august starters 2023

Sorry to hear this. I hope you feel better soon my lovely. Sending hugs xx. 

Sorry to hear that Djct.  I hope you feel better soon. xx

I started on Thursday 17th, with the first chemo dose.  It’s is helping to know that others are doing so too. Thank you.

My first round is tomorrow and I am getting very anxious now ! 
don’t know what I should take with me 

what should I wear -I assume short sleeves and take a blanket 

what should I eat in the morning 

I have to be there at 8:30 am and I really struggle to eat that early normally 

I am also trying the cold cap 

Hi Judes. The day before feels like such a big day doesn’t it, a kind of last day of normality before the start of a new regime which has a lot of unknowns. I was sitting with a lady who was trying the cold cap for the first time and she found it perfectly manageable, although it unmistakably felt like an ice pack on your head, which had a kind of numbing effect for her! I found it was quite warm in the chemo suite so certainly short sleeves with perhaps a little cotton shawl, or light Cardi to put round your shoulders if needed. Also most women were wearing skirts or cropped trousers and sandals.

I was advised to eat normally and take any normal medication on the morning. The chemo suite was run like a very slick operation and there was a fridge well stocked with food which was freely available for people who were there throughout the day. Example, sandwiches, jelly, biscuits, and cake together with hot and cold drinks.

As a ‘ first timer’ the people on either side of me took me under their wing and helped me to settle in. It feels like such a big thing going for the first time, but the vast majority of people there looked completely at home and comfortable with what was going on.

Enjoy today as much as you can - I know that’s very hard as tomorrow feels very consuming. By this time tomorrow you will be well underway with this important treatment.  Let us know how you get on, and I hope the experience is as good as it can be for you. Welcome to the club!

Hi Judes I had my first chem last wed it wasn't actually as bad as I thought obviously it is always the unknown and what to expect you can take drinks and snacks with you but the ward did offer tea/coffee and biscuits. I would take a blanket or something to wrap around you if you having the cold cap a wide tooth comb and condioner that is used before the cold cap is put up .I also used cold cap it was put on half an hour before chemo started and during treatment and then for a lot longer time after it does make the appointment a lot longer for me I tried it and I won't be using it again the first 10 mins is the worst total brain freeze but then gets easier . Be good to hear how you get on good luck  

Hope you are ok not too many side effects

Hi all, I hope you are all doing as ok as you can be. I have read and re read this thread so many times - I don't know if that's a good thing or not lol. I am trying really hard not to let the upcoming treatment be all that I think about, but with work being so quiet at the minute, I find myself gravitating here more and more.

This week seems like it's going to be the longest week in the world! I have things planned for the weekend seeing friends and family and will try and get some more pruning done in the garden on Bank Holiday Monday. Anything to keep busy I guess. 

I am due the call from a chemo nurse next Tuesday - 29th. Appointment with onco consultant - Dr Sampson on 30th, then 31st is my first day. - 2pm.

I know you all know what this waiting time feels like, so I am just hanging in there and I'll write up what happens when I've had the first cycle. (Scheduled 4 x EC, then 4 x Docetaxel)

Wish me luck !

Sending you all the best of everything and take care 

Lisa xx

Hi, I always come to the threads to see how people are doing and getting on, I have a phone call with one of the consultants today and have got my 3rd cycle of ec tomorrow at 11.15, my last lots of bloods from 2nd cycle show my iron is low so had gastroscopy yesterday they can't find anything that would cause bleeds but have taken biopsies one to rule out coeliac disease and they are now recommending qfit test and colonoscopy and if that don't show anything a capsule endoscopy x

Lisa - you mention your oncologist - is that Leicester?