May chemo starters 2018

[tanya]

Hi Tracy yes Im at velindre too they are amazing there.  I work in Llanishen but unfortunately not allowed at the moment due to risk of infection. Hope you are doing ok ❤️

[Linda Corinne]

Had an ultrasound today and she said it looks like its fragmenting so good news but they will discuss at the MDT meeting. Also went to the docs who can't see anything but has given me cream to use as it may take 8 weeks for the pain to go and I also have some constipation powder to use when I have my third chemo. So a good day and went to work before docs and again after ultrasound. The doc said it could be a small tear due to constipation. I also have a rash under my breasts and underneath them which is slight but doc said nothing to worry about. I think its a heat rash.

[melsy68]

Thanks everyone for your support x
Got home at 5pm having got there at 11.30am, been a long day! Had a bit of a wobble 😨My bloods from Friday were too low so they weren't sure if I could have chemo. Tried putting cannula in vein and it just wouldn't go in. Made my arm very sore... I just got tearful at the thought of not having the treatment. ANYWAY, eventually got a vein, took more bloods and my white cell count had improved from Friday and chemo finally went ahead without any further problems!! Now laying on the sofa like lady muck! xx 😀
It's really encouraging to hear how well those on cycle 2 are doing.. I'm hoping to follow in your steps!

[Tracey Mac]

@Tanya, I live just over the mountain from you in North Cardiff, my work is based in Caerphilly. Do you go to Velindre for chemo?
Glad you are doing well. My FEC number 2 is this Thursday 7th

[tanya]

Hi ladies I'm day 4 of second cycle and also feeling fine at the moment. I too shaved my head bald after days 17 and 18 of first cycle as mine literally fell out within 2 days. I'm also enjoying the new image and experimenting with big earings and make up. Booked in to LGFB in July. Hope your all doing well and making the most of the weather Im in Caerphilly Wales and it's lovely today stay 💪💪💪

[Tracey Mac]

Thanks Sarah for your words, I will use the cold cap again this Thursday for round 2 and see what happens.

@JemPD I am not losing handfuls but it is coming out when I run my fingers through it. Not noticeable to anyone it me, maybe jist worrying too much.

[Leanne17]

Hi everyone your all doing so well keep going!!

I had my 2nd cycle fec Thursday. And touch wood yet again I’ve been fine. The only real symptoms I have are indejestion and a bit of constipation but nothing major!!
Been out in the garden all weekend and have slightly burnt my scalp 🙄 silly me!! Still embracing the bald look and people have been amazing with supportive comment how good I look. Been to maggies today to get my wig trimmed so it’s there if I want it but too warm at the moment.
I was so nervous about loosing my hair but once you shave it and rock the bald look it gives you a boost. I think it’s because your taking control of the situation instead of the other way round.
Hope everyone feeling a little under wether picks up soon!!

Leanne xx

[Hets67]

Melsy68 good luck today! I’m day 5 of 2nd cycle - had a ‘normal’ day yesterday and didn’t get any rest during the day - today I feel as if I’ve been run over by a bus! No fever so I think it’s just exhaustion - just a little word of warning from my body to pace myself I think! Xx

[JemPD]

Good morning all, another ☀️Day here on the south coast. It helps keep my mood positive - walk by the sea later- my go to place.
TeaceyMac - sorry you’re finding hair shedding distressing. I’m also cold capping and feeling anxious re hair shedding. Can I ask how much loss in shredding - sorry but I’ve lost a number of strands this morning, not handfuls but more than normal and feel a bit wobbly. For you amazing ladies who are just embracing it - wow - I’ve been amazingly strong through all of this but feel this may be too much.
Melissa- good luck today, it’s weird to think after next round we will go back to having SE. You are right that we have all done so well , hoping this continues for us all. I just think after each round I can ✅ it off and another step closer.
Tropic_al thanks for thinking of me. Re mouth ulcers - i had read on forum and elsewhere Manuka 15 honey really good, has antiseptic qualities. I have 1 teaspoon each morning. Who knows if it helps but just felt it was better to try than more meds. Hope mouth improves v soon.
Quick update re my pesky DVT- arm back to normal size & colour and pain gone😊. Not liking injections but manageable.
Just starting week 3- all of your posts about having more energy - see what you mean now!! Trying to pace myself but feel like a Duracell bunny!!
Jem xx

