November 2024 chemo starters

Anyone else’s hair starting to come back before finishing chemo? I’m on my penultimate chemo right now and my hair really looks like it’s growing back! I mean thoughout I’ve had some growth but that’s been patchy and ugly so I’ve been keeping it shaved. But now it’s seems darker and looks more like potentially proper regrowth. Is that possible?

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Hi
Im on the Dec chemo group and have a chemo regime of 12 weeky pacotaxel anf carboplatin gollowed by 4 lots of EC every 3 weeks.
Im on week 11 of pacotacel and wondering if anuone has had a similar regime and how was EC compared to pacotaxel?

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Hi Hucky345,
My treatment is similar to yours I had 12 treatments of Paclitaxel and to be honest I coped really well I’ve then gone straight into 4 treatments of EC given every two weeks. I just had my 2nd EC yesterday.
The first EC hit me hard not going to lie, I suffer with motion sickness anyway so the nurse team said I will likely feel sick during EC so I had lots of anti sickness but still felt sick it would come over in waves then I had hot flushes through the night and day I had to invest in a hand held fan which helped .
I had to inject myself for seven days they said these injections can cause pain in your large bones I had some pain in my hips so took paracetamol for that. I did get a bit overwhelmed during that first week of EC and beat myself up for not being able to do much but like everyone tells you you’ve got to listen to your body and rest.
The second week after that first EC I started to feel more myself out walking the dogs, sleeping better and my sense of humour slowly came back :laughing:
I don’t feel sick after yesterday’s treatment so that’s a real positive so hopefully treatment 2 of EC is going to go a bit better starting to see a light at the end of the tunnel .
Hope your EC goes well I’ll be thinking of you xxxx

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Hi Stevie-puggle
Many thanks for sharing your experience, I’ve found the last few sessions of paxitaxel have been challenging as the cumulative effect of the chemo has built up but manageable. One more and then onto EC every 3 weeks, wonder why yours is 2 weeks and mine 3, might be my age perhaps as 60 perhaps. Looking forward to having more time between treatments to get back to functioning a bit more normally.
I hope your EC treatments continue well and the sickness isn’t too bad. We can do this!

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I had 12 paclitaxel before 4 EC. I was sick a couple of times on paclitaxel and had a harder time on #12. I spoke to my onco nurse and they gave me an additional week before starting EC. I’ve also had some liver reactions. Taking all that into account, I had already had a reduced paclitaxel dose so they reduced my EC and gave me top tier anti sickness meds. This has worked so far on the sickness and I’m just working through the side effects of my final cycle.

I’m very tired and the filgrastim gives me a tight chest. I was allowed overseas last weekend for a significant birthday (adult child’s), so reckon I’m still recovering from a busy visit (my team were happy with bloods and gave me a fit to fly certificate, I took special assistance and made sure I was well insured).

Might be worth a chat with the team if it’s too much. I think the first round of EC hit me hardest. The rest were in a similar pattern but felt easier to deal with.

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Hi Hucky345,
Not sure why I’m every two weeks maybe age does have something to do with it I’m 43.
I’ve already had my operation in October lumpectomy and reconstruction.
I’m still so shocked how everyone plans are very different just shows how everyone’s plans is so specific to them which is great.
I’m still feeling ok after my treatment on Thursday still having the hot flushes but the sickness feeling isn’t half as bad as EC number one was.
:+1:

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I had 3 x EC and then 3 x Docetaxel - so not quite the same. I finished three weeks ago. But I found the EC much easier than the Docetaxel. The first one floored me but I didn’t know what to expect but overall, the side-effects were easier. Just take the anti-sickness pills offered! I felt nauseous once on EC and once on Doc - but I think that might have been the effects of cold-capping. Soon be there! xx

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I cold-capped for the first four rounds before it became too much, so didn’t lose all my hair (I lost about 80% of it). But it definitely started to grow on the fifth round. It then slowed down on the sixth and is slowly growing now. It’s incredibly dark and soft - I think I look like a baby monkey! I can’t wait until it looks more normal. xx

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Last chemo today, I’m weirdly excited for it even though I still know it’s going to make me feel s***!

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Hi Flower5,

Well done, I hope everything goes well today for your last treatment. I’m excited for you what a feeling to be the last one.
Sending big hugs :hugs::hugs:

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Brilliant! Take it easy afterwards. You made it :partying_face:

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All done! :bell::bell::bell:

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Well done @flower5 I hope the next week or so is kind to you. I’m a week in from my last EC and just starting to lift.

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Well done @flower5 and @brambles1! I had some blood tests yesterday to check everything is back to normal - or ok - and I’m pleased to report it is.

I can’t believe it’s nearly 4 weeks since my last round - time flies! I’m feeling ok now - a bit tired still and my mouth is still a bit odd but definitely moving in the right direction. I started Letrozole 5 days ago and so far, things are ok - keep waiting for side-effects to kick in! xx

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Woohoo! Last chemos are happening thick and fast now xx
We need a chemo graduation post !
So we have
@flojo
@flower5
@brambles1
@arty1

Anyone else ?

@couchpotato are they rescheduling your missed chemo ?
@flojo good to hear you are feeling better and bloods are good :blush:

How is everyone else ? I feel like if I could just sleep at night I’d feel almost normal (whatever normal is :melting_face:)

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I had my 2nd EC on Monday, with a reduced dose of steroids and a switch to a stronger stomach liner and anti sickness. Pre treatment steroids were given via IV, which had the most amazing side effect of having a few days of no manky taste in my mouth, I have never had such an amazing piece of toast before despite feeling off my food :laughing:
I am still a bit high on steroids, but nowhere near as manic and off my head as during the last round. That was quite scary.
I haven’t been able to go for any walks since starting the EC but feeling a bit brighter today so I might be able to start leaving the house again on my own in the next few days. Maybe I will even be able to get the dogs back who are having a great time at a friend’s farm and aren’t missing me at all.
2 more rounds to go, should be done mid April. Getting there although the by now 6 week delay to the original schedule is not exactly helping.

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@couchpotato / glad you managed to have that EC and that a re jig of meds helped , the delay is frustrating but April
Will be here soon , the end is in sight xx

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@couchpotato that sounds like a lot to go through, but hopefully April will be here before you know it! Once you get past the next round, the end will definitely be in sight. Glad you are feeling a bit brighter. I’m sure your dogs are missing you really!

@arty1 how’s your hair doing - any sign of regrowth? I think mine seems to have stopped…!

xx

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Hello ladies i have my last tchp today :partying_face: cant wait till the lasg of the side effects are over then onto surgery :partying_face::heart:xx

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Well done :partying_face:! Hope the side effects pass quickly! :heart:

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