Morning. Sorry to hear about all the ladies experiencing sickness. I was prescribed Emend and so far no sickness just nausea. Absolutely banging headache so onc nurse suggested stopping ondanestron and take codeine or paracetamol. I find ginger biscuits helpful.
I was was diagnosed in July 2015 stage 3 triple negative. Had mx and anc . Since then I went back to theatre haemorrhaging and then got cellulitis at my wound site. This put my chemo off for two weeks. It was a relief to finally get started on chemo as this is the only treatment for me. Adjuvant said 18% extra with treatment so prognosis around 68%. My treatment plan is 4 FEC and 12 T followed by radiotherapy. It’s going to be a long journey. I’m not allowed to work as I work in the operating theatre and risk of infection.
its lovely to hear from others that are experiencing the same issues. Keep smiling . We can do this xxxxx
Hello. My name is debbie. I had my second chemo last Wednesday. The first one when reasonably well apart from the Trauma of the hair loss! So I thought second one would be easier. Sadly I was wrong. I ended up in AE Sunday night with chest pain. They thought I had a clot. I didn’t luckily but the said chest infection??? Maybe??? Prescribed antibiotics and sent home. Speaking to my Breast care nurse she seems to think maybe osphagitis due to chemo? Anyone know anything about this?
Well I live 2 mins from the hospital so husband drove me. But if you were worried then I would say ambulance. The thing that did worry me though as it was out of hours people didn’t really know what to do with a chemo patient! I felt quite vulnerable to be honest. I asked what their chemo policy was and he just looked blank at me. He did order X-rays and all bloods ECG etc. the next day I got a call to say he had ordered chest ct to rule out clot so I had to go back up the hospital. He also ordered abdominal and pelvis ct scN which has worried the life out of me as surgeon said I didn’t need them. Now waiting nervously for those results!
Debbie you poor thing! What a mare. I had oesophagitis caused by ulcers/acid reflux & it was sorted within 24 hours with lansoprazole (sim to omeprazole I believe). I don’t know if that would help you, because I’m not a doc, but might be worth asking about? The blooming out of hours people have given me the advice “grin & bear it until the morning” on the two occasions my hubby has called at midnight when I have been at the end of my tether. Very helpful. Even the onc/BCN were a bit shocked at how useless the advice was. Hope you are a little better now BBxx
Hi bibi. Yes I am going to ask the Drs to prescribe some omeprazole. I have been eating rennies and they do help. I got my scan results today too! All ct scans clear. So happy I feel I can carry on the chemo train now. Reflux included. !
Debbie What a top piece of news! Really pleased for you. We do need a ray of sunshine shining into our lives during this process & you just gave us all one. I was drinking gaviscon liquid a gavaholic before I got the lansoprazole, but haven’t needed it since. Good luck with today x
EleJ glad you are a bit better. My hubby got me Calpol 6+ paracetamol which dissolves on your tongue when I couldn’t face swallowing them. Worked a treat, but need to remember each tab us half the dose of a para. Glad you r feeling a bit better BBxx
Hi Ele J nurse said ondanestron may be the cause of the headaches. I stopped taking it and now I just feel fuzzy headed. I’m finding toast is the easiest thing to eat as tummy feels a little upset today. Is anyone else feeling absolutely tired out. I can hardly keep awake.
I was diagnosed back in July when cancerous cells were found in a lymph node which has swollen. Following MRI, CT scan and more biopsies they found the source, a 36mm lump, grade 2, ER and PR+ve, HER2 -ve.
I actually started my chemo (4 x FEC and 4 x T) on 25 September, to be followed by Radiotheraphy and then a mastectomy with (possibly) reconstruction.
To me the most traumatic bit was the 2 hour wait at hospital before the treatment started. We didn’t take this possibility into account and should have made better arrangements for meeting the kids after treatment. They did tell us after the treatment started that if we had phoned the department before leaving home they would have warned us if there was a delay and we could have arrived at the hospital later. They admitted how understaffed they were on the ward but the nurses were fantastic.
Anyway I opted for the cold cap, having the day before cut off about 15 inches of hair! The cold didn’t really bother me (probably because I was still stressing about my daughter). Day 8 and no hair lost yet.
