Hi everyone,
Sorry for those of you who have been struggling with being in hospital, side effects, hair loss, family things or emotional wobbles, hope you are all feeling better now. I was going to post earlier but have been having really strange thoughts all weekend so any posts would have just been too weird. Probably the steroids. FEC 2 wasn’t as bad as FEC 1 in terms of physical symptoms except the fatigue and strange thoughts seems to have lasted longer.
Em - I have had the white blood cell injections after each FEC - I didn’t want to share this on here before in case it scared people, but the injection is really OK to do yourself as its a much smaller needle than they use in the hospital and you just inject it under your skin without having to go looking for veins.
OH has now told his family I have cancer. This was not as straightforward as it sounds as his parents both suffer from dementia and we were not sure that they would understand, but it went OK because they were having one of their more lucid days. It is difficult telling people of his parents’ generation because in their day the prognosis was not as good as it is now. I also updated my Facebook page, not to seek attention but just to let people know in case they are offended if I miss birthdays, family occasions etc if I am feeling ill and why I have shaved my head. Everyone has been very supportive, and I feel better now that people know, as I was diagnosed 6 weeks ago and not being able to tell people was making me feel like having BC was my dirty little secret.
I also went out in public for the first time since shaving my head, wearing a buff rather than my wig because of the wind and rain. I went shopping in Bath, and thankfully no-one laughed or stared or pointed at me or made comments or even gave me a second glance! I might even be brave enough to go back to the office in a few days (I have been working from home).
Hope everyone enjoys what’s left of the weekend.
Squeakymouse xx
Squeaky mouse, great that you are ok, I think with wearing a scarf or buff, so many people wear them now, even if they’ve got hair, so it’s like you just blend in, which is good, I can relate to telling the older folk about the cancer, I was worried about telling my dad, thought he would go to pieces, given that my mum had died only 3 months before, but he was really really ok, upset, but ok, all my children were ok apart from my eldest daughter, she went to pieces, which took me by surprise, cos she’s normally so very strong, but she’s ok now, in fact all my girls came with me to see the wig lady, and they’re coming with me next week to get my wig, my OH told his family just before my first op, which was February 29th, and they’ve been really great, it does help when everyone knows, makes things so much easier, and god only knows we could do with something being easier 
Hi D’Buds,
Em - I am doing the injections myself. It’s no worse than swallowing tablets and the thought they might get stuck in your throat dissolving. Doesn’t hurt and its the idea of it thats worse. I told myself that if every type 1 diabetic can do it, and so many chemo people , then I am sure not going to baulk from a therapeutic drug - after all, I am keen to let these people pump poison into me…
Mind you, I do have to repeat this stance over and over at the time of doing it !
Merc
xxxx
Hello buddies,
Long weekend almost over 
Slightly marred by FEC2 tomorrow.
Harryduck, I hope things carry on improving in your household. Stepfamilies must be very tricky. It’s hard enough with in laws. I’ll stick with the dogs, much more straight forward even with six of them!
Hi Claire, hope you’re feeling okay? I was neutrapenic last week and followed it with hair loss. Obviously following the same pattern. I’m not actually too bothered by the hairless now. Have been out and about in scarves this weekend. I was a bit nervous seeing friends over the jubilee but ll were sweet and encouraging.
Well done to those that inject themselves. Not sure I could, but I supose needs must.
I have an exciting day tomorrow: 9.30 blood test, 10am oncologist, 11am new PICC line, 1.30pm FEC2 - if bloods okay. Feel really bad for my friend who is taking me! It’s a full day at the hospital!
Good luck to thse getting FECed this week xxx
Blimey Doggirl that is a long, hope it all goes well for you, and not too much for your friend :-), I had bloods done today, FEC 2 tomorrow at 12, :-/
Will be thinking of you then bikerchic! Good luck x
Good wishes for tomorrow girls. I will be thinking of you. Hope all goes well and min SE xxx
Hi ladies.
Hope you are all feeling ok. I think my hair loss may be on the way. My head hair is firmly in but I’m starting to lose “other” hair. Not looking forward to this bit x
Hi Ladies
Got through first chemo and feeling well. Did have pretty bad sickness first night and then just felt like a bad hangover the following day. Did take comeones advice to eat cold fruit and this was about all I could keep down for the first day - so thanks for that tip.
Did try the ice cap and found it suprisingly comfortable - in fact did not really notice it! Kept thinking it was not very cold until it was removed and I had a layer of ice over my head. Two weeks on and my head hair appears to be staying in although much like JosieJo do appear to be losing it elsewhere.
Did not expect to be feeling this well and hope this lasts.
Claire
Hi Buddies,
Been keeping a low profile, reading all the posts and lots happening.
Couldn’t get 2nd FEC for a few days and when i finally got it, it really knocked me for six, totally exhaused, and feeling really down.
Has anyone tried whey protien to bring up the levels of blood? I’m thinking of ways to get blood levels up for next time.
