Good luck to everyone tomorrow having their first session. It’s the end of my second day, and to be honest it hasn’t been that bad at all. Okay, I know there is definately something going on in my body, feel a bit woolly and jaded but I’ve felt a lot worse with a head cold - honest!!
One of my ‘friends’ told me before I started chemo that the iller you feel afterwards the better the treatment. Now you know how we all like to worry… I know the treatment has come along way, and the se effects have been for the most part reduced, but there is a little voice in my head that won’t shut up!! We are never happy. Anyway take care everyone, and I’ll be thinking of you tomorrow. Donna xxx
hi there,
well done Donna on getting through your second day,
scarpper-- i know how you are feeling im starting tomorrow too and i feel so sick, nervous and terrified,
lets catch up asap to share our experiences,
wishing all of us the best of luck
love and hugs
Donna
xx
Hi girls hope you are all doing well and not too mant side effects well done to those who have had 1st cocktail and thinking of all of you starting this week try not to worry too much ( easier said than done i know ) but it is fear of the unknown thats worse once you get 1st one out the way and you know what to expect its not nearly so scary Honestly. If you are really suffering nausea/sickness wise tell them and ask for Emend ( aprepitant) its brilliant , dont suffer n silence ladies there is no need .It just reminds me of a hangover without the fun or early pregnancy.xxxx big hugs Julie
Thank you everyone for posting your thoughts. I should have been starting chemotherapy today but as I suspected, the continuing tissue infection means that it’s been postponed. I really did want to begin - partly to complete earlier but also because the thought of nasties wandering around isn’t pleasant: I want them zapped! Because of the New Year break and the wait for path report it’s a long time since my op now - 7 weeks. I’m looking on the bright side - another week to get a bit fitter and get all those jobs done…
I shall follow your fortunes and pick up what tips I can. (I’d be very grateful to know whether the cold cap is worth the effort.) Best of luck to everyone
Hi Hotpot,
Am the same as you, 7 weeks post op & just want to get going & am supposed to start on Wednesday but have woken up with a rather large haematoma so am waiting for Bcn to ring am hoping it wont mean further delays.
Sarah.xx
Hi hotpot, sorry about your delay, its so frustrating having to wait all the time, but hopefully it will only delay you a week which in the ‘real’ world isn’t that long. (In the bc world - is can feel like a lifetime). I’m 7 weeks post op too, and the christmas/new year period probably did delay our treatments, but did give our bodies more time to recover. I had a double breast reduction, lumpectomy and node removal, and both my nipples were then grafted back on… Very large breasts before JJ/L so they didn’t want to risk leaving them on the ‘stalk’ (sorry can’t remember medical term) they felt they they had a better chance using them as skin crafts. My left nipple is still healing, and has never looked as ‘good’ as the right one, shouldn’t complain… but as everyone keeps telling me we are intitled to get angry and upset somethimes…
Anyway back to the point, still feeling a little queasy (day 3) but slept better last night (might have been my new silk pillow slip - another chemo tip I picked up from this site, for ladies using the cold cap!). Washed my hair this morning - hurray - it had been four days with baby shampoo, and currently waiting for it to dry, this may take sometime… Been using the mouthwash - yuk, and brushing my teeth with a soft brush, drinking lots and lots, and eating fruit (not a total saint, have been eating my way through a very large birthday cake - yummy!!) Strangely I have been suffering from of indigestion and I’m burping alot!! Just going to try a visit to the supermarket this morning - so need to get out!!
I’ve also contacted my work to let them know I’m returning on Monday, on a phased return. Don’t know if this is the best decision I’ve ever made, but I’m going to give it a go. Is anyone else thinking about, or actually still working through chemo? Anytime suggestions/tips would be most welcome.
Good luck to everyone today, look after yourselves and take care, Donna xxx.
Hi All
DonnaP - I hope 1st session has gone OK and you’re feeling OK.
Sarah - Hope the haematoma doesn’t cause any problems or delay you starting chemo.
Hotpot - I’m sorry about your infection, but it will be much better for you if the infection is cleared up before you start chemo. A week does feel like a lifetime when you’re waiting but it’s not really, or so my kids keep telling me. (I guess it’s get your own back for all the times I told them the same thing when they’ve wanted something.)
I like the idea of silk pillowcase and will have to get sewing!
