Oh that’s good to hear. I’m hoping that I’ll hear soon. Yes, my next treatment is on 21st too xx
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How is everyone feeling? Apart from the exhaustion and steroids preventing sleep I was very lucky and didn’t have any nausea. I’m terrified I just got lucky this time and next time will be worse. My appetite is finally starting to come back and feeling a little stronger each day. Mentally I’m not doing so good knowing I have 5 more rounds ahead of me and worrying each will be worse than the last. It’s such a long road and January seems so far away (my last one should be mid January). Sending love xx
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Hi everyone
I have actually just finished my chemo… having started in june and now waiting for surgery next month. I wish you all well and would just like to share a few tips and ideas of what to have in to ease your side effects
Things to buy:
Thermometer… keep eye on temp regularly
You should come out with an array of medication … but following helped
Bonjella… ease if mouth becomes sore
Sudocrem… soft tissue can become sore
Anusol… medication can cause constipation…
Movicol or something similar to ease constipation sickness and steriod medication can cause issues in first few days
Gaviscon… i suffered lot of acid reflux
Dry eye drops… some chemo can effect eyes. Itchy sore runny
Vaseline… put around nose as can become dry inside when losing hair nose… dont be alarmed if have nose bleeds
Lip salve
Travel bands
Rich tea biscuits
Mouth wash
Make up a mini medical bag and always take out with you… including pain killers… muscle pain… and sickness tablets. Eye drops
Have medication at side of bed… so you are not wandering round in night to find it
Water and biscuit at side of bed… nibbling really helps with nausea
Carry a banana/snack for a quick sugar fix when you are out and about.
Keep a journal and track your symptoms for future cycles so you recognise the pattern and can pre-empt and step in before you are in too much discomfort
Try and have a walk or have someone take you for ride out… fresh air and change of scenery helps
Drink plenty to flush through chemo
Obviously you will all find your own way of coping… i have found this particular part of journey not to be as bad as i feared and whilst yes there have been side effects they have been less intense than i anticipated.
Good luck to you all and hoping you all have good recoveries
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Many thanks Ann for sharing your experiences and tips. Very helpful and kind. Wishing you well for surgery and recovery.
Tracey and Birdie, hope you two are ok… my first cycle went ok, canule worked well, it is a 6 cycle DC regime and glad first is over. Cool cap was tough - for first 15 min - drank tea I brought and managed to stick with it. Staff very friendly.
Felt nauseous from steroids - 8 a day for 3 days… but that is getting better. Can’t taste salt anymore and everything tastes bit different/strange. Had to do the Injection yesterday - Pegfilgrastin- only once. Got heavy bones today and some pain but barable… and yes 5 cycles more seems a long way, but trying to tell myself it is not a bad start; and glad about that. Experience is a challenging one and tiring and draining - but love of family/friends and support here helps. Many thanks all. And warm wishes… keep in touch. Rose xo PS:,sleeping is tough - trying and listening to my favourite gentle guitar music on earphones helps - and can relax me, help to get back to sleep. 
Good morning Rosegarden,
Bet you’re glad to have got the first one out of the way?! How are you feeling this morning?
Lucky you only having to have one injection… I’ve just done no 3 out of 5 
I feel so good today. Still got an awful chemical taste in my mouth but feeling so good: I’ve done 3 loads of washing and a huge pile of ironing!
Have a good day xx
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Hi hn23
I’ll be on this journey with you to January. Had my first chemo yesterday. So far I’ve not had any nausea and was lucky to sleep for about 6 hours last night, although I was warned steroids may prevent this. I did wake with a horrible headache and sinus pain which I’m battling with and dosing myself with painkillers regularly. I’ve also ordered a new pillow as I think that may help! Was told day 3 may be the day I feel really rough-have you found this?
