I actually bought something on Amazon that I can’t wait to try - it’s a baseball cap with hair in the back. I wear hats a lot because I’m very sun-sensitive, so I feel like it’ll be the most “me” thing. I was like $25, so it won’t be super realistic looking, but good enough to toss on for a run to the grocery store.
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Just to say that I’m impressed with you setting yourself some daily goals! That sounds a great idea to do some movement, something creative and some learning! Fab as long as you are kind to yourself when you can’t manage that. I have also been doing some walking every day and some writing (I like writing) but unfortunately unlike after my first treatment (just had my second), I’ve been absolutely floored by fatigue over the last couple of days - so much so that I’ve had to spend a lot of time in bed. Even one simple household task exhausted me and so I came back to bed. I know that extreme fatigue is very common but this stupidly took me by surprise as I did not experience fatigue like this first time round in the week after treatment. Anybody else absolutely knackered by fatigue? I’m hoping that I gradually perk up and get back to normal as I did last time.
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Just so you know you’re not alone. I’ve just started to come out of a 4 day “chemo coma”. It’s the only way I can describe it.
2 days I couldn’t even open my eyes. I could get to the loo and back but no household tasks for me. If my husband hadn’t brought me food I don’t think I’d have eaten either.
I’ve just finished my third EC (no more EC for me, 3 x docetaxel next). First 2 days were ok then bam, floored! 4 days in a row, then today ive felt loads better. Physically still wobbly but mentally I’m really good.
Just know it passes but I don’t think it can be forced away. Hang in there, one day at a time x
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Here we go again. Seconds out…Round 2! Steroid day today so buzzing. Managed to get my ironing done,house cleaned and some gardening. Not sure I will get any sleep however! First round was a little rough to begin with but I don’t think I took the antisickness soon enough and once it got a hold I found it difficult to get it under control. Ended up ringing red card after 6 episodes of diarrhoea and feeling nauseous all the time. Asked to go to local A&E which wasn’t great as they kept me waiting for 3 hours despite me showing them the red card. pretty much had to ask them to not wait on blood results and set up antibiotics IV. After that I turned the corner and have had a good 11 days of feeling “normal”. We will see what round 2 brings 
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Thanks for sharing how you feel too. Your treatment sounds similar to mine - mine is 3 x EC followed by 4 x PHESGO. What you described has pretty much been my experience, although I had 4 days of feeling good directly after treatment (which seemed weird), then as you say Bam! Chemo coma for 2 days. Today I seem to have woken up a bit better but still fatigued. Going to have another very easy day and hope that i perk up at the weekend. I’m hoping that everyone on this forum can find some joy or comfort over the weekend!
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Had chemo #2 today (I’ve got 12x weekly Paclitaxel and then I’ll have 4 rounds of… I forget what. Pretty standard triple negative keynote protocol here in the US, or so I’m told)
First round side effects were minimal and if you didn’t know I’d had chemo, you wouldn’t have know. Which was why I was surprised this morning when at my 2nd appt I had a low temp of 99.1 and my eosinophils and neutrophils were wacky and they debated giving me round 2. They did a vitals and symptoms assessment and deemed it okay, so thankfully I had my second round, which went smoothly.
However, unlike last week where I was super tired after, I’ve hit the insomnia phase. My infusion ended around 1pm and it’s 4am and I’m still wide awake. Feeling good otherwise, except for a bit of acid reflux.
I guess every week will be a new and different adventure! Not the fun kind!
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Who fancies a positivity game?
Yes I’m finally feeling better after EC3 with just one more jab to go and I’m feeling so much more positive than this time last week. Its hard to believe that all that chemo coma crap came and went within just a week. It felt like forever.
Anyway, I’d like to ask you what things make you feel better, what up sides have you found, what brings you joy… I’ll start…
- I had a reiki session and it felt wonderful (I’m booking another one)
- the LGFB makeup workshop made me not scared to lose my eyebrows
- I look for glimmers daily, and I see so many more
- I feel very connected to trees (odd I know!)
- taking deep breaths make me feel grounded
- I give far fewer f*cks than I ever did and I’m loving this
- my future purpose has shifted in a way that makes me excited to get thru this
- I’m embracing the woowoo and its making me feel calm
Given we’ve been served a platter of poo that we really dont want, but have no option but to suck it up, its interesting that there are positives that I want to notice more as quite frankly the side effects can do one!
xx
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Great to hear what helps you
I found things like crosswords, colouring helped during the hard EC days as I couldn’t cope with having the tv on
Gardening has been a god send and been so lovely watching things grow
Now I’m at the end of chemo I’ve now got into looking at bathroom designs as we desperately need a new bathroom
And chat cpt has really helped, alongside these groups. I’m hoping I’ll get my energy back soon and I can start baking!
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Hello July crew, hope everyone is ok.
Just popped on to say that I’ve just had a PICC line fitted and it was waaay easier/more comfortable than I was expecting. I was really anxious and tearful beforehand. I’m really squeamish and I still don’t like thinking about the line, but at least during the procedure I didn’t really feel anything and was able to just go into my happy place in my mind while it was done! So just wanted to reassure anyone who also has a fitting coming up, and who might be feeling as I was.
3rd chemo infusion tomorrow. Have been switched early from EC to Docetaxel and phesgo, because one of my tumours hasn’t shrunk at all so they want to move me on to the HER2 targeted drug sooner than planned. So my anxiety has shifted to that as I hear that the side effects are more severe. But at least I won’t have to go through all the faff of them trying to find veins to get a cannula into, and I’m hoping that might mean that the whole shebang is over a bit more quickly tomorrow.
