Hi @puglover56 just popping in from February thread. I get the red face (tomato face ) every time I have my chemo (paclitaxel which is similar to doclataxel - both taxanes), starts the morning after but only lasts about 24 hours. Just keep checking your temperature in caseā¦.
Iāve had 10 rounds of paclitaxel so far and not done any compression for peripheral neuropathy. I only started having mild end of finger tingling about 2 weeks ago - told oncologist who said as itās just fingers and mild and not actually stopping me doing anything weād just carry on with full dose, but if worsens I have to phone the helpline and theyāll probably reduce my dose for the last 1 or 2. That seems to be a common way of dealing with it.
I canāt comment if the compression is worth it or not. I do think if you can keep active it helps - thereās a quite a few studies online about waking, cycling and weight/resistance training helping manage and reduce neuropathy. So thatās the route Iām taking. I walk every day and Iām sure thatās why Iāve not got any in my toes (yet!).
The infusion day itself was fine, I was ready and glad to be starting. Cold cap was cold but manageable I actually found the last 30mins harder. But did it!
Got home about 330 and felt very nauseous from about 5, so much that I cried haha. Felt like I was being dramatic but text BCN and she told me to take an antisickness (I had misunderstood these were from the next day) once i managed to keep on top of these meds itās become more manageable but the sickness feelings is underlying on and off.
Taste went funny pretty quickly too - water tastes weird and Iāve not been that up for food but trying to keep to little and often!
The fatigue wow, have not needed a lot of sleep compared to others most of my life and can get up and get going but Iāve slept loads and napped both days so far!
Got out for a walk yesterday evening which felt good and hoping to pop into a bbq for a friends 40th this afternoon! Want to try keep some normality.
Iāve also got a really red face!!! What is that about?
Work wise - this first cycle Iām planning to work week 3 to allow some recovery time and process how Iām feeling but may move this up as we go through!
Hi @cazgib10 - 3rd cycle in wow! My two girls got a fright cos I was crap the first 2 days tbh mostly with nausea (apparently they are going to up the meds for nausea) my second cycle is Tuesday which Iām not looking forward to seeing as Iām just starting to feel a bit normal - do the side effects get cumulatively worse do you think? Iām only getting 3 then an mri and if itās not shrinking they will operate then - are you pre surgery too? X
@tesso hi sorry i thought ur post said u were having 4 Ec and 4 pac ? . I have had all my surgery and im currently on adjuvent chemo which i wasnt planning for at all , however after they removed the tumour and did a full lymph node clearance they found it in 4 of my lymph nodes. So i am having the chemo to prevent a reoccurance . The unfortunate thing is i have no idea if its working as they no tumour or anything to measure against its just to mop up any microscopic cells they maybe left behind . They wont do a scan until the end of treatment probably ,
@tesso i was like this on my third cycle i was really sick, i had to go and get some fluids though from the hospital it can be quite dangerous if u get dehydrated , i waited until morning but was advised bcn to call after a few hrs as i could have possibly got treated quicker . as they are going to up my snti sickness next time too . The side effects are getting more accumulative . My legs feel a bit like they dont belong to me sometimes and the steroids give me a bit of a bad throat and chest but once they have finished i dont suffer as much. I think i have also noticed my taste changes a bit more now , so i think that probably gets a bit worse as the time goes on .
@cazgib10 I am, I have muscinous bc which is normally resistant to chemo so they will measure after 3 EC and if itās not working will abandon the rest of the plan (another EC then 4 taxol) + go straight to surgery x
@cazgib10 I know we all will end up being these experts by the end of it lol! Have you lost your hair yet? Iām going for a wig fitting on Tuesday morning but have been trying to work out how to not look ridiculous in scarves or something when I donāt want to be wearing a wig (not doing very well so far and my girls are brutally honest tell me how daft I look when I try something new ). Iām not sure when to just clip itā¦
@tesso i wear a baseball cap mostly when i had plenty of hair still its getting a lot thinner now though . I wear a baseball cap which ties up at the back to protect me from the sun also .
