Hi I had Fec and doxetaxal my treatments ended 9/5/2014 to date my feet and legs have been in awful pain along with low energy. Can I ask how you are now and how long did it last the pains
Thank you
Hi just joined this site tonight. Not really sure how it works but after reading I’m glad I’ve found real people who know what I’m going through. I have my 5th chemo on 5thNov and really not looking falward to it after the effects of the T. Spent the best part of 3 weeks in bed not being able to do a lot. It’s horrible. Please God just get me through these last 2 xxxx
Hi I have my 5th lot of chemo tomorrow. 2nd lot of the T. My body couldn’t cope with the last lot so the oncologists is reducing the dose but I’m scared if its not gonna work. Please someone tell me it does. Sick of being ill and not knowing what my future holds. Its all cracking me up. I really do know how to live each day. 1st thing when I open my eyes and last thing when I go to sleep. When will it all stop. All you ladies seen to be so strong x Julie x
Hiya Joyce as I said I’m New to this site. Was your comment for me.? If not it did help thankyou. X Julie x
Hi twins2, my body didn’t cope well after my Docetaxol, that was my 4th chemo and i ended up in hospital for 9 days. My onc put me on weekly 6 weekly doses of taxol which is a reduced dose and it was a million times better. I have pretty much been able to do most things. No muscle pain in my legs or leg aches at all but i did have headaches which have now cleared up. I have just finished all my chemo and it feels so good that part of the treatment is behind me… hope this helps , i did feel loads better on the reduced dose xxx
Hi Twins2
Yes my comment was for you - it took the oncologist a long time to persudae me to have areduced dose and she said it would not affect the efficay of the treatment and was very pleased I agreed. So hope it goes well for you.
I thought some people here may find it helpful to have an update from my experiences with Docetaxel and FEC. I write a blog and Ive had a number of comments from readers who about to start treatment who would like to know what may be ahead. I know everyones journey is different. Here is mine so far…
I had my sixth and FINAL chemo yesterday and I am still quite high on happiness that this part of my treatment is now over and also the steroids make me feel quite happy. The feeling reminds me of when I was a young gal (Im 62) and used to smoke a bit of pot with my mates and then get the munchies. Steroids definitely give me an appetite although I know they dont suit everyone. Another really nice side effect of my treatment is that one of the drugs, steroids again probably, stop my hip arthritis from hurting so for the last two weeks of each cycle I have been arthritis, sciatica and bone ache free which is wonderful.
The first three treatments I had were a drug called Taxotere, in the UK its often referred to as Docetaxel (dosi-taxle.) This made my bones hurt a lot but I quickly remedied that with large mounts of Ibuprofen. Having checked with my doc if this was ok, to take 800 mgs in one dose in the morning and then the pain would go away all day, with a little smile playing about his lips he said it was fine and wouldnt kill me so that is what I did. I think he was being ironic. I took a co-codemol at night, 500mgs for around 5 days. You really dont have to put up with pain and I urge you to seek the advice of your doctor like I did. Other than that, the Neulasta injection which is self injected to increase your white blood cells, also increased my bone and back ache but all of these side effects go after 7 – 10 days so even when you are at your lowest ebb and weeping in the park (its where I go to have a good cry) you can comfort yourself with this because its a common experience for many people.
I tried not having the Neulasta injection last month. I told myself I would boost my immunity naturally with a good cancer diet. I ate a ton of Kale, beetroot, garlic, ginger, cumin, etc etc. and immediately developed netropenia where your white blood cell count drops dramatically, in my case to nearly none at all. I got a rotten infection in my gum, my temperature soared to that of the sun and I went to hospital for four days. Sigh. Now I just have the injection.
About 17 days after my first cycle, I lost all my hair even the hair on my poonani. Gross. I wear turbans, (not on my poonani) I like them and they are cool in warm weather. I don`t want a wig but everyone is different.
Both treatments give me chronic constipation which is pooh! Take lots of Movicon, I mean LOTS and it does help, or buy a spade.
