July 2016 starters

Public Archive
261

Hi Nellie,
Thanks for your reply. I had my chemo on fri so finished the steriods they gave me on sat so its been ages, i slept ok the 1st two days untill the anti sickness side effects started. Think its turned in to an anxiety cycle now cos the meds must be out my system especially cos i’ve been drinking loads to flush them. When I feel the sensation of just about nodding off i get an anxiety jab the pulls me back to being awake, so frustrating.

Any one tried Acupuncture???

My friend recommended it to help but my nurse said not a good idea because of infection risk!!! Aaaaah! Aj xxx ?

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Hi everyone, hope you are all managing to get through the day.

 

Just felt I needed to share with you, particularly those on their 1st treatment and 2nd. I am having FEC-T x 6 . After 1st FEC I was really rough with nausea and retching for 48 hours, was taking all the anti sickness drugs they gave me. Anyway after speaking to nurse on chemo unit she said it would last about 48 hours, but tell oncologist when you see him to tweak the meds. Which I did and he added in Lorazepam, take morning of chemo treatment then one in the evening for 7 days. Well what can I say but hurrah!!! I have sailed through the 48 hours no problem at all, yes I do feel mildly nauseous at times but nothing much. On leaving the chemo unit after treatment the nurse did say only take Metoclopramide if the others arent suppressing the nausea very well. Which was news to me as last time I was just downing everything they gave! Can it be that that tablet was making me feel yucky as well? Who knows.  

 

But anyway I won’t ramble  but I just  wanted to encourage all your first timers that if you are feeling rough with the nausea etc…do speak to the oncologist and they will be able to sort you out for next time.  By the way, the red face and neck has returned, so ‘Angry Bird’ lookalike for the next few days!! Lol

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Thanks Floppy and Pookie for the reassurance. I do think my anxiety is getting worse. But at least I’ve recognised it.

It is day 10 after my first EC and feel rubbish. Is this the lowest point for the blood cells? Will I feel better tomorrow? Also it doesn’t help that I have my period as well. Does this affect it? Thanks all. Hope today is a good one for you all.x

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Hi ladies, been trying to keep up but struggling more with this cycle than the last. Didn’t suffer with nausea last time but despite all the same meds it’s got me this time ? and the tiredness has been worse. Hoping it starts to clear the beginning of next week like it did last time. But as it’s started much sooner this cycle, I’m not convinced it’s going to follow the same pattern at all. But I’m still hoping. Keeping fingers crossed for everyone to have good days and restful nights until we are over the worst of these cycles xx

265

Thanks Sue, I’ve been thinking about calling the team about the nausea. But wondering if it is worth is at this stage now or whether to muddle through and hope for some med adjustments next time. Today were my last steroids so am cautious of how much worse tomorrow is likely to be. But we will see.xx

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Sue that is certainly me off steroids today. I haven’t moved and am so tired. It’s funny how each cycle is different. I had bad motion sickness and headache with my first fec but this time just nausea but nothing that’s stopped me eating as long as someone else makes it. I did have a good day yesterday and went out for a little while but am now totally floored today and spent this morning crying for no real reason which is not like me at all. Hoping I perk up a bit in the next couple of days as long as the pain from the injections doesn’t start too early. Taran my heart goes out to you I don’t know how your coping with the children as well as feeling poorly. Nellie I hope your doing ok too. The only certainty is that we will feel better in a few days and that is what I am holding on to. Hugs to everyone xx

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Likewise feeling really rotten on this second EC cycle and ridiculously weepy. Absolutely exhausted and terrible nausea but Oncologist has given me a patch called granisetron so we shall see if that helps. I do seem brighter this evening. Muggy weather probably doesn’t help does it. Hoping we all feel brighter tomorrow xxx

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Hi everyone, just thought I’d add my bit in too! Feeling rubbish with nausea and retching (only sick once though). Only thing that cheered me up was Sue’s cat pic lol. Taran and any others out there with young children, you deserve a medal. Take care everyone, this sure is a rubbish journey. ?x

269

Evening ladies,

 

Nellie - Glad the lorazepam is helping. My GP and CPN (Community Psychiatric Nurse) were both rather amused and puzzled that lorazepam is used as an anti sickness med by oncology as it a benzodiazepine used for anxiety traditionally.

 

Fluffymittens - My period was due today and they’re usually pretty regular, however got my period exactly a week ago (first chemo on 4th July) and I’ve still got it and it’s quite heavy. My period usually only last 3-4 days.

 

Flopsy and OAD - Yeah, the advice on nails IS really conflicting. I bought some nail strengther and dark polish. Where did you get your evonail from Flopsy?

 

Taran, Sue, Bella, Bookworm and Alex (is that everyone? sorry if I missed anyone out) really hope you all feel better soon.

