Hi cleanas. Good to hear it went ok. Day 3-4 can be the worst so you may find you go down hill a bit before you start to feel better again. I caught a cough during my first round and was there with the thermometer worried sick too. Very few people end up being rushed to hospital but they have to tell you and make you realise how important it is, just in case. I'm a bit less worried now, although the thermometer is still on my bedside table.
Yes I'll be having all my lymph nodes out too. No choice in that as the cancer is well and truly in them. I think that fact has given me a bit more time to make decisions that you've had; I was given choices about whether to have the chemo or the op first, and had lots of tests while I was waiting/deciding. My cancer is large and aggressive though, so it was clear from the start I'd need a full mastectomy and lymph clearance. Whereas with you it sounds like they went straight in with the op hoping to catch it quick and then found out more after that.
I opted for chemo first as I felt it would help stop the cancer spreading as it was already in my nodes. My surgeon tells me the outcome is about the same regardless of whether you have the op or chemo first and was happy for me to make a decision which to go with first. I know this was unusual though as most people don't get offered a choice how to progress their treatment.
Yes my hair is mostly gone. I noticed more coming out that usual when I brushed my hair, and it started falling out much more towards the end of the first round and came out in lumps and handfuls after the second, especially when I washed it! I then took the kitchen scissors to it as it was getting matted (we were at CP at the time- I was trying to keep it for ds birthday weekend so any photos would still have me with some hair). Now I only have a couple of long wisps left at the front and light fuzz all over.
I have a wig but it's too much hassle for me at the moment. I'm not a scarf person, so I bought a hat while at the wig shop too and mostly wear that or my woolly winter hat if I'm out. The woolley one covers my ears so you can't tell too much. The other hat covers most of my head and has a big brim. With my remaining couple of wisps I kid myself it looks like I still have hair under it! If I wear a baseball cap you can tell I'm hairless under it. So I might resort to the wig when the weather is warmer I guess.
I'm not worried about my hair loss though and don't have a DP to be concerned about. I have never been overly concerned about my appearance so I was pretty sure I'd be ok with loosing it, although I knew I wouldn't know for sure 'til it happened. I look upon it as an outward sign that the chemo is working and so I can take comfort from that.
I frequently find myself opening the door and then remember I'm hairless when the cold hits me. Some people are fine and don't bat an eyelid while some don't know where to look when you open the door like that! The cold chill when I search through the freezer was, and still is, a bit of a shock though! I do make sure my head is covered when doing the school run as ds doesn't want people knowing as he says it will just give them one more reason to bully him. He has told his two best school friends but no-one else.
On the plus side I haven't had to shave my pits, legs or bikini line since chemo started which is a small bonus I guess. Certainly easier for me as I have a picc line in my arm so have to wrap it for a shower and can't really take a bath easily. I still have my eyebrows and lashes. They've always been dark and thick so I think they'll hang on in some form hopefully. They're usually the last to go too.
Not all chemo drugs affect your hair so ask your chemo team/oncologist if they haven't told you for certain. Although if they sent you a wig prescription it seems likely you will. Are you worried or concerned about loosing your hair? I know I'm not typical in that respect so most women probably feel differently about it than I do.