@fluffy888 i found steroids gave me palpitations/red face/generally felt a bit strange. I didn’t have any steroids for the taxol except before the infusion I assume that’s because it was weekly.
Spoke with my onco today she said for my next round of EC just to take two steroid tablets on days 2/3/4 rather than 4 so feeling more positive.
They are also going to give me something called a acrepitant which is instead of the antiemetic before the EC which will hopefully not give me horrible constipation.
Sooooo - Today is day 8 of my fortnightly EC and I feel sooooooooooo much better. Looking forward to a week of feeling good until next Thursday. Looking forward to a cuppa in the mornings without feeling sick!
@idcand49 i originally didn’t blow dry my hair but after two weeks of air drying felt minging so have blown dry ever since (wash 2-3 times a week) .
Thanks ladies. Ive still got to go up to hospital first thing and repeat bloods said it will take around 45 mins for results. If its fine it will go ahead as planned. Just had my red trouble is i have to have crackers and crisps as that helps me get it down. Thats my excuse for eating crap and im sticking to it . @alisona1 good luck tomorrow with chemo. @kerrylou1 sending hugs along with some other lovely ladies you’ve had it rough. I feel fine hun. When ive had low neutrophils in the past my rhumatiod nurse rang me and asked if i felt unwell but i never did and so maybe this is normal for me as it hapoened often. We will see what tomorrow brings. Night ladies xx
@debi1 Hope your blood results are ok and you get to have last chemo today.
@fluffy888@alisona1 I was interested reading your comments about the steroids. I’m on Docetaxel, had my 2nd dose on Monday. I do get the palpitations and red flushing but I thought steroids were helping with the other side effects as I seem to feel fine until I stop them then side effects seem to kick in. Although after my first dose with the 8x3 days steroids, I cried every day for over a week and was really emotional. Thinking now that may have been down to steroids. My side effects were really bad too with first dose of Docetaxel and Oncologist has reduced them by 25% for last 2 so hoping that will help.
@angieb1 I noticed with EC that I didn’t feel quite right on the steroids but they’ve doubled with the docetaxel and my mood is awful with them and that’s just not like me at all. My docetaxel was reduced to 75% for the first dose because I was so unwell on EC. She also prescribed 5 extra days of steroids to help with side effects, but I haven’t taken the full 5 days for either dose. The first dose of docetaxel wasn’t great so they said they’d reduce to 65% for the 2nd dose, but I kept it at 75% and it wasn’t as bad as the first. I’ve got my last dose of docetaxel next Wednesday and I’m not going to take any of the extra steroids at all. I think I’d rather have the other side effects than feel so down like I did.
@angieb1@fluffy888 thank you. Had my bloods done and told to pop back to ward in an hour. So thought id pop to hospital restaurant for a bacon sandwich only to realise i hadn’t picked my purse up soooo embarrassed. I took sandwich back only for the lady who served me to insist on paying bless her i managed to get her name and will get it back to her. So kind. I wasn’t even hungry just wanted to pass a bit of time. Its a good job you dont get charged for car park when visiting chemo ward. The only side affects from steroids for me seems to be not sleeping. I take for 3 days starting day before chemo. It said take with food 9am and 9pm but a nurse says take mid afternoon/early tea instead. Oh i got a phone call yesterday. Ive got an appointment 7th nov for a ct scan before my radiotherapy and will get all my appointment date’s on that day. The scan is for their benefit only so they can target the right area. Xxx
Hope your bloods come back ok @deb1 and the red wine did the trick & how kind of the lady in the canteen, the kindness of strangers
I have been at the hospital 4 times in the last week. I had some good news from the scans the smaller tumo and the node can’t be seen and the bigger tumor has reduced a bit further. I am hoping the EC will zap the rest.
The EC has really knocked me out. feel very sick and out of sorts. I am on steroids too so maybe related to low mood and very flushed face. I am going to ask about steroids side effects again and for more anti sickness meds next time around. Hope those having a hard time on the steroids are feeling better now.
