Hopefully, 3rd cycle of FEC tomorrow - half way mark. To be followed by 3 cycles of T. Are the side effects/nausea the same for T?
Hi ladies.
So sorry Sib you’re struggling this cycle. I’ve heard lemon barley water is better for UTI than cranberry. Less sugar that feeds the bugs! Got my cycle 3 tomorrow in my new PICC line. Made giving bloods today so much nicer, so hoping for the same tomorrow. Still feels a bit tender, but might be cos I was given a good scrub when they changed the dressing?!
Also thought I’d share some good news, that my tumour has shrunk by 5mm ? so the chemo is doing its stuff, and I hope zapping the little b*****s that are looking to hide elsewhere too.
I asked the doctor about the flu jab, and I was advised to have it just before the next cycle too, so have booked for the day before bloods. He said it didn’t really matter where in the cycle I had it as it wouldn’t make me feel ill, but if it was done when my white count was low it might mean the jab wouldn’t be as effective.
Hope you’re feeling a bit better this evening Ali.
Sleep well ladies. Xx
Butterfly, that’s really good news about your tumour shrinking. Good to hear that the chemo is working. I was supposed to have mine checked after this cycle but they can’t run any clinics at the moment due to an IT upgrade (ridiculous I know). Good luck for tomorrow. Hope all goes well xx
Hi MAHJfarn20. I don’t think any of us have had T yet. From what I’ve read though the side effects are different from the FEC but most people have less nausea. Good luck for number 3 tomorrow x
Sib, sorry to hear your having UTI problems… I had the same at the end of cycle 1 …I was told that FEC causes the bladder to become irritable… I was like you going to the loo very often…I was put on antibiotics at beginning of 2 cycle and havnt had the irritation at all, but I’m sure I will after cycle 3…!!! I’m also struggling with tiredness and lack of energy this 2nd cycle, so am preparing myself for more after cycle 3 on Monday…
Good luck ladies for cycle 3 , I’ve got bloods tomorrow morning and cant wait to get 3rd and last FEC done with…although I hate the side effects…just hope my dose may be reduced this time due to me losing quite a bit of weight since starting chemo…!! Ali, hope your doing ok?
Love and hugs everybody and good luck tomorrow butterflyflyfree. Xx
When I was on the EC part of chemo - I drank 2 litres of water the day before chemo, the day of chemo and the day after this was on top of any other drinks I had and I was fortunate to not have any bladder problems. With Docetaxol the side effects are different. A little more challenging at times but not so much nausea and your hair will start to re-grow - although eyebrows and lashes may start to disappear!
I am from the May 2017 chemo group. I finished chemo 4 weeks ago tomorrow and this Tuesday I’ve had surgery - right mx and total node removal. The surgery is “easier” than chemo from my point of view!
Good luck ladies - keep going, the journey is long and difficult at times but you will get there!
x
MAHJfarn20…good luck with 3rd FEC today…hope all goes well for you. …
the side effects for T are apparently less nausea, but more flu like symptoms with joint pain and horrible cardboard taste in mouth (food tasting bland or yuk) xx
Hi Butterfly, so sorry you are feeling weepy today. I was the same before number 3. As you say all part of the rollercoaster. I’m sure your nurses will take care of you today and I hope they can sort your PICC line out. Take care of yourself and rest when you get home xxx
Hello again. Quick update-oncologist said I could go ahead with round 3 but that I would have to have a blood transfusion within next couple of days (have to stay in overnight) due to plummeting hb levels. This is due to having 10 weeks of bleeding. Had to see gynae and have ultrasound scan - results a week later-informed I have cyst, fibroids and thickened lining. He doesn’t want to do any further invasive investigation due to possible infection until chem has finished in December so it looks like radiotherapy and further investigations in January…oh the joys! Feeling like it’s never going to end. X
Morning ladies.
MAHJfarn20, I’m really sorry to hear of the problems you are having. That’s a lot to deal with on top of the chemo but you will get through it. Glad number 3 went ahead though, being half way through feels like an achievement in this awful journey. I hope you are feeling ok today.
Butterfly, hope you are doing ok today.
Xx
Hi Ladies
Hope you’re all bearing up ok. Sorry to hear that you have a bladder infection, Sib, hope the antibiotics are starting to take effect and you’re feeling better soon. Butterfly, great news that your tumour is starting to shrink and glad you’ve managed to get your PICC line sorted - hope it settles down soon. Hope you manage to have your tumour checked soon Ali and hope you’re feeling better than before - and everyone else too. And MAHJfam20, sorry to hear your news but good that you’ve had round 3 and you’re half-way through.
