I couldn’t sleep last night, and can’t eat tonight. My stomach is just churning, and I’ve been completely hyper all day.
Can’t really believe that I am actually going to have chemotherapy tomorrow. Have been feeling so much better the last couple of weeks, but now it’s here I’m starting to lose it again.
It’s a good thing my sister is escorting me to the hospital tomorrow, or I might still be tempted to do a runner…
OH GOD.
Hi Ladies, i will get my SNB results tomorrow i really hope its good news. I am going to see the wig lady weds which could be fun. Then my Chemo is the 19th (same as you SUPACHICK) The thought of losing my hair sares me to bits.
I am also absolutley frightened of getting a infection after my Chemo how are we going to avoid our familes when they have colds ect.
CYBELE good luck tomorrow with your Chemo. Xx
LOLLY123 Are you going to be using the cold cap?
CAROLINE60 Sorry to hear you had to go to hospital i hope your feeling a bit better and taking it easy. Xx
Good luck to any one else with appointments or Chemo this week.
Take care keep smiling Xx
Good luck everybody for today it seems a busy week for everyone and let’s hope some good comes out of it. I think we are all fed up with doom and gloom.
i have my first oncology appointment tomorrow and snb next tuesday
wendy
Morning ladies,
Caroline - I hope you are feeling better.
Lolly, Butterfly, Teal and Shaz - it’s mad isn’t it how we have cancer but we care about our hair. Hair is part of our feminine identity. People say stupid things like, “it will grow back” but they don’t shave theirs off in sympathy. Re wigs; your hosp should have a prosthetics dept (yes, the place for false legs) where they should offer you an appiontment to try some NHS wigs and head scarfs etc. They still charge you about £70 (if you decide to get a wig) but it is a start to see how you feel about wigs and to try some on, even if you decide you don’t want one, or you can afford a posh real hair one.
Cybele - hope you managed to get to the hospital and have the evil chemo. I have to start my second course on thursday and my hubbie will take me in case I run away. I keep thinking they might have to tie me to the chair like a child who does not understand why they need horrible medical treatments.
Can’t make up my mind about xmas - might try a bit of shopping today as it feels like my last chance to go to crowded, unsanitary places. Don’t want to be a complete humbug about xmas day, so would like to have pressies for my husband and parents even if I send no cards and don’t get anything for anyone else.
Hi ho, its off to the xmas shops I go…
Hi folks.
Good luck with all the various appointments this week-esp if you’re getting chemo. I’m on day 13 now and in all honesty it hasn’t been too bad. If it’s like this all the way through it’ll be easy. Yes i really did say that! I have not been ill. Only a bit nauseous for the first 5 days and with a slightly woozy brain. Since then it’s really been ok.
It’s the fear that paralyses you. I have been so worried about ending up in hospital Every slight twinge in my throat has had me reaching for the salt water to gargle and I know I’m going to get increasingly worried about this as chemo progresses. I just can’t switch off that worry switch.
Yesterday my 10 year old was off school with a virus. She’d a temperature and burny eyes and a sore throat. I didn’t want to go near her! My wee 10 year old girl! That really is crap.
But not everyone will be like me. Other people work through chemo and manage. Maybe work keeps their mind off the heebie jeebies.
Another plus is that all my hair is firmly attached to my head. It’s not looking too pretty but I do have unruly hair and I can’t be bothered trying to tame it. I’ve been told I will def lose it so I am prepared but at least you get a wee bit of time before you’re baldy.
Also I’ve had no constipation. Well maybe one slow day (sorry) but otherwise bowels have been normal. No mouth ulcers or thrush yet. I bought cheap toothbrushes from Tesoc (2 for 18p) and I’m using one a week then binning them. Having the odd swish around with salt water too.
I guess maybe the side effects are cumulative and they’ll hit me later on but for all of you waiting in the wings please be assured it is not as bad as the image you have in your head.
Oh and eat healthy. I’m treating myself to lots of smoothies and iron rich foods just in case!
All the best. xxx
Morning ladies, sorry I’ve not posted for a while. I’ve been checking how everyone is doing but when I try to write something end up on floods of tears (incoherent ramblings quickly deleted!). To be honest I’ve been just about holding things together for my kids sake and feeling pretty low. I told them yesterday about my cancer and me going back in for another op using the nhs book Mummys Lump and feel like a weight has been lifted off me. My 6 year old son was most disappointed that he won’t get time off school to visit me in hospital!