 

I got my head shaved again today as my hair was shedding badly and getting everywhere. I went to the salon at my chemo unit. It’s fairly new, but brilliant. Everyone is completely sterile, disposable gowns, towels, private room, even got a warm towel on my head after my shave and advised to use coconut oil on my scalp. I didn’t get my wig styled but the hairdresser showed me some other ones that they do with a fringe already in it, he told me to ask for another prescription and put a wig aside for me, not sure I’ll get another prescription though and I’m not going to push it. He also gave me four cotton sleep caps to take home. Then popped into Maggies and got myself booked in for a Look Good Feel Better session and also a Headstrong session to learn what to do with headscarves. Trying to make the most of my good week and extended time before next chemo, I got four extra days as they changed my chemo dates from a Monday to a Friday.

 

Hope you all have a restful weekend with minimal SE’s and those who are feeling rubbish improve quickly.

 

Take care.

 

Hazel.xx

 

 

270

Hi everyone,

sorry to post with a moan, but I’ve had a really rough day today. Had first FEC on Wed and apart from some nausea I wasn’t feeling too bad. Then last night I woke up with the most horrendous abdominal pains that went all the way from rib cage to lower stomach and around my back too. 

Has anyone else experienced this? I’m feeling a tiny bit better now, but it’s taken all day to be able to even lift my iPad to write : (((( 

hope everyone is feeling better than me xxx

271

Hi Pookie I haven’t had the pain you describe but I hope it is easing a bit and someone will be able to help out with  what’s causing it.  Bookworm, Alex, Taran and Nellie how are you all feeling? The only thing I can say is what a difference a day makes, I feel a lot better today and have been out this afternoon. Must be first time though that I watch the weather forecast to see if it will get cooler!! Fluffy mittens I hope your feeling better 10 days is a long time to feel unwell. Sue how are you doing I hope it’s not getting too much harder the further along you go. Hugs to everyone xx

272

Hi ladies,

as some of you are suffering particularly with nausea- I hope this post will be helpful. Although it will be a very long one - sorry for that… 

We all will react differently to our relevant chemo treatments and sometimes it may not be possible to avoid the specific side effects we have.

It may be wise to discuss with your GP, chemo team and oncologist - to ensure you get this as much under control, as you possibly can before your next cycle.

Nausea - tends to be worse day 2-4 - but by eating lots of little meals, especially when you start to feel nauseaus may be of help. Depending on your tast - plain cream crackers, toast, ginger biscuits may help.

Ginger generally is a good help when feeling nauseaus and has apparently also some cancer fighting properies - So if you can include it in your diet it shoudl certainly help with nausea. You could sourse one of the Rochester Ginger drinks from Holland and Barrett. They are very versatile - it can be drunk as a shot in the morning,used in cooking, as well as making wonderful ginger tea. Otherwise there are a number of ginger teas easily available in all supermarkets.If ginger is not your thing you might wish to try chamomile tea, but not peppermint.

To help you understand better what is going on - I found this - please note not all drugs quoted are for breast cancer chemotherapy. 

QUOTE - 

Nausea and vomiting

Nausea and vomiting are common side effects of cancer treatment and often occur together. About one-half of people treated for cancer will feel sick to their stomach (nausea) or will throw up (vomit). Today, there are many new and effective medicines available to help control these side effects.

The process that leads to nausea and vomiting is complicated. Doctors believe that nausea and vomiting are controlled by an area of the brain called the vomiting centre. This area may be stimulated by nerves within certain parts of the esophagus, stomach or intestines (bowels) when they become irritated. It could also be stimulated by other parts of the brain.

Types

The types of nausea and vomiting are usually described based on how severe the symptoms are and how long they last.

Acute nausea or vomiting

Acute nausea or vomiting usually occurs several minutes to a few hours after treatment is given. It often goes away within the first 24 hours.

Delayed nausea or vomiting

Delayed nausea or vomiting develops more than 24 hours after treatment is given. It can last for 6–7 days.

Chronic nausea or vomiting

Chronic nausea and vomiting is not related to treatment. It is caused by the effect that the cancer waste products have on your body or by the location of the tumour in the body. Ongoing nausea and vomiting can be caused by:

pain medicines

metabolic abnormalities

constipation

stomach ulcers

Anticipatory nausea or vomiting

 

After a person has had a few treatments, they may feel anxious and expect to be sick. They connect certain sights, sounds or smells with treatment and feel nauseated when they experience them. Nausea or vomiting before treatment is referred to as anticipatory. This is more common in people receiving chemotherapy.

 

Causes

Nausea and vomiting in people with cancer can have many different causes.

