Breast Cancer Now Forum

So glad your nausea has gone @Watcherbee - hope you feel ok generally? Xxx With regards to precautions I wasn’t given any specific advice, and with two primary age kids and a husband who teaches its hard to avoid people and covid altogether. I think it’s about common sense and doing what you feel is right and just taking extra care of yourself. I’m self employed and work at home so I’ve been lucky enough to be able to just pause my business and work when I feel up to it. I’ve been to the supermarket and been out for coffee a few times on the good days - need to get out and about a bit for mental health wellbeing as well.  @LouLou81 I’ve had two of the zoladex injections now. With regards to effects I’m not sure tbh. I felt a bit more hormonal before my first chemo but I was on letrozole tablets which I think caused that and made my skin breakout. I’ve not had a period since I’ve had the zoladex but my periods were always very irregular and usually only got one super heavy one every three months so I may not be the best judge of effects.  I’m meant to be relaxing today before my portacath procedure tomorrow - we shall see!  sending you all love xx ... View more

Hey @kereru  Yeah the ondasetron has definitely caused some constipation for me but I’ve got some lactulose to balance that and seems to have sorted itself. I think I’d rather the constipation than being sick though and my nurse said if it was just a day or two then it was ok. I had the lactulose from when I was on morphine which also caused some constipation after my operation anyway.  It’s funny isn’t it how different it is under each healthcare district.  I had some compliments on my new pixie cut yesterday which made me feel better given it was a wig!  hope your nausea has eased off and stays away now @kereru  xx ... View more

Hi @kereru  Yeah I am given ondasetron to take for three days x My meds are as follows: Domperidone for 5 days - taken before meals Aprepitant taken once a day for 2 days dexamethasone taken twice a day with meals for three days  ondansetron taken twice a day for three days  and then I have the filgrastin injections once a day on days 4-10  pretty sure I get given then ondasetron on my chemo day with the other anti sickness ones as well.  I’ve had no nausea this round and only a little nauseous feeling after the first round. I was told if I felt sick I could continue to take the domperidone for up to a week but I haven’t needed to.  Hope everyone is ok - sending love to those with treatments yesterday and today x     ... View more

Sending love for today @eeyore58 - hope it goes ok. Ticking off these rounds - well done. Keep going xxx ... View more

Hey @kereru  hope you’re doing ok? Having done a second round I think a lot of my nausea was nervous reaction and anticipation. I’ve been completely fine nausea wise this time - just took all my meds as prescribed.  had to go to Gp for zoladex implant again today and ended up having a complete panic attack and having to get my poor husband to come and hold my hand. Felt so stupid that I can get through mastectomy and chemo but can’t cope with an injection but nurse was lovely and said it was more than likely just a psychological reaction to everything.  Felt better today though as I buzzed off the last remaining strands of hair I had - I didn’t like those clinging on strands and I felt they made me look more sick than having no hair. Been lovely and cool walking about the house today with no hair.  Sending love - we got this team June!  ... View more

Absolutely agree with this - Both of my sessions have taken a lot longer than expected - I didn’t realise at first that they give you anti sickness drugs before the chemo and they can take up to an hour to work. Add to that a busy waiting room - was there for an hour and a half last week- definitely pack some snacks and/or lunch. Biscuits, crisps and some fruit worked best for me.  Hope you get some relaxation today @LouLou81 xx   Last day of doperidone for me and second day of filgrastin - I was recommended to do the injections before bed which I did last round but I’m doing them after breakfast this time and it’s much better for me - I can monitor the bone pain and dose on ibuprofen if needed, I don’t have the anxiety of waiting all day to do the jab (hugely needle phobic) and it doesn’t affect my sleep as much. I like being able to tick it off my chart too.  Weather is nice here so will send the kids out to play and I can sit and watch them with my tea. Got a new date for my portacath procedure so another exciting addition to the calendar which is full of appointments these days!  my daughters got two fun wigs from Amazon yesterday and they’re really getting in on the funky hairstyles fun and it’s definitely making it easier on us all with that transition! We look like a disney pop band! Blue and purple hair!!  ... View more

Oh no @Mandi1  hope they let you home soon and you’re ok! Not what you need at all on top of the treatment! Hope it doesn’t set you back - rest up as much as you can xxxx ... View more

@LouLou81  Glad you’re doing ok xx   I found after first treatment I felt low on days 4-6 - much more tired and needed rest on the sofa most of the day. Probably coinciding with end of steroids and start of the filgrastin injections.  I’m day 3 of second round now and felt pretty ok last two days - more energy than last round probably because I wasn’t so exhausted by the nervous anticipation that had built up before first lot.  Going to try and take it easy this weekend if my kids let me so I’m ready for the low dip. Just keep reminding myself that it’s a dip and I will feel better again few days after.  Sending everyone love x ... View more

Hey @NEWBY123 @hope you’re doing ok?  regarding advice on hair loss and head covering - I had a call from someone at cancerhaircare.Co.uk Set up by my nurse but you can contact them directly. She was very helpful on advice with how to deal with scalp pain and gave me a free beanie hat and a couple of dolls to explain hair loss to my daughters.  I was referred for a wig from the oncologist and had that appointment this week and collect it next week. I ordered some fun ones myself to show my girls in the meantime as my hair has almost al gone now. If you prefer scarves I’d recommend getting cotton or bamboo - slinky scarves don’t have anything to grip onto when you’ve lost hair. I got a couple from White Stuff. I also got two bamboo caps to sleep in which have helped with a scalp pain.  Happy to chat more if I can help? I’m a seamstress by trade so I also made myself a load of beanies and smaller bandana scarves. Sending love x ... View more

