Cookie-monster 
your onc might reduce your dose lots of us over the years had dose reduced hold tight 
and remember your onc and team have seen it all before you and in safe hands 
Shi xx
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@isitreallyme hope it went ok with your first dose of docetaxel and you manage better with the change to the Filgrastim.
I am half way through, have another 3 sessions to go. Unfortunately my oncologist is off work at the moment, so finding it difficult to talk to somebody about next steps to prevent me from being so poorly next time. Hopefully will get some clarity soon.
Hope everyone has a good weekend and side effects are not too troublesome x
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Sorry you don’t seem to be getting any answers for your next step as you oncologist is off work. I would call and ask to speak to someone within your team, there will be specialist nurses that work with the oncologist. If they can’t help, they should ask another oncologist to see you.
During my chemo at the end of last year, my oncologist was ill so a fellow oncologist saw me in clinic. After that it was mainly the specialist nurses. In the end I never met the ‘ official’ oncologist as there was a locum from Spain working alongside my oncologist at the beginning.
I found if you didn’t chase things up nobody would do it for you. If you are having issues you need to sort it before your next infusion.
I hope you have some success soon. 
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Thank you. I hope you’re feeling better and have some answers now.
Started off well, and I thought I’d cracked it. Since my last dexamethasone on Sunday morning I’ve had really bad joint pain all over. Back on the paracetamol. I find that lying flat on the sofa with a couple of soft cushions under my knees is most comfortable.
The lenograstim, instead of filgrastim, doesn’t seem to be affecting my glands nearly as much.
X
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Urgh!
I was hoping docetaxel was would be easier than EC. The switch to lenograstim injection made me feel worse too. So much that I contacted onc yesterday morning, refusing to give myself the 5th one. Sleepless nights in pain from joints, muscles and back. Even slept on the sofa one night. I found that a pillow under my knees and lower legs brought some relief. I developed a rash around my neck too, which still itches like mad.
Starting to feel a little better this morning. I just have tender finger tips and nails. Feels like I’ve bashed them.
Back to filgrastim next time. Better the devil you know. I’d rather know that I’ll be sofa bound days 1 and 2 of injections.
How is everyone else doing?
X
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Oh dear, am sorry to hear that, isitreallyme. I change to that next but one cycle and I understood it was supposed to be easier than EC. Not looking forward to joint and muscle pains - I have to say I do find the dexamethasone helpful with my arthritic knees for a few days at the mo. It’s so difficult, isn’t it, trying to cope with all the side effects and trying to stay positive and “doing some exercise” all of which should make us feel better? and responding to those who say you are a strong woman you will get through this, which makes you feel bad for wanting to be a bit weak and have a rant. At least you know you can do this here and no-one will judge you. I do hope you feel a bit better soon. xx
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@isitreallyme sorry you’ve found Docetaxel hard. I hope things are a bit easier for you now.
I spoke to a doctor in Oncology today. My electrolytes and kidney function are improving, but my Hb has now taken a bit of a dive and I may need a blood transfusion.
We have decided to go ahead with a dose reduction for my next treatment tomorrow with Emend and Ondansetron for nausea (which seems to be the only antiemetic I can tolerate). Fingers crossed it will be easier this time.
How’s everyone else doing?
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Evening all, sooty I have been quiet, I’ve been trying to just “crack on”, I am now 4 rounds in with TCHP and finally today feel ok, I am managing to work from home which is so good for my mental health, but come 5pm I’m exhausted……bitten the bullet and got a cleaner because did you know, we can all apply for PIP? I had no idea but my allowance is going towards a cleaner to make life that much easier. It’s not means tested so even if you are still working, you’ll get it if you’re struggling.
How is everyone feeling? I genuinely think this is just as much a mental battle and a physical one, it is so hard to see the light at the end of the tunnel when we all have so much more to go after chemo finishes….it is so overwhelming at times, I’m digging into my deepest reserves most days and I’m probably one of the most positive people you’ll ever meet.
Just wanted to jump on and say hi and send you all love xxxx
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I noticed @mrsbee2 mentioned PIP (personal independence payment). Yes you can all apply and it is not means tested. Anyone with cancer is categorised as disabled under the Equality act 2010. You can get help from Citizens Advice Bureau or MacMillan or Maggie’s to help apply if you need. They are several levels depending on your symptoms.
Getting PIP doesn’t necessarily mean getting a blue parking badge as they are decided by your local council. Mine didn’t do it unless you can’t walk too far for at least 12 months.
https://breastcancernow.org/about-breast-cancer/life-after-treatment/work-and-breast-cancer/
Hope this helps🥰
Hi all,
Hope you are all doing okay.
It’s my final chemo session tomorrow!! Not sure how I feel. Everyone thinks I should be really excited but part of me is scared. I suppose while I’m getting chemo it feels like I’m kind of in a protective bubble. It’s silly because finishing chemo is one step closer to getting better!
Hope you all are nearing the end of chemo too. We will get through this!
Next step for me is surgery but I need to get through this final session first. 6 out of 6 nearly done 
xx
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So pleased for you! I have 5th out of 6 on Friday coming. Then one more to go, and get this tube out of my arm, yay!
I hope your chemo has done it’s job for your surgery. I had my mastectomy last September x
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@clay83 hope your chemotherapy has gone well today. I was so teary on my last chemo therapy. We travelled over 50 miles and as we approached the hospital it the tears started. I had to sit in the car to calm down. Then the nurse was really nice and I started again. I had my PICC line removed and asked for the curtain to be put around as I was getting emotional again.
