Breast Cancer Now Forum

Hello everyone, just had 3rd round of FEC today (weeks are flying by). Bloods done yesterday WBC and neutrophils came back low, so had to wait while they did another blood test today. Came back as ok - so treatment went ahead. Isn't the body amazing how it can regenerate itself! Oh, and the hospital and staff - they're amazing as well! Half way through now Katie11. ... View more

Treehouse. I had mine shaved to 9mm before chemo. Now I only have stubble I have shaved it to 1.5mm, don't know the grade but I guess it's a grade 1 so practically skin head. I don't wear a wig so not sure how it would feel under wig. I don't really want to shave it any closer to the scalp as I want something to rub at when the rest starts to falls out - to help it along! It's all a matter of perspective and staying positive. It's only temporary, as I'm having 6 FEC I don't expect mine to grow back before Oct, so I'll be getting the winter bobble hats out! ... View more

Mai7, the website is vitrucare.com but I think you have to be set up by the healthcare team to get access to the app. Glad most of us have now had the shave. It makes life easier to not see the hair falling out in clumps. I didn't like the idea of a wig and I only wear a hat if my head feels cold. Only 1 week to go to my 3rd treatment - Time seems to be flying by! ... View more

I definitely have goodie bag envy. I think the hospital have the minimalist approach. I only got the anti sickness steroids on my last visit as I had tablets left over from the previous treatment. Shouldn't complain as I obv don't need too much. Fingers crossed it stays that way. ... View more

Mal, it's a generic tool I think, but it has been customised by the hospital as there are videos on there with the onc and a nurse I recognise. It's only recently been taken up by the hospital I'm at. You have to be prepared to fill it in every day to generate the overall picture for the regime. ... View more

Hi Everyone. I haven't posted in a while but I am reading posts and keeping up with everyone's progress. Glad to see that we are all managing or having minimal side effects. I have been asked by the onc to complete a daily web based app that keeps track of your SEs and if anything is out of the norm it gets flagged to the chemo Help line and you get a phone call within the hour. Is anyone else using this? I think it's a great service and provides reassurance that your not o your own. With all the talk on hair loss and wigs - made me think I'm on FEC the whole time, so I might start growing my hair back in time for Christmas! ... View more

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. ... View more

Hi Rosie65, welcome to the group. My hair started coming out noticeably on day 17-18. End of day 21 - thinning everywhere and some bald patches, so once it starts it's probably going to be all gone in a week. I didn't cold cap though. Tree house - glad you've had some good news. Waiting to hear anything is always an anxious time. ... View more

Tree house & Katie 11 - I've had long hair for years, not really changed it too much, ranged from Bob style to long. It's been liberating getting rid of it! Just think, no more styling or brushing for a while. Good luck for today Katie 11 and MJK and anyone else going in for treatment this week - it's hard to keep track of where we all at.. ... View more

Hi. I shaved mine to grade 3 before chemo then grade 1 when it started falling out. Got a few bald patches now and very thin all over. Hospital today for my 2nd treatment, just waiting to be called in. No hat or wig - guessed I'm in a place where they're used to seeing people without hair, so just going for it. ... View more

Hi Katie. I think we're at the same stage. My hair has been shedding in the last few days as well. It isn't noticeable yet, but like you I'm seeing v short hair everywhere. Woke up with a bit of a sore throat yesterday, temp spiked last night to 37.5°C so phoned helpline, very reassuring that there is someone there you give you advise. Make sure you take your temp ladies, it's important to catch any issues early. Thankfully it's dropped down to my normal temp today, but I have got a cold now. Hope it doesn't use up too many white blood cells - I need them!! ... View more

Hi gillyb. My oncotype score came back as 27, so I made the decision to have chemo. The predict is quite a simple tool and doesn't look at as many factors, though my score on that put me in the chemo recommended bracket with a higher % than the onco score. Wandestrong - I'm having 6x FEC as well. I have been ok on the 1st treatment - 2nd one next week. I went for a review yesterday and the nurse said the only side effects guaranteed on FEC are hair loss and fatigue. The fatigue is cumulative, so will build up over time though I'm still ok on day 16. I can feel it when I have to walk up hills but it's not stopping me from working and going about the usual daily routine. You have your hands full with the children, so make sure you ask for help when the fatigue does kick in. Wishing you all the best. ... View more

Oops. Predictive text keeps putting in 'them' instead if 'then' - or I've got fat fingers! Note to self - read it before hitting the post button. ... View more

Hi. I'm on 6 FEC. It's the E of the FEC that makes your hair fall out. I had my hair shaved to about 9mm before my 1st chemo, it was quite long before. I was told by the nurse that by the time I go for my next treatment (3 week cycle) them most of it will be gone by them. I'm on day 14 now and no signs of it leaving yet. I'm expecting it to fall out in the next week or so. I have got a very spotty head though and some acne on my face over the last few days. The grumbly belly has finally disappeared thankfully. ... View more

Oh no Raitchr, sorry to hear you've had it rough, glad you managed to sort it and get in control again. It's the feeling of powerlessness to do anything that makes it worse. Do the things you want to do when you're feeling good, all in moderation of course. Thankyou sodasteam for dropping by and helping to show everyone how life carries in and in fact gets better. Just what we all need to hear. ... View more

Welcome to the club ladies. I think we're all having slightly different treatments and at varying stages. I'm on 6 cycles of FEC followed by radiotherapy, 1 down - 1 week in, 5 to go. Fingers crossed it goes well for everyone. ... View more

Hi All. Re pre chemo nerves. The worst of it is not knowing how your body is going to react. You get given pages of possible side effects, so it is a scary thing. The injections themselves only took 40 mins for me and a nurse sat with me while she injected them. I had a couple of 'feelings' when they were being injected - bit of numbness on the face was one of them. The biggest thing for me at the time was they hadn't long been taken out the fridge so they made my arm really cold. The experience wasn't that bad, I went on my own and took a book, but didn't get it out my bag, I wasn't even there long enough to be offered sandwiches, just plenty of tea and biscuits. The volunteers and staff on the ward are fantastic. The side effects are very individual, so it's difficult to know what you will and won't get. Take the med and drink plenty of water and try to get out for some light exercise each day if you can. Thinking of you all going through this at the mo. Be strong everyone, it'll be over before we know it. Xx ... View more