Hi Sam, I was given 3 different anti sickness drugs. 2 to be taken on days 2-4 and the other on days 5-9. I also wore the travel sickness bands for the first week. It’s important to take your medication as advised. I had the feeling of nausea, a bit like morning sickness, for about 5 days. If your medication isn’t working for you then tell your team and they can alter it for the next time.
I found I went off milky drinks so drank ginger tea, with ginger biscuits. I also sucked gin gins (Holland and Barrett, Amazon) but some people prefer pineapple cubes, pear drops, murray mints, riccola herbal sweets.
Good luck with your treatment ?
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Make sure that your team are aware of this because I think that they tend to start low on anti sickness meds because not everyone is badly affected. I am very like you I hadn’t been sick for about 10 years until about 6 months ago when I had a reaction to some oysters then I was sick twice first cycle but Now had 3 and although the nausea has been pretty bad for the first 48 hours I’ve not actually vomited.
The key thing or infection and bloods seems to be your neutrophil level. These are the white blood cells that are our first line of defense against infection. Normal levels I believe are around 5-6 most people in chemo have levels 2 or less and units vary on their cut off point for chemo to go ahead some like mine will do it at 1 others need 1.4. Some people are given a precautionary course of antibiotics along side chemo if there is a suspicion of infection before a treatment. Hope this helps
Hi ladies, I am new to this site and so far have only been reading lots of threads, but wanted to now join this thread as I too start my chemo on 30th November. This is also my very first treatment as just diagnosed 3 weeks ago and having chemo first, then surgery then rads then tamoxifen. I am having 3 x FEC then 3 x Tax + Herceptin. I have been at work since I found out, apart from days spent at the hospital for all the tests! But I am hoping to still be able to work as much as I can throughout treatment, I also do a lot of exercise so hoping I can keep some of that up as well, dependant on side effects. We will need to wait and see. Be good to hear how others are getting on throughout the treatment and any tips. Kirsty, x
Hi Ladies just popping over from the October thread - as Meesh says taking a diary or notepad to all your appointments is helpful for keeping all the info together. When tracking meds I use reminders on my phone but Sue one of our ladies writes everything on a calendar which is also a great way of keeping track. The hospital may give you a sheet of your meds but that varies as mine does not.
Like Lesley I also delayed getting in touch with GP as I was ill over the weekend but needed my sickness meds tweaking and had further changes for cycle 2. I had rotten morning sickness so am definitely susceptible. I also had acid reflux as a result and am on lansoprazole which made a huge difference straight away so do let you GP know if you get reflux as it is very common to go on a PPI during chemo.
Good luck everyone - so sorry you are on this journey too - but we are all here for you 
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Hi Sue, thanks for the advice, I work in an office and it is small & they have been really good about things so can hopefully dip in and out and do what I can. I will make sure and listen to my body and alter things to make them less intense, I have read a lot on the benefits exercise can have throughout treatment, but will not over do it. Good to know there is somewhere to ask questions here as well 
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Hi Kirsty some thoughts on your exercise question. I find that after my first bad week I feel reasonably strong during my next two weeks and able to do yoga and things (I just bought a bouncer to be able to do cardio without leaving my back garden) but I get tired much more quickly and physical recovery takes a lot longer. So if you are quite fit going into chemo you might find that you can still exercise on your good days but just be kind to yourself and allow more time for rest and recovery than you are used to
I am a bit limited by being post surgery and my PICC limits using my arm for strength stuff (no press ups!!) but you may not have those limitations
Good luck and so sorry to hear that you are so fresh out of your diagnosis things happen so quickly which is a good thing but sometimes I feel as if I am still trying to catch my breath and I was diagnosed at the end of July xxxx
Some people are affected by SE more than others. I’m 3 cycles into 6 FEC and I find the first couple of days are a total right off but I still try to get up and walk about the house enough to do the minimum recommend 250 Fitbit steps an hour. I feel better if I can move about even if it’s the last thing I want to do. After that I usually try to get out for a walk of up to a mile then gradually get back to my 10,000 steps as soon as I can.
I also work in a small office but only work a couple of days a week normally and so far I have only worked in my last good week before each cycle. It takes a lot out of you and there is the infection risk if there are people in with coughs and colds etc which has stopped me a couple of times. It is lovely to have a bit of normality though.
