Starting Chemo in Nov 2011

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Hi All

Just back from another shopping expedition with my daughter, all this time on my hands is costing me a fortune but us girls have to treat ourselves and I wanted to make sure she has everything she needs just in case I can’t get out and about and we really did both need new boots, honest!! Having said that I’m as bad for buying off the internet so being stuck at home wont stop me getting everything I need :slight_smile: But it has passed some time and it’s been a lovely day for a trip to the seaside, we even had a walk on the beach.

Alice, hope all went well for you today (((hug)))

Yes Gill, first one tomorrow, bit jittery but doing ok. Cold has almost gone so don’t think they’ll delay start, I hope not I’ve got myself psyched (sp?) up for it now. Sounds like you’ve been busy too. Glad to hear the letter finally arrived and that they’ve changed it.

Weme, great news, really pleased for you :slight_smile: What time are you in on Friday, I’ve got to wait til 2pm tomorrow :frowning: will be thinking of you. I haven’t had any scans or other tests (apart from blood) since my op but I’ve just received an appointment to see my radiologist 16th Nov!?!

Pavlina, feel free to jump in whenever you like :slight_smile: I’ve been following several of the other threads just to get an idea of what may lie ahead and I’ve found it helps a lot, also consulted the Top Tips one and prepared a list of things I would need, so I’m good to go :slight_smile:

Jean - And I thought they’d broke the mould when they made him :wink: Don’t worry, I’ve been sending the baking to work so OH doesn’t know!! Got to look after my boys, I work in an all male department (except me of course) and they’ve been absolutely fantastic. They are the only ones that made me cry cos when I arrived home from hospital they sent me the biggest bouquet you’ve ever seen, they really are a bunch of softies.

Daysie, sometimes they prefer to do chemo first to reduce the tumour so that when it’s removed they can get better clearance (the good bit of tissue they take to make sure they’ve got it all). You certainly sound like you’ve been through the mill a bit lately but once you get your results and treatment plan I’m sure you’ll feel better until then try not to spend too much time in ‘the waiting room’ it’s a horrible place to be :frowning: get out and about and have some ‘me’ time. If you think money might be a problem speak to your BCN they can help with financial advice and I think they can help with some of the expenses cos we all know it’s not cheap having BC.

Take care all, hopefully I’ll be back tomorrow evening (if not before) with an update :slight_smile:
L4W

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Saw my oncologist this afternoon, and will be starting 6 sessions of FEC-T in approx 2 weeks time, which will be followed by 3 weeks of rads and then tablet for 5 years.

Exactly what I was expecting so no surprises but the good news is that the HER2 results came back negative so no herceptrin.

Going off to Yorkshire weekend after next to stay with relatives for a few days before I start so looking forward to that and not thinking of any other appointments yet.

BW
Jean x

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Hello Ladies :slight_smile:

Room for a (not so) small one? I start 6 x FEC on the 31st October. PICC line went in today, head scarves on standby. Chemo nurse has told me she’s put me in for my wig voucher so I may invest in one for special occasions! Booked in for my LGFB session at our MacMillan Centre in January, and a Bodyshop makeover there next Wednesday. OD has found a website that sell eyebrow wigs (no, I didn’t believe it either, LOL)…so I guess I’m as ready as I’ll ever be!

Sad but glad to find so many others on the same journey.

Hugz

Sharon x

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Hi Sharon you are going to be about a week and half in front of me.

I have bought myself 4 cotton turbans, 2 sleep hats and 2 chiffon scarves already for when I start mine, I do have a wig but going to look at what they have to offer with the voucher as not totally happy with it.

Going to try and book my LGFB session tomorrow. Hope you enjoy the Bodyshop makeover next week.

((((HUG))))

Jean x

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Hi L4W

I’m booked in for 2pm as well, where abouts are you, I will be in Cheltenham. I’m having chemo first as well, I’ve worked out that the mx should be in February, not looking forward to that at all.

Hope it goes OK for you and everyone else starting soon.

Weme

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Welcome Sharon and all the best for Monday :slight_smile:

Weme, I’m in East Yorks.

Jean, I’m having the same as you except I’m HER2+ so will have 18 Herceptin starting with my Tax. Where in Yorkshire are you visiting?

