confused

Just wondering how you did with the cold cap you used durin your treatment,, I no it was a while ago, but asking anyhow,, hope you are doing great!!! Love Lorraine.

Thanks Sandy :o) I think of the flying boob daily. Cracks me up!!

If you feel the need to have private contact (no offence anyone!)

rosssandy@bigpond.com

0488159285

I found the support from other BC women powerful as no one who hasn't had cancer can understand what we are going thru!

My brother's wife had BC 5 years ago, no nodal involvement. She handled chemo well and no side effects from hormone treatment, unlike me. Therefore my brother can't understand my physical reaction to treatments and prognosis (had nodal involvement ) (he states it can't be right) let alone my emotional state! He also said i "HAD  to get a wig, it would make me feel better. My reply to him was, not it will make YOU feel better!

Do what works for you, rest when you need it at any time of day, watch DVDs that make you laugh!

Sandy

Think of the flying boob often, makes a good threat !

Hi Sandy,

thank you for your reply... though I am left giggling and imagining a "boob" loose at a theme park!!

Thinking of that during the day makes me smile.

 

Hi Dragunflie

I was in a similar situation with my mum.  She was very worried when I said that I had to have chemo and I took her along with me.  Once she saw what it involved, I think she was a lot more accepting and at ease with the whole thing.  It helped her and it was nice for me to have her with me as well :)

You are highly unlikely to be sick while you are actually having your chemo....it's more likely going to be the next day.  Just make sure that you take your anti-nausea tablets early and don't wait until its too late!  If you take them, regardless of whether you think that you need them or not, then the nausea will probably not bother you too much.  Mine was more like a morning sickness feeling, where I felt sick but wasn't actually sick at all.

Good luck with it all!

As far as the hair goes, why not wait until you have your wig and then maybe get your hair cut into a similar style to the wig....once it falls out you can start to wear the wig full-time and people will be none the wiser :)

Keep in touch,

Louise x

 

It is importnat to remember that everyone reacts differently.

I thought the hasir loss would worry me, but I couldn't have cared less. I didnt wear a wig but wore a beanie or nothing at home and bought lots of beautiful scarves and hats for outings.Al that variety!  My best was my head wrap. Now I have hair back my daughter has "borrowed " it because she loved it too.

I slept thru the first couple of chemo sessions( they gave me some heavy duty steroids) and was good for the first 48 hours then whack, down I went in a heap for a week with nausea, exhaustion etc. I took sick bags with me everywhere, and found that I was at the GP clinic 4-5 days post chemo for more antiemetics.  I got half way thru chemo and booked the GP in advance rather than the emergency appointments that I was using. My GP became /is one of my strongest support people because he answers all my questions patiently, even when I am being neurotic!~!!~ I still have to see him once per month for Zoladex (oestogen retardent) injections . But we get thru it because we have to.

I too, have  a  younger sister that is a worse control freak than me, when I told her I had BC, her reply was "how can you do this to me" (parents are deceased). My husband took offence but I know that she struggles with this emotionally.It doesnt help that she lives interstate, she has flown across about 8 times in the last 18 months, before BC, only when our father was killed in a MVA.

I have found it is interesting how other people have reacted to me! I haven't seen one of our "closest" friends since diagnosis 18 months ago!!! They ask others about me all the time, but have made no contact. But I do ancknowldege that this disease can create fear in some people, they can react as if it contagious. Also, I found  not everyone was comfortable with my bald head. They wouldnt look at me when speaking to me. I let it be their problem, not mine! (Apart from my 2 1/2 year old niece who said," put your hat on, Auntie!). The same niece also plays with my hats ( I couldn't get head lice!) and put my prothesis boob down her top (which I only wear when I go to work, hate it, would prefer to feel lopsided, if people notice, it is their problem)

I went to the Gold Coast theme parks with my sister and kids, we had laughing hysterics daily imagining my "boob" falling out from a ride and concussing some poor guy on the ground! He probably couldn't work out what hit him in the head or eye! Sorry, my sick sense of humour has got me thru this and is still healthy.

This website helps me feel somewhat in control, no subject is off limits, so many various options for treatment are discussed with FULL disclosure of side effects. I liken it to seeing many specialists , all with varying opinions!

I hope it goes well for you, let us know.

regards

Sandy

I worked through my 6 months of chemo but only when I felt I could.  If I didn't feel up to it I didn't go to work.  Usually managed 3 days a week.  We are definitely all different and some have symptons easier to cope with than others.  I did feel very fatigued but once I got to work my mind was occupied and I tended to feel better.  Go with what you feel you can do and it always helps to have an understanding employer.  I have been with mine for more than 16 years and fortunately had accumulated a lot of sick leave.  I also bought a wig and haven't worn it once.  Just felt uncomfortable in it.  I have worn various bandanas and hats and my hair has started to grow back.  We are all different and what is the go for one is not necessarily good for someone else.  Just do what makes you feel the most comfortable and remember it is not for ever.JeanW

Hi Dragunflie

I worked all the way through my chemo.  I was having treatment every three weeks on a Wednesday and would have Wednesday to Friday off and then back to work on the Monday.

I am lucky to work from home but I am an accountant and am very busy with about 500 clients to see each year (and its only me).  I had my boys shave my head after my first chemo and then wore a wig from there on.  My clients didn't realise that I had no hair underneath the wig!  They are so good these days that you can't really tell.  I borrowed mine from the Cancer Council Wig Library (free).

I think it is hard to lose your hair as a women as it is one of the first things that people look at.  I found it more confronting than losing my breast!  Wearing a wig gave me heaps more confidence and I didn't feel self-conscious whilst I was working.

Good luck!

Louise

 

I was planning on working thru chemo. But it didnt happen. 

I think it really depends on what you do. I work in retail so my Onc wouldnt allow it as higher risk of infection. But even without that, amungst all the appointments and all the sleeping etc... I dont think I wouldve had the time and I wouldve let my team down more. 

If you can work from home, or your work is flexible. & u dont have contact with the public, I would say try. But dont commit to it. You need to listen to your body. 

I lost all my hair. :-( 

Pretty much every chemo used for breast cancer causes full hair loss unfortunately... I also had Dianne from Wigs on Wheels come around and got some great wigs off her. Most health funds will give you some money back on the wigs as they are considered as medical aides. You have to get a letter from your doctor to submit with your receipt though. Check with your health fund. I worked full-time during chemo. On 3 weekly cycles I would schedule an infusion on a Thursday afternoon after work. I took Friday off work then worked 1/2 days from home for the first couple of days the next week. Then I moved to weekly Taxol/Herceptin and would schedule that on a Friday afternoon and work from home Monday. Unfortunately I got a rare side-effect, pneumonitis, from the Taxol and ended up having to be off work for 3 weeks. I won't lie - working was HARD. I have an office job but with very large workload and expectations. I was lucky that my company were very understanding and there are very generous sick leave entitlements.