I’m so sorry you’re having a rough time. I am also finding the EC tough. Nothing has gone according to plan since it started and I’m not looking forward to the bone pain pain I had last time with the filgrastim injections. The only thing getting me through this is the mantra, “This too will pass.” I’m thinking of and praying for all you lovely people and fellow sufferers … better days are coming, we just have to get through the s*y ones first😄. I’m sorry for the earthy language but I’m having a wee pity party today. Feel free to join me and bh about BC🤬
And how I managed to change the font is a mystery to me🤣
Oh bless you and happy belated birthday. Mine was last Wednesday! Sane treatment and similar birthdays - aren’t we lucky!?!? 
I made the decision today to shave my hair off as it was coming out in handfuls for days. But I’ve been pretty lucky to still have a good coverage left expect for a massive bald centre parting so I look like I’ve had brain surgery!
Unfortunately my sending chemo treatment this week has been delayed as I had to had over antibiotics on the weekend followed by 5 days of oral antibiotics. My temperature was rising and Ive been battling with a cough for a week. I now feel almost completely fine which is annoying to be delaying treatment but it feels like I’ve got a ‘free’ week to get well and enjoy being well for a few days.
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Oh gosh we are all feeling it this week aren’t we? I’m 4 days post round 2 and literally am so fed up, the PICC is winding me up, insomnia is winding me up (literally not had a decent nights sleep since pre chemo) and I’m just sick to the back teeth of it. Still feels like such a long slog to go as well………
“This too shall pass, this too shall pass”
Sending you all love and healing vibes xxx
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I hear you, feels like such a long slog, but we will get there!
I was amazed to wake up with the alarm clock this morning. First time I’ve had a decent sleep since starting chemo.
My poor tummy is very confused though. I want to eat, but don’t know what I fancy, nothing appeals. When I eat I feel sick, but when I don’t eat I feel sick too. Not sure if I’m hungry or what I am feeling. Anybody have any tips for getting through this stage please?
Sending healing thoughts x
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@cookie_monster1 well done for sweeping through.
I was given aprepitant from the start, the pack of 3. One you take an hour before treatment and the next 2 mornings. They also gave me dexamethasone for the next 2 days and so something else in case of nausea, which I haven’t needed.
As soon as the 1st dose went in I experienced taste and smell like cleaning fluid, which took about 10 days to go. The 2nd dose left me with something more like old smelly socks. Can’t say it was nauseous, but it did put me off food and drink.
I stuck to water as it seemed to wash the taste away briefly, and everything else tastes of old socks. Also found salty crackers occasionally helped with taste. Somebody said to me that she ate salted crisps.
I’m counting down to #3 tomorrow. Not looking forward to doing it all again now that I’m feeling good.
I hope you feel better soon, just to get a brief respite x
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Hi everyone, I’ve finished my EC sessions now and I start Docetaxel & Phesgo on Monday. I’m quite anxious about the new drugs and how I’ll react to them. I’ve been relatively okay with EC and know what I’m facing so I’m a bit scared of the unknown.
Have any of you had experience of the above drugs?
I’m moving from every 2 weeks with EC to now every 3 weeks so at least there is more time in between sessions to hopefully feel more normal 
Xx
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Meant to have 3rd and final EC this afternoon, but I tested positive for covid this morning. Annoyingly i felt fine this morning. Starting to feel tired and achy. Might be because I was chopping kindling for the fire.
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Hi. I started at the beginning of November had three EC two weeks apart and I’m having 4 Docetaxel three weeks apart. Have had two so far. There is definitely less nausea with Docetaxel but I have had some neuropathy in fingers so my dose has been reduced a bit for the last cycle just before Christmas and will be for the final two. Apart from that I haven’t been too bad, apart from tiredness, and feel better in weeks two and three. Good luck with your treatment. x
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Hi everyone,
I joined this group when it just started and I last posted in mid december as I was about to start chemo. I’m halfway through my weekly Paclitaxol now& I’m also using cold cap - so far hair is ok & not shedding.
