Thank you for all the good wishes for today, couldn’t sleep last night and have found myself pacing around waiting for my appointment (it’s not until 10.30am!)
Thanks all for posting yor experiences of side effects as that has somewhat settled my nerves and I will let you all know how I get on later.
Speak to you soon big hugs to all xx xx
Morning Marvellous Marchies
I’m finally out of the waiting room, have boarded the train & had my first chemo session yesterday. Have to say I had a major wobble as I left the house… OH thought I was going to leap out of the car & run away!! Where on earth would I have gone?!
I had a portacath fitted on Tuesday which made yesterday so easy… So Linda (think i said Kath in my Feb post… sorry!) please don’t worry about having it done… It really is as easy as your dr says. Yes, it feels a bit like a portacabin (that made me laugh so much!) for the first day & was a bit uncomfortable yesterday, but otherwise a breeze. I am really lucky that my hospital offers these (not all do) so it might be worth others asking about at your onc appts.
i also gave the cold cap a go… And boy, they don’t joke when they say its cold! So we will see. I’m not too keen on the idea of not being able to wash my hair until Sunday though. Does anyone know if I can use dry shampoo? Probably not, but my daughter suggested this for me… bless!
love & hugs to everyone. feeling ok, no SEs yet, but waiting for them to kick in. Like everyone else just so unused to taking so many drugs & pills.
Caroline
x
Fec 1 day 2: Swindon Ridgeway
Hi all
Mrs B I have copies of my histology, your entitled and its not an unusual request. I’m happier when I have the facts about my body in black and white, I’m sure that’s the same for the majority of us.
Angela I think your OH receipe for Tuscan Sausages should be the begining of a new feature - perhaps recepies that work when your taste buds are challanged 
Caroline I’m hopeing I get a ‘portacabin’ ( love it) fitted when I start my chemo as my veins are rubbish.
Still no news about my funding which is driving me mad. I wonder if we will all emerge form our breast cancer with greater patience after all the waiting we have endured - here’s hopeing!
xx Suzy
opps! posted twice
Mrs B - good luck with your appointment today. We are all entitled to have a copy of our path reports. I have both mine and could not have managed without either of them - quite a bit more information than I was told about. For example, there was no vascular invasion in my case. This is on the path report but not one person told me this! I find that piece of information very important to my peace of mind. I struggled to get a copy from my breast care nurse. She was very reluctant and vague about it, so I rang my GP who printed a copy off for me there and then, no bother at all. (GP’s have access to our hospital records).
Well done Caroline - one down. You sound very perky and upbeat - I hope it continues for you. Thanks for the low down on the portacath (or portaloo as my friends call it). It sounds much better than a PICC line, at least from a convenience point of view.
Good luck JLR
xx
Hi All,
FEC x 6. Day 2 of no.1
posted yesterday after first treatment but seems to have disappeared into the ether. Had a real wobble of the bottom lip whilst the canula was being put in, but otherwise all went Ok. So far, I am happy to report similar experience to Angela and Caroline, in that suffering a little nausea, but nothing that the drugs and regular eating isn’t controlling. Slept better than expected, except for loo due to (probalby) excessive amount of water that I had drunk during the day as I was so conscious of the need to be well hydrated!
Certainly enjoyed my meal last night.
Take. care and be kind to yourself.
Jude
Hi All
I’m new to this site having joined today. I had WLE and SNB on 30 Jan and will be starting chemotherapy on Weds 13<sup>th</sup> – TAC x 6. I’m a little bit nervous but also quite glad (in a way!) to get it started as the sooner I start, the sooner I finish. After the chemotherapy I’ll be having radiotherapy and hormone treatment. I’ve been told I will lose all my hair with the chemo so have a few beanie hats as well as a wig consultation on the 28<sup>th</sup>. I’m reading all your posts for tips and have started my shopping list for the weekend! Any advice gratefully received.
xxxx
Hi girls, I hafro been home for about 2 hours now and so far no side effects to report from my first session of FEC. Will keep you updated as to what progresses. Saying that have got a blinding headache but I think that’s jst the stress xx
Hi Marvellous Marchies,
You would think that I would have learned that all my anxiety and stress is best ignored – reality is not worse than you fear! After a three hour wait for the appointment, as I hoped (node positive pathology) I will be getting FEC-T starting either 15<sup>th</sup> March or 22<sup>nd</sup> at the latest. The weekend will be taken up sorting out my chemo bag of tricks! The onc gave a superb advert for the cold cap, but I have already decided not to bother, unless there are some advocates out there who can change my mind! (I don’t like the cold…)
Jlr I am glad you have not had any issues with your first treatment, I hope it all continues in the same way.
