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 all, sorry i havent been on for a while. ive been quite busy catching up with people and doing things that i havent been able too during chemo. My operation is 2 weeks today, im getting quite excited. But nervous about the pain after, drains and chetheter etc. the op will take 5 hours which is a long time, atleast ill be asleep. My old friend paranoia is back...... im getting shoulderache, and back ache. Its probably after effects of chemo and the fact im alot more driving. I hope everyone is coping well and trying to stay positive.
I'm off on holiday tomorrow, so shall catch up with you all the following weekend.
Paula, I lost eyebrows and lashes. Can't help with the lashes cos I would,'t wear false ones. I just used an eyebrow pencil for the brows, which made a big difference.
Sorry, I'm doing this in a rush (whilst trying to pack) and didn't notice who posted about backache etc - back aches and pains are incredibly common, and nearly always nothing to be concerned about. Please don't worry.
Hi Paula, just wanted to respond to the eyebrow, eye lashes question - I would suggest you see if there is a look good, feel good session near you - its free, you get free make up and perfume (good quality stuff) and there are qualified beauticians who give you advice on how to make the most of what (little) you have. all the best
Stavanger hi i live in Walkden just further on from Swinton and Salford. I too had a lump in bust which divided into 2 and had all lymph nodes taken (25) and 3 were affected i got my frient to shave hair - are you ready for this - she brought her springer spaniels clippers and gave me a number 2 all over :-) they were new clippers and did a bloomin good job. We went straight out as needed bits and went to tesco for 4pts milk and 30 cans of fosters (only cos offer on :-) ) and just wore bandana. I too feel better now its gone it was behaving very badly for ages now all lank and floppy viva skinheads.
Later on my son wanted lift to pictures with his 2 mates so popped wig on and no one said anything about it (3 16yr old boys) when pulled up on drive my 75 yr old neighbour who is like a grandad to us all he is lovely and very kind - well he asked me had i just had my hair done as he didnt know i had wig or lost hair so i swiftly whipped it off and laughed and he nearly fell over then i shuved it back on quick and we both stood there laughing - i certainly having good laugh about this hair loss business :-) bring it on.
Ladies do the eyebrows and lashes go around same time as hair or later on ? thanks
Hi everyone else hope you all havin nice weather and good laughs daily - im havin a curry tonight before next wed chemo makes stuff.
Paula we look like sisters hahaha. It does feel better when it gone.
Has anyone heard of willow foundation? if you are 16-40 inclusive you can have a free special day just see the macmillan people at the hospital they have all the info. Stef x
Good VERY early morning ladies. Been up since 4am, still it can't be said I am not making the most of the daylight hours lol. Stef, you look amazing! Do you look at yourself and think "oh well, I could look worse", and then look at someone else and think how great they look without hair? I do. The clipper story cracked me up! I have kept my hair and I am making a hairpiece to wear under my bandanas so it looks like I have hair coming out at the back. If it works I will post a pic. Steff I was born in Manchester and spent my teenage years in Worsley, not far from you. Thanks everyone for the tips on eyebrows etc, I noticed a few in the sink last night after washing my face so I had better get it sorted soon. Blossom, so glad you have a date for the op. If you ask me you have the worst out of the way with the chemo, you will sail through the op. Kay have a fab holiday. Went for a smear test yesterday and lucky for me I noticed my stitches were weeping. Now back on double dose antibiotics because of white blood cell count. It has probably saved me a trip to A&E this weekend thank god, I am getting sick of going to hospital. The kids all went camping at the music festival on Thursday, I have just noticed about ten bodies in my girls bedroom and another ten in my sons, I think the novelty of a tent for four nights has worn off lol Good job I have a hotel, they will all be looking for a full English when they surface lol xxxx
I had terrible veins too with the FEC. At one point they tried ten times to get a vein. It was very distressing and I remember being in tears about it in the chemo room.
Before chemo two I had a port put in to my chest wall. It is a bit like a Hickman line but the advantage is with the port you can still have a bath, go swimming etc and it is less likely to get infected. It was just a quick operation and although I have a little scar on my chest wall around the bra strap area you cannot see the lump where the port is. I am on the list to have it taken out now, while I am waiting I just have to go into hospital once a month to have it cleaned out. Also, I found through this process how much I hate needles. Having the port in is much less painful then having to have a cannula put in your arm every time. There is also a cream called Amutop ( I know this is not spelt right, but thats how you say it.) They give it to all the children ( and me) It goes on top of the port half an hour before chemo and dulls all the senses...I hardly felt a thing!
