Chemotherapy begins

Well I found a friend with an electric shaver and my head is not bald but it is very close to it and the prickly feeling is much better.  Thanks for all your input. xx

Hi Jean

Great that you haven't had bad nausea, and able to go back to work for the "sanity". I am like you, after getting over the sideeffects, I prefer to go to work for a few hours a week, just to get my mind off it all.

I also use Sykpe to keep in touch with my friends in Adelaide.It's great !!

I still have 9 chemos to go, the next one is on Friday..... I need to do these each Friday for 9 weeks. Also, just seen my Radiologist last Monday. Need to start radiio, after I finish chemo, for 5 days a week for 6 weeks = 30 sessions........

Hope all is well, and keep up posted, Julie XX

Hi Julie

Well had a not too bad weekend at all.  Feel pretty good.  Spoke to my sisters in Scotland  via Skype yesterday and that is so helpful.  We are a pretty close family and skype is a godsend and being a good Scot I like it even better  '' cos it's free:)

I took all the anti nausea meds they gave me and I feel I can go to work tomorrow.  I would rather not sit on my bum at home when I can work and my employers have been absolutely fabulous.  Can't fault them at all.  Take all the time you need they said.  Fortunately I have heaps of sick leave accrued and other leave as well along with a 75% salary guarantee for up to 2 years.  Determined I won't need that!

My medical oncologist told me 4 words that have really buoyed me and my husband.

He saïd " I can cure you" if I complete all the treatment.  The chances of it recurring after treatmen is 20% or less, without it it shoots up to 50-60%.  No contest really.

  My hearts scan apparently was excellent.  My daughter reckons they may have had difficulty in finding it :)

How are you going?  So sorry to hear that you too lost a parent to this hellish disease.  Doesn't matter what age you are it is always devastating when your parent is lost to you.

How many more chemo do you have to go or are you done?  What's next on the agenda? 

Anyway need to go and make some tea and prepare for work tomorrow.  Hope you will have a good week and it's another step on the road to the finish line.:)

Yours aye

jean

Hi Jean

Great to hear that you have finished your  first chemo today... congrats...  :)

Yes, I think the anticipation of the "not knowing" when you have your first chemo. Hope you don't get too many side effects.  Just remember to take all your meds given to you, when you start to feel whatever the side effects. Try not to put up with them..... as I found out.... it isn't worth it. I thought I could handle some of them, but to no avail. I took the meds which helped heaps in  the end. So lesson learned for my next chemo.

Sorry to hear that you lost your dearest mum to this disease. It's just not fair is it? I actually lost my father to  Mesothelioma (asbestosis) last year. And I was diagnosed with BC basically a year later by a month. So I saw my father go through chemo and radiation. My parents live in Adelaide and I was commuting from Brisbane each fortnight. I couldn't bear to not see my dad... so I flew each fortnight to stay on the weekend. I did this for 18 months... must admit accumulated serious frequent flyer points...

It is good that you did catch this early, and now having the treatment needed to cure this. And also you need to do all the treatment as the oncologist has advised. As this will cure you.... Keep positive..

Keep us posted. Love as always Julie XX

Thank you chipmunk.  Overwhelmed by the responses as I said above.  Aren't women just the greatest when you need some solace and help. 

First chemo over today.  A few tears I have to admit but I think the anticipation is the worst thing.  I feel fine just now but not sure what to expect in the days to come:)

What the medical oncologist did say was " I can cure you" but only if I complete all the treatment which of course I have to. 

Having lost my dear mum to this disease at just the age I am now is pretty devastating but mine was caught early and hers wasn't.  Her cancer was pretty advanced when discovered.  There was not the screening and publicity then that we see now. 

Your aye

JeanW

Hi Chrissy, I understand the concern re infection and ingrown hair.  I think we become super vigilent when we start chemo.  I took the option of a no blade on the little clippers (these are little clippers with all these extra attachments not big hair clippers) rather than a shave (it is very close to a shave).  I have sensitive skin so I get a rash even when I shave my legs so I thought best not on my head (much to my husbands disappointment as he is bald and has all the "right stuff" for head shaving).  I have just been letting my hair fall out naturally on my legs and arms, so I figure it will happen on my head (although suprisinglynot yet).  I wash my head with my facewash or the cepetal soap and then every couple of days rub sorbolene and glycerine over it.  I also have little cotton caps with no seams that help when I go to bed.   I hope you find a solution soon.  Sleep is so important.

Thank you so much for your comments. I find them very helpful. I really need a friend who can relate in least situations and that is why I am here with you all. I had a bad third day yesterday and today I have started to feel like I belong again. The tablets must be better as it didn't take so long this time to stop the nausea. As for the spiky hair, I am a bit worried about getting an infection from shaving completely as I have been told it can cause ingrown hairs which can be a problem. I do toss and turn all night trying to get some sleep as it is very uncomfortable.