Starting out on the 6th Jan, Bit nervous as I do not like being sick and have a bit of a journey to and fro hospital. Been to the dentist today. Had an achey tooth but it is just an exposed nerve phew. didn’t fancy any drilling etc. Anyone out there having to do injections as well for white blood cells?
I had the injections and found them
ok, kept my White cells at a decent level. I had fec and tax over the summer. My advice is just go with thd flow, it will pass quicker than you think. Mine feels like a bad dream already. Good luck
vickie
My onc did say something about injections for upping white blood cell count - but I’m pretty certain that she said I’d have that during the TAX part of the chemo. However, I do know others on here are having them during FEC too, and next time I see my onc I’ll query that. (My first is on Friday, not actually sure if I see the onc that day, but will ask chemo nurse if not)
Sophie xx
I had them throughout even tho I am 36 and other than bc dx, fit and strong. I had the type where uou have a jab in the tummy every day for five days after Chemo on my first cycle, but my cells dipped so my onc changed me to the more expensive one jab type, neulasta, which did the trick. Thrvdisteict nurse would come and give them me. The jab didn’t really hurt much at all, better than one in your arm or bottom, though the thought of a jab in my tummy did freak me out at first. I was a bit achy but got no
idea if that was Chemo or jab related.
I gave myself 8 jabs on cycle 1 of tax.
It was really hard on the first day - it took 10 mins of hysterical laughter, verging on tears, to puncture my tummy with my vet-friend on hand to finish the job if needed. Although it was hard, it did get easier and actually from no.2 it took about a minute to whip the syringe out of the fridge and stick myself. Make sure you pinch an inch of flesh quite hard, so that the imprint of your fingers is actually more painful than the needle!!
Felt a bit achey for about 12 hours after, but not too bad at all.
I wasn’t sure i’d be able to do it, especially as I’ve developed a bit of a needle phobia after some bad experiences recently, but it wasn’t nearly as bad as I feared. Good luck!
Hi,
My white blood cells just scraped through after first FEC at re-test on chemo morning. After second FEC my third had to be delayed as white cells not high enough. Hence I am having the five injections on days 5-9 after chemo. OH gave me them, it was OK - could barely feel it -psyching myself up for the first one was the worst thing.
Good luck with your chemo - at least you get to enjoy Christmas first.
Stella x
Hi, just done last of 3 FEC, before 3 Tax starting Jan. They are right. It does go faster than you think. Don’t worry too much about the travelling, I found you have a few hours ‘honeymoon’ after each session, before it really kicks in. Also the anti nausea meeds are very good, they will make sure you are ok, if not on the first cycle, they can sort them for the second,
Good luck,
Tracey
Thanks everyone. Sometimes you can feel a bit isolated out here in the countryside. I hadn’t heard of anyone having these injections before but it seems they are quite common and just another part of the big adventure lol. I nearly had my first fec on Christmas Eve but onclogist felt sorry for me and said a few days wouldn’t matter. Having a picc in on the 4th Jan. Feeling very positive today afterall of your comments. Janx
Thanks everyone. Sometimes you can feel a bit isolated out here in the countryside. I hadn’t heard of anyone having these injections before but it seems they are quite common and just another part of the big adventure lol. I nearly had my first fec on Christmas Eve but onclogist felt sorry for me and said a few days wouldn’t matter. Having a picc in on the 4th Jan. Feeling very positive today afterall of your comments. Janx
Yep, I am another one who has injections to boost the immune system day 5-10. I am on the FEC but may have to have 2 x TAX if all doesnt shrink before my mastectomy.
I also have to have 2 x clexane (blood thinner) injections per day in the tummy, so when I have to have 3 injections per day in the tummy it can be quite tricky to find a spot that is not bruised.
I used to do it myself, but got a bit anxious when I had to do 3 per day. I got a nurse in to help for a couple of days, and then she taught my hubby to do it. He wasn’t keen, but does it for me cause he saw how anxious I was getting. We do make jokes about dart boards etc.