I think we have all been on this rollercoaster and you feel like you are jumping off at the end of chemotherapy. I had had my surgery first so for me it was 5 days of radiotherapy and Herceptin 3 weekly. But the end of chemotherapy did seem final no more clinics or blood tests.
I’m sure you will now be focusing on getting ready for your surgery. Open fronted PJs, soft bras, maybe opening at the front (M&S, Primark and Asda George have a lot to choose from).
You are not alone.
Take care🥰
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Oh my! I’m counting down the days. Four weeks today it’ll be out. No more manoeuvring the plastic sleeve for showering, amongst other things. A short break and then RT for me. Very well done for seeing this through x
@clay83 I hope your tumour has shrunk well before your op. No doubt you’ll be posting before then x
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@clay83 congratulations on getting to the end of your chemotherapy. As you say, a massive step forward in becoming well again.
I have found chemo has made me feel really poorly, but hoping that surgery will be easier.
xx
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So I held it together for the final chemo session. One of the nurses was being extra nice to me which nearly set me off. One hurdle over and then surgery and radio left to go. I’ll also be getting Phesgo injections every 3 weeks for a year. Feeling tired this evening but okay so far.
@naughty_boob Thanks for the tips on surgery clothes. Ive got a MRI in a couple of weeks to see how the tumour has responded before surgery. I had a scan midway and they said it has shrunk so fingers crossed it’s continued that way!
@isitreallyme Good luck for the your fifth session on Friday. You are nearly there too! We’ll be speaking about radiotherapy tips soon.
@cookie_monster1 how many more treaments do you have left before surgery?
Xxx
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@clay83 have done four, two to go. Waiting to speak to oncology about whether to go ahead with the final two. Have been so unwell (even on a reduced dose last cycle) that I’m not sure I can do it again 
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I hope your oncologist is able to give you some options to consider. Fingers crossed for you. Even though you’ve not felt good look how far you’ve come! I know we don’t have much of a choice in this but you are one strong lady and we should all be proud of ourselves.
Good luck with your talk with the oncologist and keep us up to date xx
@clay83 oh my gosh, your final session is over, that must have been emotional and a huge relief, how are you feeling now?
@cookie_monster1 I’m so sorry you’re not tolerating the chemo and feel so awful despite a reduction, what has your consultant said?
I’m wide awake 4am club here, the steroids always do this to me, my brain is wired with a million thoughts, yet my body is utterly exhausted. I’ve been very teary since weds, which is unusual for me, but I did have a sound bath and that’s known for bringing the emotions out that you have been holding onto. It was an amazing online experience (I usually have them in person but since dx haven’t been to any) and I wasn’t sure if I’d reap the benefits but it really was lovely. Let me know if anyone wants the details of the next online one?
So I have round 5/6 today. Feeling very apprehensive as know how my body reacts now, but will push on through and keep sight of the fact I’m nearly at the end of this part of treatment.
Is anyone else cold capping? As you know I am and bar some shedding (I have a lot of hair) I still have my own mop……I’m just wondering if this means I’ll keep my hair? It would feel so cruel that after enduring all those extra hours in the hospital it goes……
Speaking of hair, my eyebrows have gone, my lashes are very sparse and body hair is non existent……that I can deal with!!!
Having worked throughout (albeit from home) has been my saving grace, I have a very busy job and the 8 hours a day that I am working are such a good distraction, I’ve been starting at 7 and finishing at 3pm, quick nap before the kids get home from school and then in bed for 8pm……grateful for teens that are pretty self sufficient, especially as my husband works away part of the week……my lovely parents are coming up next week to hold the fort, god bless them for being so active still!
Sending you all so much love and strength and don’t forget of you want the details of the sound bath to let me know!!!
Lots of love x
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@clay83 well done to you. I’m counting down the days till my last on Tuesday after Easter, and my picc will be out!
I’ve felt pretty rotten since #5 last Friday. I’ve got over the tender glands phase but the aching joints don’t seem to want to ease. I thought I’d be able to put the pain killers away by now and have a good night’s sleep. They gave me codeine this time, and I’ve got ibuprofen on top of paracetamol, so you’d think I wouldn’t feel so miserable with all that lot.
I think the foul taste is getting me down too. Nothing hides it. I like my food usually. Hopefully I’ll start to enjoy it again soon. Then I’ll have to do this once more. Urgh!
I really take my hat off, all of them, to those who are doing this before and after surgery. My surgeon did initially suggest neo adjuvant chemo as well as after. Knowing what I know now I don’t know if I could have done it.
@mrsbee2 you are truly amazing! Like you, my eye brows and lashes have gone. Not cold capped so most hair fell out before 2nd EC. I have got baby fluff which I see with light shining behind me. I must shave off last of my original pixie cut, not that there’s much left, before the fluff catches up with the longest shave guard.
X
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@isitreallyme not long to go now, hang on in there.
@mrsbee2 you are amazing. I cannot imagine how you managed to carry on working throughout your treatment.
I see my breast surgeon this week. He thinks I’ve had a really good response after four cycles of chemo, so bearing in mind how poorly I’ve been, I’ve decided to stop the chemo. I’ll continue with Phesgo until my surgery date in late April. This will hopefully give me time to recover and get fitter ready for surgery. So very grateful I’ve had a good response, would be devastating if there was little or no change after everything I’ve been through.
Just beginning to feel a bit better, and having blood transfusion and IV magnesium tomorrow as symptomatic with low Hb and magnesium.
Thanking you all for your support, it really does make a difference xx
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