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Hi lily Anne,

I had a lumpectomy and removal of sentinels, chemo, radiotherapy and now on Letrozole for 5 years.

I was so anxious I didn't work from diagnosis till treatment completed. I have only just returned to work phased return.

I had EC chemo, I could not have worked I suffered gastric side effects and fatigue. However we are all different and some people have managed to work throughout.

You won't know exact how it's going to affect you until your in treatment. Listen to your body, eat healthy when you can. Keep hydrated and try some gentle exercises. 

Good luck with your recovery. Sending hugs. Keep us updated xx

Thank you for replying. I will just have to take each day as it comes 

I have been warned by my specialist that I might need the entire time off work. I guess I'm in denial. 

Did you try/use the cold cap? 

Hi Lilly Anne,

No I didn't use the cold cap. You need to have it on an hour or two before and after chemo. It looks painful and there are no guarantees it will work. 

My hair fell out a day after my 2nd cycle. I had 4 cycles of EC 3 weekly xx

Thank you. Xx

Hi Lily Anne,

You will get a voucher for a wig. I love my wig it's close to my own hairstyle.

Many people have remarked how lovely my hair is not realising it's a wig.

On a positive no bad hair days.

I thought I would have been devastated loosing my hair but I wasn't. I was a bit sad but it will grow back.

Be kind to yourself and do what feels right for you. Sending hugs xx

Thank you so much. I have been looking at wigs. I want to get one before my hair falls out to hopefully make it less stressful. It does help hearing from people that have experienced it. Xx

I got my voucher from the team before my chemo started. I made an appointment and had my wig ready before my hair fell out.

The girl who fitted it was lovely. She told Mr to keep practicing putting it on before I needed it.

Now I'm a pro ha ha can put it on properly without the use if a mirror.

My treatment finished in October so I now have a covering of dark hair about a cm in length. It's coming in darker and thicker than before it fell out.

Xxx

Hi Lily Anne, sorry you have joined this club no-one wants to be a member of. My daughter is just coming to the end of 20 months of treatment ... 22 chemo cycles, 3 surgeries and 15 sessions of radiotherapy.

No denying it's been very tough with some very low days ( for both of us). Daughter started off cold capping but found it the worst part of treatment. By the third cycle, she had lost more than 80% of her hair anyway and decided to stop using it. She felt much better 'taking control', asked her hairdresser to take off what remained of her hair and developed her own style with chemo head wear (lots of choice on Etsy). She hated wearing a wig. Her hair is now about three inches long, thick and curly.

She was able to continue working most of the time - a couple of weeks off after each surgery and usually two or three days after chemo, mainly due to nausea. She also had to take the final week of radiotherapy off and the week after that. Her employers were very understanding.

You will get through this. Take it a day at a time. Enjoy the days when you're feeling okay - you'll get to know when they will be in each cycle. Try and do 'normal' things then - see friends, go out, treat yourself. Make sure you ask your medical team any questions you have, never think anything is 'not important enough'. The nurses are a great source of knowledge and support and often have more time than doctors. 

Keep posting here. Sending strength, very best wishes for your treatment and a big hug!

Thank you so much. I can't tell you how much it helps me already reading about others journeys. I will try not to go too far ahead with my thinking, and try to take each day at a time. I have just had a lovely week in Scotland before heading home tomorrow. Surgery number 2 on Thursday and chemotherapy soon after. I will keep updating my progress. Thank you again. 

I think I have already decided not to go ahead with the cold cap. I will spend time getting the right wig and other head coverings. You have helped me so much and given me more confidence already. Thank you. I will keep updating