Starting Chemo, June 2010

Public Archive
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Hi Gill

Wig hunting was not as bad as I thought. At my hosp you get prescription for a wig and take it to another dept. They have loads of colours and styles to try on and then they order it for you. Mine will be ready on tues next week. So we only get one but it is quite quick. Oh and they do the trimming for you too. The ladies were very nice and made it quite fun. I still am not sure how much I will wear it but my daughter is 5 and I do think she might not want a bald mammy as sports day. Hope you like yours when it comes. Dx

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Hello Ladies,
MrsSloth, hope you had a lovely birthday! and getting ready for christmas already! xxx

Jo, Oh we will never be ready for that hair falling out! l found the worst things was the falling, hated hair everywhere! l had it cut 2" all over as soon as it started falling, but l had to wear something on my head the whole time, or there was hair everywhere, each morning l would go in the garden and give it a good brush, but it was still everywhere, not much left now, but still all in the bath! might need to shave the rest off!
Oh your poor little man, so worrying for them, just want to protect them so much, my 5 year old grandson, is such a worrier, so we have told him very little about my bc, but you can do that when they don’t live with you!
Yes 2nd FEC this friday, and yes l am having 3 FEC and 3 TAX, haven’t quite worked out yet why some with lymph nodes are having all TAC, keep meaning to look!
Yes l have felt really good this week, still a bit of a funny mouth, but all very do-able! xxx

Carol,Really pleased you are coming out of the fug! why did you spend Saturday in bed? was it that bad!
Hydrotherapy pools sounds lovely, l am having a massage tomorrow, l could have had reiki, but went for the massage, so might go for reiki next time! xxx

Happy 73, why are you having your chemo at home? l had a bad headache on the 7th day, not sure if it was connected, perhaps you need to speak to them xxx

Gill, well done on the 2nd FEC! hope the wbc stay healthy!
Still no wig! Yes think you will need to tell them to organise their wig department a bit better!
Yes we are all looking forward to the new photo! sounds great fun! xxx

Midge
Glad the wig hunting went well, yes hang on to that wig if you do the mums run! I am going to my grandsons sports day in 10 days, but no running for me this year! xxx

Well number 2 FEC on friday, so l hope after my 10 injections my wbc are good on Thursday!
Love
Sandra xxx

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Hi Ladies,

Not been on lately been in one of those ‘cant be bothered (CBB)’ moods. bored of sitting watching day time TV but CBB to do anything else. must snap out of it.
Gill cant believe it took so long to sort your wig, I saw the hairdresser (what a most unappropriate title) the same day as my first chemo and collected my wig the following friday. I am really impressed and keep looking in the shower tray to see if there are any more hairs than normal haha.
My arm was really tight and painful until this weekend but nurse said its normal. worst for me is my mouth. I feel like all my teeth are loose and gums are aching. Im eating loads of soft fruit and drinking plenty of water so in grand scheme of things Im not too bad at all - long may it continue

Good luck to Sandra for tomorrow

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Hi, Sandra

day 3 (Saturday) seems to be the worst day for me, although I didn’t feel so tired I still couldn’t find the energy to get up an dressed this second time. Day 6 today and getting better although I know I will have aches & pains.
Going into work for a few hours today till my concentration goes.

Good luck for Friday

Carolx

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Hi Carol,
Your take it easy, and have a good day!
Love
Sandra xxx

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Thank you for the kind birthday wishes, it was a really good day, although since then I’ve started having a mouth ulcer so that’s a joy, I’m just using Bonjela for now but I’m due to see my GP next week, so if it hasn’t improved she can give me something stronger.

Interestingly, I haven’t noticed much hair loss from my head, but it is starting to go at the other end (to put it delicately)!

Apart from the mouth I feel fine, quite a bit of energy, good concentration levels, normal appetite. Not sleeping entirely well though, I don’t get through the night and I’m usually wide awake at 5.00 when hubby goes to work. Still, those are the coolest parts of the day at the moment - I was out the front cutting the grass at 7 yesterday morning!

Big hugs to all.

x

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Hi Ladies,
Got my new hats and a few head scalves from the hospital, they run something called ‘headstrong’ to show you different ideas of how to tie the scalves it was helpful, Not sure if its my imagination but my hair does feel thinner now and I seem to have a fair few strands when if I run my hand thew it. My mouth is still really sore and having a few problems eating Ive been up at 4am the last two nights using mouthwash to try and relief some of the pains, Ive tried Bonjela but doesnt seem to relief the pain for more than 20 minutes -any ideas pls?

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Hi,
Did you enjoy doing the scarves with headstrong? l was going to go to one in Welwyn Garden City, but l had to cancel at the last minute, would have liked to see what they do, may try and book another.
I take it you have a non alcholic mouthwash? a friend of mine was using a normal mouthwash, forgot about the non alcholic! easy done.
what about ice lollies, or even the chuppa lollies, just something to keep the taste buds going!
I have had my bloods done today, and all is well! so second chemo tomorrow morning.
My onc said they are changing the wbc injections from a 10 day course to 1 day, not sure which one l will get tomorrow, hope it is the 1 day one, might not have such a back ache.
My hair has ‘nearly’ gone now 20 days after first chemo, mind you every day l gave it a really good brush in the garden, hated the hair coming out in doors, kept something on my head while i was in doors.
Good Luck everyone
Sandra xxx

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Hi All -

I’d bet I’m not alone in not wanting low WBC levels to delay chemo, so have been looking into what to eat to boost them naturally and found the following. Have no idea if it’s totally accurate, but thought I’d share.

