One week post 1st FEC 100 and I have lived to see the other side - felt dodgy about it at some points. I think besides the sickness fatigue mouth problems etc I had a bit of a reaction to all the anti-sick drugs hence the MADWOMAN phase. I feel a bit more like ME again now and you have all been making me laugh - we can all laugh at ourselves and its not bad taste or crass.
Loocies description of the hairy outline in the bed had me screaming!!! what a nightmare.
I am being kinder to my OH now - who is not the baddy I portrayed. Lots to talk to my Onc about next week. Still feel a bit sick at times and runny nose etc but it is now DOABLE - as we have all heard before from experienced ladies on here. The only thing I have really gone off is my daily medicinal couple of glasses of cava. been dry for a week - hope I can stomach some at the weekend - deffo off to Cornwall after my wiggy lady appointment on Friday.
As for Katie Price thing - brilliant. Love to you all - LynB. xxxxx
hope we’re all doing well on this bright and sunny day. I have to say I’m feeling even worse than yesterday, the sickness has come back, I’m tired through, have no strength and generally feel grim - don’t know why, I was definitely on the way up this time last cycle.
So I’ve just decided to go with the flow - there is no point trying to fight this thing and pretending I’m ok when I’m not. So a day lying on the sofa or reading a book - so what? I had some aromatherapy this afternoon, went to the library to get a stack of chick lit to read and numb the brain and now plan to do absolutely nothing. I just need to get my head around doing nothing - but I hope it doesn’t continue for the next 4 months or I am going to become a total vegetable by Christmas.
Does anyone else feel like their brain has been wrapped in cotton wool? I can’t think straight, can’t concentrate or motivate myself. Even typing on here or reading a book is an effort. I certainly hope this is not a permanent chemo brain effect!
Lyn, I was definitely drinking wine last week although can’t think of anything worse at the moment - so I’m sure you’ll be at the cava again soon.
I’m looking forward to a balloon flight in a couple of weeks time - one of these Virgin flights - should be excellent and something to look forward to!
Hayz - I was told immunity is lowest from 10-14 days! Why is it that everyone seems to have different information? Everything about this disease seems contradictory.
Lynn - good luck with your treatment, you can certainly do without that on top of chemo, hope it sorts itself out quickly.
Hi helen, I am sorry you are feeling so low. The second cycle is hard and I am afraid i vegged out alot through chemo as my body kept protesting if I pushed it any way.I was told immunity was lowest at 10-14 days after chemo. I remember the cotton wool feeling well. It does get better after chemo has finished. If your sickness is still bad, ask for different anti sickness tablets. I was given metaclopramide but they were crap. I then tried cyclazine which were better. They also helped with sleep. I found sleep impossible while having chemo and had sweats all the time.The depression on chemo can never be understimated either.
It sounds a cliche but treat your self kindly. I can appreciate that financial pressures do not help the situation. However pushing yourself can make you feel worse, it did me. i also found the steroids made me feel very depressed so had them reduced on the next cycles. If you are not up to coming out tomorrow i’ll understand.
sorry not posted on here for a while, everything moves so fast when you’re laid up for a few days!
I’ve been told lots of different things about the immunity - apparently days 5-10 can be critical too!!!
Well, I’m on day 8 and feeling good. I’ve been back at work the last two days (taking it very easy - I work in the school at the end of my road and the head has sent me home both days at 3.30pm!). I do feel quite tired and lightheaded, but the sickness is practically gone - thank goodness.
I’ve definitely had some cotton wool head moments! And trying to multi-task is pretty much impossible.
Hugs and love to all and hope those side effects keep away
Al
xxxx
Good luck Hayz - hope the SEs stay at bay for you and that you’re up and bouncing about again sooooon. I’ll practise being courageous for you this afternoon so you don’t have to worry about it.
And hope you get on OK with your gynae apt Lynn - would be lovely to just have a switch eh? Hope they come up with a good plan for you.
