AUGUST '17 Chemo Starters

Morning ladies. How is everyone today?

I’m day 15 now and am feeling much better and the sun is shining today.

Jo, how are you doing? Really good news that your lump has shrunk so much. Must make it all seem so worthwhile. I’m hoping to get some good news about mine next week.

Fairy, great news on your lump too. I hope you don’t get too many side effects. I’m having T next time and wondering how it will affect me.

Butterfly, Sue, Helen - hope you are all doing ok after your latest rounds. And hope all other August ladies are feeling well xx

Hi ladies. Hope you are all doing ok. It’s a challenge isn’t it? I’ve had a PICC line fitted yesterday as my veins are rubbish! Took two attempts but it’s sorted now, just hope it stays that way. Having my 3rd FEC on Thursday which will completely wipe me out for about 4 days but on a more positive note, I had a really good weekend and socialised quite a lot! Bit washed out today though. I hope you are all coping with your challenges - we are all in it together! Big hugs ladies. Xx

i think im the only one here who has had the dovetaxol on 3rd chemo… oh well i can hopefully give u all some tips x

Hi Fairy. Yes I think you are the first as most of us are switching to docetaxol for our 4th cycle which for me is next week. How are you getting on?

Out of interest have you painted your nails dark to try and protect them?

yes i did paint them a dark purple… no awful se yet but early days… im waitin! ill keep u updated xx

Morning August ladies, how are we all feeling?
I’m day 4 after chemo 3 and starting to feel a bit ’ blah’ today, although I did sleep much better last night apart from and hour and a half of being wide awake, and 2 toilet trips …but I was in bed by 10pm…!! I just keep thinking if I can get through to monday, then hopefully these will be the last nausea type side effects I may go through…to be honest I hate feeling this horrible…but worried incase ‘T’ Will be more challenging…!!
anyone still cold capping or has everyone given up ?
Fairy hows T been so far ? I havnt painted my nails dark so far, just clear nail varnish / base coat that I always wear, but I may consider painting them darker over the next 3 chemo regimes…
Hope your all managing the side effects ok. Big hugs to you all…xx

Think that should have read afternoon. Not morning…chemo brain. !! Lol. Xx

Update. Only just managed to have 3rd cycle due to bloods. It did go ahead but I needed admitting overnight for blood transfusion… obviously, the constant bleeding doesn’t help. Monday and Tuesday am spent at the hospital. In small overnight ward with 3 other women-one of who did nothing but cough all night. Needless to say, I have now got a bit of a chestnut cough. Could d Mr see doc today-no appt even though I rang at 9.30am. Got one for Monday (usually only allowed to make appt in the morning for that day). Hoping it doesn’t get any worse. Temp up and down-37.0 to 37.8 yesterday. 

Ended up back at gynae clinic and told to remain on the tranexamic acid until further notice. Also got appt to discuss next steps, the week before my final cycle starts, so I am hoping that there is light at the end of the tunnel. Worse week yet for feeling exhausted. Hope it’s not as bad on the T cycles.

On the plus side, I am half way through now… ?

Hi MAHJfarn20, so sorry you are having such a bad time at the moment. That’s the problem with hospital stays, it’s a worry that you will pick something up. Hopefully your GP can give you something for your cough. It’s nice to be half way there isn’t it.

Sue, how are you feeling now? I hate those days of feeling blah. I too am concerned about the side effects of the T. I’m going to try the dark nail thing i think, might as well give it a go.

Fairy, how are you getting on? Hope you are doing ok.

I’ve been feeling achy the last few days so I’m hoping I’m not coming down with something. I want to be well for my bloods on Monday. Had my flu job today, hopefully it won’t make me feel worse.

Hope all you ladies are having a good weekend xx

well ladies, im still waitin for the dreaded se to kick in… i did have a afternoon of achin yesterday pm! i started takin pain killers on the 2nd day, plus nystatin so i dunno if 8ve just kept se at bay or ive just been lucky… still very tired and picky throat and lost my taste but apart from that ive been ok… ive also taken a clarityn once a day since infusion… im day 6/7 tomo depending on how u look at it, treatment was mon so im thinkin i shouod of experienced things by now …amy tips for.constipation?? thats an issue today

Hi Ali, I’m feeling really lousy today …day 6… been in bed most of the day…toxic migraine headache
…shivering…no energy…no taste… no interest in food… feeling very low…this happened last chemo, so I’m hoping by Monday I will be on the up… just waiting for the upset stomach to kick in !!!..god I absolutely hate feeling this crap… I really hope I don’t feel like this on T otherwise, I’ll feel like I can’t go on with anymore chemo…this is the pits… never ever felt this horrible… hope everyone else is bearing up…sorry for the moan…hugs xx

