Breast Cancer Now Forum

Hi Sam The first wig looks fab....couldn't cope with the 2nd it's too high maintenance for me. Thanks for the link and will give it some thought. May try one on in a shop and have a fitting just to see what advice I can get first though. Never bought a wig before and don't want to make a boob (pardon the pun) Debating whether to go to a headstrong session. You get loads of advice on caring for your hair before and during treatment and a free head scarf. It's just another dam appointment. Grrrrr Take care Janey x ... View more

Hi Niki thanks for your previous words of wisdom and advice. Hope your final dunking of Fec goes as smoothly as it can. I will make sure that the water goes down in abundance and love ginger and lemongrass so will definitely try the cordial it sounds lovely. I am intending using the cold cap but heard some negatives so still deciding....yesterday I was all for it. That's me at the moment up and down I am sure you have been there. It does seem a lot of hassle if your hair is so thin a wig or scarf is still needed. The thought of having to stay longer at the hospital for treatment also isn't good.....like to get done and off. Ha ha. I am have Fec and on reading up most ladies loose their hair. I can so relate to scarves making you feel like a victim. When I see a scarf I always think cancer but that could just be my obsessive behaviour at the mo. I think I would much prefer a wig or hat. Hope all goes well for you today and take care. Oh and pop in anytime we newbies love the advice. Thanks again Janey ... View more

Hi Sam I haven't been told to get a flu jab either but always have one at this time of year. I also was informed by a lady on here that we need the pneumococcal vaccine. Will check with practice nurse tomorrow and let you know. There is only me and my hubby and no one had mentioned he may need one, so uncertain. I will have to check tomorrow. Janey x ... View more

Hi I am due to start chemo in mid November and are a member of the November newbies. I am to have Fec x 6 over 18 weeks. Could any of you lovely ladies tell me if the cold cap helps. I have really thick hair and I am hoping this and the cold cap will minimise the loss. Does having thick hair help at all? I really would like my hair to hang on for the Christmas day dinner at my in laws. I am scared the kids will pull a wig off they can be quite giddy. Thanks Janey x ... View more

Thanks Flower75' Teffy and Biddlybee. I am going to try and persevere with the cold cap to try and keep my hair. But will ask the September ladies too. Your words of support give me hope. Hopefully my thick hair will hang on until Dec 26th. Thanks and Take care Janey x ... View more

Hi Sam Had letter from hospital today reminding me to Book dental check up. Managed to get in Friday. Practice nurse tomorrow for flu and pneumococcal vaccine. It's all go. But just keep reminding myself one step nearer to the end of all this. Take care. Janey x ... View more

Hi Sam, It's comforting to know we are allies when it comes to beating the chemo thing at the same time..Are you having Fec x 6 like me or you on another regime? The similar wig to our hairstyles sounds great! Hope you get to see Depeche Mode....Life shouldn't stop, As my Bc nurse tells me...you had cancer....you haven't now it's just a precaution to keep it away. Love Janey x ... View more

Hi Sam would love any help or recommendations. I was told that we get £60 towards the cost of a wig but not sure when that arrives. I have an appointment on the 19 November for bloods doing with a plan to start chemo on the 20th, Will be on holiday until then so will have to get the wig later....drat and dam. My hair is short at the back but have the sides just under Jaw length...I know it sounds crazy but don't want to cut them off until I really have to.... I would love the links you mention so a I can take a peek... It's the Christmas meal at the in laws that worries me. Can I pull it off as they don't even know about my diagnosis. Your right it's so unfair all of this. Hopefully the waiting will be worse than the actual treatment.....but I am not convinced. Janey x ... View more

Hi can I introduce myself. I am a November newbie and are due to start with 6 cycles of Fec mid November. I would Ike to keep as much hair as possible so have decided to cold cap. I have been told that the hospital where I will receive treatment has just invested in a new cold cap where cold air is used to cool the scalp....Not sure .....anyone heard of this. I have very thick hair and was wondering if this may help...or does chemo just take whatever, Sorry to be such a pain but the thought of turning up at my mum in laws at Christmas bald terrifies me....and I am frightened the grand kids will pull my wig off. They can be a little giddy. Thanks Janey x ... View more

Hi Mac sorry I cannot be of any help because I have not started my chemo yet. I was so uplifted when I read that you have managed to keep most of your hair. I am about to have 6 x FEC mid November and intend to cold cap throughout my treatment with the hope of retaining my hair. Any tips would be very welcome. Thanks Janey x ... View more

