Anyone want to be my chemo buddy? Start may 9th

[Flower2016]

Well, here I am on chemo eve (not to be confused with Christmas eve). Big girl pants are on and no tears today. Steroids taken with no issue, dark nails on, spent all day out and about with wig on and no strange looks so think no one guessed my secret. Keen to get on with it now. Actually the only comparison with Christmas eve is that the greatest gift I will ever get will be if chemo does its job. I think a positive attitude will help for this. I used to hate flying, hated every bump, sit there all tense.....made it worse.....when I realised that and relaxed a bit it was better. Going to apply that tomorrow. Good luck to any other Monday starters xx

[Guest user]

Hi lou

Was it as bad as you imagined?  I start Thursday and  am so nervous, trying  cap too.

silly question....can you go to the loo during treatment. .? X

[LMB212]

Well done for getting through Chemo Jen. Good luck with your surgery. I have had my surgery and had 1st Chemo 27th April. I havery found the side effects mangeable and have managed to work from home.
Lou x

[JenJen]

Hello All

Im Jen from the Nov 15 starters I just wanted to pop in and offer support, love,advice I finished chemo on March 29th and am almost back to normal (though I haf neoadjuvant chemo so surgery next week)

Painted nails are for the T part of chemo primarily as the tax based chemo is UV sensitive . i didnt paint mine dark just used nail hardner and kept mine

Some hospitals dont give out pre chemo steroids ans administer IV before chemo so dont worry if you dont have them.

I had 3 EC and 12 weekly paclitaxel if anyone wants to ask an old hand any questions feel free to do so. I had hardly any SEs but the ones I did get were the least common!

Love to all xx it does get easier and you can do it

Jen x

[LMB212]

So pleased for you Bootyboo I know you have been through the mill with the wound not healing. Xx

[Bottyboo]

Hi lovely ladies. I never thought I'd get onto one if these threads as my chances of being able to have chemo have been thwarted by my wound healing issues. However I am now booked for consent and prechemo talk on the 18th and start on 20th May. I still won't believe I've got there until the first lot is going in. The oncologist said they would know after the first cycle if my wound will be affected so still not a certainty. I'm one of those who desperately wants to throw everything I can at this invader and so the last few weeks have been horrendous. I have been able to start my anastrozole in the meantime and will discontinue this when I start chemo. I'm having the typical FEC-T and zollindronic acid too.
Hope everyone is enjoying the lovely weather!
Sarah xx

[GeriF]

Good luck everyone for tomorrow. Hope you're all OK.

I've been put back until Tuesday as I now need a hickman line inserted as my veins are too small.

Gutted at this minor hiccup but at least it's only one day difference.

Geraldine

[On a diversion]

Thank you Flower! X

[Flower2016]

I am on TAC regime. Steroids for one of the components of that. Dark nail varnish to stop UV causing nail problems. Read on here and oncology nurse told me yesterday. Again may not be for every regime. X

[On a diversion]

Hi Flower, I had mine cut too, not a pixie cut as would have been too shocking all at once so well done for going for it.  Steroids and painted nails? I haven't been given steroids ...

[Flower2016]

Well, the hair is now in a pixie cut. Not really my thing but seems it is only for 2 weeks anyway. However the wig is brilliant and easy to apply and very secure. Turned my head upside down before I left and stayed put.  Tomorrow start the steroids and paint the nails ready for Monday. X

[Wosteart]

Thanks everyone i was back to my usual self today we have to keep smiling don't we 😄😄 hope everyone has a great weekend and enjoy the sunshine

Tracy xx

[GeriF]

Hope you're feeling better today Tracey. Sending big hugs to you xx

[Flower2016]

Sleep well Tracey. I have been listening to all sorts of relaxation sounds via you tube on my i pad every night while lying in bed pre sleep. It is a lovely calmer....maybe have a try.....beach sounds, rain etc. x

[Wosteart]

Hi Flower thank you for the kind words it does reassure me knowing that i am not alone in my fears x
Thank you Tina x
Gonna have an early night and i will be back to being positive tomorrow 😘
Tracy xxx

[Guest user]

Awww Geraldine, , its overwhelming isnt it. The nurse j had was lovely, they totally reassure you that every symptom they can try to counteract for you. Even had a poo chart! im up there tomorrow morning for ecg and bloods. It did feel weird in the waiting room as i was the youngest one. X

[Flower2016]

