The metrochlopromide can be taken ‘as and when’ so is fine to take is you are ?. Kx
Hello Ladies
For those tackling side effects am sorry to hear you’re suffering. Angelblue glad to hear your bleeding is subsiding - whole experience sounds upsetting and every best wish for your adoption journey when the time comes.
Rapunzel - I had Emend for my first chemo and didn’t suffer any nausea. I might have just been lucky. Good luck with IVF in future - what a rollercoaster for you.
Hope you’ve managed some Christmas cheer with your families with more smiles than tears.
AJOrchid hope today was ok for you and that sunnydaze you get on ok tomorrow. I’ve had a port fitted today so feeling bit tired after local anaesthetic/sedation - just home, and taking it easy with a cuppa and slice of chocolate Yule log ? - the perfect prescription to recover ASAP.
I feel for those beginning to lose your hair - stay strong. I know how upsetting and de-feminising the experience is. I lost all my hair when I was 21 and it never grew back. Having worn a wig for 25 years, be assured there’s lots of fabulous wigs and products out there to help you. I know ‘’it’s just hair” but it’s a massive part of our identity and how we look and feel about ourselves. Be kind to yourself. Psychologically it’s tough but try and focus on the little things that make you personally feel better - wearing your nice clothes, putting on make up, getting a head massage, getting a nice hat to keep your head warm and toasty, buying a colourful scarf to make you feel brighter. For wigs I’ve been using Trendco in London for 25 yrs - they are fantastic. Also your eyebrows/eyelashes help frame your face. There’s lots of good products like pots of eyebrow wax(L’Oréal, Benefit) and eyeliners that’s will help give definition if you have no lashes left for mascara. My challenge is when my work colleagues ask why I’m not losing my hair - no one at work knows I wear a wig it’s so real!
Take care and Best wishes
KC72
Ah thanks Drummerswidow and pastamossus for your kind and helpful comments. It means a lot, not to be going through this on your own. I’ll let you know how I get on. Love and Healing to each and everyone of you.xxx
Hi all - just wanted to “pop in” - it’s difficult to keep up with where everyone is in their treatment cycles but reading through the posts just goes to show how different people’s experiences are. I have been pretty up and down emotionally since my first FEC on 20 Dec. Physically I have been really nauseous but that (hopefully) seems to have passed and I am eating OKish now. I’ve had a horrible patchy tongue (nice) but was provided with some drugs for that and that seems to be getting better.
I haven’t cold capped so am waiting for my hair to fall out - even typing that feels surreal. I’m on day 8 and no sign of any loss yet but my hair is SO lank and feels really greasy. I’ve got a wig and scarves and things ready - but I think I’m going to struggle with the reality of dealing with them everyday rather than just trying them on.
However - today and yesterday have felt more “do-able” so I am trying to hang on to the more positive days.
I’m not really a massive social media fan but it does help to know that there are other people going through this.
Big love
Hi ladies,
Having been through 6 cycles of FEC-T and now back to normal I thought I would give you a few pointers.
- Cycles meant 3 cycles of FEC and 3 of T. These are abbreviations for the drug regime and names.
- Decide if you are going to wear a scarf, hat, wig ASAP and purchase.
- Hair drops out after about 2 weeks. Starts as if you are moulting. Then comes out by the handful.
- I used to feel fine for about 36-48hrs post dose and then rotten for about a week. The week after was ok and by the third week I felt fine but then got another dose,
- The treatment is accumulative so by cycle 5/6 you will feel very rough. I stayed in bed for a week. Doctor gave me something to knock me out.
- See 1, Hair drops out with FEC. Eyelashes and eyebrows with T - cycle 4 onwards.
- Learn to draw on eyebrows. Works a treat, False lashes, did not bother.
- Don’t use baby shampoo. Simple range works well. Continued to use Simple products for a year.
- You may become allergic to things you were not allergic to previously. so don’t colour your hair for at least 6mths.
- When your head starts to itch and you need to scratch it this it means the follicles are growing hair again. This started when I was on ‘T’ in cycle 5/6.
- I stopped wearing a wig after 6mths. Had hair styled to a short pixie cut
- Hair grew back with tight curls, white and multicoloured like a tabby cat. It was blonde? So after 6 mths I used a natural colour with no additives Naturalle in a green box from Holland and Barrett.
- As my hair grew longer it was thicker and with a wave - just as it was as a child. Very happy as it was fine and dead straight before.