Shaz 1234 thinking of you today,fingers crossed for you x
Cybele, Cressida and anyone else having treatment this week best of luck xx
Marie, so pleased your getting on ok. It’s so reasurring to hear that your first one has been better than you thought. I’m back in tomorrow for more surgery so am now looking at January before I start chemo. Really hoped I’d be a Christmas Cracker. Best of luck everyone x
Hi Ladies well i am back from hospital they removed 5 nodes and only one of them had cancer so i guess that was good!
POLLY 1 Im so sorry your not coping too good at the minute im sending you (((Hugs))) Children are funny aren’t they that did make me smile when you said that.
MAIRE you have done very well, i hope my first lot of Chemo will go as well as your has. I think i would feel the same as you if my son wasn’t well too. I would be so scared of getting to close. Its such a shame on our children all they want is a hug from us when they are poorly.
CRESSIDA i hope you enjoyed your christmas shopping?
WENDY good luck with your appointment tomorrow.
Love Sharon Xx
Hi ladies, i had my hair cut short last thursday. I was very emotional but was told i really suit it. My consultant said i really suited the very very short cut. I looked in the mirror and i look like a slimmer version of my younger brother. I laughed loudly and asked my husband do i resemble.
Thank you for all the support - I was really at the end of my thether. I also know that my aches and pains are to to with the healing process after having a mx with recon.
Marie i understand the mass thing. I must tell my husband to take alcohol had gel with him.
Hi ladies, keep well.
Sorry hand gel.
Hi Sharon
1 of 5 is ok as think it means had started to travel but probably had got no further. Did you have a snb beforehand ? Mine was 1 out 5 14 years ago
good luck for next week will post on here any news from my onc app tomorrow. Very busy this week as now have bone scan Friday and CT Saturday to be honest it’s this bit I am dreading more than the op or chemo
Wendy
Hello everyone ,
gosh how I relate to all you say. Collected wig this morning never sure if you have made right choice because its just the wrong circumstances. I still have infraction and boob is very red so they have changed antibiotics but I still have to go for horrid PICC line tomorrow and they will make a decision about whether chemo goes ahead Thursday. Husband hoping it does because I am in such a heightened state of anxiety, Lets all go to Goa! Just wish I could get to the feeling positive stage and not be so damn scared bit I know I am not alone, thank you all and good luck to us all.
Cathie xx
Hi everyone,
I suffered with terrible constipation after the lumpectomies all the pain killers helped the pain but caused very distressing constipation. Going to the toilet was a nightmare especially if you have to hold your chest because you are scared that you might cause damage to your wound. I found beet root juice a godsend,’ Beet it’ is a brand on the market, Tesco sells at £2.75, Holland and Barrat £4.99. I have a full glass mixed with pure apple juice every day, and it’s great. I only every went to the loo most weeks 2-3 times before, so to have found a miracle cure is a blessing. Please note your wee can turn pink lol, going through the whole colour chart, had blue wee with the sental node injection…lol
Hope this idea helps you ladies that are suffering
Maggie x
Afternoon Christmas Crackers. Had my first cycle of EC yesterday and it wasn’t too bad. Strange tingling ‘down below’ when the steroids went in but she did warn me first, arm went cold from the chemo drugs going in so had heat pad on which was nice relief. 2 Red/Pink wees afterwards from the epirubicin, also warned about that. Felt ok rest of day but struggled to sleep until about 2am (could have been the steroids or just worried about what might happen) but finally dropped off for a few hours. Touch wood, no nausea or sickness symptoms so far (nibbled ginger biscuits and have some ginger beer to sip also) and haven’t noticed anything else odd yet, apart from not going to the loo so perhaps more fibre required! On the other hand, drinking loads of fluids, which is a challenge for me, and peeing like a camel 
(just thought I’d share).
@Maire, My colleague who is having same treatment as me, but 2 weeks ahead, has suffered with sickness, sore throat, skin, scalp, gums and even her butt!!! Has been on oral antibiotics already once as a preventative for the sore throat amd now a week later admitted to hospital for intraveneous antibiotics as temp went to 38.6 so she hasn’t had the best start. She has been quite sociable, Christmas shopping in a very busy Leeds City and out for pub lunches with family as well as meeting up with friends, so perhaps you aren’t being too paranoid about picking up bugs and I guess it’s all about minimizing the risks where possible.
