Hi all
Was due my 8th weekly paclitaxol treatment on Monday but I developed a skin reaction on both hands and up both arms… it’s a patchy red rash that was very hot to touch. Overalll all my bloods, temp etc were fine but they were concerned that having my treatment would make it worse and also as i am still waiting for a picc line they didn’t was to cannulate in my arms.
Prescribed 4 days of steroids and have appointment with my onc on Tuesday followed by treatment if she has no major concerns…
My arms are already much better so fingers crossed it was a minor blip.
It’s the first time I have had a problem and you don’t realise how it can effect you emotionally when you get sent home without your planned treatment. I know there are no guarantees with this and you have ups and downs and it’s only happened once. Everyone says don’t worry it’s only one week make the most of it but I just don’t want to give the bloomin thing growing in my body a week off to have a rest and regroup.
Hopefully all will be back on track next week and the come down off the steroids at the weekend won’t be to bad.
Thanks for listening.
Take care and much love to you all.
Kellie
X
Sorry to hear that Kellie, I know what it feels like to think that you can’t get the planned treatment. I am sure that you’ll be fine next week and you’ll get back on track.
Can you do something nice this week? I tell you what since having my PICC line I really wished I had swum more before I got it!!! Everyone (including doctors) keep telling me what brilliant exercise swimming is and I haven’t Veblen able to do it firstly cos of the mastectomy and then due to the PICC line!!!
Anyway hope you can find something nice to do this week to take your mind off it all,
Sending hugs,
Em
Xx
Oh dear kellie, hope the arm is improving today, when I thought I wouldn’t get my treatment this week I was torn between phew and oh no… But it will happen and they are making sure you don’t suffer any extra.
CDC my chemo unit is very nice, been refurbished not too long ago so very light and airy,. Ice coloured comfy recliners so a bit like a front room but j always find the depressing person to sit near too, and she’s due at me next one too… must confess I can’t quite get her doom n gloom out of my head this week. Still feeling ok from T slightly sleep depraved from xsreroid but mouth pretty good and no aches yet!
Embo… I would love a swim too had bought a new mastectomy cozzie ready and didn’t realise couldn’t use it… We can’t swim with chemo can we?
Hi Kip
I know what you mean about the doom and gloom patient. There’s always one! I must admit that the first item out of my bag on treatment day is my iPad and earphones. I basically shut myself off from any communication apart from a smile and hello. It might seem anti-social of me but I really have no capacity to empathise with other patients. I’m in full self protect mode!
Hope your arms are better Kellie.
Jacq x
I generally take my kindle and read through chemo. Downloaded a new book last week and nearly finished it. The battery went 2 chapters from the end, so annoying.
Today is physio day. Still have massive problems with tightness on the surgery side, especially where I had the node clearance. Despite doing exercises daily every morning it’s still as tight as just after surgery even 4 months later.
Hi all, just dropping in to report on day 4 of T cycle… so far not too bad but still lacking sleep from those bloomin steroids, now down to 4 a day until tomorrow and then none… so wonder what will happen then… tears and more tears I expect… watch out hubby! Apart from the sleep problems, so far so good, mouth a little sore and taste slighlty weird, although still hungry, not much different from FEC. No bad aches and pains but that could be coming or be becuase I don’t have the injections to give? Fingers and toes ok, no pins and needles or painful nails yet but by this time next week who knows what will be happeining. Main thing is hot sweats, not sure if thats hormones or chemo but they aren’t painful . Making myself get up and do stuff so have been out on 3 mile walks each evening and it does help and back at work today, only at home but its something. Hope everyone else is doing ok, Embolorry hope you are coping with those last injections, l think you shoudl be finished them now so perphaps the pain will subside now?
Take care all
Kip xx
Morning.
Had physio yesterday and although I now have a good range of movement in my arm and shoulder it’s still really tight. Massaging and moisturising couple of times a day but each day I get up and it feels like back to square one with the tightness. This is 4 months post surgery FFS!