[Tropic_al]

Hi Melissa

Thanks for your post as it makes me realise I have to get out more and function normally as have also felt mainly well so far..on day 11 so feel very lucky. I have just really kept myself away but can't do that for the next few months or I'll drive myself mad! Have been avoiding gardening due to infections but will get the gloves on and weed today! Also trying to walk each day and definitely one today as cooler. You've inspired me to get out 😊 Have difflam but not great with mouthwashes and spit out too early...will keep trying. Going to do some work today. 

Doing the cold cap but waiting for hair to start to shed everywhere, especially where the cap doesn't reach on the head. You sound like you're rocking your new look Melissa..I hope it continues this way too for you.

xx

[melsy68]

Morning all 😁

Its round 2 of FEC for me today. Hoping this round will be as kind on me as the last. My main symptom was Very sore mouth which didn't come until week 3. It started Bank Holiday Monday until Friday. I also used Difflam which seems really good and would recommend every gets in readiness! On the same Monday my hair really started to fall out in handfuls so on Thursday I had a number 3 all over. Although grey as a badger now I really like it and it's so much nicer not having loads of hair coming out in my hands. I'm sleeping on a silk pillowcase which is lovely. I had really thick hair so although I've lost about 50% and more on my parting, I've still got a really good covering and so have been out and about with my crew cut. Apart from the mouth ulcers I feel as though the last 3 weeks I have been able to function pretty much as normal. Couple of days at work in week 3, lovely weekend away in London, power walk every day, socialising with friends and lots of gardening. I know this won't continue but I'm truly grateful for being eased in gently! 

It seems as though generally we've all been very lucky with symptoms so far, let's hope this continues!

Take care everyone,  Melissa x

[mustardandgrey]

@tropic...I was surprised by the mouth ulcers in the second week last month.
Really sore on my tongue.
My dentist gave me Difflam mouthwash on prescription which really seemed to work, although it took a week to clear completely.
Now I'm using it as and when as a precaution, but so far this cycle no ulcers, although it's early days!
Sarah x

[mustardandgrey]

@traceymac...I think it's normal to lose a bit of hair around this time, even if cold capping.
To reassure you a bit, I'm not cold capping and lost 40% of my hair by day 20.
However, it then slowed down a lot and now, 7 days passed cycle 2, I'm losing very little at all.
I thought it would all be out by now but it seems to have stopped at a particularly unflattering 30% with additional small bald patch where my parting used to be at the front, so I'm getting it shaved today.
So...although you're losing a bit now it's very likely that it will slow down a lot soon, particularly with the cold cap.
And when I lost 30% it really wasn't visible to anyone except me, as it was more of an overall thinning rather than bald patches.
Sarah xx

[Tropic_al]

Hi all,

just catching up on the thread. I think you're all amazing. Thanks for the positive vibes Shi.

Have felt OK over the weekend although sad not to be doing my usual things in the garden out in the sun and heat. Secretly glad it's going to be cooler tomorrow. Still hiding away a bit which is unlike me, but hoping to emerge more by the end of next week as the immune system hopefully picks up. Next month will make more of an effort on the good days.

The sore mouth has been my main problem and think I took my first fluconazole too late. Note to self for next time. Might speak to the nurses if it doesn't get better to ask for more.

I too feel like I am rattling. The first week is definitely the most complicated so also have a table of what and when to help with chemo brain down the line 😊. I am in fec. The injection bit is fine really.

