Sept 2025 chemo starters

Going through breast cancer treatment Chemotherapy monthly threads
983

@story1 I had it on my hands and they think it was keytruda related… they prescribed antihistamines (tried two different types as made me drowsy) and cetreben which did the job. They bought me in to check it first though and do some bloods and mine was prescribed by the on call oncologist. My nurses don’t tend to prescribe but know some can.

Day 2 has been full of fatigue… can hardly lift my arms up. Have been doing little bits around the house in between lying down for a bit.

The weird thing that is getting me down is I feel out of whack, timing wise, with my family. Never hungry when they want to eat, tired when they want to do something or buzzing when they want to chill. They are always super supportive and accommodating, I just feel like I’m on a different rhythm to the rest of the world!

3 Likes
984

Thanks Kim, that gives me perspective to go in there with xx fatigue sounds brutal, firing on a different time zone is a thing isn’t it? Sounds like you’re doing well though although you probably don’t feel like it, gives me courage going into it! Had a weird blood sugar drop just now, had such a lovely trip out to Wimpole Christmas lights. We took the wheelchair although I was dreading it thank goodness we did because I needed it. Had a giggle and Christmas lights gorgeous❤️

1 Like
985

image
image1200×1600 431 KB

4 Likes
986

@cridders glad to hear first EC went well for you. Hope the fatigue passes and you have a good week.

@emsd2025 hope you are doing OK. Best wishes for your Mum tomorrow, a lot for you to cope with on top of your own treatment. Hope everything goes OK and good luck for your treatment this week. Number 11 for us!!

@story1 Lovely pic and glad you had a good day. Hope your sugar levels comes back up. I had similar a week ago, the hospital called me after bloods to say it was low but they put it down to me not eating a lot before the bloods. Because we live quite a way from the hospital it was probably about 1.5 hours since I had eaten and it was also early morning. They told me to eat more often. It all settled quite quickly. Peanut butter, hummus, crackers and fruut pastilles…. For the rash have you tried antihistamines?

They specifically told me piriton as that is what they prescribe with the chemo. It is the drowsy one. Plus an emollient – they gave me Cetreben. Also they said the first step is steroid cream before steroids. They prescribed me steroid cream but I did not need it. They told me I can take upto 4 piriton in 24 hours. Hoping it eases for you.

Good luck to everyone on treatment this week. xx

1 Like
987

Oh interesting, thanks @cathie2 i was scared to take more than 1 so I’ll chat with them tomorrow. When is your next dose? How are you getting on? Feel much better now I’ve had dinner, haven’t felt like that for ages, strange feeling xx

988

She sounds challenging - a little power eh! Thank you @story1 and @cathie2 ive just found out I probably need to have a bloody blood test before the contrast mri damn it - so might miss the slot - ffs! You would ha someone would have said…this. @story1 onto Deep Fear x

1 Like
989

No!!! You’ve got so much on, good luck today, you need a good murder mystery to help you relax​:rofl::rofl::rofl:

Oh absolutely the power! Like the receptionists at surgeries😎

990

Ah yay they can do the MRI. The lady was absolutely lovely!! I hope she knows what a difference she made. Mum’s in theatre now and I’m Getting into Deep Fear, @story1 im addicted! 100% the receptionists, some are lovely, some are just muppets with a tiny bit of power and the will to use it.

3 Likes
991

That’s fantastic news about MRI when is it? Everything crossed for your mum xxx Poor gobby Moira​:smiling_face_with_sunglasses::smiling_face_with_sunglasses::smiling_face_with_sunglasses:

992

My rash is paclitaxel, thank goodness it’s behind me, hoping it clears with Piriton and emollient. Nasty nurse (going to call her Nurse Ratched) wrong again: she wasn’t there xxx so a weekend worrying about keytruda totally unnecessary .

3 Likes
993

Hahaha brill news it’s not the keytruda! She sounds like a twat. MRI all done - now just counting down the mins till I can call the hospital. Feel like I should be being active and going for a walk or something but I can’t face it xx

3 Likes
994

Well day 4 on EC has been a total wipe out - honestly never felt so fatigued! Tiny bit of nausea so keeping up with the met and jabs start tomorrow. Not sure if it is the fact that I went in to this first round with low Haemo or if this is to be expected but haven’t made it out of bed yet and keep napping for short bursts. Any advice from you EC peeps for ways to try and ease out of this? How many days did the wipeout last for people?

@story1 I’m gonna start on your books/audio today - love me a bit of crime! Glad the rash is getting better

@emsd2025 sending healing vibes for your mum

Good luck all with treatment this week! Xxx

2 Likes
995

Will you find out today? Exciting! Ha, yes, twattery central (like Matt the twat). X

996

Kim @cridders god that sounds rough, your body obviously needs it, have you got help with kids? Let’s hope this is a short term shock and you’ll bounce back quickly then you’ve got that lovely 2 weeks off!! My turn tomorrow, I’ll prepare for the same, do you have to do the filgrastim shots with this? Did you say they start today? So 3 days after? I wonder if you’ll feel much better after that kicks in, hope so xxx ooo enjoy the books!

