Newly Diagnosed

Hi and welcome to the Online Community. I just dropped by and noticed you've not had an answer as yet to your post. Hope you're recovering well after your hysterectomy, I myself have a different type of cancer and didn't have the same treatments but whilst you're waiting for someone to come along and chat if you type Paclitaxel and carboplatin into the search bar at the top of this page you should find some answers which may be helpful. Hopefully the members here will be long to welcome you soon.

It’s always helpful to others if you write a little something (or a lot) about yourself and your journey to date. You can enter it into your profile (click on your username and select “Profile”) It’s helpful to other members with a similar diagnosis who can then hopefully answer your questions. It also means that you don't have to keep writing the same thing over and over. You can amend or update it at any time. 

To find more information covering diagnosis and treatments there are pages covering most types of cancers which can be found on our Online Information and Support Section. 

Macmillan Support Services also offer lots of information, support, financial guidance or just someone to listen. It’s free to call 0808 808 0000. Most services are available 8am to 8pm, 7 days a week. Have a look by Clicking here to see what is available and we also have our Ask an Expert section, but do allow two to three working days for replies from our expert team.

Sending you welcoming hugs B xx

Hi babidee1

Just to welcome you really, and to say you will come through the other side... I have just finished the 6 rounds of chemotherapy after a full hysterectomy in Dec and a grade 1c mucinous ovarian cancer diagnosis. my mass was  large 17 x 9 cm. it had a small rupture so that was why I had the chemo to mop up any rogue cells. 

Its very weird trying to get your head around what you are being told, with time and a good support network it will get easier, you should try to be as honest with yourself and family as much as you can, they do tend to take the lead from yourself. Just make sure you are ok with everyone knowing as we all react differently to the news and some will be forever asking you for updates and questions you may not know the answers to yet.

it was 6 weeks to my first chemo session,  eating well and a positive outlook is essential. I’m now cancer free.

I would say the fear of chemo is very real, I found the period between diagnosis and starting chemo, stressful..I was basically scared, I didn’t know what to expect, there was a lot of tears. I reacted ok thankfully to session 1 and had about 4 days of being groggy and tired but picked up quite quickly.. and in the following period was bouncing around the house, buzzing in fact. So it’s not all doom and gloom, of course you will have good and not so good days as you go on.

oncologist said stick to the lockdown rules, try to avoid supermarkets at peak times, avoid people who have colds or are unwell but to go out for exercise

The anti sickness drugs are really effective , first chemo I had the anti sickness through the drip, but on second session , I took a tablet. They give me 3 further tablets to take on evening of session, then next morning, following evening. I try to eat as well and snack  as often as I can and I didn’t feel sick. I took the approach of always having something in my tummy and it works for me.

 The drugs go in via a cannula in your hand and that can be a bit uncomfortable going in..but the nurse said drink lots of water for 3 days prior to chemo session as it plumps your veins up and easier to get needle in.

My first session was long, they take it slow to make sure you don’t have a reaction to any of the drugs, first chemo via drip I had antihistamine,steroid, and anti sickness, then 2 chemo  drugs with a line flush in between all of these and a final flush for 30 mins, went in at 11:30 came out at 7pm...

My hair started coming out on day 16, and it was quick, I had been seeing a “wig lady” and got to see her and we shaved it off, it happens with this set of drugs...it was hard, but for me shaving it off was better than the hair constantly shredding... you may be offered a cold cap... it worked for b.positive ( fabulous, wise poster on here)

Second chemo slightly quicker by an hour.

My chemo centre was modern, chairs are in groups of four, both times there have been wonderful ladies willing to share their experiences, and the first session  I crumbled a bit, few tears and they soon got me back on track. I spent most of the time listening to them and got some fantastic tips from them.

Volunteers bring around tea, sandwiches, crisps and fruit so they feed you as well.

I kept a chemo diary ....Wednesday was chemo day so I was expecting to feel groggy and achy on the following Friday and over weekend, from Monday I picked up and felt ok...

My oncologist saw me a week before my second session to make sure I was ok, what I had experienced in case he needed to tweak the doses.. answer any questions I had ....so you are monitored all the time and I have a number to call if I need to speak to an expert out of hours, so that’s comforting.

chemo #3 I had a bit of sickness and achy legs and very tired ....lasted again from Friday night to Sunday morning, so a pattern does start to emerge.

chemo 4 to 6 followed same pattern and there is a cumulative effect... more fatigue, and I had a couple of mouth ulcers and tingling in feet and thumbs.

The actual chemo sessions i treated as counselling sessions the nurses were lovely and there was a group of ladies going every 3 weeks so you saw the same faces and they were all very chatty, my centre was actually a very happy place to go.

I suppose the best advice is to try to be in the best physical state you can be eat well, drink lots of water, try to stay active, little walks and try to find some mindful distractions ... a lady suggested knitting/crochet...adult colouring... I have been using the sewing machine a lot as it needs focus...others read... whatever you enjoy.

I have finished my six sessions in June, saw oncologist for final post treatment debrief, my CA125 was 6, and he told me I am cancer free so my overall view is it is tough, but it’s do able

i have had a 3 month check and CA125 is now 5 and will have another lot of blood tests and scans in 3 months. But I’m Cancer free and normal according to oncologist.

It’s tough but you will get through to the other side just like I did, lots of ladies on here have lots of knowledge to give and will virtually hold your hand every step of the way if you want them too.

Good luck for your first chemo, and all the best xx

Sue

Hi, hope you are keeping well. Thank you so much for your in-depth information of your journey. I had my first chemo treatment yesterday and your positive post really helped me through the day. I am feeling a little more positive now about the outcome. 

Durning lock down i took up card making which i find very relaxing. My next venture is to learn the art of quilting. luckily my main form of exercise before I started feeling unwell, I cant do much at the moment but do al little most days.

I tried the cold cap yesterday not as bad as I thought it would be. I know the hair loss is inevitable but trying to minimise the loss. I was told that the hair loss is temporary have you find this to be true. My daughter also got me some cold gloves and socks to try and avoid the tingling and pain in the fingers I do not know how effective this will be.

One down five to go. I am just going to try to keep my mind busy, deal with the side effects when it comes, and not to think too much about the next session.

Thank you for sharing and 

All the best

Bxx

HI B, 

Well done, that’s exactly the right attitude…one down and 5 to go…

With my hair yes it took about 6 weeks for me, and then came through thick and fast over the next 2 weeks….it now looks like a short crop…my eyebrows stayed nearly to the end of chemo and were back within a month.

I never knew about cold gloves so definitely give those a go….my toes were my tinglings but not terrible…I did a lot of knitting to keep my fingers moving….you will get side effects and it varies so much from person to person so your right not to worry about them …do take the anti nausea pills as they are really helpful.

Thanks for the reply and be super kind to yourself over the next few months,

Big hug 

Sue x