Thanks for for the advice on the make up. I'm in East Anglia so will call Boots perhaps in Cambridge to see if I can go sometime. I'm useless at the best of times so need all the help I can get!

@jempd hope you are doing ok now ❤️

We we can do this!

Nite all. Going for a bit of normality and will work for a while tomorrow.

Take care

Tropic 😊

[Tracey Mac]

Day 17 post first FEC and despite cold capping my hair has started to come out, it isnt much but certainly distressing me as it hasn't happened before but I guess this is the usual time frame for it to start after reading your posts.

Hope you are all having a good weekend and managing to enjoy the sunshine 🌞

[Shi]

Hets, I did weekly charts and wrote when to take my meds on there and also wrote my temp on there too, so each cycle I had something to check back on too, it helped a lot, you do get chemo brain, I ended up putting door keys in the fridge a few times during chemo 🙄🙄it happens. And the steroids made us on the Oct thread go online shopping crazy, just to warn you all of that happens, it’s perfectly normal 😁😁💕💕✨✨Shi xx

[Shi]

That’s great Tanya 👍👍👍best to always rung your unit and check, they want to keep you safe ❤️❤️❤️💕💕✨✨Shi xx

[tanya]

Thanks Shi I ring earlier all sorted now mine to be taken when first signs appear. Mine are for precaution x mouthwash and loads of other goodies xx

[Hets67]

@jemPD sounds like a nightmare you poor thing! But sounds like you are managing to see it for what it is and keep hold of positive times. Well done! I’m 3 days into 2nd cycle - hate being reminded of how ‘ew’ I feel but also good that the adjustments to my meds have stopped the worst of the symptoms. But am I the only one who feels like she’s taking a pharmacy of pills over the first week? Think I’m going to go and get one of pill sorters with sections for different times of the day as well as 7 days a week - will at least remove one part of the memory loss challenges!!! 😱😱

[Shi]

Hi Tanya, your team should have advised you on taking those meds, you need to ring them and find out. Think we’ve all been different in the fluconzole and have been given different amounts of tablets to take, I used to have chemo on a Thursday, then by the morning bday I was on the fluconzole for 7 days which used to coincide with my nadir days 7-14. It’ll be ok and the fluconzole works well. I used to go in armed with a goody bag list, fluconzole 2x difflams, antisickness meds a cuddly toy, wok and a partridge in a pear tree, if you don’t ask you don’t get sometime so get your list ready my darling. That’s great 2nd one ✅ you May ladies are stomping through 👠👠👠keep 💪💪💪💪💪💕💕✨✨✨Shi xx

[tanya]

Hi Shi. Had second chemo yesterday and was prescribed fluconazole for seven days for mouth thrush I had on first chemo. My problem is Im not sure when to start the tabs. Do I wait for the symptoms to start or start taking today. I just can't seem to remember anything anymore lol XXX thanks

[JemPD]

Think I need to look into the nutribullet- sounding good.
So the next saga of my picc line - after Tuesdays terrible experience at a and e, Wed at oncology dept so so much better-bloods showed kidney function good. But was a little shocked by my other blood results - they are all over the place- white blood count and neutrophils really low as in week 2 of cycle- doc seemed happy with them. Gave me blood thinning injection. Thursday back for Doppler scan - this showed 3 blood clots along picc line 😖. So now I have DVT in my arm- not great but at least can be treated- daily injections into my stomach for rest of chemo period. Swelling and redness should now clear. Hospital hours this week =9☹️ On a week when 1/2 hour for line flush expected. But now taking a deep breath and getting on with it.
Apart from this have been feeling guilty that I’m good, so much more energy.
Your posts encourage me on my ‘off’ days that the next day will be better.
Take care all and it’s the weekend 😊

[Hets67]

Love my nutribullet - took me a while to get used to it but I’ve bought frozen fruits/veg/smoothie mixes (all supermarkets do them) and then you can make anything in minutes. My favourite go to recipe for comfort is sweet potato and kale vegan curry with rice - there are lots of recipes on the internet but we all love it and it’s so easy to make. V healthy too. Also love a sweet potato and kale salad - both from ‘feed me vegan’ recipe book. Not avid vegan but it’s forcing me to eat more healthily

