Seems there’s a little cluster of us on docetaxel ATM, hope all doing better now. Had my first docetaxel on Tuesday, 80 % dose cos neutrophils have been low all along.Was really nervous I’d get an allergic reaction but thankfully all good. Like others on here first couple of days were fine (much easier on me than EC) but yesterday I was floored with extreme fatigue, bone ache and feeling fluey. And got that strange difficulty swallowing thing too, weird. Ibuprofen helped me sleep last night though. How long does this phase tend to last?
At least the sun’s shining here again (for now!) and enjoying reading a book about a group of wild swimmers in the lake District, a bit of escapism!
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How did you guess 
It’s mad isn’t it because you feel sooo tired but also wired if you get what I mean.
Last day of steroids today then I usually have a crash but who knows!
Hope you managed to get some rest xx
And congratulations for finishing the chemo part 
Thank you. Did you get the tablets for your mouth from your GP? I’m thinking it might be thrush and not sure if it’ll sort itself out without meds.
Good to know that you felt better after a week. I hope you’re ok from your latest treatment and that you have as few bad days as possible.
xx
So far so good hun last time i started to feel rough mon/tue the meds were what they gave me from the hospital two different one’s antifungal and some others to start taking on the tue same day of injections. The fury mouth did clear after id finish them. Ill find them out and let you know exactly what they are called. But the gp or hospital should be able to sort you something. @olli3 mine lasted around 5 days. Xxx
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Gosh that’s ages, hope you fare a bit better this time 
I’ve been able to go for a little walk this afternoon but feeling pretty shattered and achy still. Take care x
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I always got thrush and was given fluconazole
First time from GP then it came in my goody bag post treatment
X
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Happy Saturday all
I had a lovely surprise after a crappy week (mentally)
My close friend hosted a surprise 50th. 15 or so v close friends / mom group from my kids primary school days. It really lifted my spirits.
I’ve seem to hit a PFC downer. There is a real safety net with the regular checks & chemo feels oddly “active” against reoccurrence risks. I kinda feel like “now what”.
@booklover1 I’ve just heard about penny Brohn & they also give cancer patients free access to the headspace app which I’ve downloaded
I’ve also booked myself a Moving Forward course in Dec as I finish radio in Nov.
Speaking of radio the planning went really well. I’m having a lot of areas done due to my 1 node involvement but think compared to chemo this will be a breeze. I was being super nosy and asked a ton of q’s. I found out a physicist is part of the planning team and a special computer specialist who will do a 3 D model and even simulations of my treatment. The science is fascinating. I mean I do miss my old world who didn’t need to know this but I am where I am so trying to find positivity. I also learned that the radiographers are known as “therapeutic” vs diagnostic and the treatments are in bunker like rooms.
That’s my science lesson for the day done 
@cf640 what a thoughtful son running you a bath. May start dropping hints to my lot
How’s everyone’s fatigue? I feel wiped by the end of most days and in a vicious circle of insomnia. I’m having a real worry about the ovarian suppression & Letrozole I’m going to be starting soon. I hear awful things esp on the fatigue & pain front … but endocrine is critical in reducing my chance of occurrence (gives me a 5 % benefit!) so going to have to white knuckle this part of my path too and do it.
Hope everyone is doing well. X
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Hooray for completing 12/12! Xx
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Hi Ladies
Hope everyones doing ok especially those with new treatments or steroid induced insomnia.
@zaran you made me laugh out loud with your photos! Hope you have been this cycle.
@cf640 your new oncologist sounds so much better! How are you feeling on the EC? Lovely to have your son around to look after you when you got home toox
@bex1 hope you are ok after the prang. I had one the other day, only minor but did shake me up. Thats great you are at the 12/12 mark 
@idcand49 what you wrote about the science behind the radiation is really interesting! Always good to learn something new 
I have been a bit wiped out this week with the steroids and the filigratrim injections. Thinking its maybe cummulative effect? Or the new dog 
Wishing everyone a Happy Sunday 
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Hi,
Hope it’s ok to join this thread. I’ve never posted anywhere before. I’m feeling a bit like no one understands and a bit lonely with it all. I’m 44 and found a lump in Jan and was diagnosed with TNBC. Although one of my hormones was slightly raised so my consultant said it’s not a true TNBC. I had a lumpectomy with clear margins and all 4 lymph nodes were clear. I started chemotherapy in June but haven’t had any treatments on time for various reasons. I should have been finished 25/09/24. I’ve had 3 EC and 1 docetaxel so far. I was so unwell on EC that they reduced the dose of my docetaxel to 75%. I was absolutely floored with the fatigue from the first dose and they’ve said they can reduce it again to 65% for my treatment next week. Has anyone else had their treatment reduced so much? I’m worried it won’t do its job properly, even though they’ve reassured me it will.
