Donna DMH,
PLEASE can you keep posting things like your recent post, it is so heartening to read when people are coping well with their chemo, it makes the fear of what is ahead of those of us who haven’t started yet not quite so frightening.
Hi everyone, just found this forum and read all your lovely positive comments and wanted to join in ! I found out I had BC on 13/12/10, MX on 7/1/11 and started chemo on 3 Feb due my next one this Thur 24 Feb. 1st one wasn’t too bad, only suffered nausea for about 3 days and felt ok apart from tiredness. My hair has just started to fall out but have my wig at the ready! Getting a bit nervous for 2nd FEC and hoping I don’t have any more side effects than the first. Has anyone had their 2nd lot and can give me any advice? Thanks x
morning ladies,
chocciemuffin,when do you start your chemo?
ive ready to start my 2nd on tuesday, and like Donna i too have sailed through it, ive been drinking 2lt of water everyday plus ive taken all the tablets that was given to me, its has not stopped my doing anythink and going out shopping, visiting and even a trip to london,
ive not lost any hair, i too use the cold cap and will be again on tuesday,keep positive, i understand how scared you may be i was terrified, and all i want with fec 2 is to get through it without any se, well i can only hope,
i alaso take multi vitamins, calcium tablets and vitamin d,
good luck to us all who are having our soldiers go in and fight the battle for us, thats how i look upon the FEC my army,
thake care all
Donna P
XXX
Hello ladies, I’m about to become a FECer too. I start 3 FEC and 3 T on Wednesday. I got my diagnosis on 23 Dec (fab timing huh?). I had surgery on 10th; therapeutic mammoplasty for what they thought was 35 mm grade 3 with surrounding DCIS of 120 mm. The path results said something different and the tumour was 75mm but less DCIS. 4/4 of my lymphs also have dodgy cells so will have to have all nodes removed and mastectomy (will also have reduction on my other boob as I’m naturally a G cup and that would be more than lopsided). Fortunately, my CT and bone scans were clear, yippee! what a depressing week that was waiting for the results! so despite the potential with 4/4 nodes having cells in them, I feel so so lucky that I don’t have any secondaries. I was given the option as to whether to have further surgery now or start the chemo. I’ve chosen chemo, not ready to face the M yet or ever actually. I’ve only just started to look into the side effects of the FEC (been burying my head about this and hoping I’d be one of those that sail through the treatement)and been focusing on my hair. I’ve had a radical short style and have also bought a wig; I knew nothing about NHS vouchers, I phoned up a wig supplier and thought that as I work and do not recieve benefits I would be a private client. I paid £160 but am so happy with it. My mum sid it’s better than my current one, thanks Mum.
Have been reading through your other threads and have been out to buy my thermometer, flask for ice.
Thanks for the tips ladies,
Is anyone else starting their chemo this week?
Lisa
Lisa if you have the receipt you can get a form from post office and gp and may be able to claim some of the money back its worth a try x Julie
PS for all the new pinkies on here there is loads of tips I put on starting my pink road of chemo Page 2 thread ( if you havent already read through it most ladies on here have found very helpfull good luck with youre treatments and message me anytime for advice ( finished all my treatment 1st Nov surg, chemo,rads and now tamoxifen so happy to answer anything xx)
Hi, Im waiting to start my chemo too, had my first onc appt tues gone and ct scan on weds. the onc was abs brilliant and he did not think i asked too many questions, he actually said my questions were very good and constructive and could see that it helped me understand what will happen or may happen to my body. explained all about what the white and red and pallets cells do and why they wont with chemo. he was abs brilliant and i have my 2nd appt with him weds and chemo will start in a few weeks. i am now hungrily reading threads on tips to help me through various side effects and support from others going on gone through. i am yet to have my hair cut, its long and the onc said when he saw me in the waiting room he was pained to think he had to tell me it will thin/or go. various people have mentioned as long i should make it work and get sponsorship so thats what i will do. i have set up a Just Giving Page and am gonna get sponsors for charity, which will give something back for all i received and i will donate my hair also. can only sink or swim and i chose swim just need some good swimming lessons before i start the road to health…
Shar xxxxx
Hiya All starting FEC this week,
I’m 1st FEC + 11days and other than feeling nauseaous for the first two days I’ve been fine. This has been to the point of stopping taking the anti-nausea pills as it seemed pointless taking them by about day 7.