[Shi]

Tropic 😘😘😘darling, keep 💪💪💪💪you can do this 👍days 7-14 are when you are nadir and neutraphils are low but will pick up days 14-21 are you having the 5 days of booster injectionscon fec or 7 days if you are in t? Also if you go to your local boots or Debenhams it’s usually the ladies on the beauty counters who do the lgfb makeovers so ask one of them to show you what to do for makeup and explain you can’t get in a lgfb till sept, I don’t know where you are in the country but derby Debenhams is doing lgfb on Thursday 7 June 4pm - 8pm I’m not sure if other Debenhams are having one too though. All of you look after each other, hang on to each other and get each other through safely, oh yeh and get some tinsel wigs and coloured wigs and you can rock some of that body glitter on bald heads too, it’ll look great during the summer 👍👍👍keep 😁😁😁😁you’ve all got your 🥊🥊🥊🥊on and will 🤸‍♂️🤸‍♂️🤸‍♂️🤸‍♂️It’s ass 💕💕💕✨✨✨Shi xx

[Tropic_al]

Hiya

Not your fault at all...all mine! I need to have a positive day tomorrow 😊. I have a nutribullet and make smoothies every day. Mainly to hide the Manuka honey in as don't really like it 😊. Ginger is the best thing to have in...just freeze chunks in foil then you can use it whenever you need it. I'm struggling to think what to eat every day so any ideas from anyone welcome..especially lunches...love curries and spicy food but that just has to be every so often perhaps with the T part when food has less taste apparently. Enjoy your new nutribullet..you're doing brilliantly! X

[Joandbasilthedog]

Thanks tropic sorry if my negative rant sent you down. trip into town and coffee shop with husband and two teens did perk me up . Had a banana smoothie ! Even ventured to sainsburys and argos and purchased a nutrabullet to power me up for all this healthy food I need . Fresh ginger too .... ! Obviously had to get back for toilets 😐 ( smoothie) but feel like I have peeped out over the prison fence at least !xx

[Tropic_al]

Hi

ive had a similar negative down day, so you are not alone @Joandbasil. I've become scared of going anywhere which I won't let happen to me throughout this whole process or it is going to be impossible and I've also been turning people down but must change that. Difficult to focus sometimes I know too. I don't know where today has gone but it has been dull and I've achieved nothing! Hope you feel better tomorrow. Xx

[Joandbasilthedog]

Hi so an update from a day 9 from 1st treatment . I think I posted before all was fine before the grimness of the bank hol week set in ! Just horrible nausea and fatigue but the diarrhoea !!and that has continued. I am happy that today venturing into town with teen son , a bit wobbly, but having made sure toilets sorted first ! Sorry 😐......anyway to sum up week one I guess my huge strides of positive thinking just thought i would get through this But knowing this is going to be repeated 6 times over a glorious summer and cancelled holiday is all a bit depressing for me and first time I have hit a blue period since big reveal . Plus normally being mum taxi wife cook classroom assistant I dont sit waiting for the day to be over but thats what I found myself doing . I have got all sorts of podcasts / books / films / netflixs to amuse entertain buy its like the brain says no . Think it will be worse when my colleagues go bk to school next week and i’ll miss the gossip though hoping to meet up with some . How is everybody with visitors? I have had offers of people to pop by but I put off saying I am tired because I cant be bothered. I would never turn down tea and biscuits !! Anyway sorry for long rant ... off next monday for some kidney func test at a hospital on south coast . Three tests over 4 hours ? Has anyone else had these? Oh and itchy hair and rib pain ? ( havent had op yet) ... good luck to all as we continue 🤗xx

[Tropic_al]

Hi all,

so sorry some of you have not had a great few days..and great to see others are coping really well and moving forward. It's a rough ride isn't it?

