hi chicks goin 4 pre assesment tomoro even tho its just that im so scared 
cause i no its getting closer this is gonna b my last weekend that im gonna have for while till all this is over feeling a bit upset today hope all are well huggs to all xx
Am with you there too Donna,
Have my pre assessment appointment at 2 pm… Will have no nails by the time I get there! I know it’s only to discuss when to start etc but like you it’s making everything more real. I am going to try and keep really busy between now and next week. Make sure you have something planned this weekend… And just think the sooner we start the sooner it’s over and Christmas will be here 
Take care Hun xx
Can I just say to the laddies who are useing the Manuka honey to help against infections is still on offer at Audi at £3.99 and that is the ten plus.
Michelle Quinny and Hanna, I now its easy to say try not to worry about starting your chemo, but even with some of the chicks going before me and there wonderful advise I was still scared.
This might help if I go through my first chemo (well I hope it helps) I arrived at 10.30 was taken to Oncology was greated by the nurse who did my pre assessment. She showed me where to sit and to get a comfy chair as I will be there for a couple of hours. she went of to get the chemo and pump and table with all the syringes on. She finds a nice vain puts a canular in flushes it with saline then puts your chemo into the canular and through the pump, she will set pump for about an hour. This is after you have put the cold cap on if you are having it. I also had my hand s in ice water to protect my nails. I did not feel any different as it was going in . Then when thats gone throungh they flush with saline through the pump. If your having two diffferent lots they then put the second one up through the pump, another hour then flush againand you are finished. They do keep a close eye on you while this is all going on. During the treatment I felt no different.
Iam having Cyclophosphamide and Taxotere of six, my SE have been wooly head first two days the trotts (carn’t spell polite word) and drainned. Day 7 today so conts going down just tired. Saw my bcn today and i asked do the side affects get worse as we go along she said no the first one is normally the worst.
Really hoped this has helped and not frightened you even more.
All of us birds will be thinking of you all as you have your first, and we are all here for you all.
Carolann. HUGS!!!
thank you carolann it has helped me a little i just want to get started now so it can finish so can enjoy xmas with littleones xxx love to all chicks …my appt tomoz for pre appt is at 9 hanna .i will b thinking of u at 2 huggs hun did u look on the anna bandana site? xx
Hope you don’t mind me popping in to wish all you diamond girls the best of luck with your treatments. I started my chemotherapy exactly 12 months ago. I had 4 x EC and then 4 x TAX followed by mastectomy 4 days before Christmas and then 15 doses of Radiotherapy. I lost all my hair, every single one, but I learned to love my wigs. Don’t forget to claim for your free parking at the hospitals and your free prescriptions for the next 5 years. I got prescriptions for 2 wigs and they were free too. Plan round your good days so that you have things to look forward to.
This too will pass!
Debbie
I did Donna. Bought myself a few funky ones and the good old black one for the more conservative moments.
I hope your appointment goes ok. Will be thinking of you. Then we can compare notes in the evening
X
I couldn’t get into the nest yesterday and I wanted to wish all the diamond chicks due for chemo this week the best of luck.
Didn’t know about free parking! How do I do that? At £4 to £7 a time it is expensive.
Quinny and anyone else wondering about receiving chemo. I hope my experience will help too. I was receiving FEC, 3 different types of chemicals. I sat in a comfy chair. Had my arm warmed by a wheat pillow and nice vein appeared. Then I just sat there while a variety of chemicals were either put in by pump or by the nurse. The nurse kept me fully informed about what was going on at all times. I nattered to my friend, the nurse, other patients and was served endless cups of tea, lunch and choccie biccies. All very relaxed. Then OH came towards the end and found out about drug regime for anti sickness etc. I think overall it was about 4 hours including the drugs explanation. I have had minimal side efects. Some nausea but hardly worth mentioning. Some constipation controlled by starting Dulcoease before chemo.
Sue, my nurse told me about her son who is in South Africa doing research on meercats. Yes, the very ones on the TV.