Was very tired the first few days and did very little. I consider myself very fortunate in that I had no nausea and no real side effects. I just hope that continues for the remaining FEC.
Hi October 2015 ladies. Like PETA I’m also from the October 2014 thread. Anything you want to know just ask away. I’m sure PETA would agree, there wasn’t much our little group didn’t cover during our treatment, in fact at one point we became quite a talking point between the other threads due to the variety of se’s we encountered!!!
sorry to hear about the horrible sickness some of you have had. I have a vomiting phobia and this was a huge worry for me during my chemo. I cannot recommend enough Emend. You must insist on it, they won’t give it out willy nilly but it is the rolls Royce of antiemetics and that along with the other cheaper varieties will defo work for you.
i cannot believe that this time last year we were right where you all are this year unfortunately. But you will get through this, and this time next year you’ll be dishing out advise to the poor ladies in the October 2016 thread. Anything at all just give us a shout.
i have been following all threads since my diagnosis in September & found lots of useful info & support but this is my first post! I am booked in to have my first of six sessions of chemo next Friday, I have decided to give the cooling cap a try & just wondered if anyone here had tried it? & if they had been able to tolerate it?
Hi Emma, I’m a year ahead of you. Diagnosed sept 2014 and started chemo 31 Oct. I cold capped for 3 x fec and 11 x weekly taxol! It’s tough but worth it. I always took tramadol 1/2 hour before. Make sure the cap fits really well. There are different t types and its pot luck which you’re hospital uses.
I had the paxman system which has a rubber inner which fills with icy water, over the top is a neoprene cover which you tighten for a snug fit. I found the fit was better if you put it on at room temp then cool it on your head as it molds better.
I only lost hair the first time, when we put a cooled cap on, after that my hair began to grow! I probably lost 40-50% of the weight evenly across my head. By the time I finished chemo in April I had 2 inch layers all over!
A year on you’d have no idea. I’ve had it cut and coloured several times and have chosen to keep the layers as it gives much more body.
Sorry to waffle on, hope this is helpful, its worth persevering with. Good luck all x
Morning all! Reading all the posts with a growing sense of horror as the 9th draws closer for my first chemo. Had my Pre - assessment yesterday and a look round the unit - which seems very nice. Think I had a ‘new’ nurse though as there were lots of things she wasn’t sure about! Think I knew more than she did in some cases, mainly what I’ve picked up on this forum! She gave me steroids to take before my first session, but I queried this as I am in Fec-t and my understanding is that I have 3 fec sessions then 3 T’s and I thought the steroids were for the T’s. She tried to confirm with my oncologist but of course, she wasn’t available so she has suggested I call next week to confirm, which of course I will do, but I know you lovely ladies will probably be able to help. Those of you having Fec-t, did you have steroids before your first Fec? Have a lovely Saturday everyone, I hope all the side effects are bearable and improving. Chris xx
Thank you jobey. Yes to say I was freaked out was a serious understatement. Everything goes through your mind. I think as I was extra poorly last week so it just made things seem so dark! It’s my daughters 16th today so we’re of to go ape to swing through trees!!! Not me of course I will just be the camera man! Imagine me swinging through trees and my wig flying off!!!
Morning all, I am due to start on Thursday, and I have been advised to take a bag of supplies with me, can I ask you all what type of things are you taking into your chemo going in to town today to get everything I need, I want to be prepared.
Caffy, I’m also having FEC T and was told with mine I would have steroids on the day and for 3 days afterwards with the FEC, and with the T they would give me some to take home as I will also need to take it the day before treatment.
I have just found this forum and I am due to start chemo within the next 2 weeks ( although I read the government guidelines which say treatment should start within 31 days of operation?? Had my op on 9th sept!! Its definately fear of the unknown for me but all the waiting between appointments, diagnosis, surgery etc has been a bad time so I am kinda thinking lets just get on with it now.
Any tips,chats etc gratefully recieved and lets all stick together…anyhone in the Guildford area?
Hi Suzie, as we always say, sorry have had to join us but welcome anyway! Totally agree that I now just want to get on with it. At least I have a date - this Friday - gulp. But we will all get through it together and hopefully before we know it we will be like the lovely 2014 veterans giving advice to the 2016 people. Let us know when you get your start date. xx