After my traumatic Friday I felt much better over the weekend, thank goodness. Yesterday was great and I even worked for a while from home to feel 'normal'. Still, only a couple of hours later and I felt tired. Have no energy for my hour or so drive to work. Luckily work are amazing about how/if/when I work. Good to focus on something else for a while. Managed my usual short walk etc.

Today is day 7 and woke up feeling less than special..headache, straight on the ginger, tired. Time for a down day. I start the antibiotics tomorrow so hoping any more symptoms hold off and trying not to take any more anti-sickness If possible.

Early days on cycle one so just noting down how I feel each day. No hair shedding yet of course but tried the cold cap and will again if the hair doesn't all fall out. Have a silk pillow..very nice. My hair is dry and thick so don't need to wash it often but it looks grim and could get matted easily so will have to try soon!

I think all of you are amazing and are handling it all so well..I'm trying to do the same. It just seems like such a long road at the moment and it really has been a long 7 days. Hoping to do some fun things towards the end of the cycle and more next time once I know how I respond.

Waiting for a port appointment but hoping it is the week after next because of the low immune system...so stressful to have to sit in waiting rooms with germs when feeling so low.

i don't know how you all managed to get on the Look good feel better classes so quickly...I'm struggling to book for September by which time I'll have had bad makeup for months! 😱

Stay well ladies. hope you have a good day,

Amazing support on here

@Tropic X

[Leanne17]

@tanya. Yes my head was very sore when I started to lose my hair. Mine all came out last Friday 2 weeks after 1st chemo. It felt like when you’ve had a bobble in too tight at top of head and makes head painful. It started Wednesday and I had very thick dark hair. By Friday morning was hardly anything left so shaved it grade 0 and have been wearing my new wig or going bald or wearing head scarf depending on how I feel. The soreness went as soon as I shaved it. I though I was prepared but it is quite upsetting but totally fine with it now!! Xx

[tanya]

My second chemo is on Friday and for the last two days my hair is falling out fast, I have probably lost half of it now, I never cold capped. My scalp is really sore like sunburn has any one else experienced this. I thought I was prepared for my hair loss but it's quite traumatic to be honest but I have plenty of hats and scarves at the ready plus a blond Raquel Welch wig ( my own hair is dark brown ) so time to experiment with my new look x hope everyone is doing ok

[Linda Corinne]

@Jempd had to cut the tangled mass out and cut hair short. Pleased with my new look though.
Having probs going to the toilet and not sleeping so had a nap this afternoon. Am taking Senna and eating lots of fruit including prunes but am in pain although got some cream to put on.

[Hets67]

Oh thought I would add I went to bobby brown for a make up lesson just before I started chemo. Arranged by my daughter and 3 friends - for the first time in my 51 years I was actually shown how to do makeup which has come into its own since I lost my hair. It’s not free like the pampering event which I am also going to go to but I’m really glad I did it £30 which then goes towards £30 of product but their stuff isn’t cheap - in the end I think it cost £100 but lots of product for that which I think will last months

[Hets67]

Looks like on the whole everyone doing really well!!! I’m at end of week 3 - it wasn’t the euphoric week I was hoping for - v tired - but my week 2 was better than I hoped so can’t hsve it all. Cycle 2 tomorrow. @leanne my wig is still sitting on the side - I prefer to go out bald or with a silk or wool cap if it’s hot/cold. @jemPD I really don’t think it was an infection. I’ve been taking the antibiotics but my reconstruction still swollen /red and sore in my shoulder and ribs. Will be good to see surgeon on Friday and allay all the fears I’ve managed to construct in my head!!! I wish the sun would come out again - this chilly weather isn’t fun with a bald head - can you imagine doing this in January! 😱😱😱

[Leanne17]

Thanks Sarah!! I’m going for the look good day on the 19th xx

[mustardandgrey]