It is as it means will be half way through treatment, but im not looking forward to it as i have been reasonably ok so far , im not too sure about side effects wise , as its a two weekly one which means the side effects maybe more stronger than the weekly one . it can also cause more bone pain for some, neuropathy and allergic reactions etc , which sound quite scary , so i think they both have their own set of side effects . I have spoken to a few people who have had the same plan and got through it ok , but we are all different , all we can do is hope the side effects are manageable and if not they will be able to do something about it
Thanks @sam1204 for all the great info. Iāve been out of it for a couple of weeks. Started back to work in that time and joint pain has been a constant issue - a few sleepless nights. Not to mention my terrible brain fog. (Case in point, I couldnāt remember my login here until now, LOL. ). Will see the Dr. this week to discuss all my symptoms. Also, started to get clumps of hair coming out during my shower today. Oddly enough, almost relieved to just get this part over with. Guess iād been more anxious than I realized. Will wait for my daughter to get home from camp tomorrow before I buzz it all off!
Hi @puglover56, in response to gloves and compression, I tried this last week after seeing another person do this in the treatment room. I love compression socks anyway - used them daily for work in my lab. Now, itās just comforting! And with the booties and gloves, after this third round of taxol, it was absolutely worth the trouble - once strapped in. They really helped relieve the heat in my hands and feet. Hope this helps some! Warmly, J
Morning all. Iām day Day 4 after EC. Iām feeling so fatigued on and off. Have had a nap every afternoon since. Yesterday I slept from 145-415 and could have slept more. As somone who can get by on lesser sleep than others Iām finding this so weird.
Nausea is much more managed but there in waves! Have found Ribeena in my water much more drinkable than water which again, water has been my drink for ever!
The weirdest thing is my red face, I look like a tomato, and itās on my chest too. I have taken my temp constantly because sometimes I feel hot.
Small wins so far is a daily walk round the block wit the dogs and yesterday popped into a friends 40th bbq after my epic nap, felt weird but ok and a bit energised for doing it, only stayed 2 hours but was nice to do something normal.
Hey @lola12 if it helps Iām on day 11 after first EC and feeling almost normal (just in time to do it all again on Tuesday ) started feeling much better tail end of last week still pretty tired tho and a few other bits and pieces - I didnāt get the red face sorry, hope it goes away soon for you xxxx
@lola12 - I get the flushing and red face in the first few days of EC. My oncology nurse advised me it was probably the steroids. Doing my 3rd and final round of EC this week and they have suggested I reduce my steroids on day 2/3/4 to just one dose of two tablets a day and see if that helps. Aparently the steroids are mostly for nausea and mine seems to be in check with the other meds so this may help me
So much adjusting and getting used to new realities. I feel you! I havenāt lost my hair yet but I went through a similar process adjust to my new breasts. Now, soon, hair.
It makes sense. Iām not working right now, but Iām taking a few classes to keep myself busy. As a student, I also get free therapy, which is definitely a nice bonus.
Youāre right. It really depends on the type of work you do and how severe your symptoms are.
I feel awful right now, and thereās no way I could work in childcare feeling like this. But I understand how not working can also be hard. It can drive anyone crazy with all the thoughts going through our heads.
I think taking classes is a great idea. Iām trying to look at going through chemo as a sort of chrysalis stage and a chance to become something new so Iām definitely going to see if thereās something I can be learning with the extra time.
) every time I have my chemo (paclitaxel which is similar to doclataxel - both taxanes), starts the morning after but only lasts about 24 hours. Just keep checking your temperature in caseā¦.
). Iām not sure when to just clip itā¦
). Will see the Dr. this week to discuss all my symptoms. Also, started to get clumps of hair coming out during my shower today. Oddly enough, almost relieved to just get this part over with. Guess iād been more anxious than I realized. Will wait for my daughter to get home from camp tomorrow before I buzz it all off! 
And with the booties and gloves, after this third round of taxol, it was absolutely worth the trouble - once strapped in. They really helped relieve the heat in my hands and feet. Hope this helps some! Warmly, J
) started feeling much better tail end of last week still pretty tired tho and a few other bits and pieces - I didnāt get the red face sorry, hope it goes away soon for you xxxx
