** SEPTEMBER CHEMOTHERAPY CHAT 2019**

Thanks Jojodot I know the pattern for EC SE but doesn’t seem to make it any easier, how is that? It’s great when you hit the ‘good week or so’ isn’t it? 

Im going to keep reminding myself that the good times are just around the corner every time I feel down. Hope you get some good things in before Wednesday. 

Eileen x

I'm myself again since Thursday. I managed the constipation better than during the earlier cycles. Tiredness, some chemo brain evenings.

But mostly I'm annoyed by the taste changes. Love cooking and eating, but chemo can take the fun. So I'm most happy that my taste is normal again.

Hair. I still have my baby fluff, with a few balder patches. But like it as it is at the moment. And if it would stay so, all the better.

Hats outside when it is cold and windy. 

Londonmumof2 that's great you managed a trip to Edinburgh and met up with your daughter...was such a lovely day too...unlike today! My youngest daughter was in Edinburgh yesterday....staying at her aunt's, who lives beside the zoo.....she stays there a lot with her cousins. She was out for dinner in Newhaven and I joked I would wave at her across the water....as NEWSFLASH...I drove last night for the first time in nearly 2 weeks...with my friend beside me but it felt good! Drove along to Seafield beach at Kirkcaldy and ate a smoked sausage supper while it got dark and the lights of Edinburgh appeared across the water...then had icecream...then I got home and had an upset tummy...but I enjoyed it at the time!

The fluffy hair on my head continues to grow and it almost reminds me of a wee newborn (in the days when we used to bath them straight after delivery, not the done thing nowadays)

Have a good day everyone...knitting and Handmaid's Tale for me x

Hello again.  I'm going to wait until I go down to the Oncology place for a group meeting before deciding to get my hair cut, I'm a coward, I know, but I thought I could get all the latest from them first.  I ordered several turbans from Amazon and one has arrived already.  It is a zebra striped bandana and my husband has a red one in the same style for when he does his Native American dancing, as it helps to keep the roach on his head without slipping, so he said he will wear his when I wear mine!  One year, there were some real Native Americans attending a powwow in Compton Dundon just outside Street in Somerset and they performed a healing song.  They also performed one whilst we were at the Delta Park powwow in Portland, Oregon this June, but it doesn't seem to have had the desired effect for me!  Even so, I did enjoy the songs and drumming a lot.  It's an acquired taste, but we love it.

good luck for the funeral next week.

That's interesting about the Native American dancing Giuliella....funnily enough my son in law is in Portland Oregon this week, with the RAF Red Arrows x

Hi Giuliella

You're not a coward  you are in control which is completely different  I only made the decision for cut two days before chemo . This was after getting all info and being told an emphatic YES by oncologist when asked if I would lose hair .

Getting it cut short was my answer to being in control .lol 

ive found Amazon a god send for head gear and now have a good selection for winter to keep head warm . The bamboo ones are lovely and breathable . 

Your American adventures sound great , I would most probably enjoy the music . I really love Bolivian pipe music ,also any kind of drumming .

Been is the garden most of weekend directing hubby . He is redoing veg garden for me I need the boxes to be higher ( have lower back problem ) . So have finished this years veg .but when he finished I can then overwinter some onions etc .

margaret x

Hi everyone,

Just a quick check in hoping everyone has had a good weekend and keeping those SE at bay!

I'm still doing pretty good this time, day 10 post 2nd EC. Managed to get out in the sunshine on Friday for a nice walk.

I have decided to ask hubby to shave the remainder of my hair tomorrow....only on the highest setting on his clippers. It's looking pretty horrible now anyway and I am not going without either the scarves or wig, so figure that if I'm not looking at it anyway, the hair might as well go! Then I'm not worried about shedding everywhere and clogging up the plughole. Also, I think that this is the worst it will be and maybe the next milestone will be to see it start to come back.

I also take some confidence in that my wig is good.....my friend visited today and asked if I had highlights done. This was the first time she had seen my wig!! :-):-)

xx

Hi West End Girl

Still laughing when I ask my neighbour well can you see any difference she asked if I had my hair cut . Needless to say it was the wig .I had a practice day with it .

Im still able to get away not wearing scarve or hat . Just looking very fine hair if people don't know me . Like you It is starting to annoy me because Im shedding like a Labrador 

Im day 12 and feel like corner turned today although can't really complain still minimal but more fatigue this time . Also oral thrush .

like yourself beenout and about mist days and plan to go to van on wed til Sunday  so back ready for bloods Tuesday chemo Wednesday .

hope it keeps going well for you and everyOne else on treatment .

margaret x

Hi all,

I hope that everyone is having a good start to the week, and that hair shedding and side effects are not too troublesome.  Good luck also to all who are having treatments this week.  I am on Day 5 after my first Herceptin/Perjeta/Docetaxel treatment, and am now becoming acquainted with the delightful side effects of this new regime!  I would say that there are pros and cons compared to the EC - I don’t have any queasiness or fuzzy headedness, am not tired and my tastebuds still seem to be OK, but on the negative side I have bone/joint/muscle pain (probably also due to the Zarzio injections) and have had to start taking the loperamide the unit gave me as my digestive system certainly seems to have “speeded up”!

I hope that everyone has the best day possible - the sun has finally just come out here, and I hope that it is the same where you all are too.

Blackcat xx

Hi Blackcat20

Sorry you're getting acquainted with the new SEs The speeded up effect is why Docetaxel was removed from plan the minute Onco found out about IBD . As it Is I find EC version of constipation makes me feel quite normal . 

Its good to hear you actually might "feel" better without  fuzzy head etc . Hope it all stays positive for you . Sun out here now so Of into garden .

I now on day 13 second EC so turning corner ready for good week . Planning visit to Cumbria .

wishing best week for all with minimal SEs

margaret x