Well done Otter and Jc this week, 3 down x. Have a great weekend Lesley, cake looks Shamazing Mmmmmmmmmmm!
Enjoy your weekend ladies xxx
Hello ladies
Looking for some advice for my very good friend who is a primary bc lady ( I’m a secondary lady but as it was 14 years ago …out of touch with the chemo regimes )
She’s having 3 FEC/3 Taxotere …she’s done the FEC but feeling rotten on Tax …it seems a very short chemo regime ( used to be 6fec/6 tax back in 2004) is this because they have doubled the strength over a shorter time? I was thinking of suggesting she asked oncologist for a dosage reduction and maybe extend the chemo sessions but don’t want to give her false hope?
Anyone got any suggestions I can offer as I will ring her tomorrow. She’s bed ridden. .sick, bone pain and her feet hurt mostly …
Thank you
Hi Carolyn, the may 2017 ladies along with tatyana and mishy off July 2017 are the t experts and getting sept, Oct and Nov threads through the fec and t. I only switched to t last week. May ladies tips are loratadine, Epsom salt baths, up your carb intake, Imodium, Fluconzole and difflam for thrush mouth, udderly cream with added urea from amazon for sore hands and feet, there are more but can’t remember all of them. I only had 80% dose not the full whack. Hope this helps a bit if you can’t get hold of anyone from May. ??
shi Oct thread xx
Good evening everyone - am celebrating having my last fec!! Whoop whoop ???
???
Have been given my pre chemo steroids to take before my first T. Have been warned about weight gain with the steroids and to our out on carrots and celery ??
Lesley your cake looks really good, enjoy your weekend ???
My unit only offered me reflexology to have during chemo, I don’t know anything about reiki.
Am going to my daughter’s tomorrow for pre Christmas family get together; will be wearing my Lady Catherine. Should be good seeing all the family ???
Enjoy your weekend ladies xxx
???????
Good evening everyone - am celebrating having my last fec!! Whoop whoop ??????
Have been given my pre chemo steroids to take before my first T. Have been warned about weight gain with the steroids and to pig out on carrots and celery ??
Lesley your cake looks really good, enjoy your weekend ???
My unit only offered me reflexology to have during chemo, I don’t know anything about reiki.
Am going to my daughter’s tomorrow for pre Christmas family get together; will be wearing my Lady Catherine. Should be good seeing all the family ???
Enjoy your weekend ladies xxx
???????
Hiya shi
Thanks for replying. .of course I should have posted back earlier to ladies on the second part of chemo tax rather than November ones …I think I will just read through some earlier threads and see if I can pick up some tips for her …but yours were very helpful. .
Sending much love to all you ladies going through chemo. .it’s hard but you do come out the other end xxxxxxx
Hi Carolyn, your friend should always speak to her onc as first port of call about se’s and managing them, the very helpful tips from the threads helps with se’s that we actually find ourselves going through. It’s different for everyone, some people are very lucky and have no se’s during chemo. Hope your friend gets some relief from se’s and gets to the end of chemo ok. ??shi xx
Hi Jc, on the t when you switch up the carbs as t can give you a ?botty. The may girls warned us on Oct thread. Get Imodium in, sudocream, anosol cream, my mouth went quick on this first round of t and started on the fluconzole on day 5. Also loratadine from day 2 and get your Epsom salts in for baths. The may girls know what they are talking about, I would have been in trouble without their guidance. Glad you have finished the fec ???it’s a lovely feeling isn’t it??don’t forget the black nail polish for the t to preserve nails. ???shi xx
Hi Jc the fluconzole is from your onc for thrush mouth if it starts ask for it so you have it before you leave after t. It’s the May ladies and tatyana and mishy off July who have passed all the tips onto me, they are the angels guiding us on this, I just pass on their guidance ??I’ve met some lucky ladies who have sailed through fec and t in the onc clinic and I am very happy for them I just wish everyone was that lucky ???I was tempted to add glitter too, but didn’t want to have to rub hard to get the glitter off and then take a nail with it, so I’m keeping off the glitter. If you’ve been watching tv, nearly all the female presenters have been rocking short dark nails, that’s nice of them, keeps us all on trend ???shi xx
Very true- happy to be on trend!!! No glitter nails in January and it’s the cosmic looking I’m rocking today with gold glitter Minnie mouse ears ? xxx
??????
