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?
HI Marmalade, What a fab gift and great idea. It sounds like a lot of thought went into that and im going to pinch that idea for myself for future easters! Thanks for my easter egg picture..if only it could become real! Have fun eating your way through your rabbit..yum yum :-D
Hi Blossom, I wish i could give you the answer but sadly its all down to you. Just talk to your oncologist and do whatever your heart tells you to. Like you i feel its best to have everything you can to reduce the chances of it coming back. Maybe the onc will tell you what they think is best for you and help with your decision. Hope you're ok today.
Hi Stef, so sorry you are going through this. Good luck with your results, please let us know how you get on. Im also glad to hear you and hubby have made up, you need all the support you can get at this time. Ive had 2 chemo's so far and its not too bad. I sleep for the first 3/4 days, feel abit sick and then suffer with some mouth sores in week 2!! My hair fell out just before my second chemo and although i'd rather have all my hair its not too bad having none! Excuse my ignorance but do they always do chemo etc for benign tumours? If so, why is this?
Jean i shall be thinking of you tuesday as i have my third chemo then too!! We seem to be going through the stages together :-D. Have a great time with your brother.
Hi Heather, try not to work to hard and enjoy some of this easter.
When you said that your hair fell out just before your second chemo, did it all fall out at once? Because my second chemo is next thursday and mine is coming out in clumps when I run my fingers through it. Is that just a sign that its going to all come out in the next day or two?
Mine went within 24 hours!!! I woke up one morning, washed and dried my hair like normal and it was fine ( i had been losing a few strands during the previous week). My hair remained in its style all day. That same evening i ran my fingers through my hair and found a fistful in my hand!! I then continued to run my fingers through my hair and each time got another handful. About 3 hours later i went to bed with many bald patches and some long strands of hair...i looked about 95 years old...im 40!!! :-( The hair that had come out looked like a ball of wool. The next morning my husband shaved the remainder of my hair off as it looked really patchy and silly!!
As i mentioned in my previous post i would love to have my own hair, however it really isnt too bad having no hair. Its strange wearing a wig and there have been many times that i've gone to leave the house forgeting to put the wig on (which i would never want to do...leave the house bald)!! Lol. I always wear the wig when i go out, but wear hats, scarfs or a bare head in the house and it doesnt seem to phase my husband or children. Like you said 'its a small price to pay' and together we can laugh in the face of cancer! Hope you don't find it too stressful when yours comes out. Hopefully yours will remain in longer than mine and it may not fall out quite so quickly.
Hope you've been enjoying your eggs & your hot cross buns!
Heather, what a pain that you both have to work all over Easter, but at least you're not missing great weather..well, it isn't here anyway. Hope everything goes ok for you onThursday and that you don't feel too rough from it, I will be thinking of you..
Chelle, have started eating my way through the rabbit..does make me smile whenever I think of it! Will be thinking of you on Tuesday..is that the half way point? Really hope you don't feel too bad from it..guess you will be sleeping for a few days.
Hope everyone else is doing ok!!
Well, sitting here with toasted buns (ooooh) & fruit juice, so will leave you all in peace to go and have them.
Thanks for that chelle. Im not getting too stressed about my hair yet, might be diferent when it all goes. My husband can't wait to shave it off, he says he'll be getting his own back for the times Ive shaved his on number 3 insted of the usual number five!!!
Marmalade, I really don't mind working easter, Im used to working all the bank holidays, Im just greatfull that I CAN work... so far anyway. If im the same as I was with the first chemo then I can cope with that. It's not so bad. I just feel for those of you that suffer the worst side effects. Ive got it easy really.
Im begining to think that I might not even wear my wig and just wear a baseball cap. At least then everyone will get used to seeing me that way. Anyway we'll see.
Hi Everyone, I've been reading a few of the posts going back and forth and see some of you have children - I am hoping you can help me out (if you haven't allready). Under practical issues I have started a thread "have you a child aged 11 - 19 and you yourself have cancer, please read this and comment. thanks" I am trying to find out if children would find having their own "survial booklet" usefull. I would be gratefull for your feedback. thanks very much
And regarding the hair loss issue - I went bald and beautifull, first time out I was a slightly uneasy as to what the reaction would be, but the bottom line no one gave a jot!! Do what your comfortable with. all the best to all of you Sian
Heather hope everything goes ok on thurs and you dont feel too bad. Chelle - you make me laugh when you say you nearly forgot your wig when going out.
I told my 13yr old daughter yesterday as my friend sent flowers and texting so much at mo, she very aware something going on, she was ace about it - but did HAVE to ask - "so youre not going to die are you mum" i replied - "i wasnt planning on doing" and told her it be ok and whatever i know - she will know then we took her to formby beach (near southport) and i enjoyed it so much just watchin my old dog acting like a puppy runnin in sea for sticks. I decided to tell her separetly from her brother who is 16 as she is a born worrier and he at that age where he could react a bit odd - hormones etc - you know.