Hi Lulu Sorry to hear of you rash. It sounds a right pain in the bum. Hopefully you will get some reassurance from your oncologist tomorrow. Fingers crossed and thinking of you Janey x ... View more

Hi Sal welcome to our group but sorry you have found yourself here. I am 54 and was diagnosed at my second routine mammogram mid July with 2 x grade 1 tumours to the left breast. Because of this lumpectomy was not offered and I had a mx. I also have had an ANC due to 3/11 lymph nodes having micromets. The grading of my cancer has been checked again due to the lymph involvement and told that the grading remains the same but the K67 test showed 20% proliferation. Because of this I will be starting Chemo x 6 sessions mid November. I may also need rads because one of the tumours was near the skin surface and they could not get a clear margin. I too, am very apprehensive about starting chemo and how I will handle the side effects. However the support and inspiration I get from other ladies on this site is invaluable. I hope to stay with the November newbies all the way to ease the Journey I am sure you will find the same support. Everyone is so nice and helpful. Already I have had one significant tip from a member regarding holiday Insurance that has saved me a fortune. Yes treatment is a significant chunk of your life but together I am sure it will go faster. Good luck and stay in touch. Janey x ... View more

Hi Bernadette You too are a super trooper like lulu. Chemo x 3 cannot have been an easy journey. I hope us newbies can take a leaf out of your book and buckle down and get through. Inspiration is what we need and wow how inspired am I when I read what you have been through. I am not looking forward to the Fecking Feck (so nicely termed by Lulu) but will not let this Bc win....Together we will get to the end of this Journey and spit in the eye of BC. Take care Janey x ... View more

Hi Sam....That's brilliant news...One hurdle over with. Drac the drain is on his last legs am sure....good luck for his removal this afternoon. If he has to stay just think of your good news and no Seroma yay! I am going to Maritius in two weeks and for the first time in three months feel like the real me. I suppose coming back to Chemo will be hard but to put all this bc rubbish in the bin for two weeks will be heaven. At least we can all support each other on here and somehow that makes it more bearable. Take care Janey x ... View more

Hi Sam Hope your recovering well from your two surgeries. I found the ANC a nightmare....got a seroma size of a house(or so it felt) under my arm and had to have it drained 3 times. The bee stings at the top of my arm not pleasant too. Hope you are not suffering too much. It all subsides eventually and some normality returns. Good luck with your chemo in November....let me now how you get on and we can compare notes. Love Janey x ... View more

Hi Lulu, ...booked our holiday to Mauritius before diagnosis to celebrate our wedding aniversary. Haven't been sure whether we would be able to go but onco said yes!....enjoy. Just managed to get Insured. What a nightmare. Companies wanting up to £500 and I haven't even started treatment. But got a great tip from one of the ladies on here and got covered for £60 with Insurancewith.com. I haven't been looking forward to it up to now because of the uncertainty but up for it now. Wow what a roller coaster bc journey you have had. The regime you are on looks pretty intensive and all those rads too!. How are you doing with the SE's especially with the new drug. Hopefully that isn't giving you too much trouble. Let me now how your getting on. I am dreading starting the fecking Fec ....love that ha ha. It's great we can still laugh. But will give it all I have got. OH taking me for a wig when I get my prescription....think he's scared I will get one that looks like Boris Johnson's hair. My two tumours were grade one but the little blighters decided to share some micromets with 3 lymph nodes hence the chemo. Never was one to to things by halves. At least we will be here to cheer each other up and have a good shout or moan Love Janey x ... View more

Hi Pmg and Revcat. How knowledgable you both are. From what I understand the margin between the tumor and my skin only 0.5mm which was too small to get a clear margin. I will be having radiotherapy after chemo. 25 rads over 5 weeks instead of 4 to preserve my reconstruction. Thanks for your support Janey ... View more

Hi Lulu and all you brave ladies. I was diagnosed mid July and have had surgery twice for ANC and breast reconstruction with implant and reduction to other breast. Only just got my treatment plan as I was told I was in the grey area lol. Upshot is I lost my patience and demanded decisions. As a result will be starting 6 x Fec mid November followed by rads then hormone therapy. My oncologist has given me the go ahead to have a much needed holiday before I start so looking forward to that but anxious about what I will be coming home to. I am so glad that this thread is around to support us all undergoing treatment in November (thanks Lulu) it will be a godsend for us all. Love Janey ... View more

Hi had a reconstruction with nipple made from skin left from the procedure. It looks amazing.....need the tattoo but very pleased. I would speak to your surgeon again. Janey ... View more