I know i should be over the moon because when I saw my ONC this am he decided to cut short my chemo because it is making me so ill . I have had 4 Epi and 2 cmf
Should have had 4 cmf but i am so low mentally and physically that he does not think it a good idea to put me through anymore. Mine was’nt a particularly agressive cancer 18mm tuomour and only sentinel lymph mode affected. so hope what chemo I have has done trick. I am going on this cox2 inhibitor trial for two years, anyone else on it??? CTscan and five weeks of Rads also Tamoxefen.
Mainly wanted to know if this has happened to anyone out there, i am pleased not to have to go through anymore HELL, because thats how it was for me with all six treatments but i am a little apprehensive also. I have to trust my Onc he is a proffesor so he will know what he’s doing , wo’nt he .!!! Hope to hear from someone , you ladfies never let me down though Love Bobbie
Hi Bobbie
My chemo was cut short too.
I was supposed to have 4 x fec, radiotherapy and then 4 x tax. The 4 x fec and the radiotherapy went fine - then I started tax - and it didn’t agree with me at all. I had just about every side effect going with the tax, lost the feeling in my fingers, couldn’t put my feet on the floor they were so sore, the skin peeled from my feet and hands eventually (cheaper than these expensive chemical peels I suppose lol), the aches and pains were dreadful and I ended up in hospital with neutropenic sepsis - and that was just after one dose !!
As a result my onc informed me that my local health board protocol dictated that with such severe side effects I couldn’t continue with the remaining 3 tax. I was then put back onto fec, but could only have 2 more as six was the max. I had the last of the fec last wednesday - and again the side effects were far worse than with the original fec (probably because some of the tax was ‘hanging’ about?). Initially I was a bit devastated by this - as my tumour was Grade 3, 5/9 nodes affected and her2+ and I was so worried that I now wouldn’t be getting the ‘best’ treatment available.
But, several weeks on - and with my rational head on (for a change) - I have still had 7 doses of chemo, 20 blasts of radio - and 17 herceptins still to come (hopefully assuming heart ok !?!) - and good god if that hasn’t done something what will !!
I like you am apprehensive sometimes that I’m missing something - I see my onc this week to discuss starting herceptin - and I have a list of questions as long as my arm for her - mostly about the missing chemo and allsorts, very little about the herceptin !
My onc is pretty good at providing reassurance - and she knows that I would rather ‘hear it how it is’ - than give me some cock and bull stories about how it’s ‘fine, just fine’ - hopefully you have one who is the same. If you are in any doubt you should ask to speak to your BN or onc again and take a list of questions concerning your apprehensions - if only to set your mind at rest.
I hope the rest of your treatment goes well - I’m assuming you haven’t started rads yet? In my experience (and I know we are all different!) the rads were adefinite breeze compared to chemo!
take care
Margaret x
hi i am at this stage now in the beginning told 4 or 6 fec depending on how i could cope. i couldn’t understand how people would not do the lot… well after three i could. i am on fec75 whatever that is i used cold cap which prolonged treatment although glad i did as still got hair all of it. after no 3 i was sick not actually bringing ti up but needed to be over sink for four days. then just very bad all round sicky feeling tired heady etc doesn’t sound bad but to a wimp like me it was. saw oncologist and she said i ought to stop she wouldn’t loose ant sleep overme stopping. i put on brave face and said i will decide after no 4 so we meet again in a couple of weeks. had no 4 feel a lot better than three. wearing travel sickness bands. i said yesterday i will carry on but today feel different i just don’t know its the what ifs again i only gained 2 percent by having it so hopefully done enough. i have to do herceptin and don’t want to push my luck… i am a nervous patient anyway and god forbid if i was ill at the hospital with panic sickness i don’t know how i would get back. i am dreading it for a year. i am trying to find out about getting it at home. apparently can my hospital oncologist has to agree. i doubt if will as BC nurse has never heard of anyone having it at home. have a good weekend
Julie
Sorry to hijack your post here but I have a quick question for jal7777…
You say your chemo gave you an extra 2%…may I ask what your starting percent was?..
I have been offered 6 FEC followed by Herceptin to increase my chances from 94% - 96%…I am trying to gather as much info as to whether to do the chemo and must be honest I am finding this one of the hardest of my life…can you shed any light?
Sorry to hear your experience with chemo has been rough.
take care
Leelee xxx
hi leelee
i cant remember my percentages exactly. i think it was something like 85 percent with nothing another 5 percent with tamoxifen and only 2 percent with chemo and herceptin so not far off from yours. it was a very hard decision in first place. at first i didnt want it too much going on in my life my 50th birthday our 30th wedding ann and planned some lovely hols to celebrate. all cancelled now… my daughter is expecting her second and needed help my two sons both brought houses and needed guiding. but NO there was the what ifs so i had to do it. my consultant thought it was over treatment and a lot to put my body though. my oncologist said she would offer it to me and as long as did 4 i could have herceptn. apparently if i had gone to a lot of hopsitals even my local one they wont even offer it with 2 percent gain. so i am lucky i suppose. i know 4 is enough my body cant take anymore and i want o get through herceptin. i am going to give it my best shot. what was you dx and treatment plan. keep in touch good luck
julie.