Morning all. I definately have developed the strong smelling urine now that people reported on yesterday (for those who are interested :smileyhappy:)
Today will be first time post FEC-1 that I venture further than the end of the back garden as I’m off for my Look Good Feel Better session this afternoon. Will also need to wash hair for first time too which seems a bit scary.
Wishing good days to all. x
Liz, just read your friends article. I’m starting to wonder what screening for younger women would reveal x
Barry, I could certainly have gone out on Sunday (day 3) I’m sure as I felt pretty okay. But, I am naturally lazy and didn’t. Unfortunately this illness is feeding my lazy tendencies no end. Today is my first day without steriods so will be interesting to see how I fare without those AND venturing out. I’m sure other people here will have better advice than me to give on this subject though. x
I was bale to venture out on day 2 (Sunday after Friday treatment). I needed to get out of the house and wanted to have a roast lunch!!! I felt a bit vulnerable but in a crowd of strangers it was easier. I also went to church that evening which was harder as I was amongst friends. It was good to feel loved and supported by friends. I’m pleased I did it. I’m sure it will be easier next time.
Emma x
Hi all,
Apart from the first day after treatment (last Friday) I’ve managed to get out everyday. I’ve even worked this morning, I can do some work from home, so was on my laptop and phone from 8-1pm, but must admit, I’m now lying on the settee with the dog watching Masterchef Australia, it almost feels naughty on a work day.
Off to Maggies tomorrow, to pick my wig up, Trendco, go there weekly, so saves going into the city.
Still got got smelly wee and dodgy guts and my head tingles a bit today, on day 6 today.
jayne xx
Hi Barry
I didn’t go out until day 3 and that was just for a short walk. I was too tired to do anything else. Everyone is different, I think you will just have to play it by ear.
Had bloods done today. Also saw yet another dr (not seen the same one twice yet). Apparently next time they are going to give me injections to take home to boose the white blood cells. Thought I had the FEC sorted and now have these to worry about.Hopefully my husband will be a good nurse and do them for me. Everyone seemed quite surprised at the amount of hair I have, even though I used the cold cap.
Hi Xylo Sounds as if you are doing quite well in the hair front. Fingers crossed for you. I was ok until 2 days before FEC2 when shedding picked up. It’s not quite as bad now, but has carried on since then. I know I’ve lost quite a lot from between the ears down at the back & my parting is a little wider, but no actual bald patches yet. Hair wash day, which I really looked forward to at first, is now scare wash day & I have gone town to weekly wash because l lost so much. Pretty disgusting huh? I am a bit worried the cap will feel super cold this time. x
Hi Ladies,
My chemo is just about to start in the next week or so.
I was diagnosed with a grade 2 ductal tumour with the sentinel node positive, so all the others needed to come out - thankfully they were clear…
My onc has decided that I will need FEC x 4 three weekly, then 12 Taxol weekly.
I was wondering why they have split the Taxol into weekly chunks and what should I expect from this with regards side effects?
By the way, I’m loving the ‘Eagle has landed’ posts 
Hope you’re all okay, getting through this and remaining strong xxx
Emma x
Emma are you having treatment on NHS or private. It seems that private hospitals go for weekly taxol but NHS favours 3 weekly taxare - because its cheaper! Taxol is much more tolerable without any big peaks and troughs in side effects. I found it much easier than fec.
Good luck x
Hi Emma have a look on August, I am moving on to weeklies & a lady called Carole has given me a lot of advice about Paclitaxel. Although a pain logistically, because you have to go there the whole time & no ‘week off’, I’m told by BCN that SEs are rare, so you might have got lucky with that regime. Sorry to hear about your diagnosis & pleased other nodes ok. x
Hi Enma in also starting taxol weekly on nov 5th along with herceptin and taxotere 3 weekly. My chemo days are Thursday’s so going to try and work Monday to Wednesday as have been informed side effects are less when weekly. I have such a fighting attitude as did my mother who had it when she was 41 and is 75 in December!! Good luck x x
Hi Emma S, I think you might be the third Emma on this thread…what are the chances! Welcome Kazza, you’re in the right place! Hope everyone is doing ok today…I hit a tiredness wall today and spent the whole afternoon sleeping on the sofa, but recognise that I’m lucky I don’t have small kids or commitments so can just do exactly that Xxx
Evening everyone and welcome today’s newbies.
Really enjoyed my Look Good Feel Better session today and the goodie bag is fantastic. Do try and get to a session if you can.
