Hello!! Lovely to hear from you.....

You are doing bloody marvellous. Well done for having the positive mental attitude in tact, because believe me that will save your life! Like you, I knew I would do it - even when the side effects were trying to tell me otherwise.  And every two weeks too? That is some going girl! I went every 3 weeks and needed the time in-between. Especially at the end of my cycles where it began to feel like it was all accumalating together. Each type of cancer gets different meds and they all effect us so differently. That I found weird. But I did really benefit from speaking to others who had been there or were further on than me. It is so wonderful to know you get to the other side when you speak to these people.

You will cope - you are coping. The side effects are awful. I found homeopathic medicine very helpful. I am still taking it now for the side effects of Tamoxifen which have not been pleasant at all. But again, we are all different. You won't get that as you are triple negative. One less worry!!

If your nausea doesn't ease get back on to the unit as there are a variety of ones they can treat you with. I found the right set after my first two chemos and that was so reassuring for me as I was so scared of vomiting. I never did and as time went by I started up a different relationship with my body and got to know what was going on. I found keeping a chemo diary helped me too. This was good for me to rant in but also very useful to look back on to remind myself that I actually did have good days and I did find ways to cope. I blogged to share my experiences and I am so so pleased that you have found it useful. Just knowing you are not alone is so valuable. You aren't. Never forget that.

Now hair loss - again I promise you this gets easier. I bought the most expensive wig I could afford - I am still wearing it 6 months after chemo finished so I am getting my monies worth! This made me feel more like me which I appreciated. Again not everyone will choose this. It's such a personal decision, but I loved my hair - it was my identity and when I lost it I did grieve for it. Totally normal. You look in the mirror and see the cancer version of you and that is not easy. But it is only temporary. Try and remember that. Hair does grow back as yours will. But right now it's not there - you are in and out the shower in 10 seconds and can throw your razor away! I was actually a bit grumpy when I had to shave my underarms again!! 

This is your sign that you are killing the cancer - you are winning! Your body is having the biggest fight of it's life and you will have battle scars.

Please know you can message me anytime. I will always be here and offer you any support you need. 

Here's to a better day 10.Then 11. It might not feel like it now, but this time will go by quickly. You do whatever you need to to make this as easy for yourself as possible. 

Sending hugs xx

I have recently been diagnosed with breast cancer and will be starting chemo soon. I have been petrified of it, even more so than the op I'll be having soon. This post is an amazing idea and is helping calm me down. Especially your post so just had to msg and say thank you :)

I hope I'm like you when I have it! Well done for getting through it and hugs to every single one you. You're all amazing women and men and I draw strength from every single one of you.

Much love x

My husband is starting chemo on 8th June  (3 cycles) an infusion on the first day with a tablet and then I tablet a day for 15 days and then 7 days rest

What are the names of your medication just wondering if they are same as my husbands 

My is Ibrance (palbociclib)

It is very much easier than intravenous chemo. Side effects are relatively insignificant. 

Late to the thread.  I am 4 1/2 years post-no force bowel cancer so some memories are a bit vague.  I am now 78.  My prognosis was good and I was offered chemo but it sarcastic to offer only a small assurance.  HAd in an married I opted for treatment.

it was 8 cycles with tablets, two large and one small every 8 hours for two weeks with one week off.  A blood test was taken in the Monday after, I visited the chemo suite Friday, collected the meds and began the next cycle.

My goal was a pre booked cruise about 5 weeks poster chemo.

On one visit I had a irregular pulse and was given an ECG.  I convinced the consultant that I had experienced similar pre op so I was permitted to continue but recommended to see my GP. Note to self, must see GP.

Chemo was painless apart from the need for a strict time table and minimising any external risk of infection.  Oh, and having to drink 2 litree of water every day to wash out toxins.  I had diahorrea occasionally and had pills to alleviate that.  It was 3 1/2 years before I used all 24 pills.

The only other side effect was the regrowth of a small bald spot on the back of my head.

In each cycle your least vulnerable time is the day before your next cycle. Arrange your social life around that date.  Other than that, no dramas.

Fix a goal; aim for it.

Hi Tina

Thank you very much for your post

I had two operations to remove a bower cancer and next week I'll have my first chomo.  I am really afraid about side affect. I can't stop myself to think about it 

Your post gave me hope 

God bless you 

Flower 

Hi Crosspatch,

I've just been reading your posts. All I can say is that you are right. We are all different, our cancers are different and we all respond differently to the myriad different types of chemo.

When, after several years of fighting two different types of cancer for several years, my Mum decided to end her treatment and enjoy what time she had left free of chemo my Dad, my sister and I fully supported her decision. My two brothers weren't as deeply involved as we were on a day to day basis as they both lived and worked a long way from my parents and struggled to accept this. Eventually they did, but we spent time and effort persuading them which could have been better spent. 

If your heart and head agree, this decision is easy - as long as you are sure that short term negatives, such as chemo sife-effects, aren't unduly influencing your judgement. This may seem harsh but I've been there and I know how hard a decision this can be.

I'm so glad that I continued with my chemo, but I'm equally so glad that my Mum didn't - different cases, similar prognoses, different ages and individual choices. 

I just hope that anyone reading this thread makes the right choice for them and manages to ignore the equally seductive siren calls of despair and false hope. 

Best wishes

Dave