Hi all, I’ve only just seen the email that says the new style site is up and running. I have missed you all. Hope you’re doing OK.
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Congrats on finishing chemotherapy and keeping your hair !!
I have one more EC on 1st sept (that will be the 4th) then will start 4 more cycles (three weekly) of docetaxyl. Also wore the cold cap and though losing hairs in brush and sink (and on pillowcase) i still have a head of hair ! However I have been washing my hair. Still have eyebrows and eye lashes also.
Not using pic and one vein has hardened.
Will start wearing black nail varnish for docetaxyl.
Guida have a wonderful break away before you start radiotherapy you sure deserve it!
All
My family still away till 2nd sept and I’ve loved this ME time. My friends have been amazing bringing me dinners and asking me what I need. I’ve not had to cook or shop once and having to leave car engine on as I’m not using car and don’t want battery to go!
Sending all my love to you.
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You are amazing and keeping your hair is brilliant. More power to you. And for havinb such a great support network.
Guida - have a great holiday and celebrate!
All - great to see you back after the forum makeover which my chemo brain is struggling with!!!
I’m starting EC next Thursday. Somehow every three weeks feels good after weekly Paclitaxel and Carboplatin. But I know the side effects can be bit more challenging. You fab EC women have given great advice so I feel prepared for side effects. Measuring my spoonfuls, pilates when I can, getting ahead of the nausea, fatigue, ready for constipation. think of it as Red Warrior not the D word! See I listened to you all. Bring it on. Its 4 times so feels doable. And I had good shrinkage from the weekly so hoping for more.
Have a wonderful bank holiday and hopefully some non chemo treats
Hugs xxx
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That’s great news, well done Guida. Enjoy your time away, keep going. Xxx
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I hope it goes really well, I have finished my EC, now on Paclitaxel. Having a count down on my calendar helped me, found Floridex liquid iron in Lloyd’s pharmacy which helped keep iron levels up, kale and fruit smoothies as well as apricots. You’re going to get through it. Sending love xxxx
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Hi @Dhillman , thanks for sharing. I hope the next stages go really well for you. What are the name of the eye drops you use. Has your vision gone a bit blurry too? Take care xxx
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Hello @Geo23 - it’s Optrex.
My eyes continue to water, especially when I am outside but it’s not sticky when I wake up like before. It’s manageable. I am thinking maybe the lashes did more (protect the eye), than a beauty feature 
same as the hair in your nose.
My palms were itchy for a few days after Docetaxel & Phesgo , I was told to use Aveeno by the oncologist. It did stop itching but it was so dry my skin and hands looked really crinkly. Now the skin is peeling from around the nail and pads of my fingers (not painted my nails yet). Things are still regenerating thankfully especially if we have the 3 week reprieve only to go back for some more! 
I am relying on my body’s innate wisdom to survive by using what they need from the treatment and discard what they don’t need as swift as possible (please).
Good luck with your treatment. 2 more to go for me (please).
Hope everyone else is doing ok and enjoying a nice BH weekend in their own way x
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Sorry - no vision not blurry but I know someone else’s did but only temporary xx
Visceral tears (think that’s how you spell it)helped a few of us with eye watering during chemo 
just a tip tgst might help 
Shi
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Hello to you all out there. I’m a frightened new starter to EC. I’ve got 3 rounds ahead of me (EC) starting this Wednesday followed by 3 rounds of Docetaxel and I think Zoledronic acid (but I may have that slightly wrong as my brain sometimes closes down when I least want it to!). Because I’m bi- lateral I am having a port fitted on Tuesday.
