paulinef

Radiotherapy

2011-05-30T16:04:47Z

Hi start radiotherapy on 13th June for breast cancer and wondered if anyone has any top tips? also read that for the rest of my life will have to wear factor 60 on the treated area and wondered if everyone has stuck to this advice, any tips would be great, thanks, Pauline

FINISHED CHEMO YEAH !!!

2011-05-11T15:41:30Z

Just got back from hospital after last chemo, I got there! Donated a ships bell to the unit, an end of chemo bell to be rang after last chemo, they were really pleased, got the idea from a ladies blog from America there was a bell which she heard ringing and she eventually asked and found it she would soon be able to ring it, think its a really positive thing and hey if its good enough in USA its good enough here! Love to all you lovely people Pauline xxx

PS, CAN'T PUT INTO WORDS HOW GOOD IT FELT RINGING THAT BELL!

Last chemo next week!

2011-05-05T08:53:03Z

Can't believe how quickly it has gone but finally I can say last chemo next week, can't wait to get it over with. When I was first diagnosed with breast cancer I read a ladies blog from America in the chemo unit where she had her treatment they had a bell that people rang at the end of their last chemo, so I've ordered a ships bell for my chemo unit which I will ring then donate next week.

Its not the easiest of journeys but as most of you brave lovely people know we can get through it, its a few months of our lives and hopefully will be so worth doing!

Take care, love Paulinef

4th chemo done, more than halfway there!

2011-03-30T20:13:31Z

Had 4th chemo done today, not too bad can't believe over halfway through now and can't wait to finish, hasn't been as bad as I thought think the fear of the unknown is worse than actually having the treatment. Obviously the side effects are not great although fingers crossed I have been quite good most of the time. Good luck to anyone else starting or having treatment guess the best we can do is stay positive!

Halfway there!!!

2011-03-10T12:44:42Z

Yeah I had my third chemo yesterday can't believe I am half way there, I know lots of people on her said it would go quickly and thank goodness it does! Fingers crossed I am still feeling fine, side effects even less than the last times, of course they may kick in later so I'm not counting my chickens just yet.

I think staying positive and keeping as healthy as possible helps also my alternative stuff I take, or perhaps its all just down to luck, which as I said I know could change.

Hope everyone elso is doing ok ! xxx

Nearly halfway through chemo!

2011-03-04T14:28:53Z

Hi all, third chemo next wednesday will be halfway through yeah! I mainly feel really good even though lots of people keep telling be it will get so much worse, not very helpful and obviously we are all different, still make the most of feeling good and doing lots incase things do change. I even love my wig, my hair has thinned but no bald patches yet so hopefully the coldcap is doing its job. My wig is so much easier than my own hair I think I will probably moan more when I have to go back to washing and blowdrying my own hair!

Hope you are all doing well, enjoy the sunshine and stay positive, Love Pauline x

Short hair and wearing wig!!!

2011-02-19T15:40:57Z

My hair had been coming out for a week was really getting me down as longish and very dark so there seems to be hair everywhere, even in the dishwasher! Decided this morning to get my lovely hubby to cut it much shorter and start wearing my wig, I dreaded it and we were both really nervous but thank goodness I did I feel so much better and back in control! Has to be a bonus at the moment, can't control much else x

2 chemo's down 4 to go!

2011-02-17T15:49:10Z

Hi had my second fec chemo yesterday not too bad they found a vein more easily and were able to administer the drugs more quickly. Still used the coldcap even though my hair has been coming out lots since Sunday I still thought it worth a try! Not feeling too bad today but fingers crossed don't want to jinx myself. Hope you lovely people are getting on ok, take care x

still waiting for hair to fall out!

2011-02-10T12:25:08Z

2 weeks after first chemo and apart from first 3 days have felt absolutely fine which I appreciate and am so grateful for, make the most of any good days. But I worry all the time about if and when my hair will start falling out, I used the coldcap and sometimes manage to convince myself I will be one of the lucky ones and not loose it then I read others comments about losing it 2 weeks after their first chemo and worry and then my scalp starts to feel different or is that because my hair will be on the floor shortly?

I know in the scheme of things hair is not that important but I think its the not knowing that is driving me mad!!!

Also worrying about my hair means I can put the thought of chemo next Wednesday to be back of mind.

1st chemo

2011-01-28T09:02:10Z

Had my first chemo yesterday, used the cold cap which I found really easy and not uncomfortable almost good to have a distraction!Didn't find the chemo quite so easy my chemo nurse said I have very small veins and my body went into fight of flight mode meaning the blood was pumping round my vital organs but not so much in my arms, meant the chemo was really slow going in just the first one took longer that all the drugs would normally take to adminiister. Not surprised its the drugs going in and not knowing the effect is my biggest fear, I like to be in control and obviously can't be with the chemo. Feeling ok today, fingers crossed. One comment about the cold cap I went in which lovely blowdried hair and came out with frizz, looks even worse today, may wear my wig when I get it even if I still have my hair. Can anyone help I think I may not be using this site correctly have sent private messages to friends and commented on things but none seem to show!Just me being thick I guess xx

Wigs and eyebrows

2011-01-26T08:07:42Z

As alot of my concerns have been about how I will look during chemo I decided to do something about it. Had semi permanent eyebrows done on Monday and tried some wigs yesterday, They were amazing and very natural looking, will decide on mine next Wednesday and will have it cut to suit my face shape. Also had Emotional Freedom Therapy which I found really helpful although I did cry, guess that is part of the process. Start my chemo at 11am tomorrow and now just want to get on with it, sooner I start sooner I finish!!!

starting fec chemo next week

2011-01-19T10:39:32Z

Saw my oncologist yesterday and starting chemo next week which I am terrified about. Have to decide today whether to try the cold cap or not and am really confused. How life changes the only cap I've ever had on my head was when I used to have hilights done, those were the days!