Hi, I'm partway through my journey. Diagnosed April 2014, had lump removed, which turned out to be cancer, grade 3. Second surgery for surgical margin and sentinal and adjacent node biopsy - one almost all cancer, so third surgery for more lymph node removal and portacath insertion. Total of 4 lymph nodes involved. Triple negative. Had first of 6 TAC chemo June 10. Continuing seroma, needing draining twice a week, since drain removed 11 days after surgery, May 30. Developed blood clots last week; 1 at portacath and more in upper arm; whole arm was swollen. Now have to self inject Clexane every day. So glad I can afford to have this time off work! :-)

Still figuring out how this all works. Whoops,sent a comment to myself. Doh!

I had TC and I started losing my hair 2 weeks after the first dose. I THINK that it is most likely you will lose your hair. and once it starts coming out more and more comes out. I ended up having my head shaved several days after it started coming out - as it was so messy and I was losing the hair anyway. So I did it on my terms. There is such great headwear and wigs I find it does not bother me now. But do look forward to when it grows back! Good luck Marg

Everyone pretty much says 14 days - I don't know if chemo day is day 0 or 1, but my chemo was Tues 2 weeks ago so keep checking for fallout!

my chemo was on a tuesday and I noticed it on a tuesday - just a bit to start but it certainly increased (the hair loss) each day. hope you are not having too many side affects and are travelling ok. Marg

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13 Replies

sueblue
Member
12 years ago
Wow! I'm sure I couldn't cope with the stress of my work and the constant challenges of BC - getting seroma drained twice weekly, blood clots, self injecting, only sleeping 4 or 5 hours then wide awake, chemo side effects.......
margiemoo
Member
12 years ago
I have mainly been working full time through my chemo - just a few days off after the chemo was given and the steroids have worn off
margiemoo
Member
12 years ago
I have mainly been working full time through my chemo - just a few days off after the chemo was given and the steroids have worn off
sueblue
Member
12 years ago
Yeah, fatigue an issue but pre BC I worked nights and seemed to be nearly always tired. I can't imagine having to work and do this. No idea how people do it!
margiemoo
Member
12 years ago
It is funny with the hair loss - I have kept my eyebrows and they look perfectly manicured (pretty happy about that) - and they have not been waxed since pre chemo. mind you I used to have to wax every 2 weeks for the way they are now! hoping not to lose them in the next week!

my side effects were manageable - but the fatigue was probably the worst thing I experienced. and the chemo has stuffed up my sugars - they are really high. my GP had me see her at the surgery about them. just need to monitor for a short time and hope they come down again. that taste in your mouth is not great

keep well

Marg
sueblue
Member
12 years ago
Hair it goes. Itchy head today, sore, if I tug on my hair it comes out. Have clippers ready to go...will just wait until it's patchy, I guess. Think I've been really lucky re side effects - meds I've been given made them manageable. Sore throat and taste perversion lasted the longest. Pretty okay now.
sueblue
Member
12 years ago
Hair it goes. Itchy head today, sore, if I tug on my hair it comes out. Have clippers ready to go...will just wait until it's patchy, I guess. Think I've been really lucky re side effects - meds I've been given made them manageable. Sore throat and taste perversion lasted the longest. Pretty okay now.
margiemoo
Member
12 years ago
my chemo was on a tuesday and I noticed it on a tuesday - just a bit to start but it certainly increased (the hair loss) each day.

hope you are not having too many side affects and are travelling ok.

Marg
margiemoo
Member
12 years ago
my chemo was on a tuesday and I noticed it on a tuesday - just a bit to start but it certainly increased (the hair loss) each day.

hope you are not having too many side affects and are travelling ok.

Marg
sueblue
Member
12 years ago
Everyone pretty much says 14 days - I don't know if chemo day is day 0 or 1, but my chemo was Tues 2 weeks ago so keep checking for fallout!