1 Like
997

Ha no has to be reported and then go through MDT, hoping will know more before everything shuts down for Xmas. Matt the Twat :rofl::rofl::rofl:, does he make an appearance?

1 Like
998

He pops back up in number 5… I just love the way Claire says it…:rofl:

1 Like
999

Hi everyone, apologies for the silence - I’ve been really exhausted post infection - spending most of the day in bed. I was able to have my second pax on Friday , had lots of steroids with the infusion which kept me up on the Friday night but have worn off now.

I think the tiredness is the cumulative effect of the chemo,

Hope everyone is doing well

2 Likes
1000

Hey all, just popping in here from December thread. I’m first to start chemo in our group and don’t want to scare them. I’ve just woken in a panic feeling so overwhelmed and anxious from it all. I’m day 5 after first paclitaxel infusion and the physical symptoms are abating but mentally I’m struggling +++. I’m a single mum and the stress of having to hold it together for my kids is massive. My anxiety about neuropathy is so bad I don’t know if the tingling is neuropathy or in my head. Seriously at this point I don’t think I can do another round. The trauma feels too big. My brain feels like it’s going to break. Not sure what I’m looking for, but I think sharing with women who understand is vital for me right now I think. Sorry to be a downer :pensive_face:

4 Likes
1001

Hello @annabananna so sorry to hear what you are going through but I am glad you have found us for extra support. This group of ladies is amazing.

I remember when I started at the end of September the anxiety in the build-up to getting started was immense and I know others on here felt the same, so you are not on your own.

We all are dealing with this in different ways. We have all hit low points at various stages along the way and we have dragged ourselves out of them some of them more slowly than at other points but there are also so many positives we have been able to celebrate.

On week 6, I found my tumour had reduced from 23mm to 10mm because of the treatment. Others on here have had equally good results. Others have shared great tips for dealing with side effects that helps ease things for us. Wins like this helps us all get through the tough times. Holding it together for your kids is a huge burden for anyone and I imagine especially as a single Mum you will feel it more acutely.

Do you have close family or friends you can call on to help ease the burden? Also, have you spoken to your healthcare team? I had a call recently from a ‘hollistic breast care worker’ (not sure of the exact title?). But they call everyone going through a diagnosis at my hospital and ask how they are, do they need extra support or any help, are they struggling.

Have you been assigned a breast care nurse? Or a similar care contact? Have a think about tapping into any help offered. You can always stop as you feel stronger.

Please don’t ever feel alone, you are not alone. You don’t need to apologise or worry you are putting a downer on any one. This is exactly why this thread is here. We can all vent together and share our fears with others that understand – you are spot on.

We are all in this together and we are stronger together.

Thinking of you and sending hugs so that you don’t feel alone. :hugs:

@story1 so happy for you that your rash is behaving, Can I ask how they know it was paclitaxel and not the Pembro?

I had number 11 today (Pacli + carbo) and the rash feels like it might be starting again this evening.I took a piriton and hoping it will behave. But I am wondering now if it is pacli and not pembro? Good luck tomorrow for EC, really hoping it goes well. xxx

@cridders Hoping the fatigue and total wipe out passes soon. It’s really frustrating but we know you just have to listen to your body. I really hope it is because you had low haemo and this is not normal for you and next time will be much better. Can they do anything for the low haemo?. Thinking of you. xx

@anim4l great to hear from you again. Been thinking about you, so glad you were able to have your second pax. That’s great news. I think a few of us have felt the cumulative impact of the chemo now as we are so far in, hang in there and hopefully you will be able to ride it out quickly. Good to hear you are back on treatment. xx

@emsd2025 so glad you were able to have your MRI. I called my breast cancer nurse to find out when the results were out as the MRI people were very vague – which I understand as they did not want to give false promises, But it gave me an excuse and I had the results within about a week as it went straight to the next MDT. Hope yours is as quick. Thinking of your Mum and hoping all is going to plan for her. Sending hugs. Good luck for your treatment this week xx

4 Likes
1002

Hi @annabananna

I started with neuropathy on first week of paclitaxel too.

It did settle down as weeks progressed (until week 8 when my treatment was so late my ice packs had thawed).

My strategy has been to rest as much as possible for first 3 days after treatment (pushing chemo infused blood to hands and feet by exercising etc. seems against the cold capping principle of trying to minimise blood flow to area to protect hair follicles in scalp/the area you’re trying to protect). Majority of paclitaxel has left your bloodstream after 3 days. Then remaining days I massage feet and move much more.

I also drink lots of fluids- 2 to 3 litres a day.

I’ve added foods that are good for nerve health too - b vitamins from marmite, vitamin d from eggs and plenty of olive oil for omega 3 oils (I’m veggie).

Let your chemo hotline know what’s happening, they have experience of this- they might reduce your dose.

Xx

2 Likes