@kitty77 You could do a trip to NY and then spend some time relaxing in the Caribbean since it’s easy and pretty cheap to get to from NY. Best of both worlds then. I need to go to NY again at some point, but it’s less of a holiday for me since I grew up there and all my family and a lot of friends still live there. I’m definitely waiting until I’m feeling back to normal-ish to deal with that circus.
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Morning all
4th and final EC today. @Vibby I am so sorry to hear what a miserable time you’ve had. I’m feeling anxious as I hate walking in here feeling completely well and leaving knowing I will feel like crap.
Holidays and the prospect of them are what keeps me going too. New York is on my bucket list and I have been promising myself that is where we will go when all this is done.
See you on the other side.
Salbert
Xx
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@kartoffel I’m going to do some research 
and start pricing it up 
.
Good luck with final EC today @salbert.
Hang in there everyone, hope today is a good day for you all Xx
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All the steroids I’ve been prescribed with EC were to be taken by lunchtime to avoid the sleeplessness issue.
Apparently Docetaxal is much more likely to cause an allergic reaction, so they pre load with steroids to try and prevent it.
I’ll definitely be taking everything I’m given !!
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Hi ladies,
Hope you don’t mind me jumping on to this thread. I’ve had a bit of a rough time and just not sure how I should be feeling…
Diagnosed stage 2 BC in January, original plan was surgery first then it changed to chemo first. First cycle of EC on 26th Feb, apart from severe nausea I did ok, bloods done for next cycle and liver LFTs were through the roof so delayed by 1 week - I was supposed to be on 2 weekly cycles so it was 3 weeks in the end. The same thing happened after the second cycle, so again another delay of a week.
My oncologist has called today to say that my chemo is being put on hold as the liver issues are causing too much of a delay and I’m now going to have surgery first in 2-3 weeks. Once I’ve recovered I can restart my chemo, as the cancer will have been removed they have more flexibility with the chemo - I hope that makes sense.
I just don’t know how I feel…one minute I’m happy to have my surgery, but the next I’m really sad my body couldn’t tolerate the EC.
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I’m currently on Docetaxel weekly and it’s been treating me well so far. I take the steroids (yes, you should take them before 2pm to sleep well). I started getting some ulcers on my mouth but switching to a special toothbrush for sensitive teeth and special toothpaste per NHS guidance has done wonders for me! It’s all back to normal now. I had a bit of diarrhoea but it didn’t bother me too much. If it catches you en route, you can always use your MacMillan card to go to bathroom and then take some emergency Imodium.
Good luck! I hope you’ll be fine, fingers crossed!
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Hi @jayne1210
Sorry to hear you’ve struggled with EC chemo, I did too and only had 1.5 of my planned 3 sessions. I think a lot of us have had changed and adaptions to our treatment plan and feeling up and down because of that is something I’ve dealt with and experienced throughout this journey!!
Hope surgery goes smoothly, I found surgery and the recovery went really well for me, the hardest part of my treatment so far is without doubt chemotherapy but this thread you have joined has been brilliant for those times when you need a bit of support or just need to vent to a bunch of ladies who know exactly what you’re going through.
Keep posting and updating us on here, we will all keep each other going Xx
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I’m in a similar situation with regards to my surgery. The genetic testing has identified my BRCA gene and now we’re switching from a minor lumpectomy to a full blown mastectomy (the question is whether I want to remove both my bad and currently good breast or not).
I posted on this topic separately here and it was encouraging to see that many ladies went through this and are happy with the results!
I’m having an appointment with a plastic surgeon to discuss my reconstruction (I’m not sure if you want one) so that I can start thinking about it during my chemo. We’re lucky to have so much time to think and weigh options. If it’s surgery first, you may get just a few days to decide!
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Hi everyone.
I was unable to sleep again and this the steroid effect. I always have sleepless nights after 4-5 days having steroids-delayed side effect I guess.
I hope the docetaxel is not as bad as EC🤞. I am still a little bit nauseous and it’s my 8th day post EC.
It’s lovely to hear that some of you are planning for their holiday after all the treatment.
@kartoffel Japan is really a nice country to visit-been there last year. 
@salbert I really want to go to New York too.
Please just keep updating as to what everyone does. Reading this chat really lightens my spirit. Take care everyone.
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@kartoffel Japan is so amazing! I was lucky to go there last year and it was an absolutely wonderful experience.
I personally look forward to a lovely holiday in Bali. Something very relaxing, a lot of good fruit and sunshine! Please keep these ideas going and hopefully we’ll post our holiday pics here one day.
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@jayne1210 Of course we don’t mind you jumping in on here. That’s the whole point and we’re a jolly fine bunch too, even if I do say so myself. 
My liver LFTs are increasing quite a bit now as well. I’ve finished EC and am due to start the Paclitaxel in 2 weeks. It must be so frustrating and disappointing to have to delay. All we all want to do is to get it done. I think it sounds a good idea to get the surgery done now. I had 4 surgeries which were unsuccessful (it’s unusual and I switched consultants and hospitals as a result). I have to have surgery again after the chemo has finished so you’re not alone in having to switch about. From what I’ve read on here, they have a margin that they can work within to make sure you get the chemo that you need. Like @kitty77 says, we really do get each other through so keep posting, especially when you are feeling upset or down.
@tinatin If my genetic testing comes back as being positive for a breast cancer gene then I will definitely go a double mastectomy, if only to get a smashing pair of perky matching tits! Sorry to be flippant, of course the main reason is to eliminate the return of this horrid disease as best as possible. If it’s good enough for Angelina Jolie, then it’s good enough for us! I am seeing the plastic surgeon on the 18th but I don’t want the DIEP Flap procedure as it sounds like major abdominal surgery to me and over 80% of women go for implants successfully so I’m pushing for that.