Morning @kereru  Chemo went well once they finally managed to cannulate me - took four tries and three different nurses to find a vein! My veins don’t ever play nicely! But session itself went well and there were some nice chatty patients this time which helped pass the time.  Making myself a medication chart today rather than the post it note system I used first round, that way when I ask my husband to pass me a drug he’ll know which ones I mean -well he’ll have a chance anyway! Sending 💪 to those with chemo today and hope everyone in the group is doing ok x ... View more

I have two bamboo beanies - not satin lined but been great for this warm weather. Worst bit is the between phase as scalp hurts with any pressure so sleeping is tough. I’m helping it out more now with combing and some scalp balm my wig hairdresser gave me. I’ve got some fun cheaper wigs to use and ordered my fancier one with my NHS prescription. Had the chat with my 7yo about hair loss and found a Barbie on Amazon that doesn’t have hair which my daughter thinks is great and beautiful. She briefly lip wobbled about my hair going until I explained it will come back and that she can be my wig and scarf stylist which she loves as it’s her dream to be a hairdresser. Did school pick up in a wig yesterday - first day out with one and I felt much better than I have for the last week when I’ve been hiding under a baseball cap. Chemo round 2 today - just wearing a light headscarf for that so I don’t get too warm.  Hope everyone’s effects haven’t been too bad? My nurse said it sounded like my side effects had been reasonably mild and that hopefully this round would be same. Fingers crossed although you never know how your body will react do you? Sending positive vibes out to you all x ... View more

My hair is now noticeably falling out - my parting has doubled in width in the space of a day. I have a few wigs ready to go and am off to put local hair loss salon today to get another. My 7yo is now my wig and headwear stylist! im at the stage where I’d like it all to fall out now though as it’s making my scalp very tender and it’s even harder to sleep. otherwise doing ok but tomorrow is round 2 so expecting a low week to follow x  ... View more

Hope the first session goes ok @LouLou81 - I have my second tomorrow and I’ll be thinking of you on Thursday x   I have two little children so if you ever want to rant or chat about mum stuff dealing with all this I’m here too - my girls are 7 and 5 and both autistic so it’s been tricky as we have to keep to routines as much as possible for them but in some ways that’s been good at making me get on with some stuff. On the low days they’ve had more tv and sofa cuddles than usual but that’s ok and you do what need to - I figure we have quiet days when I need rest and that helps give me the energy for my better days when I can play more actively with them both xxx ... View more

Glad it went ok @Mandi1 - hope the next week isn’t too hard on you side effects wise.  I was meant to have my portacath fitted yesterday but it got cancelled - I really do have bad luck with procedures like this 🙈 . Rescheduled it for next month so Wednesdays chemo will have to be via cannula again and hopefully they won’t take so long to find a vein again.  Day 18 after first round and I’ve noticed more of my hair coming out. Not large clumps yet but noticeable number of strands each time I touch my head. Been making myself some more headscarves and beanies today, and I’ve an appointment for the local wig salon next week. It’s been a positive week and felt good apart from the blooming hayfever and heat.   Round 2 on Wednesday, and have my second zoladex injection on Thursday - I’m dreading that more as the first one was really painful so fingers crossed the GP surgery nurse is better than the hospitaL one at that.  Sending you all good vibes and hope treatment is going ok for everyone xx  ... View more

Sending you good thoughts for your first treatment xx ... View more

Good luck - hope it goes well. I was recommended to take some paracetamol before cold cap. When I tried it the first five/ten minutes were fine and then the cold hits like an ice cream headache, then by 30 minutes you don’t really notice the cold that much. I did find that it dripped a bit down my back so keep the towel they use when they prepare your hair and use it on your shoulders.  Sending good thoughts for your first treatment x ... View more

I’m relieved the line is out - it was causing me too much pain and it’s nice to be able to have a proper bath and relax. I have an appointment to have a portacath put into my chest next week.  Forgot a good tip for the filgrastin injections - pop some germolene on the area five minutes beforehand as a local numbing agent - my nurse suggested that and it’s really helped even if it’s just a placebo effect 🤣 how’s everyone doing tonight? Xxxx ... View more

Morning everyone   So I had a rocky start - first day of chemo had to be delayed due an issue with my PICC line causing me too much pain and having to be removed. Had first round on 1st June. first few days I felt tired out, days 5 and 6 were the bad days for feeling nauseous and exhausted. But feeling better this week - more energy and managing to eat again.  Ginger nut biscuits helped when I felt really nauseous- I used them for pregnancy sickness too. I’ve bought some kids toothpaste as I couldn’t tolerate mint one while I felt sick.  I decided against cold cap in the end - on the day I was meant to start chemo they had me plugged in and left on for five hours - ice cream headache but not worse than that but I didn’t like the feeling of being plugged in and unable to move properly, I also didn’t like the extra time it was adding to treatment.  tonight is my last of the filgrastin injections - I’ve found ibuprofen worked for the bone pain with those so far. sending you all positive vibes ❤️   ... View more

Hi, I’m new to the forum - I start my chemo next week too - not feeling too nervous about it. How are you doing?  ... View more