@leanne17 good luck tomorrow.
I had my second at Singleton on Monday and found the wooziness a bit more intense for the first day than it was with the first chemo, but that's settled now and it's just exhaustion.
I'm alsk booked on to the Look good feel Good course on 5th June so will probably see you there!
Sarah x

[Leanne17]

Had bloods yesterday ready for my 2nd chemo cycle tomorrow. My friend booked the day off work to take me then took me out for lunch. Had a lovely day but gosh the wig is annoying and warm in this wether. Popped into maggies. If anyone has 1 local I recommend going. So many people with help and advise. Booked in to get my wig trimmed next week and booked onto the loom good feel better day where you get help and tips with makeup etc and get a freee goody bag of makeup worth over £200.
Then had a lovely evening with my fiancé driving around the gower and going for food again. Can’t belive how well I’ve been I’m just hoping I’m the same after cycle 2 tomorrow.
Well done everyone cold capping and keeping your hair. Strong ladies!!!
Xx

[Leanne17]

@jemPD. You poor thing. Hope u have a better experience at the hospital today and you feel better soon. Xxx

[Tracey Mac]

@JemPD, sounds like a horrible experience and I totally understand, it's not about wanting special treatment just wanting to protect ourselves whilst immunity is low.

I had such a good day being in work yesterday then out of the blue developed UTI symptoms at 6pm which worsened over the course of 2 hours, I contacted my cancer centre helpline who said i had to go to out of hours for antibiotics. I sat in that waiting room for 30 mins with others coughing etc and felt quite vulnerable. I am now on antibiotics and already feeling better this morning.

We just don't know what we are going to be faced with until it happens but we are all here for each other.

I could capped on my first FEC and I am day 14 today with no shedding yet.

[JemPD]

Hi all
Linda - how’s your hair?
Hets67- has the infection cleared?
Those of us that are cold capping - how are you doing ? I’ve limited to washing twice a week, instead of every other day, it just looks awful. Silk pillow - my children now all want one as they really like it!
Day 7 which means 1 week ticked off 😊. I’ve done ok until today- bit of nausea but sorted with meds, I’m looking like a teenager with spots😖. More energy than before my masectomy 6 weeks ago. However today picc line was really painful. Was sent to a and e for a Doppler ultra sound- still not had but what an awful experience. As week 2 mentioned I was low immunity- was told you won’t get any special treatment- didn’’t want, just not put in place of others with infections. The same nurse wanted to take my blood pressure- explained couldn’t take on right as risk of lymphodema after surgery and the left was really really painful. So she took on my legover my jeans and wrote down ‘283/180’!!! Really! I then had to sit outside on a bench for 2 hours- there was so much coughing and people committing didn’t want to risk staying inside . Eventually went in and the nurses were lovely but concerned I was so cold- wrapped me into n blankets and gave me lots of tea. Need to go back tomorrow for this Doppler thing. Just felt like crying. Don’t thunk I want to go back ever again. Anyone got tips on what to do during low immunity if need to go to a and e?
When I look through the threads - makes me realise we are doing amazingly. Take care xx

[Tracey Mac]

Well done Sarah even though you had to endure treatment on both bank holidays in May!

I Went back to work today and although it was lovely to feel I was contributing again and able to forget about chemo, I feel exhausted. Still thinking I can just pick up where I left off. Early night for me.

Hope all doing well xx

[mustardandgrey]

@Ttraceymac glad the headaches are gone.

I've just had my second chemo yesterday - two bank holidays in a row, but a third of the way through!!!

The wooziness was more intense after with the second one, but this time I had Emend so no vomitting.

I'm not cold capping,  and have lost probably 50% of my hair in the last week.

However, it's falling out really evenly, no bald patches, so I'm not going for the shave, as it still looks okay under a scarf.

Hoping side effects are minimal for everyone!