Esjay. How awful. You shouldn’t be sick more than 4 times without asking for help as there are lots of anti sickness drugs they can give you. I am sure that they will help with better drugs next time.
Pauline. My wig is blond as well. Thought charcoal rather than black with the brown eye shadow might work better.
About diet. My onc said don’t diet. Eat what your body asked for. Probably involving more carbs than usual to counteract tiredness. My nurse said that red blood cells will be destroyed and to make sure I was getting plenty of foods containing iron eg Green veg, liver, (red meat)
Lynn xx
Hi all the diamond chicks. Hope the diamonds who are starting their chemo have minimal side effects. DRINK, DRINK DRINK and dont forget the ice lollies, they really make a difference. well the sun is out so Im going to spruce myself up and fo to a wee seaside place called Largs for the day. love to all. pauline. xxx
Hello ladies, Wish i was going to Largs its not too far from me in Paisley
I have my first FEC chemo today and im so scared!!!
Doc ordered bone scan yesterday just seems all too much at once
Pauline, enjoy Largs… Lucky you. It s beautiful. Today and I believe the rain returns tomorrow.
Michelle, good luck, pop in first chance you get. I am getting 3 x fec and 3 tax. I am reading about some of wee chicks in hospital for 3 and 4 hours etc… I was about an hour and a half max I think. I was told I’d be about an hour normally. First one takes longer plus as nurse had paperwork and it was just after the jubilee they had a leak that delayed meds coming up and extra chemo from the bh. The nurses are lovely and I’ve had minimum side effects… Quite bearable. I went into work yesterday and I’ve decided I’m going to try and go back after the summer hols… It’s seems wrong using my sick pay when for two weeks I’ve been fine and this week I feel great.
I didn’t take ice lollies, my onc dept are very wait and see about everything… No one had ice lollies… I drank lots of cold water. I only rinse my mouth twice a day and I’ve been fine… A few wee coldsores, gone next day. Corsodyl seems to deal with it. I also didn’t get cold water or anything for my nails… Feeling bit neglected up here lol … X
Lynne, I was thinking about the red meat today. I don’t really eat iron rich foods except for spaghetti Bol, lasagne etc… Guess that’ll be dinner for a few days lol. Might force a steak lol x
Mad Max, Hope all goes well, you might end up with an in ear thermometer… Although it might bleep too. Lol. I ended up not buying everything on the list. And some things like ginger tea, and ginger beer are untouched couldn’t face them. After my onc nurse said see how you go… I decided to wait. An ok idea if you have someone to do your bidding lol. I needed eye drops, had a runny eye and that’s been all so far. I put hankies and hand gel round the house so I don’t need to carry anything about. Worked for me… I thought buying everything was really pricey.
Good luck to all the pre assessments and chicks starting this week. It’s daunting but at least it’s starting… X
Again sorry if I missed anyone… X
I went in to get my wig yesterday and on the way home on the train imy hair starting to fall out… If I’d known it was going to behave until I had my wig… I’d have went next month lol… And my hair was sitting lovely yesterday lol.
Dreading it falling out properly, being patchy getting it shaved… There’s a
part of me that feels like shaving it now to get it over with… X
Elli
Hi everyone I have just hopped in from the April post and noticed that Hannabanana is having the cold cap. I too went for this, I have now had 3 fec and 1 tax, and still have my hair, although it has gone thinner, and it has meant so much to my self esteem. I know others are not so worried, but it has helped me to keep mine. Love and hugs to all we will get through it together. Elainexxxx
Hi everyone I have just hopped in from the April post and noticed that Hannabanana is having the cold cap. I too went for this, I have now had 3 fec and 1 tax, and still have my hair, although it has gone thinner, and it has meant so much to my self esteem. I know others are not so worried, but it has helped me to keep mine. Love and hugs to all we will get through it together. Elainexxxx
Thanks for that Elaine… Even more determined to give it a go as I inch nearer to my start date. That’s fab that you have you have kept your hair. Just a q quick question, did you have to put ph neutral conditioner on your hair during the treatment? If so where did you get it from?