It appears that I am having an SE free day today, so am going to enjoy it. Already done loads of mooching about, so will go off for my plod round the park, have some lunch, then do a bit more mooching
Lotsalove to you all - 'specially those that are feeling rough - the better days really are just round the corner xxx
Im due to have my 2nd lot of Fec next Tuesday - dreading it due to extreme vomiting last time. Consultant has said he will review my meds when I go to see him on Tuesday, only hope they can get it right. I spoke to the consultants secretary yesterday and tried to explain to her how Ill I was with my first lot of Fec her response was:- well most women seem to tolerate Fec and dont seem to have many side effects! to which I replied “well what is the reaction to Tax then because if Fec has little side effeccts Im in for a brilliant time with Tax” she then laughed and said “Im not saying anything!”
My question is Are the side effects of Tax horrendous and are they the same as Fec because if so the next 6 months are going to be pretty miserable.
Sorry to hear about all your side effects especially the vomiting - I don’t know if you have seen my previous posts but I had a tablet called Aprepitant or Emend (I have a phobia of vomiting!) and it worked. As I have said before I don’t think it’s widely advertised, possibly a cost issue. I think it’s all very well for secretaries and others to make unhelpful remarks but they are not having to go through it! Anyway it was extremely effective for me, no vomiting, but 3 days of nausea.
My Onc nurse told me that most people tolerate Tax better than FEC - in her opinion FEC was a harder regime… Of course we are all different though. She said you get less sickness/nausea on Tax but more bone aches etc. I can’t comment on that yet because like you I have my 2nd FEC on Tuesday too (well that’s if it’s not delayed - I’m just off to see a gynaecologist!)
Hope this helps
Lynn
Hi ladies,
I have read all your messages with great interest. I am due to start 3 FEC and 3 TAX next Tuesday. I’ve decided I really don’t want to play this game any more. I wish I could go to sleep and wake up next year when its all over. I too have a phobia of vomiting but have managed to more or less conquer it up till now!! One of my daughters also has it and is frightened I am going to be ill around her. Ho hum happy days. I am certainly going to ask for the anti sickness drugs mentioned on here. I am also usually very strong stomached and very rarely sick (once in 25 years) so hoping that will help too. I guess at the end of the day there is not a lot we can do about it but hope that it will all be worth it in the end.
Take care,
Jane
I have spoke to the BCN and the consultants secretary about the drug Emend to ask if I could have this drug when I go for my 2nd lot of chemo. The response was my consultant will discuss my medication with me when I go for my 2nd dose of chemo. I have mentioned on both occassions how I would like to try Emend but the consultant will not commit himself to it even though he knows how sick I was. I feel very frustrated and helpless. I am the one who will more than likely have her head down the toilet (sorry for the graphics) on Tuesday night but he has the power (thats how I see it anyway). Hope everyone is ok and not suffering too much with SE.
Karen
Just going to let off a bit of steam aaarrrggghhh. Just got back from the gynaecologist. Have got to have a small operation next Tuesday ie hysteroscopy and to put back the coil - something I could really do without between chemo treatments. This means my 2nd chemo on Tuesday will be delayed a week or so and I have got to go through something that was unavoidable in the first place. And to get this done quickly I have got to pay. If the Oncologist had asked me the right questions in the first place, ie weighing up the risks and benefits of leaving it in I wouldn’t have to go through all this. I feel like ramming the f******g bill down his throat - sorry for ranting just feel p****d off.
Hayz - hope all went ok today and s/e manageable
Helen - hope you are feeling better
Karen - you must fight, be strong and keep pushing
Loocie - hope you enjoyed your s/e free day - we must make the most of them when we can
Jane - good luck for Tuesday
Lynn x
Sorry that so many of you have extra problems - I don’t think mere mortals (i.e non BC sufferers) would believe the complexity of our treatments/other issues!
Lynn poor darling - what are they doing? I will be joining you for 2nd FEC Tues week.
Karen - hope you get the Emend - I will discuss that we my onc next Wed too - I am having private treatment so interesting to see if it is on Insurers list of drugs!
JC - wishing you as little SE’s as humanly possible for your 1st FECcing.
Wills1 - what an insensitive secretary!
