Day 1 - off to hospital in a couple of hours for 4th TAC. Got less than 2 hours sleep last night thanks to steroids so feeling like a zombie. Anna, hope you are feeling better now? Sally, glad to hear that the rads are going OK for you, are you getting more tired each day - I heard that tiredness is the worst side effect - is that right? how long are you at the hospital for each day? I’ve been told my rads will start 3 weeks after last chemo which will be mid December, for 4-5 weeks so that will be right over Xmas. No rest for the wicked! Quiet Xmas anyway, we had thought to go away but no chance now, however this time next year…
Probably won’t get on the computer for a few days if today knocks me as much as the previous ones so good luck to all of you.
This thread is Fab! I wish I’d found it sooner, but only signed up yesterday. Thanks for all the top tips and usefull comments - I’ll be sending OH on ice lolly missions at the first sign of mouth soreness!
I start my first chemo (TAC) this afternoon (so I AM newbie!), and am rather aprehensive. My attitude so far has been ‘bring it on’ so I’m hoping I don’t turn into a gibbering wreck over the next few weeks!
I’ve been through the side effects with the Onc, and done a bit of research, but hadn’t heard of the nail problems before, just goes to show theres no substitute for actual experiance! - I’ll have to crack out the vampy purple nail varnish now - any excuse!
I’ll definitly be clocking in again now I know where you are!
Hi Dae, good luck with the 4th one, i think we are finishing around the same time. i am due to finish 9th Dec, only when you are having rads, i will be having surgery.
take care
anna
having no11 today of 15, its hard to say how long im at the hospital for as the rads itself onlu take about 10-15 mins in total actual radio wave stuff is only about 30-40 sec its the lining up that takes the time its the waiting that is the worst, the longest ive had to wait up until now is 40 mins i suppose and the shortest is 10 mins.Yes i am getting tired but its nothing like chemo tired… i am getting sick and tired of going there though LOL even though its only 20 mins away it still seems to take a chunk of the day up.
Im still not sore or red but i must admit my scare area and underarm feels tight so i advise anyone whos had exercises to start doing them , had phsyo app on monday and was given new ones to do… i was in a room with 6 other women and i felt so out of it as i must have been the youngest by at least 20 yrs. but nevermind
I am feeling abit down at mo but i think its cos ive got a terible cold and feel as though i wasnt given a break between last chemo and starting rads (12 days after chemo) feel quiet jelouse of those of you who have got a few weeks break before starting rads… given the choice, even though ive nearlly finish rads i would have loved a few weeks break between them but hey how im nearly finished now
Sorry i seem to be having a right moan today… didnt mean to LOL
But no Dae the tiredness is ok just another excuse to chill on sofa…hope all goes well today with no 4… and that the next week of awulnes flys by
welcome fraggle great place to get advice and support and of coutse to learn from others.
well done Sally - you are almost there! I start in just under 3 weeks time - had last Tax yesterday so do get a bit of a break. However i have 25 sessions to face and rather sdreading them, but hey ho dreaded everything else and coped so hope it will continue that way. Bought the aqueous cream recommended - and will start applying it next week. Thanks for tip about keeping up exercises to help prevent tightening… Am massaging in bio oil into scar and axilla at the moment iv fons hope it might help…
Good look Dae with next tax… we know what to expect now dont we? In a strange way i feel that helps; i knwo there will be light at the end of the tunnel of horror. Onc told me my last would probably have less aches and pains - hope he is right!
Hi, it must be soooooo nice to have had the last one, well done for getting through it.
i also just want to say that i think fraggle is a great name, i loved fraggle rock as a kid.
good luck everyone with treatment and side effects, i will be watching this space for the radiotherapy bit.
Hi I’m having my last chemo tomorrow (4 cycles in total) and can say that initially I too was very apprenhensive of having the Taxotere drug along with cyclophosphamide however I have to agree with the others that it wasn’t/isn’t that bad. I lost my hair 2 weeks after my 1st cycle but in the grand scheme of things it didn’t bother me, I was more worried that my hair didn’t fall out as I wanted to be reassured that the drugs were doing their job.
I had really achy bones on the 1st chemo but realised this was mainly due to lack of calcium, my advice drink as much milk and eat as many dairy products as possible - I did and only had a slight reoccurence on my 3rd cycle but had a unhealthy slab of cheese and the pain subsided.
My hair follicles on my head & pubic area got infected as well as having vaginal thrush with the 1st chemo my oncologist recommended Head & Shoulders (original) to be applied to both areas without fully rinsing - apparently the zinc in the shampoo helps the follicles to heal - it didn’t take long for my symptoms to disappear.
I’m having real problems with a horrible metallic taste in mouth which has killed my taste buds completely, knowing I have to drink plenty of fluids and eat yoghurts to help with the other sides effects is really difficult and at times does make me feel worse and suffering with the feeling of nausea isn’t very nice, however, having read a lot of your comments I will try the sugar free sweets & the coca cola and see if they make any difference.
