May 2017 chemo starters

[WolfEE]

AnnieA 2nd Chemo is on the day of your birthday? Your special cocktail xxxx
Week 3 is kinda manic so many appointments and dates with friends and squeezing things in that you hasn't wanted 2 do during low immune week.
Xxx

[AnnieA]

Hi Mai7, I did cold cap with my first session im on day 16 now. Still waiting for the massive hair loss i haven't lost any more than usual so far. I expecting to wake up to bald patches any day now xx

[treehouse]

Was doing ok til lunch time. Had a long sleep but the truck has hit and I feel shocking again. Not so much pains but very faint and nauseated. Trisha I am so so sorry you have to go through this with that sort of behaviour. I know my ex would have been the same. ( that's why he's my ex) find loved ones to surround yourself with. You deserve a nice day in the sun and don't let him make you feel otherwise. I won't mention it again unless you need a rant. Hair is driving me mad. Will chop when house is empty and I can cope sitting up.

[WolfEE]

Trisha69 - omg how awful this is the last thing you need im so sorry. Report the car so he gets pulled over then he will be needing a real chauffeur !!!
Stay strong sweetheart x

[Mai7]

Hi AnnieA, hope all goes well for you this week and that you can still enjoy your birthday in some way. I cold capped on my first treatment and started shedding significantly around day 18 or 19 so I didn't bother with it the second time. I think it only works for around 50% of those who try it and of those 50% there is still something like 50-80% hairloss. The stats aren't great but you may want to try it once like I did and see how it goes.  I think it helped me to delay the thoughts of hair loss a little as C and chemo are enough to take in. It is quite painful for 10 mins then your head goes numb. X

[Mai7]

Katie, glad you're having quality time with your youngest.

Hope everyone recently on treatment is getting on ok and managing their post treatment stress disorders well.

Treehouse, how are you getting on with the injections this time? I have an allergy rash on my back this time which is slowly clearing up.

[AnnieA]

Hi ladies hope everyone is doing okay. What a busy week I have coming up next week. Monday genetic testing, Tuesday line fitted then Wednesday (my birthday) chemo round 2. Anyone who's had the cold cap how's your hair holding? Really not looking forward to having this line in, the thought of it makes me cringe 😕 x

[Mai7]

Just take care of yourself Trisha. You don't have the capacity to fight C and unreasonable behaviour at the same time. Do whatever is best for you and your healing. x

[Trisha69]

Thankk you for the hug.  He never apologises, better off without him.  Am going to go for a 15 min walk to a friends in town and stay the niight, eat pizza and watch the soaps!  🙂 x

[Trisha69]

He has taken my car and spare flat keys, he is very irrational and a regular occurence his volatile mood swings. Think the C isnt helping but an eye opener/. wake up call for me. My 2 youngest daughters visiting next weekend and my best firend in Surrey taking me to my 2nd chemo xx

[katie11]

Hope you ladies doing treatment this week are coping. Treehouse have you braved the shave yet?

I'm having a peaceful weekend with my youngest as hubby and eldest have gone to football tournament in Germany x

[katie11]

Oh my god! What a muppet. Hope he has apologised to you. That is unacceptable. Big hugs to you. Vent all you need and we will support you xxx

[Mai7]

Trisha, sorry to hear that you're not getting positive support at home after your lovely day out. Hope this improves. Has he always been like this or is he struggling to cope with the extra demands of your illness? Are you able to discuss his behaviour with him? I'm sending a hug to Devon for you and remember: no one should be sad in Devon as its too beautiful to be sad.  Go breathe in that lovely sea air! Xx

[Trisha69]

Had a smashing morning yesterday, sun creamed to the hilt, floppy hat and movie star sunglasses and very elegant outfit and strolled thru my local town (Axminster Devon), hit the charity shops got some lovely scarves, had a lovely cup ot tea and a ginger biscuit in the grounds of local church, got home and my partner kicked  off.  Sick of being my chauffeur and told me to F off and die.  What a charmer.  Hence feeling a bit **bleep** today. x

[Raitchr]

You can just start a June chemo starter thread if you wish but you are more than welcome to stay on ours as we will be ahead of you so you can pick up tips in advance. I started the May one but I had also followed the March and April ones for info.

Heather

[Raitchr]

Morning all, hope you are all well. I didn't sleep well last night, nothing to do with chemo just too hot, then too cold, then the blind kept hitting the window in the breeze.Hoping for a snooze this afternoon in the garden.