Anyway, I have found that I am much more relaxed now and don’t worry about the injections as much now that someone is doing them for me. I have found that if I am lying down, my stomach relaxes a bit and it hurts less, (the clexane injections are like wasp bites, but the immune system one is not painful). I don’t have to look at the needle going in, which helps with the mental side of having to have them.
So, if you are brave enough, I would reccommend getting someone to help you with the needles if you get anxious. Having one last thing to think about and worry about when you are going through all this - will always get my vote.
Good luck guys! & especially to you Jan: I found the chemo is much better through the picc line than a cannula. Let us know how you get on?
Jane72: I have also found that if you take the injection out of the fridge a half hour before to get it to room temp it is much better.
Best wishes
Kulakatz (Lone) x
I also had injections for my cells district nurse came out the day after my chemo just the one injection till next session had no problems with it counts were always good had 4X AC and 4X TAX
hi, I also recommend taking the injections out of the fridge for half an hour to warm up a bit.
Elaine, how did you get on with TAX? - my first one scheduled for 23rd December (so Christmas celebration 19th December this year)
Kulakatz - three injections a day - you poor thing.
Stella xx
I did them myself, it was easy after the first one. A nurse suggested numbing the spot with ice cubes, and I used a very cold can of coke (less messy). This really helped.
As to being sick, the meds these days are great. There are mny kinds that work in different ways so if you feel sick ring them up and they will sort out a new prescription. They did that the next day of cycle 1 for me, so I only had 24 hours of nausea before it was sorted, and I was never once sick
best of luck
Sarah
You guys are so encouraging - just what I need today having found out yesterday I need to start Tax asap (probably after Xmas) - I had FEC over the summer and coped pretty well after nausea meds were changed 2 times. Now gearing up for chemo again since the Arimidex is not working on the liver mets as was hoped for - hey ho, have to get into “chemo mode” again and hope the side-effects are not too bad. Really glad to know how you are finding ways of coping - makes it feel less threatening.
Take care
Fran
hi stella hope you dont mind me joining in, i had 1st of 3 tax on 9th dec after 6 fec. didnt have any nausea with tax. had a bit of a sore throat feeling that lasted a couple of days , its been ok but the gcsf injections have given me more bone pain than they did on fec i dont know why but gp gave me some stronger painkillers and its been ok .i’ve preferred tax side effects to the fec ones.hope you get on ok… rach
Welcome Rach, of course you may join in.
Thanks for the reassurance. I’ll make sure I’m armed with strong painkillers for over the Christmas period. Hope yo will be well enough to enjoy Christmas.
Best wishes. Stella
I start tax on 23rd too…anything I should ask for other than the usual anti nausea stuff I have been given or buy such as loads of paracetemol and ibuprophen? Would like to know before Christmas as nothing open!!!..and we live in middle of nowhere
my mum bought me a electric blanket and it’s helped when my legs ache for a while after gcsf. it’s bizarre really as i’m laid on a hot blanket to warm my legs whilst holding an ice pack on my chest to cool a rash which is an allergic reaction to tax (its not bad).but its all easing it. i also seem to be comfort eating with either mashed potato with every meal or a mug of hot milk. food definatley gives me an energy boost when i’m feeling tierd.hopefully i will feel better in a couple of days and have a good week before 2nd tax on 30th dec. after 6 fec i was gutted i’d got to have 3 tax due to positive nodes but i must be stronger than i thought as i’m getting through it, even if i did shed a few tears when the nurse came to give me 5th gcsf today… it helps loads reading everyones thoughts and tips.
You poor thing - fancy having all six FEC and then having to have three TAX three of each is six too many in my opinion. Not surprised you shed a few days today. Hope the aches go soon.
LiF , I’ve got an unopened pack of Dihydrocodeine 30mg I was given after my WLE and SNB. I didn’t take any. I’ll ask the onc if I can take them if I’m suffering. Did you have anything like that?
Stella xx
Sorry should have said “shed a few tears”. Chemo brain. I had already corrected several mistakes. Stella