preparing for 2nd treatment......what now

blondie
blondie Member Posts: 21
edited March 2014 in Breast Cancer #1
I go for my next chemo treatment tomorrow, can someone please tell me when I should expect the hair loss to begin...I just want to be prepared. I've already picked up my wig, but I don't want to be caught off guard. I gotta tell you that I'm not handling this too well...have been pretty sick so far...does it get any better?? or should I say this is the best I'll be for a while? I started a journal...has anyone else done this during their treatments?

Comments

  • webaur
    webaur Member Posts: 104
    #2
    Hi, Blondie!!

    What type of chemo are you taking? I just had my third dose of A/C (adriamycin and cytoxin) yesterday. Depending on the drugs you are being given as to when you can expect your hair to start to come out. I would ask your doctor/chemo nurse when you go it tomorrow. They should be able to give you a good idea. I have my treatments 1 every 3 weeks. The dr. told me that I would start to lose my hair after about 2 weeks and that it would probably be gone in a month. What I did to lessen the "shock" was to go to my regular hairdresser before I started chemo and had my hair cut short--it was shoulder length--just to get used to the idea of having little or no hair. It also made it easier when it really started to fall out. Within the first two weeks after the first treatment, I started to get some fall out. Just after that, as I showered one day, my hands were coverd with my hair when I went to wash it. It didn't all come out then, but I was pretty patchy!! Needless to say, I put a bandana over my head!! (This was particularly sad as I had hoped to keep my own hair through my birthday which was only 3 days away....oh well!!) As soon as I really started to lose my hair, I went back to my hairdresser and she shaved it all off. It was not an easy thing to do, but I am glad I did it all at once---at a time of my choosing--rather than be upset each time I showered.

    As for the journal----good for you!!! I have started one and try to write in it frequently. I do take paper and pen to all of my visits, etc. to write down my BP, weight, insttructions, etc. Journal keeping is a discipline, and I have yet to develop the complete stick-to-itivness that it needed. But, I feel that when I do write down what has happened and my feelings, it makes me feel better. I think that the hardest part for me is that it takes so long because I am so wordy. (Couldn't tell, could you? :-) )

    Hope that this has helped some. Just keep hanging in there and keep us informed as to how you feel and how things are going. We do care and will help get you through this!! How are things going with "Peep"? Can't tell you how happy I am that you have decided to accept his love and care. It is so important!!

    Take care and know that you are in my thoughts and prayers. Please feel free to send me an e-mail at any time through this site or just post through the board.

    Blessings and hugs.....Wendy
  • 24242
    24242 Member Posts: 1,398 Member
    #3
    ha blondie,
    I would be hoping for it not to fall out, not everyones does. I do know that there is the red devil drug, we called it up here, almost everyone's hair falls out. I found I loss my hair after the second treatment and when it falls, it all lets go. It fell out of my head when my sons friend came to shave it. I was the third mother of his friends he had to do. He said mine was the easiest.
    I'm sorry to say it will probably get alittle worse before it gets better. All I can stress is that you get food into some how, nutrition most impotant. I drank allot of boost. I drank my fruit. I found eating took too much energy, the easier the better. Oatmeal is good and eggs are a full meal. I hope this helps you get through a few more days.
    Thinking of you,
    Tara 24242
  • Unknown
    Unknown
    #4
    This comment has been removed by the Moderator
  • blondie
    blondie Member Posts: 21
    #5
    webaur said:

    Hi, Blondie!!

    What type of chemo are you taking? I just had my third dose of A/C (adriamycin and cytoxin) yesterday. Depending on the drugs you are being given as to when you can expect your hair to start to come out. I would ask your doctor/chemo nurse when you go it tomorrow. They should be able to give you a good idea. I have my treatments 1 every 3 weeks. The dr. told me that I would start to lose my hair after about 2 weeks and that it would probably be gone in a month. What I did to lessen the "shock" was to go to my regular hairdresser before I started chemo and had my hair cut short--it was shoulder length--just to get used to the idea of having little or no hair. It also made it easier when it really started to fall out. Within the first two weeks after the first treatment, I started to get some fall out. Just after that, as I showered one day, my hands were coverd with my hair when I went to wash it. It didn't all come out then, but I was pretty patchy!! Needless to say, I put a bandana over my head!! (This was particularly sad as I had hoped to keep my own hair through my birthday which was only 3 days away....oh well!!) As soon as I really started to lose my hair, I went back to my hairdresser and she shaved it all off. It was not an easy thing to do, but I am glad I did it all at once---at a time of my choosing--rather than be upset each time I showered.

