November 2021 Chemo Starters

[LMitchell]

morning Rita. Welcome. 
Have you been given the trial option? 

[ritap]

Hi everyone 

I hope you don’t mind if I follow 😊
My decision on Chemo is coming up very soon. And it helps to hear about other people’s experiences.. 

Rita x

[mon1972]

Hi! 

it’s so good to be able to talk to someone going through the same thing at the same time.

🙂

[Kelli_41]

Sleep was broken last night waking sweating, bit of sicky feeling and flushed face today but ok overall so far, yes I start 5 day injections from Tuesday also xx 

[LMitchell]

Kelli, hello hun. I’m still feeling ok. I have the injections in a few days, so waiting for those aches and pains, otherwise So far so good here. 
and you??

[Kelli_41]

I had my first chemo session Friday 29th oct to..so hoping to gate crash to x how do you feel?  I'm having EC for 3 cycles 3 wk intervals then 12 weekly sessions of Palixetol.

[mon1972]

Thank you for your response. 

I think I will give the cold cap a go. (My kids and grad child are more worried about the hair loss than I am.) I’m still not convinced a wig is for me either but am open to trying anything and everything to get through this treatment.  It certainly can’t do any harm and I feel at this stage it’s going to be trail and error for everything. 

x

[mon1972]

Hi Lou, 

thanks for getting back to me. I’ve got 4 cycles of EC to be given every other week then 4 cycles of paclitaxel on the same regime. I then get a month off and then 1-4 weeks of daily radiotherapy (tbc once they see how I get on with chemo) 

This is a whole new world I’m trying to navigate without reading too much on line and sending my anxiety into overdrive!!! I’ll check October’s board out now 

Mon x

[bookish]

I'm doing DC and carboplatin, and started filstagram injections last night for the added aches and pains. Bit of the opposite to you: I just want to sleep! Been quite nauseous at points, even with the anti-sick tablets, and wishing I'd started something like dulcolax from the beginning - sure that's not been helping. Headache for the first couple of days seems to have eased a bit more today, thankfully.

It's all quite the learning curve, isn't it?! o.O

[LMitchell]

Yesterday felt very drunk and hungry 😋 today headache but other than that can’t seem to sit still, feel very wired. I am on EC. 
how’s you

[bookish]

I had my first on Oct 27th, so not too far off yours! How are you holding up?

[LMitchell]

I had my first chemo on Fri 29 Oct, it was supposed to be 1 Oct. I have been following the Oct thread but everyone is on their second cycle so can I dip in here too?

[Mai7]

Hi Mon1972, I tried the cap for my first session but still lost some hair and found it painful but tolerable (freezing).  You might be able to take painkillers before to help but check in advance with the oncologist that they are ok to take with your cocktail of drugs.  I suppose it depends how strongly you feel about keeping hold of your hair.  I didn’t like losing my hair at first but then you just get used to the idea and the risk of it not growing back is very low.   I’d say try it and see how it goes.  If you don’t like it, you can always get a wig!  Hope all goes well for you. X

[louby_lou69]

@mon1972 

Im sure you can use the cold cap throughout all your chemos. I haven't used it but I know many people have. 

I've just completed my second cycle of chemo and although it's hard, it's doable and the meds they give you will help.

What regime are you having? Mine is 3 cycles of EC given every 21 days and the 9 cycles of paclitaxel given weekly with Herceptin every third week. Please read the October board as lots of us are now into our second cycles.

Lou x

[mon1972]

Hi,

I had my surgery 4 weeks ago and I start chemo next week and the fear of the fear is crippling me. I’ve been told I can try a cold cap for the first 4 session but the second 4 sessions are a different type of chemo so the cold cap won’t work so I’m feeling like is there any point to it? I’ve read so much about the cold caps and just wanted to ask what other people’s experiences of them were.

thank you x

[Bernard_BCN]

Thank you @Mai7 for starting this thread. We just put up an Instagram Story linking to this thread for anyone starting chemotherapy in November. 💗

[Mai7]

Hi 

This thread is for anyone due to start chemotherapy this month.  I’m sure others will be here soon but please introduce yourself and you can all help one another through this phase of your treatment.  If you have any questions please post away on here and others in the community will watch over you whilst you are getting started.  Once you are into it you'll be pretty good at helping each other.  You can also ask the nurses on this forum if you have any concerns.  In the meantime, the top tip is always to stay well hydrated throughout chemo, aiming for 2 litres of water per day and get a thermometer and check your temperature every day.

Here is the BCN guide on chemo:

https://breastcancernow.org/information-support/facing-breast-cancer/going-through-treatment-breast-...

Here are some apps which can help to keep you on track: 

https://breastcancernow.org/information-support/support-you/becca

https://www.nhs.uk/apps-library/owise-breast-cancer/

https://www.careology.health/

I finished my chemo in October 2017 and doing very well again now.  Here is my story which has some chemo tips on how I coped which were collectively shared from others who had gone through the same from this forum:

http://lifeafterlola.com/

If you decide to set up a private group its good to stay on here also during treatment as I know from experience there are some people who watch but don't immediately pluck up the courage to join in.  Your conversations can be a real comfort to others.

If you’re new to the forum, here’s the “Getting Started” advice:

 https://forum.breastcancernow.org/t5/How-to-get-started/bd-p/welcomegetstarted