Suzy I will keep fingers crossed for your funding, but the way my 2013 started, I’m not sure what good it will do!
Twinnumber1 Welcome! It looks like we might be starting treatment the same week, although on different regimes. There are a number of good pages for lists of things to help go through chemo, the February Valentines thread is good (details on the first few pages) and if you look on the Undergoing treatment: chemotherapy there is a good sticky, Top Tips to get you through chemotherapy.
I hope everyone who has started treatment continues to cruise through, and the SE demons stay away.
Wishing you all a wonderful start to the weekend,
Christine xx
Hey guys I’ve been reading your posts and I started my chemo today! I’m sat in Christies on my two hour countdown to having the cold cap removed and all I can say is that was no where near as bad as I expected!
I’m 36 years old, 4 kids and a single parent. I was diagnosed in December, had two lots of surgery in jan as I was node positive but thankfully only the one. I’m now on six rounds of fec-t, rads and 10 years of tamoxifen.
I’ve really enjoyed reading this forum so far and has certainly put my mind at ease reading the chemo stories so far, I’ve got to say even though this is strange I’ve had a brilliant day with my amazing nurse Allison and my sister in law Emma. The cold cap was horrible for the first ten minutes but after that was cool. had my chemo three hours ago and I feel like I’ve been on the old vino! Fingers crossed for the next few days
Hello ladies. Well all sorted with hospital and will start my first chemo cycle on the 15th. I will be having 3 X EC and 3XTAX. Am not going to cold cap as hate being cold. comfort has won over. A really positive meeting. I mentined that I was having slight trouble going for a number 2. 
This is because I am still taking painkillers in the evening to help me sleep as that is when I find my mx scar aches. They have that affect don’t you know LOL!! 
Also mentioned that I suffer from acid reflux. Thanks Angie for telling us of your initial SE,as it gave me the idea to ask for something to control my stomach acid before my treatment starts. Forewarned is forearmed so they say.
Calais - I agree. I have met some amazing people under these most crazy of circumstances. When I read the SE I often think they sound like a really bad hangover (only without the fun of the night before).
Mungos Mum - we could be starting on the same day!
Cassoway - so we are all going to be drinking like fish. I am obsessed with hydration, have brought straws to makesure even if I develop a sore mouth I can drink.
I have gone public on my facebook. Seems silly keeping it secret now. Lets see how many of my friends read their posts. This should be interesting.
XX
I am getting anxious chemo starts tuesday march 12th, i went to a talk
yesterday about de-mystifying myths about chemo, it went on for 4 hours,
tour of unit at the end, by then i felt really tired, then later on in evening
i started worrying again, friends have told me i must think POSITIVE, but
sometimes i cannot, the other people with all types of cancer were a lot
older than me, one man i saw having looked so ill, it has really freaked
me I am fifty years old and i so want to get through this
Hi Calais,
Welcome to our growing gang!
I had to laugh at your description of the cold cap “cool” - I’m not sure you could describe it any other way! (certainly not HOT!)
hope you have an easy weekend and your children are sympathetic - I’ve been training mine in tea making duties since my DX!
Hi Chanson - we will be starting the same week. We will get through this together, week by week.
Best wishes,
MM
Hi marchies hope u don’t mind me popping in, I follow valentines thread & have had 2 rounds of FEC so far , well done those who have started & best wishes to those with start dates, actually getting the chemo is no where near as scary as your imagination but its natural to be anxious . Just a quick tip I found Omoprazole was fab if anyone is struggling with a burning stomach feeling / acid , my gp gave me it & it’s used by a lot of us . Also keep a record of your SE’s , I suffered with nausea on round 1 for 10 days , told my onc & got different meds for round 2 & was much better , feel free to ask any questions on the valentine thread we are all going through it , it’s sad yet another thread each month is createc but great we can all offer each other support
good luck to you all
Karen x
Hi all
I just wanted to say the best thing I did pre chemo - I’m due to have fec3 on the 19th- was go to my dentist and then the hygienist to get teeth and gums in order and I flossed and cleaned like mad and was having some bleeding in mouth around gums when I did this but a week later my gums stopped bleeding and all was good. Nowafter two sessions of chemo I have had no mouth problems- one ulcer but not painful and I think it was sorting out my mouth before I started chemo. I hadn’t been to dentist for ages prior to this also- one important thing they said was not to use a soft tooth brush- so I carried on using my usual tooth brush as soft brushes don’t clean as well and it’s easy to get infections through your gums being in poor health.
