Sorry to hear that Lisa. Big hugs to you too. Kxx
Oh dear Lisa thats a tough thing to take, but you really do need to be strong enough for that dreaded T. It really is a horrible drug and i am with CdC that perhaps they should switch you to the weekly pax ones. Make the most of the break, try to see it as a positive and use the time to do something nice if u can. Sending you big hugs. Xx
Cdc, wow thats some regime to keep up for your feet isnt it! Hope oH is waiting on you, rest those poor feet!
I feel extremely lucky to have got through my chemo, although i have to say 3 weeks on i am still exhausted and have very achy legs and back like ive run a marathon… if only! Still its strange to thjnk j would be starting steroids tomorrow and i wont be… Ill be thinking of you all though and willing you on with yours. We will all get there in the end… Ill keep the cocktails on ice!!
Lots of love to you all, chins up, poorly feet and hands rested and positive vibes
Xxx
kip
Hi Lisa Marie, please ask about Abraham’s, they’ve switched others to that who are allergic to t, but don’t mention it because it’s very very expensive, I only found out about it on here when I had a reaction on 2ndct and mishy18 from July17 thread told me about it because she’d had it happen to her ??hope that helps darling you are doing brilliant even if you don’t think you are, you are blooming ???and beautiful 
??
Shi xx
Lisa Marie, sorry that should be abraxane, sorry text gremlins earlier ???Shi xx
Georgie, when I moved to T I took 4x2mg twice a day for three days starting the day before treatment. Steroids for FEC help with anti sickness but with T they help prevent adverse reaction. Kx
CDC the other drip you had with T will have been Piriton, again to help with allergic reaction. It is the one that sends some people to sleep!! Kx
Thanks Ladies…
I think I will call on Monday to make sure. I seem to remember some of you saying about taking 2 lots of 4.
I think that the chemo nurses had already requested 50% dose from Pharmacy, which says to take 2 x 2mg twice each day, but then one of them saw the box, and halved it again and told me to only take one.
Trust me me to get in a pickle with this… oh dear!
Hi
I have a question for those of you who have had both FEC and T chemotherapy, is there really any noticeable difference between the two, and if there is, which is easier to deal with?
Jacq x
Jacqb I felt worse on fec as i worked full time throughout both but only had the odd day off on T. I felt sick on Fec straight away which lasted until the next week although I wasn’t actually sick. You get anti sickness medication and also some to take as and when needed which I took now and then.
I didn’t get many problems on T that were too bad. I only got pains 1 night but that may have been the injections. I had toilet issues throughout both though. Also teeth issues with both. When are you starting chemo again?
Hi Jacq, to be fair, compared to many, I have had a relatively easy time on both. At least no trips to Casa nhs! I found FEC easier because, other than the few days of slight nausea, I then had two good weeks. T is easier for the first few days then made me feel ‘ill’ for the next ten! Nothing specific, but achy, bad indigestion, diarrhoea and so on. I found that I was unable to plan anything because I didn’t know how I was going to feel. And T also has left me very fatigued. Everything is an effort!!
But everyone is different so just take it as it comes and hope for the best!!! Kxx
Thank you ladies ?
Ktk, your experience of T sounds very similar to mine, I always managed a good few days after the treatment and then two weeks of feeling rubbish. Linda I think around the 24th but all depends on the axilary scar being healed fully.
Reddi, It makes sense that the cumulative effect of both must have an impact. I’m hopeful that as I haven’t had any chemo since 1st August and I’m feeling very well, the FEC won’t be to taxing. ?
Xx
Hi ladies, just seen all the posts regarding steroids, i had 4 steroids twice a day on the day before chemo, day of and day after and then 2 steroids twice a day for followjng 3 days. This was for the T cycle. I know for Fec it was 4 a day though.
As for whether Fec or T was easier, I found Fec SEs started quicker but faded quicker anx with T i
had more mouth issues and tiredness but that jst be cumulative overall. I had trouble with low neuts on first T too but everyone seems to react differently and a lady at chemo said shw fojnd Fec harder. So j think yiu just have to go witn the flow, my Onc said the first T is hardest because yiu still have Fec in your body Znc the 2 mix and also your body has got used to fec by then and my first was definately tougher.
Kip
X
Regarding the steroids I had to take 4 x 2mg of dexamethasone on the morning before the T then the same in the morning and lunchtime for three
days afterwards. That’s a whopping 16mg a day I believe. I did not have FEC but AC which I struggled with due to the nausea and some mouth issues. However, I found Docetaxel caused no nausea BUT did leave me feeling totally out of it, discombobulated is the best way I can describe it. Maybe it’s because it was the first one of a new drug. I did feel a bit like this on my initial AC. It also caused severe issues with my feet and hands. The paclitaxel is by far the easiest in terms of m feeling pretty normal. I do get the facial flushing which thankfully goes down after a day. I do have skin peeling and today I noticed a couple of my toes are numb. We did traipse around the Harry Potter tour fir ages yesterday , my daughter absolutely loved it, but I was on my feet for around 12 hours with only a few opportunities to put my feet up (certainly didn’t have a chance to moisturise and put them in clingfilm at lunch time - don’t think the other visitors would have appreciated seeing that whilst drinking their Butterbeers!) I’m going to see if the feeling in my toes returns by this evening but if not it looks like I’ll be calling the hotline again- sure they’re sick of me ringing but I’m only following the protocol given in my Chemo diary. Hoping it’s not neuropathy- feels like I’ve been walking in snow and the feeling in my toes hasn’t come back yet.
