Another long day and travelling 1 hour each way but it went much better today. I was given anti sickness pill and steroids before and I decided to do the cold cap which wasn’t too bad. Could only use compression glove on 1 hand as cannula in the other. 
Chemo 1 done and so relieved. Hope you all have a lovely weekend x
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So glad to hear it went better yesterday @joc2. It’s a long ole day isn’t it, between the commute there (I’m an hour too), the cold capping and all the premeds and slow initial rates of the infusion but the day seemed to pass quite quickly. Thankfully I had no big reactions just pain in my infusion arm towards the end. I also had a wee cannula in my hand so just had to keep the cold mitt off that one too. The anticipation was worse than the actual day for me and likewise just glad to have got the first one done.
For anyone on ondasetron (anti sickness meds) did the tablets make you a bit woozy?
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Hello I Started in APril,
Advice I would provide, wear comfy clothes. Asda do very good adaptive sweat tops, online. If you are cold capping you will need something warm to wear,
I have started to take cheap slippers so when I go to the ladies.
Go to the loo before you start. sip fluid do not drink loads as you would have the salin going through you. I try to wait once one treatment is done to go to the toilet.
Take some small snacks ,
Take book, something to keep you occupied.
Take care Big Hugs XXX
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So glad your chemo went well for you. At least we will have one ok hand from using one mitt 
. Hope you continue to feel ok x
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How are you now? I had my first EC and it’s been horrid, came home then straight up A and E as my heart rate went through the roof and still shaky now from it, had horrid mini side effects some tingling and the red face and headaches been awful, they said could of been the steroids so I’m not to take them until I see oncology next week.
Not a nice first experience for me now just dredding every one 
feeling pretty sad right now
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@littlebitbrave First up-sending love! There are things that can be done & your team will get you through it. I had a similarly awful & terrifying first EC but I completed all 6 rounds of chemo after learning how my body reacted to what is a very standard formulaic approach to dispensing chemo but it doesn’t mean its the same experience for every one of us. It’s a poisoning & the body can be completely shocked by what it does-you need some of this to fight the bloody cancer cells but not so much that you’re knocked for six. Talk to your oncologist asap. In my case I ended up adding infusion anti-histamines, cutting the steroids down to a minimum & having a dose reduction-that’s what I needed to get through treatment. They are used to this and can flex so many elements so trust in them. For the moment try some breathwork techniques/ maybe look at headspace or insight timer-take control back against all this by reclaiming & calming your nervous system. I promise you can get through this like all of us who have gone befofe you xx
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Hi @LittleBitBrave sorry to hear about ur EC experience. Im hoping it will be better next cycle like mine..
I had a rought first night after my 1st chemo, EC, similar to AC, i had the headache, didnt know if i was hot or cold in bed, felt nauseous all day and night, horrible horrible acid reflux, light headed, felt like my bowels were going to explode, i got very little sleep, intense food craving for eggs and orange juice the next morning. I was like a zombie next day when i went into get picc dressing changed i got a stronger anti nausea and another type to help me sleep. Ive just had my 2nd chemo last thursday. I was so so anxious about it , but thankfully this time i was lot better after, i think my body must have been in shock after the first dose and perhaps now it knows what to do. U will get through it. It feels like such a long way to the finish line but we will make it 
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@LittleBitBrave sending virtual hugs…can only imagine how scarey that was.
Having felt like i had been hit by a train the last few days and then awful heartburn last night, your message @whataloadof is really helpful. Thank you
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Hi everyone. I was a December 2025 chemo starter. I had my last infusion on 17th April.
I’ve got a couple of accessible/adaptive clothing jumpers if anyone would like them? I’m a size 12. They’ve got zips at the top to allow access to your port. And they have zips on the arms to allow access to your arms if you have a PICC line.
I’ve got a grey one and the pink one in this picture…
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What a lovely gesture. I would love to take you up but I’m slightly larger than you.. hope your chemo Was successful and tolerable for you..
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How are you doing now ? @LittleBitBrave ? Hope you’re feeling bit better.. 
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Good luck to anyone starting with me tomorrow!!
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@loopylea, I had surgery first then chemotherapy. I was alright for the first 2 rounds of EC. The third round took longer to recover from. I reacted on round 2 and 3 of Paclitaxel so was changed to Nab-Paclitaxel and I tolerated that just fine. I wore compression socks and gloves and only experienced slight tingling in my hands and slight burning sensation in my feet.