[treehouse]

Thanks Anniej. I got a wedding coming up so need all the tips I can get 😁

[treehouse]

Hi Skells I think wolfee covered everything. Just take someone with you as its a lot to take in. I am now on round 2 day 4. I feel much better than last time. But hair is very patchy now. The in-laws are coming to visit so wearing a cap and scarf for the first time. I think husband and I will get the clippers out tomorrow when everyone has gone m

[WolfEE]

Being later starters on the May thread allows us to see and get tips from our lovely group members slightly ahead of us so feels less scary. Xx

[WolfEE]

Hi skells, welcome you'll be fine with us some of us are still early days with only 1st treatment very recently. I woukd imagine your appointment today will be a blood test so that they can check your upto receiving the treatment tomorrow.
Also you will probably have a chat with a nurse who will go through the process give you tips on how to handle side affects and what you should avoid eating etc they will also give you a little card and probably a prescription that you keep with you during treatment that you woukd take with you if are unwell so the hospital do not have to wait for a doctor to sign off prescription for antibiotics if required.
Today's appointment will be good for you it will ease your mind a little and help you understand a little about tomorrow.
You'll be fine xxxxxx

[Skells]

Hi,

I'm meant to be starting chemo tomorrow but can't find a June thread. I'm having 6 cycles of fec-t. I've got an appointment today but not sure what it's for. My hospital has been a bit rubbish at sending out appointment letters so I had to phone them to find out what's going on. When I spoke to the oncologist we planned chemo starting tomorrow and that was 2 weeks ago now so I'm hoping it's still on as the last 2 weeks have been awful waiting for it to start .

Xxx

[WolfEE]

Hope today goes smooth misyangel, 2 down 😀 Xx

[Anniej]

Hi Treehouse, I went on the Look good feel good course a few weeks ago. There's one every week at Maggies centre and they are really popular. The reserve list is good because some ladies can't make it due to treatment / fatigue etc. There are tips on applying make up, drawing in a reasonable eyebrow and you are given a lovely make up bag with all the stuff you used. If you get the chance, volunteer to be the model, you'll end up looking great! Lots of high end goodies, as well as popular stuff, but all just right for us chemo ladies. Enjoy. X

[treehouse]

Big hug Dede. Be kind to yourself over the next couple of weeks. Accept help. We are all here for you. X

[Wandestrong]

FEC x 1 completed! Arrived at 2.15pm and finished at 6.15pm. Had a tough time trying to find a vein, the nurse really didn't seem sure of where to poke, so ended up with 2 additional needle lines. Fortunately she called a senior nurse the third time round, who found a vein straightaway. Needless to say, I've been referred for a PICC line. Apart from that, the actual drug administration was fine and took less than an hour. Feeling tired now, but think thats more due to lack of sleep with my newborn, hoping to get some rest tonight! 

[treehouse]

Get a good rest Heather. X

[Raitchr]

FEC 2 done, chemo ward running 2.5 hrs late so took 7 hrs door to door, off to bed as cream crackered, night all.

[misyangel]

Thanks Treehouse xx

[treehouse]

Great news misyangel. Good luck tomorrow. X

[misyangel]

Ive got my look good feel good session on the 11th July, I am lucky as they seem to run them weekly.  Can't wait to go on it and the chap who booked me on said I will love it.

I have contacted the hospital to see if my chemo will go ahead tomorrow as raelly didn't want to wait till the day and then they send you away, especially if you get yourself all set up but they have said my bloods were fine.   Can't wait to get round 2 out the way then only 6 more to go

[treehouse]

My Haven only seem to run them every 3 months. Not easy to find on line. I had to go in to pick up a leaflet. Also plan to join yoga or Pilates for breast cancer as my usual class was a bit hard core for me now. Feel like I am getting the hang of this treatment malarkey 😉

[Mai7]

I haven't looked into the look good clinics but might enquire when I go in next week for round 3. Will definitely lookout for any freebies sessions.  I'm just winging it at the moment ladies! 🙀

[Rosie65]

Treehouse - I've booked onto one 20th June. They did say they're very popular. Get the impression it's good for skincare/make up tips during and after chemo to give you a boost. Plus loads of excellent freebies Mac/Clinique so always worth it.

They do another similar make up session at my centre (without the freebies) so might be worth seeing if anything else is offered.

