Many thanks everyone, Bibi, Jude, Flora, Macneesh, Wee burd (great name). I’ve got my porta Cath in since Friday still a bit sore and itchy after 3 days but easily bearable. My wig is also waiting in the wings. Went for a mega long walk today and feel healthy and strong. I’ll try the cold cap. I don’t think I mind going bald, it’s the soreness I’m more worried about. Does the cold cap help with that?
Well today’s the day I start my regime of docetaxel and capecitabine. I have my first infusion this afternoon of docetaxel and then 2 weeks of capecitabine. 6 cycles in total. I cant find anyone who’s been on both these drugs at the same time.
This is not my first tango with BC nor with chemo but I have not had this regime before. I had something else followed by Fec-T, fifteen years ago.
At least I have learned that this time around I will not be so stubborn and will ask for help when I need it. I will call the chemo clinic when I have a temp and my mouth is full of sores etc. It also helps the chemo team at my local hospital, Kettering, are amazing and have given me so much info already. So different from 15 years ago, different hospital, so things have obviously moved on.
I am a prepared as I can be: long hair is now cut short, hat & scarf bought, even got a wig referal (didn’t bother last time but i am much older and not sure so may aswell go along) and a soft tooth brush purchased. Also, I had a Picc Line inserted on friday so at least I don’t have to suffer the stress of the lovely nurses trying to find a vein.
Obviously you will all know the emotions and thoughts that my body and head is going through today. Trying to stay positive ?
T
Ladies, can anyone help me please?
have just nearly finished my week off (10 days since last dose)??after 1st cycle of taxol and my fingers are still Very sore and numb at the tips, I’m already on a reduced dose, I don’t recall this 17 years ago on Docetaxel I know about udderly smooth, but has any new drug or cream come out that helps.
Also feel vaguely nauseous all the time. Maybe I’m far too long in the tooth to be doing thisxx
love to all of you
Moijan?
Hi everyone- hope you have all had a good day. I saw my oncologist today before second round on Thursday - was feeling anxious for some reason - don’t know why since I have been feeling so well - think it’s must be just the thought of the chemo again Thursday.
Anyway welcome to Julie and Miss Green - hope it all went OK for you and you get through next few days well.
Flora your wig is lovely- I have one to pick up tomorrow just in case cold cap doesn’t work - or just for a change as I had my haircut really short.
Weeburd hope you have sorted out the bowel movements - I take Dulcoease as I find it quite a gentle way to get things moving.
Moijon - Hi - don’t know about anything for the fingers with Docetaxel but following with interest if you find anything as Inwill be having it on my last 3 chemo rounds. Have you not got any antisickness meds to take for the nausea?
good luck anyone else on round 2 this week - Macneech
Have a good week xx
Evening all. Hope you have all had a good day.
1st dose of tc done. Feeling ok so far, planning on going to work tomorrow so fingers crossed for no side effects.
Can’t believe how easy it was with the picc line. Wish I’d been offered that last time. No painful cannula insertions for me. Woop woop. Silver linings and all that.
Keep positive.
Julie xx
Hello all, it’s a beautiful day here and pleased to see the sunshine. Hope everything is going well with you all. Today is my first day off the anti sickness drugs and so far feeling okay thank goodness. Also the undercarriage started functioning again without having to resort to laxatives so feeling quite relieved in every sense. I do have a headache and the skin around my jaw and across the back of my shoulders seems really sensitive. Anyone else know if that’s "normal "?
Could be worse so am feeling grateful. Hope all you ladies are making it through the day. Xx
Well, one of my old friends turned up to my first session and there was an amazing lady in the next chair so it was more like a social occaision and I had to keep reminding myself that I was having chemo!
I took the cold cap off as it was uncomfortable and it interfered with chatting as energetically as I wanted to to these very interesting ladies plus the beautiful Ethiopian nurse (both inside and out). The cold cap didnt really seem to fit all over my hair anyway, it was a horrid thing with ghastly chin straps, so I thought what the hell, I’ll get a buzz cut in a few days.
