bumping this up for those that need it x
hi ive been getting really bad cramps and loose bowels can anyone help lol in a bad way
thanks amanda
Amanda, sorry, it’s awful isn’t it? I found it was the antibiotics rather than the chemo that did it to me, so it might be worth checking with your team. I was prescribed something similar to imodium to help. Also, herceptin upsets your stomach, don’t know if you are on that? But I have found that, that one does just lessen over time as your body gets used to it. I just try and avoid too much fibre around day5/7.
Hope you feel better soon x
thank u for replying i took imodium in the end i was so ill couldnt go on and touch wood its settled its the chemo i had it last time about day 3 for few days but this time it took a while to come this time lol ill be speaking to doctor tuesday to ask if this can be avoided !
thank you again for post
Fantastic thread for someone waiting to start chemo and not having a clue what to expect. Did many ofy ou loose your eyebrows/lashes - terrified of this happening I will look so bad - if so where is the best place to get makeup to try and make me feel as good as possible?
Hi Booby doo,
I’ve had 3 FEC and my first Tax yesterday. My eyebrows have thinned slightly but only noticed one eyelash in the sink yesterday, so not doing too bad so far! I’m using an eyelash conditioner with liposomes from Talika. You can get it from Amazon for about £20 and I use it on my eyebrows too. I met a lady who didn’t lose her eyelashes until her last chemo and they have come back really quickly. If I do lose my eyelashes, when they start to grow back I intend to buy Rapidlash which is supposed to help them grow thicker and stronger but I think it’s quite pricey!
Try and get yourself booked on ‘Look Good Feel Better’ workshop. They will show you how to apply make up and I learnt a lot about how to draw on eyebrows. ‘Browzings’ by Benefit is really good for eyebrows too!
Lisa
Hi boobydoo-I lost eyelashes and brows with tax-my lashes came back thinner but ok-my eyebrows seem to be gone forever but you can get a kit[Browzings] which does a good coverup job.The rest of my hair is fine although underarm hair never came back[no problem there!].
Good Luck
Valx
Posted for new user Alison
Jo, Facilitator
Oh cripes girls! Have just had four FEC and am facing 12 TAX… eyelashes already thinning, but think they may be on the way out now. considering having an eyeline tatoo’d on cos it may make false lashes look more realistic? Have already started with the special lash treatment - pricey but worth it… QVC sell it. Ali
Hi, just reading this thread as tho on chemo for past 2 months, i have hd 3 fec and about to start 3 tax, first one tomorrow, have the frozen peas ready, plus gonna do my nails purple later, but the eyebrows and lashes, im with u all, i would hate to lose them, nails survived very well on fec, eyebrows still there, have thinned a bit but no one has noticed just me cos i know my brows lol - just been on amazon to find the Talika product mentioned, i found Talika eyebrow gel, £21.50 is that the one?
Any more tips/inspiration on avoiding the tax truck, have my pain relief at the ready, my onc said to continue with the paracetamol/co codamol i had after the lumpectomy and they made me float the pain relief was fab!! Shar xx
Hi there,
Well after my diagnosis 4 weeks ago, Im still waiting to start my chemo. Having a ‘clip’ insterted tomoz - tues - so they can trace the tumor once the chemo starts.
My consultant wants to start chemo first, them surgery later on. Everyone I read about seems to have surgery first… it scares the hell out of me, as Ive never had an op before. When I had my son I only had a paracetomol for pain relief, and I am such a whimp.
Can I ask, why you have to paint your nails dark colours, Ive not come across this yet??? Ive just soaked my false nails off… first time in years, and my little fingers are like pigs trotters… they are awful, I feel bare already.
Take care, hope all goes well for you
would love to hear from you soon
Tracey x
Hi Tracey, I’ve not actually heard of a “clip” to trace tumour but good thing (one of them, there are lots) about this site is that there is always someone who will come along who would have heard of or experienced what you are or will go through so keep posting on here - i know some onc’s prefer to give chemo first to shrink the tumour, depends on how they wish to do it so make sure they explain it all to you properly, its your body and i have to say onc is fab and i didnt feel pressurised into anything at all, plus i like you had never had an operation in my life and i was petrified too but it was totally ok the staff there were fab and didnt mind how many questions i asked and the explain all to u put u at your ease and make it as easy as possible for you.
Re dark nails, this is cos im going to start taxotere and this particular chemo can have an effect on your nails being exposed to the light, it can make the nails thick and /or sore etc hence darker colour the better, not everyone has this side effect some do some are lucky and dont but i am just being prepared.
Feel free to pm me and please look at the other posts they are a great form of support - Shar xxxxxxxxx
have just finished surgery and not looking forward to chemo heard first week is the worst any tips please and resps thanks. dandygirl
Hi dandygirl try not to worry too much about the treatment. I have had. 2 ops in May and June and started chemo on Epi this Wednesday and so far have had no side effects. I’ve made a point of filling my days and not thinking about “feelng” any different…and it’s worked! I know that it won’t always work but a positive attitude may get you through! Keep your chin up and embrace the challenge…after the surgery this is more than manageable. Jan xx
Hi Dandygirl - you will find that everyone responds so differently to different chemos that it’s hard to generalise - I’d read up on the possible side-effects (good info on this site and McMillan site) so you are not scared when they happen - and the advice I had and followed from hospital was to phone if if side-effects seemed really bad eg nausea not stopped after a few hours and they can usually help - so don’t suffer by yourself.
Hoping you “sail through”
Hi Dandygirl,
I was terrified and thought I would be bedbound! But it’s nowhere NEAR as bad as I thought it was going to be. They really do give you some fantastic drugs to combat the side effects. I’m 3 down now and have felt a bit queasy and much tireder than normal, but I make sure I have plenty of rest - and the nausea isn’t enough to stop me from eating normally!!
I’ve met a few women on the chemo ward who have worked the whole way through chemo.
People do react in different ways though. So maybe take it easy for the first few days after number 1, spoil yourself a bit and settle in with some DVDs or something, see how you feel and then if you do feel nauseaus enough that it would have stopped you from doing stuff, speak to the hospital so they up the anti-sickness for the next time.
GOOD LUCK! You’ll be fine!! xx
Just had my first chemo Monday, suffered 3 days of sickness, but next time will up the anti-sickness. Now all I want to do is eat starchy food like chips cant get enough of em and cheese sandwiches Anyone else had any food fads?
Banana or carrot cake with cream cheese frosting, thai curries, dairy milk chocolate, cheese sandwiches, pizza, pasta, brownies, cinamon rolls…YUMMY! Trying not to indulge TOO much as have already put on loads of weight. But it’s the crap food that makes me feel better when on the steroids!!
Sausage rolls … Peanuts … Kettle chips … Mars bar icecreams … Chocolate coated flap jack … Chips with mayo … Never used to eat any of this stuff !!
Hi everyone
I am starting my first chemo FEC-T on the 1st of August and wondered if anyone out there was on the same chemo or starting at the same time and would like to message for support.
Kind regards
Just Like a Duck
xx
I am also starting FEC-T on 3rd August,