I feel today like giving up the chemo,i started FEC on new years eve just five days ago and everyday is going so slow.I am totally exhausted,im vomiting,ive got a dry mouth im constipated and my eyes are sore from crying.ALL the symptoms i was warned about but all at once and all so fast.I have 5FEC sessions to go over four months.PLEASE someone tell me it gets easier or i dont think i can go for my next session.I have a great husband and family to support me and i have been very strong through my LD flap surgery and recovery but this chemo is flooring me. 
bless you… i’m day 8 after fec no 2, and i’ve had a very low weepy day too…YOU WILL pickup in a few days , and the symptoms WILL ease…its soo tough, but hang in there xxxxx
Hi
You have to take one day at a time. I am on FEC 4 out of 6 and can now see a small fleck of light at the end ofmy tunnel.
It is harsh treatment and crying is OK. We all do it.
stay in there
Janvis xxx
Sorry to hear you are suffering so much. It’s sounds like you’re having a really miserable time. I would ring your chemo unit or GP if you are still vomiting - they may be able to help. Also next time make sure you tell them how much you have suffered and they can give you Emend to help with the sickness - it shouldn’t be so bad next time if they can sort that. Also most people start to feel better between days 7-10 - so it will get better. Hope you feel better soon.
Stella xx
…just thinking of you. Stick in there if you can, Bx
Hi Lynda,
Sorry to hear you’re feeling this way, if you haven’t already had a look I’ve put you the link to the thread ‘top tips to help you through chemo’, there’s lots of helpful hints and tips on there from other forum users which may help you get through this more easily.
breastcancercare.org.uk/forum/top-tips-to-help-get-you-through-chemotherapy-t19110.html
Also please do phone your meds team and tell them how you’re feeling I’m sure they’ll be able to help you. Take care,
Jo, Facilitator
Hi lynda you poor thing have you got some domperidone they are an anti-sick tablet they mite ease that problem for you speak to your onc they may be able to give you a different one if they are not working please dont give up yet it will improve over the days you have a lot to live for your surportive family for one you can also get some lactilose med for the constipation as for the sore mouth have you got some mouthwash from the hospital i felt the same as you and im sure a lot of us felt like throughing the towel in just hang on in there its realy worth a try what have you got to loose i found sleeping got me over the worst days i did 6 months of chemo and beleive me it wasnt easy but it is worht it in the end trust me on that
Hi lynda you poor thing have you got some domperidone they are an anti-sick tablet they mite ease that problem for you speak to your onc they may be able to give you a different one if they are not working please dont give up yet it will improve over the days you have a lot to live for your surportive family for one you can also get some lactilose med for the constipation as for the sore mouth have you got some mouthwash from the hospital i felt the same as you and im sure a lot of us felt like throughing the towel in just hang on in there its realy worth a try what have you got to loose i found sleeping got me over the worst days i did 6 months of chemo and beleive me it wasnt easy but it is worht it in the end trust me on that
Lynda, please call your chemo unit or BC nurse. There are many variables of the drugs available but unfortunately it can come down to trial and error.
Also, note down every side effect you are having so that you can give them a complete picture.
I am so sorry that you are feeling so bad
Marguerite
Hi Lynda
Try to stick it. I’ve done 2 so far and at least going into the 2nd you know what to expect. You’ll see your onc before the next one, so ask for different anti-sickness meds. I did and after being sick as a dof after the first chemo, I wasn’t sick once after the second. I did feel sick and kept taking the anti-sickness tablets for 5 days. Keep drinking loads of plain water.
We’re all on here wishing you soon feel better.
Pam
Definitely talk to your oncologist. FEC 4 was the best for me (6 due tomorrow, yuk) because he’d got my anti sickness meds just right. I was up and about day after and eating lightly.
I think I have all the anti sickness meds available.
Emend
Ondansetron
Dexamethzone (steriod)
Metaclopramide
Cyclizine
It’s a lot but worth it if it helps you feel human.
Jo X
Please don’t give up. Talk to your onc or BC nurse. It’s over 2 years since I finished chemo but I remember feeling like you and as though I couldn’t carry on with the treatment. They altered my meds and although it was still rough, it was manageable. I was on a trial having chemo every two weeks and I felt dreadful for most of the time, but the payoff is afterwards. Life is good.
You will get through this. It’s now a distant memory for me and it will be for you too.
Just don’t be afraid to talk to your onc about the s/e.
Good luck
Mal x
Hi Lynda,
Sorry you are feeling so awful after your first chemo. Just to echo what the others have said, definitely ring your chemo unit and explain exactly how you are feeling and they will advise what your GP could prescribe for you at the moment to help with the vomiting. Also, I would suggest keeping a diary of side effects so that you can give this information to your ONC and chemo nurses before your next chemo (by the time chemo came round I found it hard to remember it all), as there is so much that they can give you to help so long as you let them know. Don’t go in there being brave…say it exactly how it is!
I completely sympathise with how you say you are feeling as that sounds exactly like me after my first FEC. I had Emend with the other cycles (along with ondansetron, dexamethasone, and domperidone) and sickness was much better. For constipation I was initially given lactulose, but then Movicol which I found better. Another things I found helped with the nausea was ginger in hot water to drink. If your mouth gets sore, then various mouthwashes can be prescribed too. I saw you looked at the tips for chemo thread and there is loads of good advice there too.
