Hi Georgie
I’ve got my 3rd EC next Monday & then 3 cycles of T & herceptin starting on Oct 1st
What’s your timescale?
Jude x
Hi Judy,
I have my last FEC on 13th September and 1st T on 4th October. So about 3 days between us…
Georgie
Good evening ladies, had my 2nd cycle this afternoon, not feeling too bad although wide awake. I braved the shave when i got back a bit of an emotional rollercoaster but i am glad now that it is gone, i knew it was going and to be honest my head was so uncomfortable i just knew the time was right. Inner strength there when we need it we just have to use it. Eh enough of this serious stuff, let’s all go to bed with a smile.
nite nite love and hugs
Good morning ladies as you can see not a lot of sleep, went to bed did try but gave up after an hour or so. Got up cleaned hob hubby tries his best just having a cuppa and catching up on holby. xx
Hi Lala
Brave move shaving your head but all the itchiness will go & you will feel better than it all falling out constantly! Insomnia is tricky, don’t think I’ll ever sleep properly again!
Hope other ses are minimal
Jude x
Hi Georgie
We can tread the different path together!
Will be interested to hear what your oncologist says if you discuss
Not looking forward to next week…
Take care
Jude x
Just wondering whether anyone else has noticed any bruise - type pain in the PICC line arm?
I have one of the small plastic parts attached to the line which is digging into the inside of my elbow. It is getting red and inflamed. Then further down towards my wrist, following a defined area of bruised sensation. No redness around this part, just the pain.
I may call the hospital tomorrow. Oh dear. Never wanted this picc in the first place ?.
Hi Jo
I know exactly what you mean with regard to Rachael Bland - I’ve been listening to the You, Me & the big C podcast for the last few months & have laughed & cried with them. It’s very very sad & I was quite upset on her death but have took on board their mantra they whilst it’s ok to have a bad day, always remember that life is for living!
My 3rd chemo is also Monday - the sooner it comes the sooner it’s over with!
Good luck next week
Take care
Jude x
Hi Kathleen
Well done on continuing & finishing the chemo it’s a tough gig. It’s good to hear that there is light at the end of the tunnel
I really hope Deborah & Lauren can keep the podcast going as it has been great therapy for me over the last couple of months
Take care
Jude x
Hello hope you don’t mind me joining.
I’m due my second lot of chemo on Tuesday. I’ve breast cancer and my first chemo was better than I thought it would be. I cold capped but after a sore scalp last night I seem to have handfuls if hair coming out today. I think I’ll see how much has come out by Tuesday morning and decide whether it’s worth cold capping again.
I hope you all have a nice weekend.
I am unable to download itunes to watch the podcast. I havd tried afew times. Did anyone else have trouble doing this or can anyone help? Ta.
Linda you don’t need iTunes you need iPlayer, the BBC app for the podcast. Hope that helps. Kx
Hi Caroline
Welcome to the club no one wants to join!
Good luck with the next cycle on Tuesday,hope all goes well
Hi Jo
My 3rd cycle is tomorrow providing my blood tests are ok, they didn’t have them back Friday afternoon so have to phone 8.30 in the morning
Good luck with your chemo, hope the ses are minimal
Jude x
Hi Lovely Ladies,
I haven’t been on line for a while……day 11 of my 2nd FEC cycle and just starting to feel close to normal (whatever that is nowadays!) SEs were similar to last cycle, the horrible nausea subsided very slightly earlier but the tiredness definitely worse.
It’s been great catching up on all your posts.
Georgie and Judy – I will also have Herceptin when I start T so interested in discussions on this point. I’m slightly behind the 2 of you, if all goes to plan I will have my 3rd cycle of FEC on 21st Sept and 1st cycle (of 9) of T on 12th Oct.
Georgie – I hope you got your PCC line sorted.
Caroline – welcome to the group!
Wishing everyone a great week, whether you’re having chemo, managing SEs or enjoying some good days!
Take care,
Cat x
Hi Ladies
Hope you are all coping with chemo, ses & the good week!
Had my 3 chemo of EC today - bloods were ok neuts up slightly to 1.37. Starting to feel nauseous now though, have the sick bucket by my side just in case - could be a long night!
Hi Jo & Cat
I’ve heard a lot about T so we will have to wait & see…think peripheral neuropathy can be an issue with T
Mine starts 1st October & I’m starting 1 year of 3 weekly herceptin with it.
I’m seeing the radiotherapy consultant next week to discuss life after chemo ? & am seeing the oncologist to confirm the T 25/9 - so busy few weeks!
Hope you are not struggling too much & good luck with the ses
Jude x
Hi everyone,
Thought I would give an update on my various issues… ? Trust me to get them!
I went for my pre chemo check up and bloods today, and all is apparently good for Thursday. Whenever I think of the drugs (particularly the red stuff going in (part of FEC) I feel sick. But this will hopefully be my last ever FEC, so onwards I must go, as we all must!
