May 2026 chemo starters

[elastigirl]

Hey @bea4 sorry to hear about the pins and needles, but Good it’s gone away I guess… let’s hope it stays that way and I’m glad it all went okay for you apart from that !!! I’ve only just woken up after a two hour nap from getting home everything went fine steroid antihistamine and chemo wise, but oh my God just whacks me out esp today - I never got this on EC !!! and I’ve woken up in a puddle of sweat. I’m having massive hot flashes is anybody around the age of 50 who was still having normal periods gone into complete chemical menopause quickly with all this?! Ooooffff!! I’m trying ear seeding to help but I feel like I’ve just been dumped into a menopause puddle!!!

Last week when I didn’t have my compression gloves, I used two pairs of their blue medical gloves one on top of the other in a size smaller than I normally would to compress my fingers as well as just off the shelf compression stockings or the ones that they give out in hospital for surgery. Just to try and constrict the blood flow to fingers and toes and minimise chemo getting to nerve endings, which is exactly the same as the cold stuff does. I appreciate that not every unit has cold cooling , but the evidence is there definitely to show that compression can help as well.!!! anything is worth a short hey ? Love to you all from my puddle

[bea4]

That’s great, @mssteel , you must feel a sense of relief about such a result. Lovely to hear some positive news.

Pac seems okay so far, for me, @elastigirl . Last time I hit a ‘ low’ on Day 3, same with EC which was much worse. Strange how our reactions and side effects are so varied, but then, we’ re all unique! I’ m way too ancient to even remember the menopause, let alone go through it again, so your hot flushes and sweats must be horrible especially in this weather. I prescribe lots of lollies and fans and soaking your feeties in a bowl of iced water whilst watching something chilly on telly. A Skandi drama, or something set in Alaska or the Himalayas!

[elastigirl]

Thx @bea4 perhaps I’ll put on a nice Christmas film that’s based in the snow to try and cool myself down!!

[poppy261]

That is great news @mssteel , you must be so relieved.

Great to hear @elastigirl and @bea4 are holding in there. Fingers crossed, days 3-5 are kind to you both. Tingling toes , Ive not had much on that front so far. The odd “sting” now and again especially in hands, but short lived. Feet feel abit numb, but not extreme.

My worst is the crippling fatigue that I wasnt expecting; a seriously dry mouth due to saliva glands being affected; and hot flushes/night sweats constantly….Even though Ive gone through the menopause​. I place a towel under my head and I wake up with it soaking !!!; Feet peeling; and TAPs; Fingers now looking more dodgy…curved, ridged, slightly discoloured.

Oh such joys.

Just been to see the Solar Eclipse. Sooo many people out by the sea it was lovely to see. If I’d have had chemo last Friday, I would have missed it…so a great Positive on that front.

There was an irritating blob of clouds that just hovered over the sun even though the rest of the sky was blue, typical….but there were enough windows to see it. Normally it rains so we miss everything, so a blob was OK. Managed to get a pair of solar eclipse glasses in the last pub that had them, after everywhere else had sold out…incredibly lucky. I had to buy food to get them but it was worth it.

Sending love and strength to all you lovely ladies. Hope others who’ve had treatment this week are also doing OK. Thinking of you.

[bea4]

Your two- weekly Pac cycles are much more hard- going than might have been expected, @poppy261 and I was so sorry to hear about all the ‘new’ side effects. AND the ongoing fatigue. But I suppose with your ME that’ ll impact just about everything won’ t it? The very low blood pressure won’ t help one bit either. I’ ll be so glad for you when it’ s over and you can move on to whatever they throw at you next. At least you got a grand day out by the sea, oggling the eclipse through your special specs! I made myself a pinhole camera with a bit of cardboard, which is very effective…..had a good view from a west- facing window, but then along came Mister Spoilsport Big Grey Cloud, and that was that​

Today, post-pac, I’ ve stripped the bed , fed the cats, made meatballs and spag bol sauce with loads of garlic and toms, and done a cheats garlic bread by slicing one of those ‘ sub’ rolls from Aldi and spreading it with low cholesterol spread, parsley and yet more garlic. The ready bought garlic breads are too big for just two of us, and the ‘ dog ends’ just clutter up the freezer.

