Hi Maggie, I’m having 3x FEC 3 weekly followed by 12 x taxol weekly. Believe it’s the F in FEC which causes hair loss.
I’ve also got portcath which makes it much easier to administer, mind was put in under local with sedation which was weird. Be prepared to be tired and a bit sore on that side - I wasn’t expecting that, but settled down quickly.
No 2 FEC today, having been delayed a week.
X
Updated my post again to include no constipation or upset tummy, another positive i forgot 
Deelush x x
Hi Burched, thank you so much for your reply. Love & hugs right back to you. Its such great support that we all in a similar place & our stories & messages overlap even though we haven’t met …amazing. Must be a relief to get the first one out of the way & you coping with side effects. I hope I can be as brave as you (tues pm). Ive had bit of a wobble but now feeling calm again. Others experiences on here helps loads of course. Yesterday I had an appmt with Headstrong. Two lovely women, both survivers of bc talked to me about scalp & hair care. I was able to try on lots of different head gear without buying. Found it really useful. Been shopping on line for pretty head gear & some nurishing hair products. Thanksfor advice re brow & lash serum, will be getting some if that.
Take care everyone. Love Caroline xx
Hi everyone
Had a good weekend. Enjoyed a shopping trip with my best friend, spent the evening with our best friends and have spent a lovely lazy day with my hubby. He didn’t want to cook today so we went out for a carvery.
I just want to remind us all that we need to make the most of our good days, these are the ones we need to remember and make the most of.
Tomorrow is a day I will deal with when it gets here, easy to say, difficult to do as I am thinking about my chemo start date (Fri 12 Dec).
Hugs to you all xx
Karen
Mum had first chemo session today. First session FEC-T. She had a canula put in her hand then the nurse sat for almost a hour injecting various syringes of drugs. It began with two anti sickness tablets (orally) then a liquid steroid via the canula. The steroid made my mum get a tingly sensation - particularly in the bum and behind the nose and down the arms. Apparently it’s quite common but the nurse said the faster they inject it, the worse it is. She then had 6 vials. I know they began with two massive red ones first - the E part of the FEC. They take the longest as big vials and thick solution.Then four smaller ones. Two of the smaller ones make you feel bunged up in the nose (only briefly).
My mum was given a whole load of anti sickness drugs to take away by the pharmacist. About 6 types in total. Take a pen as it gets a little confusing when they tell you what to take and when. Make sure you remember to take the names of any medications that you are taking even over the counter things. My mum couldn’t remember the name of a herbal cough medicine that she sometimes uses, so cannot use until she calls them back.
Next chemo appt in 3 weeks + 1 day. They changed the day so that it falls on the day of her oncology consultants clinic. Two more session of FEC in same way then three sessions of T (which apparently is a bag attached to a drip that takes about 1 hour to empty). She was told that the FEC causes more sickness (that should be controlled) and the T causes less sickness, but more lethargy.
Daisy
Hi Daisy, hope your mum feeling ok. Thanks for posting, helpful for me as having first this afternoon. Wishing was this morning as stressing now family gone off to school & work. Was feeling positive but not so much now
lots of love, Caroline x
Hi Caroline good luck for today let us know how you get on. I have my oncologist appt today to sign up for all my cocktail package. As you will be slightly ahead of me any information will be greatful received. Thinking of you today still first one will be done and started sending you a big hug xx
How did you find it Caroline? I think my mum didn’t find it as bad as she thought it might be. We also went for a wig today and she got the second one that she tried. She was pleasantly surprised about how it looked, which was good as I know she was worrying a little. She’s not vain, but she’s 63 so I think she was worried that it might not look right.
Xx
Hi Everyone, Thanks for all you kind wishes. Here goes…this is the place for honesty right? The chemo unit & ward extremely busy yesterday so waited 2 hours to be seen. Nurses all very nurturing, kind & apologetic for the wait. Poor things too much cancer not enough staff. For me the cold cap felt bit like the feeling you may get when eating ice lolly/cream.Suppose literally brain freeze. This lasted half an hour. Remaining 2 really really bearable … no big deal. The drugs were delivered fine but I vomited straight after despite having anti sickness & steroid. Otherwise very straight forward. Sent home with anti sickness drugs & steroids for 3 days. However… I have had the most horrendous night ever vomiting
7 hours. Been back to hospital & given more drugs intrveniously stop the sickness. Finally back home & resting still feeling little fragile. Sorry everyone guess I’m unlucky.
Almost forgot about my mastectomy.
Love Caroline x
Hi Maggie,
Yeah definately already prepared for next time. All in place. Trouble is we just don’t know how we will react till the drugs are inside. Unfortunately, my body is saying NOOOO get this stuff out.
I feeling reassured by the fantastic hospital staff that the drugs do a brilliant job & side effects can be dealt with when they show. Oh & the cold cap has a reasonable success with EC.
Chemo drugs I’m having epirubcin (the red one which respinsible for hair loss) & cyclophosphamide( 6 session given 3 weekly then hormone therapy 5 years)and I can still taste & smell them but feeling bit better now.
