Hi lisag
I had my port fitted a week last Friday, so I had a whole week to heal before my first treatment. I imagine having the implant and treatment in the same day would be very tough. I had quite a large hematoma around my port site though the scar was not too uncomfortable. I think by the time you hav your next cycle it should be pain free, fingers crossed. The good thing is there’s not stress rooting around for reluctant veins! Hope the cold’s a one day wonder and your feeling better soon.
Suzy
Hello, I’ve been following this thread but new to posting. I’m on day 20, FEC cycle 1 - having 2nd on Tuesday. I’m having 6 sessions before surgery. I’m feeling bit better these last few days but have been so so tired. It’s been so useful to read others experiences and side effects. There’s so many of us going through this :(. Lost most of my hair now and getting used to having a cold head (my hair was very thick!).
Angela, nice to see you live near Romsey - I grew up there 
FEC 75 Cycle 1 Day 4 Winchester
Suzy - hats off to you! How did you manage all that food so soon? Really happy for you. We all need protein to build our cells.
Calais - why don’t you call up chemo ward for travelling advice? or could your dad come over to you?
Shelley - how are your taste buds? I read that pineapple is nice when one has yucky taste during chemo
K26 & Honeymonster - a very warm welcome. Hope you find us helpful n supportive
Angela - how r u? Has your hair started leaving? You ok?
honeymonster - how did you feel when you started losing your hair.
Roadshow - did you get to sleep last night? Hope the pain buggers off ASAP. I’ve used soya in my tea n coffee for years now. I like the vanilla one for coffee. possibly an acquired taste as hubby hates it so has normal milk.
SEs fine. Bit of headache. I’m ravenous though!
xx
Thanks to all you guys for the warm welcome. Chemo for me starts on tuesday. I’ll let you know how it goes.
Karen .
Good morning everyone still snowing in mk i hope everyone is feeling better this morning well im tac-day 11 had a bad evening but feeling better this morning Nipinuk how are u ? still cannot taste food but im eating well had some pineapple not good lol Karen good luck on tuesday will be thinking of u and hello honeymoster well try and have a nice day will pop in later to see now we all are xxx
Hi everyone, hope those that were suffering yesterday feel a bit better today. Is it just me or is it normal to feel emotional all the time once you finally start to feel better?
Lisag - I had my porta cath fitted 2 days before chemo & also found it very painful at the time, especially at night, I couldn’t sleep properly. It probably took just over a week to heal properly.
Roadshow - Hope you are managing solids today & you don’t have a big bonce! As I had the same problem with cold cap as you & had to go up a size. so a bit dubious about whether it’s going to work or not. So far so good though & day 12 for me. Wish I had got my roots done now before treatment started, didn’t think there was any point at the time.
Take care everyone x
Hi Nipinuk, my hair started coming out thick and fast on day 14 and by the next day my husband and daughter were shaving the rest of as it had got really uncomfortable and couldn’t bare it. I’ve been wearing some scarf/hats from Bohemia (next day delivery) and debating whether to get a wig or not but don’t think I will.
Have a nice day x
Hello all,
FEC cycle 1 day 10
Ooh-er, heading into low immunity period. Told my sister to keep my nieces away for the time being. If there’s any signs of hair loss, bodily or otherwise, I know they’ll want front row seats. They have a real morbid fascination. The 5 year old really wants my eyebrows gone so she can draw on a new pair for me.
Woke up to aching legs and couldn’t remember if I’d taken my clarityn pill last night. Was popping so many pills for toothache I think I may have forgotten to take it.
Suzy52 – very pleased that you’re feeling so well and that they seem to have sorted out a good drug regime for you. Did they include lansoprazole as a matter of course? I wasn’t offered that.
Calais – glad to hear you’ve still got a full head of hair. Shall be interested to see if my body hair falls out on days 13-15. Did you just wake up and find it in your bed (hope not, I’ve just changed my sheets!)
Honeymonster – hello and good luck for Tuesday. Hope the weather warms up soon, must be very cold having no head hair at the moment.
