*** December Chemo Club 2019 ***

I'm in again ...last EC on 11/12 then Herceptin in new year so here for a while 

Welcome to old friends and newbies  

wishing everyone one minimal/ manageable Side Effects 

margaret 

Hiya I start my first EC on the 13th and honestly absolutely dreading it 

I know there’s side effects and I won’t get all of them

its the total unknown that’s getting to me 

it’s the how are they going to get it in me? In the arm? In the back of the hand? In my chest (read that somewhere) ? In my neck (read that too)  ?

how long will it take ?

what does it feel like?

does it hurt? (Got a low pain threshold )

am I laid down or sat? 

How long after does it take before you feel the side effects ?

to be honest and I know you’ll all understand 

IM TERRIFIED!!!!!! 

Think im more scared of this then I was of the mastectomy and reconstruction 

Well I was off for an early night but I thought I better check you've remembered to breathe ,

Write the above questions down and ask your team all of them . Have you been to Chemo unit visit yet thus will help you to find answers and feel more comfortable .

I will tell you my experience but we're all different and react differently . Hospitals can also do things in different ways .

So ...

I had a cannula in the back of my hand this was done in a curtained cubicle just a sharp scratch . A saline drip was then attached to flush thru vein . Steroids then injected in after the intial scratch nothing to feel . Anti sickness med taken . 

Then went into main area along with other patients . Sat in nice comfy chair . Sometimes recliner , telly on in corner ,drinks on tap unfortunately all non alcoholic . My unit also bring sandwiches at lunchtime .

My EC consisted of large  syringes of red and  yellow liquid which  the nurse sat with me and injected into cannula no pain . 

They watch you for any side effects cold arm, shivery etc just tell them if you feel anything . I was lucky never did .

The first time us quite slow so could be couple of hours or longer if they busy .

sometimes the actual infusion has only been 15 mins 

another saline drip at end .

whilst it getting done general conversations with nurses and other patients most of which will be on same cycles as you . So chemo can become a social activity .

It's hard to say when you will feel SE ?If I remember rightly you've been to hairdresser already for pixie cut . So try not to handle hair very often you may keep it longer . Although you could start to lose it within days .

Most chemo leaves you tired out for rest of day. Nausea is usually straight away but you will have had anti sickness meds and been given more to take homec. Take them wether you feel sick or not prevention better than cure .

keep a diary of how you feel then you will see a pattern emerge .

The above us my experience told to help ease your panic .

We are all different the important thing to remember is look after youself if you feel ill contact youteam they help get the correct meds for you.

Start mouthwash now 

use Vaseline or lip balm 

plenty of parabens free moisturisers in bath 

chemo dehydrates so start hydrating your skin 

checkk out the link above for shopping list for chemo

your imagination is making it a lot worse ..it's not the best thing to have but it sure beats cancer .

hope it helps get some sleep 

Margaret x

Thank you Margaret you always come to my rescue no I haven’t been to the chemo unit yet might ring up and see if I can have a look 

what sort of mouthwash do you recommend 

i didn’t realise it would take a few hours but now I’m prepared for that thank you 

You’ve actually shed some light on my questions and have taken away some of my fears thank you 

My hair is shortish so I’ll speak to my hairdressers and get it shorter ready

and yes I’m still breathing  

it just came on me sheer panic and loads of questions I’m so pleased I came into this group ️ xxx

Any mouthwash as long as non alcoholic 

once you start chemo if you get mouth ulcers ask them for one my unit provides me with most stuff free . 

Night speak tomorrow I’m off to sleep off my walk today 

margaret x

Just done my first AC in Friday, not much appetite and not sleeping much (blaming the steroids!) but doing ok otherwise. Hope I can get back to normal meals today so I have more energy. But overall not as bad as I had feared! 2 weeks now till the next one

take care everyone 

Hi all,

just had second chemo and next one due on 19th December. Hoping that I will be able to stay awake enough for some Christmas dinner ( lol).

Have started with some peripheral neuropathy in fingers and toes and got meds for it , hoping it will resolve after treatments.

My hair started to fall out before my second chemo so had my head shaved last week and so glad I did as much more comfortable now.

I've been reading about Rapid Lash on a thread and wondered if anyone has any experience using it ?

Wishing you all the best for your treatments , with minimal side effects and a very Happy Christmas  

Karen xxx

Hello everyone,

Checking in for December....have made it to the month of my final 2 chemo treatments, on the 6th & 27th. Should be good timing so I will feel ok for Christmas week!

Although it feels a long time ago since my first chemo on 23 August, at the same time it has also passed quite quickly, if that makes any sense!

Blackcat20 great news that your chemo is done and you have had a great response. Like Jojodot, I am also very similar to you and following your good progress thorugh the chemo was a help to me too. I haven't had any follow up MRI scans during my chemo but on examination, they have been happy that there is evidence of shrinkage and softening so I'm hoping the doc/her/per is doing its stuff for me too and I hope to starting hearing this month about follow up appointments being arranged with the surgeon and maybe for another MRI. It seems strange in a way that the chemo can be successful in dissolving the lump and cells in the lymph nodes but we still have to have surgery to remove......well, remove what? I was told that the chemo does not remove the need for surgery so I'm under no illusions and know that I will still be having the mastectomy. I feel exactly the same as you about not having a reconstruction. I don't want an implant and don't really want any more surgery than I need to. I am an A cup....I'm not even sure how much I will notice it gone!!! :-)

Northerner Margaret, if you don't mind, can I message you to ask a few more questions about Clarissa?!!

Hope everyone is enjoying some sunshine today!

xx

No problem Clarissa is very sociable @West End Girl

Off out to village Xmas fayre then lunch at lowther castle with birthday boy hubby 

margaretx

Northerner sounds lovely. Enjoy! Happy birthday to hubby!!