@jmichelle wishing you the best for your TC chemo. I've just finished mine a week ago and currently having a nice little break in Queensland before I commence radiation on Tuesday.
if your not having the cold cap your hair will fall out quite drastically from day 13, on day 12 imine was all there and by day 14 half of it was gone. My eyebrows are virtually non-existent right now and I'm drawing them in with the eyebrow pencil I was given at the Look Good Feel Better workshop. The workshop was brilliant and I highly advise you do it.
i treated myself in each week three. Went to an open garden/meal out/winery trip, that sort of thing and I also had a facial. The facial was my extra special treat, something I've very rarely done but had every three weeks and for me it was the bees knees and gave me something to look forward to. It was my pamper , what ever your dream pamper, book it in, it will give you something to focus on when you're feeling unwell.
I also prepared for the worst and hoped for the best. I had an overnight bag packed ready to throw into the car in case I had a rushed trip to hospital (never used) and had a chemo caddy (small basket) I had with me for at home with lip balm, hand cream, my book, pen and note book, thermometer, water bottle, Panadol and ginger tasting sweets and fruit tingles to suck on when the mouth felt awful.
My biggest advice would be drink 2 1/2 - 3 litres water a day in that first week of chemo and even into second. I believe that was the one thing that helped me the most.
Overall it was doable, it was scary to start and I remember the nervousness of fronting up at the oncology clinic for first treatment. After that I was fine.
Anything else I can help you with please ask. Good luck! Kick cancer! Take care xxxxx