Chemotherapy

Certain chemotherapy drugs cause nausea and vomiting, especially if given in high doses. Chemotherapy affects parts of the stomach and brain that detect toxic (poisonous) substances. This causes nausea and vomiting as the body tries to rid itself of the toxins. When given intravenously, chemotherapy drugs can bring on nausea and vomiting quite quickly. Cancer drugs differ in how much they contribute to nausea and vomiting.

Some drugs are more likely to cause nausea and vomiting than others. Drugs with a high potential of causing nausea and vomiting include:

carboplatin (Paraplatin, Paraplatin AQ)

epirubicin (Pharmorubicin) – high doses

carmustine (BiCNU, BCNU)

cisplatin (Platinol AQ)

ifosfamide

cyclophosphamide (Cytoxan, Procytox)

lomustine (CeeNu, CCNU)

cytarabine (Cytosar, Ara-C) – high doses

mechlorethamine (nitrogen mustard, Mustargen)

dacarbazine (DTIC)

melphalan (Alkeran, L-PAM) – high doses

dactinomycin (Cosmegen, Actinomycin-D)

methotrexate – high doses

daunorubicin (Cerubidine, Daunomycin)

procarbazine hydrochloride (Matulane)

doxorubicin (Adriamycin)

streptozocin (Zanosar)

 - END QUOTE

Hoping it is of some help.

Hugs

Sue xxx

273

Hi Bella Boo. Thanks for your concern. I feel surprisingly well today. I even went to the allotment and played basketball with my 3 and 6 year old. And looking back over the last ten days, I think they were all made worse by my anxiety issues and overdoing it and not letting people do things for me. I feel like I can manage the second one in a couple of weeks a lot Better as hopefully got a handle on what to expect. However all your help, chat and concern has really been good for me.

In terms of sickness, I have done yoga for fifteen years. Full yogic breath is good for concentration and sickness. Sometimes we do not breathe properly and we need to use our bellies more. Especially when we are anxious and have been ill I.e. Sick. Google it. Lie on the settee. Also yoga nidra excellent. There are many apps available. Alternatively lie on your back with legs up the wall. . I’m not trying to say it’s an alternative to meds. But it may help.

Love to you all. Xx

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Ps I’ve managed to do a poo! Yippee. 10 days is a long time. I feel like congratulating myself like a toddler using their potty for the first time!!! :slight_smile: x

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Hi everyone, hope today has been uneventful for us all.

Sue, thank you for your post. And the cat picture which has made us all smile! It also summed me up very well this morning when I managed a sneaky nap while hubby took all 4 of my darlings to pick up our food shop. Just what I needed ? Today the nausea has been a bit better. Still struggling with appetite but I think it’s as much the lack of taste buds and a bit of indigestion as anything else. Expecting another rough day tomorrow as that was my worst day last cycle. But really hoping for to follow the pattern and start picking up from Monday. Fingers crossed!!

Pookie, I’ve not had pain quite like you describe but did have abdominal cramp pains last time that signalled the end of constipation and the appearance of an upset stomach. Hope it settles down for you really quickly.

xx

276

Hi Nellie, taxotere isn’t meant to cause nausea in the way FEC does. Which I’m glad about after this cycle!! I have 1 more FEC to go before changing over too xx

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Hi everyone. One thing I forgot to ask is that I notice that everyone is doing Fec. But I’m doing Ec x3 and then tax and herc x 3 before surgery. What is the f and how does it differ? X

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Hi. I’m doing 3 x EC too Fluffy mittens. My Onc says he hasn’t been using the F for some time now.

279

Hi fluffymittens, the chemo you get depends on what has been found to be most effective for the type of cancer you have. So your oncologist has obviously decided based on past research that you wouldn’t benefit from the F part of FEC. Think triple negative ladies like me get the FEC-T regime as that has been found most effective. Like herceptin works well for her2 positive cancers. If that makes sense at all?xx

280

Morning everyone. Hoping you are all feeling better each day. I have a slowly building dread of my EC2 on Friday. After my first weekend I have been feeling really well, with no SEs and no remaining pain from MX and ANC, so feeling pretty ‘normal’. Hoping for the best and strength to get me through the dark first days.

 

Although I knew it was going to happen am so sad to be shedding hair - weird how quickly it goes from none to handfuls! I have the tingly scalp you have all spoken of and don’t like the strands falling into my face or tickling me from my pillow. Am going to keep it for as long as possible then clip it short. Practically I am equipped with headwear and wig but emotionally I am not ready for everyone everywhere I go to know I have cancer. 

 

My heart is lifted hugely by being in beautiful North Wales for a week with my family. Playing frisbee on the beach with the dog last night was pretty special. I now need to brave up to going on Titan, a very, very long zip wire across an old slate quarry. My 16y old is so keen to do it but needs a participating adult and, as hubby has no head for heights, I am in the frame. Shall I?