Nipinuk – it’s odd, I have heard that some of the drugs they give you can make you ravenous which is one of the reasons they list weight gain as a possible side effect of chemo. I must admit I’m feeling quite ravenous myself. My mind is imagining eating all kinds of foods which I just don’t normally eat. I’m having a nice mind feast at the moment. I’ve got to order my Riverford stuff later on today and it will be interesting to see if my sensible head returns before I actually order my food for next week.
Daffodil – I know what you mean about roots. I’m just shoving my hair under a hat until this is all over. I’ll tackle it then but I’m going to use chemical free dyes if at all possible. I’ve seen some in the local health food shop and will take a closer look when the time comes to tackle my bush of a barnet. Are you blow-drying/styling your hair as usual or are the treating it with kid gloves? Not sure how gentle I should be with it. The nurse at the hospital actually winced when she saw me trying to tuck it all under my hat as I was leaving. I didn’t want all the conditioner to go on my ski jacket, ha ha.
Well, I’ve given up and will take Amoxycillin for the next 5 days. The pain got too bad and the iboprufen I was taking gave me the sweats. I literally had to change my nightclothes at midnight and again at 6am this morning. Soaking wet. Most odd and have never experienced anything like that before. My mum said it might be the menopause when I told her but I think it’s too much of a coincidence with all the pain meds I’ve been taking for the toothache. I normally shy away from taking pharmaceutical medicines of any kind. My body must be wondering what on earth is going on at the moment. I know I am.
My husband snuck some hemp seeds and barley grass powder into my morning smoothie which gave it an interesting kick. I’m sure I could well use the protein.
Hope you’re all having a pleasant Sunday with minimal SEs. x
Fec cycle 1 day 3
All in all not too bad today, rocky 4 am and still feeling tired. I sleep like a dormouse it seems! I just thank my lucky stars for all the information I’ve gleaned from the forum and blogs First off I started to pop tic tacs as soon as the nurse administered the saline/ant-sickness iv (I believe this controled the metallic taste sensation). I kept myself super hydrated drinking vast quantities of water. Morning of day 2 I took senacot as I have a tendancy to constipation, and now all systems are go I learnt that the chemo drugs hang around for around 48 hours in the body and are expelled through unrine and stool, the time till our next cycle is repair for our poor shattered bod’s, sorry if you all know this info already. I’ve only eaten what my body’s told me to, small portions and luckily what my great buddie has cooked for me, oatcakes, plenty of fresh fruit, chicken soup - its turkey osso buco tonight and I’m looking forward to it! I took gentle half hour walk by the river to combat this darn fatigue - then came home and went to sleep haha!
Roadshow I take lansoprazole for a hiatus herna, so was one up there. Hope your healing and onto solids soon.
Nipinuk Hope the icky poo’s are over. By the way I was born in Hong Kong and have started to dream of pot sticker dumplings a childhood favorite of mine, made with lots of ginger, when I have the energy I’ll make some
Our March Mallows have swelled in number considerably so appologies for not mentioning all be name - but thoughts are with you. I have been prescribed Nivestim 30 injections starting Tuesday (day 5) for 4 days any one else on these?
I’m an hour ahead of you lovely ladies so its cocktail hour here (haha I wish) have a good evening will check in before bed time . Suzy x
Hi Roadshow, I am still blow drying hair on cool & very gently using straighteners on ends. I went on the Daniel Field website & he does hair dye we can use if needed. He doesn’t do a colour chart though, so could be interesting! I haven’t ordered one yet as early days & probably be tempting fate anyway x
FEC75 CYCLE 1 DAY 20
hello ladies! I keep losing what i write. last night is was due to me clicking in the wrong place!!!
well apart from hair and i parting company slowly but surely I am still in good shape. starting to wear my scarves and hats which get good comments from my friends.
it has been great to read so many posts, and to see new people joining us. Again, to the newbies, sorry it was necessary for you to be hear, but hope we’ll be of help to each other.
My OH was a little bit rude to me the other night, he said i was morphing from a blue tit into a bald eagle. What can I say.
