Morning all

Hi,

Try not to worry - easier said than done I know.

I’m halfway through my chemotherapy and it is nowhere near as dreadful as I thought it might be. Yes, you won’t feel great at times, but take comfort from the fact that the drugs are tackling your cancer

Take the time between now and the start of your treatment to be as well as you can be when you start - eat healthily, drink lots of water, sleep as well as you can.

Very best wishes, you’ll feel better once you start

Thank you for your reply. It's good to hear that chemotherapy wasn't as bad as you anticipated.

It's the not knowing and anticipation that really gets to me. I'm sure I will be better when I have a definite plan. One step at a time.

Good luck for the rest of your treatment. X

Hi Lily Anne and welcome to the forum. I'm one of the community champions here and just thought I’d say hello.  I had chemo before my lumpectomy (to shrink the lump before they removed it) and no doubt it was tough, but most people find a way to work through it.

I blogged throughout my treatment, but this blog post, about chemo, might be useful for you. Chemo hints and tips

best wishes 

Hi Lily Anne, 

Welcome! I find crochet makes me feel good. Productively occupied. I can see the progress I've made. I hope it helps you too in these tough days and nights. I have secondary cancer so treatment is very different for me. No surgery, no radiation, no chemo (or at leadt none of these yet). I'm on hormone treatment and taking targeted therapy drugs. So can't really help with knowing chemo or surgery, but I can swap crochet pics!! First frog just needs an arm stitched on, then I'm  starting a second frog using a completely different pattern. You can see his pouch is actually a secret pocket! What are you making just now? I'm usually more of a practical crafter - hats, blankets, socks, bags etc. 

Take care xx

Hi I have just recently made myself a hat and mittens for my recent visit to Scotland. Whilst I was there I picked up a kit to make a highland cow, I love them. I will be starting that after my surgery on Thursday. Anything to keep me occupied really. The frog is cute. 

I live in Scotland, yeah wrapping up is advised! I hope the mittens and scarf kept you cosy =)

Highland cows are great, I'm lucky yo be able to see them quite frequently,  including calves! Good luck with your kit, and I hope your surgery goes well xx

Hello same here had to have a second biopsy to check HER status 

waiting for that result and my oncology referral it’s been 8 weeks to get here day and night anxiety distraction is not easy 

I too am scared of chemo ! So many different reactions on here . I hope I can hack it and carry on with things for the next six months 

Thank you. Take care. Happy crocheting 

It's awful isn't it? It's almost 10 weeks for me since my diagnosis. It literally is all I can think about. I feel exhausted through lack if sleep and anxiety. It's going to be a few more weeks yet before I see the oncologist. Hope everything goes well for you 

Good morning....

I know waiting is a worrying time. I was lucky as I didn't have to wait long before treatment started but even then , the unknown, terrifies.

However, try not to worry about chemo or radiotherapy until you have a plan and even then, many people have little reaction at all to the treatments. I read on here people who continue working throughout although if your circumstances allow I would advise you take the time off to allow your body to recuperate.

Since I had chemo, there have been many improvements as oncologists have recognised how devasting some of the reactions were. Many now give the taxotere weekly, a dose the body copes better with or they use 80% of the original meaning perhaps an extra cycle but less problems. Also they recognise not everyone needs chemo these days. I had both chemo and radiotherapy but my sister needed neither. We are 9 years and 5 years clear respectively so it shows that individual assessment does work.

While you are waiting there are a few things you can do in preparation. A freezer with ready cooked, simple meals like soup or shepherds pie or simple slices of meat. You may not feel like cooking and spicy, herby foods are not always tempting. Just in case.....have a few ginger infusions to hand and ginger biscuits. If you should get nauseous, these will help settle the stomach. Even if you don't like ginger now, you will find your taste could change during chemo. My OH added glucose to the ginger drink to help with energy if I didn't eat.

Nails can be affected by chemo. My clinic gave good advice. I used a nail protector every day from Day 1. You can ask in a chemist. You put it on for six days then remove with acetone free remover, then start again. I did this for several months after treatment finished too . It might have been coincidence but I never lost a nail.

Also get a non alcohol mouthwash and use twice a day from Day 1. Again coincidence ? I never had an ulcer or mouth problem. It's worth just doing it. Also use the wash additional times if later during the cycles your mouth tingles. Don't wait until you get an ulcer to start. Start at the beginning. 

Finally if you are not using a cold cap, order some pretty turbans online now. I had about ten to match everything and the boost to morale if people commented when I had no hair underneath. To have something pretty ready for the day you lose your hair is quite important. I ordered three bamboo caps which are both cool and warm depending on temps and decorated with inexpensive , pretty head bands.

I wish you all well. If you are unfortunate and do react , at least it is a relatively short time of your life. Eternity while it is happening but suddenly it is over and BC is very successfully treated these days. 

If you have questions or are upset or angry, try chatting on Awake. Lots of experience on the thread as well as empathy and laughter....you may need to laugh sometimes!

Take care. Love Karen