Am due to start chemo 5 tomorrow am on 6 rounds of Fec. As has anyone found the hot sweats are getting worse. Am getting them all the time now it’ even worse when your in bed as they wake you up.
Morning!
So sorry to all of you who are having such a hard time with one thing or another. Big hugs to you all ?
I’ve had 4 cycles of docetaxol & carboplatin, my 5th should have been last week but my oncologist has stopped the chemo. It was always a maybe you’ll have 6 cycles. They’re still unsure about the 1cm nodule in my lung as it’s not changed at all so I’m having another pet scan.
Even though I’m just over 3 weeks since the last chemo the hot sweats/flushes are getting worse!! I almost dread going to bed due to them constantly waking me! My muscles are still very achey too. Taste buds are starting to get better, a cup of tea tastes almost normal! Still don’t fancy chocolate but that’s probably a good thing! ?
Good luck to all of you in the chair this week, another one to tick off! Xx
Runaway girl, I found doing the injections around 8/8.30 was the best time to minimise side effects. If I forgot & did it later the pains were really bad. Fingers crossed that your mouth is better with the reduced dose. Xx
Karebear and Unicorngirlmummy - my night sweats are definitely getting worse. I didnt have any at all until the first day of cycle 4 and this cycle 5 they are far worse and averaging one every 30 to 45 mi s and last up to 2 mins before going back to normal. Mainly affects face, head, neck, back and under my breasts! My chemo nurse said last cycle that chemo can cause hot sweats - I guess its the effects on the ovaries. I have ordered myself a pedestal fan which hopefully should be here tomorrow so will see if that will make any difference. I have had a couple of hot sweata during the day too.
Unicorngirlmummy - I hope all goes well with scan, you always seem really upbeat and positive ?
Jo xx
They’re awful aren’t they! Always from the chest upwards! Have you tried a chillow? I keep mine under my pillow as its not that comfy. I pull it out when the hot flush starts. It helps take the edge off of it. I’m sure my husband wouldn’t agree that I’m upbeat about it! If he even puts a hand on my leg he gets it bitten off as it’s too hot! ? Some ladies use that lady magnet. It’s such a glamorous affair isn’t it!!! Hope the fan helps xx
*Rant alert! *
I’m 7 days post round 5 and absolute fed up!! .
Anyone else really feeling the drag of all of this? I just don’t know how I’m going to rally myself up for number 6.
I’m sick of feeling so poorly after chemo, I’m sick of how I look and feel… please please tell me this is all worth it ???
Xxx
Morning!
Rant away Sam!! It’s totally hideous. You’re so near to the end of the chemo part. And Kirsty. I think it’s only natural to think that. Sometimes the way it messes with our heads is just as torturous as the chemo side effects. The worst bit was the waiting for the results & waiting for the plan, you got through that & you’ll get through this. We all will, & as battered as it makes us feel both physically & mentally, hold your head up high as you did it & are so near to the end! As Jo says, tick them off, it also shows how far you’ve come.
It’s really hard when you look in the mirror, it’s like cancer is not content with taking our sanity & strength, it’ll take our identity too! Sadly, it’s part of it but I’m sure you still look gorgeous ? Hair/lashes/eyebrows will grow again. That caused just as many meltdowns for me when I lost my hair last year, especially when it was time to lose the wig. Big hugs to you lovely, strong, amazing ladies xx
Anyone else have chemo on their birthday? drbexl.co.uk/2018/03/10/life-celebrating-your-birthday-whilst-having-chemotherapy-breastcancer-lovethenhs/
Was fine actually - feel crap all the time, so might as well ‘do something different’. 3 more Paclitaxel to go… ;-)
Thats chemo 5 done I hope the S/E are not to bad this time round they have given me more steroids and sickness tabs.
Xx
Thanks ladies… definitely feeling it this week!! Just got to get through it I know. Super hard when you are in the thick of it and the side effects are dragging you down every day.
I need to toughen up today!! Xx ???
Happy belated birthday drbex ?
Well done karebear, I hope the side effects aren’t too hideous ?
Sam, you are tough, you’re more than entitled to have a bad day, it’s not easy feeling so awful for almost 2 weeks & knowing you get to do it all again ? Each day, good or bad is a day nearer to the finishing line & to feeling well again with taste buds & hair!!!
Hope everyone else is doing ok xx
Hello Camilla I too will be sat in the chair today hope it goes ok
Ladies I hope you are all feeling somewhat better today it’s a trying time
I have been getting a buzzing in my right foot have any of you experienced that .
They are putting me on zoledronic acid this is to stop any spread to the bones if it reoccurs for post menopausal women . I know most of you are a lot younger than me so it will possibly not be applicable but may be worth an ask . It is given every 6 months for 3 years by infusion
Hi jencat, I’m also TN. This is a local recurrence for me. I had chemo last year which put me through the menopause & my oncologist put me on ibandronic acid. She said it helps protect against spread to the bones. This is a local recurrence & the other oncologist told me to stop taking it!!
Cathsin & camilla, hope everything went ok today.
Hope everyone else is doing ok xx
Good morning ladies hope you are doing ok
Camilla much the same really was there for 7 hours but my issue was that my red blood count was below acceptable levels for treatment so they retested and it had dropped again. The oncologist made decision to carry on with treatment … Phew did not want it to slip, but having to spend the day in hospital tomorrow having blood transfusion . Hopefully I will come out skipping after that x
Sorry to hear Carhsin and Camilla that you had longer time in the chair yesterday but its another step forward and closer end of chemo. Hope your side effects arent too bad over the coming days.
Bad day for me, cycle 5 is just as hard as cycle 4 although I am starting to get so frustrated with my body now ? The hot sweats are just getting ridiculous on an evening and all night long and if this is what Ive to expect with Tamoxifen also for the next 10 years then Im afraid Im not sure I can do it ?
Down day today on day 7 and I feel like cancer and chemo has just stripped so much of my life away that I dont recognise me or my life I had before anymore. The chemo brain is well and truely in residence and my concentration, memory and ability to perform straight forward tasks is becoming worse! Hard to keep seeing that finishing line at the moment.
Anyone else starting to feel the cumulative effects of chemo now??
Hi runnawaygirl, I found cycle 5 the worst and the lowest ive felt throughout. Really struggled mentally so think the cumulative effect has built up, so you are not alone!
Im in the chair today for final cycle, number 6 is here! But they are hsving to repeat bloods as one of my liver function bloods was a bit high so waiting to hear if ok to go ahead, I so hope its not delayed xx
Bloods ok and number 6 going ahead xx
Well done Kirsty, the end has finally arrived for you, hope you have a better time with the side effects this time.
I’m well behind the rest of you know with cycle 4 looming next week, still I’ll get there in the end!! xx
Thanks rabbit! I have meds for pain this time snd booked next week off work in preparation of being floored lol
Oh not too far tho and number 4 over half way thru! The end is near.
I have meeting with surgeon and oncologist next tues so hear more about surgery soon! Scary xx
Fab news Kirsty the last one. Not looking forward to the next couple of weeks as it seems to be a bad one to expect from what I am reading. Hope you are all on the up soon x