Hi
Yes it is frustrating. Mind you I slept so well last night…first time in ages! Mental exhaustion I think.
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Just to let those of you thinking about covid and flu jabs know…i had both mine yesterday, above picc line, no side effects at all. My arm aches a bit but other than that all is fine.
Hope everyone is well today xxx
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Hi all, hope you’re all ok. Just had my onco appointment. It wasnt my dr, she is on holiday. But he was very nice. He has reduced my docetaxel to 75% because of my feet getting plantar palmer syndrome, prescribed me cream for that and also advised me about when I’m supposed to be taking all these extra tablets for the start of docetaxel. He did say that docetaxel is not nice and most find it worse than EC. I noted that on my notes on screen it said i was LVI positive. This has never been told to me before. I also have to see optician as I have blurry vision. It can be caused by the chemo and the steroids. Disappointing to see that yet again I have gained weight…bloody steroids making me crave carbs!
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@bluesatsuma hownare you feeling with this new information? I find it hard to process things at times even though i do say I’m ok, etc … it sometimes takes time to digest, and the steroids… gezz… now it makes sense to me… definitely carbs …
Sending a hug and wishing things get better xx
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Thanks @dhmb. To be honest, I’m annoyed…they should have told me about LVI. In fact, I’ve asked about it before and they said no. It could be relating to the biopsies done on the area they investigated after all of the 3 surgeries were done. I’m having a masectomy in new year anyway, so maybe they werent worried. Chemo shoukd kill it I guess. Xxx
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Oh @bluesatsuma i do completely understand the feeling of being treated that way… what is LVI? Apologies for asking but i can’t think of anything and just trying to understand xx
Hi
I keep gaining weight as well 
At least they have reduced your docetaxel, so maybe you won’t be too bad. The nurse I saw on Friday described it as harsh. I am at the moment due to get 90% dose, unless anything changes in the meantime.
I don’t know what LVI is either ?
Hope your feet get better soon. I read somewhere about cracked feet and have been using aveeno on mine.
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LVI is lympho vascular invasion so it means blood vessels have got cancer cells in.
The oncologist just rang me to say he’d had a chat with a colleague and they aren’t going to reduce the docetaxel dose as he said earlier. Going to see how the full dose is first.
Stress!!!
Oh no . It’s a real roller coaster.
Keep strong xx
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Happy Monday everyone
Has any been offered or tried hand and feet cooling whilst on either Paclitaxol or Docetaxel to reduce the chance of peripheral neuropathy? Ive been offered it and wondered how poeople found the experience?
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Hi @sievehead , i have on all of my 3 Paclitaxol treatments so far. Compared with cool capping its a breeze, but ti be honest I’m not sure there is any advantage, even though i will continue. Instead of pins and needles i end up feeling like frostbite particularly on my fingers, so kinda like the lesser evil??? No clue but truth is dont think it will hurt, so why not try that was my line of thinking…
Not sure i was helpful 
@dhmb lol…it was helpful thank you. I chose not to cold cap because a lot of the feedback on that was that it was very painful. You havent put the hands/feet cooling in that same category so Im probably going to give it a go. As you say, why not try it?
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Hi @sievehead. I’m starting docetaxel on Friday and I’m trying compression socks and gloves 20-30 mmhg to prevent peripheral neuropathy. No idea if it will help. I read it as a reply to my post on docetaxel in the chemotherapy section on the forum. Worth a try with the cold socks and gloves trial though. X
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Hi all, I wasn’t offered cold treatment for feet when on paclitaxol and did eventually get some peripheral neuropathy - tingling but also just itching which drove me mad. I did get some Natracure Cold therapy socks which you put cold packs in which I used afterwards and they seemed to alleviate it. Fortunately though I don’t have the problem now I’ve moved to a different drug so 
even if it happens it might not last. Good luck everyone. xx
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@bluesatsuma ah yes, Id read about compression socks/gloves. In one trial there didnt seem to be much difference in the efficacy of either cold or compression. Let me know how you get on and i hope the move to docetaxel goes smoothly on Friday - another milestone in us all getting through this. Xx
@bluesatsuma sounds awful but I guess until you try you don’t know, you might be fine hopefully. I do hope so .
This is definitely a rollercoaster ride. Hopefully it will smash the problem in the blood cells.
I am slightly anaemic now, no wonder with all those flipping blood tests! Good thing though is my heart muscle has improved with the new tablets. Guess it’s a case of ‘keep taking the pills’ forever! xx
Feel like a lot of us will be on pills forever @anne3. But as long as we all lead happy long lives itll be worth it. Hopefully, this part of the rollercoaster will be finished for us all soon and we can move onto a gentler ride. Just grateful that this can all be treated.
In other news, Dr Doctor app just sent me an appointment for next onco visit at exactly same time as I’m seeing the surgeon about masectomy in a separate building of the hospital. You’d think they’d have spotted the clash.
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They wouldn’t because it’s separate departments 
Annoying to say the least…
Maybe ring one or the other to rearrange? Or fingers crossed one gets delayed an the other doesn’t xx
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They’ll both be delayed! I akways wait up to 2 hours. I’ll ring onco to rearrange. X