Reality dawns

@"Ally Jay" wow, I love your fighting spirit!

@Pinkisthenewblack...Hi there from a fellow warrior. I went from "The Lady with the Long Hair" to "The Lady with No Hair" quick smart!! After getting over the initial shock of parting with my locks, I found my mindset went straight into "F***it" mode, and the fight was on!. I had my full on Marine Chrome Dome, and I was ready for the fight of my life. Good job too...the first session of 12 weeks AC chemo was...well let's not mince words here...shit. Revolving door in and out of hospital with febrile neutropaenia, horrible rashes, liquid lunch with Count Dracula for anaemia (two units), and much much more. I was dreading the Paclitaxel (Taxol), and Herceptin cocktail for the next 12 week cycle, but compared to the first lot, I found it easier. Apart from the trots for the first two days, mouth ulcers, discoloured nails, toes and fingers, and then peripheral neuropathy to end it all with a flourish....I got through it all. WTF. I thought, the trots helped me shed a kilo or two as did the mouth ulcers...nail polish takes care of the manky nails, and the neuropathy hasn't totally buggered me up. In eight days time I get the Big Chop...both girls are going...as well as full node clearance on the left and sentinal nodes on the right. I'll cross that bridge when I get there, as we all do. Chin up Old Chook and fight on with the rest of us. First photo was taken shortly before my hair was removed (on MY terms), and the second was taken just after Christmas, with my beloved Grandson digging away.

@Karenhappyquilter reality is definitely dawning for me now! Thank you so much for taking the time to share what you have learned. I hope your journey is going well. <3

I am retired but could not have worked through chemo, although in the first cycle I was fine at the two week mark.  But I got more and more fatigued as the chemo went on and my brain didn't work so well.  Everyone is different.  You might be fine.  But there is no shame in taking time off work if you have to.

i wanted to say I found stretchy little hats very comfortable and appropriate when I lost my hair.  I had two wigs but didn't bother wearing them much.  

This is a great place to ask questions and vent.  Wishing you the best of luck.  Karen 

@Bevkk the chemo drug is Taxol - is this the same as Paclitaxol? In any case the regime ahead of me is the same as yours, plus radiotherapy, so I really appreciate you taking the time to respond. Luckily I have an incredibly sympathetic workplace. As my boss said when I told him: 'Bummer. Whatever you need'. Thank you for your support  <3

hi @Pinkisthenewblack
are you doing  Paclitaxol?
i did this every week for 12 weeks and Herceptin every three weeks for 12 months. I completed the chemo in September 2016 and I finish Herceptin in June.
I had my chemo on a Friday and the steroids that they give you keep you awake for the first 24 hours. After that I was so very tired for the next couple of days. I felt nearly back to normal by the following Thursday just in time for the next treatment. As the weeks went on I found the chemo had an accumulative effect and it got harder to go about my normal day. Just take it week by week. Hopefully you have a very sympathetic workplace. It took at least a month after the last chemo treatment to start feeling normal again.
I bought a synthetic wig through Starkles at the Gold Coast but I only wore if a few times. I found it easier to just wear turbans and scarves. I was so horrified at the thought of losing my hair but once I got into treatment  it wasn't a big deal anymore. I just accepted it as a part of the treatment to get my body well. 
I hope it all goes smoothly as possible for you without any little hiccups along the way 
Bev 

 <3 

@Pinkisthenewblack I think the great thing is, so many wonderful ladies to share and talk with, I've found it really helps with people who just 'get it' and just so supportive. It's been a really safe and peaceful place for me to come to. Loved ones and friends are ok but its not quite the same, I don't really talk to anyone else about it, so the Forum is great! You'll definitely work out your path as you hit each step at a time. There's no right or wrong just trust yourself and above all else, put you first...above everyone and everything. It really is your time to nurture and look after you. I found I had to show people how to do this for the first time in my life. :) x M

@melclarity yes, no doubt I will. Trial and error usually does the trick. Thanks again for sharing so generously  <3