It’s hard to see the finish line when you’re just starting, but looking back, it went quite fast.
Good luck tomorrow.
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@LittleBitBrave l am glad you will be seen by oncology before your next chemo. I had two adverse reactions in a row, saw my oncologist who promised to ensure I was looked after by the most experienced ward sister in charge whilst providing every possible supportive drug and a promise that any sign of another reaction the drug causing it would be stopped and they would give rescue meds. If I did react they would ensure I had a drug with a very different carrier as in my case it’s the carrier that triggers an allergic reaction as it hits 5ml.
There are usually ways around that oncologists know and we do not at the time. Just because one drug causes an adverse reaction or delayed reaction does not mean there are not other drugs they can try. Sadly Ìt is often trial and error to find out what works for you. I now take a daily antihistimine, have a longer course of steroids plus prescription lotions etc and have a antihistimine and steroid infusion prior to treatment starting. In my case it helps. TBH each time has resulted in a different side effects making itself felt but the red card chemotheraphy nurses on call have been incredibly supportive and helpful.
I will say the first adverse reaction l did not know what the hell had hit me, second time l was sure l was going to die and needed a doctor. scared the proverbial out of me. CAlled my oncologists secretary and insisted on seeing them before anyone tried again. The third time I had three ward sisters ready with rescue drugs who responded as l started to react and that felt safer. Oncologist argued with hospital purchases that l needed nab paxitaxel made up and couriered in from a specilist hospital as my regional hospital pharmacy does not carry it as its three times the price of the other taxels. ( on Phesgo, nabpaxitaxel and carboplatin pre surgery as my lodger is grade 2 HER+)
HAng in there and talk with your oncologist before the next round - if need be write your concerns and questions down and hand it to them and ask if one of the BCNs could write down their answers for you and maybe go through them for you again after. I had to as I was in such a state I struggled to take anything in but my oncologist has been extra supportive and makes sure they see me before each round to check I am coping.
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Thank you for that it’s reassuring to hear. Xxx
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Good luck xx
Thank you, I’m hearing so many people reacting to their first couple of doses.. I’m not having EC, because I have a heart condition which they need to protect, so have to have 6 cycles of docetaxel and carboplatin..
I’ve got compression socks ( from surgery) and surgical gloves that are too small x 2 pairs., how long did you wear them for? Did dyou travel in the socks or put them on at the hospital and wear them home? And did they work for you?
I’ve got to be honest, I’m not looking forward to it , haven’t coped too well with the steroids, let alone how the chemo will make me feel.. had a dull headache since starting them, really powerful heart beat and.hot sweats!! Not sure this is normal for the steroids!! As they are a huge dose aren’t they?
Hey @loopylea
My first time the first thing the nurse did was sit down with me to chat through how I was feeling about treatment and to explain how everything works before we even got started on anything. This was absolutely priceless because it set such a positive and supportive tone for the entire experience so hopefully they will help to make you feel looked after from the off.
I’ve had a lot of support from and enjoyed interacting with other patients there also and my unit can actually can be quite a social place. Some do just pop their earbuds in and stay in their own little world and others are so chatty that a few hours can go by without me even noticing!
My biggest piece of advice is to be sure to let the nurses know of the concerns you’ve had prior to treatment such as feeling anxious and the steroids, always let someone know if you’re worried or not sure about something during and ask about anything you might need to know for after you’ve gone home.
Hope it all goes well for you! x
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I was nervous about a reaction too but other than some flare in my veins was ok. Hope it all goes well for everyone having treatment today xx
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@loopylea, I wore the compression socks to the hospital and took them off when I got home. Do your surgical ones compress the feet or just your calf muscles? You’ll want compression around your feet.
And I put the compression gloves on just before they started the infusion and took them off just before going home.
I didn’t have to take steroids outside of the hospital. I was given a steroid tablet in my pre meds prior to EC. Then when I changed to Nab-Paclitaxel, there were no pre meds for me at all. After taking the steroid I used to have rosy red cheeks and I didn’t sleep well that night. Luckily that was it for me.
You’re understandably feeling nervous today. There are so many thoughts, feelings and emotions tied up in having chemo. Tell the nurses today if you’re particularly nervous and they will support you. And you will get through it. We all find the strength from somewhere. x
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