I’m feeling left out now my BCN hasn’t mentioned any of these sessions to me :frowning: Will be seeing what I can find out tomorrow. Starting to feel I only find out anything if I ask!

If you paid for your prescriptions before BC you will have to pay £61.85 towards your wig. Just letting you know cos my hospital would only take cash or cheque and who carries either these days :wink: So I couldn’t get my prescription so couldn’t make appointment for wig!

Got to go OH has just walked in from work and… I must make his tea :wink: NOT! Really I want to show him all the nice things I bought myself today before he falls asleep in front of the telly :slight_smile:

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L4W and Werne, i’m curious that yoou two are booked for 2pm for your 1st session, i have to be there for 9.30 and have been told to expect to be there most of the day?
are either of you having herceptin? and if so have you already had heart scan?

Daysie - my 1st chemo is 2 weeks after Onc appoint, so don’t be surprised if you don’t start the week after your appoint

jean - let us know how you get on with your Look good feel good session, this was mentioned in passing to me at hospital, so would be interested to hear more about it

And a hello to all others who have joined the thread

Gill x

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Hi Gill

I’m having TAC and I have been told I will be there for about 3 hours, I don’t think I’m having herceptin and I haven’t had a heart scan.

I hope your first session goes well.

Weme

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thanks Werne

thats possibly why, i’ll probably have the heart scan first, they probably did tell me, but with all the other info given, i’d actually forgotten about the heart scan until i saw another post on another thread!

Gill x

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Hi I was told to expect to be there either all morning or all afternoon for my chemo sessions.

Gill if you put “Look good feel better” in google you can find the nearest one to you.

L4W my husband originally came from Sheffield and his sister lives in Maltby just outside Rotherham.

Jean x

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Hi again,

another question - I had a CT scan, just wondering if that included the heart scan, as it was a torso one.

I’m in Norwich and we have a Big C Centre which is marvellous, they have complementary therapies, we get 8 free reflexology or massages, I’m booked on the ‘look good feel good session’ in a couple of weeks, they give free tea, coffee and biscuits, nicely served on a tray, big comfy sofas and chill out rooms, relaxation therapy and many visits by experts, such as the Dietician we saw the other day, also booked on the Ask the Pharmacist session, he specialises in oncology matters. They have Friday wig sessions, I think I get £120 towards an NHS one, will book in for 4 Nov.

If is a good place to visit for lots of information. It is run by volunteers, many of them have been through breast cancer. My partner comes with me for morale support!

If anybody is near Norwich it is worth a visit, based in the grounds of the Norfolk and Norwich Hospital.

Daysie x

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Hi Gill

Because this is my first chemo and they don’t need to do bloods (had them done a few weeks ago and they were ok so they are happy to use the results) I can go straight for my chemo so am only expecting to be at hospital for a couple of hours max. They have warned me that I will be longer next time cos I’ll go in have my bloods done, then see the onc, then when he gives the green light they will prepare the chemo and I’ll have it done. It’s quite a good system (or looks to be) each stage has it’s own waiting room so you sort of move up the line as you go.

I’m having Herceptin but was told it wont start until I start my Tax. They don’t give it with FEC because of a possible increased risk of heart problems. They haven’t mentioned a heart scan but I wonder if that’s what my appointment on the 16th is.

If anyone sees the sleep fairy tonight would they send her my way, think it could be a long one :frowning:

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Feeling really frustrated! a lady I met on the ward after surgery has kept in touch she has oncologist appt next wk and mine isnt till the 16th! It will be Christmas before I start chemo at this rate:( sorry for rant but this waiting is driving me insane!!! my scans came back clear last wk but lord knows what another 4 wks (I have lymph involvement grade 3)non treatment can wreak. I have been really positive but this sense of “limbo” and not knowing what the next rounds of treatment consists of is not conducive to a good state of mind…

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hospice when did you have surgery? they dont often like to give chemo unit between 3-6 weeks after surgery to make sure you have healed up.

mine will be 6 weeks to the day from WLE and was the same last time… maybe your friend isnt getting chemo or has to go back for more surgery or going straight to rads or tablets… we all have differnet treatment plans but it can seem that others get treated diferetly… it could also be that you are seeing different oncologists and yours may not have a space till 16th… good luck when you do get it but in the meantime why not call your BCN and see if she can tell you why you have to wait so long… she obv wont be able to comment on your friend but she may be able to give you a reason why your appt is two weeks later on.