It was amazingly easy. I had some numbing cream on my 4 day old porta cath area, had three syringes of each drug and felt somewhat ‘stoned’ by the end which wasnt too unpleasant. Little wobbly getting to the taxi home. I hadnt eaten much the night before and only a banana and herb tea in the morning so was ravenous afterwards and had a big raw salad and some brown rice… Now some hours later I feel slightly headachey but not too bad. No sickness.
I suppose it is going to hit me in the next few days… Im going to get into bed and watch tv now 6pm. Wonder how the night will be?
Hi ladies,
love and hugs hugs to all. Yes have antisickness meds, but like to drive myself about so haven’t taken them, silly I know. It’s just a background type nausea…which eases when I nibble.
re constipation…ladies, one thing which will help(apart from buckets of water)…is black chocolate…not too much tho, unless you want the opposite!
moijanx
Moijan, I hadn’t even thought about driving and the anti-sickness tablets. For the 3-4 days of having the tablets, I don’t need to drive, so it isn’t an issue. I hate being sick, so would personally rather not drive for a few days than risk it. But its personal choice. And what is black chocolate? Do you mean dark chocolate?
Glad day 1 has gone well, and they kept you entertained, Cuddles! Hopefully all will stay OK for you.
Julie, like Jude I’m surprised you’re planning to work on the day after treatment. How did you find it? I’m lucky that my treatment is always on a Friday, so I have the weekend to recover anyway. I’m continuing to work throughout too, but taking the time off that I need. Do look after yourself. No one is indispensible, and they will cope without you for a few days.
Weeburd, I didn’t have sensitive skin, but I did come out in spots in the middle week. Possibly low platelets, I guess. Some chemos cause neuropathy, so maybe it is that?
Jude, I also had clinic and bloods today and am all set for #2 this Friday. They’re apparently going to give me extra steroids to help with the bone pain, and having just checked what I was sent home with last time, I can see i’ve already got twice as many steroids as I had the first time!
If anyone else is having bone pain (you might get this if you’re on taxotere/docetaxel and/or gcsf/pegfilgrastim injections), you may also be interested in this article: link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s00520-017-3959-2
It suggests taking Loratadine (OTC antihistamine) as it can help some people. I asked at clinic today and the nurses hadn’t heard of it, but will ask my consultant when she’s back in the office tomorrow. But I’m planning to give it a go anyway, as the trial indicates it won’t hurt, but might help.
I am in awe of anyone working through this treatment. Until today my energy levels have been really low and I have felt constantly just bleurgh and unable to concentrate on anything for any length of time. Today has been much better but I am scared to hope that it won’t go back downhill again tomorrow.
The sensitive skin seems to have gone again. It was sore to the touch over the past couple of days.
And I can feel spots coming up.- feeling like a teenager again but not in a good way!
Hi all
I have felt surprisingly well today. Nothing like 15 years ago. Actually feel like i have skived off work. Taste has already changed over night, lips and throat are dry but then i have had a little bit of mouth watering and I have felt tired in an off.
I suppose it might just be the steriods and strong anti sickness tablets doing their thing but it’s my last day on them. Will have to see how I feel over the next few days. I told work not to expect me this week. For once I need to think about me and not them but I am in awe of anyone like jujubee who does go in ???
Love to you all
T
X
Evening all.
Well work was OK, bit tired but no real side effects yet so managed OK, will play it by ear for tomorrow, I have a long drive, well about 25 miles each way, so its maybe time to have a couple of days off. I go to work to stay sane, I work in an office so its sitting down most of the time and (most) of the people I work with are really great and we have a laugh so it helps, and they watch me like a hawk and if im doing too much they soon tell me, this is the 2nd time they have been thoruhg it will me so they know what to look out for. Im vey lucky.
I am taking my antisickness and still driving, I havent read the warnings but I drove last time too and it was OK.
I had forgotten about the antihistamines for bone pain, I think I took Claritin and Piriton last time when on Docetaxel, i took them for the full 9 weeks I was on it and it definately helped. My nurse hadnt heard of it but was quite happy for me to try it. If I remember rightly the Clarityn was for during the day as it was none drowsey and the Piriton was for night time, but I will ave to check that. Thks for the reminder.