Silvershar - depending on whether your hair is over 10" long when you have it cut off it can go to the Little Princess’ charity for making wigs for kids with lukemia/cancer, this link is for you:
littleprincesses.org.uk/Donate/Hair.aspx
I’m going back into work tomorrow for a “staged return” until my next FEC on 3rd March and am hoping to be able to continue to do this throughout my treatments.
So, GOOD LUCK to you all starting this week and I hope the SE’s are minimal for you all.
Lots of love
Helen xx
DonnaP, I’m cheating a bit by sneaking into the Feb thread, but that’s because I should have started next Friday but put off start because of OH’s heart op, but the (%(&^^ hospital he’s under cancelled the op the night before so all my arrangements have gone to pot… so I start mine on 10th March. I’m feeling ok about it (I think), mainly because I feel about as prepared mentally as I can be, though of course I still have to get my act together and get hold of the stuff that will come in handy, like the ginger bits and bobs, pineapple, stuff listed in the Pink thread.
Shar, you sound SO much better now, a lot more on top of things. At last you’ve received some straight answers to your questions, and that really does help, doesn’t it.
Hi Lisa X I was also dx on 23rd Dec …didn’t tell anyone apart from OH until after Christmas, and I also had first surgery on 10th Jan. I have type 2 but had 3/3 sentinal nodes so had ax clearance on 28th. Total of 6/19 lymph nodes affected. Starting chemo tommorow - sort of prepared apart from the hair question which I had been kind of avoiding, however the TAC combination that I am having will mean it is pretty much guaranteed to go -especially as cold cap is not offered at the centre I am going to. I am hoping I feel ok after the session and will go and take a look at what is on offer for wigs etc but know I will have to pay full price because I am using my employers health insurance plan for treatment ( this has good and bad points - worst is no contact with bcn since dx). Good luck with your first session
Sue x
Thanks for your messages. I have been pretty low this weekend, battled the flu and now worn out, but don´t feel sick anymore and the period from hell finally stopped…yippee! My third cycle is on 25th Feb (my daughters birthday) and already not looking forward to it. The 2nd cycle did seem to make me weaker, but that might just be because of battling the flu. I am in Spain receiving treatment, but found out this weekend my husband has lost his job so we need to go back to UK. I am hoping that I can continue my treatment there without any hiccups. How quickly did you all get to see an oncologist on the NHS as soon as you felt there was something wrong? I will have to register with the doc and get an appointment and will only have a 3 week window! I am very nervous about it along with all the other worries of the upheaval will need to go through now… it never rains but it pours!! You are all so upbeat here, it lightens my heart to read your posts. thanks xx
HI Sue
Good luck with your chemo tomorrow. I have no.4 tomorrow and can’t believe how the time has flown since my first one (yes really!) It is crap and I had horrendous sickness and nausea but not everyone does. That was the only SE I had, apart from the hair loss. I still have my eyebrows, hairs on my legs and arms and a bit ‘down there’ although all are thinning. My 12 year old said yesterday “why doesn’t the hair loss start at the bottom and work up” Good question. I have a little hair left on my head, and new hair is just starting to poke through, but I think FEC4 will finish it off along with my eyebrows. If you can get to one the Look Good Feel Better make up session held at a lot of the hospitals is really good in helping with eyebrows and eyelashes and you get a great make up goody bag worth over £300! You need to book early though. Ask you bcn or see a chemo nurse tomorrow. I see your comment re your bcn mine is the same - seen her a couple of times.
