Hi Sarah,
Thanks for the tip re arnica. Sorry to hear your feeling sick. Its early days tho. Hope you start to feel better soon.
I had an awful time with my second. Didnt think possible but worse than first. Dreading the third on Wed next week. Hoping they might reduce the dose a bit as Im really struggling
I know what you mean about getting back to normal but do look after yourself Sarah.
I carnt even consider going back till this us over but we are all different. I work in community with family s & children so the risk if infection is not worth it for me.
Good Luck & be kind to yourself.
Love Caroline xxx
I’m.not in the UK. All different here but good.
AC is the chemo regime.
I am lucky with work they hv been very good I am the same am off four five days after chemo then just go in for a few hours again I am really lucky that I can walk to one base or the other base is only 10min drive or they hv said if feel really rubbish work from home as long as I keep them informed of what I am doing they have been brilliant. Think I will see how it goes if to much then will just sign off for 6 months but I would like some normality as I say if possible.
Will talk to team about sickness drugs they have changed them this time have more but still feel naesous so will speak again at next meeting that is the only real thing getting me down and as you say feel tired but happy to sleep just do not know what to eat as not feeling like much due to sicky feeling xxx oh well at least my work uniform will fit me was getting a bit snug lol always a positive imam sure lol xx
Second fec today and I started on emend. I haven’t been sick although nausea is worse than ever.
My biggest worry is that I now have dvt in my picc arm (around my armpit and shoulder). I have been given Fragmin injections to do every day. Has anyone else had this?
Emxx
The Emend didn’t stop me being sick 
Hope all goes well with your second treatment today Tomcat, and that everyone else has a good Thursday too. Nearly the weekend.
Emxx
Em sorry to hear you were still sick. I have taken my emend and I’m sat waiting for my drugs to be mixed:)
I take emend and also other things too and so gar so good. Here’s hoping.
Thanks Caroline 
I am on the Emend as well as ondansetron and metoclopramide, and also steroids at the moment which I think help quite a lot.
I am seeing my gp tomorrow as the chemo nurse wants me to ask about lorazepam.
It’s not just the nausea that is horrible, but I get a weird feeling like I’m vibrating from the top of my head all the way down my body. Very disconcerting!
I hope all went well Tomcat.
Emxx
The soup comes round at lunch time but other things appear magically from charities rather like the WRVS etc.
AC has had no effect on my taste or appetite. Taxol may.
Well today I was fitted for my permanent false boobie. I went with my best friend and we did have a fun time.
So now I have two boobies that appear the same, finally I can start wearing my clothes again.
Hope you are all having a good day.
Hugs
Karen xxxx
Hi Marli,
No tongue tingle for me & I take steroid on day of chemo & following 3 days.
Re Oncologist. I saw her week before I started. Then should have been after 3rd chemo & then again when treatment has finished.
Its funny how the hospitals seem to differ. I do feel very well supported by the team looking after me. The staff are lovely.
Good Luck 2moro Marli & hope you have a wiling vein. They have to soak my hand in hot water as line hide away.
Take Care. Love Caroline x
That is mine hide away x
Hi Marli
It is quiet. Hopefully it means everyone is coping well and too busy to drop in
I’m doing OK. Third AC will be on Thursday. I went back to work today and I’m seeing how it goes just for three days. I may not so full days. I have hip pain again from the neulestin injection bit hopefuly gone soon. My stubble head is now at least one third stubble less and it still hurts! I have a buff on all the time unless I hat up to go out.its too cold!!
Hi everyone,
My head as you know has been shaved, I actually had to get my hubby to shave me again as I had stubble! I know you might think I’m mad but there are patches that are completely smooth so if I let it grow, it would be very patchy. I wear my sleep beanie hat every night and most of the day at home, I have to always wear a scarf going out.
Due my 3rd FEC on Friday, that’s half way so feeling good about it. Really haven’t had that many side effects thankfully. I change to T (taxotare I think) for my 4th,5 th and 6th doses. Has anyone had this one yet?
Still working part time, mornings only. It gets me out of bed each day.
Good luck to everyone this week with your chemo, just remember I think most of us will be at the half way point for chemo, whoop whoop, i wasn’t always certain I was going to make it.
Love Karen xx
Half way?
Wow not me. I have has two of my two weekly treatments and two to go.
I then have twelve weekly ones and that’s just the chemo!!
I don’t think your mad. I look ridicous half stubble and half smooth. I’m a couple of weeks off needing it shaved again!
Hi Guys
I think I have been quiet as I feel like everyone else is doing really well and I am a shambles
I don’t know what I am doing wrong!
