Cress and Cybele
Again Thankyou for getting it! Tough day had a lot of my hair cut off, went to doctors and got some diazepan, went to headstrong for scarf demo and came home and had tea and cakes at with family for my daughters 25th birthday. We have told her she can have another birthday in the summer and we will do it with knobs on. Now under my blanket sat with my lovely husband . Sending you all my love.
Wendy so sorry to hear your news lets all get through this together.
Cathie C
Hi Ladies, Iv had my hair cut really short. I wanted to do this part of the journey, in stages. I was initially upset - but when I looked at my hair - and face - I actually suit the very very short cut. My neighbour told me the cut suited me.
Marie and all ladies having chemo - how are you doing?
Hi all
Caroline - I had my first FEC yesterday and at this present moment in time feel ok… a little tired but ok. I know I could be eating my words tomorrow or the day after but who knows…the nurses were lovely and i still find it totally sureal that here i am with cancer and i cant quite get my head round why… but I’m a lot calmer than i was at the beginning.
I think you may have inspired me to have a short cut too…off to make an appointment tomorrow…
thank you
x
This might seem really trivial when we are facing this bloody awful journey but does anybody know about keeping your gel nails whilst on chemo ?
Morning Ladies,
Hi to newbies Wendy and Caroline. Wendy - do you have a recurrence or a new primary? What a nightmare.
Regarding size, I know I said there is no competition, and who would want to win anyway, but mine was 10cm. Thats one of the reasons I am getting blasted again.
Cathie - diazepam amd cake - thats the way to do it - hang in there.
I am off today to do christmas early in London. Winterwonderland, southbank christmas market and mulled wine in covent garden. That should make up for the chemo fairy trying to ruin the actual christmas. Just a few more days of pretending it is not happening. Reality is starting to creep in and I keep thinking about it but hopefully can ignore it today. Then putting up the decs tomorrow.
keep on keeping on girls, xxx
Hi Cressida
they say it is a new primary - just unlucky - your telling me.
Chemo will be fine you might have a few not so good days but def doable. My way of thinking was if I am feeling rough then it must be abliterating those bloody cancer cells. I did visualisation where this little army of chemo was killing them off one by one. Having chemo before surgery this time so assume if it shrinks tumour it will work on the cells (if there are any) not had snb yet
Enjoy your shopping it will allow you feel normal for a while
Wendy x x
Morning, all.
Wendy, so sorry to hear that you are going through this nightmare AGAIN xxx Did you have chemo the first time? (edit- oh, just seen you’ve answered that question while I was writing this post!)
Cressida, am joining you in telling the Chemo Fairy to f*** off for now - my partner’s little boy, who is six, is with us for the weekend, and this afternoon we are going to go and buy the Christmas tree, and he will help us decorate it (which may result in a few smashed baubles, but never mind).
I like the idea that when Chemo Day finally dawns on Tuesday I will be coming from, and returning to, a house festooned with lights and sparkly things. This time of year is all about lights shining out in the dark, so it seems a good way to start the ordeal of the next 5 months.
In fact, I may well go down to the hospital on Tuesday with tinsel in my hair - while I still can…
Hi Cybele
I know the timing isn’t great but you are probably like me and want to get on and kick the buggers but. Let battle commence I say. Every day is one step closer to that light let us know how it goes will be thinking about you Tues
Wendy x x
Not gone yet… One more cup of tea…
Wendy, I 'm afraid I have had it before too, only finished FEC-T in July. This time I am going for GemCarbo. No idea what it will be like but I like Cybel’s idea of tinsel in the hair. In fact - girls - if you still have any hair - then stick some tinsel in it for chemo. Otherwise stick it in your hat/scarf/wig/whatever. It may well be that some of us are in the same hospitals and do not know - look out for people with tinsel. They might just be random christmassy people but whatever - you could still make new friends.
xxx
hi, im due to be starting chemo a wk before xmas, id love to join you ladies if thats ok, has anyone used the cold cap and had good results , im not sure which chemo im having at the moment as im still waiting on my herc2 results, im still in the land of denial also , did you decide on a suitable name for your thread , some are pearlers xxx
Hi Lisalouw, welcome to our group we are called the Christmas Cracker. I am also starting Chemo on the 19th, have you got your date yet? I really don’t know whether to use the cold cap or not!
The other ladies on this board are really lovely and we will all be here for you.
Good luck for your Chemo Xx
Take care Sharon Xx
Ok, getting sweaty palms and palpatations now - first cycle of chemo Monday. Had visit to the chemo clinic at local hospital yesterday and bloods taken. It’s just a day clinic at the moment so any out of hours emergency treatment/contact will have to be over at Leeds, St James.
Is anyone else having their bloods done on a Friday with chemo given on a Monday? Seems odd that there’s the 2 day gap inbetween as I thought most had bloods day before/same day as chemo given.
Fingers crossed all will go to plan and SE’s won’ be horrendous - been great to read up on other’s experiences and tips on here.
Wishing everyone an enjoyable weekend xx
Hi all,
Just checking in. I’m on day 10 now. So far is been ok. It’s the mental torture that’s getting to me.
