**OCTOBER CHEMOTHERAPY CHAT 2019**

Hi Giuliella,

Glad you have the support of your husband. It helps to have someone to share things with.  I am driving shortish distances and gradually becoming more comfortable but don't fancy driving the distance to the hospital yet. 

I have started looking at hats and getting some bits and pieces ready for chemo too. Thought I could get use to wearing them before I loose my hair.

Hi JJ397

I have my pre- chemo appointment on Monday.   I assume this will be when I have to sign everything. When the oncologist went through all the side effects it was quite scary. I am most worried about infection as I seem to be susceptible to them. Chemo put back for another 2 -3 weeks to give me more time to heal so I am going to try and enjoy the lull before the storm!!! 

It will be good to share this journey with you. 

Hello,

I'm back in for October - got 3rd EC tomorrow. This is my last EC then I go onto the Docataxel/herceptin/perjeta regime.....but let's worry about that when we get there. I have coped quite well the last 3 weeks so hopefully same again please.

I had my port line put in yesterday to make everything easier for the next 12 months. Arm is aching a bit today but the actual procedure didn't hurt at all.

Northerner Margaret sorry to hear you have been delayed on your next round. Hope you feel better soon.

HockeyNut we can all understand your fears when they go through the side effects. I think you leave that appointment thinking you're going to get all of them!! At first I was so paranoid doing my temperature and the days after the first treatment is like you are waiting for something to happen. Of course they have to tell you all the signs to look out for and to be aware of what to do, but you just have to try and stay as relaxed as you can about it. I have had few side effects so far, a lot of days feel quite normal and I am much calmer as I feel like I will know if something is wrong. Of course, if you are worried you should always take advice on the number they will give you to call. I was told it doesn't always mean you will end up rushing to A&E, they can just reassure you if necessary.

Hugs to everyone in for October. These weeks are really flying by!!

xx

Hi HockeyNut

The thought of chemo and the first appointment are very scary but you will cope.  Infection is a great worry, I did  6 FEC T 0ver 18 weeks, I had two kids aged 9 and 14 and started my chemo 13th December.  once I started chemo I only went out when I felt well enough, lucky to have hubby at home the whole time. I kept my distance from the kids, no hugging and kissing, I had hand sanitizer on the unit as you come in the front door and anyone who came in had to use it.  If anyone came to see me that had a cold or cough I thought of myself not about there feelings and sent them away. I made sure we all had a flu jab before my chemo started. Even with both the kids getting colds in January I managed to avoid any hospital stays.  I did get a cough at one point but was just given antibiotics.  I avoided shopping at peak times, I did not go to any places where there were a lot of germs, like school plays, or the cinema.  

I do wish you the very best with you chemo journey, keep on this thread as you will get lots of advice from us ladies that have gone before you.  All I can tell you is to take all of your anti sickness tabs even if you don't feel sick, its easier to stop it happening than it is to stop it once it happens.  Talk to the chemo nurses is you are feeling unwell, don't be afraid to call them that is why they are there,  Take your temperature every morning and evening even if you feel ok.  take a antihistamine tablet that is made from loratadine, this does help with bone pain especially on the T part of chemo.

Chemo does mess with your taste so be prepared, I started to eat marmite on toast and I hate marmite.  I also found tomato soup very easy to have when I was not feeling great.

Westendgirl and Aliblue thank you so much for the advice and support. It's good to know the sort of things I can do to limit the risk of infection. When I asked why I had got the infections from my operation I was told that I was probably just more susceptible to them. So anything I can do to limit  the risk will be a great help. It's going to be a strange few months.

Hi guys, started my weekly Paclitaxel today, I haven’t had any reaction so far, so I’m playing the waiting game. From posts I’ve read it sounds like it takes a few days to get into your system,

I’m off work til next Wednesday and as that’s the day before my next treatment I should be at my strongest. I’m hoping to work out the ‘I’m ok’pattern this week as I was planning my working days to be Mon to Wed during my weeklies, I managed 2/3 days a week on weeks 2 and 3 of my EC 3 wkly cycles but this is a whole different ballgame I guess.

Wish I could say the same for the piriton IV I had tho, it might make you drowsy!! No s#*t Sherlock within about 10 mins I was practically knocking out the zzzz’s. it was a good 7 hours before I felt awake lol!

Oh and the penalty for having a snoozy day - I’m wide awake now!!!

Eileen x

 and others

Cheers for the heads up of the paclitaxel which I start in 6 weeks time, and EC has, so far been not too bad at all.

Question for all - have you been advised to get a flu jab?  Ask as no-one has mentioned anything to me in my care team and a colleague mentioned that she had been advised when she was undergoing treatment for BC.

Also, as some of you may not be aware (did put a post elsewhere) - did you know that if you have private health insurance and use the NHS that your healthcare provider will give you money for not using them..I reckon could be worth £100's if not >£1k...A pleasant surprise for me yesterday.

Sam X

HockeyNut, hello again.  I drove to the hospital yesterday for reflexology and went shopping at Lidl afterwards, close by the hospital, then straight home, but later, had dreadful pains in my reconstructed breast and underarm, so the driving is out for a while longer, unfortunately, as hubby can't drive.  The car is very heavy to handle and my muscles have weakened since the operation, I was okay before, handling my heavy car, no power steering, it's 29 years old you see.  Going back to the Oncology by bus today for a wig fitting, yey!  Taking sandwiches with me, as these appointments always cross over mealtimes, don't they?  Missed a phonecall from the Oncology yesterday due to being at the other hospital, dreading it's my appointments, I bet all my plans for next week are going to go awry now, so will have to ask when I get down there, hope I manage to get the buses okay and on time.

Have a great day today and let's not dwell on tomorrow.

Hi  

I saw cancer nurse specialist yesterday and asked about flu jab as I usually have it being diabetic. 

She told me to ask my consultant as different consultants have different opinions on it and think it may also depend on treatment n your side effects.

Hope that helps? 

Sall 

Good luck Giuliella with the wig fitting. Are you going for the same style or radically different? It will be fun trying on the different styles!!!! Hope you manage to get your bus connections ok. At least if it is your chemo the sooner it is started the sooner it will be over.