Hi Guida
I’ve had one lot of Filgrastim, so far, so good. The only thing i got was slightly swollen ankles.
Good luck.
Thank you for you kinds words. We were away for a few days before starting treatment which was lovely, with the exception of the oncology call.
Wishing you all the best for today. X
Funny old week. 2nd allergic reaction to the Paclitaxel so they are switching to another drug next week. I just love the big red emergency button being pressed ?
got broken skin on foot which they take really seriously because of infection.
hair shedding on cold cap but told that is normal around 20 days and will stop in a week
But positive news, saw my consultant and my lump has lost its density which is good, she said.
Everytime chemo hurts us the cancer cells are feeling it way more! ?
hugs for a peaceful weekend for all of us
xxxxx
Hope everyone’s doing OK. I love your attitude @rachel60 I hadn’t thought of the cancer cells getting their arses kicked before. Makes me smile. I find the whole emotional stuff that accompanies the disease really tough, so maybe every time I have chemo, having a mental image of a cancer cell with a face on, writhing in pain as it gets a good kicking, will help.
@Florence_87 I think your oil pulling tip was a good one. Thank you. I do it in the morning and in the evening I swill my mouth with a solution of 1 teaspoon salt, one tablespoon bicarb of soda and 8 fl oz water. I’m using a child’s toothbrush and so far my mouth has been OK.
Someone gave me a good shampoo brand for cold capping-Phillip Kingsley. They have a website.
I’m finding that doing small bursts of Pilates and walking a huge help. One week after receiving my cancer diagnosis I got my results from my Pilates Instructor exam. I’d passed, which made things seem a bit better. After my second surgery I couldn’t work so did an APPI Pink Ribbon Pilates Instruction course, which was amazing. It goes into exercises that help to rehabilitate each specific type of reconstruction. If anyone needs any tips about helpful exercises for specific reconstructions or lumpectomy surgery, I’d be happy to post info or YouTube links here. Have a great weekend.
@Geo23 congratulations on qualifying! what a great positive step to take.
I love pilates, so very much up for any tips and ideas you have. Thanks! Trying to keep upper body mobile for end off year op!
xxc
Thanks @rachel60 below is a link to a quick full body stretch session by one of the ladies who trained us, Tracy Ward. She’s a Physiotherapist and APPI Instructor trainer. She does a nice upper body workout on her Freshly Centered YouTube channel if you want to look at strengthening too. There are a whole variety of classes she has posted on there.
- Congratulations @Geo23 on your qualification and thanks for the link. I hope you get more answers on Monday @naughty boob after meeting your team. I hope cycle no2 @Florence_87 has been giving you less side effects ?. And I hope you are all enjoying the sunshine
with your families and friends. Today is going to be my first day (since Friday, 17th) of not taking any medicine or injection… This first week has been ok: just feeling fatigued in the afternoon, severe constipation (5 days +?), and some back/bone pain after ? no. 6 I continue to work on reduced hours - my employer has been great. I walk every day for 1 hour and I’m going to try to add yoga/pilates in the evening. Still holding to my hair?( I cold-capped) but it’s still early days.
Hi
I just started with my first session last Wednesday, I’m having weekly Paclitaxel for 12 weeks and Trastuzumab every 3 weeks as an injection.
I had a mastectomy two months ago and they said that was it, but then found another tumour in the tissue they removed, so it was a bit of a shock to have to have chemo as well. I’m feeling quite anxious about getting side effects, and coping on my own, so it’s great to have this forum and connect with others in the same boat .
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Thank you @Guida , it’s been another long week waiting but have tried to keep busy. I’m getting fed up of telling people something has changed. I may keep it to myself for a bit and just let people know when surgery or chemo actually starts.
@janeymay60 syas it’s a full time job. Waiting on calls, being available to take calls, being available at the drop of a hat for an appointment. I’m exhausted and I’m signed of my real work. Good job I’m emotionally drained. Oncologist prescribed some sleeping pills as I haven’t had a full nights sleep for 3 months since stopping my HRT. I woke once to go to the toilet so sleepy and straight back to sleep, woke at 8:50am and feel so much better for the rest. Advised to take only 2/3 nights a week.
Glad you are doing as well as can be expected. Constipation is horrendous, I have it when they give me codeine. I always say what will happen but they insist I need it ( after an operation) and each time I’m in agony and have to try to get laxatives. I’ve tried eating grapes or prunes and walk regularly but nothing helps. So pleased the cold capping appears to be working.? By the sounds of it it’s not an easy option. So we’ll done.
Have a good week. 
Hi @Artylady
@How are you doing?
I haven’t started my chemotherapy yet due to them now finding another tumour in the other breast. You can probably read back through thread and see my posts. I’m also HER2 positive so with be on Trastuzumab with chemo. Hopefully will know exactly tomorrow when they give me my new treatment plan.
Everybody has been really supportive on here.
Hi naughty boob- great name by the way. Thanks for your response to my post. I hope you get your treatment plan tomorrow, I always find it’s not knowing what’s happening that makes me most anxious. I’m also waiting for the results of an mri scan- my ct showed something they wanted to check out on my liver- but I’m trying not to think about that.