Cuddles. I cold capped last time but it didnt work for me, by the 3rd session my hair was so thin i had to have one of the paper caps on under the cold cap so decided it wasnt worth it. And the length of time it added to the treatment was a pain. Didnt even think about it this time.
I hope everyone has a good night, going to bed shortly to relax.
love Julie x
Been sleeping lots and slightly nauseous. But haven’t taken most of the anti nausea meds or steroids just one Emend and a couple domperidone. It’s really not the horror I expected. I’ve been out for short walks. Just tired mostly and a little brain foggy. Haven’t really wanted helpers round me as I can pretty much take care of self, and the thought of making conversation or worrying if they are bored is too much to take on.
I filled my fridge with lots of salad stuff I really don’t feel like eating it. I’m actually wanting something more substantial. When out I had a toasted hot salt beef, cheese and pickle sandwich and it was heaven.
I really thought I’d be out for the count but it’s not been like that for me so far days 2 and 3 post 1st EC just fatigue, brain fog and slight nausea. But I can eat and enjoy it.
Hi all
Woke around 2.30am with nausea but luckily it didn’t last. Still can’t believe how well I feel. Main issues appear to be lack of energy, dry lips, sore throat, taste buds have gone, waking up with a bad headache and just feeling not quite right.
I took a very gentle stroll today into town as not been out the house since Monday but felt really out of sorts. A bit like a new deer on it’s bambi legs. Definitely didn’t feel safe to drive and don’t think i could manage the walk to the train station when I go to work. Well certainly not at 6.45am. Think I need to see about going into work later which will allow me to eat breakfast and my capecitabine at home. Don’t really fancy taking them at work.
Still anxious that this feeling okay is the calm before the storm as had the Docetaxel on Monday and only day 3 of capecitabine.
Hope you’re all doing okay?
T
XX
Afternoon - glad everyone seems to be doing OK
I had round 2 of my FEC this morning- all went OK - home , had lunch and a nap and feeling OK. If I follow round 1pattern I will probably feel a bit sick tomorrow so got nothing planned- youngest daughter coming to stay for weekend tonight so looking forward to her company - and cooking ?
Stay well everyone - take care of yourselves, eat well, drink a lot ( water not ?) , take all the meds you need to get you through .
Cuddles I have found the best thing for me is to eat and drink what appeals to me at the time. Sometimes that has been fruit and salad but other times it’s cake or steak! It seems to have kept the nausea at bay even after finishing the anti sickness drugs on Monday. I have continued to feel fairly good with increased energy. Now at Day 9 of the first cycle and wondering if I am going to dip again before the next session on 7th March.
Today I took control of my hair and have had it cut! I was more emotional than I had expected but feeling really liberated and empowered. I hadn’t realised that the changes in its condition had affected me as much. The cut hair will be sent off to the Little Princess Trust tomorrow. And I will be wearing more hats and scarves as the weather has just turned much colder again ?
Hope you are all taking good care of yourselves x
Wee Baldy Burd ?
Oh wee baldy burd! I’ll be following your example soon. Sending hugs. And others, please make it clear in posts how many days since your infusions and which ones as with this bubble brain I can’t always remember. I’ve now slept most of the day, just up out to get some pre made pasta bake from Lidl at 4pm. I think it was a two portion one which I devoured. Slept after.
It’s 6 now. Don’t feel nauseous. Tired though. Hope to watch bit of tv then sleep most of the evening and tonight.
Infusion Tues, now Thurs.
Love to all.
Hi ladies! Don’t worry too much about what you eat whilst on chemo as long as you are eating something. If you’re getting nausea eat little and often. Maybe some biscuits or toast. Whatever you fancy eat that. I lived on crumpets for my first few FEC’s but when I moved on to docetaxel I didn’t fancy them at all.
Cassie x
Morning all -day after second FEC - didn’t sleep v well , does anyone else get hit feet after FEC?mine are so hot at night they keep me awake .
Hi Bibi yes I got hot feet on FEC and T. Especially at night I ended up sleeping with my feet out of the covers. Try to keep your feet cool during the day. I had it last for about a week after each chemo then it eased off for a bit.