@starapple I’m also praying the Paclitaxel isn’t as bad as EC. My nurse told me yesterday that it was milder. Let’s all promise to post our holiday pics on here once we get to the end of this journey. That would be so lovely to see. I want to see us all enjoying ourselves.
Yesterday I got to my oncologist’s appointment and he had a student in there. It was quite amusing as there were also two older nurses in attendance. He said to me “You’re looking really well”, to which I replied “That will be my Hat With Hair. I don’t look half as good without it. I look like Michael Bolton” and I whipped it off to demonstrate. He laughed in my face to which I replied “Ha! Not so young as you look, are you? That makes us feel better, doesn’t it, ladies”, I said to the two older nurses. Then immediately realising my mistake I followed it up with “Not that you look old. I mean, Michael Bolton’s not THAT old!” Quickly changing the subject my oncologist explained to the student, “Sally had a bad reaction to steroids at the start, they sent her…” “MENTAL!” I chimed in. “I thought you might fill in the gap”, said my oncologist. And I wonder why I don’t always get taken seriously. 
I’m working from bed today. I think it’s time for a cup of tea and a podcast with a lazy eye kept on emails.
Hang in there, you fabulous lot,
Salbert
xx
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Am not a nurse no!! I just happened to ask lots of questions and pick things up along the way which have happened to me. But thank you! Job wise I’ll stick w the animals!!
@tinatin I would take the off if you can. For that specific reason, that every minute you’re not at work and think you should you probably feel guilty. I know I was!! Go through the treatment, say to people that’s you’re available if they need you if you want so they can pick your brain and recover and rest. Treat this like your project, that’s your business plan now to be and feel better. Manage that, that’s plenty!!
@Vibby you’re in full chemo rollercoaster and believe it, … Hang on… That’s totally normal!!! 
But do make sure you talk to the nurses or oncologist. They can give you tablets e.i fluconazole if that’s thrush and mouthwash. Do you have anyone who can help so you don’t go up and down so much? Handlg in there it’s a long ride but try to rest, watch funny movies and pictures the end in sight even if it’s aong way away. Big big hugs. We’re all warriors.
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I guess, after almost 8 weeks of sheer luck (and cold cap) I’ve started losing my hair. I knew it would happen and ordered a wig even before my chemo started but it’s still a bit of a shock. I haven’t seen any patches yet but I get 20-30 hairs in the hand every time I touch it.
My wig is arriving in 10 days and up until then I won’t shave or anything but it’s still harder than I expected.
Sending positive vibes to all the beautiful ladies here!
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@tinatin You did really well and it may well level off. My hair started shedding quite late on but I am post EC number 4 and reckon I have lost about 40% of my hair. I have got my beloved Hat with Hair that blends in with my own hair and have my wig fitting this Thursday. I really hate the cold capping, but I figure it is worth it because I don’t have the guts to shave it all off and the longer I can keep some hair, the nearer I get to July when chemo will be finished and I can grow it back. I have noticed that my leg hair is all gone but that it starts to grow back between treatments. I find that encouraging! Once we have got through this we’ll be able to breeze anything life throws at us. Xx
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Thanks so much @salbert for your support! I’m thinking of getting a baseball cap for now, although I’ve never worn one! 
At the moment, I can pull them together and it looks surprisingly normal.
I went to the theatre yesterday and in the middle of all the drama I was holding the hair that fell out in my hand, very fitting indeed.
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I think mine is like yours (3EC with cold capping done). It falls out every time I touch it. The worse time ix trying to style it in the morning, the hair sticks to the wax I use and finishes up all over my fingers !! Then I hairspray it and try not to touch it all day.
I know it’s much thinner but everyone says they can’t tell any difference.
My question is what makes people shave it off and how do you know that you didn’t do it unnecessarily ???
Definitely my worse mornings are when I have to wash it and then pull it all out of the shower trap !!!
I was musing the other day I wonder how long after the whole BC, treatment, chemo thing is over how long it would take for me not to keep finding my hair all over the house.
I’m a bit obsessed with how much I empty out of the vacuum cleaner too !!!
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I shaved my head but I’m not cold capping and it all fell out fairly quickly leaving me with just thin strands across the top and back.
It really reminded me of Gollum in Lord of the Rings 
so I opted to shave it off, I did the top myself and my husband shaved the back - I felt much better once it was done and it has actually started growing back in - my head is stubbly .
I suspect it’ll drop out again when I start Docetaxal tomorrow!! Had my eight steroids for today so I’m hoping I manage to get some sleep tonight!
Hope everyone has a good week Xx
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That’s helpful, thankyou. The cool capping is a pain !!! But having done 3 with the EC, feel I might as well stick with it for the Docetaxal.
Like you I suspect the Docetaxal will have a profound effect !!!
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a lot found their head hair started growing back on docetaxol but it saw off remaining brows and lashes for a lot of us bit of dry shampoo squirted in and trying not to touch hair too much helped keep hair a bit when it started to shed, might be worth a try 
Shi xx
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@Vibby I used coldcap for 3 x EC, then started shedding a lot. I had short thick hair before but once it started to shed, there was so many bald patches I could not disguise them, so had to wear a hat anyway It was so depressing to look in the mirror each day and constantly picking up clumps so I took back control and had it shaved.
Once I made the decision it felt better and I knew that my time in the chair would be shorter as I was no longer going to cap, the thought of using the coldcap on my little bald head was too much. In addition I am now moving to paclitaxel, which again causes hair loss, so the likelihood of me retaining any was always going to be on a wing and a prayer.
For now its beanie hats, I also do have a wig, just need some more confidence to wear it as I am scared it gets blown off with all these high winds, not sure I have the energy to chase it down the street 
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