I was diagnosed with Cancer in March and although we knew it was Cancer its still a shock to be told it. I have had 2 chemo cycles now and have my 3rd at the end of the month. I would love to chat about the chemo side affects to anyone..
John I'm so sorry to hear of your wifes problems with the PICC line being fitted. I know my boss has a Hickman line, but I don't know much about it. Carries advice seems pretty helpful though, so good luck for next week I hope it goes smoothly. Hope you both enjoy your weekend away.
I spoke to the nurse yesterday and she has advised me to get vitamin B12 from the doctor for the neuropathy - has anyone heard of this or taken it & does it help? Also been told the anti sickness Ondandestron would have caused my constipation so to take lactulose the week of my chemo! Other than that my aching and pain has gone and I've had no sickness. Apart from feeling tired I'm doing ok!
We had a better day today, I felt I was less than supportive to Mary yesterday, I was frustrated about what happened at the hospital, we both were. Nobody's fault, just one of those things. The hospital staff have all been lovely so I feel a bit bad about feeling this way.
Mary is coming to terms with having the Hickman line now, it's not great, but it's going to be less traumatic in the long run.
@Sarah - Mary has more success with senokot than lactulose when she needs something, maybe worth trying if it doesn't work. Glad you're feeling a little better.
Try not to worry about the hair thing, I know some really hate the fact that they are losing hair but it does grow back..
I have not heard of anyone who has had the cold cap but have read about it. As for the wigs then I personally couldn't wear it. It was hot and looked like a wig so I wear scarves which you can buy online and if you get different colours then you can match them with what your wearing..
Good luck with the chemo keep your positive thoughts and if you need any advise then don't be afraid to ask the Doctors..x
I was never offered a cold cap, I just accepted that I would lose my hair. I had it cut short before I started my chemo in preperation for the fall out. I was fitted for a wig which was as near to my own colour and styles as he could have got. Some people get something completely different from their own hair, so if you fancy being a bit of a devil try a different colour or style try loads on before choosing.I told them all I was going to go blond and look like Diana Dors ( for the younger ones of you this might not mean much ha ha). Also as some of the other ladies said I bought lots of bandanas in different colours, to go with my clothes. When my hair started to fall out big time I got my hubby to give me what he called an american marine hair cut, which is straight over the top with the electric shears, right down to the wood. It was a bit of a shock at the time, I got a shock when I looked in the mirror, I couldn't decide who I looked most like, my dad or my son, but then again they both look alike.
After a while I didnt wear anything, as sometimes the wig got rather warm, that was once everyone got used to my condition. The hardest was telling my grandchildren, the youngest was just a baby, so I wore my wig if her mammy brought to our home. The next one was 7 years old, when I explain to him that I was having to take special medicine which would make my hair fall out, I said I will get some scarves,he look at my like only a child can and said, I dont think so grandma,I said well bandanas then, he said you will get a wig wont you, it amazing how resilient children are. He wait a few weeks until my air had fallen out, then bought me some bandanas on his holidays, when he gave them to me he said gran have you really got no hair? So I asked him if he wanted to see, he nodded so I took my bandana off, he just said wow you have even less than grandad. So its best to prepeare them before it falls out.
Everyone has to do what makes them happy, if you feel you want to give the cold cap a go, then go for it, you have nothing to lose have you, if it doesnt work at least you have tried. My hair grew back very dark and wavey, from auburn and straight as a poker. It s not as thick as it was but it is lovely just the same, when it first came back in it was oh so soft just like baby hair.
Well I wish you all the best with your decision on the hair front. Just keep telling yourself it only for a short time it WILL come back. xxx
We were told that the cold cap can be quite painful and there is no guarantee that it will be effective, so Mary decided not to go for it based on this.
With regard to wigs, our hospital expected us to chose a wig from a catalogue, but we decided to go to a shop so she could try things on. And with the benifit of hindsight, you would be very lucky to choose a suitable wig by looking at photos. The hospital should give you a list of places that supply NHS wigs, private wigs, or both. Mary got an NHS one and it looks brilliant! She hasn't started wearing it yet, but her hair is getting thinner now so it won't be long.
Also, she opted for some lightweight beanie hats as opposed to scarves or bandanas, she prefers that look but of course it's down to what you like personally.
The fist lot of chemo I wasn't offered the hat as the taxol/carbo combo would 'definately' cause the lot to fall out (which it did!) the second time I was treated with Doxitol/carbo, less hair loss so was offered it but as I had already been bald I descided I couldn't face a freezing cold cap on my head. I suggest you talk to the nurses when you go for chemo and ask how sucessful its likely to be (you can always say you don't want it on the day but they do need to know in advance if you do want it). Like the others I started off with a wig which i never worn and bandana's which i did but only cos it made others more comfortable. I never worn anything around the hourse and eventually started going out without anything as well, second time round I didn't bother with anything at all except for a woolly hat when it was cold or going round air conditioned shops!!!! I would advise waiting on sorting the wig if you can (or anything else fitted) as I found mine quite loose once the hair had gone, it was also comfortable when i tried it on with hair but definately not once the hair disappeared! Good luck with your chemo and just post any questions as they crop up, somebodys bound to have an answer. Be aware that chemo does very funny (not) things to your memory but like everything else it settles down in time.
@Jackie - Re wigs and headwear, what you're saying makes sense and I guess we're about to find all this out. If you've ever worn a party wig or a hat for any length of time, you'll know that they get hot and uncomfortable, so I guess even a decent wig would feel much the same.
@Sharon - As Jackie suggested, it may be worth talking to your oncology nurse before making your decision, if you're having Taxol, the cold cap may not have any effect at all. You may want some professional reassurance before putting yourself through that.