    As for the journal----good for you!!! I have started one and try to write in it frequently. I do take paper and pen to all of my visits, etc. to write down my BP, weight, insttructions, etc. Journal keeping is a discipline, and I have yet to develop the complete stick-to-itivness that it needed. But, I feel that when I do write down what has happened and my feelings, it makes me feel better. I think that the hardest part for me is that it takes so long because I am so wordy. (Couldn't tell, could you? :-) )

    Hope that this has helped some. Just keep hanging in there and keep us informed as to how you feel and how things are going. We do care and will help get you through this!! How are things going with "Peep"? Can't tell you how happy I am that you have decided to accept his love and care. It is so important!!

    Take care and know that you are in my thoughts and prayers. Please feel free to send me an e-mail at any time through this site or just post through the board.

    Blessings and hugs.....Wendy

    thank you Wendy for those encouraging words....I am on the same chemo as you..Adriamycin and cytoxin..think I spelled that right...I'm going every week for 6 weeks I guess...I'm in an awful mood. Last night while sitting at the computer I had to rush to the bathroom . I have not been able to keep anything down. I then passed out and my room mate had me rushed to the hospital. I was dehydrated. I'm just not coping so well with this at all. As for me and peep..well, guess i'm not letting him do what he wants to do. I just can't have him here with me to see me go thru all of these terrible changes, and it has him upset very badly. So much upset that I have most likely lost him...but I can't blame him for not wanting to wait on me to get over this. Not sure which I'm most upset with...the cancer or the fact I've lost him. Either way....it's not a good feeling inside at all. Have even considered telling my doctor no more treatments now. No use in getting them.
  • blondie
    blondie Member Posts: 21
    #6
    24242 said:

    ha blondie,
    I would be hoping for it not to fall out, not everyones does. I do know that there is the red devil drug, we called it up here, almost everyone's hair falls out. I found I loss my hair after the second treatment and when it falls, it all lets go. It fell out of my head when my sons friend came to shave it. I was the third mother of his friends he had to do. He said mine was the easiest.
    I'm sorry to say it will probably get alittle worse before it gets better. All I can stress is that you get food into some how, nutrition most impotant. I drank allot of boost. I drank my fruit. I found eating took too much energy, the easier the better. Oatmeal is good and eggs are a full meal. I hope this helps you get through a few more days.
    Thinking of you,
    Tara 24242

    thank you Tara. Well this morning in the shower, it might have started...there was a little more there than usual. I'm just not handling this entire situation very well. I've even pushed away peep....maybe too far this time.......wish I could wish this away
  • blondie
    blondie Member Posts: 21
    #7
    unknown said:

    This comment has been removed by the Moderator

    thank you Anne. Hope you're doing well. I'm not doing so good........mood is just terrible and I'm pushing away anyone that seems to want to care for me. (including peep)...I'm very angry with myself, but I just can't have a love interest in my life as it is right now....which is miserable. Have decided after tonite's treatment...will tell my doc to forget it! I just can't take this.
  • cruf
    cruf Member Posts: 908
    #8
    blondie said:

    thank you Wendy for those encouraging words....I am on the same chemo as you..Adriamycin and cytoxin..think I spelled that right...I'm going every week for 6 weeks I guess...I'm in an awful mood. Last night while sitting at the computer I had to rush to the bathroom . I have not been able to keep anything down. I then passed out and my room mate had me rushed to the hospital. I was dehydrated. I'm just not coping so well with this at all. As for me and peep..well, guess i'm not letting him do what he wants to do. I just can't have him here with me to see me go thru all of these terrible changes, and it has him upset very badly. So much upset that I have most likely lost him...but I can't blame him for not wanting to wait on me to get over this. Not sure which I'm most upset with...the cancer or the fact I've lost him. Either way....it's not a good feeling inside at all. Have even considered telling my doctor no more treatments now. No use in getting them.

    Hi blondie.The main reason for getting chemo is so YOU can live life to it's fullest. You're the most important thing in life! Don't worry about others. If you and peep are meant to be, he will wait for you and continue to support you any way he can. Try to think a bit more positively! We all have our bad days but they can't over power us. Join a support group,go to a counselor, see a priest,or minister or rabbi(whatever your religion may be) YOU CAN DO IT!!! Keep in touch! We all care and are rooting for you! Cathy

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