Well only a few more days left of normal and then back into it again. My hair is starting to snap off now, lucky that i had it shaved to a number 2. but i still shed a tear when that first clump came out in my fingers. My throat has been sore too for a week or more - have gotten antibiotics and am on my second course now.I think its probably more mouth ulcers that are making it sore. Now i have been feeling better, its been great going back to work for a few hours, I get so bored at home. I hope that everyone has had a really lovely xmas and wish all you lovely ladies the very best for this coming new year. Wish me luck for round 2, luv Sue x

I think that first round is the worst because of the hair loss (and discomfort of this!) and the sore throat. My throat was worse the first FEC and the first Docetaxel. I hope this second round goes as smoothly as possible. Take care. Deanne xx

It's hard with the hair loss. I think once it's all out its better. That was my experience anyway. Good luck with your next chemo. I continually gargled either saltwater or sodium bicarbonate mouthwashes during my treatment which may help with your sore throat. Take care. Paula :)

Hi sue. I had my first TC at the same time as you. I was advised to suck on lemonade iceblocks ( icy poles) during the infusion and had no mouth problems at all. Took them in a little eskie lunchbox with ice. Had the throat tho. I found the strong manuka honey, just a bit on a spoon, every hour or two and especially at night and in the mornings soothed it amazingly but then I am biased probably being a kiwi. I will be a week late with the second round as I am in Saigon airport on a delayed holiday! Had my long hair cut short Christmas Eve. Cried a river. Now I am moulting like a sick chook! Sigh...... Not brave enough to shave it yet. Itchy tho. Good luck for the 2nd. Let us know how it goes. Julie

Chemo no. 2 -2nd Jan | BCNA Online Network

19 Replies

Bearteggie
Member
12 years ago
Thanks Sue for your note. My oncology appointment went well and I have since had my first round of chemo last Friday. Feeling ok, no nausea or vomiting, just feeling tired in the afternoons. I go for a 45 min walk each day and continue to do light housework. I seem to be on the phone a lot talking to friends etc which I find tiring but I appreciate that I have so much support around me. Hope you are going well too.

Love Joy xx
Sue_H
Member
12 years ago
Hope that your oncology appt went ok. Its always scary the first time but the nurses and doctors are really caring and i am sure that you will be well looked after. Thinking of you Best wishes Sue x
Bearteggie
Member
12 years ago
Hi Sue,

I am glad you are feeling a little better and have been able to go back to work. Reading your post is very informative for me who is yet to start chemo and your tips re sore throat and ulcers are good to know about.

I will be thinking of you on the 2nd as you go for your second round of chemo. I will having my first chemo oncology appointment on the same day.

I hope your 2nd round is better than your 1st and wishing you lot of love and healing for 2014.

Lots of love

Joy xx
Sue_H
Member
12 years ago
I heard that the satin pillowcases were good too, I was going to head to the op shops and see what i could find. I have been sleeping with my zonta pillow that i got in hospital after my mastectomy under my head and that has been good. I hope that your sore throat clears up, the second course of my antibiotics have helped me. Good luck for your next chemo on the 7th will be thinking of you Sue x
Sue_H
Member
12 years ago
I am definately going to try the biotene mouthwash this time and see how it goes. Thanks for your kind words and support Sue x
yetbeung
Member
12 years ago
I'm now up to that part too...my oncologist said it was going to happen quite quickly for me (as in all gone after 2 weeks from first chemo) however all hair from the neck up was hanging on for dear life, l was very excited when other unwanted body hair was coming out easily! Now l'm finding little spikes of hair everywhere & it's bothering me more than l thought it would - l love having a shaved head, but now it looks like a moth eaten blanket& the "junkie" look is not quite what l was going for. I wish it would all drop out at once & be done with it, half tempted to have a shower & scrub my head with a loofah mitt to get the job done, as its all coming out in my fingers anyway...every time l scrach, a clump comes out. Sigh. Someone told me to get a satin pillowcase as it feels less abrasive than cotton etc. but its proving hard to find a cheap one, actually, one at all - lm going to head to ebay for one, can get everything there! I've had no mouth issues either, l've been using peter mac mouthwash (tastes salty) & just salt water to gargle, also been drinking a lot of pineapple juice & freezing it into cubes to suck on. Mini calippos are also brilliant. I had a sore throat too, nobody was worried about it as temp was fine & l had no cough or mucus. Now, l have cough, mucus from nose & throat, sinus pain & body aches, am on the 2nd course of anti biotics an it appears to be shifting finally. Im hoping it doesn't cause delays with my next round of chemo on 7th Jan. if it decides to hang around. Good luck with it, hopefully you will get some good advice on here that helps :-) l've found the place invaluable!! From Bobbie
yetbeung
Member
12 years ago
I'm now up to that part too...my oncologist said it was going to happen quite quickly for me (as in all gone after 2 weeks from first chemo) however all hair from the neck up was hanging on for dear life, l was very excited when other unwanted body hair was coming out easily! Now l'm finding little spikes of hair everywhere & it's bothering me more than l thought it would - l love having a shaved head, but now it looks like a moth eaten blanket& the "junkie" look is not quite what l was going for. I wish it would all drop out at once & be done with it, half tempted to have a shower & scrub my head with a loofah mitt to get the job done, as its all coming out in my fingers anyway...every time l scrach, a clump comes out. Sigh. Someone told me to get a satin pillowcase as it feels less abrasive than cotton etc. but its proving hard to find a cheap one, actually, one at all - lm going to head to ebay for one, can get everything there! I've had no mouth issues either, l've been using peter mac mouthwash (tastes salty) & just salt water to gargle, also been drinking a lot of pineapple juice & freezing it into cubes to suck on. Mini calippos are also brilliant. I had a sore throat too, nobody was worried about it as temp was fine & l had no cough or mucus. Now, l have cough, mucus from nose & throat, sinus pain & body aches, am on the 2nd course of anti biotics an it appears to be shifting finally. Im hoping it doesn't cause delays with my next round of chemo on 7th Jan. if it decides to hang around. Good luck with it, hopefully you will get some good advice on here that helps :-) l've found the place invaluable!! From Bobbie
Janey235
Member
12 years ago
Hope you were well enough to enjoy your Christmas. I had icy poles through the chemo infusion and used Biotene mouth wash too and I didn't have trouble with mouth sores at all but perhaps I was just lucky. I cut my hair short before chemo and them when it started to fall out I got my husband to shave it off. I cried buckets too but I got used to it pretty quickly and it was sooo good not to have an itchy and sore scalp afterwards. Good luck with your next one Sue. Now that you know what to expect it should be easier to bear. I hope 2014 is kind to you and and you can look back on it as the year of healing. Love Janey xxx
Janey235
Member
12 years ago
Hope you were well enough to enjoy your Christmas. I had icy poles through the chemo infusion and used Biotene mouth wash too and I didn't have trouble with mouth sores at all but perhaps I was just lucky. I cut my hair short before chemo and them when it started to fall out I got my husband to shave it off. I cried buckets too but I got used to it pretty quickly and it was sooo good not to have an itchy and sore scalp afterwards. Good luck with your next one Sue. Now that you know what to expect it should be easier to bear. I hope 2014 is kind to you and and you can look back on it as the year of healing. Love Janey xxx
Sue_H
Member
12 years ago
Thanks for your support. I will try the Biotene mouthwash and toothpaste because I cant tolerate the bicarb taste either - was wondering if there was any other choices. I find myself wandering aimlessly around the house a lot looking for stuff to do - but you are right the peace and quiet at home is priceless. Best wishes Sue x