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?
hello, i am new to this site and i have just been reading your discussion, which i have found helpfull. i was diagnosed with grade 2 breast cancer just after christmas. i have had a mastectomy and recon. i started chemo 3 days ago. i have found it quite shocking, i dont think i am very good at dealing with the symptoms yet.i can feel panicked at times when i feel ill. i am learning that it passes. i think the steroids are having quite a strange effect in that i feel ill but unable to sleep. i do not feel stressed about loosing my hair, i have excepted that it will happen. do the chemo symptons get worse after the 3rd day when i come off the steroids, i am about to find out....my head feels very foggy and i am very emotional. i have heard that people work through this but i cant imagine being able to.i do realise that a lot of dealing with this is in my head...im thinking to have some hypnotherapy. best wishes x
HI Helen be Sorry to have to welcome you to the site but you will find it very helpful and a lot of nice people to chat to , i think the first chemo is the worst as we worry and don't know what to expect, The steroids use to keep me awake and my head felt foggy at times, if you are only taking them for 2-3 days you sleeping will get better within the week. Due to the anti sickness tablet contstipation is another problem you might have.The pharmacist gave me lactulose as it don't work the muscles (i took it the day before chemo and a couple of days after to keep things on the move) as you will feel bloated and uncomfortable, i sufferd if i forgot to take it you may also suffer with heartburn good old gaviscon done the trick for me, and hot flushes you can't do much about i think it was Lorraine said if it happend when she was out shopping she would put her head in a freezer lol, Sadly most of us loose our hair, have you got yourself a wig ?i got mine free NHS and they had a good collection .I had my last chemo 3 weeks ago i had very few side affects start my radiotherapy tomorrow.What treatment are you on ? i was on FEC-T . Hope you will feel beter soon and get a good nights sleep. take care keep Margaret xx
Sorry that yet another has found herself on this site. However, it is good to talk, as they say.
We are all at various stages in our treatment, so don't be frightened to ask any questions. We all try to help each other.
Have a look at my profile and the others and you will see how we have been getting on. It's a good idea, I think, to have a profile, it saves you having to repeat yourself.
What chemo are you having?
The not sleeping can be a real drag. The steroids tend to do this. I sleep better after I finish them, though not as well as I used to. before this "thing" came along.
Love to everyone Jean x
PS. Have changed my picture. You can now see what Wilma the Wig looks like!!!!
Welcome to the site, but sorry that you have to be here. There is a great bunch of people on this thread who will be able to give you so much advice & support. I am sorry you are going through such a hard time at the mo, but as Margaret said often the first one can be the worst, so hopefully things will become easier for you as the treatment goes on. I hope you start to feel better very soon!
Love Wilma Jean..she doesn't look nearly as mischevious as you made out.. :-) She looks really good!!
Hope eveyone is feeling ok (ish) on this lovely sunny day!
Hi Jean Very nice wilma look really good and you look so well,just looked at you profile again. (I will have to fill mine in) Do you get hot wearing wilma on these hot days? allthough my hair is growing well but not enough to go out without my wig yet but my head get really hot and bother me and can't wait to take it off. Pleased you got a good nights sleep it do make you feel alot better,i use to put myself a bed about 9 oclock some nights. Hope everyone else is ok and enjoying the good weather. Take care Margaret xx
thankyou so much for your kind words.....this is such a strange situation really. i have so many kind friends but like any other situation in life ,unless you have been through this it is impossible to understand. i think im just begining to feel better.....i feel like iv been at a party for three nights on the run without going home, without the fun bit. im not going to get a wig...or maybe i will change my mind, i had very long blonde hair,which was a large part of my identity, it felt liberating to get rid of it. has any body shopped there way through this ? .im so glad you are all out there...but it is upsetting that there are so many of us. xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Jean wilma looks fab. Helen get yourself a long blonde wig or maybe a rock one lol. Margaret the weather here is great but it wont be helping you with the heat. Chelle are you still asleep? steff I hope things went well. Sorry but I am rubbish at remembering all thats going on must be the meds. Helen I promise it will get easier as time goes by the bad days become less frequent. Debs just take each day at a time christmas will be here before you know it and your chemo will be finnished. Ginna I hope your ok today and sorry I havent replied to your message but will try and catch up with you tomorrow.
I am ok today it always helps when the sun is shinning. My son Mark 18 years due back from a weeks holiday in Malaga tomorrow and unfortunatley its rained for most of the week. Cant wait to get all his washing! Dont know if i mentioned my flooding in the kitchen caused by the upstairs bathroom leeking. Surveyor was round today so will be waiting to see what they think the cost will be to decorate and repair all the damage. The list gets longer instead of shorter its doing my head in lol.
Thinking of you all and will catch up with you later.
Just to let you know i have filled in my profile,i spent all afternoon i use microsoft word then copy and past.(as some times i lose what i have written and have to start again). I dont really like my photo being taken but i found this one which was taken at a party may 08.I might even be brave like Jean and have one taken in my wig.
Chelle i hope you are ok as we haven't heard from you for awhile.
Lorraine hope you get your repairs sorted soon so it's one less thing to worry about.
Debbie Steph sorry you had a bad day yesterday but Pleased the chemo went ok, as i said the first is the worst as you don't know what to expect you will feel more relaxed as time go on. Hope you don't have to many side affects,take care xx
I have a confession...ive been awake for the last couple of days....but been making the most of the sunny weather in my garden rather than inside on the computer!!...its been lovely :-) Im still feeling sicky and tired but im back from the chemo coma...until next time!!
Marmalade, its great news for your sis..woo-hoo! But sorry shes feeling alittle low at the same time. Loved you meditation techniques, im gonna give it a try. Hope you enjoyed your day out with your friend.
Jean, Wilma looks fab, you look great. Hope your still feeling ok from the chemo. We are having the same treatments as well as at the same time!!
Helen, Like the others i too am so sorry that you find yourself here..but it is nice having you here :-)
Lorraine, I hope the damage isnt too great after your flood. Glad to hear you're chilling out after all your visitors. And what is it with washing and teenage sons...they must change 3 times a day!!lol :-)
Stef, have you slowed down yet? I really need some of your energy! How did you get on with your son? Its hard telling your children
Debbie, sorry your having a weepy day today. I hope the chemo doesnt make you feel too bad. Hang in there.
Blossom, Im with you on the constipation front..boo-hoo!! I tried a curry...and it worked!! lol :-D
Margaret, your photo looks great. You and i shall have to be brave and replace our photos with us in our wigs!! What do ya think? :-)
Gina, Hope you had a great day out and your sat nav didnt try to send you somewhere else!! lol. If your weather was like mine was here in suffolk it would of been really lovely and sunny.
Heather, Im pleased to hear your chemo has been knid to you. Sorry about Elvis though. Hopefully you've been able to enjoy this great weather too.