Sounds wonderful Jc ???have you treated yourself to any tinsel wigs for Christmas Day yet? Got mine a few weeks back on a steriod induced online shopping frenzy ???shi xx
Hello everyone, great to catch up on your progress. Loved the cake Lesley. I am in awe. I hope it was a wonderful celebration. And great that you’re done with the FEC phase, JC1262. I hope the transition to the T is made much easier by the wisdom Shi and those who have gone before us pass on.
I am awaiting round 3 of EC on Thursday, assuming all is okay with blood count etc on Tuesday. I am more apprehensive than usual for two reasons. First, I am having an ultrasound on Tuesday to see what, if any, effect the first two cycles have had in terms of shrinkage in breast/palpable lymph nodes. Secondly, it is supposed to be my first chemo through my newly-inserted port but the wound is still really sore and the idea of anyone sticking a needle near it is horrendous. I think I will fess up to my anxiety and see what they say. All that apprehension unfortunately translated into a bit of an emotional meltdown this morning, ostensibly because my (grown up) daughter and husband were niggling at each other about whose turn it was to do a domestic task, but really because I am horribly scared. Oh well, no one said that this wasn’t a roller coaster.
At least there is the Strictly final to look forward to this evening - if anyone in the house is still talking to me! Wishing you all a gentle ride on this roller coaster over the weekend. xx
Anna Karana, big hug and 
For you darling, it’s ok and very normal to have anxiety, speak to your bc nurse too, they are also here to hold our hands through this journey and also the onc as they want what’s best for us and getting us through safely is their top concern. Keep ? and take the journey step by step, you will get through ???shi xx
Hi Annakarenina, my port has now bemused twice, the first one just days after fitting, so the area was a bit tender. It certainly cut then on the faffing looking for my narrow veins. My chemo nurses were delighted to use at it made it easier and faster for them so they were able to help someone else. Tell them of your anxieties, they will be able to reassure you ???
Good luck for Tuesday and Thursday, I think you’re the same as Lesley - let us know how you get on.
Don’t worry about your family, this is a hard time for them too but they need to work through the issue as you have enough to think about on this ? journey we’re on…
Enjoy strictly xxx ?????
Evening everyone,
Wishing you all an okay evening and manageable side effects. Sending lots of sparkles and hugs.
I just want my third and final FEC now, but I need to be patient and wait to see the nurse on Tuesday and then, hopefully, chemo on Thursday.
I’ve been reading the threads and, in between giggling and laughing, found some really good tips - thank you 
I’m in the group of people who don’t seem to see their onc very often - I saw mine once at the beginning of October and that’s it. I had a quick chat with them last FEC as I pestered to see them but other than that it’s been nurses.
I find it difficult as they don’t seem to acknowledge how I’m feeling. They keep saying I’m doing great and things don’t need changing, but I feel terrified, breathless & wheezy, nausea and so tired - until day 13 on second FEC. I’m going to try to convince them to try something different this time. I think the difficulty breathing is the scariest thing - has anyone else had that or got any tips? I also had uncontrollable diarrhoea until day 13 - perhaps I should have phoned the chemo team? No temp though.
FEC will be on 21st, hopefully, and really want to be able to enjoy Christmas with the family. I keep thinking that it’ll be my last :(. I’m so scared about dying, and keep thinking about my Predict score - 75% for 5 years and 50% 10 years with the chemo, much worse without.
I keep thinking that I’ve got a lump in my other boob too - prob me being a bit hyper vigilant though 
Anyway, that’s enough gloom for now!
My wig tape arrived yesterday and it really does make my wig feel more secure - I felt much more confident that it wasn’t popping off my head all the time
Our cat is beautiful - very sociable but not especially cuddly. I often talk to her about my c… I really do feel like I’m mad now!!!
Had to phone the chemo team tonight as got my picc wet in the bath… silly me… bug the lady I spoke to was lovely and said it was all ok.
I’m a bit stuck now as I’ve finished all my chrimbo shopping and so don’t have an excuse to keep buying things now 
:0. I do need another pair of pjs though lol!!!
Well, really do hope everyone has an ok night and keep dancing and wearing those Wonder Woman pants - we can all do this.
