I have been diagnosed breast cancer and I had surgery to remove the whole breast on 15 July 2015.
Today, I had discussion the results of my test which is Node negative prognosis and recurrence score result is high risk with 33%.
They are giving me FEC Chemotherapy within 3 weeks time. The drugs used in FEC comes from the initials of the drugs uses
Fluorouracil (also called 5FU)
epirubicin
cyclophosphMide
they call Fluorouracil 5FU
is anyone had a this type of chemotherapy. Can you please help me with side effects also. As I am on high risk of recurrences I was shocked. Please help me
I had FEC and dosetaxal chemo this time last year. You will be given anti-emtics to counter any nausea. It is advisable to take them if you start feeling queasy as it is easier to quell rather than staunch. You will also be given a hot line number to phone if you are worried about side effects - everyone is different and will react differently to the drugs.
Hi guys! My friend has recently been diagnosed with breast cancer and started her chemo yesterday. She also wore the cold cap which she said was freezing. I just wondered if any could Help with what to expect as she is obviously anxious about what is going to happen and how quickly she will start to have side effects. Hope you don’t mind my asking as I’m only her friend but wasn’t sure where to go for advise.
Hi Lilly
I was diagnosed in Feb this year and was given 8 rounds of chemo…4 being FEC. Then changed to docetaxel and herceptin. I am not going to sugar coat it as that won’t help you. It’s nasty stuff but it has to be to kill this nasty disease. Take each day as it comes and listen to your body. We are all different but worst for me was the sickness, bowel problems and hair loss of course. You have lots of medicine to counteract side effects which does help. First session wasn’t bad but after that you notice it taking its effect on your body. My hair fell out by session 2 so my husband shaved it which was very emotional. Once I had got over the shock of that and put on my lovely scarfs I slowly got used to it. I joked that we would save a fortune on the electricity…no hairdryer or straighteners.
The epirubicin turns your pee pink which I laughed at but that only lasted the day of chemo.
Poo and toilet habits still make us giggle to this day although very unpleasant at the time. I was never far away from the bathroom.
I became more emotional than normal. Hot flushes started which are not nice and my periods stopped altogether and still haven’t returned (I am 43). I was unlucky to catch an infection which landed me in hospital for 4 days. Get into the habit of taking your temp every morning as thats a good marker. An in the ear thermometer (although expensive) was best for me. Digital reading and instant. Hospitals use same one.
Not sure if this helps you. Keep smiling if you can and laugh alot otherwise you end up crying.
I am sat writing this from hospital as I have just had round 2 of surgery to get the cancer out. Started with lumpectomy and all my lymph nodes taken out but that wasn’t successful so just had a mastectomy. (Can’t sleep lol)
I wish you all the best and good luck for your treatment. It is a long battle and a very lonely road you will travel. Family and friends support goes along way and I can’t thank mine enough.
All the best
Helen xx (aka Ginger Bailey)
Thank you for your lovely message and opinon sharing with me.
I have my 4 cycles of FEC chemotherapy and I have to go two more to go. I am having different side effects with every chemotherapy. 1st chemotherapy was really bad with lots of sickness so end up admitting into the hospital for two days. I was dehydrated so treated with antibiotic. Second one was lots fatigue and tiredness and less sickness. Third one mouth ulcer. I had my fourth one just yesterday so hope so not to bad. I have to wait and watch.
2nd chemo I have lost all my hair. My nails and skin got really black. It is depressing but nothing we can do anything about it. We have to stay positive and face the consequences.
my experience of fec was good i had emend anti sickness pills plus two other anti sickness tabs drink plenty of fluids on first 2 days it helped me as i was fine through out the first week xx