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Heidi_62's avatar
Heidi_62
Member
13 years ago

First chemo down!

I had my first chemo yesterday! It was supposed to be Monday but guess what....they tell me to have my tablets at 11 on Monday come in at 1 then sit me in the comfy chair have a heat pack ready then I keep waiting until after half an hour they say they are still waiting on results from a heart test I had to do before I started so I was fine. Kept waiting, an hour and 15 goes by then they tell me they can't get the results back because the one that does it isn't in so they said I have to come in Tuesday. 

I was in shock I got myself all ready for day one to be over then I had to wait til the next day.

Lucky my daughter lives there. It was a big drive so I stayed with her that night. Next day we had to wait for the call to tell me its all go so finally i got the first one down Tuesday. I have 5 more to go then radiotheraphy i think thats how you spell it then im on tamoxifin for 5 years.

I've been getting annoyed with people telling me I have such beautiful hair...poor you have you got a wig ready if they want to make me cry they know how to go about it.  I have natural long dark red hair so thats what they all look at and feel sorry for me its crap that just makes things worse i was going to get this red wig that almost matched mine but they sold the last 2 to the local drag queen so that just put me off. I'm going blonde - dont want to match him anyway!

See how it all goes just want it all over so I can start having a good time with the girls.

chemotherapy

5 Replies

  • Mich_x's avatar
    Mich_x
    Member
    13 years ago

    Hey Heidi

    Way to go getting straight on to the hair and have a few drinks to celebrate its fairwell and a few laughs and a few tears and then you have your new wig to wear and you will be fine. Your scalp will get a bit sore for a while but I found once my hair was gone it was better.  I washed my scalp with a gentle baby shampoo straight after shaving to make sure no infection set in and continued to do that occasionally.  I also rubbed moisturiser such as sorbolene or bio oil or similar in occassionally but not all the time.  I still use baby shampoo today and my hair is grown back...... Have you got like little soft stocking type or ribbing type cap to wear under your wig.  You can get them from wig shops.  I found that very handy as it stopped any itching.  You are lucky it is cooler weather, well it is here in Perth :-)  raining today.

    I had to travel 400 klms for my chemo which I did on my own for the first couple and my dog for company :-)  My dog stayed at my friends and I stayed at accommodation for country patients.  I did go back to my daughters for a couple of days after the chemos as I pretty much was what I call comatosed for the first few days and then I improved enough to drive back home.  I had 3 FEC and found them quite doable.  Just the first few days  were the worst.  Then I had to do my last 3 or 4 chemos only an hours drive away as I was unable to travel that full distance anymore but the worst part was coming home and being on my own most of the time.  You are lucky to have your hubby and a daughter around, my hubby  worked away and my friends and family were 400klms away.  It was very hard for my support  to not be there for me as well.  

    I hope you nurture yourself throughout your chemo, eat well, drink lots of fluids and gentle exercise when you are able will all help.  Has your chemo nurse given you a list of possible (note I say possible only) side effects and what you can do to help with these?

    Take care when around crowds, hygiene for the whole family is important, stay away from sick people and kiddies and do everything you can to stay well as your immune system will be low from the chemo.

    Wishing you wellness, come back for a chat anytime you need, I will be here for you or not far away or otherwise one of the other lovely ladies will be more than happy to have a chat.

    Lots of love always, Mich xoxoxo

  • Heidi_62's avatar
    Heidi_62
    Member
    13 years ago

    hi mich i had to travel for an hour to get there so i wasnt going to turn around go home and come back again the next day my husband drove me down then i stayed at my daughters place lucky she lives down there so i waited with her till they called us back the next day im just glad to have one down now 5 to go they put me on the fec chemo for the first 3 sessions then im not sure what im on for the final 3 im going to get my head shaved this week and start wearing the wig my hair is already starting to feel weird and drying out so im going to get that out of the way  thanks for the reply needed it  x xx x x  x x xx  xx x  heidi

  • Heidi_62's avatar
    Heidi_62
    Member
    13 years ago

    thanks for the reply i know i just have to learn not to take in what people say and just get on with this and look forward to the future im on fec chemo for the first 3 sessions then not sure what im on for the last 3 but cant wait for it to be over had a crap morning today so i think i will just take it easy x x  x x x x x x 

  • mgndam1603's avatar
    mgndam1603
    Member
    13 years ago

    it has been my experience that anything that can go wrong does in regard to my BC so now I have no expectations. It is crappy though to have your 1st chemo rescheduled like that its hard enough and scary enough without that sort of thing happening.

    Try and disregard the things people say, I know that many people think they are being supportive but our hair is a big part of us and the thought of losing it is hard to deal with, we all understand and believe me you may very well get to the point that I am at now were I am grateful it is growing back.

    Good luck with it all.

    Donna

  • Mich_x's avatar
    Mich_x
    Member
    13 years ago

    OMG!!!!! heidi that is the pits.......the first chemo is hard enough but then to be stuffed around and have to go away and come back the next day and go through it all over again.

    I know I would be anything from happy.  Sounds like you handled well though.

    Hopefully next time will be a smooth run for you.  Hiw far do you have to travel for your chemo.  Did you have to go on your own or did you have someone with you?

    Lots of love, Mich xoxo