Those on Pac 2 weekly which one would u choose out of EC and pac ? Is it mostly bone pain u get with Pac any other side effects i meed to be aware of please i start my first dose on friday not looking forward to it
Hey @clarabelle1 Docetaxel I would still say for me has been easier in lots of ways than EC. No nausea, not spaced out or dizzy, no heart palpitations, digestive issues/constipation etc!
Now I know what to expect with docetaxel I’m prepared with mouth gels and salt rinses which I’ll start on day 2/3 of the next round to prevent it and stick with plain and gentle foods for a few days too before I get any symptoms! The bone aches were potentially made worse by me doing too much (16k steps on day 3 when steroids were still in my system), so I’ll completely tone it down next time 
Day 8 and I’m feeling much better this evening, done 10k steps round a lovely local RHS Bridgewater garden today and then a trip to see the devil wears prada 2 at the cinema!
I think you’re right too, coming on here and being open about our experiences will help us all! The good, the bad and the ugly! Despite having a rough couple of days I now have 2 weeks of hopefully feeling back to my normal self and I’m armed with lots of products and tips off here to help prevent the same issues next time 
I definitely underestimated the mouth issues!! But I’m armed now for round 2 
Sending love to you xxxx
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Thank you so much @katie91 that really makes me feel so much better about it all. I’ve already had the mouth ulcers and not being able to swallow on EC so I’ll up my game and get some more of the green mouth wash stuff that has worked so far. No dizziness, nausea, palpitations and the lottery of feeling ok and then awful the next day that you can get with EC sounds a good swap. I’ll bear in mind the bones aches and pains and change my activity accordingly. I really appreciate you sharing your experiences with me - I’ll let you know if I get anything too that you might experience in the future (mines next Monday) I hope you enjoyed the movie - is it worth the trip.? Much love back to you too 
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@herts82 I started doing the rinses last night and it has definitely made a difference today thank god so I’ll start that much earlier in round 5 to hopefully prevent it!! Xxx
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I’m glad you feel abit better about it! I’ve read tonight that for next time I should do the bicarb of soda and salt rinse, then use the green mouthwash about 20 mins later and then clairgel which coats it to protect!
I felt so hungover for a few days on EC, still tolerable and managed to get out and about but felt pretty toxic like I’d drank a litre of vodka straight the night before kinda rough on it 
which I’m glad to report it’s definitely a different feeling, more fluey run down for a couple of days but as I say still made it out and about/school runs/playgroups/work etc!
Oh yes definitely keep me posted how you get on it with it I’m sure you will be absolutely fine with it xxxx
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And yesssss I really loved the devil wears prada 2!! Just sad my my poorly tongue couldn’t stand popcorn today
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Wow @katie91 you’ve still managed to pack lots in ! I’m trying to do things, meet up with friends and walk or exercise in some way most days but I can’t wait for it all to be done evenso. The best thing has been this forum !! xxxx
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Haha I’m like that in general constantly doing something but have a 3 and 5 year old daughter too that are very active, so this weekend when I did have to slow down and go and have a couple of afternoon naps were a shock to the system but dare I say quite nice 
sounds like you’re still managing to do nice things too, I think its what has got me through all of this.
Oh same I keep thinking about the little things I’m looking forward to post chemo! And just to not have to think about everything around chemo side effects and appointments! We’re almost there now
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Sorry to hear some of you have struggled with the tax bone/joint pain - I had it on day 4 I think for a couple of days then it went. Cocodomol did help.
For my first paclitaxel dose dense cycle I did not have any filgastrim injections. Sadly I was not able to have the second infusion this week as neutrophils too low. So that is disappointing. Oncologist characteristically amazing and efficient though and we are trying again later this week. I’ll be back on the injections for the rest of the treatment. Just hoping it is not pushed back again.
@sam1204 i recall you having low neutrophil quandaries - aside from the cacao do you have any tips? Xx
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Hello Marchers. After an auspicious start of the Docetaxel/Phesgo merry go round, where I was delighted to greet more or less no side effects apart from fatigue in the afternoons, I got hit with the stick over the weekend. Very tired, fluey pains, and a sore throat and mouth really ruining my buzz, spent a lot of Saturday asleep. CTH sent me to GP to get the throat checked, they were great - neutrophils normal and in fact showing a normal immune response so she’s given me antibiotics for the sore throat but said it’s belt and braces, probs viral. Today is day 7 post infusion so gonna hope for some symptoms to die off soon. Have also got nosebleeds which is a new experience for me. I am simultaneously unable to countenance most foods but equally constantly thinking about food 
any soft squishy, lukewarm or cold foods you can think of? Even a soft roll felt like sandpaper to my mouth yesterday. I’m eating way too much dairy as yoghurt, milk, ice cream are all on the good list. On the upside I’m also enjoying the lack of nausea, and sharper brain - the EC hangover has nothing to recommend it.
