Hello, I’m a December chemo but just reading the posts on here. FEC…love the name!! ? You’re really struggling 
Please, please call your unit, if you’ve a picc they can give you something IV or even an injection to help with your nausea. Your oncologist will definitely adjust your meds as you’ve been so ill. I had chemo last year too & the first cycle they sent me to a&e as I was vomiting so much. The second cycle they added akynseo which you take an hour before chemo & I didn’t vomit again! Still felt nauseous & had to take anti sickness tablets but that tablet is great! As the other ladies have said, you will start to feel better soon but please don’t suffer xx
Reading all these posts is filing me with confidence , I’m also going to keep a diary , I live in my own , but my daughters are near if I need them , I was totally dreading starting treatment but these posts are lifting my spirits ladies , and all the tips I’m writing down too xxxx thankyou x
Thanks Dealdoh…so you’re clearly on breast cancer round 2! Blimey!! Hats off to you all brave ladies. Fec you’re in my thoughts xxx
Hi, I thought I should ‘show my face’ as I feel like a stalker. I had mastectomy in right Breast end of October and full lymph node clearance due to one ‘dodgy’ one found initially 4 weeks later: I am now on Day 4 of my first FEC-T cycle. First night home I was very sick and all day the following day sick every half hour until my GP finally agreed to come and give me an anti sickness injection (after a lot of fuss and a phone call from the Chemo dept!). Day 3 I felt queasy but wasn’t sick and very delicate. A bit like the day after the night before! Today I feel the same. An also struggling to get to sleep. Xx
Hi Marie , did they not send you home with any meds for sickness or were they just not working x
Oh Marie that sounds awful you poor thing. It’s fine to be a stalker by the way.
I was sick on day 1 but just queasy after that. They’ve told me that they will change my anti sickness next time around. My friend who was awful with her day 1 and 2 much like you was given a different anti sickness the next time and was never sick again she said it was like a miracle. So be assured it’s highly likely that you won’t go through this again.
My mastectomy and auxiliary clearance will happen after chemo must say I find the idea of that more daunting than the chemo ! So well done on getting that out of the way x hope your day improves. Just take it easy you will get over this I promise xxx
Fec ! Love the name x
I don’t start till the end of the month having FEC-T but I’ve had my Hickman fitted and asked loads of questions on unit , they said I will be sent home with anti sickness stuff , domperignon or something that sounds like champagne and will tweak if needed , is there anyone you can call tomorrow and get some anti sickness stuff?
More on me :
Grade 2 32mm found on mammogram , 2 WLE done , snb done but no lymph nodes positive xHER2+ so that’s why have to have chemo as originally thought rads now it’s both
Im 55 a widow , hubby killed in RTC in 2014. Four grown up daughters and 7 grandchildren , I live on my own so it’s scary when there’s no one to ask even a daft question x kids are fab so will be there almost everyday if I need them x
We can do this ladies and by sharing our side effects and experiences we can help each other immensely , I have already learnt so much off the forums x
FEC I totally believe that about stress , we had a good life and a happy one , and Jim went to Scotland with his brother and was killed just as they reached Scotland , that was a massive massive thing to go through with my girls , 2016 my mom was diagnosed with BC and she does last April , my life has been so sad for the last three years , our daughters ( daddies girls ) and my grandchildren are the only thing that has kept me going , so in October when diagnosed I was like ‘why me ‘ !!! But I’m over that and I will not let this bloody thing beat me or put me under xxxx positive thinking , I’ve got a lot of living to do yet x
Hi all
FEC I had the injections filgrastim I was convinced they were giving me nasty headaches but then the last 3 I was fine ?!? So no idea really but I wanted to persevere with them. Your having a hard regime to start with. From what I know FEC is easier to manage so that maybe while we are getting out at the moment - wait til our regimen changes !
It’s hard not to compare yourself to others but the nurses really re-enforced to me how everyone’s body reacts differently to these drugs so don’t be dispondent. Also I’m fat 12 so way ahead now.
I was encouraged to keep a diary of symptoms so that when I have my next dose they can Taylor the meds they give me to suit what I’m suffering.
It must be really hard without help around, almost all the friends I had around me were made through school mums. Your daughter has probably not been in school long enough for you to have formed friends yet but it will happen. Don’t be afraid to tell people about your diagnosis as you may find that lots of other mums may be more than happy to help and support you and your daughter through this. You may even make friends due to this - how weird does that sound ! But bad things often bring the best out in people. So if someone on the playground says how are you - try being honest “I’ve had a much better day today, felt so sick all week after my chemo” or something like that. So many of us can name other people we know who have survived a cancer diagnosis and if it was another Mum I bet you’d offer help.
Must be so hard to decide about the aux clearance. I have no choice full mastectomy and six clearance to follow chemo. I think it’s easier having no choice. One of my best friends has a muscle wasting disease MND it’s been really hard watching her deteriorate over the last 12 years but I’d still rather have my breast cancer than her MND. I’ve got hope. Though I feel bad that I can’t take her out for a while, she’s very disabled and needs lifting and feeding so I can’t do that for a while.
Jamesy, oh my you’ve had it tough, loosing your husband like that must have been horrible. So glad you’ve got your daughters for support.
I can’t say mines stress related I’ve not been through anything like what you and FEC have. My dad died last year with bladder cancer and he had severe altzhimers but his death was a relief if I’m honest. I had done a lot to care for him but I don’t think it’s paid its price on me.
