Hi coyotegi, just popped in from the November thread. The shampoo you can get from Boots is Naked. It has a mild shampoo and conditioner for sensitive scalps
Shazzaboro x
…oh and I’ve lost a few pounds-so that’s got to be good!
Day 4-Still bearing up. Managing small things. Enjoying my food. It def brings relief. Trying to eat iron rich foods where poss. In so many ways it’s like early pregnancy: nauseau, indigestion, tiredness-bit forgetful. I know I’m going to hit a slump in a few days so trying to get bits done for Christmas-keep losing things though-like chocolates for the kids advent calendars-is it possible I ate them???
My suggestion would be get stuff done now before chemo starts to feel on top of things later. In fact I think Christmas might just keep us all going. Online shopping is going to be a boon. Infact that’s my next job. Then a wee lie down.
Good luck all. The first few days are get throughable.
thanks shazzoboro, i guess i need to get some bits together for the chemo, only 1 day between seeing prechemo team and starting so no real time then to do/get anything they suggest! fortunately our family has no small children so christmas is not a big deal and have only 3 gifts to buy and wrap! live on my own with dog and cats so am wondering how much fun i will have staggering down and up stairs if get SE. will just have to pretend i have been at the gin…hic! 
Thanks Maire and Shawshank for your updates, it is really comforting to know how the treatment is affecting you and how you are coping. Hope you are both still doing well since your last posts, and everyone else who has started treatment.
I’m starting to get a bit nervous now my post op appointment is getting nearer (14th Dec). Scared that all my optimism and positive thinking up to now will come back to slap me in the face!!!
On a more positive note it is now 18 days since the op (WLE & ANC) and I now have more or less 80% movement of my arm back again, last 4 or 5 days have seen a drastic improvement. Over the weekend I managed to hoover, do the washing up and even was and blowdry my own hair which was all impossible a week ago. Ive spoken to work and am going back next week for 2 weeks just for 3 days and only afternoons which im very excited about.
Dawn
xx
Hi, I had a mastectomy and level my node clearance. Arm movement very good now, not full range but a lot better. I saw the consultant surgeon on 28 th November when I was referred to oncologist. The consultant thought I will be seen in the next 2 weeks and treatment started as ther does not appear to be any need for delay. This will take me very close to Christmas, do you think they will swart it before Xmas?
xx
I’ve started my chemo now. I am having 3 cycles of FEC and then 3 cycles of Hercepton - not sure what happens after that.
I’m feeling much better to day - was feeling rough on the weekend - late Friday to late Sat was the worst. Also had the worst constipation ever, but been to GP and got some Movicol which should help.
Very glad to have started treatment now. Hopefully my tumour is shrinking now.
Hi all,
I’m on day 6 now and feeling pretty odd today. Just a bit woozy and feel the need to lie down.
Have achieved quite a bit over the last few days: wig buying, Christmas shopping etc. Now it’s time to rest for a bit and recharge batteries.
There have been good moments. Last night I went out to see my daughter play violin in a Christmas concert and it was fab. Felt fine and even sang and clapped along to jingle bells with the choir. Really glad I did it. There are points when you’re relaxed that you don’t feel too bad. So don’t be too worried about what’s to come.
Good luck for all those having appointments this week. Hope black swan and shawshank are bearing up too.
hi all,
hope eveyone is baring up under the circumstances. i have my appointment with oncologyst tomorrow at 12pm, to find out what treatment i will need, does anyone know how long after that appoinment i will start my treatment?
Lolly
x
Hi Lolly,
I guess it depends where you live and how long a wait people have at your local hospital. My oncologist estimated it would take a fortnight and she was spot on.
Use this time to have fun and catch up with any outstanding tasks. It’ll help you feel prepared. I’ve been doing online shopping today when I’m feeling up to it.