If any of you have children with A level results today, I hope everything is going well with securing next steps.
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Hello everyone,
Trying to catch up a little on the posts, theres a lot. I had a reaction again to the dc and ended up in hospital twice one of which was a stay over a week, so glad to be home, altjough still not feeling 99% right, so have been non computing in eyes and mind, i will continue to catch up with you lovely lot, i hope your all finding ways to manage abd small joys.
My oncologist has decided to stop my chemo due to the reactions and a neuropathy in leg ( hopefully not permanent)
Its a weird feeling good, also odd as so much of life was changed no sea sun etc hospital go bag foods etcetc now to readjust into a different way of being and thinking of ability to return to work.
I had an mri on spine as they were concerned about mets due to leg, that was clear thankfully .
Anyway really sorry about not being present and replying to your happenings. Just want to say your thought of and i appreciate you a on these threads.
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I’m glad you are managing ok- but it is so tough with all the different side effects isn’t it? I feel like I’m just getting an understanding of what to expect and I’ve only got one more EC to go before we switch to taxol and I’ll need to learn all over again! I’m doing the same dodging of colds with children as you! I’ve so far managed to keep things mostly at bay- so I hope yours was ok too!
I made it to Oasis! Win for the f**k cancer team 
For eye brows you get some amazing transfers (I hope you can see that link)- https://www.instagram.com/zaralenacosmetics?igsh=MWwxaDNoOTQyYW45bQ==
I managed to get mine microbladed before starting which I am so grateful for, but I know that’s not possible once the chemo has started.
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I’m glad the Picc line wasn’t too bad @hedgehog. It sounds like you’ve been having some difficult things to navigate. I hope you’re ok? How’s the Docetaxol been?
And what a big change for you @trix1! I imagine adjusting to not being on chemo is another journey too. It’s lovely to hear how you are.
I hope everyone else is getting on ok with their second and third doses? (I think that’s where a lot of us are at? But thinking of everyone!)
I have found the single injection for filgistram easier @hollyhock63. Maybe a bit more intense the 1-2 days after with headaches but then definitely not lasting as long as I was finding with the 7-injections. My third EC hasn’t been too bad. A little more fatigue but I am still doing life (kids, work, gym etc all to lesser scale but still happening!). I’m alternating between the wig and managing to ‘comb over’ the remaining hair into a tiny ponytail 
One more EC to go and then I’m onto Paclitaxel. I’m starting to feel a little daunted by some of the longer term hormone treatments that lie ahead, and the fear around ‘prognosis’ both short term and long term seems to catch me ‘off-guard’ every now and again. I don’t know if others find that too?
Anyhow, sending positive vibes in all directions 
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Hi @koutdoor
I was just wondering how you found your luminal b?
I hope your doing ok and treatment has been as smooth as it can be.
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How is everyone getting on? X
@teenie87 firstly so glad to hear you made it to oasis!! Amazing! Well done you.
It really is tough though isn’t it. I think I forget each time how bad it feels (which maybe is a good thing!)
Does the taxol follow the same regime as the EC?
Thank you for the link for the eyebrow transfers, I’ll order now! And great you managed to get the micro blading in, that sounds like the best option!
I completely get what you mean about worries for prognosis. I find myself thinking about this a lot, especially with the children. I’ve spoken with my local maggies centre who have been very helpful, do you have anything like this where you are being treated?
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I hope everyone else is doing okay?
I’ve now had my 3rd round out of 6 so feels good to reach the half way point! Starting to think ahead to surgery. Has anyone already had their surgery before chemo?
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That sounds like a really rough time, I’m sorry you had to go through all that. I hope you are feeling much better now
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Hi, good to hear youre doing well and fighting through! Im also not having surgery until after chemo, I think a mastectomy is planned as I had radiotherapy following a lumpectomy for dcis just 3 years ago (same side). I’ve had my 3rd round of EC now- one more then on to Phesgo & Docetaxel (or is it the other way round?). Im learning to be kinder to myself, take rest when I need to and ask for help, after a horrible chest infection and 24 hours sat in a “fit to sit” chair attached to IV antibiotics in the Acute Medical Assessment ward - what an awful experience, look after yourselves ladies! Hope everyone is coping, love & hugs x
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Hello all I’ve been a bit quiet as I’m just trying to get my head down and get through this! I’ve had 3 treatments of EC. First 2 were OK, side effects of fatigue for a few days but then back to normal life of work and being physically active. the third has been really tough. Once I started to feel better after the third treatment, I made the mistake of doing too much physical activity too soon and I caused myself chest pain - it feels like angina (never had this but the symptoms are the same - tightness in chest area). I’ve now had this on and off, including at rest for 7 days. This has caused my anxiety to increase and stops me from sleeping. Yesterday was a bit traumatic- went to A and E and got checked out with bloods and CT scan but everything is normal. But I’m still left with chest pain. Has anyone else experienced this? I’ve got an appointment with my oncologist tomorrow so can talk it through. This is tough as it’s difficult to feel comfortable. Love to all
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Hi here.we.go Glad your doing ok! Im half way too 3 done 3 to go. Round 4 next Thursday so were going to get away for a few days Thursday to Monday before it all starts again. I had my surgery in April round block mammoplasty for grade II HER2+ Ca. I’m down for 6 sessions of Docetaxel and Carboplatin, 18 cycles of Trastuzumab and 3 weeks of radiotherapy. Its been a bit of a rocky road with different symptoms each cycle. Got the nausea under control with different meds but this round has brought lots of mucous membrane problems sinuses, nose, gums, mouth and oesophagus which has been miserable but i’m getting through it. One session at a time 
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