Nipinuk, we had an extremely memorable holiday in Malasia 5 years ago. The best for me were the hawker centres where we ate almost every day. and the food was delicious. Our friend is chinese Malasian and we went with her and husband. They took great pride in showing us round…3 weeks of wonder. i’m great thanks. and you?
Suzy - glad to see you have come back after your 1st session, and that things are on the up. take care.
honeymonster - my son lives there, and i live in south east London. Wish i did live down that way tho’ it’s beautiful.
i think there are 3 of us on cycle 2 on tuesday, so i wish you all the best and hope the SE’s this time will NOT be worse, but better.
dentist tomorrow … gulp
Hi All,
FEC-T Cycle 1 day 10
Sickness and nausea seem to have gone for this cycle, and for the first time have been really hungry today. Increased sense of smell has dissipated, so all food tasted normal again! Finished the day with a wonderful roast chicken dinner, with yorkshire puds I forced my oldest to make, as he needs to become self sufficient! They were yum!
We managed to take Mungo out for a celebratory walk today; it is the anniversary of our bringing him home from the rescue charity. It was soooooo cold, even though I was wrapped up, wearing my newly knitted hat. We have been lucky enough not to have any lying snow, but this weather front hasn’t left yet!
I’ve been feeling really fed up today, but can’t pinpoint exactly why. I should try to get out of the house more!
It is typical that we have all been in rude health for the last few weeks, but as I head into my low immunity period, my eldest has decided to start a cold - sneezing constantly today. I have warned him that I may need to farm him out for the next week, or confine myself to the spare bedroom AKA Porridge and be fed through a hole in the door… he can’t decide which is the lesser of the two evils!
Warm welcome to Honeymonster. I will be thinking of everyone having round two next week.
Roadshow - I hope the antibiotics do their magic, and you get through the next week unscathed. You have been through the wringer!
Daffodil - I went cold turkey re hair dye and stopped at diagnosis, knowing I would likely lose my hair, and didn’t want two tone short hair when I chopped the lot off. Undecided what to do later, it all depends on how it grows back! I will be interested to know how the cold cap works for you; I was too much of a coward to try to use it - I hate the cold!
Suzy - you’re mention of oatcakes made me laugh - I grew up in Staffordshire where they are a staple! I have an order in which will arrive with friends at Easter, I can’t wait.
Warm wishes to everyone, I’ll send the sleep fairies out again, hope you all catch one.
Christine x
Angela,
Our posts crossed! Hope tomorrow is not too traumatic for you.
C x
FEC 75 Cycle 1 Day 4 Winchester
Was fine till about 3pm when I started feeling nauseous n was sick a couple of hours later. Thought I’ve got over that.
Kath has written another poem, made my voice wobble when reading to hubby.
Suzeeee - I said I was feeling icky boo, not having icky poos! 
made me laugh! Someone from Feb forum mentioned cactus poo. I love dumplings!
Roadshow - I’ve been given Lansoprazole to take everyday for 28days. Have just written to ask if I really need to take it. The drug suppresses acid production in the gut and treats stomach ulcers so since I’m eating n drinking well I want to stop it as I don’t like the side effects - dry mouth, stomach pain and discomfort. Just don’t like tablets too!
poor you, I really hope things improve for you tonight.
Angela, I’m so glad you enjoyed your time in Malaysia
must go as hubby wants to ssleep
nightie night!
TAC Cycle 1 Day 12
Hello all
I’ve just logged on since yesterday morning and what a load of posts to catch up on.
As posted yesterday morning, day 9 (Friday) was the day I re-joined the land of the living. I had my appt with the Oncologist on Friday too and we discussed my swollen jaw. He said he had ever seen anything like it as a side effect but does think it was a side effect to the Neulasta jab. He doesn’t think it will happen next time so fingers crossed. The only fly in the ointment in the last 3 days is that I had to take some anti sickness pills tonight as I felt quite sick.
Daffodil - I too have basically been craving carbs and am only now able to consider a more varied diet.
Shells64 and Mungo’s Mum - like you, I had a lovely walk with the dog today, took him to Tregantle Beach in Cornwall, it was lovely to get out but there was a bitterly cold wind blowing.