Just had a giggle with my 14 year old trying to use one of those spongy doughnuts to put her hair up. Let’s just say i don’t have the knack. Contrast this with the way I was feeling around mid day when I had to go to bed. Ups and downs: but at least ups follow the downs!
Hi christmas crackers, i hope your all doing well.
I had my SNB done yesterday i had to be in at 8.30, i had to go and have that radiatiion injection at 9.50 which did hurt a little but quickley gone. I didn’t go downt to surgery until 4.40. I thought i was never going in!!! i eventually got home at 8.30 what a day. I feel fine today just a bit sore.
I get the results next tuesday, fingers crossed its not too bad news.
I am going to see the wig lady next week.
Sharon Xx
Hi Ladies, (are we all ladies? men welcome, even though you look better with no hair),
Just catching up with this thread after a few days away. If I have one piece of advice for you, as an old hand, I would say that if you have not started yet - have a short holiday, even a couple of days. I splashed out on a mini cruise and Christmas Markets in Belgium. When you start chemo you might not be well enough and you might be afraid of infections and you might not be able to afford the insurance. Everyone is very different, but, even when on chemo, try to have a treat in week three when you feel at your best. Go away or go out, anything you can afford. You have bl**dy cancer and you need/deserve a treat. Make sure you plan something so you can enjoy the few days when you will feel at your best. Its something to look forward to and something to think about and smile when they are piosoning you.
Lolly - people will say even more stupid things as you go along. They have no idea, as nobody does, unless they have cancer or close to some one who does. If you are feeling strong then tell them what it is like for you, if not, then ignore them. I found that I lost some friends and re-found some old ones who turned out to be fabulous people. Do not waste precious energy worrying about what people who do not understand think. To be fair without knowledge of how sh*t it is anyone might say something stupid. Thats why I suggest you try and explain if you feel strong enough and if they matter to you as a friend.
Marie - assume you ate the chocs and get some more and eat them too.
Blackswan - Movicol is the stuff - don’t mess about with the sort of remedies that ladies who lunch advertise on the TV - your digestive system is being fried from the inside - take the Movicol.
Coyote - it is OK to have flu jab and a good idea as you will have low resistance to infection but if you have already started chemo or are just about to you need to check with your chemo unit. It should be OK as it is not a live vaccine but don’t take my word as I am not a doctor.
Housework - really? As I said before - you have bl**dy cancer. Unless you enjoy housework try and get someone to help - family or (if you can afford) a cleaner. Spend the money you will save on expensive hair products and hairdressers!
I am due to start next week (thurs) so I still have time to make the most - I am going to try some UK Christmas markets next. Christmas will be week 3 but I have no idea how I will feel. On GemCarbo I have to have treatments on week 1 and week 2. I also do not know yet if I need a line. Had a Hickman line last time but I am told GemCarbo less hard on viens than FEC-T so fingers crossed. Not going to ask hosp anything this week, want to enjoy blissful ignorance, then will I find everything out next week.
Keep on keeping on
Cress, xxx
Just been to my pre-chemo appointment with the oncologist, and signed the consent forms…
PIC line on Friday, first chemo on Tuesday. Just want to get it over with now.
One thing that might be useful for others - I have been obsessing HUGELY about what is going to happen with the nausea, as I am highly prone to it, and spent a night vomiting violently after taking the antibiotics they sent me home with from the hospital, and also had very bad reactions, although not quite as extreme, to the radioactive dyes they injected me with for the SNB and the bone scan.
Anyway, it became clear from reading through a lot of the chemo threads on here that they generally don’t give you the most powerful anti-nausea drug - Aprepitant/Emend - initially, because it is so expensive, but that if you suffer from extreme nausea you will get the Aprepitant for your NEXT dose of chemo. Aprepitant is the ‘second line’ drug they give you if the ‘first line’ - and cheaper - anti-sickness drugs haven’t worked.
