chemotherapy drugs

Hi I am starting chemo this week & have been told I will have 6 sessions each 3 weeks apart. The first drug is FEC, which is made of 3 dugs calles fuorouracil, epirubicin & cyclophospamide. The final 3 sessions is a drug called docetaxel ( taxotere). Is anyone else on this treatment regime & can anyone give me any more info…I am scared to death about the side effects both short & long term. Thanks

Hi NVB

I did E-CMF, not Fec-Tax, but the E was epirubicin, and the C and F were fuorouracil and cyclophospamide.

You’ll get lots of help from others that have done the Fec-tax combo, it’s a pretty common one.

Don’t be scared. It’s not pleasant but it’s totally do-able. Yes you can have long term effects but they aren’t common. Try not to focus on the long term. The short term is what you need because you need this treatment. Try and be as relaxed as you can about the whole thing. Eat well, drink plenty of water, and try and keep to as normal a day to day routine as you can. The first few days of each cycle are the worst. You’re tired, constipated, can be pretty moody, dry, and you can get ulcers and such. Take the sick meds - they work - and if you get things like ulcers, constipation etc, tell your med team. They can give you loads of stuff to keep it to a minimum. The second week of the cyle, you start to feel better, the third week you feel pretty normal. It will build up as you go through the cycles, but honestly you do still find the time and energy to laugh at a funny film, or something your kid has said. There is a lot of joy still to be had.

Best of luck. You’re on a good forum here. It helped me enormously last year.

I did 4xfec and 4x taxotere-dont be afraid.The Se’s can be difficult and they vary from person to person but they pass and you will know you are doing all you can to combat this disease.many call fec/tax the 'gold standard of chemo today so you are getting the best there is.I found fec easier than tax but others say the opposite.If needed your onc will adjust dosage to suit you.
Thinking of you,
Vxx

thanks a lot caroled & horace its so uplifting & encouraging to here other people that have gone through it & come out the other end smiling. Its just nice to here from someone who shares all the worry. I used to be so brave about everything & I hate that this turns you into a wimp but I’m determibed to meet it head on & get through it. It was great to read your comments on the treatment plan they have given me. The oncologist did not explain why she had chosen that treatment but as my husband says the oncologists are very experienced & professional & you have to trust to their judgement. I am going up yo the Christie in manchester for my treatment. Is anybody having treatment there at the moment. At my work is a friend who is having treatment at the christie too so I am lucky to be able to talk to her she is on cycle 5 out of 8 I think so she is really getting through her treatment. Did you find you put on weight? I am a bit worried about that as I am already over weight but I do quite a bit of exercise cycling/walking gardening. Any more useful tips from any one? Thanks very much indeed NVB

It is tough, but eat well, drink loads of water and find out as much as you can. I found diet extremely important in managing se’s, rather then just popping even more pills.

Also when people offer to help, accept their offers, the first few sessions are ok, but the fatigue does really set in towards the end. Having people help is positive in both a practical way and also really helps emotionally.

My top tip with FEC is don’t wait to get constipated - assume you will be and start straight away on the dried apricots, figs etc. By the time you notice it’s too late! Drink loads all the way through chemo - but especially the day before and the next few days.

Are you going to do the cold cap to try and keep your hair? If not, Jane Plant has a recipe for a natural juice mix that is meant to be very successful at stopping hair falling out, includes lots of folic acid. Doing the “cancer diet” will help minimise chemo se’s. Good luck.

Good luck for this week. I have had 2 FEC’s and touch wood it hasnt been as bad as I thought. Dont get me wrong it not pleasant but as said before ‘do able’. I have found diet a big help and agree with ‘expect to constipated’! I suffered first time but second got Movicol instead of senna seems to work better!(tastes horrible though)Take day before chemo. Ginger biscuits are my best friend for the first few days just to nipple on! Eating habits really change. My sense of smell goes crazy so dont wear your favorite perfume or you will hate it in the end!
I kept a note of all se’s for a week this helped when I went for 2 FEC as I could talk them over with nurse and find any solutions also knew what to expect daily for 2nd!
Good luck

Don’t be scared, you will be very closely monitored for short term and long term SE’s! there is a thread with top tips to get you through chemo, which has lots of useful tips. The fear of the unknown is the scariest bit but you will feel better once you started and count down your treatments. You will find a lot of support here, most find it all doable, your onc though should explain why you are having this regime and you should not be afraid to ask! Fec/tax is a very usual combo and there are lots here who have done or are doing it. Warm wishes, Tinax

Hi, NVB

I am coming ouy the other side of my first of 8 FEC last Thursday morning. I drank lots of water before, took a 1 litre bottle in with me and drank it all. The nurse explained what I might experience as the different drugs were going in and I got them all (only for a few secs.) apart from the sitting on a patch of nettles! I am having my treatment at Tameside as the Onc DR from The Christie, holds a clinic there every Thursday.
Day 2 after treatment I felt a bit Hyper but OK ( the anti sickness tablets worked for me, Just nibble on something when you feel queasy)Don’t attempt to eat a proper meal.
Day 3 the tiredness hit me like a ton of bricks. Just stayed in bed sleeping all day.
Day4 was able to get up and about
Day 5 felt fine and still do.
I had the constipation but ate lots of fruit and am ok now

hope this helps

Carol