I’m wondering that too as it’s really sore and also got sore feet now which i didn’t get when i had EC
Hey ya @hoggie - gosh, sorry to read! I had a similar experience.
Are your work being supportive? I’m struggling a lot on this front too.
Hi. Yes my work very supportive. I agreed that I would have the week of treatment off and then work the following two. All of my chemo treatments are on a 3 weekly cycle.
It’s been fine so far but I am not sure how I will be on Docetaxel. Might be different.
It keeps me same, working a bit. I love my job and have great friends there as been there 20 odd years.
Xxx
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Why are your work not supporting you?
So happy to read that @hoggie - what do you do if you don’t mind me asking?
I feel my situation is a bit f***ed from all angles - but I’m on a temp contract and had only been there for 6 weeks when diagnosed. X
I guess on a surface level they are, but day to day it’s a challenge and there’s an expectation. X
I manage a product development team in the Beauty industry. We make Sun care, skincare, hair care etc for retailers and brands. I have been doing it for 20 plus years so I should hope they would support me but I do feel vulnerable that I am not physically there at the moment and also I have a new boss (as of yesterday) who might not be so understanding.
Your position does sound more tricky but you are going through a huge thing, and new or not, they really have to support you. If they don’t I guess you have to think if you want to stay at a place like that. Not so easy I know but having cancer has made me a bit less willing to take any s**t!
Hope you are doing ok xx
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Ah, @hoggie - that sounds like a fun job. 
I’m dragging myself through the days / hours / weeks somehow… Feel utterly battered since chemotherapy. Want to feel like me again. It’s the vulnerability isn’t it… I hate that I can’t perform at the rate and scale I normally would. Turn 39 at the end of this month. Every plan out the window & definitely not what I envisioned…
Where are you based? Xx
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So today was my 5th paclitaxel, the third without the cool cap. What a difference ditching the cool cap has been. No sickness at all. I honestly can’t believe how ill it was making me feel, and only afterwards are we told that it can have this extreme reaction. Despite me being desperate to carry on using it to try to keep my hair, and help with regrowth, I think hair loss is a small price to pay to help make treatment much more bearable.
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I think I developed tinnitus after the 4th and the last EC. On the day starting my first out of 12 Paclitaxel was the worst as couldn’t even walk properly due to balance issues. A couple of days ago had to cancel a walk and lay down instead.
Having my stage 2 meeting (what ever it means) with the boss and HR next week regarding my willingness to work through chemo (though was told what ever I need, they will support). I keep thinking I need to talk to someone as generally feeling better on paclitaxel but not sure if can deal with work pressure at the moment. I need to make some decisions on planning applications as work for local authority but scared I can’t perform properly.
Glad people can be so confident to work though chemo.
I would have said a week ago that I could have worked in the week leading up to treatment as I generally feel ok. But I’ve now come down with a nasty UTI in what is supposed to be my good week so I’d struggle to be at work. It’s just so unpredictable. My husband and daughter are 5 hours away vinsiting family as I was so confident I’d be well enough on my own looking after 12 year old. Typical!
I’m just hoping they won’t delay my treatment next week, am keen to get it finished.
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Yeah I was the same, tinnitus started after the 4th EC, I’ve had 1 fornightly Paclitaxel and found my feet were sore uncomfortable to walk but not that bad that I had to stop. Over a week later, my hands and feet are still numb. The pain from the filgrastim jags are worse on Paclitaxel too. I work for myself so still able to do emails/calls etc and that can be at anytime of the day when I feel up to it but I definitely wouldn’t be able to do regular employed work. I admire those still going into work! Your meeting doesnt sound good but if it comes to it, I’m sure i read somewhere having cancer means you have a disability now so it comes with all the rights that you have including employment where they have to support you. I think some people think you need a few days rest after chemo then completely fine after that!
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Hi all
Hope you’re ok?
Finally getting my first round of Docetaxel tomorrow after a couple of delays. Quite nervous but this time tomorrow I will have done it and only have two more chemos to go. Wish me luck….
Xx
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Good Luck @hoggie
No experience with docetaxel but I’ve found the paclitaxel easier than the EC.
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Hi everyone. Sorry I’ve not been part of things for ages. I’ve finished my treatment now - lumpectomy, chemotherapy (4 cycles) and radiotherapy (2 weeks). My last chemo was June 3rd and last radiotherapy 26th June. I had a zometa infusion on 25th June.
So I’m grateful that it’s done. Will just have 6 monthly zometa and yearly mammograms and a check up/check in at end Sept.
However I’ve been really taken back by very ongoing fatigue, day in day out. It’s like I have no ooomph at all. Things are an effort. I wasn’t expecting this and have no idea how long this will go on. It’s also stressful because although my manager is ok I feel the pressure of returning to work. Right now I couldn’t do any physical work. I work as a counsellor as well as in a shop. Counselling is very part-time and is mostly online but I have found that is taking its toll but has been do-able. I’m also not sure if I am earning too much with self employment and SSP from my shop job to get LCWRA universal credit. There’s conflicting advice I’m getting which is adding to my stress. I think I will either go to GP or speak to breast care nurse next week. I’m wondering if this is just normal to feel so thoroughly depleted or whether I’ve got anaemia. (My blood test results were all within normal range on 25th June). I imagine it’s just normal after what my body’s been put through. I’ve also had aching muscles but perhaps that has improved. I found paclitaxel caused horrible aches. (Was on 3 weekly cycle with cyclophosphamide). Glad to see the beck of it. Anyway it’s good to share here cos it’s getting to me. Sending good wishes to all of you still going through treatment xx
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Hi @bluecat1
Wow! You have been through a lot! I am still in the trenches so to speak so cannot help on the longer fatigue question. Others have said that radiotherapy is a big contributor to that though.
Do hope you start to feel better soon and get something sorted with work so you can have some normality (whatever that looks like for people like us now…)
Sending love xx
@hoggie - how are you feeling after docetaxel?
Xx
Hi @sbee
Thanks for asking after me. Surprisingly good so far! On the taper off now of steroids though so I won’t speak too soon. Much more with it than on EC though, not so wobbly and lightheaded so far so I am making the most of that.
How are you getting on?
Xx