Thanks Tracey
Good to that you had a good day overall and even been active. I’m feeling worse today than yesterday yesterday when I did some cooking and had more energy. The muscle pain and tiredness is quite intense today. Hope I will get some better sleep tonight and pains start easing - temperature was a little raised to 37.4 so apprehensive about taking paracetamol against a pain. As it in mask fever. Taking it easy today and let’s see what tomorrow brings -love to all xo
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Hi Rosegarden - how are you doing? I’m surprisingly ok. Felt a bit pants yesterday (day6) but much better today. I don’t think you should ignore a raised temperature and I also don’t think you should be scared to take paracetamol. If you check your temperature before you take any, that should be quite reliable and I’ve definitely found it helpful with the weird cold symptoms I’ve been getting. I’m thinking they might be to do with the Filgastrem which, interestingly, I’ve got to do for seven d!! Odd how we’re all being treated so differently isn’t it. Anyway, thought I’d hop on and say I’m fine and hope that everyone else is coping. Keeping a note of my symptoms too to help for next . Big love everyone xxx
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Thanks Birdie for your lovely and kind message. Glad you are doing well. My temperature turned out to be an issue and they kept me in Russell Hall hospital A and E as when admitted 2 days ago white blood cell levels were ok, but there was an infection marker.so they put me on intravenous Antibiotics… And also having bad bone/leg pain.
Sadly no side room available- until this afternoon- despite Drs attempts- so I slept in cubicle on a ward surrounded by lots of other patients.
and this morning things got worse sadly. temperature is ok again and felt better overall - but white blood cell count thia morninh was to low now - so neutropenia + some infection after Chemo on Tuesday.
Got to stay in hospital for more Antibiotics and (hopefully another load of pegfilgrastim or filgrastin. Love xo
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rosegarden1 sorry to hear your in casa nhs what day after chemo are you on and what’s your chemo cycle 22 days? Neutrophils can take a bit of a nosedive but when they whoosh back up they can do so quite quickly try and ensure you have little walks while your in and ask about blood clot injections while they are keeping you in too if you are not moving about much 
Shi xx
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Many thanks - I had my first TC cycle start on Tuesday 8.10. Will ensure to walk in my room and ask about blood cloth injections if I don’t move muvh
Atb
Iris
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Are you on a 21 day cycle rosegarden1? I had 6 days in casa nhs after my first infusion in Oct17 so just wanted to to you. My onc reduced my chemo for next 5 and didn’t have anymore stays in casa nhs during chemo everyone on the threads kept me company while in and I’m sure others here will do same with you do you know we’ve got you Shi xx
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Thanks Shi, gor your lovely message of support. Yes - 6 21 days cycles. But my netrophil blood count was down to 0.2 yesterday. Hope it will recover quickly. And back to sleep now xx
Love
Rose
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Rosegsrden1 keeping everything 
your neutrophils pick up soon so you can get home Shi xx
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I’m so sorry to hear this - you poor thing. I really hope you feel better soon. That’s such a rubbish start for you - sending so much love xxx
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I had my first of 4 EC cycles today. What an emotional rollercoaster this is, I’m exhausted.
The cold cap should be re-named the freezing cold cap, but thankfully it was manageable after the first few minutes.
I feel like I’m just waiting for side effects to kick in now but I’m trying to be optimistic and thinking I won’t get many/any.
We’ve got this ladies! xx
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Hello my love - that’s one less to do - well done you. The cold cap really isn’t so bad, is it. Hope you don’t feel too bad. I had my first one a week ago. The skin in my mouth is starting to go a bit funny now, and I think I’ve got a cold too, just for good measure, but I’m honestly not too bad. Take all your anti-emetics and I’m sure you’ll be f. I had quite bad heartburn the first night but I stupidly had curry for tea!! Not recommended 
xx
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Rosegarden1 how are you feeling today and how’s the neutrophils count mine dipped below 0 before whooping back up after 6 days do for you Shi xx
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How are we all feeling this week?
I’m a week post first EC and feel completely back to normal now. In fact, I feel a bit of a fraud being off of work (I do know deep down that I can’t go in to school due to risk of infection). I’m getting lots of lovely walks in and went out for lunch yesterday which was very much needed and appreciated.
I’m having my PICC line fitted on Friday ahead of next weeks treatment.
Sending hugs to you all xx
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It’s great that you’re feeling good, hope it continues that way! I am mostly okay but my gums have suddenly gone to pot and are so sore. I’m also still not sleeping well at all. One arm has a Picc, the other side has had lymph nodes removed and I’m so worried about lymphoedema, so I’m not sure I can safely sleep on my side at the moment? Does anyone else have any idea about that? xx