A DUNFERMLINE barber is a step closer to being back to herself after enduring "days of hell" following her first chemotherapy treatment.

Laurie Gallacher is locked in a battle with stage four breast cancer and is documenting her journey with the Dunfermline Press.

READ MORE: Laurie prepares for chemotherapy treatment

It is a journey she will not be facing alone though, with partner Jamie and son Taylor by her side and the love and support from family, friends and customers at New Row Barbers.

She was scheduled to have her first chemo treatment on Thursday, April 29, but it was pushed back one day due to a reaction to the drugs.

"My body wasn't having it," she told the Press on Monday this week.

"It was like, 'Where's the wine? This isn't wine!'"

Carboplatin and Docetaxel – the two chemotherapy medications Laurie is being treated with – are most certainly not exotic names of classy wines, and neither are the Pertuzumbab and Trastuzumab antibodies she requires, either.

However, her visits to Queen Margaret Hospital for treatment once every three weeks comes with the benefit of being fed and watered by the "amazing" NHS staff who "never stop for a minute".

Laurie received her first treatment on the Friday within Area 1, although she states a black Sharpie pen will be in her hand luggage for her next visit to transform the room ... into Area 51!

She was able to share a laugh with the other patients with her throughout the day but what was to come was no laughing matter.

The 48-year-old felt a little tired and sore on Saturday and over the weekend but it wasn't until the Monday when the reaction to the first chemo really hit hard.

"Last week was a very tough week," she said.

"I never expected anything like that in a million years.

"I have so much empathy for everyone in that ward I was in. They were all quite quiet whereas I was like the life and soul of it and they were probably sitting there thinking to themselves, 'Just you bloody wait, hen! You'll be quiet the next time as you'll know what is coming!'

"I knew I would have bad days and good days and it wasn't going to be fun and games but the side effects I've had have been awful.

"Poor Jamie has basically been my carer for around four days, I'd say.

"I actually thought I was on my way out. It was so bad on those days. I couldn't get up, I couldn't eat and I've lost about 12 pounds in a week; I've never had a crash diet like it!

"As you'll be able to tell, I've got my sense of humour back!"

Laurie heaped praise on Jamie, Taylor and her close family for helping her immensely in the days after the chemo.

"Both of them have been amazing and have been doing little things to make me smile on the bad days and my sister and mum have been brilliant as well," she says.

"They've all seen first-hand what it has been like for me, especially from the Monday to Thursday."

During those four days, her diary keeping track of her progress was filled with sad faces as the side effects took hold.

"My diary entry for Tuesday is great: 'Tuesday – I'm in hell!'" she laughed.

"That was followed up by all these little crying faces as I felt so bad!

"Today though, Monday, I can put a huge smiley face to remind me that it does get better!

"I knew it was going to be tough but today has been a reminder that better days are to come.

"I've had so many disgusting side effects, though. By the end of all of this, I'll be a wee chemo pro!

"I was texting my pal who was asking how I was getting on and I was telling him about the good and bad days and the side effects and all that, and he came back to me with: 'Chemo. Sleep. Rave. Repeat.'

"I'm getting that on a t-shirt! That is basically the cycle it goes round in.

"You get the chemo and then you're tired and sore and then you get to the good side of things before it repeats again!"

Alongside the chemo, Laurie has to inject her stomach with a needle every day for the 10 days post-treatment to build her body back up.

"Jamie thought it was going to be like a diabetic pen but it's a proper injection!" she says.

"It's all part of the journey and it's worth telling people what to expect.

"If someone asks a question about it, I'll answer honestly. When I've been writing my diary I've been the same way but you sometimes want to sugar-coat things when you're writing, and I don't want to do that.

"Being honest is the best way to do this."

Her chemotherapy is set to be altered slightly for the next round of treatment but before then she is taking matters – and her hair – into her own hands.

Laurie is set to shave off her long locks, with the help of Taylor, next Monday at New Row Barbers.

She has already bought the stylish wig from Sheds Hairdressing in Dunfermline that she'll be rocking and is set to confirm an appointment shortly.

"I'm going to be one hot mamma!," she promises.