Hope that helps- also get a flu jab too it’s free if you are doing chemo.
Ps I have used the cold cap and it isn’t that bad!!! And I have my hair still 
Good luck all of you starting chemo this month xx
FEC 1 Cycle 1 Day 4
Today was another GOOD day. Asked GP for script for omeprazole, which he agreed to over phone, said he’s do it, but still waiting! oh well. another nice meal from OH. See, there IS a God! (for those that don’t realise, he’s a pastor!!!)
Mrs B - I did get copy of path note which GP was sent. I wonder if it’s the complete version? Your therapy on 15th - excellent, a DATE! Don’t drink too much though, it can have a down side (see my previous comments). I think it’s good to “go public” It can help other women, esp if we are able to cope, and are seen that we are ( but i guess being real about the up’s and downs too).
MungosMum - Hallelujah! a DATE for you too, that’s really good news for you. ell done for pushing through.
JLR - thought of you today. Well done for coping. I have had slight headaches too, but not as bad as you describe.
Caroline - Well done to you too. MyNewHair lady recommended “Tints of Nature” shampoo & conditioner for before, during and after to take care of old & new hair & scalp. £7.50 each. Probably off internet.
Suzy - Good idea about recipes. Do you want to start it & I’ll add my ideas to it? Do you really have to wait for funding before treatment?
LindaLola - I think I might ask my GP for my path report to see if there’s a difference to the one i have. Good tip, thank you
Jude - You, like me, obviously over did it a bit with the water on C-Day! My daughter, a nurse, was horrified when i told her that i’d downed 3 litres (really!!!) by 2.30 that day, and then sloshed home. I was a bit OTT! Next time I’ll limit it a bit.
Twinnumber1 - There are really good tips at the start of february valentines & sticky threads,and a few more here too. hope they are helpful, and ask here if there’s something not mentioned, and we all will try to help. Welcome to the Marchies Mallows! So you needed to join tho’
Calais - Welcome to Marchies Mallows. You sound very coolcalm & collected. Well done for getting through your first Chemo & CC. So glad you have support. As a single mum, it can’t be easy.
Chanson - What’s your diagnosis & regimen? You WILL get through this - it is more scary in our heads than in reality. Once you’ve had the first, you’ll realise that. Try not to panic, just ask lots of questions if you need answers, from your health professionals, and here too. We’re in it together here
Welcome again to all newbies, and good-night to all.
Angela x
Karen - Hello again, missed you. I agree it’s so sad that so many women of all ages are going through this stuff. 1 in 3 i believe. The other 2 in 3 have a lot to thank us for!
Summer71 welcome, and thanks for info re teeth & toothbrushes. I did get a soft one, maybe i need to go back to my other one. i bought corsodyl toothpaste… don’t bother, it’s awful! The mouthwash is ok tho’
hi all just wanted 2 join this special group if thats ok.
I had my first chemo on Tue, an yea sometimes the fear of the unknown is worse than the reality. I was called in at short notice. At first i was told i would have to wait for a ct scan/results b4 my treatment would start but the oncologist who was running the clinic on Tue insisted that i get started. She explained that regardles of the outcome of my ct The first 3 treatments would b the same??? So with out much time 2 think bout it off i went. I was very sick wed an thur, but thank god that seems 2 b settling.any way just wanted 2 say hi. I know none of us want to b here but its good 2 no that there are other people out ther in the same boat. xxxx
Hi Monarose,
I am sorry you are finding the firs few days difficult. I understand that we need to keep a list of all our SEs, and if we suffer particularly with sickness the oncs can change medications to stop it happening during the next round. I hope you feel better soon.
Please don’t worry about the possible change in drugs half way through. My onc explained today that I would be on 3xFEC then a change to 3xT because some cancer cells may have a resistance to some drugs, and they want to make sure that all bases are covered. I understand this happens with more aggressive situations or those which have spread. Although other combinatoins of drugs are used, I should think the reasoning is the same.
Hope your SE demons have a weekend off, and play hookie for the rest of the week!
Best wishes,
MM
Hello Marchies.
I’m just popping in again from the Valentines thread, although strictly speaking I am a Marchie because I haven’t started yet due to an unexpected delay.
I really wish the information given to us by nurses and Macmillan/Breast Cancer Care was consistent. Now it seems it’s toothbrushes!! Some say always use soft ones, now someone says normal ones. Which are we to believe? 
My very best wishes to each of you for minimal side effects, assessments, treatments, or just waiting to start. Have a lovely peaceful weekend, and to all you mums - Happy Mothers Day!