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Morning everyone!
I havent been too bad this cycle of paclitaxel, but started the dreaded jabs again last night and woke up starting to ache. Bloody hate those jabs
I actually had an allergic reaction to the 2nd round of paclitaxel about 2mins into my treatment. It wasn’t as bad as some ive heard about but felt a bit scary none the less. They just stopped the treatment, pumped me full of antihistamines and steroids and then started it again but slower. I dont know if thats whats made this cycle not too bad compared to the nightmare of the first one 
Anyway, i hope everyone has a lovely sunday!! 
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Hi @fluffy888 and welcome!
They wouldnt reduce the dose if they still didnt think it would work i dont think, otherwise there would be no point of you having it. I think youll be ok. A lot of people ive seen when having my treatment have said about having their dosage reduced. Its a harsh drug and you’re doing well managing with what you are. Youve got this
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Hi @fluffy888 welcome
I haven’t experienced a reduction yet but have had delays with low white blood counts (I am on paclitaxel/carboplatin/ pembro atm) but am changing to EC soon so that might be different. It does seem quite routine for reductions to happen.
Posting here has been really helpful to me- to be able to chat to people who get it.
All the best for your next treatment.
Xx
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@fluffy888 I have have my paclitaxal at a reduced dose due to my liver - ALTs been elevated. I have now completed 12/12 weekly at this reduced dose and I had an ultrasound mid-way showing the tumour and lymph nodes had shrunk by over half. I can’t feel it myself now at all. So it has worked. I now have EC for 3 months.
I was told, the dosage is far from an exact science, it’s based on your weight but as we know everyone is so different, so they give as much as they can. Whilst we don’t know, I believe you will have a positive result from a reduced dose.
It’s scary but have faith and hold onto hope. Xxx
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Hi, @booklover1 @zaran thanks for your replies. I was meant to tell them by Friday if I wanted it reduced but kept thinking it wouldn’t do its job properly and I’d be here all over again and don’t know if I could do it. My head’s a bit all over the place. I woke up with a cold yesterday and now dreading the thought of chemo on Wednesday but there’s no way I’d voluntarily delay. I just want it over with and a bit of a life back and be ok for my children again.
I also don’t think that I’ve actually processed that I’ve had cancer. It’s such a whirlwind of appointments that I feel that it won’t hit me until after treatment.
I hope you’re both doing ok and thanks again for replying.
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Hi @fluffy888 and all the rest of our July chemo lottery winners!
I’ve only had 8 out of the 12 treatments I was meant to have. I have a scan booked for tomorrow to see if those plus the 1 EC I’ve now had, will do the trick of reducing the tumours.
I know what you mean about accepting cancer. I feel numb with all the drama of the appointments and concerns about decisions professionals are making on our behalf. I think I’ll have some sort of crash once I finish treatment.
@booklover1 the EC went well, thank you. Different side effects- I am exhausted but don’t sleep enough and I’m nauseous but at least with EC there are only 4and a lovely 3 weeks in between.
As well as my scan this week, I’m meeting with the surgeon. That’s a whole new thing to worry about…
Xx
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@bex1 Congratulations on finishing 12/12. That’s amazing that it had shrunk by half. It’s such a worry when you’re waiting for results but worth it when it’s good news.
I was on the top dose for my weight and they said they’d discussed that they thought it was too high and then I’d lost a little bit of weight so was def too high but they kept me on the higher dose with EC. I was glad my Onc reduced it to 75% for docetaxel (although she’d forgotten to do this and nearly got the 100% until I just happened to mention it was reduced). I don’t know why the extra 10% is sticking in my brain so much. Daft I know.
It’s so nice talking to people who are going through this as well.
@cf640 I hope everything goes well for you tomorrow and the treatment you’ve had so far has done the trick. I hope the wait for the results isn’t too long for you.
I think I might ring the unit first thing tomorrow and reduce the dose some more. If it’s too late then I suppose it’s out of my hands.
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