I’ll be every three weeks for docetaxel and phesgo, I’ve been every 2 for four rounds with EC. I have to admit to some relief at the idea of longer breaks between doses of the next bit, a larger number of good days versus bad (hopefully).
Taking your injection and a sleeping tablet seems like a winning combo!
Im feeling ok at the moment considering only 2 hours sleep. But now i could have a few tough days ahead but 
its kinder than EC.
Really nit looking forward to thr injections 
Nurses stayed with me until i passed the markers for reactions and then werent far away for the rest ofnit as you get 2 nurses (or i did) with docetacel 
My 2nd is the day after yours on the 6th
Just trying now to focus on keeping on track and hopefully not such a mess as EC has been hard.
Moving down the mountain nownwith just 2 more to go. Its felt forever as I have been every 3 weeks
Hope you got on ok with it. I have 1 more EC and then will be moving on to this too so will be interested to see how you get on. It all feels a bit of a lottery doesn’t it about whether EC or the next one is worse - I think it’s different for everyone but I hope you’re doing OK xxx
I’m a couple of weeks after you with my first one due on 18th May xxx
Yes EC was not kind to me but I do suffer with chronic anxiety too.
Nurses said today that EC is normally the worse part but everyone reacts differently.
The injections are a first for me. Nurses semmed shocked I hadnt had them on EC.
not to bad but full of steriods as didnt take this high amount on EC.
Thank you for the message
Absolutely moving down the mountain - that’s the way to go too. I do as others have suggested with the injections, out of the fridge for half an hour, paracetamol and then to bed. I do have a headache the next morning often but this has been working to deal with any side effects. The first one feels weird but you do get used to it.
I hope you continue to feel this is better than the EC for you.
My leg hair is horrendous - what’s that all about when i dread washing or combing my head !
Sounds like lots of people are coming to the end of EC. I’ve got 1 more paclitaxel then move onto EC for 4 x fortnightly. Feeling quite nervous reading how tough some of you have found it.
I decided today to take some time off work this week. I’ll see how I am on Tues for the day before my final paclitaxel but now feel I can give myself permission to take the time I need. My employer was so supportive and encouraged me to put myself first.
Today was hair wash day, more came out. Despite cold capping I’ve lost maybe 50% and it’s making me look like a monk with a comb over. Not quite ready to go short yet but not enough left to wear the hair topper anymore. 
Glad it’s not been too bad @sammy75 
. Thinking of you and hoping you recover well over next day or two. You are well overdue for some good days!
Thank you. Also people saying to take claritin as well an hour before injection. Will give anything a go if it keeps me on track. @clarabelle1
Thank you so much @sam1204 . I know its not going to be easy as no chemo is I guess but just really need to catch a break. I so want to stay on track and reach my goal of going back to work August.
But learnt my lesson now. Just focusing on the next 6 weeks to last one and recovery after that
It sounds as though you’ve had a rough time on pacs and from what I can gather if you do bad on one, you breeze the next. And there are less allergic reactions for EC so hopefully alot of your side effects will calm right down
Glad you have been able to take some time to yourself to recover
Salt water is good. Ive been using a commercial one , though. Clinisept+ Dental.
Me, too. I thought may have been a lot to do with beginning to lose my hair - but maybe it’s also to do with realising that, by their nature, cycles just go round and round and round - and there are so many more to go!
Elmo cream is an overvthe counter anasthetic that makes the injections much easier. I put that on the same time I get the syringe out of the fridge.
@wibbles and @sam1204 thank you for the further pax tips! Really grateful.
@sammy75 how are you doing? Hope you had an ok night. It’s such a milestone to be done with your EC and as you say descending down that mountain. Stay strong!
@joodles so lovely that you’ve booked the seaside. It’ll be a great tonic for you! I had EC4 on Monday and after a couple of good rest days with a just a few steps outside I’m feeling more human.
@katie91 you’re done with EC now right? Congrats! I felt sick night of my last cycle too! Glad you’re feeling better though. How’s your hair going? I’m full on bald monk patch with some mitigation by a combover 
wore wig the other day and was okish!
@foxgem you are so right on the hair! I was so down about it a fortnight ago but we want these harsh drugs to be doing their job and hopefully the impact on hair etc is a sign they are! How are you doing?
@felineoptimist I hope the 3 week gap will be a real improvement for you - as you say more “normal” days!
@clarabelle good luck with last EC! It’s a nice feeling to tick off one type I think (all being well).
@2kittens I definitely found the anxiety of EC worse than the reality. You will be ok I hope - especially chemo as a concept is not new to you. Listen to your body and take the anti sickness as advised. Good idea to manage work as you need.
Sending everyone good wishes! X
Hey @jululemon good to hear from you! When do you have your next cycle? Feels great to be moving onto something else doesn’t it! How’s things going aside from the monk combover
My hairs doing OK so far, still a good bit of length but the crown has a lovely big bald patch on it I can still get away without the wig topper but because I’m trying not to touch my hair it just looks abit frizzy and horrible and then I’m conscious of the wind blowing my hair and revealing my bald crown so I’ve been wearing the wig topper the last few days and everybody keeps saying my hair looks really nice, they don’t have a clue it’s not my hair (most people don’t know about my diagnosis etc I’ve kept it very private!)
Pic of the length and crown post 3rd ec, I think I’ve got a good bit of retention but let’s see what happens at the peak shed of cycle 3!!! I’m day 3 post 3rd EC then onto docetaxel! When did you find the biggest shed with EC? I had a huge shed day 21 post EC for about a week and then don’t seem to have had another one has big as that just more gradual shedding.
Xxxx
@katie91 the hair is looking great, not bad at all and the length must definitely help in tying it up and covering up the top.
I’ve had a bit of a cry over hair this week as the shedding has upped since starting Paclitaxel, it had calmed down loads on the EC, but now all fallen out around the ears and more at the top. Also hair on one eyebrow has really thinned so this is a good look 
Just thought I’d recommend a podcast I listened to yesterday which was really interesting and motivating, Begin Again with Davina McCall, she did one with Julia Bradbury (called the cancer signs I ignored) about her breast cancer and what she’s done since her operation (diet/lifestyle/meditation etc).
@katie91 That’s looking like amazing retention!!! I would say my shedding was worst 21-35 days after the first EC (I’ve had 4 fortnightly now). It has (dare I say it) reduced a bit now but is still coming out to an extent.
@herts82 I am sorry to hear shedding upped post pax. Not good news for me. My brows are thinning a bit but hope I don’t lose them on pax. Hopefully it’ll ease off and you’ll retain something. I actually listened to the Davina and Jo Malone podcast at some point!
