Hi Guys
Have just read all your tips and comments and think the’re brilliant, thanks, and will definately go out and get some of the things suggested. I start my chemo tomorrow (4 x EC, 4 x Tax) although now come down with a cold and not sure if they will still do it. Does anyone know if my cold could stop the treatment as I’m anxious to get it started so I can get this thing beaten!
Jules
Just bumping this up,
Kelly
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Found Chlorhexidine Gluconate Mouth Wash in a shop called Home and Bargains for £1.99, a real bargain for those of you who have sore mouths.
Sarah
hi Jules
did they go ahead with your chemo ? Ive had 3 sessions so far and the first two had to get antibiotics to clear up infections… they work pretty quickly… hope all is well with you…
take care
suex
I should be getting ready to go to hospital for heart scan before starting chemo on Monday 10th but it’s been worth making me late to read all the advice on here. I feel a bit like i’m steping off a high diving board into the unkown as i don’t know anyone who has had chemo in recent years. These posts have helped me as lot with ideas. Love the idea of a basket for post chemo days (sorry can’t remember who wrote that) will be finding a little bell to summon help/tea. My kids will love that if they can unplug themselves from ipods, games machines, mobiles! Must send partner to shops with list. Don’t have time to go myself as too busy going out for lunch, visiting my mum etc while i feel I can! A big thank you to everyone who has contributed as a newbie it has been very comforting to read all the ideas and tips.
Love littlemrs xx
thinking of you littlemrs.
I’m starting my first chemo tomorrow too. I 've found the advice here really useful. Have my soft toothbrush, baby hairbrush and digital themomiter all ready. Going shoping later for ginger biscuits, and a nice new pillow for my bed, Can’t be prepared for how I will feel so I guess having the house clean & tidy is as prepared as I can ever be. I hope my teenage daughters and OH remember how to use the washing machine & dish washer, I’m just wondering whether to put “post-it” notes up everywhere!!
Love Ali
xx
Bumping this up for Siani
Just nudging this up for the newbies
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Nudge again
another nudge
nudging again
-x-
Hoped I wouldn’t be looking at this one but hey-ho, if the conslt has his way I’m going to be glad of it. Well done for preparing such an incredible list, this site is a real godsend.
Love, Lyn xx
Fantastic tips. I have had my second FEC chemo and am feeling ok apart from heartburn and a bit of constipation which a sennekot tablet put to rights. I was really dreading side effects but so far so good. I am lucky having loads of support from my big family and friends, plus two lovely new baby grandchildren who bring me so much joy.
I have heard from two different people that Manuka honey (from Health Food Shops) keeps blood cells stable (something about white cells) There is a lot of research on this honey which helps stomach problems and when I had a slight sore throat a couple of teaspoons got rid of it! Its not cheap but good stuff. Also good for wound healing. No I am not an agent just an enthusiastic consumer!
All the best to you ladies, it is reasurring to know we are not alone, as it is very isolating when all ones friends are so well. This is a disease that I have always dreaded but I am coping well and I think this site is wonderful.
Lots of hugs and all good wishes to all of you.
Judy x
Hi Lyn,
How are you doing after your surgery? hope you are pleased with you reconstructions.
like me,you are getting ready to have chemo, and looking at the “Tips”.
Have you actually seen your oncologist yet? I’m waiting for my appointment, because she is away on holiday this week.
i expect to be starting chemo in April. I’ve started a new thread called “getting my head in gear” on chemo discussions.
I’m starting to feel more relaxed about the chemo, although on the first day I may be very nervous.
Have a good weekend.
take care, Ann (hug)) x
Judy
Thanks for reminding me about Manuka. I’ve got 2 jars of the stuff and was taking it prior to my op to get my immune system in tip top condition, seemed to work.
I’m probably going to end up having chemo too so I shall get back on to the stuff ASAP. Even though I don’t see my onc for another month no harm in being fit is there 
Just driving home I had a flash, I need to get myself some buffs. I love those things in the summer when I go hiking. I would trade any wig for half a dozen of those they’re so funky, warm and you can wear them so many ways. Great for those of us who are younger. Buff and a baseball cap for me.
