thanks Ctessida, will prob not dye it now, its a little bit grey at the sides, but would like to keep it even if its not the colour i want thanks for your advise was very helpfull
lolly
Lolly - I forgot to say - ask your hairdresser - most big salons have someone trained in the stuff about chemo and wigs. It is also a chance to talk to them about something other than the holidays you can’t go on at the moment. I found my hairdresser unexpectedly supportive. Take support wherever you can get it. x
My oncologist commented yesterday, as we talked about my first chemo next week, that I have nice hair.
This seemed to me somewhat akin to the Executioner telling Anne Boleyn that she had a nice head…
Theres a thread in “living with breast cancer” called something like “stupid things people say”. Your Onc needs to go in there. x
Hi Cress and Maire
thnak you so much and hysteria is the word that sums it up my stomach just keeps churning . I am currently on ciprofloxacin as they think there might be a bit of cellulitus as breast is a bit red. So I have to go to nurse in Monday and if clear all will go ahead with line on Wednesday and chemo Thursday . Calming down drug sounds a very good idea will they give it to me on the day if I ask? Or will the give it to me Monday maybe when I am getting infection checked? I am having hair cut tomorrow morning I really don’t want it shaved as it it quite long god another decision, and then. I am at Headgear tomorrow afternoon .
Will I need to be careful with jumpers etc with lines, presumably they need to be loose? I seem to be getting paranoid about so many things and expect everything to be the worst case scenario. I also know there are people a lot worse off than me and then I feel guilty .
Cathie xx
Hi Cathie,
Guilty is piontless and there is no cancer competition - you feel how you feel. Anyway - I would ask for the Lorazepam in advance as they have to get it prescribed so you need to ask and then prob pick it up later. Lines will have dressings over them and they will explain it all to you. Try to take it one step at a time as otherwise it all becomes way too much and then you can’t take anything in. Have you got someone you can take with you? If you have somone suppportive then they can remember things for you - things you want to ask and things that you get told - get a supportive friend/relative to take notes. Take a deep breath - you can do it.
xxx
Cathie-don’t ever feel guilty. You are entitled to feel hysterical.
Once you get started you will cope. It’s not as bad as you imagine it.
Talking about the daft things people say. My onc did say “well your hair may grow in curly” and she pulled a bit of a face. Suffice to say my hair is pretty damn curly as it is-and despite the anti curly brigade-I’m fine with it!
Thank you when I am there on Monday checking infection I think I will ask about the tablet then in readiness for Wednesday? Just something to calm me, stop my churning stomach would be helpful I think.
I am lucky I always have someone with me, a member of my family or a valued friend. Support is overwhelming and it feels good to have connected with you as well.
not really looking forward to hair cut but think it needs to be done My hairdresser is also a good friend so I expect we will cry our way through it. Having moaned about my curly uncontrollable hair most of my life I am really going to miss it, I think hat will be straight on tomorrow!
Cathie x
Good luck! It’s a tough journey but there is a light at the end of the tunnel
Hi Ladies, I was told yesterday I had Lobular with DCIS. The tumour was large with 1 mm of border. Im Her2 positive - I had my drain out yesterday after 22 days. I am now awaiting my oncol appointment and chemo start date. On the up side - my new cancer free boob and implant are looking good if a bit tender. I will be having a mx on the other breast next year after rads.
Sorry I meant to say margin instead of border.
Good morning everyone,
i have just spent some time reading through your messages and you all sound amazing. I wish I could find a little bit of braveness. Feeling quite sick before starting treatment next week I wonder if that’s the antibiotics I am currently on or it’s me getting myself into state. Just want to run far far away and pretend this is not happening but know that I have to do this to come out the other side. Thank you all for your honesty not just to me but each other.