Picc line dressing was also changed today, and the nurse saw how sore I was where the plastic dug into the inside of my elbow, and it was also decided that (as I had thought…) I am allergic to the dressings, and that liquidy square bit around the line actually going in to the vein. So no wonder I’ve been in a mess with that arm… sigh…
as ever, I still blame the first oncologist for not listening to me about a port being by far the better option for me, as I had told her abut all of this in my first appointment. I have the new dressing on today, but where the liquid bit was, I am now very itchy ?.. so desperately hoping I’m not in trouble with this one too!
I get to meet my replacement oncologist on Wednesday, as I successfully got a transfer. I see from another thread that others too have had to swap to a Dr who actually listens and doesn’t mind answering questions!!!
I am told by the head breast care nurse that the 2 lady oncologists are friends outside work, so I hope this isn’t going to be awkward. The one I had before was new, and very defensive when I took a breast care nurse in with me last time. I think she must have had the same kind of issue before. Wouldn’t surprise me. There are so many things I want to ask my new one, who is apparently lovely.
Has anyone else still got a bit of hair in patches after 2 FEC rounds? I didn’t shave mine, but my daughter took it down to a number 4 very short cut with clippers. Because of skin allergies I was scared to shave it, so now I have a very much thinned out covering of white hair left, with some bald areas and then little patches of hair. Like others I have worried that perhaps the treatment isn’t working any more… I expect it is, but sometimes I wonder.
Another question; does anyone know whether we get any scans part way through chemo, to see whether there are any changes? If I were an NHS boss, I think I would say we should. Just for reassurance, but also to catch anything early which might be lurking (my tumour was grade 3 invasive and already in lymph nodes).
All the best to others in the chemo boat with me this week. Judy I so hope your nausea subsides. It’s so horrid feeling like that for days isn’t it… ?
Lots of love to you all. It’s so great to have one another isn’t it.
Georgie Gee xxxxxxxxx
Hi folkloricos
Hope chemo goes OK today Caroline. My third EC is due on Friday, I coldcapped for the last 2 but I would say 75% of my hair has fallen out. May still go ahead witht the cold cap. Its definitely helped bc where it didnt fit right the first time (newby mistakes) it has fallen out completely.
Quick ‘heads up’, AVEENO is a third off at waitrose at the moment. Bought several tubes to stock up.
Georgie, I hope everything goes well with the new oncolgist. Your Picc line seems really troublesome but hopefully it will start getting better with different dressings? It sounds such a lot to deal with as well as just surviving the chemo treatment. Lots of hugs.
I’m feeling really f**king miserable with myself today. Woke up early and cant stop thinking about chemo on friday (3rd out of 4 EC, with 4 more taxotere to follow) The treatment just looks never ending. Just the thought of going to the hospital to have that toxic **bleep** pumped in my veins and feel so crap for (albeit only) 4 days and then slowly build up strength to do ot all over again just seems like the most miserable version of groundhog day.
Generally I have been coping so well, seeing friends and family, getting on with life, expert at sick humour jokes, supporting others at a couple of groups. Not sure what has set me off today.
Sorry for the moan, I will have strong words with myself…but if anyone I bump into today says ‘keep positive’ I might just explode! Or maybe it would be kinder to just point them towards Rachel Blands blog, as she says some pertinent words about that throw away comment!?
Hi ladies
8 day’s since cycle 2 feeling pretty much yuk. Bad night with heartburn and now my mouth is sore but no ulcers also a slight sore throat.
love to you all keep your chin’s up, tomorrow WILL be a better day
LALAXX
Hi ladies
Georgie - It doesn’t seem to be getting any easier for you. Well done on changing your oncologist I hope this one works better with you. I shaved my head but have odd little bald patches - I just started to use a very small amount of baby shampoo which seems to stop it feeling sore & dry. I’m seeing my oncologist in a fortnight but not aware that you have any mid chemo scans but mine hadn’t spread to the lymph so may be different for you. I’ve not been sick this cycle so that’s a plus point but have felt very rough with terrible nausea - hopefully will start to improve tomorrow
Multitasker & Jo - sorry to hear you are feeling down & out of sorts,it’s hard to be upbeat all the time & I think you just have to go with however you are feeling. I worry that at the end of treatment I will have a total meltdown as I’ve not really got upset although I do have an odd quiet day. I do find chemo brain is kicking in though!
Lala - sorry to hear of your issues, I suffered terribly with heartburn on the first cycle so they prescribed lansoprazole which really helps. Hope you start to feel better soon
Take care all - sleep well
Jude x
Hi Georgie
Regarding scans - I’ve just had a call from the hospital asking me to go for a cardio rest test next week. Apparently they inject you with radioactive dye & then test your heart - takes about 4 hours! Presumably this is to check heart is ok prior to T & herceptin as I have heard that herceptin can effect your heart
Jude x