X Hannah
Hi Donna,
How did it go? 1 hr 6 mins and counting for me…
X
Morning fellow chicks
I think I may venture out of the nest today seeing as the sun has decided to come say hi. Would be rude not to say hello back
Good luck to all the diamonds starting /have ad chemo this week - may your side effects be small.
My 1st chemo session lasted about 3.5hrs but an hour of this was admin etc, 2hrs of cold cap with an hr of drug administration in the middle of it. The chemo drugs (I’m on 6x FEC) we’re given one after another into the cannula which the saline drip was going through. I was given anti sickness meds before I started and then some to take home and my SE’s were minimal really -slight nausea for 4 days, managed by drugs and actually it stopped when I stopped taking my meds…?! Lol. Constipation, which dried apricots sorted out (will go for senokot for a gentler approach next time round!), indigestion for a cpl weeks (have Zantac to hand for next time), headaches (anadin extra sorted them out) and the fatigue which lasted about a week. Oh. And the munchies big time lol
I have had some hair loss, but only from my lady garden, funnily enough!!! So far, hair on my head/face and rest of my body is holding on so fingers crossed it stays hanging in there - and I am using the cold cap. Gonna persevere with that I think. With regards to conditioner Hannah, I just took my regular conditioner - wasn’t told to use any specific conditioner - its just to stop the cold cap from sticking to your hair.
Hope you’re all feeling ok, lots of love & hugs xxxx
Lynnflowers, I’m in blantyre and I think Pauline Paisley too. Do you know about the gabbies group on here for Glasgow and Ayrshire. W e try and meet once a month for lunch… Next one is august 4 th or something… I don’t ave my calendar handy so that could be wrong… X
Oh meant to say Elli - I know what you ean about being off sick but feeling fine. I really feel like I’m a bit of a fraud, being off sick when 2 out of 3 weeks I feel fine! I can’t go back to work though - they have effectively signed me off sick for the rest of the year. It was easier for them as they can get a fill-in and the nature of my job means I can’t just call in sick if I’m having a bad day because I’m an auditor so audits are booked weeks in advance, and I didn’t know how ill I was going to be. It’s kind of nice not to have to worry about work, but I can feel my brain turning to mush already - I’ve been off for 3 months now and can’t believe I’m going to be off for another 5-6 months, especially when I don’t feel I’ll! I reckon I’ll be bout 5 stone heavier and a master baker by the time I return to work lol xx
Hi,
I would like to join your thread. I am starting Chemo tomorrow.
I have had a rough time over the last few months but am glad that I am starting tomorrow. The wait is almost unbearable.
I have read the advice pages, and have my bag packed. Just worried about the cold cap. Its been mentioned that some doctors dont allow it as there may be a chance that some mets are left around the scalp line. I was going to go for it tomorrow but now have found something else to worry about.
Liliy
Hi Lily, welcome to our nest, we call ourselves the diamond chicks. Sorry you have found yourself on this journey but you will find an abundance of friendship, support and love on here from ladies who totally understand what you’re gong through and how you feel.
I have gone for the cold cap. Opinion seems varied by oncologists about the cold cap but most seem to support its use - my oncologist suggested it and I don’t think they would if the risk was significant. Chemo treatment itself can lead to different cancers years later apparently but it’s offsetting the risks… I will be asking my onc about the risk of mets when I see her on Friday, but in the meantime, I’m going to use it if it saves my hair… I’m sure mets is something that is as unique to every individual as bc is - some may get them, some won’t. Try not to worry about it but if you’re really concerned, ask your oncologist.
Good luck for tomorrow - it really isn’t that bad, I think the fear of the unknown is worse than the treatment itself
Love and hugs
Emma xxxx
Hi
Thank you for the reassurance. I will post on an update on how I get on.
Lillyx