- Side effects. Ensure you know them all. There is a huge range from thrush, to metallic taste to upset tums …Mine varied by each cycle. Seemed to have 3/4 per cycle but strangely never the same 3/4.
- Use a dedicated mouthwash wash and soft toothbrush - teeth and gums will suffer. See your dentist regularly. See oncologist / GP /pharmacist to recommend a mouthwash.
- Eat plenty and a balanced diet. Drink plenty of fluid.
- My friend suffered from diarrhoea whilst I had constipation. She wore pads whilst I used Vaseline. Sorry to mention ladies but if you get really awful constipation, smear some vaseline around and just inside your anus. This aids the evacuation and reduces pain.
- Nails became discoloured brown and split. Look after your hands and nails. They will return to normal.
- I have nerve damage to some of my toes as a result of chemo. Some feel a bit numb as it I’ve come in from the snow. This is permanent but a small price to pay.
Hope this helps some of you,
Hello ladies,
Especially a big thank you to Rhubarb (there’s some great imaginaonames on here ?) for sharing your post of your experiences. I am having FEC-T too and had my first infusion today. I have copied your post for my Mum and sister, to give them a bit of an idea of what to expect, so thank you. Much appreciated ?
Thank you also to Gocat and Wahini for sharing your experiences, it’s kind of comforting to read other similar experiences. Stay strong ladies? and I know we are good at finding the positive in everyday, even when things are tough. I had my first dose today
I hope you are well I’m sending you love
My protesting finally paid off and chemo has started.
I’m back home now, it went alright. I was quite chipper, better than I was yesterday. The Chemo nurses were lovely. They have given me a few lovely new scarves and showed me how to tie them.? I have been given very strong and double dose anti sickness tablets. Let’s hope they keep nausea at bay. I feel ok, slightly pissed actually! I think it might be steroids. Fingers crossed that I don’t feel too bad and have an ok night.
Love and light
I had a bit of a wobble yesterday trying on unsuitable wigs, that looked terrible, but with a bit more time will get there. Think I’ll go for a blonde bob style, but I’m very tempted by a silver long one with purple tips. Ha ha, only joking, but it might cheer me up some sad days.
Love, light and healing to all you strong ladies xxx
Hi all, had my first FEC on Christmas eve, surprised to find no side effects other than pain from nightly injections and tiredness, as i had imagined all manner of ailments, although strong smells can make me gag a little.
Hope alls well with everyone else
Am now day 11 post FEC (first cycle). So far I’ve only had the overwhelming tiredness and zero brain day 4/5 - seriously, not enough brain to be bored or listen to the radio! Listened to talking books on my ipod whih I practically know off by heart I’ve heard them so much. Anyway, brain now back and able to read decent books again 
Last night very sore hips and sternum (breastbone), presume this is a side-effect of GCSF (had this for 7 days, no problems until last night).
Apart from that I’ve been amazed by how few side effects I’ve had. Oh, extremely bizarre vivid dreams days 3 and 4 thanks to steroids!
Have got a multi-coloured 80s Mullet wig for when the hair falls out as well as the sensible one and loads of hats and headscarves.
Hello everyone
Have not been in here for a while but catching up on everyone’s experiences. We’re a brave lot, aren’t we? Good wishes to all of you for New Year and hope you can celebrate a little. Hope you all managed to enjoy some part of Christmas.
My major bugbear at the moment is dental problems. I saw dentist & hygienist before I started Chemo in December and used hospital mouthwash 4 times a day as precaution, but developed an infection almost overnight - it was the day I saw my oncologist in preparation for my next cycle on New Year’s Eve and little did I know that later on it was going to be downhill.
I managed to get an emergency appointment at the dentist on Christmas Eve and antibiotics. However, I need an extraction. I only ever had one before and that was decades ago!
This means my 2nd cycle is delayed. A lot. Dentist can only do extraction on 9th January earliest. Then I need a full week before I can see the oncologist again because he needs to be sure I have a healed wound and no further infection before I can begin my next cycle.
I never thought I would have this disruption but maybe it’s better earlier than later (I have 6 sessions in all) as I will be weaker as time & cycles go by.
No nausea or vomiting with 1st cycle - that’s a plus. Only hope this doesn’t mean an endless problem with teeth! Hasten to reassure me someone!
the injections are small thin needle, you do them into the fat in your tummy. If you’re brave and go for it, they really don’t hurt (and they don’t hurt more when you press the plunger, which most injections do). If you’re a bit more tentative then you feel the needle going in more, but it’s still much less painful than getting blood taken. Also, the skin over your tummy isn’t very sensitive, so you really don’t feel much there anyway.