And to add insult to injury I have no hair under the right arm but the left where the scarring from ANC is, full hair that I can’t shave. Still also have leg and arm hair too.
Oh no poor you! Thought the underarm hair situation did make me smile… .why can nothing be straight forward. I still have leg hair too… give us a break BC!:smileymad:
Hi Kip I’m from the May chemo starters and had my 2nd docetaxel on Tuesday after 3 FEC. We ladies on May thread have been discussing the horrid sweats over the last couple of days- just to reassure you they appear to be just another lovely side effect. Share your frustration with steroids - I’m so fatigued but sleep has been awful- all I can do is rest - desperate to go out for a walk to help but just too fatigued.
Hope you have a good day.
Jem xx
I’m still getting random chin hairs too that I have to pluck!
Hi all, day 5 post T,. So far not too bad, tongue sore and bit white but much the same as FEc. Slight leg aches in calves but not had enough to need painkilkers. No nail pain or foot pain yet. Of .course still on steroids so could be anything waiting roundr corner, last steroids today and now starting anti biotics today too but just glad to be 5 days in and still working and walking! Still having sweats too but better sleep last night. Hope everyone else ok today xx
Morning,
3rd T for me today. Downloaded 3 new books to keep me going with all the waiting around. Got to be there at 12 ish for full blood count before chemo at 2. Home about 7 if I’m lucky. Thankfully still no side effects.
Good luck today Sally. Hope it all goes ok. My first T on Wednesday. Steroids start Tuesday. I’ve been constantly hungry this cycle and have put on several pounds so not looking forward to the additional effect that steroids will have. Kx
Thankfully my weight has been more or less consistent all the way through. It fluctuates by about 3/4lb but that’s normal.
Not out as late as I thought. Done and just waiting for my son to collect me. From about 4.45 I was the only one left in the department. Thankfully the next 3 weeks I’m back to being booked first thing in the morning. It actually went really quickly today as I had a nice sleep for the hour the T was going in.
Hi, glad your T went well Sally, it is somehow less stressful having just a drip than sitting watching poison being fed in isn’t it? I’m feeling ok day 6, sore mouth the worse se so far, might try some Diflam as people say that helps. Taste odd but pretty much like FEC, it have slight achy legs but not bad enough for painkillers and I find if i get up and do stuff it really helps get them moving, I’ve managed to walk few miles every day which perks me up. I wonder if the fact I don’t have those injections helps with that? Steroids finished yesterday though so have to wait that joyful bit out… hopjng j don’t get the big downer again. Thumb nails felt slightly sore yesterday but no worse and I think am looking for things at the moment… It’s the unknown all over again. Just ticked off another day so 37 left till last T… Hubby said he will get me an early advent calendar for the last 25!!
Have a good Saturday all .Kip xx
Ps constipation… what does anyone find works well?
Hi Kip. Get your GP to give you Macrogol. Some people use Senacot, but it doesn’t work for me. Kx
Hi ladies ??for botty backup various things that have been used senikot, movicol, prunes ensure you are drinking 6-8 cups of fluid a day too ???
Shi xx
Thanks ladies, have been to see pharmacist today they said use lactulose for constipation. Unfortunately I think I now have mouth thrush, big white sore tongue but pharmacist couldn’t give me anything without prescription…so have difflam for now and will speak to hospital tomorrow. If it wasn’t for that I would be feeling fine… grrrr
Kip 
To hear you might have mouth thrush, get fluconzole and might be idea to ask for it every cycle with your onc when you pick up other meds before cycle, I used to go in with big list for my onc, antisickness meds, fluconzole, difflam the works, if you don’t ask you don’t get and then you’ll have your box of tricks to get you through the cycle ???you are all doing fantastic ladies and keep focused and keep ??? and don’t forget to have a steroid induced online shopping spree, when oh’s go ???day the steroids made you do it ???Shi xx