I rang work today and have been told it’s not a good idea to go in before treatment next week as the office staff have all got coughs & colds! I’m a bit annoyed as I wanted to get back in before I started to get some structure back to life plus I only get 3 months sick pay and have used one up already!(probably should have posted this bit on what made me scream thread - sorry girlies)
Anyway, hey ho onwards and upwards to the treehouse.
love
Helen xxx
Hi ladies,
Just thought I’d post to see how you got on today, I hope you first sessions went ok.
I start my first cycle of FEC next Wednesday, and I’m so nervous too. They’re fitting me with a central line on Monday as I had surgery to both breasts. I’m so scared of that!! I have to wash in hibiscrub AND wash my hair with it.
Seeing the chemo suite today and signing my consent just brought it home to me that this is really serious, I think I’ve been getting through on adrenaline so far. From diagnosis to surgery then through an IVF cycle and now chemo, it’s just a nightmare.
I’ve asked and asked about preventing constipation (I’d rather be sick than bunged up), and I suffer really badly with it and piles (nice I know!). I’m thinking it’s too late now to see my GP to get some help with the haemorrhoids before treatment but they have often caused me so much pain I’m in tears 
Just can’t face the thought of being like that AND trying to get through all the other stuff. They just keep saying drink lots and try dried fruit, but I still suffer.
I’m going to try the cold cap - any advice there? None of them seemed to fit properly so is it really worth it?!
Sorry to babble, lots going through my head at the moment. I thought I’d be braver but having a wobble today!!
I hope you’re all doing well.
Tig
tig dont worry we all have our wobble days and we’re allowed as it comes closer to start the fear starts to kick in again but you will be ok after 1st one over xxx big hugs . there is a good recipe for " go cake) for constipation on page 2 of pink road of chemo tips . I know its old fashioned but a spoonfull of Andrews ( fizzing in water ) used to do the deed for me and it also settles youre stomach if its a bit churny. hope it all goes ok for you xx Julie
Hello Ladies
Tiggy, dont’t suffer through this time. it’s a hard enough time and these people are here to help you! Please phone your GP and ask for a prescription, he surely will understand? Please try?
I have just returned from my first chemo of 3 docetaxol and 3 x FEC, thought it would be the other way round but hey I hope they know best
I was a nervous wreck but It actually went like a dream; I know that that can change though but as we all need to enjoy the good times I am currently enjoying a glass of wine in the here and now.
Donna P I so hope today went well for you? I know you were in at 10 and and so hoped you would have a message here. I hope you are well my love and that everything went well for you.
Hugs
xxx
Scrapper
Hi Everyone,
Tiggy I start Wednesday too so know how you are feeling but give Gp a call & get sorted before because as you say you dont want extra suffering on top of everything else.
Hope everyone else is doing ok, was thinking of you today on number 1 Donna.
Jo, Deb hope you ladies are doing ok
Love to everyone
Sarah.xx
hello lovely ladies,
All went just great yesterday, if only we could bottle the feelings of the experience to our other ladies who are facing there first treatment it would help them soo much,
i was given emend, steriods, then the FEC and i went through with the cold cap, brrr at first but fine after 10 mins.
i have a load of tablets to take, steriods, heart burn more antisickness, more emend,
i so hope this feeling stays with me, my mom wants to stay to look after me, love her to bits
thank you allll for thinking about me and your kind words
i will be back later, time for another cuppa
love and hugs
Donna
xxx
Thanks for the messages and updates, ladies. I think that next week looks more likely now for my starting this chemo regime, as the infection seems to be better… I must say that the posts from you all and other people on the forum are a real help in taking away the fear of the unknown. I shall be “lurking” with interest to see if the cold cap is worth it. If it is only going to postpone the inevitable, rather than avoid it then I might just cut it all off and go for the full Dolly Parton.
Donna - you raise an interestinh point about work. I retired recently and have been working self-employed. I’ve finished all my commitments, bar one, and I do feel quite relaxed about not having to make that early start out of the house. I really don’t know if I’ll be able to take up the other requests for work I have. I’d thought that Satre’s “hell is other people” was relevant when the white blood cell count was low. People do come in to work with all kinds of lurgies - has your clinic given you advice?