I’ve been having quite a hard week, feeling so run-down, fatigued and struggling to do much at all, so it wasn’t too much of a surprise when I went in for round 3 this morning to find my white bloody cell count is far too low to have Chemo once again. So frustrating that I don’t seem to be able to tolerate the drugs. Feeling quite down about it at the moment - building up for the treatment and then it’s tough when you’re told it can’t go ahead. They’ve also told me I’ll now be put on a reduced dose, not only for the next EC dose but also all the T cycles - and that they’ll have to extend the number of cycles so I still have the same amount of drugs. Makes sense really, but I’d sort of hoped Chemo would be finished by the end of the year and it now looks like it won’t be. After months of recovering from 4 lots of surgery this all feels a bit never ending… But it is what it is - it’s all part of this unpredictable rollercoaster of a journey…
Hope all the August ladies have a good weekend. Good luck Sue 58 with round 3 on Monday and anyone else having Chemo this week xx
Hi Mary-Kate, that’s really disappointing news. I’m sure you will be ready for your third round soon. You must be disappointed that you need to have more sessions but hopefully the lower dose will make it easier for your body to tolerate it. Get some rest now and build your strength up ready for number 3.
I’m day 10 and am very slowly starting to feel better. This round really has kicked my butt. I have now received an appointment with my surgeon for the day before my next chemo is due so hopefully there will be some good news to spur me on.
Hope all you August ladies are having a good weekend xxx
hi all… well done to all who are half way, i have my 3rd chemo monday however they are changin me to the thp chemo so ive had two fec and 4 docetaxol herceptin and perjeta… also braved the shave last night for mcmillan and have raised over £1300 xxx
chemo isnt nice but totally worth it my tumour has shrunk from 3.7cm to 1.9cm so nearly half after only 2 cycles of fec, i had a us on tuesday xx
Morning Ladies, so sorry your chemo didnt go ahead, but at least by getting lower more frequent doses you should feel better and have better quality of life. Hang in there
Fairy good luck for tomorrow , almost halfway.
Like you Ali tnis has been my toughest chemo, not sleeping and generally feeling rough (actually contemplated, briefly, on friday stopping treatment. ) However felt much better yesterday and today (day 11) . Got midway oncologist appointment on Tuesday but chemo nurse assures me tbat its just routine. Also got another heartscan before starting herceptin and docetaxol.
Its really some journey we are on, full of ups and downs, twists and turns.
Sending hugs to you all. X
Hi all
I was an August FEC chemo starter. 3 x FEC and 3 x the other name lol! (Dexi something).
Had my second batch this Tuesday and now just grinning and bearing it with the injections you have at day 5.
My lump has shrunk from the size of an egg to the size of a cherry after the first couple yay!! This journey seems quite long.
How are you finding it?
Jo x
Hi all you lovely August ladies…hope you are all well…or as well as can be expected…
Mary Kate, I’m so sorry you couldn’t get number 3 in but glad they are going to alter the dose to help with white blood count… although spreading it out is not what you want, but may help you in the long run… good luck.
I’ve just got in from chemo 3 and I’m glad there will be no more Fec… only the dreaded T. And the cold cap was very cold again for 10 minutes as I’m very thin on top with a slight hair covering…so felt it a bit more…finding the cap ok , but it stops you chatting to people / nurses as the chin strap is tight and restricts jaw movement…plus you look a right pillock wearing it…lol…and at the end you take it off and you hair is damp and covered in conditioner…!! Not a good look…but I have to say I have kept 50/60 % of my hair so far although it has thinned a lot…I havnt had to wear a scarf or wig yet when I am going outdoors, although I am feeling a bit draughty on top of my head…!! I may still lose it on the tax chemo!! But will keep going with it…
I hope Fairy and Helen you have had number 3 today…Ali and Sib hope your feeling better. And everyone else hope your managing… good luck ladies. Xx. Big hugs xx
yes i had it, i was in the hos from 8.30am to 5.45 so very long day… now im just dreading the mentioned terrible side effects of decetaxal to kick in xx
Sue58 and Fairy - glad all went ahead ok. I had number 3 yesterday too. After taking 5 attempts to canulate me on cycle 2 I drank 2 1/2 ltrs of water yesterday beforehand and put heat pads on both arms for 30 mins before starting! It worked a treat and they found a vein first time…phew! It did mean I was traipsing back and fore to the loo during the infusion, but was so elated to avoid a PICC line, I didn’t mind.
Despite taking 2 Nytol tablets to aid sleep, I was awake reading 'til 1am and then wide awake from 4.40 this morning, boohoo!!! PJ day for sure for me. Flu jab booked for the afternoon of my bloods day in 3 wks.
I’ve barely had nausea at all and am hoping it’ll be the same this cycle. Am on FEC for every cycle so the oncol thinks it’s highly likey I’ll stay like this…there’s always something positive in everything eh?!
Am mouthwashing like a demon already this cycle as my mouth suffered from day 12 with ulcers and a cold sore last time, not nice drinking my coffee from the side of the mug, then realising it was too hot on the mouth ulcers too lol!
One day at a time ladies x
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Please ignore the footnote on my previous post saying ‘warning…emotional content’, I thought the yellow symbol was for emojis!!! Typical me!