How is everyone doing today? It’s particularly wet, dark and blustery today- but like my mood but I think it’s just because I’ve overdone it. Will try and have a restful afternoon after getting some jobs done this morning xx
Hi CDC, thinking about numb toes. After my first T some of my toes felt as if I had been wearing too tight walking boots, sort of slightly bruised. Two of these toes now appear to be a bit discoloured from what I can tell where the black nail polish is growing out! In this last cycle a few of my fingernails now have that similar bruised feeling. Not holding out much hope as I expect I will lose them 
Other than that, it is taking a long time to get back to normal after T3. I have had a headache I can’t shift and I feel a bit fluy, although no temp. I would feel better if my stomach would settle.
Hope everyone is ok. Kxx
Ref the steroids, I also had 4 x 2mg twice a day for three days with T.
T has been far harder for me and each time I’ve recovered a little less by the next chemo date, and that was even with reduced dosage after the first cycle. This third one has completely wiped me, I too feel slightly flu-y and all of my skin is really sensitive. The inside of my nose keeps cracking and bleeding. On Friday I sat with my elbows on the table for a couple of hours and ended up with a blister on each! That’s without the sheer effort I’m having to put into walking anywhere! Mentally though I’m quite energetic!
Hugs ladies x
LJ
Hi LJ. You sound just like me. Haven’t even bothered to get up yet! I’ve got some nice things planned for later this week and hope to get away to sunny Wales next week before I start rads. Hope I feel better soon! Kx
Hi ladies. Re steroids 4x2mg the day before, day of and day after chemo morning and lunch time. Just got back from radiation planning appointment and another male doctor have a good feel of my left breast. Told me I would be having 3 weeks radiation with a one week boost? I am to let them know when the last chemo goes ahead as it needs at least a clear 3 weeks between the two. Chemo delay of 3 weeks means if I’m delayed anymore it’s begining to look like Christmas dinner and Nottingham City hospital. Regarding the different chemos FEC was more of a wipe out one for me but effects were fast and over with by a certain date so more manageable, T seems to take longer to effect me but give more side effects. Have a lovely swollen left leg and red feet and hands atm, but at least taste is back and not so tired. So much so, date night to watch a star is born last night. Xx
Thank you so much everyone for your confirmation of the steroid dose.
I am going to take 2 x2mg dose as it says on the pharmacy label, one dose for breakfast time and one dose for lunchtime.
An interesting observation… because I had the herceptin last Thursday, and it was supposed to be first T on Friday, I have had a few days with just the herceptin in my system. I am definitely fatigued, and have sore joints. I have gained a couple of pounds as well, with no reason. The first night I had a temperature, nausea and diarrhoea,which were bad enough for the chemo nurses to postpone the T on Friday, and gave me a couple of bags of fluid instead.
I cannot understand why the professionals deny that herceptin has side effects. It is consistent across oncologists, chemo nurses, breast care nurses and surgeons.
Side effects however, are reported by patients, carers, PLUS the list of possible side effects on the guidelines for use.
Any thoughts anyone?
Georgie x
Hi, sounds to me like Hercepties DOES give side effects, I’ve not had it so can’t comment but everything seems to so it only follows suit that it would too.
Lisa Marie - wow you’ve had your planning meeting, at least things are moving forward, pending that last chemo, but fingers crossed thats ok. Enjoy the date night, sounds fab!
CDC - Glad Harry Potter was great, made me smile thinking of you moisturising your feet in the lunch hall… that would have been funny. Hope the numb toes get better, Tingly is still, tingly and numb although not got any worse, still not had anyone look at it though!
KTK - T really does hit you as it goes on doesn’t it. My legs, calves, thighs, bottom arms, shoulders… in fact everywhere… really ache at the moment, it feels like I’ve wallked a million miles… I asked the ladies on the May chemo whether this is a normal side effect, and guess what… yes it is… many ladies suffer with aches and pains and generally feeling 100 for quite some time after chemo… oh marvellous hey!
Ive just returned from hospital having had my pre-op assessement for next Tuesday’s lymph node removal…getting nervous now. Had to wait about hour and half for a blood test, was so busy in there, but fingers crossed all neuts ok ready for surgery.
Kip
xx
hello CDC - interersting to hear about the menopause. I have only had 1 period during the first cycle of chemo and then nothing and I also get hot flushes. I don’t flush in the face though but just feel so sweaty, even on my bald head. I thought it may be chemo but now 3 weeks past last one I am still getting them. It wakes me up too, I am in and out of the bed covers like a yo-yo! What a nightmare, perhaps we could all harness our hot flushes and make some electricity, we would supply the National Grid with lots and lots! I keep wonderign whether I will get a period now I’ve finished chemo, but then panic about what that means in terms of oestrogen? I hope you enjoy your day in your “pit”… sounds heavenly… I am still wishing for a solid nights sleep but they don’t seem forthcoming… hot flushes, achy body… wandering mind… not condusive to a good nights sleep.
I also stepped on to the bathroom scales this rnorning having put on a favourite pair of jeans and found then very tight… eeek… I have put on 1 and 1/2 stone since diagnosis! OMG… I really must do something, I have never been this weight in my life! Not sure how I am going to manage weight loss amidst surgery and radio though? I know I have been eating lots of rubbish, so am going to try to cut that out and just eat a bit healthier. I understand that Tamoxofen can cause weight gain too… oh good lord… thats all I will need!
Good to hear the Marsden are going to be taking over for you, hope the help and that your feet issues sort themselves, Tingle still a tingling… and I get funny pins n needles go through my hand too but its not white looking though.
KTK - enjoy your Wales trip, sounds lovely.
Lisa Marie - how are you doing?
Kip
#xx