Pre Step 5

K.J you have a beautiful attitude and I like reading your posts. Good luck with your first chemo. Not to scare you and yes everyone is different but unfortunately for me my first chemo landed me in emergency and hospitalised for severe nausea and vomiting. I could not keep anything inside my body (both ends) and literally felt like dying. My oncologist recons I am 'special' lol and that it did hit me harder than most. I remember the next day in hospital waking up swollen beyond recognition (think it was fluid retention from the night in emergency when they pumped me full of it to replace what I've lost) the nausea was worse than morning sickness (and I had that with both pregnancies and hospitalised for that as well) I cried to my best friend and dreaded the months to follow because I dreaded feeling sick permanently and for so long. I was hospitalised for all my chemo sessions from there on in but they were much better tolerated although the nausea still was horrible. The nausea and vomiting for me was the worst and the overall yucky feeling in my body, but in hindsight, the yukky days are only a few (for me like 4 days after each treatment) then I started feeling better and by week 3 post chemo I felt pretty good and was ready for the next one. It did feel like the whole 2015 revolved around treatment and yes, it does feel like you loose that whole year but every treatment done is one step closer to the end of it, so don't fight it, listen to your body, tell your oncology team of any side effects that bug you so they can get on top of it. With regards to wigs, I bought one and ended up not wearing it really. Preferred pretty looking scarfs and even rocked the baldie at times which is fine. Looooooved not having hair (anywhere) and I was lucky that my brows stayed longest (only lost them by 2nd last chemo session). Im almost 1 year post cancer diagnosis and initial surgery.  Currently recovering from a hysterectomy (5 weeks ago) (I tested positive for the breast cancer gene mutation BRCA2 last October)  and consequently I have to have another mastectomy  this coming March and then hopefully reconstruction towards winter which will have pushed my treatment since diagnosis to almost a year and a half.  Does feel never ending but pushing upwards and onwards and really relying on family and friends to support us does help us get through.  Please keep us posted on how you go with chemo.  Sending you a big virtual hug xxx