Hi Wosteart,

I am in nodule land too if you see my first thread post. It completely devastated me.......however I was told that CT scans are so sensitive they pick up all matter of little tiny things that most of the time mean nothing. On this forum I have seen a number of ladies with benign nodules in lungs and liver that they have worried about and later found out of no concern. I hope you can find some comfort in that as I do xx

[GeriF]

Tina, got my chemo chat tomorrow. Not prepared for Mon at all 😞 It went ok today. I just feel totally battered & exhausted by the whole thing xx

[Guest user]

Big hugs wosteart xx

[Wosteart]

Uughh had a bad day today got told that i have to nodules on my liver so need further tests before my chemo can start so it won't be monday like I thought i have the scans at the weekend so hopefully it won't delay it too long...just praying the nodules are due to my love of wine and it hasn't spread...finding it very hard to stay positive today 😢😢

[Guest user]

Geraldine  how did you get on today? 

My pre chemo chat was ok, lots to take in. Couldn't be bothered to wait another 2 hours for  bloods  and ecg so will go in morning after school run. Bit awkward that my chemo day next Thursday isnt starting until 12 so need to try and arrange childcare as i wont be out in time....so much to think about!  And im stupidly stresssing about what the fluff im gonna look like after i finish with the cap (if i cope ) cos i didn't realise they plaster your head in conditioner...attractive! Xx

[On a diversion]

Hi Flower,

Haha, I love that image of the domestos ad!

Hope you like your hair in a pixie cut.  I am going to struggle with my hair being cut but now have a great wig to wear, quite natural looking. Have just bought a buff and a scarf for when the wig is too much but it's nice to have a wig for those occasions when I want to have hair. 

I agree about making the most of it. I have just been to a garden centre to buy some bedding plants for planting up and am now sitting in the garden soaking up the rays (for the vitamin D of course!) and listening to the sounds of birds singing and children as they walk home from school.  

Isabelle X 

[Flower2016]

Thanks Isobelle x. I have pre chemo talk tomorrow. Doing some baseline temeratures already to get what is normal for me pre starting. Pixie cut saturday with new stylish bob application immediately. I feel now that getting on will be better than fearing it. It does feel quite isolating though to see everyone getting ready for summer. I feel a bit excluded but I guess at least can sit in garden and go for walks which will be nice. We all just have to make the best if it. I will visualise them domestos type adverts where the cartoon bacteria get knocked out! Xx

[Guest user]

O blimey.....theyve got me in on a cancellation. .,next Thursday! Totally scared now. .....pre chemo chat this afternoon. .yikes! X

[On a diversion]

Hi Flower,

I totally get how you feel. I have lumps in both my breasts so I keep wondering did I miss finding this earlier, which makes me feel awful so I've started trying to stop myself from going down that alley and instead turning it around and training my mind to wonder what if I hadn't noticed the change for another year. What if instead of this being the worst time of my life it is the beginning of the best time of my life etc.  

Isabelle (aka OAD, which reads a bit like ODD!!!  ;-)) 

[On a diversion]

Thank you Charys, you are very kind xxx

[Flower2016]

Thanks x. The fibroadenoma was described as a "red herring" by surgeon. It never did anything untoward except obscure me being able to recognise a new area above it quickly enough as I was used to a decent size

lump being there for decades. Always had been told benign and "no further action needed," and no increased cancer risk so left it. Didn't want a scar...now have no breast x

[Charys]

The thing is Flower, we can get tied up with these stats...and ultimately they are no real 'proof' of anything. You have every reason to try and keep your mind as positive as you can, because treatment is very good nowadays, people on this forum are testament to that. More importantly actually, the people NOT on this forum who used to visit this forum are testament to that. They have had their treatment and moved on with living. IT is NOT your fault that this wasn't picked up until a few biopsies down the line, but now it has been and they have a plan for getting you better. 

X

[Flower2016]

Hi Charys

Had to work out re OAD but got there! It depends on how my mind is at a particular time and the fear factor. I am trying to focus on next step but wonder about at the end when I am still left with certain stats. I just wish I was one of the no node ladies and self blame daily that if only I had recognised it sooner (had a fibroadenoma for decades...checked and biopsied multiple times over years....this time 4th time as thought fibroadenoma growing...) it may not have got to nodes and my stats would be better. I really upset myself with this x

[Guest user]

Geraldine 

Yes i agree. ...must be v popular. Im dreading the 5 hour process though xx

[Guest user]

Yes trendco is where I  may go too.