Shels64 - I see you are on TAC too - I think you are day 11 and I am day 12 so very close. We shall have to compare notes.
Scottydog - I think the AC you are on is the AC that is in my TAC?
Nipinuk - thanks for the tip re nails. I’ll be buying the black nail polish soonest! I know what you mean about the humidity - my parents used to live in Singapore and whenever I used to visit them, as I walked out of the airport it would hit me and my hair would instantly frizz. I loved it out there though.
I too am a bit worried about the accumulative effect of the SEs - it’s my 50th (as well as my twin’s!) in May and it will also be my Dads 80th in May but I’m not sure how I will be feeling. I think I’ll postpone my 50th - what a shame!
The Roadshow - I’m 25 mins older than my twin - we were undiagnosed and my mother was told she was having a large boy!
Suzy52- glad everything went smoothly on the start of your chemo.
Lisa - how are you feeling? Still coming down with a cold? Not sure if I am too - just a niggling feeling. I’m glad you didn’t go into work the other day, you need to look after number 1 first.
Honeymonster - I see it was day 14 you started to lose your hair. I’ll see what happens in 2 days time then!
Angela - best of luck at the dentist tomorrow.
My Mum is over at the moment - looking after me while I go through the first round. She has now decided to stay on for the second round before she goes home to Dad (they live in the South of France now) and then they will both be back for rounds 3 and 4 as they always come to England in May. I don’t know what I would have done without her - and especially all her lovely soups.
Right, time now for some sleep. Big hugs to anyone having chemo this week.
Jess xxx
Good morning everyone tac day 12 not feeling to bad had a good day yesterday just still worried about this ct scan going on thursday alot of people are saying if they found something they would of ring i do not think so im up all night thinking about it im so scared i cannot put into words also ive been reading alot and fec im not on that yet but alot of people are asking for emend ani sickness because i had a gas ulcer 8 years ago which also took my kidney so i have alot of stomach problems im going to ask for it also i was thinking of all u guys on fec at the momomt who are having a bad time jess we are one day apart ive not had no sickness just feels like i have a cold all i did the first few days was sleep had some off days and pains in legs just wish the weather would change so we can all enjoy it also next chemo on the 4 april if all goes well not having a good morning feeling sorry for myself crying alot was not going to say anything but i come on here and u guys make things better i known i have my family but sometimes i feel so on my own sorry guys to go on i hope u all have a good day will pop back later to see how u are doing shelley xxx
Oh Shelley,
This chemo business stinks doesn’t it? Crying is supposed to help. It is so hard to keep positive for family too; however much they think they understand, I am not sure they really do. However, lovely ladies here know exactly what we are going through, and I find that really helps.
Looking forward to Easter next weekend, and all that choclate!!
Hugs heading your way,
Christine xx
FEC-T Cycle 1 day 15
Hi Everyone! A long time since I first posted. Shelley, I know how you are feeling with the ups and downs. Maybe think of today as a bit of a low day, tomorrow you might feel much better. I find myself most of the time fine then something will pop in my head and my mind wanders into the ‘what ifs’ and ‘whys’. Hope you are feeling better soon, big hugs x x
Ive been catching up on the posts and noticed someone mentioned that we shouldn’t drink cows milk? I’ve been reading a lot about diet during chemo/breast cancer and it seems there is a lot of conflicting evidence! So much so that I don’t know whether I’m doing right or wrong. My hospital haven’t given me any specific advice other than ‘everything in moderation’. I am a vegetarian but think I get a good balance generally (other than the occasional takeaway/eating out/chocolate!) but have become a bit of intermittent diet obsesser (sp) since I started chemo. I have tried to include more protein in an effort to save the hair! Any tips on things to avoid? I will hot foot it to tesco this morning to buy some soya milk!
Hope everyone is wrapping up warm today, and feeling as well as possible!
xxx
Hi christine thank u yes im looking farward to easter going to see my mum will be nice to get out of the house may go for a walk later i hope you are ok take care speak soon xx
Hi cocobutterfiy thank u also i known what u mean about the food thing i ordered a book of amazon called chemo cookery club over 150 delicious and healthly recipes i hope this helps shelley xxx