After my first treatment I was wiped out for about 3 days, then pretty soon able to do most of what I was doing before. But the second treatment has knocked me for six. I couldn’t get out of bed for the first week, apart from for brain CT as they thought clot had moved. They decided it hadn’t but then I started fainting and being sick, and doc diagnosed an infection so I am still on antibiotics. What with dvt in one arm and lymphedema in the other I feel like everything hurts, and the Fragmin injections are painful. I’m not sleeping and am honestly dreading the next treatment.
Tomcat - I could not imagine doing this every two weeks, let alone weekly! Does Herceptin have the same sort of side effects as chemo?
Marli - definitely agree about the cold! Do you have any snow? I went out yesterday for the first time in a while and it took my breath away.
Scrumpy - I have the patchy hair too, and even though it is really short it is still very sore so I can’t shave it again at the moment. I am using Neal’s Yard Almond oil on it to see if that soothes it.
Keep warm everyone,
Emxx
Oh Em sorry to hear you have been hit so hard and hope things improve soon for you.
Every chemo drug is different for every person. Herceptin too.
I have been OK on AC. Plenty of symptoms but doing OK. Ano idea what Taxol will do but ai suspect it will not be as goodm . Herceptin the process is the same I think but hair grows. I don’t think the symptoms are bad but I don’t know much. I’ll be having radio at the same time anyway:)
Hi there
Thanks for the kind words guys - I am finally feeling a bit more together which gives me a week before I’m back to square one!
I have seen a leaflet in the hospital about a charity near me that does massage and stuff for cancer patients, but I always feel that that is for really poorly people and I don’t feel like thats me. I live with my (reasonably grown up) daughters and they are doing a good job of looking after me so I will hassle one of them to give me a foot rub 
Can I ask if there are any pre-menopausal ladies out there? Have your periods been stopped by the chemo? I was told mine would stop but they haven’t. I am due to start hormone treatment for ER+ and PR+ at some point and wonder if anyone else has started it during chemo? That would see them off I guess.
I have an appointment with the family history people next week before my treatment. I should be getting frequent flyer miles at the hospital
Take care and keep warm everyone.
Emxx
Yep 41 with regular periods. Had one last week after two ACs.
Hi Guys
I’m glad I’m not the only one with period issues. I am worried about how the Fragmin will affect mine. Normally I take tranexamic acid to help but that promotes blood clotting, which doesn’t seem like a great idea now I have a dvt. I think I will bring it up at my pre-treatment assessment next week.
Hope everything has gone well today Caroline, and tomorrow for you Karen.
I asked about ice pops at my first FEC and was told they are more helpful for people having the T part of FEC-T (which I’m not having). I haven’t had any sore mouth issues so far, but I’m using Corsodyl regularly as I was told to just to make sure. My taste buds have been affected a bit - fizzy drinks don’t taste fizzy, tea doesn’t taste of anything, and some stuff is now really bitter.
Marli - I guess the family history stuff will mainly be about the BRACA gene. I have aunts and great aunts who have died quite young from BC, and cousins who have also been diagnosed pretty early.
Right - off out to get things done while I am feeling good!
Have a good day everyone.
Emxx
Hey everyone.
This is my first proper post on here. My cancer was picked up on a random invitation to screening as part of the age extension programme - I am 48. There was nothing to see or feel, and I did/do examine my breasts regularly. Still when I had surgery the tumour was bigger than expected and I started FEC chemo on Dec 19th which was hard, just before Xmas. I am a very positive person and the first cycle wasn’t too bad, but the 2nd cycle has caused me no end of problems. I consider myself a strong character and apart from the time off sick postoperatively, I’ve continued working throughout chemo so far.
My daughter thinks I am invincible and this has all pretty much gone over her head, although a lot of that is probably my fault for massively playing it down in the first place - but I didn’t want to frighten her or make her feel vulnerable. I thought I was doing pretty well despite feeling pretty crap for about 9 days after the 2nd cycle, but I cut my hand while washing up a glass tumbler about 4 days ago and it took a small piece of skin out - the kind of thing that would normally heal in a couple of days but it just hasn’t (I was 10 days post chemo when it happened) and now I have spreading cellulitis of my hand and arm and although I have started high strength oral antibiotics today, I am afraid that I might need to be admitted for IV antibiotics which is freaking me out. I just feel it’s the last straw right now, I am pretty exhausted which I would never normally admit but as it’s you girls… anyway it was nice to say hello and let off steam I guess.
J x