February 2025 chemo starters

Just "quick update " - on my third session of AC , one more to go - then 4 Taxel . My first session quite tough but then i was given more steroids over longer period and it seems to have done the trick .

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Hello all,

Day 5 of cycle 3 of 6 of docextal, carboplatin and phesgo for Her2+, IDC, S3 due to size 72mm, M1 local lymph node, neo adjuvant chemo. I’m 41.

My goodness, this one has floored me. Ive been in bed for 4 days and it hit me the day after treatment (normally doesnt hit until 24 hours after steroids finishing). First 2 cycles were very manageable, but this one is something else.

I know everyone is different but I wonder if anyone else has experienced a similar thing? I wonder if it just gets worse now until i finish or whether this is just a hard cycle for some. reason. Im really shocked by the difference. Perhaps the cumulative effects are kicking in.

Keeping an eye out for signs of infection etc but the weakness, exhaustion, sickness and general ā€œhit by a trainā€ feeling is making me feel like i cant do 3 more of these :pensive:

I feel very alone. I know I’m not but it just feels that way this time.

Thank you in advance for reading my post. My energy is very, very low and its taken me an age to write this…concentration is shocking.

Sending love, support and comfort to anyone who is feeling they are low in it today :two_hearts:

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@cookelovesbooks Hi i am day eight after cycle 3 same treatment regimen as you. I’m sorry you have been floored this time hope you feel bit better soon. I am ok in myself just the horrendous heartburn and oesophagus burning is awful do you get this? I also feel more nauseous this time I think it’s smells or imagining smells that is doing me. Let’s hope it is just this cycle. Xx

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Hi, glad to hear you’re ok. I don’t have the burning and heartburn as badly, unless I don’t eat regularly. The smell thing is odd this time round, I must admit. I keep smelling lipstick and then salted caramel - it’s really strong and reaaallly turns my stomach!
I really hope it is this just this cycle.
Hope the heartburn resolves itself in the next few days :pray::heart: xx

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Good very early morning all

Yesterday had my 4th cycle of chemo and targeted therapy. Fear the steroids will steal my sleep tonight!

@cookelovesbooks, I too found the 3rd cycle tougher than the first two. It was delayed by 11 days as I complained of a persistent cough. Those extra days allowed me to recover and feel more of my usual self. My hair even started to grow on my head but more annoyingly on my legs which has been a nuisance. Very itchy.

Last week, so two weeks post treatment I did allow myself to curse and cry on the toilet after my umpteenth trip. I indulged in some crude language, some ā€œwhy me?’ and ā€˜I can’t continue treatment for another year (I’m HER2 positive so treatment first, surgery then more targeted therapy). It all seems relentless. To feel fed up and emotional about our lot is allowed. The situation is crap

I pulled myself back from those thoughts. I know numerous swear words and one in particular gifted by my lovely Mum allows me to put a lot of expression into it! The treatment is hard but number 3 means we’ve reached the half way point. That’s a great achievement. Like reaching mile 13 in a marathon. The side-effects remind me that the drugs are doing their job. They are disrupting my systems. So now I’m choosing to just go with the flow. I’m listening to my body and not planning anything to avoid disappointment - though I was especially sad not to meet up with my new friend @dkc66. We should have been sat eating lunch together in one of the strangest garden centres in Sussex but instead I was sat on the :toilet: and consuming loperamide!

In summary if I need to do sod all I’m doing sod all. In my mind it is still doing. Previously I’d have thought I was achieving nothing, but I’ve turned it into achieving something - relaxing, recharging and recovering. It meant I had a few good days and I was ready for yesterday’s treatment. Now two thirds of the way through this bit. Woo hoo! This may all be steroid speak @cookelovesbooks so I may be eating humble pie next week! Do you have the recipe for that in your cook book? :laughing:

@anb1. The reflux is awful. Mine would wake me up in the early hours. Burning and frothing sensation in my throat and mouth and a vile sour taste. I found it was made worse by fizzy drinks and coffee. Avoiding those and twice daily omeprazole 20mg has knocked it in the head. That merits another woo hoo!

Better try to sleep. I’ve got another trip to Worthing in the morning. ECHO this time. I’ve an appointment every day this week ….

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@mrsjelly
Love your post you sum up how we all feel brilliantly! Enjoy reading your post they do make me laugh xxx

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@wba hey! How are you doing? Is your rough cycle over now?
I wanted to ask how many immunotherapy sessions did you have and if you had any side effects from it?
Today I got to know that I have an inflammation in thyroid :cry: the oncologist said that most probably I’ll have to take hormones all my life now…I had only 1 session of immunotherapy, this is just insane

Morning @chita

I had my 10th treatment on Thursday.

