Just over half way through chemo - yay!

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Well hello to you all =)

 

I am new to this site, I have thought for a while about joining - and today is the day!

 

I am just over half way through my chemo, im having TC (Taxotere-Docetaxel/Cyclophosphamide) I have my 4th on Thursday this week. Its not been easy but on the home straight now!  I have been using the cold cap at each treatment… they are ‘interesting’ arnt they! I have lost most of my hair but some is hanging on in there, it was a shock when it started coming out a week after 1st chemo but hung on in there with the caps and it has slowed down and no more has really fallen out since 3rd chemo. So I would highly recommed them but I know everyone is different. I have a bit at the front and back so can create an illusion when wearing a scarf as it pokes out!!  

I have had a reaction twice now to the docetaxel first time was on my 2nd treatment - really bad one but the nurses are great and sorted me out pronto. That was really scary :frowning: Reacted again on my 3rd but luckily not as bad. So the solution seems to be give me the steriods/antihistamines before chemo & slow down the flow from 1 hour to 2 hours … hope that works… wish me luck!

 

I am feeling a bit anxious about my 4th one…I guess there is the thought will i react again, but also knowing how crap im going to feel afterwards…Been a bit teary this week :frowning:   I have been very positive throughout all of this and have a great support network with my family and friends but they just dont know  how it feels do they. I can only try to describe so much to them and they are understanding and of course hate to see me going through this but we joke alot and always have smiles as thats how we get through it.

 Mouth was worse after last one… super dry, sore, toothache, - using Difflam and eating as much pineapple as i can!   Grateful of any other suggestions?

Also get the feeling of a huge lump in my throat… have any of you had this? Takes about a week or so to disappear… think its to do with the acid in stomach Im taking Omeprazole (which i did anyway as have gastric reflux)

I see some of you have the G-CSF/filgrastim injections, I do too (after having zero neutropil count) have to have 1 a day from day 5 for 7 days.  Think the side effects of this mingle in with the ones of the chemo… the bone pain isnt fun i cant tell you that for sure!

 

Chemo sucks doesnt it! but its fighting the bad guys so have to be grateful !  

 

anyway, feels good just to get some of it written down.

 

:smileyhappy:

 

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Dear Justinabanina,

Welcome to the forum where I’m sure you will find a lot of support from fellow members.

There are also threads corresponding to the month chemo began where members share information and support each other- you might find it helpful to have a look

Very best wishes

Janet

BCC Moderator

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Hi Justinabanina
Glad you decided to join this forum it can be very helpful. I have just read through some people’s experience of surgery as I will be having my op on 9 sept.
As for chemo I’ve just finished yeah! Although side effects are still with me. I lost alMost all my hair and ended up with my son (hairdresser) cutting off rest then I felt better in myself. Itdidnt take long for it to start growing back . I know have about half inch of very soft fluffy hair no eyelashes or eyebrows yet though but I’m sure the wont be long. I have had mixed side effects sickness initially but that was sorted with stronger anti sickness tabs. The worsed se is the tiredness I’m just not used to sitting still. But this makes you slow down and learn to take things easy.
I had steroids before docetaxal unfortunately they helped in my weight gain can’t wait to lose it again… Each cycle can be different so try not to worry too much . I also had the omeprazole worked very well for me and for 5 days after had the injections which I’m sure gave me hot sweats . I didn’t have any probs with throat just odd tasting food that I normally liked . Chemo does suck but it has worked for me shrinking my 6.5 cm tumour to nearly nothing so in some ways it doesn’t seem

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To finish sentence
It doesn’t seen so bad
Anyway good luck with the rest of your treatment
Best wishes
D x

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Hi Justinabanina

 

Well done on reaching  the half way mark. I had FEC-T. I was ok on FEC apart from a few SEs, but when I had the first of TAX, I too was in hospital with zero neutrophils, in spite of the fact that I’d had three of the filgastrim injections. It was b****y awful. Neuts went from zero to 0.5 overnight, the jumped (causing me agony) to 11!! I was shivering as my temperature was 38.7, and sobbing due to the pain in my hips, spine and shoulders.  One of the nurses bought me an extra pillow, an extra blanket, another dose of antibiotics,  some paracetamol and ibuprofen - bless him.  My onco put me back on FEC for the last two. 

 

I didn’t bother with cold cap, lost all my hair and looked brilliant, no eyebrows or eyelashes either. It’s coming back well now.

 

Did you join one of the chemo monthly groups? If not, they are a great support as you are all going through the same thing and you can compare SEs.  I know the August group already have over 60 members, but there is also a September group (September Stars) who I’m sure would be glad for you to join. Pop in and ask. I’m a February Valentine and I wouldn’t have coped without that support.

 

Good luck with your remaining doses.

 

Poemsgalore xx

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Hello, Justinabanina.

I completed 3x FEC and 3x TAX  eighteen months ago.

Like you, I used the scalp cooler, which enabled me to keep about half my hair, so I was very pleased.  Like you, I was able to give the effect of normal hair with tendril bits of fringe at the front, and strands around the sides, by disguising my patchy/ balding areas with wide alice bands, and Baker Boy caps when I went out.

When I returned to work, I continued the partial cover-up with buffs in smart, formal patterns, until the balding/patchy areas grew back enough to uncover my head- about seven months post chemo. I now use the buffs around my neck to disguise my scraggyness, so they have been a worthwhile buy!!

I was interested in your question about the lump in your throat, because that was exactly one of the side effects I had during chemo, along with having to constantly clear my throat, and swallow a lot more than normal.

I think the chemo must have done some damage to my throat, because I still, very occasionally, have the same symptoms, which last a few days, then disappear.  I still, although rarely now, eighteen months after the chemo finished, get runny eyes and nose, which dogged me throughout treatment.

I think that chemo, by its very nasty nature, leaves us all with side effects which do take a long time to completely go away- but of course we all have different metabolisms and some of us will be effected with many things, and some of us with hardly any at all.

I wish you all the best as you come to the end of your treatment- I found the last ‘lap’ dragged on and on- but you do get through it- just keep your eye on the light at the end of the tunnel!!