Just keep worrying about catching something. Next time i visit the hospital I’m going to have a chat about this as I feel it’s interfering with the way I live my life and I’m not sure if I’ve got things into perspective.
Otherwise I’ve not had any major side effects. Nauseau for first 5 days and then that goes away and just have lots of wooshy head moments interspersed with feeling ok. Am cocooning myself away a wee bit which is prob not a great idea. Trying to get out for a daily walk just to get a sense of achievement.
No hair loss yet but am getting plooks for the first time since I was an adolescent.
If it’s like this all the way through it’ll be fine. It is def. not as bad as I feared.
Hi Shaz, no not got my date yet , I’ll know this thurs , fingers crossed it will be the 20 th as 19th is my sons 3rd birthday so really don’t want it then , I thinks it’s the fear of the unknown at the moment , I’m hoping I’ll be able to have it at my local hospital and not have to travel , let me know how you get on wont you xxx
@shellebelle I had my bloods done on Wednesday when I went in to see my oncologist and sign the consent forms, although I’m not starting chemo until next Tuesday. I asked him why the bloods weren’t being done the day before chemo, as this was the impression I had got from reading this forum, and he said that for the first time it didn’t matter: it’s only AFTER you’ve had your first chemo that your platelet count , or whatever, drops dramatically, so for all the subsequent cycles you have to have your bloods done the day before to ensure you’re strong enough to take the next dose of chemo. Before starting, your blood should be relatively normal, so the test doesn’t have to be done the day before.
@lisalouw and @Shaz1234 - I think there is a thread somewhere on here just about the cold cap, which I read a couple of weeks ago, the results reported there it made it seem definitely worth a try. Also, my oncologist says they get pretty good results for some people with it, and I met a woman at the Haven last week who had used the cold cap and still had all her hair. It sounds quite unpleasant, but I’m going to give it a go.
Hi all please google this new bc drug its called Perjeta.
Marie, thanks for giving the update its really helpful - it can sometimes be very isolating in this website.
Hi all I have recently been diagnosed with BC early October this year had a lumpectomy on my left breast and my surgeon removed 3 lymph nodes I went for the results and was told nodes were clear but I was a grade/Stage 3 cancer and would need to have chemotherapy and then radiotherapy - this was a total shock as I had been in denial about the whole BC thing still cant say the word, even now I dont think I have anything wrong with me and this has been an awful mistake. I had an appointment with the Oncologist on friday and made the mistake of going on my own thinking I can deal with all this BIG MISTAKE i saw a lady walk down the corridor with her partner and had just come out from having chemo she was wearing a scarf i just felt sick and thought I cant go through with this. They called me in and I broke down I told the Oncologist I did not want to talk about the BC and what type it is I know I have to have chemo and I will (i have 3 girls aged 11, 9 and 7) this is so hard for me at the moment and I know having read posts here I am not the only one. I dont want anyone to feel sorry for me but I think the chemo thing is the big issue for me losing my hair. I know this must sound pathetic but I am so frightened about that. They tried a cold cap on me to see how it feels and it was so cold and after a minute only I had to take it off. I have asked for my chemo to start asap b4 Christmas as I just want to get all this treatment over with asap and get on with my life. I think that once my hair does come out which they said will happen if I dont try the cap on the first chemo session - I will be ok and deal with it. I am not the only one I know this hoepfully this time next year this will all be a distance memory for me but at the moment this nightmare I have been in for the last 2 months is becoming very real. I think the hard part is the waiting game, waiting for appointments, results etc etc. Then there are days when I cant sleep, i have lost over a stone in weight (though this is not so bad as I heard you put on about 10lbs during chemo). I am going back to the hospital tomorrow to talk to the nurse that was in the meeting on Friday this time I am taking two people with me!!! I now have to face reality I suppose but it is hard not just for me but my family, parents children husband etc and friends. The only thing that keeps me going and positive is that I have to do this for my children and I am glad this is happening to me and not to them!!! Sorry for the long post. xxx
Hi Teal and welcome to the BCC forums where you will find lots of support and shared experiences from your fellow users
In addition, our helpliners are here Mon-Fri 9-5 and Sat 10-2 to offer you a listening ear, further support and information so please feel free to call on 0808 800 6000
I am posting a link to the BCC ‘Treatments’ page where you will find more support ideas from BCC such as the ‘Headstrong’ service’ and information/publications which you may find helpful, there is a publication called ‘Breast cancer and hair loss’ which you can order or download to read:
Take care
Lucy
Hi Teal
I am with you on every word you say my timing is about the same as yours and I feel everything you are feeling, it really is so scary and you make yourself go to the endless appointments hoping that they are just going to say it was all just a really bad dream. I have had to have some diazepam from doctors as not coping at all well, booked in for PICC line Wednesday with chemo Thursday that’s if infection cleared up that I seem to have on affected boob! The ladies on this thread are amazingly supportive and although I have only recently signed up it is good to know that I can be totally honest and you all ‘get it’. We can do this ( and I say this whilst shaking like a leaf and once again nearly in tears).
I send my sister three positive points each day, may sound daft as they can be as simple as I got up or I have only cried once or I hugged my husband and children (now I am crying) but I do this each day.
Cathie C
xx