Hi everyone,
I haven’t been on here for a while as my 1st chemo laid me so low I’ve taken 10 days to recover. Was very very sick and ended up in A&E. i’ve been reassured by the IV team at the Marsden ,Sutton, that when I come to clinic for my next treatment they will sort out different anti emetics. I’ll have to put my faith in them but am a bit worried as promised help/advice at home was inadequate. The problem was I needed anti emetic injections and had to wait 3 hours each time for drs to come to house. Eventually I managed to speak to a sympathetic GP who prescribed some spare ampoules which my partner could inject (he’s a nurse) but I do understand that this is a risk for the GP to take as he only has my word that my partner is qualified and if some thing goes wrong Dr takes the blame. I went into the chemo very innocently thinking that I’d be in bed for a couple of days feeling as if I had a bad hang over. Luckily the experience seems to be fading rapidly from my memory otherwise I don’t think I’ll have the courage to turn up for my next appointment. I’ve booked up for hypnotherapy to try and help myself but can’t start this until May. I still feel very weak and only ventured out briefly yesterday for the 1st time. Is this normal?
I’m not used to being so dependent on others. Cliche of you find out who your real friends are has proved true as I have been very lucky with the amount of help, support and meals that have been given. I’ve made myself say “yes please” when my instinct is to say “we’re OK thanks what can I do to help you?”
To return to the theme of the posts the best advice I was given was to have ice lollies in freezer (once i could keep anything in my stomach) and a hot water bottle was a great comfort. I moved the radio from the kitchen into the room I was sleeping in . No i don’t live in a many bedded mansion my eldest child is a way at uni! The radio burbling away in the back ground was a great comfort as I couldn’t read and day light hurt my eyes. Also the thought of ginger now turns my stomach as did try this when I first got home from the Marsden.
Hopefully my sense of hunour will get me through. I knew i was improving when i could laugh about the confused nurse in A&E asking if I had had my masectomy due to large seroma which looks as if i’m growing a new breast like a starfish.
Take care
littlemrs
P.S. I forgot to say that I went to see the headstrong ladies and they showed me some buffs which are GREAT. I’ve bought some via the website and my teen daughter wants them when my hair has grown back. The only problem the lovely ladies couldn’t solve was what to wear in the sea. We have a Cornish holiday booked which I am determind i will get to and as we spend a lot of time on the beach and at the Penzance lido i wanted something that would protect/cover my bald head but would stay on in the waves. Any ideas? Other wise I’ll be the one in the wet suit looking like a pale walrus.
littlemrs
Excellent advice - thank you to all. I am past my third chemo and have been using a lot of advice from this forum.
I have one more (I don’t know if it was mentioned already), that my chemo nurse gave me: to avoid/minimise the plantar palmar effect (sore red palms of hands and soles of feet) after the FEC (it is caused by flurouracyl-5FU) rub in bio-oil, available from Boots, at least twice a day into the soles of your feet and palms of your hands and make sure that after every time you wash your hnds rub some good quality natural hand cream in (or bio-oil) too.
As fo headcover for the beach, look at the american website: www.headcovers.com -huge choice of head covers for ladies with no hair, fast delivery and a lot cheaper than anything I found in the UK. I think they have nice swim hats with flowers or you may find a nice tight fitting cotton turban style hat, that will not come off in the waves.
I am off to buy Manuka honey and Aloe Vera toothpaste tomorrow. Also was suprised to find out that it is easier for me to drink carbonated (fizzy) mineral water than the still water - so thanks for the advise again.
Hi Ann
Thanks for checking in! I’m ok-ish after surgery - 3 weeks tomorrow, recon breast still feels full and hard, and a little sore. My tummy is tight and the muscles either side contract whenever I change position, a bit like mild labour pains. Not painful, but irritating. The worst bit is definitely the underarm - the scar from the SLNB is sore but the lack of mobility in the arm is getting to me. I do the exercises but presumably not well enough, for the last week I haven’t increased the height I can raise that arm to. No sign of cording yet but the armpit pulls so tight and is really uncomfortable, however slowly I try. Grrr.
I’ve been given a sheet of statistics advising me to have chemo, then rads and tamoxifen. I see the oncologist tomorrow to learn more - I’m very uptight and hostile to anything so dramatically reducing quality of life, whatever the numbers suggest. You are lucky to feel relaxed about it, you’re braver than I am. Do you know what you’ll be having? Lyn xxx
Giving this a nudge x