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Starting chemo

Wendy77
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hi all

feeling very anxious tonight as I start my chemo tomorrow for breast cancer. I've come to terms with the fact I will loose my hair. Just scared of what other side effects I will get, I'm a single parent but do have support. Was also wondering if anyone else got or has a pic line. I have 16 treatments to get through. Not sure if my veins will cope.

wendy

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    Hi Wendy, 

    I started Chemo for breast cancer back in April. I can completely understand your anxiousness, I too was very anxious but I have to say it wasn't as bad as I thought it would be.

    I have a power port fitted as my veins are rubbish. 

    The port is under the skin and apart from a little scar you can't tell it's there unless it's being accessed. 

    I would speak to your oncologist about what would be best for line wise.

    Best of luck with your treatment and if you ever need to sound of to someone who isn't family or a friend, I'm here.

    Madi x

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    hi wendy77, i finished chemo on 17th april this year. it was ok, not as bad as i imagined in a lot of ways but awful in others. it definitely gets harder as time goes on. the last 2 months for me were horrible. having said that i was still working from october when i started treatment till after christmas and did so quite easily. i got nauseous for a day or 2 a few days after each chemo but to be honest no two treatments were the same so try and take it as it comes as opposed to assuming you will feel sick on day 2 like last time for example. it was never the same twice for me. take all the anti sickness tabs they offer you because they work well. you should only feel sick for a couple of days, its a bit like morning sickness. i was never actually sick. the steroids make you gain weight. i gained about a stone but its fluid i think because i went straight back to normal as soon as i stopped chemo. i suffered with heartburn and they give you meds for this too. i didnt get a bad stomach although some do. losing the hair is a bit crap (it falls out around day 17 after your first chemo) but i found the eyebrows and eyelashes worse (i looked like an alien!) although they took much longer to fall out. i spent a fortune on false eyelashes and eyebrow kits. they are all grown back now and ive an inch of hair. i paid a mint for a wig but if i did it again i wouldnt bother with a wig. i hated the bloody thing in the end. id stick to scarves. i had a pic line but you should have had this by now really. nothing stopping you getting one though. it will preserve your veins. looks a bit ugly but hey ho!! i basically lived a normal life, went shopping, took my kids to school and went out with friends etc. as i say its the last couple of months that are worst. take all the offers of help and listen to your body. dont be a hero, sleep if u need to, the ironing will wait. i was quite weak at the end, its because your red blood cells are depleted i think but within weeks i was completely back to normal. you might get a vile taste in your mouth too. thats pretty poo but again it disappears really quickly. it all reminded me a lot of being pregnant in a way. sickness, tiredness, feeling like a baby elephant at the end, swollen feet etc. its crap but i reminded myself every day that this treatment is saving my life so bring it on!!! you will get through it and i wish you the very best of luck. XXX
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    Hi Wendy, Have just finishes my second treatment. Early days I know but so far no side effects at all. No sickness or anthing. In my limited experience the staff have been great and all in all I consider my Chemo as my friend because my fight back and my recovery started when my chemo did

     

    Good luck the begining of the end starts tommorow..

     

    Nick

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    Thank you for your reply. 

    Chemo went well. I actually feel better pain wise . I have had no side effects yet. Always next week. I did suffer quite bad with sweats last night though. Keep tugging at my hair to make sure it's still there. 

    Wendy

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    Hi Wendy, I finished my 4th cycle of chemo in April (lung cancer). I'm afraid I found the effects were accumulative: after the 1st cycle I thought "oh, what do people make such a fuss about, it's a doddle". 3rd and 4th cycle were bad, nauseous for a week, couldn't eat, barely drink. Because of all the fluid they pump into you, you pee a lot (usually at night) and you gain a lot of weight, partially fluid, partially steroids. But you will go back to normal afterwards. Everything tastes disgusting, certain smells of food, even soap, made me retch. Do take all the anti-nausea medication religiously. When you're feeling bad, try to sip water regularly and nibble on Marie biscuits or cream crackers. Chemo is very hard on the liver and kidneys so avoid alcohol and drink as much water as you possibly can. Hair loss is almost inevitable, so sorry, but it will grow back! I bought the best wig I could afford and also a few scarves. You need good people around you, they don't need to fuss over you but just let you know that they're there and they love you no matter what. Take a good quality multi-vitamin. Wishing you all the very best, you will come out the other side stronger, I promise! Sue xxx

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