Chemotherapy

Me too

Gez60

In terms of sickness, no-one knows how they will react until they start. I wasn't sick apart from once when I had fish and chips after my chemo (very bad idea) My friend has had her first EC 2 1/2 weeks ago and has been fine, she felt fuzzy and tired for a few days, and had a bit of bone pain from the injections, but has been fine. She has shaved her hair off today as it was starting to come out - I had my long hair cut short, and then when it started to fall out (for some reason I thought I would be the exception)  I had it shaved off - your hair coming out can be really sore and actually distressing, you have no idea how much hair you have until it starts to fall out. 

Actually having the chemo is really uneventful, if you can take in things to occupy you as there can be lots of waiting around at times. There is a Chemo thread in the main Breast Cancer thread, maybe worth looking and posting on there - it is for people currently or starting chemo.

Good luck

Jo x

Thank you, losing my hair really scares me, it seems such a dehumanising thing to go through. I didn't realise that it would actually hurt when it started falling out 

Hi, I just wrote a b,of post in my chemo experience- check out he blog called One Life Live It and you should see the latest post with my experience which might help. x

Gez60.....As the others have said ....no one knows how you personally will react to chemo. There have been so many developments even in the five years since I had it which can make it much easier but sometimes it's useful to prepare ' just in case' if your unit doesn't prepare for you. My unit gave me a prescription and advice for all eventualities and I know there are lots of others which do but I also know, some don't. 

So make sure you have both laxatives and immodium in the cupboard. These are probably the most commonly needed...either one or other and sometimes both!

Anti sickness pills may be essential depending on your reaction but always discuss this with your team because doses can be adapted to help if you do feel more than a bit nauseous . There are also various levels of pills so again always discuss how the chemo makes you feel.

I was told to use a non alcohol mouth wash every day from Day 1, twice a day and more if the mouth felt sensitive. I didn't have any mouth problems. It may have been coincidence but I got into a routine and continued until after I had finished radiotherapy.  The thinking in my unit was don't wait until you have a mouth problem. 

For my hair loss.....my OH shaved my head as it was hurting after only 14 days but I had anticipated not wanting to be bald and brought several, inexpensive turbans online before I began chemo. I had a really pretty one to put on straight away. Afterwards I found bamboo caps were the best. They are both warm or cool depending on temperature and I bought headbands from Claire's accessories that matched my clothes. They were always admired when I was out and it did give me back some self esteem.

I also treated my nails but sadly the recommended product has been discontinued so I can't help there. Perhaps you could ask in a chemist.? I put a protective coating on daily removing weekly with acetone free remover. I never lost a nail. Coincidence again?

My OH found that when I was feeling nauseous ginger infusions were soothing and if I didn't eat, he put sugar syrup into them to keep energy levels up. Others have said having ginger biscuits to hand can be useful.

I hope all goes well for you. If you know you have a few meds to hand to deal with any reaction, I think you will feel more confident. However you respond, the most important thing....never feel guilty. You are you......there isn't a right or wrong reaction....some people can continue working whilst others take all of the time between doses to recover. The doctors will do their best to adapt to you but at the end of the day.....the chemo is an important part of the fight against cancer and it will pass. My cancer has been clear nearly six years.

Take care. Don't forget to look for the June chemo thread to chat with others at the same point in treatment and share tips for the not so good days......and support for the good news.

Love Karen

I had long hair too and cut it off and donated it to a wig charity ahead of chemo then had a buzz cut. I felt much more in control that way and I was glad I had helped someone else via the donation. My hair didn't hurt when it fell out, it was my easiest side effect to deal with. In fact, it felt like it was permanently pulled back - I think because it felt so different in the buzz cut, so it was actually quite good when it fell out. I had been told that even with the cold cap (which I didn't want anyway) my hair would fall out on the drugs I was on, so I just took control at the beginning. My hair is now growing back and there's loads of it, and it is the same colour as before. I quite like it short and never would have had a short hairstyle if it wasn't for chemo! I am going to make the most of all the different hairstyles as my hair grows back to the length I'd like.

I also vomited for 24 hours after my first EC, but I really did overdo things in the first few hours. For the remaining cycles, I got really good anti-sickness medicine and that wasn't a problem again. Most people don't actually vomit any more as they give you loads of anti-sickness meds and you should take them as prescribed even if you feel fine.

Everyone reacts differently to chemo. I kept a diary of symptoms and found this extremely useful as I went through the cycles to look back.

Good luck, you can do this.

Thank you, that's really helpful xx