Hi Jay68 and Meesh73 and thanks for your replies. Good to hear your experience of EC Jay68 and the tip about the antisickness meds and the water - I generally drink a litre or two a day anyway so all doable ? wish you continued good luck on your radiotherapy journey - you’re nearly there!
Meesh73 - Chemo nurse explained the F part of FEC to me today along the lines of what you said and she said St James (Leeds) stopped with the F part quite a while ago and said some health authorities still use it so maybes like you say your hospital missed the memo!
Had a look at the Oncology Day suite today and it has 80 people there at anyone time - surprising how many people are undergoing chemo! Got asked if I wanted to try the cold cap again as I’d kind of discounted it but think I may give it a go!
It seems to me that the people on EC have a slight better experience than those on FEC. It’s one less drug so that makes sense.
The palpitations etc are par for the course. Mine seem to coincide with a drop in my blood pressure and are worse in day 5. I had more hot flushes and a flushed face last time too.
Best wishes for your treatment x
Hi Jay68 — I’m on Herceptin,Perjeta and then docetaxol & Carboplatin- so quite the concoction! I’m hoping the SEs stay reasonably kind to me as Iv heard it’s a real toughy… xx
Runaway girl, I have also been cold capping and would certainly recommend giving the cold cap a go. Some tips for you:
Take a couple of paracetemol an hour beforehand and take some with you in case you get delayed.
I cut my hair short, although a little longer on top.
After cold capping I normally try to leave it alone be as much as possible and don’t wash it for a week.
I only wash it once a week, in the shower with warm water and a jug as it’s gentler on the hair than the shower head.
Shampooing and conditioning try not to rub it, just sort of pat it on, then use a wide tooth combed afterwards.
I’m lucky that I’m a curly girl so can get away without brushing mine I just use my fingers, somtry that if you can get away with it.
You will probably still lose quite a lot of hair, mine is very thin on top but fringe, sides and back are still ok (although thinner). Don’t give up if thus happens, a lady on previous thread said that lots of ladies see a lot of hair loss and give up too early thinking that it hasn’t worked. Hang on in there even if you get some thinning bits they can sometimes be covered up with headbands or clever hair arranging.
if you have any questions then let me know, I’m not an expert but will try and help. Good luck tomorrow ???
Meesh share your home made curl cream recipe with the girls, I know you and dizzy have been using it and it’s going well, could help this thread to lovely??shi xx
Shi, I’ve renamed the curl cream it’s now magical unicorn cream ????. I realised that it’d probably be good for bald heads and any dry skin too. Anyone that wants the recipe it is equal parts coconut oil, shea butter and aloe Vera gel. I usually make it using 1 or 2tbsp of each. I put the coconut oil and shea butter in a small glass jar and heat it in a jug of water until it’s melted together and then add the aloe Vera gel mix it all together put lid on and place in fridge to cool down. It’s good as it’s all natural products and you know what’s in it. Later on after chemo you could probably add essential oils for hair regrowth like rosemary but I think some EOs react with chemo so reluctant to use at this stage.
Sam, I leave mine as that’s what I was told to do. It’s pretty grim and my first week is more or less a hat week. I then wash it on my normal weekly wash.
Shi, meant to say to gave some to Karen when I saw her to use on her head. I think she said she has been using it. I’ve also used it on my hands when they get a bit dry too. Mind you you’re on the udderly cream aren’t you for t?
Sam, I know it takes so long that you want to make sure it works. I keep hoping that I don’t lose it all on chemo 5 or 6 coz that would be really annoying.
Hi all, had my first cycle today or attempted to. They gave me the herceptin injection first then steroids, anti sickness and started the docetaxel which after three minutes I suffered a severe reaction. Came over very hot, felt extremely sick then just flaked out.
There were about ten nurses and doctors surrounding me when I came round. Apparently my blood pressure dropped to 40/20 and they thought I was going to arrest. They were all brilliant, stopped the drug straight away and gave me something to bring my blood pressure back up.
Back at home now resting, feel really drained, they’ve called me a couple of times to make sure I’m ok and told me to ring in the night if I have any problems.
Not sure what’s going to happen now I have to see the oncologist on the 21st and have the 2nd herceptin on the 28th.
Don’t want to scare anyone but it proves how good they are if there is a problem. Really need to sleep but think the steroids are keeping me awake. Hope you’re all doing ok xx
Rabbit, sorry you’ve had that experience darling, glad they were onto everything immediately. Think mishy on July thread had that problem on the t do they switched her to another one, post to mishy on July thread she will tell you what they put her on as alternative, might help you darling. Keep strong ??shi xx
Hi Rabbit so sorry to hear about your reaction glad you are safe and they looked after you well They usually try abraxane next and Mishy can definitely share her experiences. Take care. ??
Feeling for you rabbit, hope they can get you sorted on to a drug that suits. Rest up today and if you are worried about anything at all ring your unit. X
???. I realised that it’d probably be good for bald heads and any dry skin too. Anyone that wants the recipe it is equal parts coconut oil, shea butter and aloe Vera gel. I usually make it using 1 or 2tbsp of each. I put the coconut oil and shea butter in a small glass jar and heat it in a jug of water until it’s melted together and then add the aloe Vera gel mix it all together put lid on and place in fridge to cool down. It’s good as it’s all natural products and you know what’s in it. Later on after chemo you could probably add essential oils for hair regrowth like rosemary but I think some EOs react with chemo so reluctant to use at this stage.
They usually try abraxane next and Mishy can definitely share her experiences. Take care. ??