I lost most of my eyebrows with the FEC. I found that this happened very slowly and I still had a few left by the end of the treatment. The majority of my eyelashes went too. I think that these grow very fast as I just had some stubbs left by the end of treatment...I think that these were baby eyelashes trying to grow back. I tried using false eyelashes but I could not get them right. They would either end up half way up my eyelid or just fall off!! Loosing my eyelashes did cause a few problems which I would like to share. Firstly I found that my eyes got very dry and also irritated. Also, alll kinds of things would end up in them. I got some eye drops from the doc to help keep them clean. Also, I found that wearing sunglasses helped stop all the grit and dirt ending up in my eyeball.
Well, I am two thirds through the radiotherapy. I have been told that so far my skin is behaving much better than expected. I put this down to the Aloe Vera ( organic 99.9%)gell that I bought. I also have another bottle of pure Aloe Vera to drink, although it is disgusting. I also make sure I have a high intake of vitamin C as this helps cells to repair.
I have felt that I have put on weight during all this treatment and it is a pain to try and loose. I am on Zoladex at the moment but the Onc wants to up the treatment and add Tamoxifen. The hot flushes are driving me mad and I am sure that this is hormone stopping is adding to the weight gain problem. My doc has pescribed a low level anti depressent as this is supposed to help with the hot flushes in some cases. I hope it works as I cannot spend the next three years feeling such a sweaty mess.
Anyway, I have been rambling on for ages now so best get going. Hope eveyone is doing great.
Isn't it a beautiful day! My 4 year old grandaughter, Katie, phoned me this morning to tell me that the paddling pool will be out this afternoon at the BBQ and I have to bring my BINIKI (her pronounciation!!)
My eyebrows and lashes were the last thing to go. I held on to them until just after the 4th chemo. Then they thinned very quickly and vanished overnight! I just used an eyebrow pencil for the brows and ignored the lack of lashes!
Marian I'm glad you mentioned the irritation you sometimes get. I find that I am blinking a lot to try and get them lubricated. The good news is that this second lot of chemo I am on does not affect hair growth. So the first thing to start growing again were my eyebrows! Last out first in! Not a lot there at the moment, but I reckon these will grow quickly. My head hair is no longer stubble, it is very downy. No idea what colour it is at the moment. I have been a bottle blonde since I was 16, so it will be interesting to find out what colour I really am. Probably, grey, knowing my luck lol.
Blossom you will be fine after your op. Just thank your lucky stars that your chemo is over and done with. Let us know how you get on.
Stef, you are so funny. You had me in stitches with your tale of the spaniel clippers and your poor old neighbour. I bet he finds you a real tonic.
Well Paula, you're up at all hours again. You do have my sympathy and more pill popping too. I will savour the next 10 days, before I join you for my 2 week marathon of treading the boards.
Hope the kids enjoyed their Full English and that you had one yourself. I regularly have 2 breakfasts when I'm bouncing off the walls with the steroids.
Jean and Marian thanks for the tips on the eyebrows and lashes - being able to ask all these little but important questions and get good advice i feel reallly helps you prepare for things better - as these questions most of us probably wouldnt ring for advise about them - it is so nice that everyone can share their experiences in this way.
Blossom great to hear you have date now - march on girl - soon be there.
Paula arent you arty making a hairpiece please keep us updated how you did it - i have seen a site on internet that sells them - you can buy a fringe and it sort of velcros inside hats - site called - hair for hats, i think. I will soon be joining you in the lack of sleep brigade - i have chemo 2 on wed and last time slept 11.30 - 4am then it went to 6am and now feel pretty ME sleeping and eating wise - BUT got thrush in my mouth like little white spots but not sore. Been to bank and tesco today feel like i escaped as stay in more at moment cos of Trevor (pup) i do leave him in but not for long. And wasnt conscious of bandana at all :-) i feel some how proud and strong. Like the opposite of Samson - when he lost his hair his power went - mines the opposite. x stef
Hi everyone. Changed my profile to show you the hairpiece I have made for under my bandanas. I saved my hair when I cut it off, feels great having a bit of it back lol