I know it doesn’t feel like it at the moment, but it does get better, just hang in there.
Thinking of you. x
Hi Lynda- just to agree with the advice others have given you.
It isn’t necessary to feel so ill with FEC- there are drugs to counteract the nausea and sickness and it is really important you sing out and ask for help rather than feel you just have to put up with it. I do agree about keeping a diary of your symptoms and write down just how you feel each day- especially during the first week after the chemotherapy.
My daughter had BC before me and she is also a nurse: she explained what each of the prescribed drugs would do what and to make sure I took them before any side effects kicked in.The onc had told me this I guess but not all of it sank in. It was so much easier after my daughter wrote it all down for me - it really helped to be able to refer to it.
I was lucky and had very few side effects with FEC (not so lucky with Tax) - and I feel convinced that that was because of the good regime my onc used. ( my daughter said that sometimes the cheapest drugs are offered first- so make sure you tell the chemo nurses if your symptoms are persisting - and get something better prescribed).
Hi Lynda - you have already been given loads of good advice the most important of all is to tell your medical team how bad you feel so they can help you. I had EC which did not seem to treat me as badly as FEC does but I found the constipation a real probelm as it set off another medical condition. I found that being prepared by eating a fibre rich diet for the 2 days before and 3 days after chem really helped as well as starting the lactalose a day before. Lots of prunes, prune juice and sweetcorn did it for me. It might be worth a try.
But the good thing is that the 1st one is under your belt and you know what to expect next time. The top tips site is fab and I really don’t know how ladies who do not use BCC site get through it all as everyone is so supportive. Best wishes Marli.
Hi Lynda
I’m so sorry to hear how you’re feeling. I do empathise as I was very ill too on FEC (and then taxotere).
I had severe vomiting that started 4 hours after having FEC. I just couldn’t stop and the doctor came out and gave me an injection. The same happened the second time and I nearly went into hospital. Then finally I wised up thanks to this forum and speaking to the nurses on the chemo unit and got my meds changed.
My hospital wouldn’t provide Emend which I understand from others is excellent. I had something called levomepromazine (or nozinan) which is powerful drugs that basically almost knocked me out and stopped me being sick. I took that for the first 2 - 3 days. In addition I had domperidone in suppository form for the first 2or 3 days after the chemo and then switched to the oral form. I found they were vital in controlling nausea and enabling me to eat something.
The other thing is that if you’re vomiting or really nauseous you’ll get dehydrated. The chemo nurses decided to give me an additional bag of saline after the chemo so that I was hydrated. This helped. They also ensured I had my anti sickness meds half an hour before starting the chemo.
Constipation is a problem and I agree that prunes and figs are good if you can tolerate them. Lactulose can help although they tend to prefer Movicol which isn’t so harsh and you can get that prescribed.
If you can ring and have a chat with your chemo nurses that is probably the best start. Talk to your oncologist at your next chemo appointment or before and say you’ve been vomiting and don’t know if you can carry on and I’ll bet he/she will change your meds.
Oh and for sore eyes I’d recommend murine eye drops for dry eyes. They were recommened to me by an opthalmologist for a previous eye problem and worked well in helping me through chemo too. Much better than optrex or other products.
Hang in there and a big hug. Do PM me if you want any further info on the meds at any point.
Elinda x
Hi Lynda,
So sorry you are feeling so miserable. I did 3 FEC, and now on Tax. Echoing what others have said, phone In and get your meds sorted. For me the sickness was the worst, and really lowered my spirits. Ask for EMEND- it is expensive, so they don’t offer it to you as a matter of course. If you have domperidone, take it regularly BEFORE you feel sick (if that is poss). Try avoiding iced drinks and fatty snacks.
Just remember, you are on the road to recovery,
All the best, Tracey
Hi lynda today is another day hope your feeling a little better i know its tough but hang on in there go back to the hospital and explain your symtoms they may give you alternative anti-sick and constipation med worth a try if you are unable to go phone them and let a member of your family collect it for you take care of yourself and have some me time
Hoping you do get to talk to someone at the hospital who can help. I had awful nausea for the first 2 doses but each time I went into the emergency chemo support we have locally at the hospital and they put me on a drip and eventually found the anti-sickness drug (ondandestron) that worked; I had anti-constipation and sleeping tablets too since tiredness from not sleeping with the steriods was a real problem to me and made me weepy. I was advised to start the anti-nausea the day before the chemo and think that helped too. I’m not one for tablets usually but my view has changed with chemo - these other drugs are mild in comparison and if they help in the short term then I’m happy to take them. In the end I grew in confidence with coping over the 6 doses that I had and could predict how I’d react and what drugs to take (only needed them for the intial few days each time) - so it felt like I could manage the chemo ok. Hoping you get support and some drugs that help you too
hugs and postive thoughts
Fran
Just another thought - I tried self-help along with all of the tablets. Got addicted to chicken soup (used the readimade cartons for ease) and anything with ginger (genger marmalade on toast early in the morning; ginger tea, ginger biscuits - I indulged in the “special” ones in the supermarkets! - ginger cake etc etc). I lived on these for the first few days after the chemo as they helped the queasiness.
Thinking of you
Fran