Just get headaches every now and then and a really bad case of insomnia, I guess from the steroids or just general anxiety from life’s current events! Does anyone have any tips for insomnia?
I hope everyone feels better and powering through this mission we are all on.
I read someone say ‘here’s to a cancer free 2024 for all of us!’ But I want to say here’s to a cancer free FOREVER for all of us! I’ve found it really difficult to get my head around this diagnosis and I’m slowly picking myself back up again. It’s just inspiring to read how you’re all getting along and already getting back to work!
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Hi mojo2,
I thought I’d reach out as I’m due to start the same regime as you at the beginning of Feb. Any tips or information about your experience would be very much appreciated.
I know we are all different x
Hi #healing24, I’ve just finished 4 EC 2 weekly about to start 4 2 weekly paclitaxel. I was so worried at the start but it really hasn’t been as bad as I’d imagined. The constipation after the first treatment was horrific 
probabaly the worst thing about it so far but after getting that under control I’ve only had minimal side effects, a sore mouth, slight nausea and some fatigue. I do think if you can manage some exercise every day even just a short walk that really helps. Now just waiting to see what paclitaxel has in store 
Good luck with your treatment. xx
I hope you don’t mind me posting here but I’m due to start my first of 3 x 3weekly EC on Thursday 25th. I want my husband to keep a choir commitment that evening as I feel he needs the support his choir colleagues can give him and honestly I can do with a bit of time with him not hovering in the background. I would be grateful for any advice on how I might feel during the evening of that first treatment? Thank you.
I would say take it easy. Have a light meal and drink plenty of water. I found that was all I wanted to drink because of the taste and smell I experienced. I haven’t felt too bad immediately following treatment. I started feeling effects 3 days later on the day I started doing injections.
My 3rd EC was cancelled last Friday because I my covid test in the morning was positive. So annoyed with myself. Have to reschedule everything now. Hopefully they’ll let me back in on Wednesday for blood test for treatment on Friday x
Generally I was feeling pretty normal the evening of the first treatment. And for the next two days. Started to feel the effects on day 3 and onwards.
I had my port fitted today ready for my 2nd treatment tomorrow (well, that was the plan, already delayed a week!).
Goodness the port fitting was pretty intense! Not painful but just full on and rough. So glad it’s done now. They put a needle in ready for treatment tomorrow so it’s pretty bulky and my throat/neck is quite sore where I’m guessing they were shoving thing in.
I got a call at 5.30pm tonight to say my phosphate levels are very low and I need to come in at 8.30am for an IV transfusion ti get it up. I’ll then need to wait at least 8 hours before it takes effect. So Chemo put back to Wednesday or Thursday! God! The set backs are quite frustrating and not something I had planned for. Especially when I feel perfectly fine! Anyway…hopefully it will get done this week.
Thank you isitreallyme. So Sunday looks like a grim day! Fingers crossed for Wednesday and Friday.
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Thank you Charlie81. Not straightforward then. I’m sorry to hear that. I hadn’t thought of low phosphates. Did you fast before your first treatment? I have my appointment with the chemo nurse tomorrow so hopefully she will answer my questions and all will go ahead.
They let me back in after my bout of covid. I did feel like I was in the detention group as my appointment was end of the day for bloods, and the nurse appeared with mask etc. I was wearing a mask too.
Anyway, 3 EC done. Next is 3 docetaxel.
X
That’s good to know how careful they are being. Hope it doesn’t increase any side effects for you and that you get through comfortably. I had my first of 3xEC yesterday and it wasn’t as bad as I expected. Nausea has set in today even with the meds I was sick earlier on! I’m following with Docetaxol and phesgo next. Good luck. Can’t work out which will be worse and there seems to be very little agreement - each to their own I suppose.
Hi all.
Everyone’s been a bit quiet on here.
I had my 3rd and final EC last Friday. Definitely the worst for me. Just starting to feel a bit more human today. This dose was the first one I used the just in case domperidone nausea tablets for 2 days. Had the usual swollen tender glands neck to waist after starting injections.
I hope you’re all coping reasonably well x