Diary & other helpful hints

hi I was given a diary by the chemo nurse with absolutely everything in that you both fill in with appts, meds, loads of useful tips and advice and where you tick the severity of any side effects and what to do if it happens. tried to upload  a picture don't think it's worked. I have just had my first treatment 2 days ago. kind friends have also given me notebooks so I have made my own too, with useful tel nos

Hi  welcome to the forum although sorry you find yourself here, it’s the best place to come for support ,answers or just plain chat

Definitely keep a diary / planner diary is invaluable during chemo for daily record of your cycle ie day 1 treatment ,2 nausea ,tired .3 etc etc 

you’ll find there is a pattern to your Side effects so you can then plan around them . Goods days are usually around day  13/15 til 21 then next treatment .

I bought bamboo beanies from Amazon then used hair bands in different colours to match outfits if it’s fun your looking for get the family to help choose fun wig .if you go to the chemo thread lots of hints and tip for getting thru treatment there is a link on the header 

chemo thread 

https://community.macmillan.org.uk/cancer_types/chat-breast-cancer/f/questions-about-diagnosis-and-treatment/229557/december-2021-january-february-2022-breast-cancer-chemo

Have a browse thru threads some interesting ones….walking back to happiness  & Awake are the two I usually hang around in .

Also have a read of some profiles lots of success stories if you click on my name you will be able to read mine sooty it’s a bit long been here nearly 3years  

keep posting 

Hi

Macmillan used to have a great app to keep track of things but they do endorse one called  Vinehealth (also endorsed by NHS)  which may be worth a look at ?

Jo x

I got a wall planner for all the appointments which was brilliant (in fact a got another one which I still use to remind me when all my appointments are as I have zoladex monthly etc).

I kept a diary during chemo, I just got a normal diary. I found ti so helpful to note down all side effects and anything that I did every day (went or a walk etc) so that i could look back in subsequent cycles and remember what to expect.

I am also mid 40s and got a variety of hats - beanies, warm winter hats etc, and I got a couple of pre-tied scarf hats from an online chemo shop. I got a wig but never wore it.

Another thing I did which really helped was cut off my very long hair ahead of chemo. Mine was really long so I donated it to a wig charity and then I shaved the rest off. It looked great, I was really surprised! And it made me feel in control. I was completely used to the look by the time my hair fell out and I didn't find it traumatic at all.

Good luck with chemo,

Thank you Margaret. My sister has bought me a bamboo beanie but I've got a feeling I might end up with a stash at the end

hev999 thank you. I've seen a nice diary on Amazon so I might pick that up as well. Can never have enough stationary

Beatthebreast i think that's amazing that you were able to donate your hair first. Really mine wasn't long enough but I did get it cut shorter back in December as a bit of a knee jerk action. I think when the time comes we'll have a family shave and make memories with the kids. I do like the of the pre-tied scarf ones. 

I got the pre-tied scarves from chemoheadwear.co.uk. I mostly wore hats but I wore the scarves when I went for treatment as I could keep them on and they covered my whole head. I would have found hats too warm for appointments and treatment and then wouldn't have wanted to take them off. 

Hi 

I used the OWise app for recording appointments and also my chemo side effects - it shows trends so you can easily see what usually happens at each stage of your cycle.   OWise also has lots of useful info and links.

I bought headwear from Anna Bandana who have a good range of colours and patterns - you can even get matching picc line covers if you have a picc.

Hopefully you won’t get many side effects but come on here if you want advice in dealing with them.  Best of luck!