my journeyxx

Hello welcome to the mac family.

I am really sorry that you have had to join and especially at such a young age.

Anyway now that you have you will get all the support you need. Someone will see this blog and will be able to tell you what you want to know.

I can tell you about the Hickman line. I had one for 6 months and had no trouble with it at all.

It is put in in theatre under sterile conditions. All you feel is a little pushing and pulling pressure.

The Hickman line is used for giving your chemo and taking your blood. It makes things simplar.

All your side affects will be treated simptomatically which will make it easier to bare.

Once your treatment gets started you will feel better as you know that something is being done to fight this disease.

I just want to wish you good luck with your treatment and for a cancer free future!

Good Luck Love Julie XX

Hi, I tried the scalp cooler when I started chemotherapy. To be honest, I hated it and my hair started to come out in clumps after the first treatment, so I gave up with it, which in a way was a relief as I was swithering whether to continue with it.

Some women on here have had some success with the cooler, they have found that it has lessened the hair loss greatly.

Personally, losing my hair was a small price to pay and it grew in fairly quickly, but I know it is a big deal to a lot of women.

I guess it won't do any harm to try it. You can always decide not to continue if you don't like it or it doesn't work with you.

Best wishes for your future treatment. I will be seven years since diagnosis in December and I am doing well with no recurrence, so take heart that there an awful lot of success stories out there.

Christine xx

Hi

I've just completed a course of chemo, 4 cycles of EC and 3 of Docetaxol. I found the EC not too bad but it can tend to damage your veins but if you're having a line put in you'll be ok. Was tired, usually a few days after, no vomiting just nausea. It does tend to effect you more as each cycle passes. Everyone is different so I hope you fair ok.

Never tried the scalp cooling as it added too much time to what was already a long and tiring day of chemo. For me I decided it wasn't worth the effort but I know hair is very important to some ladies. Mine is just now starting to grow back and I have 'five o'clock shadow' eyebrows now!

Wishing you well with your treatment, be gentle with yourself, listen to your body and tell your team every effect you suffer as they usually have something to help, do not suffer in silence the road is hard enough as it is!

Hugs Maxine xxx

Thank you all for your messages!! :-)

Julie, i was devasted to be diagnosed at such a young age, however, it has taught me that this disease has no age limits!!! They told me that there has been a massive increase in women of my age having breast cancer!! Im really not looking forward to the hickman line..... but then ive read what can happen with regards to your veins if you dont have one!!

Christine- I love reading stories such as yours, gives me a little bit more hope that this is just a blip in my life and not something thats going to keep coming bk!!! Loosing my hair really dont bother me as like you i feel its a very small price to pay, if the nurses hadnt of asked me to try it i dont think i would of asked them for it..... but hey the docs know best lol wont hurt to give it a go i guess!!

Maxine- Im so glad you had no vomiting and i hope im one of the lucky ones that doesnt either... im a right drama queen lol

Anyway.... its onwards and upwards, i refuse to let this disease get the better of me and i WILL come out the other side of it a more stronger person and i most definatly will come out of it smiling and ready to party!!!!! :-)

Wish you all well

xxxxx

Hello again. I just wanted to say that you certainly have the right attitude to beating this thing.

People with a positive attitude fare better in the long run, I think it's something to do with the immune system.

You will do fine as long as you mention any side effects of the chemo to the staff at the unit as there is usually always something they can give to counteract them. Constipation was a really big problem for me with the epirubicin, so I would keep any eye on that if I was you and don't let it go on too long as it can be really painful.

I didn't really suffer many side effects. No nausea or sickness so was able to stop the anti-nausea medication pretty quickly. Tiredness was one of the biggest problems and the treatment is cumulative so be prepared to become more tired as time goes on and rest as often as possible. I know that isn't always possible with two wee ones!

Keep in touch and let us know how things are going for you.

Christine xx