Loocie - power to you - don’t wear yourself out at work.
Hazel - hope all went ok today - and meds adjusted with good results.
Al - love your spirit - going to work must be an enormous effort for you.
Helen - yes I know the cottonwool head very well and I am clumsy and keep dropping/breaking things. Still not touched the Cava.
To all other ladies - take care x
I ventured out tonight to see my friends at social club and was a bit spaced out. Still feel that I am at sea. Was munching on pringles to settle stomach - I am going to put on so much weight. Just lost over a stone since April with Slimming world.
Must go and try to sleep now as I have buy day tomorrow - meeting friend for pub lunch and then wiggy lady appointment - will let you know what colour/style I go for. Then off to Cornwall @ 5am Sat morning!- can’t wait to sit in acar for 6 hours I must be mad.
Well had my 2nd Fec at 2pm yesterday & I don’t wanna get too excited, but I feel so much better this time around!
Still had a fair bit of nausea last night & some this morning, but not to the degree of the first cycle…and no stomach cramps this time either…fingers crossed it doesn’t get any worse!
I’ve stopped taking the Domperidome (spelling?)…apparently it could’ve been the cause of my stomach cramps and dodgey bowels last time (sorry, to much info lol)! I’ve been given Prochlorperazine instead. They can have a slight sedative effect, so I’ve checked that I’m ok to double up my night time dose to help me sleep…worked fab last night! I’ve also to take an extra Granisteron at bedtime to hopefully stop the morning eugh feeling! Will try that out tonight.
Sorry to hear that some of you are having problems with having meds changed etc. I feel very lucky in that my Onc nurses are amazing & they discuss everything with you & speak to the Onc to okay what they’ve decided. I’ve only met my Oncologist once & will see her again prior to starting TAX, but she was absolutely lovely & very approachable. She made it clear that it’s all about me & I don’t have to suffer with SE’s and told me to speak to the nurses at any time & they’ll tweak my meds as much as needed. I can also ask to see her at anytime during my treatments.
Well…I’m off to chill & catch up on Ugly Betty before I need to get dressed & go & get the kids from school at lunchtime!
gosh - aren’t we a bunch? Just as well we can come on here and let off steam and have a good moan and whinge. A week after my second FEC and I feel like I am finally emerging from my fug of chemo brain. It was definitely worse the second time round, if it continues I’m going to be a zombie by Christmas! Anyway, it has worn off and I am feeling better, the sickness has finally gone (I hope) and I still have a furry and yukky mouth and odd taste but no ulcers yet so here’s hoping that that and the indigestion is the last of it.
I feel so sorry for those of you who are actually vomiting - although I’ve felt sick for 6 days I didn’t feel like I would actually throw up so the meds must be working to a certain extent. Hopefully the onc can adjust things to see what works best for you - it is so different for everyone it must be difficult for them to predict what is going to happen first time round and give the correct drugs from the outset.
Lynn, what a nightmare - I hope things are sorted out - I am dreading my ovaries getting hit and me entering the menopause - I’ve not had any of that yet and really don’t think I am ready for it.
Lynb - I know what you mean about putting on weight. I’ve put back on all I lost last year with WW and am now at my heaviest. So far I’ve not changed weight while doing chemo - although not for lack of trying! Yesterday I ate almost an entire currant loaf by myself! (and I’m planning on finishing the rest of it today) What a pig! On Wednesday my lunch was chip shop chips and a belgian bun - good grief! I have decided to eat what I feel like during week after chemo and then really be careful and do loads of exercise in the next two weeks to balance it out - so it’s back to the cabbage soup and cycling to the gym on Monday! I’m terrified that when I go onto tamoxifen after chemo that the weight will pile on and I’m scared that for my wedding next year I will be fat and bald - not a good look for the photos.
It’s back to work for me today - I’ve got two commissions and some pro-bono work for my village hall so I must knuckle down and get it done before the next zombie brain attack. Difficult to get motivated while the days are lovely and sunny but I need to pay those bills.
