for an MRI appointment and have physio booked. As someone previously mentioned they give you exercises to do but now I can hardly do any of them but was was doing them regularly. Not sure if any of this helps but thought Iād add my experience.
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Thatās good to know thank you.
Hi @nicnac17. So far, no tingling or pins and needles. However, the aches and pains in legs, hips and arms have been off the scale. I didnāt get this with EC. Unfortunately Iām now in hospital as my temperature wonāt stay below 38. They have checked and itās not sepsis. They think its a delayed reaction to docetaxel, which i had on Friday. Hopefully, your docetaxel will be plain sailing. Good luck xxx
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@Linda_Corinne I had full axillary node clearance in August. They had removed 6 nodes for the sentinel node biopsy, 2 of which had cancer. The full clearance was 23 more nodes, one of which had cancer. I had a drain in for 5 days. Some more fluid leaked out after the drain was removed but it settled in a couple of days. The numbness from nerve damage has definitely improved. The armpit is still quite numb, but the painful nervy feeling I had on the top of my arm has almost gone. The scar is quite large and still dark but I know itāll dull down in time. Movement wise Iām pretty close to full range, although itās tough keeping up with the exercises during chemo. I know thereās a lifelong risk of lymphoedema but I was happy to have the clearance as the cancer had been escaping out of one of the nodes. I hope all goes well with your surgery if you have it.
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The side effects seem to vary SO MUCH between people. We all have to work so hard to not compare, and just support one another. I find it hard sometimes with friends and family who think they know what āchemo side effectsā are from someone else, and donāt realise how different they are from person to person. Weird eh? Bit like covid in that way.
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Hi Sunshine, been thinking of you, sorry I didnāt post for so long.
Yes I am the same age - well, I
I turned 41 this month technically, but close enough! My awful first consultant didnāt talk to me about fertility or periods or menopause or anything and didnāt offer me Zoladex, so by the time I started it was a bit late and top close to the chemo. I did it anyway, and in the first month I had weird bleeding- very little, not enough to use a pad or anything even - but very frequent e.g. two days on, one day off then on again. Everyone in hospital a bit unsure about that but just said keep an eye on it. Since then my periods have stopped and I have had no bleeding, so far anyway. Its a relief not to have that to deal with on top of everything else. I havenāt had any side effects to my knowledge but maybe some of my āchemoā side effects are actually zoladex? They are all pretty typical chemo things though. That said, the oncologist did say she thought I might be going into early menopause despite the Zoladex, so that would also affect my periods. So long way of saying I donāt know because the variables are so many. Classic!
Downsides, it is one more appointment every month and I look away because the needle is big (I am pretty good with needles but stillā¦) but it doesnāt actually hurt much. Upside - yay no periods!! My periods are tough so I am pleased about this. I am also happy to protect another part of my body a bit, from the poison!
You are having such a tough time of it, I am so sorry. I am really shocked you donāt get to see your oncologist in person. Is that something your CNS or PALS can push for? I know there is a BC oncologist consultant shortage nationally, but come on! You need a chance to ask your questions and be listened to!!!
I am sorry about the cold cap awfulness. I can relate, it has always been like that for me - almost unbearable- and you feel so helpless when it has to be on even longer. I am actually giving up today. I feel good about the decision but scared about what comes next.
Iām also really sorry about the crazy period and the anaemia. I havenāt had it myself but sending big hugs, Iām so sorry.
@gladiolus congratulations on a great scan result!!!
@bluesatsuma I am on Docetaxel and had no tingling / pinds and needles in cycle 1. I have some but it is quite mild in cycle 2. Weāll see if it gets worse. Compared to other side effects it is not too bad.
I cant find who said this but about the chemo brain YES me too! I mix up words etc and get confused much more easily than I used to. I asked for a full body CT scan, for lots of reasons, and ended up getting one which is unusual I think, and a long story. Anyway it didnāt show a tumour in my brain so just chemo I think but you could ask for a CT scan if you want one.
I have my third dose today which is my halfway point once I am through the bad weeks. I am super nervous but the good news is the tumour is responding and shrinking (mine was palpable so I can tell already though I donāt know by how much).
I still havenāt had my surgery so I found the lymph nodes thread really helpful and informative, thanks ladies!
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Iām on a different taxol but they all have the same side effect of peripheral neuropathy (pins & needles & tingling in hands and feet). Iāve been using the Suzzipad frozen gloves and socks which are meant to help avoid this. So far so good. I also wear compression calf sleeves but that might just be personal preference. It might be anecdotal evidence but I have a friend who was treated at the Christie hospital & they provide freezing gloves and socks as standard there to patients having taxol treatment so it must do something
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I do actually still have partial numbness in my armpit too, I kind of forgot about this until you mentioned yours - itās a weird sensation itās like is it numb isnāt it. Luckily the need to shave my armpits has gone! What an nightmare it sounds like you are having with your shoulder though 