Love Caroline x
Hi Caroline sorry to hear about the sickness but glad they managed to get it sorted and you feeling a bit better. I saw oncologist yesterday and I will be having my first one fec in next couple if weeks just waiting for appt. I am going to try cold cap and what ever I can. I really am not good with being sick so hope the drugs work for me!! Please let us know how you feel over next couple of days not sure what to expect when I start xx At least that is one ticked of the list go girl!!! Hope you get some sleep big well done hug xx
I am starting Chemo on 18th December. Thank you everyone for so brilliantly telling us what you are going through. It is sos amazing to hear all these strong women!
I found a lump at the end of September and had a lumpectomy and a sentinal node biopsy on 21st October.
Although it is out and margins were clear and the lymph nodes are not affected at this point, it was an aggresive cancer and so Chemo and Herceptin is on the cards.
I saw the oncologist yesterday followed by the nurse who was fantastic (even though I was doing it in my second and very poor language!). Thankfuly she was very very patient!
I can’t even remember the name of the chemo drugs and they are in a file in the car! I am having the first one two weekly for four treatments and the second one weekly for 12 treatments. That is about all I heard. I think I blanked after that.
After that I will be having Herceptin 3 weekly for 13 treatments!
I am flying to the UK for 9 days between my first and my second treatmnents. I may well be ill while I am there but it beats staying home alone so I am planning on going anyway and have delayed the 2nd treatment a few days. Better that than start in January. I have my brother’s wedding about a month to a month and a half after the chemo and at the start of the herceptin which could be interesting - means flying and short hair!
The oncologist thought that I would be very suprised when he told me about the chemo but to be honest I was prepared and not really that suprised. I had prepared myself for it from the start. I burst into uncontrollable tears with the nurse though when I realised that the herceptin was going to be after the chemo - so we are talking a full year of treatment. That really really threw me. I hadn’t even considered not being finished by my brother’s wedding in June!
I don’t see myself as a cover up wig type of a gal (when I say gal I’m 41!). I died my hair brown last week for my brother’s engagement party but before then it was blue, purple, pink etc. If its wigs then it has to be purple and I think my Buff collection and hats may be coming out. I figure if people are going to stare at me I would rather get the ‘wow look at that amazing hat/wig’ stare than the ‘oh poor thing has cancer’ stare! That I really couldn’t bare.
Hi Tomcat well sounds like I am the very same as you apart from I had to hv a Masectomy and one lymph node involved. I start chemo on 16th December and hv 6 sessions one every three weeks and like yourself Herceptine. I am 43 so similar age. My brother is also getting married in august next year so I am hoping by then I will be able to party with them looking normal ? I was diagnosed in November full body and bone scans and surgery now chemo things certainly moving very fast at moment not sure I can keep up! Good to hear from you and these forums are good support x take care Sarah xx
I am i start in the next week or so going through the scans etc first . I have breast cancer just had a mastectomy with lymph node clearance and latismus Dorsi reconstruction at the same time . I had twenty nodes positive fir cancer 
. Has any one had that many ? Grade three tumour removed with three other smaller tumours . I am nervous about chemo .xx
Hi Murphy69 and welcome to the BCC forums
In addition to the support you will find here our helpliners are on hand with practical and emotional support for you so please feel free to call on 0808 800 6000, lines are open during the week 9-5 and Saturdays 10-2
You may find the following link to the BCC ‘Treatments’ area of the site, here you will find information and support ideas which I hope you will find helpful:
Take care
Lucy BCC
Hi Everyone, just quick update. Feeling better now although completely wiped out & still nauseous. Meds keeping the worst of it away now thank goodness. Bcn assures me that this will pass in next couple of days. On a positive note SE under control, rest & on line Christmas shopping in the cards, my house looking like a beautiful florist again I can finally sleep on my side & only 5 chemo to ago! Onwards & upwards girls. Take care & be gentle with yourselves. Love & hugs, Caroline xxxxx
Good to hear Caroline I have my first one on 16th December x x
Hi Sarahjane,
glad youve got a start date hun. We will get through this!! Sending you a hug. Love Caroline xxxx
Thanks Caroline funny you say about sleeping on your side I am still not there quite yet not good at sleeping on my back lol x x have a good day x
Hi everyone. Unfortunately I am here to join the December chemo ladies (and men if any reading)
I was diagnosed with invasive lobular breast cancer in November and was hoping to have had my mastectomy yesterday but that all changed when my MRI results came back. Fortunately it is only in the one breast but what they thought was 1 cm turned out to be 6 cm and therefore too big to be certain they get it all without shrinking it first. It is not a 6 cm lump(in fact no one has actually felt a lump yet) but is more like a spider web effect i think as that is how lobular cancer grows.
I go Tuesday 9th to find out more about the chemo and actually have first session on the 10th. I am having FEC x 6 sessions with 3 week intervals and am petrified !!
After 3 sessions I will have another MRI to check if it is shrinking as lobular does not always respond to chemo. Trust me to get an awkward one.
I have been reading all the suggestions on how to cope and manage side effects and will try to be strong and take it day by day. Love and hugs to all. Dee