Hello my name is Heather I have just been diagnosed with brest cancer last week for the first time (and last I hope) Both my sisters have had cancer,one died seven month ago Im a bit scared of what to expect with the chemo. Can anyone tell me how soon after the treatment do you start to feel ill? How soon do you lose your hair?
Good Morning All! Thank you for all your kind comments. Sickness gone now am feeling tired and mouth a bit sore but apart from that not too bad (famous last words!!) Chelle my next chemo is 16th July bloods on 14th. I am having three daily injections of Filgrastim to boost my white cell count last one is today has anyone else had this? My hair still ok I don't know whether to wait for it to start to go or just get it shaved anyway - what does anyone suggest and does it hurt!! Sam I am on FEC/T regme first three are the FEC combination then three of Taxotere perhaps your second one is this ? Jay Lynn sorry you are here - sorry about your week grim isn't it. Your FEC chemo is a week ahead of mine. Thanks for the tips. I have found plastic cutlery helpful and plastic straws! Sainsburys do pineapple lollies too! I have used Difflam mouthwash recommended on this site and that has helped "metal mouth" Sorry about your sleep Jean I,ve got that joy to come I suppose - weekly chemo sounds hard. Anyone looking up any financial help and benefits might like to try the Jobcentre Plus website for guidance - DLA is on there it's a non means tested benefit for people whose health conditions require extra help and expense -always worth a try! I live in Deal in Kent and it is overcast here today and there is a lovely breeze - might have to put a cardie on! Love to all
Hi Camilla, glad the sickness has subsided, I find this the worst part. I have Filgrastim injections for 10 days in between chemo. The only side effect I seem to get is aching joints and limbs. I think I have so many because I am on AC every two weeks instead of every three ( I think the oncologist thinks I am wonderwoman lol).
Morning Girlies and Kev (Thanks for your support, after all that you have been through)
Thought I would change my picture and let you see me in my new hat!
My new chemo isn't every week. This one is 2 weeks on the trot and then 3 weeks off. This afternoon's lot is the second zap so I will now get a break until 22nd and 29th July( third treatment) My last 2 zaps are 19th and 26th August. Anyone would think I was counting!
Stavanger, my memory is rubbish at the moment, so cheat when you are repying. Keep this website open at the post you want to start replying to, then open up a word document. Just keep going backwards and forwards between them and when you have finished, copy and paste the reply in here. As Alexander the Meercat from www.comparethemarket.com says "Simples!"
Blossom ............fantastic news. So pleased you are keeping well and the new boobies are a success.
Sam, shame about you getting a cold. Hope it doesn't hold things up too much for you. Great advice you gave to Footie, by the way, well done. It's great when we can help each other.
Hi Jaylynn, sorry you find yourself here but welcome. Glad we have been of some help to you. Keep posting.
Marmalade HI!!! Hope you are not too hot! Things sound as if they are happening for your sister, at long last. Keep us posted, won't you.
Camilla, I think most of us have found that the hair really goes just as you are approaching the second chemo. It really comes out in clumps then. It doesn't hurt to have it shaved. In many ways it is a relief, as it saves having to change the pillowcase every day and de-gunge the shower tray!
Paula, I'll be bouncing like Tigger again from this afternoon until Sunday night, so see you for hot chocolate around 2 or 3 o'clock.LOL. Think I will just stick with the steroids now until I finish the chemo. At least I know what they do to me and that I can cope with it.
Smoked Mackeral salad for lunch. Hoping for a bit of flavour!
Hi Kev, i too would like to pass on my best wishes to you and your son. You sound so strong and positive. Thanks for your kind offer of help, come chat with us anytime, it can be about anything. You're right that there are more and more of us joining this thread and going through this tough time either personally or with a friend or family member. Lets just enjoy life x
Paula (or should that be Wonderwoman...hee hee!!), you're so right that having no hair does have its perks sometimes!! :-) Good luck for your sister tomorrow. She just needs to move on to the next stage i'm sure. Glad to hear you're cream free and having no mishaps at the mo lol!!
Camilla when you lose your hair your scalp may be alittle sensitive but it doesn't hurt. One evening my hair began to come out in clumps (before this i was just losing strands). I sat there pulling the clumps out with my fingers. The next morning hubby shaved it off for me and like Paula says, it's really not as bad as you think it's going to be. Losing my hair hasn't bothered me at all, but now it's begining to grow i've become so impatient and want it back! I personally am happy that i waited until it was ready to come out completely. Enjoy your own hair while you can. We definately don't need a cardie here in Suffolk today..it's boiling! So i think i need to track down those Pineapple lollies mmm mmm :-)
Jean your smoked mackeral sounds yummy. Hope you could taste it! Considering i had chemo yesterday i'm feeling well. Good luck for you today.
Well i survived the school sports day. I wore my wig, found a shady spot and relaxed. Thankfully there was no parent race..phew!!! Coz i just know my lovely daughter would have volunteered my services...kids..don't you just love em!! :-D
Hi to everyone else. Hope all your appointments and chemo's are going to plan. Take care Chelle x
Hi everyone, Disability Living Allowance is what you are entitled to now you have cancer, when you have cancer whether you want to believe it or not but you are classed as disabled, no one tells you that you are entitled to a certain amount of money each week (paid every 4 weeks) the more serious your cancer the more you get. I know every type of cancer is serious don't get me wrong, but when Di had her cancer and was told of her survival time she was given the full Disability Living Allowance which at the time was £109.50 per week. So if you are entitled to this money go and get it. Their phone number is 08457 123456 or for the deaf/hard of hearing only 08457 224433, it will be back dated from the time you ask for the form to be sent out. Hope that has helped. Keep strong and I will say hi soon.
I keep forgetting to ask you this. Did they give you another pill to take this time, called Calcium Folinate?
I have to take 6 of them, starting 24 hours after the chemo, so I take one tomorrow afternoon at 3 o'clock. Then one at 9 o'clock at night then I have to set the alarm to wake me at 3 a.m. to take the third one!!! I've usually only been sleeping for an hour or so at this time!!
Hi Jean, No i haven't been given that tablet. It's strange how they can slightly change things for each of us. What is it supposed to do? What a shame you'll have just nodded off and you have to wake up to take another one!!! I've just had to take some anti sickness tablets as i came over all queezy...boo hoo!! Take care Chelle x
Methotrexate is the "M" in CMF. The calcium Folinate is given to combat the side efffects that this drug can cause, so the nurse tells me!
Obviously it can't have many side effects as you haven't had them and you've had 4 doses of the CMF, same as me.
Oh Well...........who knows. I'll just take them anyway.
Sorry you are feeling nauseous. That's one thing I have escaped.
I have to reduce my steroids by one dose a day, starting tomorrow, to see if that helps me to get some more sleep.This may make me feel nauseous and if it does I have to go back to taking the full dose the following day
Going up to my friends house tonight for a few glasses of wine. Won't be able to taste it but it might help me sleep!
Hi everyone, if anyone wants to know about the side effects of EPI CMF thats what Di had and she was on a trial and was fast tracked on it, I kept a diary on her side effects and all the different tablets she was on just ask me.
