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?
Briefly, my mum was diagnosed with Breast cancer last month and is having masectomy on Tues, she had a CT scan last week to see if it has spread but we are still awaiting those results.
Once recovered from the op my mum will be having Chemo.
She is not worried or emotional about the op or losing her breast but is extremeley worried and upset about losing her hair. She was sceptical about having the cold cap having heard and read about how uncomfortable it was but now is strongly considering it just to have the chance to keep her hair and identity.
Has anyone had experience of the cold cap or any information that could help make my mum make a decision
Lollypops, I was posting a reply to you on your "Cold Cap" thread when you posted here, so hopefully you have read my reply there. Glad you came on here..welcome!!
Heather, so sorry to hear how you have been feeling, but glad that you can admit to yourself what you are going through. Take it easy for a while and recharge those batteries & if a week isn't enough, make you you go back to see your doc & take some more time off. You have been told.. :-)
Lorraine, sorry to hear about your fall..I really hope the pain has eased for you now!!
Twiglet, great news..I'm really pleased for you!! :-) Hope the anger has subsided, but it is well justified, so don't be too hard on yourself..
Jean, hope the infection is getting better & that there have been no mishaps with the creams! :-)
Paula, hope you are feeling a little better! I will keep everything crossed for you for the scan. Try & take things a little easier..
Chelle, hope you are feeling ok & back in the land of the living now. Hope you're weekend is going well!!
Best wishes to Margaret, Blossom & everyone else..
Hi everyone, yet again thanks for making me try to put this thing into some sort of perspective. Lorraine an MOT is a good way of looking at it. I did come to the conclusion that if the results come back clear I will probably know more about the state of my health than most people lol My son is 18 today so we sat through a party last night, not my thing but the kids enjoyed themselves. My dilemma for tomorrow is how to be in 4 places at once. I have a 10.30 appointment with the surgeon, an 11.20 appointment for CT scan which I have to be there an hour before, an 11.30 appointment for a MRA scan which can take an hour and a 11.45 appointment for my bloods for chemo. I think there may be a mix up somewhere but I can't complain about the speed of the NHS lol. Hope everyone has a good day, it is beautiful here on the Isle of Wight, looks like a lunch down the pub day!!!! xxxxxxx
HI LADIES AND GENTS NOT BEEN INTOUCH HAD MY 2ND CHEMO LAST MONDAY MY NURSE WAS RIGHT HOW I FELT FIRST WEEK SHOULD BE HOW I FEEL EACH TIME WELL HAIR WELL AND TRUELLY GONE. LOVE ME LOOK BUT JUST GETTIN OVER THE TIREDNESS CONTIIPATION IVE TAKEN ALL SORTS LOL LIQUIRISH ALSORTS MMMMMMMM MY FAV IN THE END SENICOT LOL BIT WEEPY AND CRABBY TO HUBBY FOR LAST 2 DAYS BUT BACK UP AGAIN TILL NEXT TREATMEANT I MUST ADMITT MY LUMP SEEMS TO HAVE GONE A LITTLE SMALLER OR MAYBE JUST WISHFULL THINKING I DONT NO HOW OTHERS FEEL BUT I DONT THINK ABOUT MY LUMP WHEN DOCTOR ASKED IF IT HAD GONE SMALLER I REACHED FOR MY BREAST AND REALISED I HADNT FELT IT SINCE I WAS DIAGNOSED HE SAID TO ME YOU HAVENT FELT IT HAVE U AND I SAID THATS URE JOB MY JOB IS TO LET YOU DO YOUR JOB LOL WELL LADIES UP AND FORWARD ANOTHER DAY HATE RAIN WISH IT WAS SUNNY SPEAK SOON
Sorry lollypops but i don't have any experience to offer you about the cold cap as i didn't use it. Hope your mums keeping ok. Paula i hope you juggled all your appointments ok!! I too think that looking at it as an MOT is a great idea. Hope today went well for you. Debbie im sorry you've been teary, tired and constipated. At least thats chemo number 2 done!
Paula do let us know how you managed to juggle the appointmnts!!!
The infection is my arm is all gone now as is the sore mouth.
I managed to put all the creams/ointments in the right places. At one point I had 5 to apply to various places!!!!
This has been the worst chemo. I didn't realise that each dose of the blasted stuff built up and gave you more and more side effects. Thank God the next lot of 4 is a different cocktail.
My taste buds have come back to a certain extent, but coffee still tastes vile.
