I was thinking 4 weeks post op things were moving slow but maybe I will be waiting much longer, so many people in this awful path but at least having people to talk to who completely understand can help xx sending hugs to everyone
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Got a phone call at 4.30 pm , to tell me chemo will start next Thursday. After all the waiting , feels a bit of a shock! Have not had echocardiogram done yet though 
A bit of context for those on forum wondering about timings, my surgery was 3rd September, then I saw oncologist about ten days ago.
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I have just joined forum so rocking up late to this.
Invasive ductal carcinoma, grade 2, stage 3c.
I had my first dose of EC yesterday. (Having EC-Docetaxel) I have 4 cycles of EC every two weeks if I can tolerate it, then 4 of Docetaxel every three weeks. Then three weeks of daily radiotherapy.
I had mastectomy and axillary lymph node clearance in August. 13 out of 14 lymph nodes were positive and the tumor was nearly 6cm. Have been on tamoxifen but off now for chemo. There will be other hormone therapies, cancer inhibitor drugs, later… Three types I think. I am so focused on what is happening one step at a time I forget
I have been doing well, giving myself credit, and largely peaceful. And my sense of humour is my coping mechanism so all the hospital staff have to cope with my silly jokes.
Obviously I feel crap today 
the actual session yesterday wasn’t too bad. I described myself as ‘completely exhausted’ when I got home (my treatment was at 11.30). But at 6pm it all hit… I thought, having ME for 30 years, fatigue would be an old and recognisable enemy but it was like someone turned up the pull of gravity! And tied weights to every bit of my body. Bad night, woke several times with night sweats and headaches …
Would write more but just typing above has worn me out, I will try and communicate more when feeling a little less impacted !
(Case in point I managed to put this on radiotherapy thread by accident so deleted there and copied here… oh dear)
Nice to meet you all!
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@jenhopeful
I didn’t go for the cold cap. I understand why people do but I get tired easily and needed the least faff as possible. Will just lose it and the regrow later !
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They didn’t give me an ECG, though I did have one before my surgery. The oncologist just listened to my heart with stethoscope. I think it’s common but not always done?
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Thanks @Kara it’s helpful to see other people’s timeline of treatment I hope you are feeling ok x
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Thanks @Emilyxxx
I feel pretty clobbered. Emotionally am okay which is the important thing 
Very wobbly so having a duvet day with various bits and bobs to keep me occupied since steroids will prevent daytime sleep!
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I’ve just started chemo so don’t have huge amounts of wisdom yet, but having lived with chronic illness one thing I have learned is there will be dormant times where you need to act like a dormouse and curl up! There’s a storm going on inside your body. Even just with my utter exhaustion from first dose, I am reminded this is about enduring it - but doing so by being gentle with myself, releasing my self from expectations. I can imagine and plan things i want to do when I feel better. Note down things. Or (you might appreciate this one) just hum a favourite tune for a few minutes. Apparently humming relaxes you!
There will be times you need to duck and cover and that’s okay. Allow it We are all on our own journey and we adapt as we can xxx
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Wise words I’m a busy mum and one thing I’ve found hard after surgery was allowing people to take over while I rested I hate feeling useless but we must be kind to ourselves and get to the other side. Putting myself first is something I haven’t done in probably 20years! 
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Yes I was just getting very agitated watching my partner put things away for me!! He told me off if I tried to help 
Valid in my current state but it requires a rewiring …
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I opted for no PICC line as long-term dressings make me itchy. So cannula each time for me. I was a bit nervous as some nurses have really struggled to cannulate in fact one went into a right panic and that helped no one! She ended up in entirely the wrong place and I threw up They tended to be when I was having dye for (numerous) scans tho (they kept seeing things they needed to double check before surgery).
But this first cannula was very smooth and only stung a bit. So am hopeful. I know veins will get a bit battered, but chemo nurses really know what they are doing!
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Hope am not being too chatty! Just first time I have really felt up to trying forum.
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Definitely not it’s so helpful hearing other people’s experiences I personally have felt very alone before finding this forum it’s helped me massively, I’m currently waiting for ct results before getting my chemo plan hopefully it won’t be long x
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Hi @Kara and welcome to theforum!! No such thing as being too chatty, its great to share our experiences and tips here, as well as asking questions. And sometimes it’s nice just to offload , and everyone here will understand more or less where you’re coming from! thanks for reply re ECG. I think you’re right its not always done. I was a bit worried because I had mentioned to oncologist about a heart murmur picked up some years ago,and then he said I should have one done. But actually I did have an ECG pre surgery and it was fine, so having checked that he probably thinks it’s not necessary. I’ll mention to nurses on Thursday though, just in case.
I’m on a similar regime to you or EC -Docetaxel, But I’ll have EC every 3 weeks x 3 and then D every 3 weeks for another 3. then radiotherapy , not sure how long for…
Sounds like you’ve got great coping strategies and I’m sure the nurses appreciate your jokes!! xx
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this sounds like great and very sensible advice, I’m definitely preparing to be a dormouse!
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at this stage they are going to try me with just canula, rather than PICC. I guess we’ll see how my veins behave!
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Thank you! I got cut off yesterday for posting too many replies on my first day haha. I appreciate it’s to do with protect from spammers! But glad to be let back in now.
Had a much better night’s sleep. A bit weepy on waking as just coming to terms with the war going on in my body . Main symptoms are overwhelming fatigue and persistent headaches, with low level nausea so far. Just drained. But taking it easy x
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Mine were surprisingly compliant for my first!
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So today I managed a trip to garden centre cafe. When my partner suggested it I was startled and said noooo (been really feeling rough). But then decided I would try the drive (as passenger) with the option to turn round at any point. I managed to sit and have a lemon and ginger tea. Afternoon have felt pretty crappy and with some stomach cramps, as if my body wants to have diarrhea but doesn’t… Fun times
It’s eased off a bit now and am going to have an early night again.
I managed to eat some dinner!
I’ve been taken back by level of fatigue but am managing x
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Evening all. I am on day 7 of my first cycle. It’s not been as bad as I’d feared. I have slept much better since finishing the steroids. The nausea is really low level now and today I only took one anti sickness tablet all day. I have a slightly sore chest and feel like I might have a cold/cough brewing but I could also just be paranoid, and in general my body is a bit sore so it could just be that. I feel as if I have had headache since my first infusion. No amount of pain relief makes it go. However, I did come on today (sorry if that’s tmi) so the headache maybe worse for that. All in all, it has been easier than I had expected. I don’t know if chemo symptoms worsen as you go through the cycles or if how I have reacted to the first one is a good indication of how I’m likely to react to all the EC chemo cycles? Anyway, I hope everyone else is doing ok x
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