Yesterday I had a blood transfusion to boost my red blood cells and just in case anyone has one it wasn’t too bad although it takes a while! I was there 5 hours so worth taking books/podcasts/music.
It has been good to read about those of you reaching radiotherapy. I might be be being a bit weird but I am sort of looking forward to it as it will mean chemo & surgery will be over!
@debi1 ah that’s so lovely of her. Hopefully your bloods come back ok.
I take my 8 steroids in the morning. 4 around 7am with a cuppa and some biscuits and then around 11:30-12 again with food. I was never told a time, but I didn’t want to take them later on in the day as I knew they’d keep me up all night. I’ve never had a problem sleeping with them. Just make me down, red faced and I’m sure more bloated than I already feel. I was going to ask if you’d heard about your CT scan. My referral for radiotherapy went off on the 10th so hopefully I’ll hear soon when mine is.
I know this isn’t a big deal but I just wondered if anyone else feels like they constantly have a bigger/bloated stomach? I feel like even if I didn’t eat for days it would still be the same and I’m blaming the chemo. I’m sure I saw something about chemo belly a while ago. Just wondering if it’s just me or everyone else is the same.
@booklover1 I had horrendous nausea on EC and had IV anti-nausea meds and also aprepitant to take on the day and then a few days afterwards. I still had nausea but calmed it down a bit. Nothing else worked. Hope you’re feeling ok after your blood transfusion. I feel exactly the same about looking forward to the end of chemo and start of radiotherapy. Xx
@booklover1 brilliant news for you so glad. @fluffy888 yes ive definitely put weight on and around my belly. Well the red definitely did the trick. @cf640 Neutrophils jumped from 1.2 to 2.7. So im sat here having my treatment but been here all morning but that doesn’t matter ill be ringing that bell soon. May even sit on a bench and slap that as well as some ladies men8in here. That might be the one in my garden so not to draw attention take care ladies Xx
Hi all,
I was chatting to the chemo nurse this morning about the steroids and she said the mood side effects seem to be hyper or very low. I was telling how I had felt and she said that was very normal and to just ride it through as much as you can. My steroids have been reduced this time as well as my Docetaxel so hopefully I won’t be quite as bad.
Can someone tell me the red wine theory, I appear to have missed that… any excuse for little treats
Best wishes to all, we’re getting there
Ho everyone @alisona1
Unofficially red wine raises neutrophils ( a tip from @debi1).I’m going to give it a try. I’ve gone off chocolate and I’m feeling deprived anyway.
I seem to crave salt - anybody else have strange likes/ dislikes?
I had my 2nd EC - like you, @booklover1 - we are on a similar path. I’m not taking all my pills though. 2 steroid tablets rather than the 3 and earlier in the day. But im sticking with the Aprepitant- it seems to work really well.
My EC was reduced to 80% but my stomach is still turbulent from the last dose…oh well, only two more of these to go and then im going to go and punch/slap something out of sheer relief. Xx
@debi1 So pleased the red wine worked and you managed to get your last treatment.
@fluffy888 I definitely have chemo belly. Some days it feels so uncomfortable and as if someone has pumped it up until it’s ready to burst!
I spent most of today at hospital. Went to get my weekly PICC line flush and dressing change but because my temp was high and I was breathless they sent me to A&E. They said they needed to check for neutropenic sepsis and blood clots but after 4 hours of tests turned out to be just side effects from the chemo on Monday. I can’t wait to get finished all this. Only one more cycle to go.
Hi my bloods showed low neutrophils on Wednesday 1.2. They couldn’t do treatment under 1.5. Nurse said shed heard unofficially of course that red wine helped raises them. So just had 1 glass on Wednesday night and again on Thursday. Repeated fri morning and they had jumped to 2.7. Thats a pretty big jump in 2 days. So im sure it was the wine. Maybe they should do trials . Im up at this hour as I’m not sleeping. Bloody steroids. Xxx
Hi Debi really chuffed for you that you got your final one just a couple of days late, glad you didn’t have a full week to wait. Red wine winners!!! And kindness of people for your cafe visit! . Good luck with your scan and onward dates for radio.