Now on my last cycle. Was the big one this week. 2 left to go on short sessions now.

Up until now side effects have mainly been fatigue & slight breathlessness which comes & goes.
Obviously got my picc line clot which is separate thing but annoying as more medication!

Unfortunately, yesterday I ended up with very high temperature ended up in hospital.:flushed:
Kept overnight & treated precautionary for sepsis & infection. My heart rate was also elevated.
When my bloods came back only slightly raised infection markers. My haemoglobin levels are on low side & have been last few weeks but has stopped treatment so far.

Apparently they treat you immediately for everything regardless & don’t wait.

Thankful for that.

I feel fine, glad they kept me in to keep a
In.

Bet it stops my next chemo now. Tim’s week. That will push me back againšŸ™„

I think my surgery will be November now as once I start the 3 weekly EC it will take me up to September & oncologist said definitely a break of at least 4/6 weeks.
I’m seeing surgeon on 8th May so find out more.

Sorry to hear about your thyroid. Perhaps it will improve. Did they say if it could?

I get so anxious with all this especially after doing ok with the actual treatment up now.

When is your next one, know your a bit behind me?

Hopefully I will get home today :crossed_fingers:

:smiling_face_with_three_hearts: x

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Wow, 10th treatment already, that’s a lot @wba :+1:t4:
I’m sorry you had to go to the hospital but at least it’s good it’s nothing major and hopefully not permanent. Wow annoying with postponing your treatment though!

Interesting how different bodies react, most of my blod values are fine, including hemoglobin but first liver got inflammation and now thyroid… The oncologist said the inflammation will go away but after that huge probability the thyroid won’t work normally, it’s so vulnerable, hard to believe.

They stopped my immunotherapy completely since I’m reacting well to Paclitaxel and Carboplatin.

Hm, my oncologist said they don’t want to make a break between chemo and surgery to avoid the tumor growing back so I’m supposed to have it in August :thinking: I suppose it’s individual as well and they consider multiple factors.

Has your tumor shrinked a lot?

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Well done for standing your ground. I applaud you :raised_hands:t5:

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@nomoreptosis Thank you :blush:

Well I seem to be quite behind on my treatments now . Should be half way through by now but this is the 3rd time my chemo has been delayed due to liver function issues and thats even after a reduced dose. :woman_shrugging:

Has anyone else experienced liver enzymes being sky high and delaying treatment?
Seems my liver needs a good talking to. :laughing:

Hugs to all x :pray: :hugs:

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Thanks for this… I was told the same sequence and forgot! I did not know why it was advised either so great refresher.

There has been lots over the years had delays chemo does give liver a battering, do ring the number on here and speak to a nurse if you want too, I’m hoping some who have experienced delays due to liver pop on and share their experience with you :heart::two_hearts::two_hearts::sparkles::sparkles:Shi xx

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Hi All,

Hope everyone is doing ok and not suffering too much,
I had a phonecall yesterday from my Breast Care Nurse with the results of my genetic testing,Everything is clear so I have a negative result!:raised_hands:
I felt so relieved when she told me,Not just for the outcome for myself and what that means going forward but mostly for my 2 Daughters :sparkling_heart:
Although part of me was then left thinking of theres no reasoning for this what I had done to be ā€˜just unlucky’ :woman_shrugging:t3:

Wishing everyone a weekend of positive thoughts :kissing_heart:

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Hi @rainbowbrite10 That’s good news for you and your daughters. Bet you are relieved about that. Hope you are doing ok and feeling not too bad. Are you due your 4th one next week? Mine is Monday as long as bloods ok xx

Hi,

I am not doing too bad Thank You,Hope you ate managing ok?

My fourth cycle was due next Friday,But as it falls on a bank holiday its been moved to the following Weds x

Hi
I was referrred for a clinical genetics clinic. I have a telephone appt and they did asked me to fill up a questionnaire.
Can you guide what will be the next steps and what questions shall I asked on the telephone appt. Just want to be prepared for it. I have no history of breast cancer on the family, the cancer on the relatives is stomach and throat cancers.

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@rainbowbrite10 yes I’m ok thank you xx

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I had a genetics test and which was negative. I had no family with breast cancer but had other cancers in the family.

They ask about your own health issues and any family history of any cancer and causes of death. They take a blood sample to test. It does take several months for them to get back to you sometimes.

There are lots of links re genetics here

:smiling_face_with_three_hearts:

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I had the same call this week! Trying not to dwell on the ā€˜well what caused it then’ thoughts, just happy for my little girls and hope they never need to go through this.

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