We’re all different and won’t suffer the same side effects at the same time or even at all, but it’s good to read everyone’s experience, get tips and cheer each other on and take comfort from each other where we can.
Shell xx
Hi everyone…
my first time ever on a forum was diagnosed with BC in August have had two lumpectomy surgeries one node removed (Node was clear thankfully). Then got told that I needed chemo radiotherapy and then tamoxaflin due to my age and had just started to enter vessels… Felt like I did when I got the original diagnosis …
had my first chemo 30/11… Had my hair cut short previous and went and bought a wig…but I decided to have the cold cap along with treatment to try and save some of my hair makes the time spent having treatment longer …very uncomfortable gave me the feeling of motion sickness…can understand why people say get it off!..
not had too many side effects was wiped out for about 5days…felt nauseous and bad taste in mouth and heartburn.
back for my 2nd session 21st not looking forward to it so near to Christmas , but look at it as only 4 to go next year…
good evening everyone, hope you are feeling resonabley well. i have had my echocardiogram today, weard hearing your own heart beat, i have been told my picc line is going in on the 27th and first chemo on the 31st, can anyone tell me where the picc line goes is it in the is it in the upper arm or near the elbow, just wondering really, also do i have to make appointment to get a wig fitting or will they contact me, as she didnt mention anything about the wig. i am going to try the cold cap but want a back up incase i can do it as heard it is quite painful and i am a bit of a wimp when it comes to the cold.
lolly
x
ps going to try and upload a new picture of me with my shorter hair later x
Hi all, Iv also been told beetroot juice is good for the blood. Marie advised it is vile but to mix it with other juices. Iv got oncol appointment tomorrow.
Iv decided no cold cap as it sounded like torture. If all is well I anitcipate starting on the 28th. I am very anxious as I am on antibiotics for asperation procedure and hope I dont have to wait too long. I realise as a result of having surgery first - I am not being treated at 100 miles per hour by the BC team - which it felt like when I was first diagnosed.
Keep healthy and eat heathy - say she who has been eating chrisps.
Hi Caroline 60
will be thinking off you tomorrow as I too have an onc appointment. Only diagnosed last Friday things are moving too quick for me really scarey
Wendy
Hey, no one told me that chemo makes you STONED :)))))
After all that fear and loathing and angst, it was fine. The chemo team at the Charing Cross hospital were brilliant, I was VERY well looked after, and my sister was there with me, which was great, as you can’t move round very much with the chemo drip in one arm, and wearing the cold cap attached to the machine.
So far, like Maire, I have mostly just been feeling very woozy and spaced out, but it’s not particularly unpleasant, just odd. Very minor feelings of nausea, but I had the industrial strength anti-emetic intravenously beforehand, and the nausea doesn’t seem to be getting any worse (touch wood)
The cold cap was quite painful for the first 5 -10 minutes, but then that subsided, and my head just felt kind of cold and tingly for the rest of the time - again, not unpleasant, but I don’t mind the cold.
In the taxi on the way back from the hospital, I said ‘I can’t believe I’ve actually had chemo’, and my sister replied ‘I can’t believe you’ve had chemo and been so cheerful about it’ - (OK I might have been bouncing off the walls last night)
My partner is SO relieved, as well!
The nurse said the side effects really kick in after 2 or 3 days, after you stop taking the steroids, so this may be the calm before the storm, but so far, so not-too-horrific
I will count it as a major result if I manage to get through tonight without spending a lot of it with my head down the loo, vomiting. At the moment, it doesn’t seem as if that is going to happen (touch wood touch touch touch wood)
Love and hugs to you all - we can do this!
And that’s 1 down and only 5 to go! Yay!
ps the new profile pic is me in the cold cap, obvs.
hi cybele,
it was good to read your message sounded very positive for those of us who are still waiting to go through chemo for the first time, was glad to see the cold cap too was wondering what it looked like, and also to hear how it was, going to defo try it now … well done hope you have a good night tonight.
lolly
ps was going to change my profile picture to show my new hair style but cant upload it as too big so will have to try again later with a differnet picture
x