Hi cassa, how are you feeling now? Hope you managed to carry on ‘chilling’! The first night is always the worst for me. Day 7 of 3rd fec so feeling pretty back to normal now. Hope its going well for you xxx
I also am HER2 Positive and need chemo and radiotherapy . I am really frightened about lossing my hair when Chemo starts as although I appear to be coping, I have only told a selected few about my breast cancer. I want to be treated as normal and not pitied.
It will be difficult to conceal my illness once this stage of the treatment begins.
:smileysad:
Most people on this forum appear tobe coping so well. ANY TIPS?
Hi ladies,
Sugar8, I know losing our hair isn’t nice but I really didn’t find it that bad - you might surprise yourself. I had mine shaved off about 2wks after first fec as it was coming out loads when I washed it,brushed it etc! Wanted to take control. So now wear little hats with accessories,headwraps or scarves around. I just thought well its not forever. Have you looked into cold cap?
Debs,thank you for the herceptin update - I will be starting mine along with tax on 5th June. I’m quite happy to kiss goodbye to fec - hope I’m still feeling that way on tax! Ive also heard it doesn’t hit you for a few days unlike fec so will have to see! As for steroids - my nurse told me on last round to not take steroids after 2pm as you won’t sleep! Not sure how that works out if you have to take 3 a day - will cross that bridge… Hope it all goes well for you.
Petal88,so so glad to hear that!
Thats brilliant & makes this all worthwhile!
Xxx
Hi ladies, I too am starting on 5th June like Eam on tax after 3 of Fec , I thought I was also having my herceptin at this time too, but onc said last appt I would be starting it at time of radiotherapy, so not sure when I’m starting it as each time I go I get a different answer!! I am really dreading the tax, have found the fec part of it all not as bad as I thought, so a new set of side effects is scary - do any of you ladies who are having chemo first like me know how long after chemo before operation( would be nice to have a few days away before the next onslaught!) , it is good to read other ladies positive posts who have started tax … It does have a bad reputation!! Have a good day ladies.
Thanks petal. That’s very useful advice, I have not been told anything about nails by chemo nurses or oncs so wouldn’t have known without this wonderful forum! Hope you are getting on ok with herceptin without too many side effects? Good luck with rads- the finishing line is in sight, well done!
Thank you cases,yes I will keep you posted when I have it. I’m afraid it is a drag cassa,just think by wed this week you should feel normal again! When people ask me about it that haven’t gone through it I some it up by saying I feel bad for a week(nauseous,off food,weird cravings,tired,headaches,claggy mouth,hot flushes,down & tearfully) but good for 2weeks after & they’re like ‘well that’s alright then’ - which it is (good outweighs the bad),but that week is the longest week ever! My headaches have worn off each round. Just keep drinking water even if you are not thirsty. Its hard reading others are a bit further ahead - did you join a monthly chemo group? Good luck for the rest of this round.
It will be nice to share the tax experience with you love wine! There are a couple others in our chemo group isn’t there but not sure exactly when they start theirs. The two young ladies that have had tax have mainly said jointmuscle pain to me - hurts to walk up stairs. So will have to see,not much we can do about it is there!
Thank you petal88 - I’ve also heard different advice with the nail varnish,but sounds like it worked for you.
Xxx
Eam , yes it is comforting to know we share same date for the dreaded Tax, at least we can share our experience and side effects- let’s hope we don’t get many!! I must admit I am quite worried about chemo next Thursday as I’m sure you are too, I don’t think we will feel so sick so that’s a big bonus!!do we still lose our hair( what bit is left!!) or does it start to grow? Some ladies on earlier threads reported stubble on Tax!!
Meant Thursday 5th June, not this Thursday! Chemo brain again!!!
Yeah we will have to see how we get on love wine. I have a feeling we will be in hospital most of the day - I’ve read on here 6 - 8 hours! So they can make sure we are not allergic. But if you are not having the herceptin yet it may not be so long for you. Ive got quite a bit of re- growth at the moment but suppose I’ll be dropping like a Xmas tree in the next few days again! Its so mixed as a lady that went through tax said that’s when her brows & lashes went - mine are still in tact at the moment! Xxx
Emma, thankyou for your input. I hope us ladies on the April thread are like you and not suffer too badly with side effects, will have to wait and see!!