The downside is that travelling into town for first time in ages has totally worn me out. I’m not sure I’ll ever be able to go back to commuting to work after all this. Coupled with first day post FEC-1 without steriods, this is the tiredest I’ve been so far and an evening on the sofa beckons.
Hope everyone is doing okay. x
Glad you enjoyed your LGFB session PC, I’m booked in November 17th, day before my planned 3rd FEC, I’m looking forward to it.
I did wonder why I was more tired, today is my second day without the steroids, is that the reason why I’m knackered ??
Glad you had a good time Fiona and that you are not feeling too horrific. I felt the same on Saturday re whether they had given me the wrong drugs. Apart from tiredness, burping and endless craving for pineapple in all formats, I’m still feeling relatively okay. Chemo nurse called today and said likely to start feeling more fatigued later this week but as I know that’s normal I’ll try not to worry about it. She was also pleased with my eagle reports!!
On that note, time for bed for me. Goodnight all. x
Hi all and fellow Emmas!!!
i’m first day without steroids today, and am not missing the jittery feeling, but still feel foggy and weak. I’m also getting so bored!! I’ve been knitting in front of the tv all day and can’t face another day like this. I need to accomplish something so even if it is clearing out a cupboard, I think I need to have something to achieve each day for my sanity.
my eagle situation is reasonable. I’m taking Senna each evening, with some success, but still feel not quite right. I bought some all bran today as well to try and relieve the situation. I hope I’ve managed to put that delicately enough.
I’m planning a walk and lunch with a friend tomorrow which I’m very much looking forward to.
Night all
Emma D
Hi All,
I have recently been diagnosed and am due to start Chemo in a week or so. Unfortunately I was supposed to have an MRI but I had a panic attack in the tube and they had to pull me out! Has anyone else had a similar situation and if so how did they get around the MRI? I am not getting back in there!
Morning all, well last night was probably my worst, woke about 3am with excruciating belly pains and the real urgent need to be sick, I got up and sat with a bowl for a while but nothing happened, it happened 2-3 more times before I got up. Feeling a bit better now, and hoping to get out for some fresh air later. I’ve also noticed my scalp has started to tingle.
With regards to the MRI scan, I’m with you on that, I struggle with confined spaces, maybe get them to prescribed you a mild sedative, so your chilled out next time, I know there are other scanning types but I don’t know the differences between them all - good luck x
Jayne x
i wasn’t looking forward to the MRI but the fact that I was lying on my front (with boobs dangling through gaps in the frame) rather than lying on my back as I had imagined made it ok (plus eyes firmly shut and headphones on with music). But I’m sure some kind of sedative will do the trick for you Ratti.
Day14 here too…felt quite poorly yesterday eve…headache, bit of a sore throat, took my temp at one point and it was over 38, though luckily my husband (rightly) said I didn’t feel hot to the touch so we should prob re-take a couple of times before panicking, and sure enough it was 37.5 next time. Feel a bit rough this morning but staying in bed watching tv and will see how I go. Incredibly heavy period yesterday with bad period pain (not at all usual for me) which didn’t help, but I guess that’s cos my hormones are all over the place. Hair and pubes still fully intact (didn’t cold cap)…Jojo I’m not wigging either, keep meaning to experiment with how to tie a scarf for proper coverage but haven’t done so far…slightly in denial I think! Hope everyone has a good day…beautiful blue sky here in Brighton! X
Morning all.
Sorry for your bad night Jayne – hope the day gets better for you.
Ratti, like Kazzer, I didn’t find the first chemo session anywhere as traumatic or difficult as I thought it would be. I was a little emotional to start with but the staff were great and very kind.
Jojo, I have my appointment with the “Medical Appliance Officer” tomorrow at hospital to look at wigs and I can’t say after your report I’m looking forward to it. I think I was kind of hoping that they would give me a voucher to take somewhere to put towards a wig as some health authorities do but perhaps not. Oh well, I have enough hats and turbans to see me through.
Emma D, I’m like you, a bit weak but getting bored. Not sure I’m so bored that I’ll be driven to clearing out cupboards though!
Hazel, thanks for coming over and letting us know your experience which helps even though not nice to hear you had to put up with the pains. It’s lovely and sunny in my bit of London too so I will try to have a walk at some point today.
Have a good day everyone. Checking in with you lot is one of the first things I think of when I wake up now. xxxx