Treatment Decision

This is good news, Beverley. Wishing you all the best for your treatment and a Happy Christmas x

Hi Beverley

good to catch up with you and great that you now have a plan it makes such a difference and like me you feel you just want to crack on ! I had my first chemo last week I’m having FLOT it went well very few side affects next session next Thursday so we will see how I feel after that hair thinning but still have it at the moment although daughter wants to get me a wig for Christmas (joy) CT scan booked in Jan. I on a feeding tube husband and I have it cracked we joke I’m like a electric car recharged overnight ! 

thank you for getting back to me have a good Christmas and stay positive we can get through this !

Tricia 

all the best with the treatment beverley, has any one mentioned cold capping, i did it through breast cancer treatment, and when this little sh~te arrived, also during my 5 weekly chemo sessions like yourself, yes its cold, and adds a bit more time on to being in the chemo ward, but as i had a right masectomy, was down to 6stone 8, i couldnt lose anything else.  hair is slightly thinner, but still there.

if you get a minute google "look good feel better" cancer workshops, especially the cold capping one, they advise dont immediately shave all your hair off as it can be styled to cover up.  deffo worth a check, the breast cancer nurse told me literally on the day of being told of my diagnosis and the masectomy op, "oh cut your long hair short, then it wont be so traumatic when it falls out!!" no mention of cold capping , the paxman team, who made this gadget were horrified, so if you do want it , stand your ground, hope this helps, and sending hugs for the treatment, recovery and results

jules

Hi Jules. Thanks for the information. No one has mentioned cold capping, although I have heard of it. To be honest, at the moment, the hair loss issue, seems like the least of my concerns. I keep being told how brutal the combined chemo and radiotherapy will be, with every likelihood of the need for a feeding tube due to the pain I will have from the radiotherapy, although the difficulty I have eating just now, that might be happening anyway.  I remember Chris Hoy saying how painful the cold cap was, I’m not sure I would want more pain to deal with but I will certainly make some enquiries about it.

Thanks again. Beverley 

Hi Beverley

My treatment was exactly the same as yours, the same chemo drugs weekly for 5 weeks and 23 sessions of radiotherapy and then surgery 6 weeks later.

My oncologist told me that my hair would thin on the dosage I was on but that I would be unlucky to lose it all. In the event, I would say that I lost just over half my hair, mostly on the top of my head. I didn't have any bald patches, just a parting that was a bit wider than usual. My treatment was in January and it's thickening up nicely now. 

I did have the cold cap for a previous cancer many years ago and it didn't work well for me but it's well worth considering. You will be on the ward for quite a bit longer though.

I wish you all the best for your coming treatment, The waiting for test results and decisions is the worst time I think.

Mutti

Good luck with your treatment Beverley will be thinking of you xx

Thank you Mutti, for your information. I’m just back from having the radiotherapy planning CT and I’ve been given my schedule for radiotherapy, starting on the 8th January.  I feel so much better now that there is a clear plan in place.  Merry Christmas. Bx

Update

My first chemotherapy and radiotherapy sessions are on the 8th January.  Unfortunately, over the last week or so I have not been able to get any food down and am only managing Ensure drinks and Ice Cream. The dietician has said it’s time for a nasogastric feeding tube to be fitted as I can’t afford to lose any more weight. I go into tomorrow to have it fitted under X Ray, and have to stay in overnight for monitoring and to be trained to use it.  I’m a bit apprehensive about coming home on Christmas Eve and having to deal with this just when everything shuts down for Christmas.  If anyone has any tips for living with a nasogastric tube it would be appreciated.

Beverley

Hi Beverley 

they tried to fit a nasogastric feed tube for me but could not get it through the tumour so ended up with a jej and have been coping with that fine but sorry have no experience of a nasogastric tube but guess it’s similar. 
 I had a nurse and dietitian visit me when I got home and gave me support numbers to call if I was unsure about anything and they have been great I don’t expect they will be working Christmas Day but think all back to normal on Boxing Day. 
hope all goes well and I’m sure they won’t let you home unless your 100% happy 

sending hugs 

Tricia 

Thanks Tricia. I’m not sure what a jej is? Bx