Would anyone care to join me? I was going to join in with another thread, but everyone seems to know each other very well already and be a few cycles in, so I thought I’d see if there are many of us starting now-ish.
Had first cycle of AC yesterday.
It finished at about 3.30pm and I’m still waiting for some nuclear-fallout-type side effects to kick in. So far, just a bit of a headache and during and after infusion felt very unworldly.
I was so scared of the whole administration process, but it wasn’t bad at all. I’m lucky that I have big veins. We even stopped at Sainsbury’s on the way home - and there was I in the car prepared with my daughter’s porta-potty liners at the ready on my lap!
I’m wondering if I’m being premature, thinking I might be getting away with it. Obviously I didn’t sleep too well and have been told I can halve the dose of steroids if I want - especially as a regular dose of 8mg is a lot for me at just over 8 stone.
I’d love some company! xxx Jane
Hi Jane, Just wanted to say, if there are not too many ladies starting chemo in July/Aug (although l am sure there is!) why not join us on the June chemo, there are some new ones on there that have just had their first chemo.
I have had my 3rd FEC today, the next will be TAX, s/e not too bad, just feeling sick for three days.
fingers crossed for few s/e for you
Love
Sandra xxx
Hi, I will be starting soon. I had my MUGA scan on wed (21) and just waiting for my start date to come through. Feeling apprehensive about the side effects. I’ve decided not to worry though as everyone is different and just keeping my fingers crossed that they won’t be too bad. How are you now? Hope you’re still doing ok. Vicky
Hi Sandra and Vicky
Sandra - thanks very much, I think I’ll join in with your thread too, I’ve been reading it and it’s been making me laugh, mostly!
Vicky, I’m still feeling fine. I have been told that for some strange reason pregnancy gives some protection against side effects! Seems very odd. I haven’t felt sick at all even though I halved the steroids and actually halved the anti-sickness too, because I had a headache last night and the nurse told me that can be a SE.
The worst thing has definitely been the steroids - this morning I just couldn’t keep still, OH got out the hoover and I snatched it from him and insisted on doing it myself - ended up with kitchen drawers out, full on late spring clean! But I really felt angry too, like throwing things, contemplated smashing plates but ended up walking into town and buying a hat and false eyelashes in preparation for the fall-out 
The anxiety in waiting is horrible so I hope you can get on with it soon.
Which regimen are you on? xxx
Hi Jane and Vicky
Why don’t you join us on ‘embarking on a journey’ we try to keep everything light hearted, all a bit mad, but it gets us by.
Yes l have a headache too, but put it down to stress rather than chemo! everything is oh so stressful!!
Trouble is, if you smash all the plates, you will have to replace them, and wont be able to buy so many hats and false eyelashes, so try and stick to the paper or plastic plates, not so much fun trying to smash them, but l am trying to save you money!
See you on ‘June chemo’ then!
Love and hugs
Sandra xxx
Hi Jane, i’m starting next tues (3rd). I will be having 4 EC and then 4 Tax on 3 week cycles. Not knowing when i was starting was bugging me but now i know when I wish I didn’t. Ha ha! How are you feeling now? I’ve been reading other threads but then hearing about other peoples side effects was starting to make me worry. But i think its probably better going in knowing what might happen rather than being shocked when it does. I’m going to try the cold cap but have bought a couple of hats too. Never worn a hat in my life! All these new things to try out!
Are you pregnant too or i have misunderstood your post? Hope you’re doing ok. Vicky
Hi
I will probably be starting in the next week or so. Having dreaded meeting with oncologist tomorrow. I’m hoping she will say that it has all been a mistake and I don’t need it! Have decided not to read any threads on chemo because it is scaring me.
Lets hope we all get through this with minimum SE’s and manage to keep a sense of humour (and hopefully some hair as I am trying the cold cap).
Love to all… Mareex
Hi Jane
I start chemo on Thursday 6 doses of FEC just hope i don’t get too many side effects, am really worried and just want the first one done.
wishing all ladies good luck
lots of love
Bev xxxx
Hi Vicky, Maree and Bev, glad we all have some company for this dreaded experience.
Vicky, does that mean you’re pregnant too?? Yes, I am pregnant, 22 weeks. Looks like we’re having almost the same regime - you’re having 4xEC and I’m having 4xAC, then we’re both having 4xTAX. I’m glad to see someone else is having 8 cycles, I was totally freaked when the onc said that’s what he’d recommend! What’s your pathology? I had 3 nodes affected with extracapsular spread and it was already a recurrence, and it’s ER+, which with pregnancy is an extra risk factor. Would be very interested to hear your situation.
Bev - good luck for tomorrow. I was so so scared and nearly walked out of the hospital while I was waiting for the nurse to begin, but it really wasn’t anywhere near as bad as I was expecting. OH was expecting The Exocist apparently, and it was nothing like that! It is so much better once you know what to expect. What are you having?