Luv to all viv xxx
Squeakymouse and Merc- thanks for the info on the injections, hopefully I can be as brave as you two x
Vivibell- don’t know about whey protein bit I’m taking wheatgrass (1 teaspoon of powder) mixed in with fruit juice as its meant to boost bloods and immunity - tastes pretty awful to me , like drinking hay but orange juice disguises taste quite well - no idea if it works but given my poor blood results thought I’d give it a go!! Good luck to all those FECing tomorrow!!! And those who have just been done, hope your SEs are manageable and that you all sleep well, nighty night, Em xxxxx
Hi josiejo
I know what you mean, my hair is starting to come out. I was told day 14 and that’s the day it started. Have had a few tears. Xx
Hey Viv - Welcome back! Missed ya!
D’Buds - there are lots of things that can help with your bloods - naturally in food, but if you are considering taking any kind of suppliment please check with your chemo unit/nurse first. I have next to no knowledge about interactions etc, but they do - and lets face it, it wont cost us a penny to ask!
Talking about money… I’ve just donated to PesteringPixie’s JustGiving page for some of the Happy Bags she is making. I will be presenting them to my team (they will be running on my behalf) in the local Race 4 Life later this month. I was hoping to do the race myself, but at the moment I am struggling to get downstairs, so my family will be there to represent me and I will be there in spirit if not in body :-{
Hugs for all those with SE’s atm.
Merc
xxxx
Agree with Merc- get any supplements checked out. I was told VitD3 (in small dose) and wheatgrass we’re fine. When I asked my onc about what I could do to boost my white blood cells he said they weren’t affected by diet and basically told me there was nothing I could do about it. Merc- I’m also down to do the Race for life on 1 July with my lovely daughter Meg, who is ten (was her idea) unfortunately now I had one delayed chemo it means the race falls 3 day after FEC3 is due!! Not sure I’ll be up to it…Today I will be mostly changing sheets and making beds up (including dog bed) for the return of my darlings!!! Have a good day buddies, Em x
Hello everyone,
Doggirl it does sound as if we are having similar experiences. I am feeling much better, they gave me blood as my red blood count was low even before chemo started due to catching flu and then having an op straight after. I haven’t felt this well since March! I saw my ONC yesterday and he said when patients come out of that ward they usually look awful but I looked great. I said I feel so well it was more like a weekend at a health farm! I have my next Tax next week so it will be interesting to see how I feel now my red blood count is better.
Hope everyone managed to enjoy the jubilee weekend.
Claire
Good luck to all the buddies with chemo planned for today.
Em- I have the neulasta too. Its fine but it can make your bones ache. I gave it to myself last time - under the watchful eye of the nurse so my challenge is to give to myself too.Sorry you had such a rubbish time yesterday. Fingers crossed it will be better today.
Vivi- it has taken me longer to recover this time and I had a downer too. I’ve been told its really important to eat protein and high energy food while on chemo. I lost alot of weight the first time I was on chemo and was given quite a bit of advice on how to try and keep my weight up. Some of it was not what you expect e.g.don’t fill up on fruit and veg as you will not get the calories you need! I am normally a vegetarian(!!!) but eating an egg every other day (which I detest) and chicken, beans, nuts and generally consuming much more than usual!! Its a shame it all tastes of cardboard!
To all those coping with hair loss, just to echo the others say- you do cope and adjust, the worst bit is just seeing it go.
Good luck to all those for chemo today.
Rattles, xx
FEC2 done. Yay!! So happy?! Maybe not the right word but glad it’s done. Now for side effects boo hiss.
Turned up for mammoth hospital day as due to the bank Holstein had onc, blood tests and chemo all on one day. Also PICC line to be fitted. First off I didn’t have onc appt. Receptionist said that you don’t always have one? Considering it was my first post FEC really wanted to see himself and discuss vomiting, thrush, neutrapenia etc etc! So they squeezed me in. Quite rightly though. How else was I going to get my goodie bag sorted?
Then off to get PICC line done in radiology. Was worried about being late but no need as was a whole week early!!! Didn’t click for ages until my chemo buddy noticed appt was 13th. Did turn a good shade of red. Who needs a PICC line a week after chemo, bah humbug!
Anyway… Chemo hap
Oops! Meant to say bloods good to go. Chemo happened. So chuffed about that. Have to do injections which I was exPecting due to neutrapiles so will be asking for advice/reassurance/cyber hugs!
ClAire hope you blood behaves!
JosieJo, sorry about the hair. Have you had the classic line “well you knew it was going to happen” in response to your being upset? Yeah cos that makes it okay. Not.
Anyway prob be quiet for a few days if FEC1 anything to go by. Couldn’t read or write. Good luck and love to you all xx
Sarah
Hi everyone. Well the had hair is starting to losen, pulled a clump out earlier which was a bit of a shock. How long did you wait to shave yours (I’m on day 14 now) x
Hi josiejo,
Day 17 for me. Was getting unbearable and too thin - think comb over!!
Did cry. Think OH did too. Quote of the day “this is shit”.
Quite like it now. Honest 
Xxx