Thinking of you all 
Managed to do my own filgrastim injection tonight though it took a bit of courage! Much better when you have let it get to room temperature first!
Another early night. I have had a very lazy day. Felt rough in patches but feeling peaceful now. I think that’s a good reminder… we will have times we feel very rough… but they are not all the times x
@zebramoon good to hear you coped pretty well with side effects for taxane cycles. No peripheral neuropathy then? Did you use anything like compression or cold gloves/ socks?
I’ve cut my hair very short ,( and am amazed how much I like it! ) for same reason, well see if I need the shave or not…. Hope your EC cycles go as well
@Kara well done with the injection!!!
@letsdoit wishing you all the best with first chemo tomorrow!! We can compare notes after!!
My feet have been quite numb almost from the start but doesn’t feel unpleasant. I used the Suzzipad cold socks and gloves mainly to protect my nails, used poly balm too - so far so good.i agree about liking the short hair, mine was below waist length when I cut it to a short bob but I’d been toying with it for a while due to a neck issue and it’s certainly helped loads with that! I expect the rest will drop out in the next couple of weeks, eyebrows and lashes so far a bit thin but not noticeable. I also had a few weird sudden arm weakness things where I’d pick something up eg doing dishes and it’d suddenly feel really heavy. Haven’t had that for a few weeks though so maybe was some kind of adjustment at the start.
How many days out are you now and can I ask what pre med / take home you got? I made a fuss as I’m a carer for my dad and need to drive him for surgery 2 weeks after mine, really can’t afford to be ill but what the consultant offered me clashed with my regular meds so it got stepped back a bit - I really want absolutely everything possible for avoiding nausea. How did you feel after the injections? Hope you managed to get some sleep. I finished the course of 3 yesterday morning and felt great when I woke up - hope you get the same x
Hiya @zebramoon it’s day 7 for me of first cycle as I had first EC last Friday. They gave me anti sickness and steroids drugs to take over first three days following chemo -
(Note so these are the additional doses - I got them given to me on chemo day too before they started the dose, but this is what I took home)
Ondansetron (anti sickness) - 1 day at home
Aprepitant (anti sickness) - 2 days at home
Dexamethasone (steroids, also works as anti sickness)- 3 days at home
I was also given metoclopramide as an ‘as you need it’ anti sickness med. I have not taken it so far, just drunk ginger tea and stuff . However I may try it on a day of cycle 2. I have a tendency to soldier on if I am not sure I need something or not
I take paracetamol for headaches etc
I started Filgrastim on day 5 because my EC cycle is every 2 weeks and they need to get my immune system working at least a bit before the next one. I don’t know that they always do that if it’s a 3 week one, because your body has more time to recover between doses.
I had my surgery in August - mastectomy and lymph nodes clearance (I had a large IDC tumour and high lymph nodes involvement) and wouldn’t have been allowed or able to drive after 2 weeks for the level of surgery I had, but my lymph node surgery was quite major (they went right up under my pec muscle to my neck) I know we’re all having different things . Key thing with any armpit surgery is to do arm exercises religiously. First two weeks was really hard, then suddenly began to improve movement.
After 4 cycles of EC I will go on to 4 doses of Docetaxel. Then there’s a drug regime for a few years…
I am not sure I have answered your question… chemo brain is definitely a thing 
Oh and injections - actually not too bad. A bit of joint aching but I have had chronic pain for years so it’s less of a shock and certainly didn’t seem as severe as I worried it might have been. I need to take them for five days for mine. I do wake up with head, neck and jaw ache but it subsides
The nausea is just bleagh rather than argh, for want of a better way of putting it! I don’t feel like I am actually going to be sick. Just off colour. I manage it okay but sometimes i get a bit more fed up than others!
It might be worth asking Macmillan or BCN for signposts to support if you are a carer etc. You need to ensure you give yourself healing time x
Thank you for sharing this. I am going to order one now.
You’re very welcome here! I’m HER2+ but also having chemo first (EC then paclitaxel). I had my first EC yesterday and it hit harder than I was expecting, but the advice line was wonderful and have upped my anti sickness meds so feeling much better today - we can all get through this together 
Great tip on loratidine - going to make sure I have some in before I have first jab tomorrow
@nib32 and @letsdoit hope all goes well for you today!
Don’t be afraid to call the helpline if you’re unsure on anything - I was worried they’d just default to sending you to A&E but they were super helpful, adjusted meds and gave great advice when we called twice last night about my sickness. I’m feeling so much better today as a result!
Hi all
I have just read through this thread as I now have my first chemo date on 26 November. It has been largely reassuring. Getting the date has been a kind of relief in a way, as it means I now feel like we’re on the road to recovery (albeit the journey is going to be full of potholes) but I can start ticking things off. I like doing count downs.
Some brilliant advice about the PICC line cover, thank you, I have ordered one now. Also the advice about hugging a pillow for a few days.
Good to know that the nausea seems largely manageable, and that there are plenty of anti sickness meds available. I can cope with feeling sick, just can’t stand actually being sick>
I’m having 7 lots of chemo every three weeks prior to surgery, then 14 rounds post op, but no idea about that yet. Just focusing on the first chemo for now.
None of us would choose this, but I’m glad to be on the ride with you even so. Stay well everyone, sending my love to you all. XXX
Just to update my CT came back all good! Another test result ticked off and a step closer to treatment starting, so relieved and ready for a chemo plan xx
Thanks so much @kcim !! Just got home, all went well with chemo, horribly with cold cap. Made it through but not sure I can do it again. Too tired to say more just now
Hope everyone else is ok xxx…..
Hooray!!!
So happy for you @emilyxxx! 
You’re braver than me trying the cold cap - well done making it through the full first treatment! If it helps I was next to someone on their last treatment yesterday (she’d had 3 EC + 12 paclitaxel) and her hair had thinned but she still had a good amount 
That’s great @emilyxxx
Well done on your first dose time to rest now. Like @kcim says you are braver than me with the cold cap, i knew I would find it too much. See how you go… there’s no must or must not, just what works for you. Focus on being very gentle on yourself for now
Hi all, I started my chemo on Friday. I have a triple positive grade 3 cancer I called cruella. I be getting six rounds in total (five to go) of Goserelin, Dexotaxel, Phesgo &Carboplatin. Zoladex for the ovaries.
I also am doing scalpcooling and some cold socks and gloves to prevent neuropathy.
first few days were fine but now constantly vomiting and having diarrhoea and not wanting to eat much, had to go to a and e for that as the oncology team got worried. Just hoping that they’ll find a way to counteract this🤞🏼
I am also a mum of a 14 month old so hands full!
So happy to have others in this journey!