Maree - hope you get your date soon. Let us know what regime you’re on when your onc decides. xxxx Jane
I started my chemo on 16 July - 3 FEC and 3 TAX.
I actually hadn’t been expecting to start on that day (thought I was just seeing the Oncologist -so had gone on my own and driven). We had booked to go out for our wedding anniversary that evening and organised baby sitters ( a rare treat). The nurse said the side effects don’t kick in for a few days you’ll be fine, so we went and had a lovely meal.
Well 2 weeks on, all I’ve had is an appetite like a horse, a few sleepness nights from the steroids and constipation (which prunes for breakfast have sorted out). I’ve not seen any hair falling out yet, but have got some scarfs in case (thought I’d wait to get a wig fitted once its gone)
Hi all,
Good luck tomorrow Bev.
I feel the same reading the threads Maree. I just like to read the ones with the least side effects. I’m also trying the cold cap so let me know how you get on.
Hi Jane, being told it wasn’t as bad as expected is making me feel loads better. Are you having to do anything special about your pregnancy? Being pregnant can be exhausting without having chemo thrown in too! And i’m glad to see someone else having 8 cycles too. Everybody else seems to be having 6. I’m going to ask why next week. Mine had spread to one node and is also ER+. Did you have chemo with your first ocurrence?
Hi dibskelly, you have also made me feel more relaxed 
Hi all im due to start chemo in about 3 weeks, i have been reading a lot of interesting and helpfull things on this site, when i saw my consultant he told me i will loose my hair, do i just wait and see? or do i get clippers out now? whot have others done? lol my dads bald anyway so may look more like him,and back to chemo hope its going ok for you all xxxxjulie
Hi Julie
I am posting the link to the BCC publication ‘Breast cancer and hair loss’ which you may find helpful to read:
breastcancercare.org.uk/healthcare-professionals/publications/quick-order-list/*/changeTemplate/PublicationDisplay/publicationId/12/
Take care
Lucy
Ty lucy will have a read later xxxx
Hi All
Saw the onc today and my first treatment is booked for 4th August. This will give me 2 weeks to recover before I go away for a week. I am having 6 x FEC and will be trying out the cold cap system. Great post from dibskelly - hope it will be like that for all of us.
Much love to you all
Mareexx
Hi, im new to this forum, only joined today…I just wanted to post that I was diagnosed with breast cancer her2 amp in December, 2 days after I found out I was pregnant. I have 3 little boys, aged 3,4 and 6 and have done 4 ec, 5 t treatments. I gave birth 6 weeks early to a beautiful baby girl 4 weeks ago. I had my last load of toxetere last week and am now on herceptin with radio to start in a few weeks.
Just wanted to let any pregnant women out there who are dealing with all of this that it is possible, maybe a little scary to completely possible and sophie is absolutely gorgeous with no side effects whatsoever. She is the light of my life and an absolute miracle
Hi,
I’m starting on the 20th August, I’m having 3 x FEC and then 3 x TAX. I’m having the TAX because I have a heart condition and oncologist said any more than 3 FEC could affect my heart. But after reading threads on here it seems quite common to have the 2 treatments.
I have mixed feelings at the moment between being really scared and then just wishing time would speed up so I can just get on with it! I really worried about having the PICC as my veins are crap and I always have problems with cannulas but I’m sure this will be the least of my worries.
Hope you are still feeling ok Jane and haven’t had to many SEs and I hope that all of us on here don’t have too many either.
Grace xx
Really nice to meet everyone new!
Sophiesmum - congratulations on your baby girl! How wonderful that she was born healthy. So, did you have tax while pregnant? I’ve been told they’re saving those treatments for after the baby’s born! And were you induced 6 weeks early, or did you go into premature labour? Just saw my obs today and he said if I get bad SEs or catch more viruses there’s a big risk of premature delivery as any kind of inflamation can cause the baby to come early. I’m really worried. I have a stinking cold which is probably made a million times worse by the chemotherapy. sorry for all the questions, just really anxious.
xxx
Yes I had tax when pregnant and I was induced 6 weeks early. I had an amazing consultant both for my cancer and for the baby and i cannot say anything but good things about them. I had to search for them as my original hospital had never treated anyone who was pregnant with chemo before and wanted to just “see what happened” which obviously for me wasnt an option. I researched quite alot of the british medical journals and ended up contacting my consultant and got referred to him. The only thing I couldnt have whilst pregnant was herceptin.
I must say though that I felt really good throughout my treatment whilst pregnant…now ive given birth I feel like ive been hit by a train!
What is your situation? Am I allowed to ask where you are being treated?
Hi Ladies,
Just wanted to send my congratulations to sophiesmum, and your family, so good to hear positive news! Good luck with the rads.
Jane, l know how worried you must be, hope the rotten cold clears up soon, and the chemo is OK!
Hope all you other ladies have few side effects with your chemo.
Love and Hugs
Sandra xxx