Tig - you echo many of my worries. The body has so many interesting bit to go wrong, doesn’t it? I read through the list which Julie refers to and it does seem really useful. Cheers, The Pot.
hello ladies,
had first FEC yesterday, all is well today cooked a casserole, pottered about, im just taking one day at a time.
just wondered if anyone else had been given antibiotics to take on there second week ive been given 2 lots, i dont mind as it fight against any infections i may pick up,
take care
Donna
xxxx
Congrats to all who have gone through your first session, I hope you are all well today.
Unfortunately, things took a little turn for the worse for me last night, very painful stomach, which carried on to this morning. Eventually phoned chemo nurse who told me the steriods can cause excess acid build up and advised me to contact my gp and request omeprazole (sp). My lovely gp was happy to help and within an hour I had my new meds and at last everything began to calm down.
Donna P, do you know if giving antibiotics is standard practice in your area? can’t remember seeing this before? How do you feel about making the decision you need to take antibiotics??
Hotpot, I am worried about catching an infection, but also I’m worried about going crazy at home ha ha!! I’m in a lucky position that my work is very flexible and I can also work from home so I hope I can manage it. Will give it a try, and just take one day at a time.
Hope everyone is having a good evening, and I’m looking forward to going to my wig fitting tomorrow lunchtime, just incase the cold cap doesn’t work as well as I hope it does. Dxxx
Working from home when you can is a good idea, especially if any illnesses start going round, but make sure you send copies on to people on a regular basis, or save to the shared system if that’s what you do, because you can be fine one day and in bed the next–and that’s always just when you planned to finish something off, isn’t it? You should probably try to avoid going in on days 10-14, I think it is, when immunity is likely to be lowest.
One day at a time is the motto!
Best to all who have started or are about to.
Cheryl
Hi.
This is my first post. Have read lots of posts, but not got round to writing any yet. But this thread was very relevant as I too start in Feb, so here goes!
I’m due to start chemo on the 23rd, all being well. Currently going through IVF to harvest some eggs and fingers crossed get some embryos frozen (don’t have any kids yet).
I’ve got the same fears as everyone else here - the dreaded side effects! Also not looking forward to losing my hair which is currently long and thick, though I’m getting it all chopped off before I start chemo.
Has anyone else here been through fertility treatment prior to chemo? I’ve been doing injections since December which make you tired and grumpy (or maybe that’s just me…) and I will be relieved when i finally get to stop. Suppose i’ll need to get used to feeling like a human pincushion!
One more question for people who have already started chemo - has anyone been driving to and from chemo themselves or is it best to get someone to drive you there? My husband will definitely come with me the first time, but wondered what the norm is.
Good luck to the rest of you out there
Al x
Hi Al, and welcome to the site. I’m sorry I have no information about harvesting eggs prior to chemotherapy, but I’m sure someone will come along and be able to help you.
I would get advice from your chemo nurse about getting your hair cut before starting as if you decide to use the cold cap you may find you don’t need to cut your hair (I didn’t, very early days for me, but the nurse told me I shouldn’t cut my hair - and to be honest it didn’t take much persuasion) so fingers crossed the cold cap will help me retain, some (enough)of my hair.
My chemo nurse also suggested that I didn’t drive to my first chemo session, cause your never sure how you will feel afterwards. I didn’t want my hubby with me for the session, felt I’d cope better on my own (be braver perhaps?) but did arrange for someone to come and pick me up afterwards. Probably will arrange for someone to come get the next time too, as its one less thing to worry about.
Good luck with your egg harvest, and your chemo, take care Donna xxx.
Hi All,
cant help with the egg harvesting either but as said before hopefully someone will be along or otherwise you could try on the younger womans thread as believe a cpl on there are doing it.
Ref antibiotics, my hospital sends us home with them too & we are told if we need to start taking them they will ring us (am guessing if blood tests show infection) also are sent home with an anti sickness injection as District nurse rings everytime chemo is given later in the day when you are home to check all ok & if you are feeling or have been sick she comes out & gives injection.
hope everyone is ok, am on mega countdown now
Sarah.xx
Hiya Bob20,
I start FEC next Thursday and I’ve been advised not to drive to or from sessions due to poss SE and the steroids may make you hyper.
By the looks of things it depends on which hospital you are under for treatment.
Again, I’m not being given anti-biotics, but have been told to keep temperature chart and phone / go in if I’m at all worried about having infection.
I hope this info helps you.
Good Luck with the egg harvesting, there may be more info about this in the younger women’s section, but I’m sure someone will point you in the right direction.
lots of love
Helenxx