Im sure theres things i should be doing/arranging /buying but no idea!

Xx

[GeriF]

Oh wow Kim ..  you must be so relieved that it's all over xx

[Jobey68]

Glad to have been of some help, I'm full of useless information me ! 😜 It does actually explain why your joints and muscles ache while taking Tamoxifen though so I guess it makes some sense! Xx

[GeriF]

Tina, I think the cold capping is very popular at our hospital as they also had to find an available slot for me too. I've got my chemo chat on Friday afternoon and I'll get my wig voucher then. I'm going into Birmingham to Trendco as I've been told they are really good. My hairdresser has said she'd help me choose and also cut it to match my current bob. I've got so much to do before Mon and totally stressing.

Flower - I love the idea of it all been taken care of at one place. 

Geraldine xx

[Charys]

Ha funnily today Jobey, I mentioned about the 'ovary removal thing' and the onc. Started saying....well.......I'm afraid that in your muscles and.......
BEfore she could finish I said 'fatty tissue' lol I only knew that because of you, but boy did I look well informed. Anyway, the whole ovary removal thing - they don't like it she said because it isn't reversible.

[Jobey68]

Yes Tina, apparently so! I had to come home and google it as didn't believe her lol, I'm not a fatty but have my fair share though not a lot of muscle to speak of anymore! I'd like to have a Hysterectomy but no one thinks it's  going to make any difference, I will keep pushing though! Xx

[Charys]

Flower, are you chemo buddies with OAD ? I hope so, as she is just totally FANTASTIC and super and you will both look after each other well. Flower, are you feeling a little better after all those scary facts from a few days ago ? Actually, looking at this thread you are all 'chemo buddying' in a group. Stay strong ladies. 

Charys x

[Kim555pink]

Feeling great!! Side effects of the T part of FEC-T will kick in in a couple of days and probably last another 7, then it's all up from there! 15 zaps of radiotherapy and 10 years of hormone tablets, but should be easy I lates to chemotherapy. Getting back to work (I work in a school) and holidays in the sun planned! I have to say that during my good weeks I have been to surprise birthday parties, seen Mama Mia at the theatre in Bristol involving a weekend away and the highlight was seeing Muse live in Manchester - another weekend away!! My daughter is running the Bristol 10K in a couple of weeks, so I have a hotel booked for that too 🙂
In between times I sleep!!
Xxx

[Kim555pink]

I'm skinny too Tina, although I've put on a stone since treatment but no one can notice!! Have gone through the menopause too - so where this oestrogen the cancer was loving was coming from, who knows!!
Xxx

[Guest user]

Oh wow!,,
So happy for you. .....SO wish it was me!
Are you ok? Emotional? Booking a treat? Whats next if anything? Big hugs xxx

[Kim555pink]

Tina, it was today - all done 😃🎉 Proof that you guys will get there too!! Xxx

[Guest user]

Jobey we produce oestrogen i fat n muscle? Wow, had no idea....ive no fat to speak of as i m a skinny girl and no muscle lol x

[Flower2016]

The NHS do not produce wigs. They have local contracts with specialist wig makers. They give you a prescription voucher which would cover lower end of market or short wig, but you top up with own money to get what you want. NHS gives about £105 towards. 

[Guest user]

Kim good luck for tomorrow hun. And thanks for your encouragement x

[Guest user]

Yes well done, im cold capping too but want a wig as back up. My friend a hairdessers kindly  offered to  help me but she said her friend  had a private one and  an nhs one and  she preferred the nhs one. Where do we go to lookat those? 

Are you going to the  georgina ward hun? It got all real n scary today when i called to see if they could get me in any earlier than 20th but they couldn't because of needing the extra time slot for the cap. She said ill be there 5 hours total! Im pooping myself xx

[Flower2016]

From Browns wigs. They fit you privately, and will cut your own hair privately. It really was ok experience x

[GeriF]

Well done Flower & Wosteart for taking the plunge. I've done nothing with my hair yet as i'm cold capping but i know i'll need a wig on the next couple of weeks. Where did you get yours from Flower?
Geraldine x

[Wosteart]

I've just got bad from having my long ginger hair all chopped off and i have to say at first i felt like crying but now i think i prefer it 😄 my husband is glad as he always used to moan at it wrapped around the plug hole

[On a diversion]

Thank you Flower, that's so encouraging. I'm going to look tomorrow!! X