Thanks Ladies for replying and your advice, it is good to hear how people have been. It seems common that the first week is the worst then not so bad after that, fingers crossed it is the same for me & I will do what I can.
Yes Ruth, things have happened so fast, with being diagnosed as such a shock 3 weeks ago, (I am only 34 & fit and healthy - until this that is!) to stage testing, hearts scans wig appointments and everything else, but I am glad it is moving fast as I feel i just want the treatment to start asap to stop it getting worse.
Good to know we are not alone x
My ocnologist told me she does not recommend the cold cap with my type of cancer so I didnt ask any more and just took her advice, so I just made the app for the wig straight away. Plan to also wear my buffs on my head.
I did the LGFB on Tuesday as well and was really good, need to practice eyebrows x
Hi, everyone copes different with the chemo, some are able to work through others rest more, there are no hard and fast rules, you do what you need to do for you and days 7-14 on a 21 cycle are when you are nadir and most at risk of infection. Your onc teams should advise you of this. ??shi xx
Hello everyone! I too am starting chemo on 30 November after a never-ending round of scans and nail-biting appointments. They are putting me on an accelerated course of chemo which basically means I have it fortnightly for 16-20 weeks so I don’t get the third healthyish week - great! It’s second time around for me having had it in 1998. Someone obviously heard my plans for celebrating my 20th anniversary next year and thought they’d pull the rug out from under me. But in a way I hope some of you find some comfort in how long it has been; I was in my 20s first time round, had a WLE and radiotherapy but managed to dodge the chemo. Going to have the full works now though and believe me, treatment has moved on hugely since I was last diagnosed. It’s like they create a bespoke treatment just for you depending on what type of tumour you have, rather than one size fits all. Last time I was oestrogen receptor ++, this one is triple negative, but they always have a plan. I’m also waiting for a genetics test to come back so that may have implications further down the line. But let’s just get the chemo sorted first. Sorry to blab on, just wanted to introduce myself and wish each and everyone of you the very best for this unexpected road trip we’re going on together. We can do this! Xx
Hi Kirsty sorry you have had to join this thread & that it is all happening so fast for you. I was diagnosed end of August so have had some time to get my head around chemo. I hope you are managing to get some sleep as I certainly struggled with that in the first few weeks. I found lavender oil on my pillow helps knock me out when I really struggle to switch off.
I have been trying to get back into doing some exercise since recovering from surgery but it’s slow…! I do the walk to school every day so is a good start & try to do my yoga & Pilates too. Scooter x
Bex I like the idea of an app to track meds…I was just going to put phone alarm on for reminders but maybe an app with give more detail. Thanks x Scooter
Hi AnnaKarenina, lovely to hear you are managing both work and exercise, in moderation at least. Exercise is such a big part of my life and the physical and mental benefits are great, will definitly listen to my body tho and not over do things and hopefully can get by doing a little bit. Just be good to keep some normality. Hope your next treatment goes well x
Been managing to sleep most night surprisingly actually scooter, but lavender oil is a good tip when struggling. It’s a huge thing to get our heads around but just need to try and be positive and get used to the new normal x
KirstyH, I’m from the October thread and I had chemo 3 last Tuesday. I work full time and I usually sign myself off for the Tuesday to Friday (4days) then I work from home the second week as this is when immune system is low and then have been going into work week 3. I choose to sign myself off the first 4 days as I think it’s important to let my body recuperate after the chemo and hope this means I’ll be able to continue to work during later cycles. So working and chemo has certainly been doable for me but I do find going into work more tiring than working from home, although it’s nice to see people and takes my mind off things even if just briefly. i have also been using a bouncer each day and doing yoga and meditation every day too all this does seem to keep the fatigue at bay for me.
Hi meesh73, that sounds like a good way to do things. My chemo is set to start next Thursday so my plan it to take thuraday and Friday off then it runs into weekend which will give me the 4 days in a row to rest and recuperate then will just need to wait and see how i feel on the Monday and possible go into work but for shorter hours x
Hi my starting date for chemo is 20th Dec
This forum will be so useful to me
Hi Karebare, I’m sure this thread will be useful for us all starting.
Thanks Rabbit28, hope you get a start date soon as well. That is good news for you for the swimming When I was asking my surgeon at diagnosis, about my basketball & running, he said do whatever you want, take up rugby if you want lol it will all be beneficial. But will need to wait see what the energy levels allow, I am now preparing myslef for a massive drop in that x