Good luck with your treatments and remember everyone keep positive
I had my hickman line put in yesterday and it wasn’t as bad as I expected. Had my first tax as well, could anyone advise me when side effects usually kick in.
ive finished my chemo 4 weks ago (3fec 3tax) and found that my side effects kicked in 2 days after i had chemo and usually lasted about 5 days and then started to get better , days 4 and 5 were my worst but we are all different so this might vary for you.
Hi, i think its good to do what you can, when you can, your body will tell you when it needs rest, i have never slept so much as i did after that cycle of docetaxel. Day 4 i think i was awake for about 4 hours all day.
Anna - had to nick the nickname from OH - how bad is that My imagination unfortunatly wasn’t up to comming up with something origional!! (and whatever did happen to Fraggle Rock?!)
Burkio - I’ve had agonising pains in my legs, day 4 and 5 for me. Will have to stock up on the dairy products. I resorted to painkillers after moaning a lot on the sofa for half the night, but I’d much prefer a ‘natrual’ remedy, so thanks for the tip!
The bad taste in the mouth seems to be unaviodable. I’m having trouble with mints and chewing gum as well, usually my first resort. I know sugar free sweets help, has anyone found a good chewing gum that does the trick as well? I will have to start experimenting I think!
One relief I have found for both mouth and nausea is Foxes Ginger Biscuits (with real stem ginger aparently) dunked in ice cold milk!
Try lemon and ginger tea,chilled diluted lime juice,chilled fizzy water with a slice of lemon.
The most effective painkillers off prescription are ibuprofen and paracetamol taken at the same time-it shouldnt take more than 2 doses.
Good Luckx
Am presently on Fec (2 out of 4) next fec is due Tuesday 27th I then go onto Tax. (3) I have had severe vomiting and nausea with Fec but was given Emend for my 2nd dose. This stopped the vomiting but unfortuatly not the nausea. Are the side effects of Tax as bad or worse than the Fec? Am feeling pretty sorry for myself at the moment and the thought of 5 more chemos to go and all the horrid side effects makes me want to just stop and take my chances (sounds pathetic I know)Any tips or advice for the Tax?
Many thanks. Karen
Hi, i have had 4 x EC and 1 tax, i have another 3 tax to go. I did find the tax harder going but everyone is different. The tax is different to the EC. I too have had that thought about no more chemo but before you know it you will be nearer the end of chemo and glad that you did it.
i had 3fec and 3 tax finishing this sept, even though i was never sick (pills worked for me) i did feel sick alot but on the tax this wasnt so bad and from chatting to other women on this thread alot that had been really sick on the fec wern’t on the tax.
i know what you mean about giving up on the chemo as on everyone of mine i said thats enough ive had enough no more but after the SE passed and i started to feel better between each treatment i just counted them down. I know it seems forever but i cant beleive mines all done and i have my last rads tomorrow, it only seems like yesterday that this horrible jounrney started.
tips for tax and fec from me are do as your body says if you feel knackered then rest, if you feel pain take painkillers (as you can get aches with tax) but always take your temp before you take them, try and drink plenty, if you feel like a agentle walk then do so. as for the nausea speak to your unit and i found if i felt sick and had something little to eat it helped. ginger biscuits helped too.
Its normal to feel fed up and down, i still do even now, its to be expected, its a grueling thing were going through so be kind to yourself and allow yourself to be upset.
the side effects are different for everybody so i can only go on my experience.
I wish you all the best on your journey, you will find plenty of advice and support on this thread
Hi All
going for my second tax tomorrow hope that side effects not as bad as first, but at least I’m prepared this time ,took about 12days to feel anything like normal ,mouth still taste crap,not so tinny this week,trying alsorts to drink,felt very down in first week,only one more to go after this one then 25 sessions rad,so expect to feel nackered for christmas !!! hope you are all going well speak again soon.
Hi and best wishes to all of you still going through this purgatory- like Sally i also said after each Tax that’s it; no more; will take my chances!! But you do start to feel better and realise you can do this. It will end and you will be glad you saw it through. Lots of advice already been given on the practical side, dont ask too much of yourself, just deal with each day as it comes and see it as one nearer to the finish line. I found going out for small walks on the nicer days helped to lift my spirits and to remind me that this world is a beautiful place… Am struggling after my 3rd tax ( in 2nd week) to walk as far BUT when i extended the distance by 20 minutes on Sunday i felt so much more +ve. Must try again; but so easy to be lazy. Need to give myself constant pep talks… problem is i’m starting not to listen! This is a battle in the mind as well as the body…but dig deep and you will find the strength to cope.
My imagination unfortunatly wasn’t up to comming up with something origional!! (and whatever did happen to Fraggle Rock?!)