Starting chemotherapy

Hi Autumn,

 I myself didn’t have chemo but I wanted to send you lots of hugs and love and strength. Good luck with it!

Love Netty xx

Hi  Autumn49

Pre chemo nerves are so very normal - Mostly the first session is far worse in your head than in reality.

Do keep a look out for the January Chemo Club starting within the main breast group around Tuesday PM. This link is for the December Discussion to get a taster of how members help support and advise each other and for the 'Tips' section in the very first message.

Please note most members only post a message when they have a problem so you can get a slightly skewed opinion of chemo, compared to those who have few issues and sort of sail through it all.

Are you having a PICC iv line or Port fitted prior to chemo of just the more common hand Cannula ?

Hope this helps a bit, G n' J

Hi Thanks for swift response - it's the waiting that makes the nerves worse! 

As I'm just having 4 sessions over 12 or so weeks I'm hoping to just have a fresh cannula each time.. 

I know I'm going to lose my hair, don't want cold cap as personally just want to be in unit as short a time as possible and my hair is thinning at the front anyway due to menopause and stress. 

I guess you are right about the skewed impression of chemo - no one wants to make any one feel bad if they had few side effects. My oncologist said similar you may lose your hair, feel tired and sick and stroll slowly through it but if that's not the case, tell us as we can help you.

I will look out for the group as may become even more of a night owl

  I got out my mindfulness CD earlier so I will get back on track with daily quiet time starting this afternoon as that should help me relax..

Lovely bright sunshine today so a post lunch walk will also do me good xx 

Good luck!  We will be thinking of you. ( I did not have chemo, but 3 good friends who were on the cancer journey with me, all did.  They said the the thought and worrry of it was much worse than the actual chemo itself.   )

Keep us posted.. Give yourself things to look forward too!

Lots and lots of love 

Sukki xxx

Hi J  /  Autumn49

The January Chemo Club (link) is now available to check out and get involved with.

If you do get some sleepless nights what with any anxiety and steroids given with the chemo there is the 'Awake' thread for just this scenario which can be a great distraction.

Hope you are not stressing more as the date gets closer.

Hugs, G n' J

Hi Autumn

Good Luck with you treatment, 

By the time you read this you will be through your first one. Let your body tell you what you can and cannot do, believe me after the first week you will be feeling a bit more like you. 

Be sure to tell your Oncologist exactly how you feel before your next treatment as they can alter backup medication to help you.

I had a mantra along the lines of ……….off cancer you are not getting me daft I know but it helped my husband and me. 

Be kind to yourself, it will help you get through and recover quickly. A short walk in the fresh air makes a huge difference.

Wishing you well, I am happy to chat if you want to let of steam or just support from a stranger who has been through it.

Take Care

Jan

Hi Jan

Thanks for the virtual support, so helpful to talk with those who have been there and got through xx

So far doing OK, day 4 of 1st EC chemo queasy/belchy first day and night had to sleep propped up by four pillows. Very tired day 2 but improved yesterday and today nausea almost gone. 

I can feel and see meds working as went pretty pale ghostly colour for 36 hours but rosy cheeks are reappearing now.  trying to be as positive as possible but still shaky as it is fear of the unknown...

Hope you have a good weekend x

Hi Autumn49, I had my last of 4 EC chemo on 18th of December. It’s good to hear of someone else on 4 also, as I was paranoid my oncologist was just being kind to me because everyone else seemed to be on 6! 

I know some people’s experiences are awful but I was very lucky! I did have a picc line which at first I wasn’t keen on but I’m so glad I  had it in the end. 

The worst things for me were 1. the steroids , which made me wired but at the same time I was totally shattered , not much you can do but for me keeping busy helped. 
2. The injections for the immune system, I took these for 5 days from day 5 and they made me feel very strange , they also made my bones pulse ! I took loratidine daily with them after the first cycle and it was a game changer! Sooo much better!

3. Constipation !! Really bad  so my advice here is just don’t let it get too bad, start taking something to prevent it the day before chemo was the advice of the oncology pharmacist and she prescribed movicol which worked a treat !

so all in all it really wasn’t too bad, I used the cold cap and still have a head of hair.... I do look a bit like ken Dodd in the morning but it’s hair all the same

I went back to bed in the mornings for an hour or so after the children had gone to school and slept as long as I needed to but generally I was able to carry on my normal ( if you can call it that now) life. The tiredness definitely got worse with each cycle and I must say I was glad to finish at no 4 and can imagine doing 6 is definitely more tricky! 

To avoid bugs I had an alcohol hand gel at my door and bought a cover for my toothbrush and I managed to get away with not catching anything until Xmas when everyone had a cold! 

So good luck with your treatment and I hope it’s as pain free as mine was .

Clairexx

Good luck Autumn49. I’m not gonna lie, I felt it was tough when I went through it though not nearly as bad as other people. I had extreme nausea and vomiting during my AC cycles that lasts for 5-6 days after each treatment then during my Taxol cycles I experienced bad bone pain. The clinic gave me medications to control both. I lost a lot of hair after the second round of treatment and I got a bit distressed looking at my hair fell in clumps so I shaved it. It’s actually not as bad as I thought it would be. I got used to having no hair after a couple of weeks. My mood also went up and down like crazy and I felt very tired. 

I have to say the thing that got me through it was lots of family support and work. I decided to do 1 week off and 1 week on at work as I find work on the week when I don’t feel so bad physically really helped giving me some sort of normalcy. I must say though I do like my work and the people I work with, if your work is stressful I wouldn’t suggest this. My spouse, sister and mum were unbelievably supportive, they came to every single doctor appointment and chemo treatment and stayed with me at home helping out with household chores and just be there for me on my off work weeks to accompany me.