I felt devasted at diagnosis about my hair and wasn’t really offered cold cap at the hospital - I did ask about it but nurses were not impressed with results, but I could have insisted. I was sooo relieved when it fell out(21 days after FEC1) and I can’t believe I would ever tell anybody this. My wig was £200 in total (got £50 NHS voucher towards it - sooo generous). I wore it in front of my family first, then friends got to see it, then went to work (this was a biggy as I work in a secondary school!) but everyone has been so positive about it and - now I don’t think about it. It has never fallen off or slipped. I do wear scarves around the house though as they are so comfy.
I wish you well tomorrow. Stay calm, take the medication and report to your chemo unit or your doctor if you feel you need stronger medication xxx
Hi all,
Well I have my 1st FEC today and am nervous to say the least.
Not sure if I am ready or not?
I think it is just the un known on how your body is going to react!?
Best wishes to you all
Donna xx
Good luck for today Donna!
I start my FEC next week. It’s all a bit daunting isn’t it, not knowing if we’ll be fine, or if it will floor us?
At the moment I’m more worried about them fitting my portacath under local anaesthetic than anything else, worrying about chemo will be next on my list. One step at a time 
Cathy xx
hello ladies
Donna-- good luck for today, my only tip is take all the tablets and drink loads of water, you will be fine, i know how you feel i was terrifed when i had first fec but i was lucky with se, im having second tomorrow,
cathy, again you will fine, but i know its the fear of the unknown
take care
love and hugs
Donna
xx
Hello.
I start my FEC as well this week - on Wednesday. Quite nervous. When i got my pre-chemo blood test on Friday my veins decided to hide, despite the nurse saying how good they looked 10 minutes before. I think the veins heard her and retreated! But i’m hoping that they will behave on Wednesday…
Had my haircut in preparation at the weekend and I don’t look as much like a boy as i thought i might. It does feel quite odd having had long hair for as long as I can remember though.
Good luck to the rest of you starting this week - let us know how you got on today Bunny3/Donna.
Is there anything in particular you should take to the actual chemo session? The nurse said you’ll get an ice lolly to suck on, but i’m wondering whether i should take a massive bottle of water with me too or anything else?
al xx
They will probably have water available, probably in a cooler, and some places may have ice. Take plenty to read or listen to. Sweets or biscuits if nibbling helps your nerves.
Cheryl
Now I am starting to be scared…went for first chemo this morning, but Oncologist told me he was not happy with the results from blood tests last week - showed indicators for both bone and liver problems. Was already scheduled to have CT and bone scans, but he is getting these brought forward and does not want to start any treatment now until we get the results. Had more bloods taken then was sent home - cried all the way.
I had been so positive about the whole thing before I went in - had taken the chance to arrive early and pop in to book a LGFB session and discuss getting an appointment with the wig advisor while I was at the hospital, so this was a real shock 
Thanks for the advice Cheryl.
Hope your results come back ok Projectwoman, and you get your chemo re-scheduled soon.
x
Hi Just noticed there are quite a few of you starting chemo this week! I am day 10 post my 1st fec and i have been fine no sickness no nausea and have been back to work. Just had bad heartburn but soon stopped with prescription from GP. However i do have an insatiable appetite. The best tip i picked up off here and i firmly believe it helped was taking loads and loads of fluid on board the day before chemo, the day of chemo and for two days afterwards. It should have helped with veins too but you cant have it all! My veins run a mile as i walk up those stairs to the chemo suite! Have next on 3rd March and shall be drinking like the fish once again!
Just want to add my best wishes to all those starting this week and whilst i know we are all different i feel the more positive stories you hear the better you may feel about starting
Thinking of you all,
Sally xx
hello ladies,
been for bloods this morning all on for round 2 in the morning, wishing lots of luck to you all this week
take care
lots of love
Donna
xx