Cathie C
Cathie, I am not brave I am terrified. If I thought running and hiding would work you would not see me for dust. Luckily you do not need to be brave. You just need to deal with one thing at a time and not think about the bigger picture. When I think about it I cry and sometimes I cannot stop. So - do not feel like wimp, and stuff bravery and positivity - get as much support as you can and do one thing at a time. Some things you could try are the helpline, your Breast Care Nurse, counselling (often available from MacMillan via your BCN) and get your friends and family to look after you. I am sure you will have looked after them at some piont. If I can do it, so can you. You just have to keep on keeping on. xxx
Sorry to say am joining this thread. Have just had my biopsy results. It is grade 3 invasive ductal breast cancer. Chemo first appointment next weds with oncologist . Ct scan and bone scan within 2 weeks. Scared at how fast it is moving assume because it is nearly 5cm. Mastectomy after chemo. Help anybody else had one that big ? Also sentinel node biopsy 17th
not sure how I feel only very scared
Wendy
Wendy - my tumour (Grade 3) was measuring 5-6 cm on scan and tissue biopsy but i elected to have a mastectomy before chemo and it was actually only 2.6com with a mass around it, My nodes to my surprise were clear and i had first chemo FEC T last night.
the waiting is the worst thing…i waited 3 weeks for first diagnosis and then 18 days for the nodes biopsy after surgery…
stay strong and try and have positive thoughts…just because it is a grade 3 doesnt mean that it will have spread, and if it is in your nodes, they’ll remove them…
Keep in touch…x
Hi Wendy my cancer is also big 4cm, but they want to shrink mine first. I have just had my SNB tues and i start my chemo on the 19th. I have got to have 8 sessions FEC-T with hormone therphy and radio therphy. ( sorry i can’t spell today)
When will your Chemo start Wendy?
Love Sharon Xx
Cathie, I have been threatening to run away to Goa ever since my diagnosis in September - i just DID NOT WANT TO PARTICIPATE in any of this nightmare, and was so terrified of chemo that I delayed it for a month because I was feeling so physically and mentally battered after my operation and attendant unpleasantnesses.
Now I have accepted my fate - ie having chemo - but with HUGE reluctance and a Very Bad Attitude. We are all in a truly horrible place and fully entitled to feel frightened and angry. And no one who hasn’t experienced this has any right to tell you how you should feel or act. But at least we are all in this horrible place TOGETHER. I find reading these threads hugely comforting, too.
I have my first FEC on Tuesday, and have gathered infinitely more information here on what to expect than I received from the hospital. Thanks again to all who have posted helpful stuff on previous chemo threads xx
Had my PICC line installed this morning - I was unbelievably stupid and thought a PICC line was the same as a cannula - big mistake. Still, at least this meant I worried about it less in advance! Anyway, it wasn’t painful, was over in about half an hour, and much less unpleasant than most of the other procedures I’ve had, so if anyone else is about t oget one, don’t worry. I’ve already bought a PICC line cover to wear in the shower (from a retailer on Ebay). Sadly, no more swimming now for the next five months…
Wendy - welcome. You must still be in shock - I found the time immediately after diagnosis very surreal, and very scary. Kept thinking there must have been some mistake and I would wake up the next day and NOT have cancer. With the diagnosis you suddenly get catapaulted into a new world where everything is different and you have very little control. It does get a bit better with time, though.
Wendy, I am so sorry to hear your news, I have been chatting to you on a different thread. Stay calm and focus one more time on beating ths terrible disease. You can do this. Thankfully my SlN were clear and my cancer was caught very early, I am having a mastectomy and reconstruction the first week in January. Good luck to all you ladies fingers And toes crossed for all of you and also Praying for good news. Cypher hugs and positive vibes coming your way. Xxxxxx
Thanks everybody. I am actually quite carm as I had this bl**dy disease 14 years ago so I know what I have coming. Last time the mass was 5-6 cm and actually turned out to cancer of 2.2 in the middle so praying this is the case now. Things are going so quick though was only seen at breast clinic on Monday diagnosed today (Friday) and oncologist next weds really scared stuff. Chemo should be before Xmas.
Sharon when do you get your snb results don’t they wait for that before they decide on chemo. Have my snb on 18th. Wemdomavtually sound very similar is I am having chemo first
Love to all xx
Wendy
Wendy i will get the results on the 11th.
I can’t beleive you are going through this again! i am so sorry. Things are going very fast for you everything has happened in a week, i bet you don’t know whether you are coming or going. (((Big hugs)))
Sharon Xx