Happy Tuesday folks xx
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@felineoptimist have a look on the Cancer made me eat thread for ideas on soft foods as someone asked same question a day or two ago and a few of us posted some ideas.
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@jululemon the cocoa is the main thing, but I also tried for a high protein diet, specific fruits such as kiwis, papaya, cherries, blueberries and cranberries as well as citrus. Milled linseed daily. Moderate exercise boosts neutrophils too. Those are my best tips. I only missed one chemo out of 12 due to the low neutrophil issue. Hope you get back on track soon 
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I cooked a packet Pad Thai last night. You know the ones you can buy that you just add ingredients to. The rice noodles were so easy to eat! I just did it with a little bit of veg and some chicken.
I also like the stuffed pasta you can buy, tortellini. This with some veggies and a red pesto sauce 
very soft and easy to eat.
My go to breakfast at the moment is warmed soy milk poured over 2 weetabix and a banana with a little bit of honey. I could eat that all day. I’m out of banana today so I’m going to do the same with some chopped apple and add a sprinkle of cinnamon
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@felineoptimist sorry you said cold/lukewarm. All those things I think you could definitely leave to cool. Ive often eaten the pasta cold the next day
Thank you xx
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Don’t know if this help with the neutrophils but I have two tablespoons of this every morning with no salt/sugar muesli, blueberries and either milk or Greek youghurt and I’m sure it’s helping with any digestive issues xxx
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I admit it- l live on a mix of soup, then broths then casseroles, tbh Ìt does get a bit depressing but it’s a good way to gain some veg and protein with extra fluid. Make sure it is at temp then allow to cool to a temp you can eat. Only ever heat once.
@felineoptimist If you have a couple of days where all you can face is cooled dairy try not to beat yourself up over it. You can extend the range as your mouth and sore throat improve.
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So fed up.
Fed up with not having hair, fed up with having breast cancer so l need chemo and thus upset guts. Fed up with idea at the end of chemo its goodbye boob. Fed up with emails reminding me of the two art exhibitions I was supposed to be working on this month but pulled out of because of cancer and above all else l am sick to the back teeth of being mostly stuck at home because Chemotheraphy upset guts suck. I miss my old diet and hate having to stick to bland, well cooked and easy digest only.
Suspect it’s one of THOSE days
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This is my journal entry from today that I decided to share with my friends and family on my Facebook. Bit of an essay sorry. There is so much that’s wrong with our current situation. My brain doesnt know if its coming or going emotionally. But on my better days, I’m determined to find positives. I couldn’t see them yesterday but there is always a chance the next day. You just have to sit it out and take one day at a time
How is it possible to be both happy and sad? To laugh and cry simultaneously.
My beautiful family is busy living their lives at work and school. Bella the cat is snoozing in the sunshine outside. And I’m home. My hair falling out slowly, the smell of dried blood up my nose but the new excruciating chemo drug pain from the last few days is finally bearable so I’m getting chores done and actually life doesnt feel all that bad again.
I feel beaten but grateful.
Bruised but peaceful.
I’m only half a person, ive been emptied, just a shell at the moment and yet in this moment I feel more resilience and strength than I have done in years.
Life is a mix of the worst things imaginable and the most beautiful small pleasures.
I wake up and there are hairs all around me that have jumped ship in the night but I’m not in any pain.
I look in the mirror and my eyebrows are hardly visible but my skin looks amazing.
Everyone has left for the day so for a while I feel alone and a bit useless but then my breakfast was delicious.
I realise my nose has been bleeding a little bit but my coffee with a spoonful of cocoa powder still brings me joy.
I tidy away the needle from last night’s filgrastim injection that once again made me sob like a baby but ive emptied all the bins in the house, put on laundry and tidied the girls rooms so they are fresh and new for when they get home, jobs that fill me with joy because being of service to my family is the most important thing to me.
I look in the fridge and its empty because its the cricket season so Philip is busier than ever and I spent the weekend trying to manage pain I didnt expect instead of doing a food shop but we’ve stock piled pasta and sauces and ive already planned a dinner tonight that I know everyone will enjoy.
My new normal is a bizarre experience!
From negatives to positives. Ups and downs. I dont remember agreeing to this rollercoaster ride! And yet arent I lucky that I’m still on it
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This made me cry..in a good/bad way because you’ve so perfectly summed up what I’m going through too. My moods are sometimes so low, and then the slightest thing will trigger a wave of positivity. I’m all over the place a lot of the time. My hair is so thin, my moods are up and down, and I think I’m still in shock that this is happening to me..even though it feels like it’s been going on forever with no end in sight.
Thanks for sharing this
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