JC - I love the idea of waking up sometime next March - what a great idea! How about 6 months of sedation so you just forget everything that’s happened?
Good luck to everyone with the dreaded chemical cocktail this week - may your side effects be insignificant!
Hi everyone, sounds as though there are mixed reports about round two. So pleased that you’re perky Hayz, but sorry you feel it’s worse for you Leucite - so strange isn’t it?
I have managed to get myself some accupuncture for the side effects at a local day hospice - wonder whether any of you have access to this kind of complementary therapy? I’ve also been really lucky and have managed to wangle a session before my 2nd infusion. Will keep you posted as to whether it helps. OMG I can’t face being so sick again and am praying that it will do something.
Lynn, you let it go girl! I can’t believe how mucked about you’ve been? It seems staggering that such a simple decision couldn’t be made without you having to go through these procedures (hardly dignified) when you already have the stuffing knocked out of you.
Actually contemplating some house work, but hoping the feeling soon passes!
Lotsalove to you not so perky and perky brave, brave ladies.
No one will ever dare mess with us again, we’re all tough little cookies, beating up our cancer
xxx
Hope you are all feeling a little brighter considering the hell we have to go through. But the way I see it (and cope with it to be honest) is that we have to do it if we are to get well again and have a chance of our life getting back to some normality.
I have my second session of FEC this week and am very nervous. I’m hoping that by being admitted this time I won’t be so ill, but the anxiety is still there.
If any of you are not happy with your treatment don’t be afraid to ask questions and speak up. You are the one going through this - they are there to treat you and provide you with the care you need. Please, please don’t suffer in silence - don’t be afraid to tell them exactly how you feel. Yes they may have the experience but every patient is different in how they react. I have been lucky in that so far they have been pretty good in listening to me. It’s still early days but I know I’m in good hands.
Sorry if that came across as pushy - I just want everyone to be treated well because its hard enough coping with the emotions associated with breast cancer. We don’t need the added stress of worrying about our treatment too.
JC - I hope you are feeling a little calmer - try not to worry. I think I did and that’s perhaps why my reaction was worse.
Hi Ladies,
Thanks for your words of support!! My first session is getting nearer and I am getting prepared, bought soups, lollies, water, even got my new hair. Really bothered about my hair so I have my wig and intend to cut my hair really short soon and start wearing the wig before my hair starts falling out. I have decided I am going to breeze through this. I will not have any side effects, I will not have many side effects, I may have some side effects oh dear I’ll let you know this time next week. What I would like to know is if my appt is at 11.30am what is the best thing to eat before and after, any ideas? I’ve heard it is a good idea to drink loads of water at the beginning too, any little tips greatfully accepted.
I have had such wonderful care so far that I really hope for the same from my chemo unit who sounded really nice when they rung me
Take care, lots of love to you all,
Jane
I’ve only had one FEC and am psyching myself up for the next on the 13th Oct; so can only offer some limited advice…
* Try and keep hold of that feeling of positivity, as you may need to call upon it.
* If the SEs bite you on the bum, try and remember that they will pass (no matter how dreadful you are feeling, they will go)
* Drink, drink, drink, drink, drink even when you really don’t want to - you’ll be amazed at how much you can get through and still be dehydrated. The colour of your pee is a great indicator - the lighter it is, the better. The fluid intake also helps with bowels and mouth so a good all rounder
* Remember that we’re all here sharing this experience, and willing it to go well for each other
When I was feeling at my most pants, a friend of mine made a post on their FB wall saying that ‘self belief is a magic that comes from within’ and boy does it. I focussed upon those words and just kept telling myself that I can do this…it works
Please will someone point me back to this post when I’m moaning that I feel as sick as a dog, and can’t see a better time ahead!!! It’s so easy to feel positive when you feel well!
Still hanging on to the hair on my head, but spookily enough my body hair doesn’t seem to be re-growing. Last night I suddenly realised that I hadn’t shaved under my arm for ages; and was pleasantly surprised to find that instead of staring at something which may be acceptable in Europe, my pit was in fact quite bald! Just thought I’d share that with you ;0