Eam, yes I think it is 6/8 hours in hospital for 1st one- what a boring day that’s going to be!. I have also hung on to my brows and lashes - and really hope they stay on tax !!
Rosie, hope you are ok x
I am on the March chemo thread but came across this one. I am getting treated with FEC-T. I have already had the 3 FEC so will now be going on to the T part along with Herceptin. Having this on Friday - should be there for about 8 hours. Will take a good book. Hoping the side effects aren’t too bad.
Hope you ladies are all doing well.
Thanks Debs. I’m off for it all tomorrow. I only get one injection the day after. Do you get four jags - one each day. Wonder why it’s different.
Thanks debs, I am starting tax after 3 fec next Thursday and have been dreading it! So good to hear a positive, although am sorry you ended back in hospital, I too find white blood cell jabs make me feel rubbish, not as bad as you though, hope you feel better soon! X
I agree with you love wine! It is reasuring that debs has found it good so far!:). Sorry you were in Hosp debs but glad otherwise you feel well. Thank you for updating us xxx
Had my first Taxotere chemo (after 3 FEC) and first herceptin on Friday. Was there for over 7 hours. Was fine tho. No adverse reaction thank goodness. Was good on Saturday and up until late evening on Sunday then the bone pain kicked in. I had to give myself neulasta injection on Saturday afternoon so not sure if pain from that or chemo. I didn’t feel at all sick this time which is a huge plus compared to what FEC was like. Now pains subsiding and feeling nearly back to normal apart from disgusting mouth.
Hope all of you ladies are doing well.
Debs just wondered how long you side effects lasted for.
Day 7 post TAX and herceptin loading dose and feeling loads better. My teenagers are having a garden party tomorrow night so have been busy getting things ready. Certainly takes your mind of things. They are 18 and 17 so you know how loud they will be!! But at least I have had the energy to do it. However I found it took a bit longer to get over than FEC.
Have had to tell all the neighbours.
Pains much better but neck a bit sore as is my throat. Have terrible flushes. Don’t know if chemo or herceptin.
Hope all you ladies feeling well and enjoying the weather. I’m hoping it’s dry tomorrow. I’m in Glasgow so probably not much chance!
Have a happy well weekend. X
Hey,I had my first tax & herceptin injection Thur so day 2 & feeling absolutely fine so far. Have been told it will prob kick in Mon or Tue so will wait & see & let you know. A very slight sore throat & achy shoulders this morning but nothing bad enough to take anything for. Have kept nails short as advised by onc & she said the dark nail varnish sounded quite extreme so have just used a clear vitamin type varnish on & off since fec. Will keep you posted. Hope all still doing well xxx
Hi ladies, 2 days after Tax and not too bad still! Quite tired more than on Fec, but not as sicky. Really hope it stays that way!!
Cassa, it’s awful when your hair falls out in handfuls in the shower, you did very well to shave it off, at least you gained control which is so important! I took a while to get used to my wig, but now hardly noticed I am wearing it- have you had it thinned/trimmed by your hairdresser, I found it didn’t look so wiggy when I had mine cut!
Good luck ladies at whatever stage of chemo you are at, hopefully it will pass quickly. Xx
Thanks petal - all good to hear! Yes good to say deal with it in stages as thinking of 2 more chemo’s,a year of herceptin,radio & tamoxifen does seem never ending! Day 4 tax for me & the tiredness is the worst! Was a little achy & shivery last night,sore mouth & no taste buds now but all can live with! Eyes feel a bit sensitive & eye brows defo thinned so will have to see.
Hope everyone else doing well xxx
Hi ladies, good to hear you are bearing up well! I feel like I have been run over by a bus- was ok until day 4 after Tax and all week have zero energy , feel 95 ! And every bone aches, have had to sleep every afternoon to recover from my very small dog walk!! On Fec I found after 3 days I had two and half weeks of normality, but this has really hit me hard, feeling quite despondent now and like all of us I just wasn’t my old, normal life back!