L4W good luck tomorrow… i started my steroids this morning and remembered to take my 2nd lot not too late as they keep you awake and i already dont sleep anyway. my appt is at 9am but will be there for a while have to have another chat before chemo, have emla cream on my veins to help reduce pain and plump them up and then the tax infusion is an hour followed by a flush and carboplatin is another hour and flush so might be about 4 hours or possibly more as last time i was there for over 4 hours the first visit and didnt even have 2 hours of chemo was only about 30 or 40 mins… the subsequent visits were shorter about 3 or 3 hours… i have to get my bloods done two days before hand by the practice nurse… not a fun experience with my shitty veins and needed 5 attempts on tues! from last time i also remember after about the 3rd chemo my bloods were rubbish and had to get them done on the day as well and that took longer to wait for results and then go and make up the chemo drugs.

with reference to shaving your hair its a very personal choice… i waited till mine started coming out in clumps before i shaved it and will prob do the same this time too… im happy to go commado and not fussed if people know i have cancer or not and i usually have a smile on my face so maybe i just dont get the pitiful looks or maybe i just dont notice (or care what other people think) but thats just me. i kinda like to highlight that life with cancer isnt completely awful, even if it isnt much fun its better than a lot of people think it will be.

if you are having epirubicin the ‘E’ in FEC tehn you should have a heart scan before that and a fraction ejection heart scan before and during herceptin.

daysie the CT doesnt include a heart scan, it looks at the lungs, sometimes the liver and the lymph nodes in and around the breast and chest.

thinking of all you other ladies xxx

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Morning Ladies

Hope you all had a good night.

I’m starting to get a bit worried about not having had this heart scan as I am having FEC!! Neither have I been given any steroids but I think they will give me them before the chemo. I’ll ask when I get there today, going early to hopefully sort my wig prescription first.

Well the upset tummy has explained itself, I started my period this morning!!! Not what I needed :frowning:

I’ve decided to leave my hair till it starts to come out then it will be out with the clippers, it’s already quite short so I think it will be ok and not make my head too sore.

Going for a long hot soak
L4W

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Greetings from lovely Norwich
where summer is still lingering lol!

Good luck for today L4W!

I’m off to the hospital this morning for an appointment at the Big C Centre to see a CAB Benefits Advisor, can’t get my head around any of it lol, apparently they do the form filling for you!

Then going to book my Wig Session at the Big C for next Friday. Meeting a very good friend for lunch, who also happens to be a Sister Midwife, she has a very calming influence and makes me think rationally lol instead of like a paranoid mad woman!

Hope you all have a good day all

Daysie x

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good luck today L4W and anyone else, let us know how you get on.

Weme

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Just popping into say hey all, ,

N good luck for today l4w

Xxxxx

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Hi everyone-do you mind if I join in?? I had an appointment with my oncologist yesterday and have been told I start chemo on 15th November. I am scheduled for a heart scan next tuesday but have not been offered any other scans eg CT.I am HER2 Positive and thought they would do some sort of body scan-anyhow she was very reassuring saying that as I had clear margins and no lymph node involvementand seemed happy enogh for me to start the chemo without this scan-has anyone else had this worry or is it just me being OTT?? I am also getting the flu jab at my GPS tomorrow.
L4W Good luck with today-I klnow you will be grand-I hope everyone else is keeping well and I am sure you will get to know me as the weeks go on!!and hope I can help others too. This website has been invaluableto me in my early days of diagnosis-I was diagnosed on 5 september had a lumpectomy on 29 september and results given to me 12 October re HER2 Positive er- and pr-.I live in N ireland and just wondering are ct scans part of the pre chemo thing on the mainland??

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Good luck L4W I thought the steroids were before Tax not FEC!!

Like you I will be leaving my hair to the last minute but I already trim mine with the clippers and no 8 guide so hopefully won’t be too drastic. Wasn’t too worried about it but as it gets closer I am dreading that part more and more.

Jean x