Thanks for the filgrastim info…looks like most of you had 7, so maybe I’d best prepare for that, boo.
Has anyone else got follow up scans this week? I’ve got a mammogram and u/sound tomorrow, then CT on Thursday for 2 tiny liver spots. Results appointment on 29th, although I’m hoping they will tell me about the mammogram and u/sound tomorrow.
Yesterday I was very neutral and calm about these scans, because whatever has happened inside me has already happened. Today I’ve woken up with waves of panic and some tears. I know this is all completely normal, but it’s exhausting, isn’t it
Thanks, I know I’ll definitely be able to have weekly Paclitaxel if that’s what I choose as my oncologist was there one who suggested it.
I have hypermobile Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome, and had a bad reaction to the first EC so my oncologist is concerned that Docetaxel wound be too strong and that I wouldn’t tolerate the side effects as well as being at more risk of long term side effects compared to the general population.
My concern is that I don’t know if, psychologically, I can handle 9 sessions, as I’ve found EC3 very challenging and getting very panicky whenever anything makes me think about chemo. Also on looking at research papers it looks like weekly sessions are worse for causing peripheral neuropathy and there’s a lot of neuropathy issues in my immediate family so I’d be worried that genetically I’m a strong candidate for ending up with permanent nerve pain.
There’s also a history of histamine intolerance in my family though, and it’s linked to EDS, so if I opt for Docetaxel I could end up with a reaction like @lumpybyebye
So it’s a choice between two nasty options with not much way of figuring out in advance which I’m more likely to cope with.
I had a chat with my dad about it last night. He had chemo 10 years ago and had to reduce his dose due to peripheral neuropathy, but hasn’t had any long lasting effects. He’s most concerned about the potential for neutropenia on Docetaxel, particularly as it’s winter and I have two small children (yr1 and pre school). So at the moment I’m leaning towards Paclitaxel but that might change. I’m meeting my oncologist on the 23rd and next dose is 27th
@orchid2 I understand and sympathise regarding the panicky feeling and anxiousness regarding chemo sessions.
It might be worth talking to your oncologist or GP about prescribing some anxiety medication?
I was extremely concerned about nausea and vomiting before my first chemo, so much so that my oncologist prescribed me a single dose of Lorazepam 500mg (I think they were concerned that I would work myself up into such a state that they wouldn’t be able to get me in the chair lol )
I had to take the Lorazepam tablet before I left home on the day of chemo, just to relax me. It did help. They were happy to prescribe it for me to take before every chemo session but I found I didn’t need it after that first session, once I knew what to expect and trust the the anti sickness meds were going to work ok for me. But they would have continued to prescribe it if that had been my choice.
From the NHS website:
Lorazepam belongs to a group of medicines called benzodiazepines.
It’s used to treat anxiety and sleeping problems that are related to anxiety.
It can also be taken to help you relax before an operation or other medical or dental treatment. This is known as a pre-med.
It’s thought to work by increasing the levels of a calming chemical in your brain called gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA).
Lorazepam is available on prescription only. It comes as tablets and as a liquid that you swallow.
Or they might be able to prescribe you some sort of different anti anxiety medication that you take more regularly or in the few days leading up to your next session? It might be worth a conversation with them?
Hope you manage to make the right decision for you x
Brilliant news!
Mammogram and ultrasound this afternoon. Saw the same lovely consultant radiologist who diagnosed me in the summer. The lump has halved in size and she’s really pleased with how it’s going.
Hi all I had a wee brain break from chemo and posts for a few days whilst I recovered fully from the round from hell. Needed it.
Saw oncologist today, bloods good so proceeding with next round on Wednesday but at a reduced dose. Pre meds and post meds in place. Safety net.
Absolutely crapping myself but I can’t just stop treatment with a high recurrence rate.
Onwards we go … feck you cancer!!!
Docetaxel did this last time …
Swollen hands until they split
)
x