Lollypops I can't be of any help to you re the cold cap. I just resigned myself to the fact that I was going to lose my hair. Believe me that really will be the least of your Mum's worries, although at this point in time, I do understand how she feels. I think we all felt like that to begin with.
This week seems to be my week for feeling good (pre chemo week) I hope it lasts, because on Thursday I reach a landmark in my life. I become an OAP or senior citizen as some folks like to call it. Can't believe I will be 60 I still feel like a teenager.
It takes something like the bloody cancer to make you realise how precious life is. I have never felt old. However because of this cancer and my forthcoming age, I am beginning to realise that I am getting old!!!!!
BUT I INTEND TO GET MUCH OLDER.
So, girls, on Thursday raise your glasses or tea cups to OAP'S
Jean I will certainly be having a glass of vino on Thursday toasting your 60th HAPPY BIRTHDAY when it comes. I hope the next lot of chemo is kinder to you fingers crossed.
Lollypop I did try the cold cap and although it works for some it didnt for me. The side effects of the cap was an ice cream head for over an hr each time. Maybe the best thing is for your mum to try it as everyone is different.
Paula How on earth did you juggle your appointments lol. Did have a laugh when I read your post.
Debbie you cant always have good days just let it all out and youll feel much better. Nothing like the feeling after a good cry.
Heather Twigglet Chelle and everyone else I have not mention (as the group is getting big :) )hope your all doing ok and having a positive day.
Hello everyone Hope you all had a good weekend? Paula hope you managed all your appointments, i should imagine you would off been very tired by the end of the day, when do you get the results? Jeanie i shall toast your 6oth birthday with a large jack daniels, glad to hear your infections have cleared up! A big hello to everyone else. I am starting to get a bit more movement in my arms , so the exercises are helping, Just have to put up with hairy armpits for a while as to sore to shave !!!!! I was sitting down and just thinking how quickly a normal everyday life can change so quickly, and how people say if they was in the same situation they would not be able to cope, but you dont have a choice, its a fight for survival its like somethink takes over and you just go along with whatever is chucked at you, yes you have the fear, anger, tears but most of all you suddenly realise what you can cope with and overcome, so cancer watch out you"ve got a fight with ME!!!!!!! Luv Twiglet XXXXX
Hi everyone. The appointments worked out well as the CT department rang me to say the machine had broken down so back there Wednesday for that one.The surgeon admired his work as he inspected my new gravity defying boobs, the bloods were taken in between the MRA scan(much to the disgust of a full waiting room) and I was in the pub by 1pm lol. Jean glad to hear the creams are working. I will definitely be toasting you on Thursday, you're still a spring chicken! Twiglett keep coping, with a bit of luck we will all still be chatting in five years time about how we beat the bugger! Lorraine you are so positive keep it up. Chelle, I turned down the cold cap too. The nurse said it would add an extra hour onto my appointments and she didn't offer any guarantees either so bald and beautiful it will be lol Debbie I hope the rest of the time until your next chemo is constipation and tired free. My sister is at the hospital today so fingers crossed her doctor was right about it being a cyst, we don't speak but I still want her to be well, I wouldn't wish this disease on my worst enemy! Have a great day everyone xxx
A Big Happy Birthday for Thursday Jean....I hope you have a great day and get loadsa prezzies!!!!!
I am off to look good/feel good today. Everyone with cancer can get an appointment for a pamper make up day and apparently you get lots of goodies to take home.....Will report back on it later.
Lollipops, I had six cycles of FEC, finishing two weeks ago, I used the cold cap and I have almost a full head of shoulder length hair.To keep my hair has helped my state of mind so much and I would advise anyone to try it.
I didnt find it too uncomfortable but I am used to giving my hair a final rinse in cold water....Maybe years of doing that has made my head numb!!!
My advise to your mum would be do not cut your hair too short prior to starting as she will more than likely loose the hair on the top of her head. The nurses call it a monk!!! If her hair is too short she will not be able to disguise the bald patch.
I also only brushed my hair once a day with a wide toothed comb and did not wash it for the week after chemo. Dry shampoo is brilliant though or talc powder.
The nurses told me that hair loss is the worst after the second chemo and I found this too. It came out in clumps after chemo two on the top of my head. I really did think I would loose it all and was tempted to shave it. However after that the rate at which it fell out slowed.
If your mum is sucessful and keeps most of her hair she can buy something called a topper from the wig shop. It is basically a clip in hair piece which would help to cover any bald patch and make her feel more confident.
