hi had my first fec (3xfec,3xtax) last friday all went ok…anti sickness pills worked a treat, taste buds gone to pot on monday,cracked sore tongue by wednesday but not stopping me eating ha ha etc.felt abit tired tue and wed afternoon but apart from that ok.Im waiting for all the horrible SE ive heard about and am having panics about it all as im a lone mum of 2 boys 10 and 14. had a mascetomy 5 weeks ago and waiting for my “bouncy plastic boob”. got a wig on monday ready for the hair going which im not looking forward to but its the means to an end and will grow back,which is scaring me already as i havent seen my natural colour for many years.
Im trying to keep positive about all of this but have and do get “wobbles” as i call them frequently…
would love to chat to anyone else going through the same thing
xxx keep smiling xxx
Hi there! I’m having my 1st chemo next Tues and am feeling very scared and apprehensive, so its good to hear you haven’t been too bad! I went shopping tonight and stocked up on everything everyone has suggested!
love Debs xxx
I did that too debs! I have a dedicated chemo food cupboard now! Good to hear sunflower SE werent too bad as i have 8 FEC starting 2nd July.
best wishes
xx
Hi sunflower and welcome to the forums,
You may find our resource pack useful to order, it contains information about further support from BCC which you may find helpful over the coming weeks and months, including our helpline, along with diagnosis and treatment information:
breastcancercare.org.uk/server/show/nav.718/changeTemplate/PublicationDisplay/publicationId/82
Hey Ladies,
Just saw your wee post and throught I’d butt in. I had 3xFEC and 3xtax from June last yr to Oct. I am glad to hear your side effects haven’t been too bad. One piece of advice I can give is talk to your consultant/registrar at each session, tell them all effects you have. Sunflower for the mouth they’ll give you gel to gargle with. I was one of those people who sort of felt I just had to deal with it until I had a wee young registrar and he asked me loads of questions about how I felt, i came out that day with 2 bags of drugs etc instead of the usual 1.
I will say ladies that I am now 6 months post treatment (I had 25x rads too) although I am on tamoxifen and it does now feel like a distant, albeit unpleasant, memory. I found the 2nd dose the worst on each, so be warned, it isn’t that same for everyone.
A word you will hear on here is ‘doable’ and it is ‘doable’ my hair has come back and it’s the same colour (brown) but is curly now. It really didn’t take long to grow back.
I wish you all the best with the rest of your treatment, keep your cupboards stocked but you may not need all the stuff talked about and you may find other things that suit you better. I’ve never eaten as many curries as I did on chemo, I could just about taste them.
I will pop in and see how you are all doing.
Take care
Lisa
xoxo
Hi Sunflower65,
Glad your 1st chemo went well. I’m having my 1st on Monday. I’ll be having 3xfec & 3xtax, bit scared but finding lots of advice and support through this forum. Joined the forum last week and learning loads, will be armed and ready for it on Mon.
Love to all going through the same.
Elaine.xx
Hi all
Where can I find a list of what to put in the chemo cupboard??? I’m probably being a bit dim as it must be on this site somewhere!
I’m starting my chemo on 22nd June (4 x FEC 4 x TAX) and all your postive posts after first treatments are really helpling.
Thanks for yours Lisa - it really helps to hear from people who have come out the other end!
Love
Jayney
x
Hi Sunflower
I went through mastectomy, chemo and radio and am now on Femara - a year ago yesterday - it was my op - have to say - chemo wasn’t as bad as I thought it would be. First one ok, second - not too bad then after that - it was over to the anti-sickness tablets called cyclizine - they were BRILLIANT and Difflam for the sore mouth - again - fantastic. Lost me hair 2 weeks to the day after first treatment - got me sister to buzz it off - she left about 1cm - which in hindsight I wish I’d had taken off too - as instead of finding 6 inch hairs on me pillow - I was inundated with 1cm lengths - they got in the soap in the shower, fell in me plate - honestly for me it should have all been buzzed off! I maintained my make-up every day (except when I was really off the crocks - which wasn’t that often) and the wig I got was FAB - in fact better than me own hair. I was on TACT2 clinical trial - and was randomly chosen for 4 x epi and 4 x capcitibine. My hair started coming back 2 weeks after I finished the intravenous epi - (capcitibine was a tablet form of chemo) - and is now fully back - like a mop! Have had it cut twice already - I know it’s a bit daunting - the prospect of losing your hair - but as someone said in an earlier post - it’s a means to an end - and hey just think of yourself as - ohhhh - forgotten her name - the one who sang - Nothing compares to you!! - she looked beautiful - and so will you. Best wishes and keep positive - you’ll be amazed at how your family and friends react - I was brought to tears many times (in private of course) at the tenderness and loving nature of those around you - they really matter. Pam x
Started FEC on monday 8th june, threw up within three hours (did not want the steroids as they have not been kind to me over the years so had plain anti-sickness drugs)started eating again on wednesday-carrs water biscuits and fresh watermelon!
I took advice form a friend who is a nutrionist and have stocked up on honey, fresh fruit, fresh veg (I am lucky I grow my own organic fruit & veg) organic chicken etc.Rather have naff taste in the mouth than eat some of the sugary,salty food suggested in some of the books.
The water biscuits are brilliant and plain filtered water.
Hope this is of help Car
Hi Janey,
I too have been wondering what to put in ‘chemo cupboard’, but found some helpful hints in the “Top tips to help you get through chemotherapy”.
All the best.
Elaine.xx
hi all thanks for all your lovely and helpfull comments,this site has really helped me as wednesday of last week id got myself so worked up because of all the fears and comments id heard from other people i thought if its really gonna be this bad is it really worth putting me and my family through this.
I know everyones experiences are going to be different and everybody’s body handles it in its own way but id heard how ill they were and how hard it was with the SE,but after ready lots of possitive comments on here and peoples experiences i gave myself a good talking to and decided to take each day as it comes and deal with what happens when and if it happens rather than sit worrying about whay might be.
Im alot happier now and i think this will have some bearing on my future treatments,even though my first wasnt at all too bad.
was wondering though the sore tongue thing does that clear up before my next dose of cemo or will it be here till the end of all 6.
thanks again
Sally xx
hi sally - I had 3 fec and having last tax this thursday - mouth trouble and all the other s/e’s for me cleared up about 5-7 days before next session…mary x
thanks for that, noticed today that tongue isnt half as bad as it was but wasnt sure wether it was the antibiotis im on as on my low immunity week at mo or weather it just getting better, but also noticed things taste better too, thank god.
hair is starting to come out just by a few strands at mo but no doubt it will get worse.ive got wig and scarves ready and part of me just wants it to go now so its over and done with ha ha
Another thing ive been wondering is the SE ive had this cemo will i get the same on next cemo but worse.? wasnt sick on 1st one so does that mean i wont be sick next time ?
thanks for any advice
Sally xx