Sarah x

[Tracey Mac]

Morning all,

Day 13 post 1st FEC, I have had a lovely weekend doing 'normal' things and feeling so much better. I am going into work for the rest of this week to enjoy zero hospital appointments before chemo number 2 next week.

I am sorry @tropic you didn't have a good 1st treatment, your day sounds like a nightmare but you got through it and hopefully you have had minimal side effects over the weekend.

Thanks @Linda, I have ordered a silk pillow case.i persevered with the cold cap and no loss yet but it is early days for me.

Hope us ladies have a better week, keep in touch, we are all here for each other xx

[Leanne17]

No the grant wasn’t means tested. Didn’t have to give any income details. Ask at your chemo unit if they have a benefit advisor. I didn’t fill the form in so not sure exactly but know it was McMillan grant. X

[Tropic_al]

Hi all,

So first chemo was on Friday. Not a great day as got delayed with a new computer system installed on a Friday of a bank holiday, staff shortages and then the cold cap machine was busy! Finally got onto that and actually not as bad as expected except I ended up on it for 5 hours..that's another story. Ended up a late night with two nurses and the oncologist staying with just me in the unit! With the cold cap you just need to drift off for the first 10-15 minutes to a good place..all of my travels for me! Then it seems to level out and you're numb. Will certainly give it another go and see if my hair drops out or not. My trauma was that my veins kept on collapsing so the cannula was awful. Finally got one in but I now have to choose a pic line of port. Will be better in the long run I suppose anyway with many hospital sessions to come.

came home with frozen hair and a low temp so worried till early hours in the morning that I would be heading back to A&E but eventually warmed up and got some sleep.

Days 2 and 3 have been ok surprisingly..tempting fate for the next few days. Have been drinking hot water with ginger, ginger biscuits, ginger sweets etc..luckily I love ginger! We've made smoothies, and eaten pretty well considering. A teaspoon or two of Manuka honey is being tolerated for the sake of my immune system. Been for a couple of walks so doing ok. Had Emend from the start luckily so no sickness, just a bit tired particularly in the afternoon for a couple of hours. Sleeping ok but wake early. The steroid effect might be there so expecting days going forward not to be so good. I felt I deserved a couple of good says after the chemo experience. 

I hope everyone is doing well this weekend and feeling ok or finding things that help you.

The support and help is great on this thread. I hope to be able to help everyone else too.

thanks 

Tropic_al xx

[Hets67]

@leanne17 is this the McMillan grant you got - says it’s means tested? https://www.macmillan.org.uk/information-and-support/organising/benefits-and-financial-support/benef...

[Hets67]

@Leanne17 well done in the pub!! I picked up my wig today - it’s sitting pretty on a stand because atm I’m preferring just to be bald. Soooo cold though I am still going to bed with a hot water bottle!!

I’m on antibiotics now, have inflammation and redness in my reconstruction and pain in my shoulder/arm. They don’t seem too worried but I’m seeing surgeon next week - it’s a never ending rollercoaster isn’t it!

[Linda Corinne]

Thanks for the tips. Am using olive oil to get it out slowly. Spent the morning at the hairdressers and hoping to sort the rest soon. Thinking about cutting my hair short as its to my chin. I have been using a silk pillow and a Silke and an aero comb but it's still got matted badly. Hoping it will look ok when its all out but time will tell. Hairdressers were really good and having charged me although I offered.

[Meesh73]

Hi Linda, I'm not on Facebook so don't know anything about a coldcappers group on there. You can pm me on here by clicking on my name though. I had long curly hair prior to starting and also had trouble getting a comb through it so I can understand your pain 😕 Mine did get a bit matted after fec 2 even though it was short and I used to both look forward to and dread my weekly hair wash. I used to leave the conditioner in after treatment for a full week and it was horrible by the end of the week. However, if your hair is long I think I would wash it out when you get home and comb it very gently with a wide toothed comb. You could also ask your chemo unit what to put on it to get rid of the matting. I developed really bad cradle cap by my last chemo and they were really good with providing advice.