My question is … well no specific question just any help and advice about the side effects and any advice about the port. All so new to me and don’t even know how I should feel… Thank you all. X
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Minty sorry you find yourself on here 
take it one treatment at a time. I sucked ice lollies during infusion of fec as it was then helped preserve mouth and drank 2-3 l of water a day to flush things through if your antisickness meds don’t work ring your rapid response number and tell them, don’t struggle through thinking oh this is chemo, they will tweak them till they get right combination if it’s needed ask about a wig voucher and also check out pre loved wigs at your Macmillan at your trust if you are wanting a wig. Also book your look good feel better session at your Macmillan in your trust if you want to ask away on here everyone will reach out Shi xx
I feel for you. I’m starting EC on Thursday so we can virtually hold hands together! Its the fear of the unknown but once we have done the first one it will help. X
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Hello to all the June starters- it’s really nice to be back in touch again. I hope you’re all coping well with your various meds and the side effects.
I have had problems with a bad facial rash which seems to be a reaction to paclitaxol it’s been very red and unattractive and I’ve had two creams and two antihistamines to try to get rid of it and at last it’s fading a bit now. The antihistamine can make me very very drowsy tho…
I’m heading towards the end of the pacli sessions thank goodness, four more to go, and I don’t think the 3weekly herceptin jabs have the same side effects. I will be very glad to move away from the runny nose, occasional nose bleeds, slight nausea, skin rash, lack of ability to taste anything savoury- oh and bald head! It’s not exactly fun is it, but the end is in sight. I realised that I first found some discharge from my nipple in September 2022 so it will be a year when I finish this lot, with a mastectomy in the middle.
hang in in there everyone!! Hugs to all X
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Hello again ladies I wrote my last message awhile ago but guess I didn’t press the right button because I think it’s only just loaded!
It’s good to catch up with you all and see that you’re still hanging on and making progress. I’ve only got two more paclitaxol to go then three weekly Herceptin injection s until next June. I’m getting increasingly tired, and have numbness in my left sole and my hands, which concerns me even tho they’ve dropped the dosage slightly. I’m just tired of it all now! Hang on in there people 
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Artylady do let your team know of your continued numbness hang on in there, pace yourself and keep focused your doing so well even if you don’t think you are, you all are treatment at a time keep hold of each other you will get each other through get your treat planned and why not do what other threads have done in the past arrange to all meet up when your all through treatments we had weekend in London if you do plan s meet up between you, do over pm’s to keep safe Shi xx
Hi @Artylady
Glad to hear from you. I’ve eventually got my start date 14 September, 12 weeks Paclitaxol with Herceptin 3 weekly. Got my MUGA heart scan this week, PICC line on 6th, then bloods and clinic on 12th. I’ve booked a cold cap as they said I should only shed but could possibly lose it all. Just want to get it started.
Wig fitting on 4th, NHS in Wales give you money towards one. I’ve already cut my hair short as I was supposed to start chemo in June as per most of the advice, it’s now grown quite a bit. The wig fitter said not to get it cut again as I’d start to loose it after two sessions. That’s 4 weeks away so I’m going for a cut tomorrow, he normally advises all his clients not to change or cut their hair but to keep their normal style and he’ll match a wig to your hair.
I’m sorry to hear you lost your hair, did you cold cap? One oncologist said I’d only shed while the other said I would probably lose most of my hair. Looking at this forum it seems different for everyone. If I’m going to loose it, I’d rather not waste my time with a cold cap, it adds extra hours in the unit and the travel is 70 miles round trip.
You seems to have suffered quite a few side effects, I hope you’re coping with them. I was warned about diarrhoea, they said they’d give medication to take.
You mentioned numbness in your post, please advise your team. It was one of the side effects the oncologist stressed they need to keep an eye on. Neuropathy I think they called it.
Let us know what they say.
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Hi back. Sounds like you’re going to be doing the same as me. I didn’t cold cap, it made me feel claustrophobic when I tried it, and I thought I’d just see what happened. I actually didn’t loose all of it, it’s just very thin and rubbed off more at the sides and back so I trimmed the top to match.
Yes I’ve had an upset tum, but meds have helped, and lost my taste a bit. Just take one day at a time. It’s not forever, but I’ll be very glad when this bit is done- the Herceptin doesn’t affect you in the same way, apparently. Keep your chin up xx
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Hope you are doing ok today. X
Good luck for your first EC 
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