Got my only nearby friend coming for a visit this afternoon, so that’ ll be lovely. Not seen her since she took me for my wig in June. Tempus, fugitting, again. Hope I’ ve got enough energy to shove a light vac…..don’ t count your chickens, bea4!

Speaking of food and energy - my latest neutrophil score astonished me. The level is back to what it was before I started chemo - 4.3, up from 2.8 a week ago. I DID mention chocolate and cocoa to the chemo staff nure. She laughed politely. As they always do.

Hoping for better days for you all….I’ m off to make a nice hot cup of cocoa!

[poppy261]

Thanks @bea4 . Yes the dose dense is awful . Strange how there are so many ways of giving Pac. Id love the 3weekly, then at least I would have one good week. I think the longer I am away from having it, the less I want to sit in that chair They will have to drag me in next week. !!!

It was lovely yesterday. Just being “carefully” normal gave me hope. I avoided the big crowds and sat outside for food. Wore my mask when near too many people. My friend came with me, so we shared the one set of glasses. It was lovely seeing so many people out watching it.

Great to hear you made a pin hole camera and saw some of the eclipse. . Clouds are a real pain arent they. . Our sky was mainly clear, except for this annoying patch of cloud that nestled over the sun . Really ??? !!!

You sound very busy making your meat balls etc. Good to hear you are feeling up to all that and to have your friend round. That will be lovely for you.

I’d ignore the vacuuming….. it can wait till another day. I cant believe how exhausting doing housework is at the moment. Nurses happily tell me not to do it….thats fine with me.

Pac oddly destroys so much, but my neutrophils doubled on Pac. So at least it doesnt attack everything. Thats why they often stop the injections. Theres less need during Pac treatment. But I would happily keep up the cocoa…..IF chocolate tasted nice…..sadly chocolate and sweet things taste absolutely awful​.

In theory I should be losing weight, but all the cottage pies are keeping it stable​

You have a wonderful time with your friend. Make sure she does the washing up afterwards

Hope all you lovely ladies are doing OK. Sending love and hugs your way

[alannah172]

@elastigirl ooooh I’m glad you’ve brought up the meno side effects, omg mine started after my fourth EC session and I don’t know why, but hot flushes began immediately and haven’t stopped, it’s insane!!

Also I’m literally as dry as an autumn leaf!! I’m parched!!

@mssteel so glad you’re results were negative

Well done all the troopers with chemo this week, we’re one more session closer to the end

[elastigirl]

@alannah172 are you struggling too? Were you perimenopausal before? I was still having regular horrible hideous heavy periods even up to my third EC. , so it’s hit me really hard. I’ve just wasn’t expecting it. !!! My hot flash sweaty cold sweat mess started at the end of the fourth EC as well but since the beginning of pac it has got so much worse. Apparently your ovaries just literally stop !! so just abruptly into a chemical menopause I guess? I’m literally sitting now legs akimbo with one fan on my noo noo and another one my face!! or any of you really ER and PR positive cancers , im 8/8 for both so there’s not a whole and how long I’m gonna be getting any sort of HRT or hormonal help. I have tried using ear seeds like acupressure for your ears and I think that might be helping ? Does anyone else have any alternative therapies or remedies to suggest if you can’t take hormonal stuff for Menos symptoms? And advice appreciated from my puddle …

Ps omg how have we managed to get cancer & chemotherapy in the biggest heat wave in a century , flippin heck ladies …

[alannah172]

Yes I really am feeling it too! I’m hormone positive too and had some peri meno symptoms, but nothing at all like this. I’ve heard it can hit really hard, andi think we’re taking the brunt of that! Once chemo is over, I’ll look at alternative remedies, but my brain isn’t working well enough these days to research now

[daffodil_dream]

I can definitely relate to the hot flush symptoms others have been experiencing! My body really seems to be struggling to regulate temperature, not aided by the heatwave (mind you, up in Scotland it’s nowhere near what you guys down south are experiencing so I’ll not complain!)