Pomegranite / Beetroot / Garlic / Yoghurt
Pumpkin/ Squash / Spinach / Brocolli
Cauliflower / Asparagus / Figs / Boiled Eggs
Carrots / Melon / Oranges /Strawberries
Milk / Pulses / Cereals

A fair few of the above are good for iron too and let’s face it if nothing else it’s healthy!

Hope everyone’s okay today. Sandra, really good luck tomorrow. xj

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Just make sure it’s all pasturised, no live yoghurts or runny eggs, it’s a bit like when pregnant I think? I wonder how much juice one needs to drink to affect the neutrophils?

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HI Tina

whats the neutrophils?

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Hi all

Good luck with peachy mother tomorrow Sandra. Debx

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Hi June gang…peeping over the parapet now after 2nd FEC on 23rd June - amazingly no nausea at all this time thanks to a brilliant onc nurse who jiggled and juggled my meds dosages and timings twice a day! Cardiff BC service rocks! However did find the fatigue so much worse than 1st cycle, no energy at all. I feel like the Duracell bunny without the batteries up its bum!

Reading all the posts has been a marathon but a few chitty chats…

Kirsty - silk pillowcases are very expensive so I tried a cheapie version usng 2 silk scarves (too see-through to use as a head scarf at the moment). Tied them at the 4 corners & made a very acceptable poillowcase, and it does help reduce the friction when turning over and is very cool in the hot weather.

Happy73 - also having my chemo at home and soo grateful for it…able to slob around in my nightie and drag the drip & cold cap tubes to my own toilet. I’m lucky (not sure if lucky is the word!) that I have a close friend also going through BC & chemo only 10 days behind me in her cycles, and another friend who had it 5 years ago so plenty of opportunity to chat & compare notes. However I have found this site so helpful too, just because of the number of us going through this at the same time and the way we can all manage to share the ups & downs.

Mrs Sloth/Danjo - card-making is great - any craft is very therapeutic. I have felt so useless because my energy levels are not allowing me to do anything productive. I vowed to learn beading & have made several necklaces and bracelets with my new-found skill, not brilliant but it feels good to have something creative to do when all else gives up!

Satp/Sandra - I went to the Cardiff branch of Headstrong to learn scarf-tying and found it really great - very nice ladies with some great ideas and plenty of style - I would recommend it to anyone.
Regarding the sore mouth, I have found apple ice lollies have helped (the cold seems to numb it for a while) just freeze some cloudy apple juice in lolly moulds for a never-ending supply. Also tried blitzing some strawberries with a few tablespoons of strawberry yoghurt for another lolly flavour.

Sandra - I’m also having injections to keep WBC up (because of pre-chemo infection in breast) and so far so good - blood results have come back fine - so no delays.

Big hugs to all having the SE’s :frowning:

xxx Sal

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Oooooo - just had some interesting info from a friend - she has tried a ‘Chillow’ - a cool pad for putting on your pillow…hmmmm…might investigate further…

xxx Sal

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Hi ladies,
Just a quick hello. Hope everyone is coping with the SE’s. This time (FEC2) I’ve had extreme fatigue and some nausea…not sure if the hot wether has added to se’s. Took the lansaprozole early this time so no heartburn but still had diaohorrea (sorry)…it’s so not fun!:-((
Dragged myself back to work today and was glad I did as didn’t have to do much but it was good to be ‘back in the room’!! for a few hours. Still getting vein ache :frowning:
Sal what did your nurse jiggle so that you had no nausea…I’m throwing everything I get at mine but still feeling nauseous and dizzy.

Sandra…hope all goes well tomorrow…hugs for you xx

Higs to all Suze xxx

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Hi Suzi - she jiggled combination of Emend, steroids, domperidone & ondansatron - various times & doses. Rings me morning & evening for 3-4 days after chemo & adjusts meds acoording to symptoms. She is a nurse prescriber so has the authority to do that - as I said - all praise to the Cardiff service!

xxx Sal

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Hi Ladies,

Julie Thank you for the list of healthy foods for wbc! well l like most of them, so that should be no problem xxx

Deb, Thank you for your good wishes, hoping tomorrow comes and goes quickly with little s/e! soon comes round! Hope you are ok xxx

Sal, since l started chemo, l can’t stop drinking apple juice, didn’t really like it before, but always had it for the grandchildren, so now they have to fight me for it! xxx

Suze, Mmmmmm everyone seems more tired on the second FEC that is a Fec ‘ing’ pain! not looking forward to that! You are so good working with all this going on, l just like to do things when l feel like it, but then again l am ‘old’ so l am allowed!! Thank you for your good wishes xxx

Love and Hugs to all us brave ladies, (well we have to be!)
Sandra xxx

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Hope all goes well for tomorrow Sandra

Big hugs

Jaynexxx

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hi sandra

i found second fec physically easier than first, knew what to expect more, good luck tmrw, cannot be bothered sorting photo today, just quickly checking in before bed at ten! Still not felt sick or been sick after first tax today, had my head down the loo after each of the 3 fec sessions by this stage.

night night!

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Thank you Jayne
Hope you are keeping well
Lots of Love and Hugs xxx

Vickie, Now there is a thought for a photo, your head down the loo!!
Hope you have a good nights sleep, sleep tight xxx

Hugs to all
Sandra xxx