August 2018 Chemo starters

Hi Tarnia
I had T last Tuesday & my taste buds have gone today! The inside of my mouth is also a tad swollen so I’m expecting some ulcers where I keep catching areas. I have got some good mouthwash - diflam - so will start using that today
Take care
Jude x

Hi Cdc
Sorry to hear of your treatment delays, it’s a pain when you have a finish line to aim for at the start.
I’ve had some tingling in my fingers but not too problematic & my toes have been ok. I’ve only had 75% of T this cycle as I had a bad reaction last time.
I had a little bit of facial flushing for the first 24 hours but being ok since
Sounds like you’ve had a tough time already re ops, hope your mx goes well in the New Year
Take care

Jude x

Hi Lovely Ladies,

I hope you’re all keeping well!

Cdc - welcome to the August forum! I’m also on weekly Paclitaxol, I had my 3rd of 9 sessions on Friday. So far feeling okay. Main SEs for me are; flushed face for 1 day, sore nose/mild bleeding, mouth ulcers, heartburn, constipation, a few aches and pains and some tiredness, but nothing too bad. Not had numb toes as yet.

Jude, Jo, Tarnia & Ktk - hope your SEs are being kind and not getting you down. Jo I haven’t experienced a dry cough.

Take care everyone!

Cat
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Hi Georgie,
Naughtyphils is right! Glad to hear you’re starting to get better and will be going home tomorrow to enjoy your daughters birthday…bet you can’t wait after such a long stint in hospital! Good luck with the Oncologist, hope you get your treatment back on track.
Take care all
Cat ?

Hi Georgie

Hope you get home tomorrow & enjoy celebrating your daughters birthday + good luck for your meeting with the oncologist!
There’s no place like home!

Take care all

Jude x

Good evening everyone,

 

Im sorry that it has taken me a day to get back to you all and report on my meeting with my oncologist.

I am just getting my head around it all, and have been catching up with rest today at home.

 

When i I left the ward yesterday morning, I was surprised when the nurses said that they were not 100% sure that I was being discharged, but all seemed ok so I did go home after my onc appointment with my lovely daughter. We ordered pizza as requested, and enjoyed our afternoon.

 

As soon as we entered the consultation room, my oncologist waited for us to settle, and then said that she had made the decision to stop my chemotherapy altogether. I was shocked, and then actually very relieved, as I was thinking that I would have to negotiate my options going forward. She actually said that she felt that chemotherapy was actually more life threatening to me than the cancer, given my body’s reaction. I have had 3 bouts of sepsis after 3 FEC and 1 x 75% T. I do not know whether my views will change further down the line, depending on what could happen in terms of recurrence or secondary ca.

I will still have herceptin for a year, bone protection for 3 years and 3 weeks of radiotherapy.

I had previously been quite worried about radiotherapy, but after the consultant explained more about the accuracy of the treatment, and measures taken to avoid heart damage (I had left sided BC), I am a bit more reassured. With an incomplete chemo course, I am also more of the opinion that I need to have RT. I have no hormone involvement either, so that means there is not anything like tamoxifen that they can throw at the cancer.

 

I would be be interested to hear what other ladies think about this; to be honest, I feel that I have got away lightly compared to many of you. My surgery has been completed, and I do not have to consider reconstruction or anything.

 

It is so good to be home now, and I thank you all very much for your support and humour whilst I was in hospital.

Bye for now

Georgie Gee xxx

 

Sorry my post appeared twice!  

I copied and pasted it but it didn’t paste, or so I thought, last night. 

 

G G xx

Hi Georgie
Pleased you finally got home!
You’ve had such a bad reaction to the chemo each time, which to my mind means that the chemo that you’ve had has been working & doing its job. So while you may not have had the agreed quota it’s not worth putting your body through anymore.
Like you say the radiotherapy is now important just to catch any stray cells in the immediate area
Time for you to rest up & build your strength up again!
Take care

Jude x

Hi Multitasker

I have the same problem with the steroids - I barely sleep for the 3 days that I take them but don’t have much extra energy in the daytime. However once I stop taking them I am then totally exhausted & could sleep at any time of day!
Sorry I can’t offer any advice about reducing them other than to discuss with your breast care nurse initially, who may be able to advise/liaise with your oncologist
Hope you can get a resolution

Jude x

Hi Lovely Ladies,

 

I hope you’re all keeping well.

 

I had my 4th session of Paclitaxol on Friday…just 5 more to go! I had developed a reaction/infection around my PICC line so they made a decision to remove it immediately and put me on antibiotics for 7 days. Not to worry, only a few weeks left!

 

Georgie - so pleased to hear that you are safely home. Sounds like it’s the right time to take a break and prepare for radiotherapy. You’ve been through a lot and are doing great!

 

Multitasker - I’m on weekly Paclitaxol and the plan is to reduce the amount of steroids as the weeks progress but so far I haven’t noticed any difference. My sleep is disturbed for a few days and my appetite is also increased.

 

Jude - you must be coming close to the end of your chemo journey? 

 

Take care all

 

Cat x

Hi Tarnia,
Didn’t see your response before I sent mine…best of luck for your second dose of Docetetaxol next week! ?
Cat x

Hi Ladies

Hope you are all ok

Tarnia - good luck with your next cycle, hope it all goes ok
Cat - hope your infection clears up quickly with the antibiotics & you are back on track!
My last docetaxel is Tuesday 13th - so nearly there, I can’t wait for it to finish - it’s been the longest few months of my life!

Take care

Jude x

Hi Lovely Ladies,

Thanks Jude and Tarnia, I was back at hospital today and infection is clearing up well.

Jude, great news that you’re finishing next week…chemo is a long hard road so I hope you’ll be celebrating getting to the end! ?

Take care everyone

Cat x

Hi Sunflower, I’m from June thread. I’ve also been asked about that trial and am seeing ONC shortly so I’ll let you know what they say.

Hi Ladies

Hope you are all ok

Cat - good news that the infection is responding well!
Jo - good luck with final T, hope all goes well. My oncologist said that the tiredness & side effects are cumulative so dig deep, I’m sure that the thought that it’s the last cycle will help ?
Sorry I don’t know anything about the monarchE trial as I’m hr- & her2+ - good luck with your decision - and you Sally

This week other than being tired I have felt more normal - whatever normal is nowadays ? - so roll on my last T next week

Take care all

Jude x

Hi Lovely Ladies,

One more T ticked off on Friday. I have been so so tired since, more so than I’ve ever been before. Probably just the cumulative effect, it’s been a long road but just 4 more T sessions to go! ?

Jo, congrats on your final T today! Must be a great feeling ?

Jude, good luck for your final session tomorrow, you’re neatly there! ?

Tarnia, good to hear your sessions are progressing well too.

Wishing you all a good week. Take care everyone.

Cat ?

Hi Jude,
All done by 24th December…now that’s the best Xmas present! ?
Cat x

Definitely Cat - & for the first time ever we are eating out at a restaurant for Christmas day lunch - so double bubble x

Hi Jo and Jude,
Fantastic that you’ve both reached the end of the chemotherapy road! Well done…it’s a tough road and you’ve done it! ?
Good luck to everyone else still going through treatment…it will be our trun to celebrate soon ?
Take care all
Cat x

? Thanks Jude! Cat x