I’m used to running cold, I have Raynaud’s so have terrible circulation all the time, so hot flushes are new on me. My periods stopped as of my second cycle, and from what I remember will be on hormone meds for the foreseeable future once treatment is finished. Is anyone else due similar?!

[want2beme]

@alannah172 @elastigirl Another hot flusher here. Started after first Pac.(had 4 AC completed by then too). Age 44 perimenopausal. Havent started zoladex yet, anyone know if the zolaex will make the hot flushes worse? No advice here on things to help with menopause after treatment sorry. Il be on ribbociclib and something else too. As it is im afraid to take a supplement of any sort incase it interferes with chemo.

Ive binned all of my fleece pyjamas. I imagine I will never need them again​

First nab-pax today. Went well. I was very nervous, nurse stayed with me for 15 mins of the 30min infusion-it really helped. Felt myself feeling a little wierd a few mins in but it was anxiety and slight panic setting in so i subconsiously told myself to cop on and it passed immediately.

Constant heatwaves since we started chemo in May @daffodil_dream . No swimming because of picc and very hard to go walking outdoors with the heat. Even difficult to use the walking pad in the house most weeks as its so hot indoors too. Im up 9kg since i started. Ate so much during AC between the steroids and the awful mouth. Diet is so much cleaner on pax but still gaining from lack of proper exercise. I know its going to be hard to lose after with all the meds. But im greatful to be alive and everything else will work itself out.

[poppy261]

So pleased to hear nab-pac went OK @want2beme . That must have been such a relief.

@alannah172 , @elastigirl and everyone, So sorry to hear so many of you lovely ladies are struggling with menopausal symptoms in such a brutal way. It just adds insult to injury doesnt it. The menopause is hard enough without it being forced on us.

Its odd though re hot flushes, as I am getting these even though I have finished the menopause. So are some of the symptoms Pac/chemo related regardless of age . Our bodies are struggling a lot after weeks of chemo, which makes it harder for our bodies to regulate ourselves better. So your extreme reactions could be part early meno onset, as well as part chemo reaction. Double whammy so to speak. Plus heatwave. Not good at all.

Ive heard many ladies get menopausal symptoms with the Hormone Suppressants. So even I am expecting to get odd symptoms when I get put on these in the Autumn. Im hormone + 8/8.

I always thought having no periods would be such a blessing, as I got ridiculously heavy periods through the menopause and my Iron got to critical levels (2, with half a normal blood count). But we seem to get rid of one burden and its frustratingly replaced by something else.

Re ideas to stay cool during hot flushes/limit hot flushes…. i’ve had a fan on me all night through the heatwave; i only use pure cotton sheets; i have a towel on my pillow to soak up the puddle; i drink cold water that I keep in the fridge.

Ive yet to invest in one of those cooling towels, they use for Sports…mainly due to not getting my act together enough. But they sound like a good investment.

I wear light, airy clothes. Sleeveless tops. Would Sports/walking tops/pants be cooler, as some are made from that supa light specialised cooling fabric???

Not used them, but you can get hot/cold hand gel pads that you can cool in the freezer and put inside cotton gloves.

You can get portable air con units but not sure how effective/expensive these are.

Cool showers throughout the day help a lot.

Flannels soaked in cold water, on our heads/face, also helps a lot.

Ive kept curtains closed all day. I open windows early morning/late evening to let in cold air. But I close them during the day.

I limit housework, as this makes my body literally explode with heat. I become an inferno, even after just a few minutes. So I do Bite size/tiny tasks

I think the intolerable heat is making all this worse for you all. I personally cant wait for cooler days.

Not sure on alternative remedies as Im cautious of doing anything that gets in the way of chemo. Some ladies have tried cancer trained acupuncture specialists.

I also think if you are getting very dry in your intimate regions, you can get specialist rehydration gels from your Oncology Teams that is on prescription. So do ask them. Dont suffer in silence.

BCN nurses helpline may also have good ideas re managing early menopausal symptoms.