Hope you are feeling better MAHjfarn20 its rotten when you feel so bad. I have aldo considered briefly stopping treatment as i felt so bad , chem is the pits and im dreading starting my T with herceptin o Wednesday, plus i will be in hospital all day from 9am to 5pm as rhey are concerned about reaction !!
Also waiting for results of my brca2 test which should be in next 14days, if positive need more surgery. Sometimes tjis kourney is a nightmare that seems to never end.
Hope Ali , Sue and fairy are all doing ok and coping as best you can. Xx

well nearly a week after infusion and apart from quite a bad afternoon/night of painful stomach cramps and constipation/diarrhea and lots of fatigue the dreaded T part has been no where near as bad as i thought it was and ive probably been overall better than on the FEC! i have lost my taste, a slightly sore throat and mild aches and pains but been keepin on top of ibuprofen and coolcodomal and seems to work. However i dont know if its still early days and se are yet to come though im hopin i will start to feel better this week… 3 down, 3 to go!

Hi Fairy, thanks for posting about your experience with the T. It has helped put my mind at rest a little that not everyone has the awful side effects I’ve read about. I hope your tummy is feeling better today.

Sue, Butterfly - I’m so sorry you are both feeling so awful. Hopefully you will start to turn a corner soon. I think we’ve all found our latest cycle hard. Butterfly, you need to embrace your inner lady of leisure more! My GP has given me some cream for my sore veins. I’ll let you all know if it helps. Sue, feel free to moan whenever you need to. We all have days when we need to vent.
Hugs to all xx

Thats ok… an update is that by far the worse side effect has been chronix diarheaa since sat pm which is makin me feel so weak… ive just taken some imodium fingers crossed x

Hi Fairy
You need to replace the sugar and salt, so get some Direalyte ( not sure if I’ve spelt that right!) or lucazade.
Worked for me!
Sue xx

Hi Fairy
Just seen your post about first T.
I am from August 16 . Can’t believe it’s over a year since I started fec t H . But you do actually come through this and I am doing ok.
I recomended frozen pineapple pieces. Apparently very good for sore mouth, has some sort of enzymes that are good. Or ice pops or the odd Mac flurry ? yummy.
I also had very upset digestive system on T. Make sure to let your gp know as they can be very helpfull in writing Perscriptions to help.

Sending my love and good vibes to all you lovely August ladies
Vx

hi all, haven’t posted for a few weeks as had a few issues and a bit of a meltdown. After x2 EC (due 4) this treatment was stopped, mainly because I was having palpitations but also because lump didn’t seem to be responding. I had another MRI on Thursday for a new baseline (awaiting results) and treatment has jumped to the next stage. X4 Taxol/ carboplatin. Been today for first treatment (had all carbon and a third of the taxol dose) I’m stating a newish regime for my hospital and will be having the taxol dose divided so have to go weekly for the 12weeks. In theory it should make the S.E’s a little less dramatic. Fingers crossed. It will mean I have to go to hospital twice a week now as I also have to have weekly PICC care and bloods, but that doesn’t bother me I’m hoping this regime will come with a few less delays & hiccups and at least I’ll be in the right place if I have any concerns. Not sure if anyone else having this regime (I’m triple negative)

I think it’s only fairy started the ‘T’  glad you not been too bad xx

Large positive pants back on now ?

Lots of love and virtual hugs to you all

Cookie ? 

Hi everyone,
I’m day 12 after second tchp now.
Sorry to hear some of you are struggling- I know how you feel. It’s bloody awful feeling so ill! When the touchiness lifts and you can tick this one off the list you will feel so much more positive again. It’s while you are in the middle of it that it seems insurmountable.
Lots of love, rest up, long soaks in bath of Epsom salts and have other people make your meals - whatever you can bear to eat.

My side effects with tchp have been mainly complete lethargy, feeling drunk/hungover simultaneously, intermittent diarrhoea and nausea. It lifts after 8 days.

Remember, this isn’t forever - just a couple of months and we will be leaving the chemo behind us!

Cath x

Hi Cookie, sorry to hear you have been having such a hard time. It’s good that they have altered your treatment though. I’m also triple negative but I’m having standard FEC-T due to start the T on Thursday.

Cath, thanks for the words of encouragement. It does sometimes feel like this will never end.

I’ve had my phone consultation with my oncology team today. My bloods are good so chemo can go ahead on Thursday. However I now have a cold so it depends how I feel on Thursday as to whether it will go ahead. So feeling fed up today. Hope all you other ladies are feeling ok today xx