Jabs, I was told to do them opposite sides of bellybutton each day about 5cms from belly button, ask one of your nurses they will happily show you how to do. I was needle phobic too last year but 6 days in casa nhs after first one put that out the window, I grabbed a bit of belly fat and had it in there in seconds, voila ?as soon as you do your first you’ll be off and ?:female_sign: ??Trendco are great for wigs there are also your Macmillan centres who have preloaded wigs too and don’t forget your vouchers you are entitled to again speak to Macmillan. I had a few wigs from luvyababes too, they have a great range in now, not at all wiggy and I was happier in a £20 one from their than the very expensive real hair one my darling hubby got me. I had a wig for treatments and then another one that was nothing to do with treatments, so had a bit of separation to things if that makes sense? Also had some fun ones too, coloured ones and tinsel ones ??well why not. Silk pillowcase is gentler on head after hair loss and I had scalp care kit from beauty despite cancer which cared for scalp well. Re dentist, you should be seen straight away and get treatment straight away when you tell them you are going through chemo, I think that’s how it should work regarding oral hygiene during chemo, do they know you are on chemo? ??
Shi xx
Just stopping by to say “hi” I haven’t posted much but I do read what’s going on and send positive thoughts to everyone here.
I couldn’t have mt second round of chemo on the 27th because I’ve been on antibiotics for an abscess (right next to my breast tumour). Hopefully, my next scheduled appointment for the 3rd of January will go ahead as planned.
I’m also at the waiting for my hair to fall out stage. In a way, I think it will be a relief now when it happens :smileysad:
Beautiful ladies??I had my long hair cut into a bob prior to starting chemo and sent it to little princess trust wigs for kids, for me it was a right chemo you will take my hair but I decide what happens to it and I choose to help a child with it, so you might be able to turn it into a positive 
After than when my hair started shedding (day 14 for me) I was in hospital, so the minute I got home after my casa nhs stunt I got flipped out and grade oned it, got my make up on and buzzed it off, gave me control of it and also in privacy of own home and not in hospital which was why I buzzed it off, I thought i’ll Get it off now in my home, my choice just in case I ended up back in casa nhs. Other girls had friends and family raise funds for cancer research as a brave the shave again turning it into a positive, it’s a big hurdle and a very personal one, always remember you are beautiful strong amazing and you are still YOU ???Shi xx
Morning all, TMI but here goes, when i was on the two week wait i was given antibiotics which played havoc with my digestion resulting in a pile being agrevated. I have had no trouble going to the bathroom at all but today passed blood. Bleeding all stopped but not sure if i should get checked out.
With it being the first round i’m not sure what is considered normal or when to call for advice
Definitely from the piles, stopped straight away once i had wiped but now have that itchy, sore feeling, oh the joys. Will try to get hubby to pick me up some more cream, although our local boots will not advise anything once they know i am on chemo, it’s a wonder they make any profit ?
I agree, i was just explaining to my hubby that i have a headache but don’t want to take a tablet in case i miss a high temperature! You could drive yourself potty
@Fluffysunshinepants (nice name, esp given the givens! ?) I got the same problem around cycle 4 – from the steroids plus antibiotics, I think – and was advised to see my GP. She examined and then prescribed cream, suppository, and lactulose, the last of which is a syrup that helps soften things up and allows more opportunity for healing.
Because everything was on prescription, it was also free. If you haven’t already received your NHS medical exemption prescription card yet, do ask your breast care nurse or GP for the form.
Good luck! ?
Thank you Reddi, i wish i was constipated, i have no problem with going ? it’s the hugeness off my bm’s! ? ?
Think they have mutated and tripled in size!
Same for me!
Evening Drummerseidow , I feel strange reading all the posts but I’m waiting to be booked in for chemo ASAP , I’ve already had my lovely long hair cut short I thought it would help , my mind is playing havoc , now I’m not sure if I even want chemo because of what I’ve been reading , it’s so difficult the time spent waiting , had mastectomy 13 November , 1 lymph node cancerous out of 2 removed then had lymph node clearance on 13 December all clear , think they’ve said stage 2 HER 2+ . How are you ? and how much chemo have you had so far xx
Jayne1966 , pleased to hear you’re feeling better for now , yeah I’m feeling positive too but it’s the waiting to speak with my oncologist about the full picture coz I don’t think I took it all in and my surgeon kept saying one thing at a time let’s get surgery over first , now I feel as though the fight is really about to start xx