Hi all,
This is my first post on the forum. I’ve been diagnosed with ER/PR+, HER2- breast cancer at 29. I’m hoping to connect with other young women to hopefully help me feel less alone. I’m having EC every 2 weeks, Zoladex every month, followed by 12 weekly paclitaxol (then surgery, maybe radiotherapy). I had my first EC treatment on the 15th June. I fainted after my treatment and was sick, but didn’t feel too bad the following day. I had really nasty hip pain for 3 days from the white blood cell injection, so will be asking them for some strong painkillers to help with that next cycle - anyone had similar? I had days where I felt really sick even with metoclopramide anti-sickness, so I might need to ask for something stronger. I also felt completely knackered for 2 days after I finished the steroids and just stayed in bed. I got oral thrush aswell at day 6, so I was given some antifungal mouth liquid which has worked well.
1 round down, 15 to go! Need to keep myself motivated and positive
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Welcome to the forum Jess . I’m sure the other ladies on the thread will give you lots of support you could also post in the younger womens section of the forum to make some connections ?
Hello @Jess_ so sorry to hear of your diagnosis and so young. We are all here to support each other and this has been a bit of a lifeline.
I’ve no idea what age - probably mixed - but we all are here for each other and can all help. And sounds like there is also a group for young women too.
The best advice I’ve found is to let the team know each side effect because they can help you manage so many. Its just a bit of getting it right for you. Nothing is too small to mention. I know there are some amazing women here on EC. I’ve got same treatment plan but EC at the end.
Everytime I feel a reaction (discovered I’m allergic to Paclitaxol so that got sorted with an alternative that does the same job) or a side effect I just try to visualise what the cancer cells must be feeling. Our bodies will heal but the cancer cells won’t - that’s the goal. On less good days its helped me.
xxx
So sorry to hear you are still waiting @naughty boob . Hope today brings a plan. I found it way less stressful when I had that so keeping everything crossed for you today. X
hi @Jess_ I’m on the same protocol - EC every 2 weeks. You are doing the right thing by talking to your nurse/doctor about your symptoms. I started the 1st cycle on the 17th of June. I also felt fatigued: It’s like you are given 2 spoons of energy per day. I use one to exercise, the second I have to choose: either work, do errands, go shopping. Day 4 was the exception…no spoons ? that day. I felt the back/bone pain on Saturday, day 8 - it comes in waves. I had to cancel my plans but paracetamol was enough to keep it under control. Sometimes, if I’m busy, I even forget the treatment and that feels good ?. Good luck on Wednesday ?
Hi @Jess_ I believe I have the same diagnosis as you and was diagnosed earlier this year (such a shock isn’t it?) at 34, so I’m a little older.
I’ve had my surgery and am now on chemo, some EC same as you then swapping to T. My first session was last Monday, and like you I was vomiting afterwards and found the nausea hard to deal with.
Does anyone have any tips for the nausea, or for how many days after to continue the anti sickness medication? I was also really suffering from fatigue, but with the feeling that I couldn’t rest or settle for the first few days.
Those were the worst for keeping positive, I felt so miserable I wanted to give up. After a week I am feeling better, and hey, that’s one down, right?
Thanks for the warm welcome everyone ?
@Cali Very similar starting time for EC and similar diagnosis - we can do this, sending you strength. I think there are different levels of anti-sickness meds and they start you off on the lower stuff and then can increase it. I was told to take anti-sickness for 3 days afterwards (3 times a day) and then as and when I needed it, which ended up being atleast once a day. I think they will be able to offer you a different type which may suit you better (I’m going to ask for something stronger). I was also recommended peppermint tea and ginger tea, the ginger tea worked pretty well, it’s been so hot I’ve been brewing it and letting it cool and then having it as an iced tea which has been really refreshing. I’ve also been eating ginger biscuits. Let me know if you have find any more anti-sickness tips!
@Guida Thanks for your encouragement Guida - I really like the spoons idea, haven’t heard of that before. I think being happy with accomplishing a few tasks a day is good as you feel you’ve achieved something and keeps your mind focused. I’ve been exercising a bit too, just walking outside and some youtube yoga. Hoping to increase exercise as I’ve been told it’s really important throughout and after treatment.
@rachel60 Thanks for your support Rachel, it’s made me feel better already just sharing my first post. I appreciate your advice about symptoms, I’ve been really lucky with the nurses looking after me - they’ve suggested tapering off the steroids at day 3 to prevent the fatigue crash on day 4 and have offered a strong painkiller for bone pain from the injection. I sometimes forget that they’ve seen so many women go through these symptoms and they have so much knowledge of things which can help. When I was feeling sick, I had a similar thought as you like ’I hope the cancer is feeling this more than me!’. Some people call EC the red devil, but my nurse has said it’s more like the red warrior - it’s defeating the cancer, and imagining it like that was a good shifting point in my mindset!
@Jill1998 Thanks for the welcome Jill, I’ve now found the younger womens section of the forum and I’ve actually been watching some webinars breast cancer now have been running for younger women, one on exercise and another on diet which have been brilliant. I’m visiting Future dreams house (in london) for a young womens breast cancer meet up tomorrow. Im throwing myself into this!