Scared at the thought of chemo

I am glad you decided to use this site. You will find lots of lovely ladies on here who will be only too happy to help you out. It is a bit confusing how this network works and this post you have put on has actually ended up as a comment on Linda's post about chemo. If you go back to your blog page and click on create a post, your post will end up on the general site and more people will see it and be able to comment. With regard to your vein issue, are you having FEC? I found that this chemo was often a little painful to have. It is hard on veins and I have had pain in my arm constantly since beginning Chemo, but no redness. I finished my 6th and last chemo 2 weeks ago. If you are worried about the arm can you ring the nurse where you have your chemo and describe your symptoms? I was always told to ring if I was worried about anything in between infusions. With young children it must be very hard to manage. Do you have help? I found I just had to let others help as the chemo seemed to get a bit more exhausting as I went along. Hope you manage okay. Take care and only do what you have to. Deanne xx

Hi, this is the first time I have been brave enough to post. The past 11 weeks have been a roller coaster...mammograms, ultrasound, mastectomy, reconstruction and two lots of chemo so far. Sigh. I am wondering if anyone has had vein pain from chemo. I have been having chemo through cannulas on my left hand. During the last infusion I told the nurses it really hurt and they just told me to rub it. Four days later, the skin where that vein travels is red and sore to touch. It goes from the back of my hand, under my wrist and on the underside of my arm up to my elbow. I live in rural nsw, so very hard to access medical input between infusions. I am just trying to soldier on for my kids aged 10,9,7 and 5, but it is getting harder every day. Lisa

If your Oncologist hasn't given you a script your GP will, we all have differing symptoms so its really hard to be prepared as you don't know what your side effects may be.

As for your nails dependant on your type of chemo you may have issues I was told by the chemo nurse to keep them painted black and whilst I have issues its not too bad. they are very thin and with ridges and break at the ridges, still I have managed to keep them.

I had long hair and got it cut before my 1 st chemo, my hair started to fall out after 2 weeks and my husband shaved it off after about a month as it was just coming out in clumps.

I am now 4 months since my l;ast chemo and have complete coving of hair, I no longer wear scaves. I love my new head of hair, I am so proud of it.

Take care

Donna

Well no not exactly. I guess the colour was about the same with maybe a little more grey starting to show at the side (although I've had it coloured now to hide that) but it is really curly after I wash it. It's like an afro. So I spend about half an hour with the hair staightener after every wash to get it looking normal again. I'm hoping that the curliness will disappear eventually. I always had a bit of a wave in my hair but never as curly as it is now. I was actually going to post on here to ask other women when/if the curliness goes away but it seems like such a trivial problem in the scheme of things. I guess I'm just relieved to have hair again.

Regarding the wig, you will find it sits much better on your head when you lose your hair. I got a little cap made out of pantyhose material which I wore under the wig which helped it stay in place and made it less itchy. They sold them at the wig shop for about $6. It does feel weird at first but you get used to it and I really don't think anyone noticed I was wearing a wig. Maybe they were just being nice but everyone I spoke to about it said they thought it looked real. It's amazing really how real the wigs can look, especially if choose something similar to your normal hair style.

Good luck with it all. I hope you dont have too many nasty symptoms. Janet.

No. I'm exactly the same as you. I have a shoulder length bob at the moment and this is the shortest my hair has been in years. It's all one length apart from my side fringe so I will be wearing my wig for ages too I think. :-( My wish is to have this style again one day. I just feel SO self conscious in the wig that I'm dreading when the time comes that I need to wear it. Did your hair grow back the same? Have a good day Linda

I had my first chemo early June last year and  lost my hair two weeks later. My final chemo was in  early August and I guess the hair started to grow back pretty soon afterwards but it took quite a while for it to get to a point where I was comfortable to not wear either the wig or a hat.   I guess the last time I wore it would have been end of May. So it was around 9 months that I used the wig. But I am used to having a fringe and I did wait until my fringe was a normal length. I probably could have easily got away without wearing it 2-3 months earlier. I've always had longish/shoulder length hair with a fringe so I felt very self-conscious with very short hair. You might be different and find you don't need/want to wear the wig for quite as long as me. 

 

Hi Michelle My fingers and toes are all crossed that I might be one of the lucky ones not to experience the nausea I've heard so much about. I would much rather be in pain than to be nauseous. I have been lucky enough to be well for my entire life until this point - there are still some days when I'm in total disbelief about what is happening. I've heard that the portacath will make it easier for the chemo staff to administer it. I guess it's true - my veins can go into hiding of late, whenever anyone with a needle comes near me. I will keep you posted on my big day - first dose next Friday. Gulp!! Linda xx

Hi Donna So will they give me a script for the post op meds at the hospital or do I see my oncologist for that? I forgot to ask him at my appointment the other day. It was my very first meeting with him and I was so nervous that even though I had a written list of things to ask him, I still forgot half of them. So what actually happens to your nails? Do they just go discoloured or is it more sinister than that? Linda

I can guarantee I will be taking all the meds prescribed too. I guess it really is the fear of the unknown. Not knowing what each day will bring. 7 more sleeps and then it's the big commencement day for me. I know millions of people get through it and I intend to as well. I will let u know how I go with it. You'll probably hear my knees knocking as I walk through the doors. :-) I'd love to hear how you're going with it all so pls keep in touch. Linda xx

I took all the nausea medication that was prescribed while having FEC but have not needed anything on docetaxel. I found that eating frequently helped with nausea as did eating cold things. Peppermint can help too. Just eat what you feel like and what tastes ok for you. My husband was sent shopping daily for my latest cravings and some of them were not what I expected to feel like. Each round of chemo has produced different cravings! I relaxed after the first cycle and learnt that you just go with whatever happens and remember that you do return to normal after a few days. I think most people find it is not as bad as you imagine but I will be very glad to get to the end of it in a few weeks time! I think it gives you more peace of mind to know that you've done it as extra insurance that all the cancer is definitely gone. Let us know how you go. Ask about any specific side effects as you go because you will lots of practical advice on here. Take care and all the best. Deanne xx