Im getting a free wig styling/ cutting session on Monday which might help me make up my mind about what to do with my hair

[treehouse]

Thanks Katie. Hope you are well 😊 x

[katie11]

I've booked onto one for her 19th June. Think one of us has been on it. Was it Annie?

My friend finished her chemo yesterday and had been on weekly Pacitaxol for 9 weeks. Her hair was already coming back during last few weeks so hope for us all.

[treehouse]

Just tried to book the look good feel better workshop at my local haven for July. They have put me on reserve list as full but booked me for Oct. I hope to have finished treatment by then. How long does hair take to grow back? Has anyone else been to one of these?

[katie11]

Good luck today ladies x

[MJK]

Hi Dede, I hope today goes well. The PICC line is fitted at the hospital to make sure everything is sterile. It goes from the upper arm into the big vein. The community nurses come weekly to flush it with saline and change the dressing. It's covered with tubigrip. I haven't had any issues with it. They gave me one because of the T - docetaxol.

[Rosie65]

All the best today Dede and Heather. Will be thinking of you both x

[treehouse]

Thinking of you today Dede and Heather. Hope it all goes well. X

[Anniej]

Hi Dede, I wasn't offered a portacath, but I have had a Hickman line fitted before my chemo started as my veins are rubbish. Very narrow. From the info leaflets and surgeon I understand that a PICC line goes in the arm and is normally inserted when veins collapse. It lasts 2-3 months I believe, and needs changing out if treatments are longer. It seems to be the cheaper option. (£££!!!) Then there's a Hickman venous line which goes in at the collarbone and out at the chest. It needs a surgical procedure , so not cheap, lasts 6 months and needs cleaning every week . The most expensive and long lasting is a portacath. Looks like a blister on the collarbone. All of them need cleaning as they can become infected. The HL can be a single or double line which dangles. I feel as though I'm trailing an elephants trunk around! Working well for me as the total procedure from walking through ward door to finish is only an hour. Given everything done to us  I'm pretty pleased with that. I think there's a leaflet on this site explaining it, or look it up under Venous Lines. Hope this helps. X

[WolfEE]

Good luck today Wandastrong & Raitchr xx

[Wandestrong]

Thank you! I just want to get started so I can see the chemo finish line. I've got a holiday booked in December with the family, so that's something to look ahead to. How do you manage with a picc line? What was the insertion process like? Do you have to go back each week to have it changed/flushed or does the district nurse come to your house? Were you giving the option of a portacath? My oncologist thinks I might need it at some point, but I'm hoping my veins hold the duration.

Please call me Dede! 🙂

[treehouse]

First jab done. 6 to go. DON'T LIKE IT!! 😢

[Raitchr]

Good luck Wanderstrong. I am on my 2nd FEC tomorrow lunch time. Actually looking forward to it as then I will be 1/3 through the poisoning! I am determined to deal with side effects better this time. Housework done, school uniforms and pe bags done, shopping ordered online, and enough constipation meds ready to blast a hole to the centre of the earth!

Heather

[katie11]

All the best for tomorrow wanderstrong. You certainly have your hands full with your little ones. You will get through it fine.

Chuck lottatong ha could catch on!

I never got chance to name my tumour , think I've missed out. Gonna refer to it as doc evil I think!

Think sunshine has brightened all our moods hope it stays xx

[Trisha69]

All the best Wandestrong.  Is a lot quicker with the PICC line.  You'll be fine 🙂 x

[busybeeS]

Hi Wandestrong. I think we all are at different hospitals so they have different routines. I have cannula put it as part of the treatment with saline drip on the day. Nurse sits with me to administer the FEC drugs and I have 2 liquid anti sickness drugs that get put in through the cannula line after the chemo drugs. Including all prep, I'm done within the hour and ready to go home. I get given anti sickness tablets to take home for the 1st 3 days after, and some more just in case. That's pretty much it. No time to read as the time goes so quick. Hope it all goes well for tomorrow.

[MJK]

Hi wandestrong, I hope all goes well for tomorrow and it doesn't take too long. If you have a PICC line fitted the drugs bit takes just over an hour. I had a lovely day out with my mum and son at the Savill Garden. Lots of cute ducklings but no thrush. X

[Rosie65]

Thanks treehouse. Saw doc yesterday and he didn't think it was infection. Temp is 37 so ok, think I will just have to monitor it and hope it clears up