My finger and toe nails have thickened and become ridged and yellow. I look like I smoke forty fags a day using my toes. New nails will eventually grow back. Some of my toes have permanent pins and needles but it`s not too unbearable and should go eventually.
I had a sore scalp for the first few weeks but this wore off. I use Johnsons baby shampoo as I find it soothing. I get really dry, sore eyes each month for about a week. My doc` gave me some pretend tears and they are also very soothing.
Taxotere made everything taste like metal for about a week. FEC makes everything taste sickly sweet. Drink PLENTY of water and I lace mine heavily with a cordial of some kind, or the occasional gin! Brush your teeth plenty too as this will also help take the taste away and suck mints or hard fruit sweets or toffees until you get your taste buds back. I like soup and I love granola, two of the few things that remain tasting lovely no matter what. I use low sodium salt as I had high blood pressure but after my diagnosis I stopped smoking and don`t drink alcohol very often so my BP has now dropped down to normal. BIG plus for me.
FEC makes me feel sick but this is very easily remedied for the majority of people with Emend, and Domperidone. Insist on having the two drugs, they are a life saver for many people including me. I do not have an accumulative effect with FEC, the final treatment was 3 days ago and I`m still rocking on with a smile.
FEC makes your wee go pillar box red for about 3 days. It`s a bit disconcerting if no-one has explained.
The most unpleasant side effect with FEC is that it makes my muscles very weak. I love to walk with my dog but I have to ensure I am walking somewhere where I can sit down or I feel like my legs will give way. I also get a bit breathless and thats because the drugs affect my red blood cells as well, and theyre the ones that take oxygen around my body but I know it will all pass. This too will pass as my God and Buddha remind me every day.
About 5 days after my treatment I usually have a day where I feel terribly emotional and have a good cry. It helps, I kick myself up the arse and remind myself that there are many people who are so much worse off than me and crack on with living in the moment instead of worrying about the future.
I have a bit of chemo brain but I play on that! Chemo brain makes your worms come out wring and you can forget stuff and feel fuzzy in the head. A bit like a mild hangover.
I had chemo first. Its called neo-ajuvant therapy and is designed to shrink the tumour and lessen the surgery. Im going to have my surgery, a lumpectomy in my left breast, some time in July and then some radiotherapy so I`ll get back to you a bit later. Please email me with any questions, I will reply to everyone.
I am so glad I have managed to do all six, I nearly gave up on number four, chemotherapy makes you feel rubbish there is no doubt. But its manageable if you find out what works for you and I have been left with a sense of achievement, a bit like when I walked up mount Snowdon with the Australian but thats another story. As the doc` said when he gave me my diagnosis, “you have a long road ahead of you.” Finishing the chemo helps me to feel like I have given myself the best possible chance of remaining here on this wonderful planet, a while longer.
I went for a scan last week and the nurse said the tumours have shrunk but not a lot. I slipped into the slough of despond for a bit and had a very bad day. Some people just dont know how to deliver information in the right way. When I spoke to a registrar this week he said that until the tumours are removed and biopsied they do not know how many live cancer cells I have remaining so I do hope the feccin FEC has done the trick. I have to have radioactive dye injected quite soon so not only will I have super powers but this will tell me if the cancer has spread to my lymph nodes. The dye will also make my breast go blue apparently so I am considering auditioning for the follow up to Avatar, or changing my name to Helen Smurf-boob. What do you think?
Hi Helen,
It’s great reading your post and hearing about your experience so far! You also sound like your keeping upbeat which is amazing :). I too am having neo-adjuvant chemotherapy and I have just had my three FEC (this was hell awful nausea and like you became neutropenic after number 1 sigh!) I am due my 4th in a few weeks and will be going on to taxotere- I’ve read some horror stories about the side effects of this part and I’m starting to become very anxious so I wondered how you found this part!? I’m hoping its more manageable than the FEC!
I’m also due for surgery although due to being only 24 I’m not sure what I’m having yet as they want to do genetic testing to help decide. Ita really nice to hear about others experience to help make me feel more normal!!
