Date for 1st chemo
Date for 1st chemo I saw my oncologist for the first time today and have got a chemo start date of 8th June. I’m having x4 FEC and then x4 Taxotere as well as Zolodex injections every month.
It all suddenly seems very real. I went for my wig fitting yesterday and that was very surreal as I’ve still got all my hair, the wigs weren’t actually to bad, in fact could have a different hairstyle completely which is not such a bad thing. Still just seems unbelievable that I will lose my hair.
Is anyone else having x 8 chemo sessions? All the posts I keep reading seem to be for x6 sessions in total. I’m also dreading the taxotere as that seems to be the one that people have a bad reaction to - I had a feeling that it was bound to be that one that I would be having, I guess it is a very common one for bc.
Sorry if I’m rambling on here. Hope you are all doing ok.
Jude
xxx
chemo Hi Jude I had 8 chemos 4FEC and 4 Taxotere but not the Zoladex.I found fec easier than tax but remember tax is currently one of the very best.I have just finished[3 wks ago]and it IS doable not everyone has the really bad side effects.Good luck it will pass sooner than you think.lol horace[Val]
Exeter Hi Jude
I am on the tact2 trial so a different chemo regime to yours - just saying Hi as I’m not far away being treated at the Torbay.
As you’re in Exeter I can highly recommend the Look Good Feel Better sessions run at the Force centre in the grounds of the RD&E. I went along a couple of weeks ago, it’s a chance to meet others and have a nice afternoon with a lovely gift to bring home to pamper yourself. It all helps once the hair goes. Just phone them to book yourself in, they also do massage and reflexology there.
I’m always happy for an excuse to shop in Exeter!
I’ll be at the RD&E for my recon later this year too.
hope it all goes well
Mandy
Hi Jude,
I am having 8 cycles of chemo starting 2nd June. Same as you, 4 x FEC and 4 x Taxotere. After reading some of the posts on here re the side effects of the Taxotere, I am terrified too!! Guess we will have to wait and see how we react to it.
Like you I had lymph gland involvement (1 out of 17 affected in my case), in fact the only sign I had bc at all was because I noticed the enlarged lymph gland in my armpit.
I went for my wig fitting last week, and am waiting for a call for me to collect it. I can’t imagine how I will feel about having no hair, but am trying to take one step at a time.
Let’s hope we don’t suffer too much on the chemo!
((Hugs))
Dee
x
GOOD LUCK for Chemo Hello Jude,
I’m quite new here too. I was Dx on 17th. April. Had WLE and one of four lymph nodes tested was affected.
Did you have Xrays and scans? I was due to start Chemo last Wed. (23rd.) but something had shown up on my bone scan which requires a further scan, MRI, before the chemo can be started. I was due to have eight sessions but have noticed that some have only six?
I’m supposed to be having E-CMF. Epirubicin 4 cycles followed by 4 cycles of EMF.
If I do have bone mets (secondaries) I won’t be having Chemo but hormone tablets and bisphosphonates I think. My MRI scan is on 7th. June and I’m very frightened at what might be to come.
It’s amazing how many different chemo treatments there are. I think it depends on the Onc. and if you are pre-menapausal or post.
I hope all goes well for you . Some people seem to have very little in the way of side effects. I hope you’re one of those lucky ones.
All the best…
Love for now, Dollybird. x
just wanted to say good luck starting your chemo - I’m half way through (4 epi + 4 CMF). It is a frightening time but it is VERY doable just drink stacks of water and take every tablet they give you - it all helps.
thanks for all your replies Val - it’s good to know that Taxotere is one of the best but it is the one I keep hearing horrible things about but it might not be so bad, I need to stay positive, I’m quite a positive person anyway so maybe it won’t be as bad as I thought.
Mandy - I’m already booked on the Look Good Feel Good session at the Force Centre, think it is going to clash with a chemo session so I might need to move it but I am definitely going to do it and get all my free make up!!
Dee - I think we are going to be going through it at the same time, you will be just a few days ahead of me. It is very scary isn’t it but I guess you have to view it in a positive way that it is to make you feel better.
Dollybird - I’ve not had any scans, just an ECG yesterday which was fine. Good luck for the 7th June, let me know how you get on.
Kelyn - I’m going to take everything they give me, especially the sickness tablets as I hate being sick. Are the sickness tablets steriods??
Has anyone bothered with the cold cap? I don’t think I will as you have to stay even longer for chemo sessions and it might not work anyway. I think I have resigned myself to losing my hair, I still can’t quite imagine how bad that will be, it doesn’t seem real.
lots of love
Jude
xxx
one week after chemo I had my first chemo session TAC a week ago today. Am feeling terrible everything aches, my mouth and throat are so sore I cant eat or drink and even talking is agony. I had to ask my GP to call he took a swab in case I’ve got an infection as well as thrush and sent up some Nyastin . Has anyone else had Thrush really badly? is it normal? I wasn’t expecting all this so quickly.
val