Chemo day! What is everyone greatful for this Xmas?

[Bangersndmash]

As title says, chemo day today. I’m about 4 weeks in, doing a cold cap but hair has really started falling out this week. Was vainly hoping it would stay just for my Christmas photos with the little ones at least.

What’s everyone doing today? Christmas shopping? What are you thankful for this year?

Im grateful for my beautiful family and I hope i can live to see the next Christmas.

I’m grateful for the renewing of a relationship yesterday- someone I lost touch with under difficult circumstances is coming back into my life.

It’s making me a bit wobbly, emotionally, as it was an awful time and renewing the friendship makes me vulnerable again. But I’m glad they are coming back.

I hope the rest of your treatment goes smoothly and you get some Christmas joy around the edges. 💐

Sending love OP, as someone heading down the same road as you.

I’m up early with a good coffee and have switched on the Christmas lights. Friends coming round this morning for a catchup before schools let out. I’m still working but it’s (charity sector frontline) lovely and full of goodwill at this time of year.

And in full on “Fuck cancer” mode I have bought every decoration, gift, party food and bauble I liked the look of or that the kids asked for. We’re going to have fun and indulge.

💐to you. I'm grateful that my family don't seem to have the same dramas many other people have at Christmas. Extended family all get on well and enjoy seeing each other, and I feel very fortunate for that. I'm also grateful that the company i work for currently always close between Christmas and New Year, so no battling to negotiate time off to cover.

I hope today goes as well as it can for you!

Yes I’ve done the same thing. I did a big food shop this week but early next week I’ve got a very expensive, very full Ocado shop full of “picky bits” and treats, even fancy fruit juices. All in the name of F it, it’s Christmas.

the same price as a full food shop, no actual food, just sweet treats and joy because WHY NOT!

Right now I'm grateful I have air-conditioning as it's a very un-Melbourne humid day, and I can count on the fingers of one hand the times I need it in any year usually. Christmas Day promises a brisk 18, which is not good either, but plenty of time to change.

First World problem, but it's really to stop my laptop from overheating.

All the best with the chemo, @Bangersndmash. and 🎄

I am grateful that I am not starting chemo today - this day last year was my first of 6 rounds of chemo for breast cancer. It was brutal and horrible, Christmas Day was a washout for me - I think I managed to get out of bed for about 2 hours.

This year, I have got through the chemo, 2 surgeries and 3 weeks of radiotherapy and I am cancer-free. Can't ask for much better than that.

DP has chemo today. We are feeling grateful that he is well enough to enjoy Christmas with DC, grateful for family who have the space and energy to host us over Christmas, grateful for DC and how much he makes us laugh through this long slog.

Sending you 💐and positive thoughts.
last year was awful for me. Was in hospital so grateful this year I am home with my family

Congratulations and well done. Chemo is hard but I’m fighting harder 🤣 I hope I am in your position this time next year.

@Bangersndmash I can't believe i missed off the end of my post which was supposed to be that I do indeed wish that next year, it's your turn to say this! Keep on slogging through - I don't know your treatment plan but I can say that chemo was the worst of mine. Radio and surgery were a cake-walk in comparison! 🤞
You can do this, one day at a time.

Hope chemo goes as well as it can, kicks the cancer out and this time next year the treatment will be behind you. Thinking of you and those going through treatment.

I had breast cancer surgery on 21 December 2021 followed by chemo etc and remember wondering if I would see the kids reach 18. Now I am 4 years out and youngest is 18 and eldest is here back from university which I am very grateful for even if she has just told me and our Maine Coon cat (who I got in chemo and is 3.5 and 8kgs now and the loveliest, most cheerful animal) off for waking her up at 10.15am. 😆And for my lovely DH who was wonderfully supportive. And wonderful holidays since that year.

Today we are getting the car valeted (including the sand we got in it from the beach at Horsey seeing the baby seals), and have various Christmas orders to pick up then off to the spa tomorrow.

I'm grateful that my cancer has so many treatment options and that I live somewhere which can provide them all for me.
Also that I'm well enough in myself to enjoy Christmas and even manage all the wrapping (although I wasn't grateful at the time- took me three hours!)

That’s good news. I have wrapped 75% of my things but need to collect a few more bits for the kids; aiming to finish wrapping this weekend!

I'm 4 years on and am grateful every day for my health, hair and eyebrows 😁 Good luck, OP. Human hair grows at about 3mm a week. I finished chemo on Feb 2nd and ditched my wig on May 21st. Not long to wait. xx

Today is the start of Christmas for me, so making bread sauce and gravy. Finishing decorating the tree.

I'm grateful to the kind man who saw me struggling to carry our tree home last night (why did I think I could carry a 7' spruce 120 metres 🙄), put the tree in his pickup and drove us home.

All the very best to you for your treatment @Bangersndmash

My dad had his last chemo last week but is still having infusions of something. He has lost no hair! My friend finished her chemo the week before, she had the cold cap but lost her hair. My god, though! She has the most amazing wig which you would never know was one, and she look sooooo glamorous!

Bless you, OP. I was you last Christmas. I had my first treatment in December, and my hair started falling out on the 21st. I had to shave it Christmas Day as my head was very sore and not much was left.

I'm running around like a headless chicken getting prepped to host 16 tomorrow and have been stressed about it, but am happy to be well enough to do it.

I'm grateful for remission and spending lots of time this year with my precious little girl. I'm grateful that my body is getting stronger and that I'm starting to look more like my old self. I'm grateful that I've been able to go back to work part time in a role where I can give some empathy and support to people in difficult situations.

Thinking of you OP, and all the others going down the same road x

eight months on from BC and am very grateful that this year we’re not giving it a second thought.
Hated having it hanging over our heads like an unspoken ghost.
wishing you a peaceful Christmas and a better 2026

I’m grateful for strong family support as we face our second Christmas without our beloved 21 year old daughter.

My Dad died this year. It’s been a year of the highest highs and the lowest lows. I’m thankful that I have such a lovely family who’ve been an amazing support system and I’m grateful that I had over 40 years with my lovely Dad before I lost him.

Sending best wishes to everyone on this thread who is going through chemo or has been through it. I had chemotherapy and radiotherapy 12 years ago and am so grateful to still be here enjoying life.