Hi Popoywheel, you are with Lesley and Annakarenina next week so are in good company.
I’m sorry you’re having a tough time. I had really bad fatigue & emotions for about 10 days during fec 2 & didn’t really move from my sofa. My onc offered to reduce my dose this time by 20%, but I decided to pull up my big girl knickers & get on with it as it was my last fec. You do need to speak to your nurses and tell them your anxieties. Maybe try ringing the care line number here or pop to your local Macmillan centre. Have you spoken to your gp- they can usually help & should definitely speak to chemo ream re diarrhoea and/or constipation.
Try and keep positive, this is a ? journey & none of us know how our lives are going to pan out but we do know that the chemo will help us in the long run. It isn’t always easy & on the bad days I look at how much I have got - my family, friends etc. Don’t think too far into the future, live for now and chemo has come on in leaps and bounds over the last 10 years and will continue to do so. Keep strong ?
I’m glad you got your wig tape, mine nearly fell off in Sainsbury s, I got so frustrated that I pulled it off whilst driving home & couldn’t care less about ant drivers seeing me. I’ve now thankfully sorted my wig cap out !!
It’s probably good to talk your cat, I know someone who cuddled up to her dogs on her ?? days.
I’ve finished my shopping too but can always find an excuse for 1 more thing!!
Take care & let us know how you get on next week.
Off to bed now ??? xx
??????
You might find the breathlessness and anxiety are blood pressure related. Mine drops really low a couple of days after finishing steroids and makes me feel very weird. Make sure you mention it to your team though and the diarrhoea. Don’t suffer in silence x
Thank you Chaffinch & JC ?.
Wonder knickers going on & positive vibes.
Will mention to team on Tuesday & hope that they listen!!!
It’s good to be with Lesley & Karenkna - we can do it ladies ??.
Hope everyone is ok tonight, wherever you may be.
Xxxxxxxxx
Hi ladies
Just been sitting in Sainsbury car park catching up on the tread while I waited for a prescription to be ready and also taking my wig, no name yet, out for a spin.
Otter, I too suffer from hot flushes. Mine occur mainly during the period of injections and at night while I’m asleep. I wake up 2-3 times a night damp and clammy and need to change my clothes and my temperature never changes from its normal range either. My onc said that it is a perfectly normal SE and as I was also starting to suffer prior to diagnosis I think that it I am just hurtling to and through the menopause. I also have a flushed tanned look for a few days from day 3 onwards again I was told this was fine. Hope this helps put your mind at ease.
Poppywheel, sending you big hugs I can’t really add anything to what JC has said apart from that we all have dark moments but stay strong and be positive, in those moments I also look to the good things in my life and I always find something to focus on which lifts me out of those moments.
Positive days to everyone xx
Morning all (just!!)
Surfacing after a lovely couple of days with my man - he loved his cake and we had a great meal out… JC if your OH fancies spoiling you to a day out again I can recommend the West House in Biddenden, superb food and they do rooms as well! Lovely Kentish village to wander around.
It was lovely to rejoin the human race again. Although OH is still coughing and wheezing… 5 weeks after this all started… I actually feel more sorry for him than myself … at least we know what’s making us feel like ?.
Poppywheel - AnnaKarenina and I will hold your hand next week. Be assertive with your team, they are so busy I sometimes think they just take the path of least resistance!! But they are good people and have your best interests at heart, but they are operating in pressured environments.
I have a couple of questions myself…
My temp this time has started well within normal limits all the time, no spikes at all. But my dry cough has turned into a chesty cough… started Friday afternoon… thought I might be in isolation again!!
Also my lumpectomy site feels different, not when I examine it, but the area feels heavier, denser somehow all of the time… as if I am more aware of it??? I had some change in sensation in chemo 1 but it went away, this seems more sustained.
Any experience of either?? I will be asking at my check up.
After my excess of food, company and wine, I have left OH to go round to visit his relatives for his birthday - too many opportunities to catch something was my thinking, so I ducked out!! So final house clean for me, busy work day tomorrow, then Tuesday check up, Wednesday PICC line fitting (not looking forward to that for some reason) and chemo 3 on Thursday … BUSY, BUSY, BUSY!! ?
love and hugs to all those you have already had 3 - hope the SEs are under control
xx