**OCTOBER CHEMOTHERAPY CHAT 2019**

I started on FEC, three treatments last week Tuesday and will go on to T later.  I found the sickness really debilitating, kept being sick, even the water I drank didn't stay down, so it's not good, but as we're all reacting differently to the same stuff, you may be okay.  Just make sure you have plenty of rest, drink and anti sickness tablets.  I started getting better after two or three days, but not completely without that sicky feeling yet.  Good luck.

Ive bought bone broth in powder form off Amazon and that tastes nice, supposed to be good for your blood count too.  Not cheap, but worth it if it's all you can stomach to drink, like me.  You need to get some Evonail and their remover for your nail health I've been told.  Might pay you to get some non perfumed face wipes, hand lotion and Aveeno body lotion too, as that's what I was advised and I've bought it.  Here's to lessening side effects going forward.

Blackcat

thanks so much for your lovely reply. 
I haven’t been offered a tour of the chemo suite ... I’ll just be going in after receiving a phone call but I’m glad it sounds so much less scary than I think it will be. Yes I’m scared but happy to be cracking on. I know it’ll be hard but if I get good results I don’t care. I’m not having a cold cap neither. I have really fine hair and have suffered from alopecia on and off so I’m really not bothered about it. But anyway, thanks again for your input 

Di x

Hi Yanyan 10.

I'm in exactly the same boat as you, having picc line fitted monday and start FEC-T on tuesday. 6 sessions every 3 weeks.

In some ways can't wait to finally get started but dreading it. I was told the infusion will take about an hour but probably hanging around pre and post. I'm taking a magazine and puzzle book to keep me occupied. 

I'm also not having the cold cap going to try and embrace my hair loss, be interesting to see what my natural colour is I've dyed my hair for 15yrs. 

Good luck next week. X

Bramble22,, I’m in at 10am tomorrow for my first session too, had my picc line in today and shed a few tears , really makes me feel like a patient now ! More so than my mastectomy!! I’m trying the cold cap, the nurse advised me to take in a widetoothed comb and conditioner and to also get one of those old fashioned stretchy hair bands to keep your ears and forehead protected , she also said don’t accept the cap if it’s not really tight fitting to your head! She said if you can get through the first 10-15 mins you’ve cracked it! Good luck I’ll be thinking of you x

, Hi I’m new too, starting 4 x EC tomorrow, had my picc line in today and feeling emotional about it all but so glad to just get on with it !! Good luck with your treatments and hope it all goes with as few side effects as possible xx

Thanks for sharing the advice Claire1974 appreciate it! Off out shopping so will try to get the band and comb when I’m out! Forgot to say will think of you tomorrow!! Best of luck!!

Thanks again! x

I've cold capped the last 5 sessions, and I'd also say to take painkillers about an hour before, as the first 10-15 minutes should be cold! We have 2 machines, and the one I had the 1st and 4th time didn't feel cold enough, and sure enough, I lost a lot of hair on those cycles. Your hair should be wet through all the layers which are under the cap, not just the top one, and the elastic band around the side loose until it's pulled on to make contact with your scalp all round. The side and is then tightened, and  you can loosen the chin strap again. Good luck!

Good luck Claire1974. Hope all goes well. Let us know how you get on x

Thanks , did you use conditioner too under the cold cap? Oh and has anyone heard of wearing dark nail polish to protect nails? x

You need a wide tooth comb, and paraben free hair products. You take the conditioner and comb with you and the nurse will wet your hair (they have towels!) and apply the conditioner on the top. If it's properly cold you wait until 5 minutes after the end and take the cap off or you  might pull out hairs attached to any ice crystals which form! I was never cold, and wore a short t-shirt so they could access my PICC line, with a cardigan on top.

I had dark nail polish on my toes when I first started and Evonail on my fingers. After about a week I removed the nail polish to find that my nails were going yellow, so quickly started using Evonail on them too. After 4 EC and a Paclitaxel there is a darker pink tinge near the bottom of the darker pink area on my fingers, but only slightly. and my doctor gave me 4 x full dose EC and I'm now on the Paclitaxel.