Sending you all extra hugs and love. As chemo on its own is awful, add early menopause….. thats tough. I can really empathise.

[mssteel]

@elastigirl @alannah172 @daffodil_dream @poppy261

Same for me with the hot flushes! I’m 47, last period was at the beginning of June and I’m triple negative so no hormone stuff involved in the cancer or its treatment. I discussed this with my oncologist this week and she said it’s likely the chemo has shut down my ovaries and that normal service may resume or it may not.

The heat has definitely made the whole process so much harder. I keep saying that Summer is not a good time to do chemo and I usually get the response that there’s no good time to do chemo. OK, but I reckon there’s definitely a better time and that would be Spring or Autumn!

[poppy261]

@mssteel @elastigirl @alannah172 @want2beme @daffodil_dream and everyone else.

This info from Macmillan may be useful on hot flushes.

Hot flushes and sweating from cancer treatment

[big]

Amazing news @mssteel … I remember when I got my negative results, I cried with utterly relief

[big]

I’m exactly the same, ladies … TN, so no hormone treatment after I finish everything set out for me in March next year … I had been perimenopausal for 5-years prior to treatment starting … my periods were as regular as clockwork and I’ve never suffered with hot flushes … the treatment has forced me into a medical menopause and my periods have stopped, the hot flushes are ferocious!!! Constant and worse at night contributing to my lack of sleep … I am hoping that now I have finished EC that my ovaries will wake up, and periods start again and the hot flushes clear off …. but at 51-years, I’m not convinced

[mssteel]

Thanks @big! So happy it went this way for you too. x

[baldiesrus]

Morning, Hope you are all having a good day and are keeping cool.

I am 49 and was perimenopausal before chemo, I experienced lots of brain fog and night sweats before chemo. During chemo, my face and neck seemed to be flushed a lot of the time, my periods got lighter and stopped. My cancer is very hormone sensitive, so will be having ovarian suppressant injections(Zoladex) from sept, and then in Oct taking Letrozole. Consultant said they will make me feel rubbish….I think she was referring to the forced menopause symptoms! Between the chemo, this ridiculous hot weather and menopausal symptoms I seem to be in a constant state of being hot. I do find having the fan blowing air on my feet(which seem to get extremely hot at the moment) does help. I have this on my bare feet all night, bliss.

I know fans are pretty much out of stock at the moment, but you could try and get one of those neck fans, for the hot flushes……that’s if you can tolerate the noise.

I also keep the curtains closed all day….I’m not a vampire, honest , just trying to keep the heat at bay for as long as possible. Sometimes I put my feet in cold water….which quickly turns warm.

I asked the nurse who did my picc dressing change about when they take the picc line out. Turns out, I may have to wait a couple of weeks after my last session. It’s in case I have a reaction or need to have bloods done etc. She said I don’t have good veins…..I did before chemo!!! She did say how long you have to wait does depend on your situation, and if you have had problems with the picc, or if you have been in hospital for suspected infections etc. Grrrr, I know it makes sense but arghhhhh. I must be patient!

Still waiting for my copy of the letter sent to my GP about the injections and pills I need to take….The GP got the letter a couple of weeks ago. I know what it says as they scanned it on, but that is not the point. It does make me wonder about any other letters I have been sent and not received yet. Stupid postal system, or have they just not sent them out to me yet???

Anyway, try and keep well ladies. We can do this!

[poppy261]

Never heard of neck fans @baldiesrus . What a good idea. Thanks for sharing. I may just nip to Currys to order one .

Glad you are still storming through. You are sooo close to the finish line now Pain about the PICC though. I was told it gets taken out after my last infusion. But i can understand the extra couple of weeks. Its still better than trying to find veins that like hiding if there are further bloods that need taking after chemo.

Sending you love and strength.

[elastigirl]

Thanks so much to everyone for all the advice & support with the hot flushes and meno symptoms malarkey. It helps to know that lots of you are going through the same thing too, as awful as it is for us all - and I’m not going mad.!!! I am so over this heat wave now….

Keep on trooping you lovely troopers