Morning Everyone.
Went for my outpatient apt with consultant yesterday after my double mx and implant recon. Thankfully lymphs all clear, but have been referred to oncologist now, and likely chemo will start after Chrimbo.
Any words / tips /guidance you can offer on things I can do in the lead up to my start date? Anything to help me prep my body/mind for what it’s up against?
I’m not sure which drugs I’m getting yet - other than I know I will be having good herceptin
Hi Ladies
Welcome to the forum.
It may be a good idea to read the monthly chemo threads. There are many lovely ladies on there currently going through chemo and share tips and advice along the way. I will start a January thread nearer the time.
At the stage, there is not alot you can do. However, you may want to have a think about how you’re going to deal with hair loss. I had long hair, so decided to get it cut short before starting chemo. Also, have a think about whether you would consider a wig or scarves?
If you have any questions, please ask.
Best wishes
Sue xx
Hi sue , I’m going to get my eyebrows done tomorrow , perhaps silly or vain to some but it’s one way of coping for me , I will be starting my chemo after Xmas , waiting for appts , I have found out so many tips already on this forum and I will definitely be on the January thread , it’s so valuable x
Well I’ve been signed off from surgeon , 2 nd WlE did the trick , so waiting for oncology appt now, I’ve had my eyebrows tattood and have had my long hair cut very short as I know I’m. Not going to cold cap , just a waiting game now x
Well that’s good news then xx
Good idea to get your hair cut short.
Just try and enjoy Xmas now and try not to think about it too much (I know that’s easier said than done!)
Sue xx
Hello ladies, just popping over from the December thread to see if I can help. I have just had my second cycle of an accelerated treatment (every two weeks for each cycle). I had my eyebrows micro bladed before I started treatment so I would have an idea of where they were meant to be when they fell out! I had my long hair cut into a bob. I’ll only have it for a couple of weeks but it gets you used to having less hair and also finding out how cold your neck gets! Sort out a wig, some bandanas, turbans, whatever you are going to fancy wearing on your head. Try painting your nails a dark colour as that is meant to protect them during treatment. Get some meals in the freezer or ask for some Cook vouchers or similar for Christmas. I also have a squirt of vitamin D each day, an activia to keep your gut healthy and a spoon of manuka honey to boost immunity. You might want to buy some mouthwash for a dry mouth (biotene I thinks it’s called), some bonjela if you get ulcers, a soft toothbrush, sensitive toothpaste…gosh I didn’t think there was much but there’s loads!
Most importantly, try to have a nice Christmas. I found the waiting for results and to start treatment was the worst part. I almost skipped into the hospital on the first day! The treatment is fine, the nurse sits with you while she administers the drugs, you get a cuppa and lunch, there are other women going through it who you can chat with and pick up tips. Rest up for a day or two after treatment as I have found them the worst. Make sure you don’t suffer in silence, I was sick for 24 hours after my first treatment and after a change in my anti sickness drugs I haven’t been sick this time which made a huge improvement in my recovery after this treatment. Everyone is different, some of you will have bad side effects and others will sail through. Just be kind to yourself, look after yourself, let other people support you and this time next year it’ll all be over.
Thankyou so much for all your tips , I’m still waiting for date with onco , I’ve had an soot for a bone density scan on 4 Jan but nothing else yet , I feel like I just want to crack on now , like it’s an inconvenience x
Thanks Dramaminx for the awesome tips. It’s so hard to know what to expect.
I have seen my oncologist now. I’m having 6 rounds once every 3 weeks of herceptin, Carboplatin and Docetaxel. I then have to continue with herceptin injections once every three weeks for 6 months! Then hormone treatment. All kicking off w/b 8th Jan. Just need thumbs up from surgeon and heart scan first.
Feeling daunted, but not as scared as I was about surgery I must admit.
Considering cold capping - gonna try it for first session and if it’s unbearable I don’t have to use it again. No harm in trying I guess. Having hair cut into short bob on tuesday.
Here’s to a jolly festive Christmas. 2018 - I’m ready for you!
Am the same. Saw the oncologist Thursday and just waiting for my appointments to come through now. Had my mastectomy in November and I am more nervous about he chemo . Have prepared and ordered a wig and some turbans. The strange thing is I had the pen ready to sign the consent before she had printed it off !!!
Going to relax over Christmas and will be ready and waiting in January
Bring it on !!!
It has not been as bad as I feared so my advice is ignore the scare stories. I didn’t cut my hair before treatment and using cold cap I have kept 75% of hair. Drink tonnes of water. Ask for sleeping tablets to sleep though steroids which kept me buzzing all night. And laxatives. Invest in hand cream and a good face cream. See if anyone can do some cooking batches for you. Good luck x
In November I had a double mastectomy and left axillary clearance for bilateral breast cancer with some lymph node involvement. This is my second time round as I was diagnosed with right breast cancer some 16 years ago for which I had WLE, total axillary clearance (no affected lymph glands) followed by radiotherapy and hormone treatment but luckily no chemo.
Saw the oncologist on Tuesday but not getting away with it this time and will be starting FEC-T, followed by radiotherapy after Christmas.
While I wasn’t looking forward to the surgery, I wasn’t particularly concerned about it and I am recovering well (touch wood). I am, however, really quite anxious about the chemo. I appreciate that the side effects affect everyone in different ways and to varying degrees and I know that I have to go through this to get to the other side but I can’t help but be a little afraid.
Hey Karen,
I know how you feel. I felt off when I had mine through. But tbh…it was actually ok. My consultant was fab, took everything really slow and explained it all really clearly.
The only downside for me was that she was running an hour behind - way too much time spent in the waiting room looking around at people at various stages of treatment.
I just had my chemo dates through today, and got my heart scan tomorrow - which you may need if your having herceptin like me.
Stay strong babes - we got this
Jen x
I’ve just had my date for first appointment with oncology on 3rd Jan I’m also unsure what drugs they will give me - so nervous as I hate anything intravenous but at least I have next week without any appointments for the first time in a month.
I know what you mean it’s one long round of appts , got to be done I suppose , I keep thinking I’m doing fine then all of a sudden find myself crying into my cuppa , it’s the unknown I think x