Rebecca x
Well Helen, I think you’ve summed up my experiences to a treat! Very well written and hugely informative for those who are yet to experience the lovely joys that are FEC-T!
My bit to add is that I was also out on zoladex, which is a hormone suppressant. I chose in way to be put on this mainly to try and preserve any chances of having more children! It’s a bit of a joke really! What it’s doing is giving me the wonderful opportunity to experience the awesomeness of menopausal symptoms! So not only did I struggle through chemo but I would wake up in pools of sweat and need constant fanning down during the daytime (something my 4 year old daughter relishes in!). I personally believe that my oncologist just needed a laugh really… But then he took me by surprise and suggested I try acupuncture! And it’s working a treat! Menopause and acupuncture kinda go hand in hand in my mind! Worth noting for the future!
So I’m now 3 weeks out from finishing my FEC-T (3 x FEC, 3 x T) chemo and am awaiting my skin sparing mastectomy in two weeks time… I then go on to have radiotherapy and 6 months post that reconstruction!
Like you Helen, I’ve cried! I’ve had my best mate in tears, I’ve even had my hair dressers go all emotional on me when he first shaved my hair off - he stood there and said ‘I remember when I did your hair for your wedding, and now I’m doing this’ 
Yeah I bloody remember too! But there is hope! I took the pink cooling cap throughout my treatment and have actually had to have my head shaved twice since! And that was because it kept growing back all over the place (I had a Number 2 buzz cut each time), so now I’ve purchased a couple of wigs - from a lovely little company in Sandhurst - this way my hair can grow back any which way and it won’t be seen! I too didn’t want to buy a wig, but now I have them I love them (except on a hot day, I rock the bald look then! And I never wear them around the house… I can’t be arsed right!).
So everything is a personal experience when going through this! My advise list:
- listen to your oncologist! They know what they’re talking about!
- Give yourself time, patience and more importantly the love you need to get through this
- Reach out to your friends, let them help you, but be mindful of the fact that they too will be emotionally attached to your experiences, so give them time, love and patience too - they deserve that!
- Eat, just eat! Don’t go beating yourself up if you can’t eat healthily, as long as your eating you’re giving yourself the fuel you need to get through it all
- If you’ve always been fit and healthy, again don’t go beating yourself up if you can’t get back out there! I stopped everything, Pilates, running, walking, gym workouts, you name it! I even stopped teaching Pilates! Yes it was hard, but I gave myself the time I needed - and now 3 weeks post my last ‘T’ chemo I’m back out running 3 x a week (it’s more of a shuffle and a pant really), going to the gym (I limit myself to 30mins a week), and Pilates (an hour a week).
I’m 41 years old, I’m normally a very fit and healthy woman, but this can hit any of us at any point in our lives, so ladies and men, be patient with yourselves, love that you’re kicking the bastard up the rump, and know that when you’re out the other side that any side effect, and pain, and illness, any hospital visit will be just a distant memory - because you’ve survived it 
Good luck all! Xx
Hi all,
I had 3 EC and 3 docetaxel The docetaxel nearly finished me off, cried with the joint pains and was admitted with an infection. I finished all my chemo on the 3rd Juy and am due a double mastectomy with reconstruction at the end of Aug. I need and L mastectomy and have requested a R but need to see the psychologist on Monday.
I developed the watery eyes and swollen ankles / feet and peripheral neuropathy but then last week I have also developed extremely swollen eyes, upper lids and below, so much so that my eyes have been nearly closed. Its all fluid, it goes down during the day but never back to normal and then overnight it all comes back again.
My GP wasnt sure so gave me chlormaphenicol eye drops (it doenst feel like an infection though) and I have a very good opthalmologist who thought it was an allergic reaction to something so have eye drops and oral anti histamines.
I started letrozole around the same time so I dont know if this is lingering effects of docetaxel - has anyone else experienced this? - or is it the letrozole?
xxx