I really didn’t want to have to go through another night of extreme vomiting to prove that I need it, so I discussed it with my oncologist this morning, and explained my recent unpleasant experiences and high propensity to nausea in general, and he agreed to prescribe Fosaprepitant - which is the injectable form of Aprepitant - which will be given to me intravenously next Tuesday BEFORE my first lot of chemo. I was expecting some resistance to this, but he was absolutely fine about it.
So if there’s anyone else about to start chemo who KNOWS they’re likely to suffer very badly from nausea, it IS possible to get the strongest anti-emetic drugs administered from the beginning, but YOU HAVE TO ASK FOR IT. Otherwise they will just start you on the ‘first line’ drugs, which may not be enough.
Am just hoping that the Fosrepitant will be enough, because even that doesn’t seem to work for everybody…
Hello everyone please can I be part of this group? Have been for assessment onc chemo ward today, PICC line due to go in next Wednesday and first chemo Thursday 3 x FEC and then 3 x T. Feeling very scared and can’t get fear user control. I don’t even know if I am posting this message correctly .
Cathie
hi christmas crackers and all,
just got back from my appointment with the oncologist, i have to have 6 x FEC chemo, followed by radiothropy and some type of hormone tablets, going to have a hickman line put in got to wait for the appointment, having flu jab on friday, and start chemo in about two weeks time but no date as yet.
hope every one is ok
lolly
x
Hi Cathie,
Welcome to the BCC discussion forums where I am sure you will get lots of good, honest support from the many informed users of this site. Anything you need to ask, just ask away there’s always someone with knowledge and experience to help. As well as this our helpline team are just a free phone call away, 0808 800 6000, lines open Mon-Fri 9-5 and Sat 10-2.
Take care,
Jo, Facilitator
Hi Cathie,
You are in the right place now. I saw your other posts so I know you are triple neg like me. Panic and fear are normal, everything goes so fast when you are diagnosed that you can’t think straight. You do not have to be positive - that is just something that the media present us with. Being positive will not cure cancer, so do not feel guilty that you cannot muster up your happy face. Everyone on here knows how you feel at the moment. All you can do is take it one step at a time. It really helps me to break it down into small steps and just focus on getting through the next one. I have had a line in too - it is not as bad as it sounds but you might want to ask for some lorazepam to make you feel calmer before they do it. Not because it is too difficult but because you have a right to feel a bit hysterical and everything helps. I had some to take the night before too so I got some sleep. Why not get the good drugs?!
Lots of people here will encourage you and we will all do it together.
Cress, xxx
Hi Cathie,
I agree with Cressida 100%. Ignore all the cancer rhetoric about being brave etc. Just accept how you feel-being afraid is completely logical. There’s a lot of nonsense out there about ‘fighting’ cancer. You just have to go through the treatments as best you can and roll with the punches.
I’m on day 8 of Chemo and I’m managing. Believe me, I am the world’s biggest worrier and am a bit of a scaredy cat-def not brave. If I could run a mile to get away from this I would. You get by, esp if you have people to help with the basics.
I am trying to stay as independent as poss because it makes me feel I’m achieving something but i’m more than happy to accept help when needed.
Good luck with the treatment. This is a good place to sound off if you need it.
hi christmas crackers,
can anyone tell me , i am going to have my hair cut on Sunday it is quite long and going to cut it shoulder lenth, but would like to have it coloured but not sure if this is a good thing to do or not, will colouring it make any difference to it when i start my chemo?
Lolly
x
Lolly - I had my hair coloured just before diagnosis and still used cold cap succesfully. Having said that I didn’t know i had cancer at the time. There is a website about hair and cancer but I can’t remember what it is called. Try to google it? I seem to remember that the main problem with hair colour and chemo is the risk of an over sensitive scalp reacting to the dye. Maybe try a non-permanent more gentle one? If I had known I had cancer at the time I had mine done I don’t think I would have risked it as it seems likely that it will weaken the hair to some degree. Hope someone has more advice?
xx