I’m awake too on the steroids! Had my 5th of 9 weekly paclitaxel yesterday, so getting there - only found out last week I was still on steroids as had previously taken them by tablet on the 3 weekly EC, but now in the infusion apparently. Does explain the weekend ‘can’t sleeps’ (……can’t think of the proper word, common theme just now ) and Duracell bunny couple of days still!
Also staring at my chemo belly . Thought it might be I have got my taste back a bit on the paclitaxel, but I’m not eating that much more - jeans are a non starter just now - thank god I have some dresses to cover all!
I’ve a face to face appointment with oncologist this Tuesday, first time I’ve seen her since my initial meeting in June before chemo, and I’ve had just one phone appointment with her during chemo, so I hope I get some ‘what’s next’ news. You mentioned a scan prior to radio, so be interesting if that is needed. I’m keen to get my 3 weeks of radio dates - finishing chemo 16 November so my ideal situation would be radio before end of year (get the feeling that may not happen) if only as a psychological 2024 was the shittiest year and 2025 is the moving forward year. We’ll see!
Have a nice weekend of chilling and congratulating yourself for a job well done on the chemo. Onwards and upwards sweetie! xx
Ooh thanks for the tip…sounds rude not to try the red wine theory… every little helps
I too was wide awake due to the steroids, maybe we should start a ‘steroid wide awake’ thread !
@cf640 - I was discussing the salt craving with other ladies who were all saying the same, how strange.
We’re getting there ladies
@pipspops I’m due to have my last session 2 days after you. My referral for radiotherapy was sent after my last oncology appointment (11th Oct) and someone should be contacting me with a scan appointment. I’m having 3 weeks radio and boost, which it was suggested would start in December - however like you I’m not overly convinced it will happen till Jan. I’ve got everything crossed it will at least start in December xx @debi1 loving the red wine theory. Think I may give it a go! Xx
Hi love. In the end my last chemo was the day it was due as the first bloods were done 2 days before then repeated on the morning of my usual chemo date then rushed through for results ment a long day at hospital but worth it. They did stress the scan im having was for the radiotherapy team only to pin point exactly where the surgeon put the titanium markers in to target the right area. They wont be looking for anything else so no feedback for me. I think this is why we worry more because altogether it’s nearly end of treatment. What next. Yearly mammograms just dont seem enough after everything we’ve been through. Xx take care xx
Thank you to everyone for your support. Even with 25% reduction, I’m feeling quite a few side effects, but thinking just one more session and that is helping. I’ve also decided to accept that I can’t do much with such low energy! Roll on December!
so feeling more positive.
trouble is i have to have crackers and crisps as that helps me get it down. Thats my excuse for eating crap and im sticking to it 
.
I feel fine hun. When ive had low neutrophils in the past my rhumatiod nurse rang me and asked if i felt unwell but i never did and so maybe this is normal for me as it hapoened often. We will see what tomorrow brings. Night ladies xx
bless her i managed to get her name and will get it back to her. So kind. I wasn’t even hungry just wanted to pass a bit of time. Its a good job you dont get charged for car park when visiting chemo ward. The only side affects from steroids for me seems to be not sleeping. I take for 3 days starting day before chemo. It said take with food 9am and 9pm but a nurse says take mid afternoon/early tea instead. Oh i got a phone call yesterday. Ive got an appointment 7th nov for a ct scan before my radiotherapy and will get all my appointment date’s on that day. The scan is for their benefit only so they can target the right area. Xxx
take care ladies Xx
really chuffed for you that you got your final one just a couple of days late, glad you didn’t have a full week to wait. Red wine winners!!! And kindness of people for your cafe visit! 
. Good luck with your scan and onward dates for radio.
) and Duracell bunny couple of days still!
. Thought it might be I have got my taste back a bit on the paclitaxel, but I’m not eating that much more - jeans are a non starter just now - thank god I have some dresses to cover all!
xx