Feel great at mo - cant think about it all anymore till going for op - no use sitting stewing - so i up and at em. My mum on other hand is breaking down all time and cant talk to me without crying - i told her i ok - she knows i am brave and hard. but she cant stop getting upset.
That makes me feel bad and i thinking of her all time - worrying about her.
I got told at first appt that would be having lumpectomy and lymph nodes removed and that would have chemo and radiotherapy. my friend seems think i wont have chemo but when reading everyones journey on here seems its the norm? I want to believe her that she knows two women who didnt have the chemo and had similar to what i got, but then i started believing - phew that ok then someone said i wont need it :-) but why would they be able to tell me so soon at the appt that i would need it??
Did anyone else have similar - told at appt that would need op - chemo - radiotherapy? They just seemed so sure - the word MIGHT was never in the conversation?
Thanks
Speak Tues when they ring with results (up to now 99% sure). Love Steph
Hi Steph we haven't spoken before. Good luck with your op on the 28th. I was told after the biopsies that I wouldn't need chemo as no cancer was found in the lymph nodes that they took the samples from. However, after the op to remove the lump and 5 lymph nodes (they were removed to be on the safe side) they found cancer in one of them. I was then told that I would need chemo as it had gone into the lymph nodes.They then removed the rest of the nodes and thanfully no more cancer was found.
I think you really have to wait until after the op to see what they find and then have whatever treatment they tell you to have.
Chelle, what time are you having your chemo tomorrow? Mine is at 2.30.p.m. Have to have the bloods done in the morning at the chemo clinic at 8.30. a.m. as I can't have them done today as it is a bank holiday. So 2 trips to the hospital tomorrow. Oh the joys!!
Good luck on Thursday, Heather. My hair started to fall out just before the second chemo. On the day of the second chemo I had it shaved off. It was so much bother having to clean the shower and sink all the time and change the pillow case. I think once it starts coming out there is no turning back.
I have no problems wearing Wilma (the name of my wig, for those who don't know) I put it on in the morning after my shower and it stays there until I go to bed. The bloody bandanas kept moving around, at least Wilma stays in place! So wear Elvis with pride!
Marmalade, I hope you were not ill after eating all that choclolate! How is your sister? Has she had any news yet?
Well, Chelle, I expect you and I will be entering the chemo coma in the next few days. Talk again when we both wake up.
As ever, I will be thinking of you all, as we go through this journey.
Hi all How are you? Chelle I often went out of the house without remembering to put my wig on. What looks I would get before realising my bald head was in full veiw lol Held my head high who cares. Hope your chemo goes well for you all this week and chelle you dont loose 5 days sleeping!
My neice is visiting from Yorkshire for a couple of nights and realy looking forward seeing her. I have a gin hangover this morning so still sitting in my dressingown!
Steph the way I look at it is if you get the chemo your blasting any cancer that has wondered from the original place better to be safe than sorry and at least you have done everything in your power to get rid of this dreaded thing!
Hope your not all sick after eating to many easter eggs. Have a great easter Monday and will catch up with you all soon.
Hi All Hope you are all enjoying your easter break, haven’t been on for awhile a lot to catch up on.
Chelle Jean & Heather Good luck with chemo this week and not to many side affects (apart from chemo coma) , just think another one out of the way.
Lorraine
Sorry to see you had a bad weekend last week, pleased your results were ok (what a worry) hope your son is ok and not lost his confidence because some thug didn’t have anything better to do with his life (my son is 18 worry every time he goes out).
Marmalade
Hope you and your sister are well has she heard anymore about her reconstructive?
Blossom
Hello sorry you have had to join us I wish you well with the rest of you treatment I was only offered 6 chemo(Fec-t) I am sure you doctor will give the treatment right for you.
Stef
Hello sorry to see you have had to join us to I wish you well with your op on the 28th,like you I had lumpectomy and lymph nodes removed .I had 6 chemo (Fec-t) and have 30 radiotherapy to start on the 20th I will also be put on tamoxifen.
I was told what treatment I might have before my op (op, radiotherapy and possible chemo) depending on my lymph nodes they said a couple are affected but after the op they found 6 out of 14 affected .I had very little side affect from my chemo,my hair started to fall out about 3 weeks after first treatment.I didn’t shave mine off i had long hair, before my op I had it cut up to my shoulders,then a bob by this time it was coming out in handfulls,I didn’t realise I had so much hair this is when I used my wig to go out.After my forth chemo my hair had started to grow again.Hope your treatment go as well as mine did.
Hope you all enjoy the rest of your day take care xx