Don’t be too frightened. You might be ok and if not keep a diary and tell the nurses before your next treatment.
I’m 45 I have a 6cm tumour in my left breast. But it’s also spread within the breast (hence full mastectomy) and to 1 node (hence node clearance) I’m oestrogen positive her negative. Will have radiotherapy too. So lots of treatment. I’m having 8 lots of chemo most people seem to have 6 I don’t know why I’m having more. I don’t really ask much, or look things up I just tend to go with what’s recommended.
We can all do this though, it’s one step at a time. Don’t worry any further than the next day. Take 1 treatment at a time. Give yourself a treat after each chemo. A guilt free reward for getting through it. We deserve it.
Life craps on good people but I do believe that life’s crap brings out the best in most people. No journey is all rubbish. We will get bright moments in between. I feel great st the moment. If I could choose my next chemo to be this week instead of next I would. Bring it on I’m going to smash this (in between feeling like death warmed up ?)
Love this place and all your lovely girls x
Hi all,
I started my first round of EC on Friday. Friday afternoon and night were awfull. I have been really poorly all the weekend.Nausea so nearly unable to eat and in a lot of pain, with the blood buring on my veins, bruises hurting and feeling feverish even though I have no temperature. I can sleep only 2 to 3 hours at a time before my symptoms wake me up. I am supposed to have 8 rounds of chemo. I am not sure how I will survive this.
I went to A&E today, and got some pain killer and anti-sickness medication. I am now feeling better now, but really tired as I didn’t manage to rest because of the side effects.
Starting my TCH chemo tomorrow peeps… Gonna brave the cold cap for my first time and see how bearable it is xx wish me luck peeps…will check in tomorrow xx
Hi Jamesy46, yea they sent me home with a goody bag but they weren’t working unfortunately. I think once I was sick they wouldn’t stay in my system (I’m guessing). I feel much better today, even with no sleep.
Aliand, I will definitely ask them to tweak them next time. I was really scared about the operations as I had never even stayed in hospital before but they were genuinely a lot easier than this chemo process!
Also agree that stress could play a factor, even if it literally brings it to the surface.
Already feel welcome here, thank you. X
Crazytimes2017. I used the cold cap for my first FEC, I took paracetamol half hour before, don’t know if it helped but it wasn’t a painful experience for me just uncomfortable. Good luck for tomorrow. Xx
Hi, I’m just popping in from the October thread. Saw a lot of posts about nausea. I get sick at the drop of a hat, buses, drink, fair rides, pregnancy all do for me. I told my onc and they made sure I got lots of anti sick meds. I tried to limit what I took in the first cycle but ended up feeling sick until day 17!! Onc told me to keep on top of taking them to prevent nausea kicking in. The cycles have now been better each time. I’m cycle 5 FEC of 6 and back to eating like a pig ?.
Also, my earlier cycles knocked me for 6, in bed fir a week, but with my last two I’ve been up and about and lots more active. After cycle 2 I didn’t think I could cope with more thinking they’d get worse but they seem to have gotten easier. Keeping my fingers crossed for the rest of this and my last one.
Good luck ladies, you can do this x
Oh and I cold cap too. Still have hair and it’s not too bad. I don’t take pain killers when I have it, i get a few ice cream headache twinges and then it’s all ok. Managed to sleep through my last 2 doses due to anti sickness medicine se if drowsiness ?
Morning ladies…
well this is all a joy. Was doing wonderful and then got a temp 38.2. Straight in to A&E which was horrifying mostly because I know them all there.
Im a 46 year old Paramedic and I recently landed my dream job as a practioner at a Gp practice but before that I worked as a Paramedic in A&E and seeing all my colleagues yesterday when I felt so vulnerable wasn’t my best. I know it’s sounds a bit strange but I’m quite private and it was like being on parade.
So ive got 2 children in their 20’s who are awesome my son lives in Barcelona but my daughter is just up the road with her boyfriend who’s also a paramedic and a lovely husband who yes you’ve guessed it is also a Paramedic. My mum also died in an RTC, she was on her way back from her appointment where they had just told her she was over breast cancer! It’s so strange how it all works out. I do feel for you Jamesy loosing someone in Trauma is a horrible horrible thing to deal with. You sound strong but I can guess some of what you’ve been through.
My tumour is 7cm Lobular in my left breast with the twin nodes they removed showing cancer so Chemo then surgery for me. Not sure if anyone else who has still got their tumour is getting a reaction to the chemo but my boob is literally like rock and very tender, like the little b@st@rd is all angry, they did tell me there maybe a reaction.
So so I digress I am now on the ward playing the please let me go home waiting game…xx
Hi Rosie , hope your feeling better , did you feel ill with temp spiking ?
Marie fec and phinou hope you are all feeling better today and as each day goes onxx
What day are you now ailand ?
Hi ladies
Jamesy I did feel rough with it yesterday but it was also my first no steroid day so could have been that. I’ve got till tea time and if no temp then home. Mouth has turned into shredded hell though, think they are writing me some mouthwash up to take home.
One positive though is although it really hurts it’s great knowing that the pain in my breast is the tumours reaction. Guess it means something’s working!
Fec how are you now?
Keep going ladies only 120 something days left ?x
I’ve got an appt with doc fit sick note on Thursday I’m going in with a list of prescriptions lol , difflam is on it also movelat ( think ) ibuprofen cream , picked up such a lot on these forums lol , I want it all in the cupboard ready , bought loads loratidine ready for T as on forums it says good for aching legs
Ooh how do you do that !!!