Aley, I had a Picc line put in on Friday as I told my onc I could no longer cope with needles in my hand, my hand is still bruised and painful from the last chemo session 3 weeks ago.
I was told my MRI results during today’s chemo. So far after 2 FEC chemos the tumor hasn’t shrunk but also not got bigger which they are please with. I start the THP on 13th November which they are hoping will start to shrink it, if not they may delay the rest of the chemo and operate early just in case it starts to get bigger.
Hi CatGarland
Ok I might see how it goes after next FEC (3rd) are you on the rosco trial? Just wondering when they scan as it sounds a bit random re:timing… I was told I’d be scanned after 7th cycle! Seems a long time to wait! So wondering if I should insist on an MRI earlier…I was a candidate for the trial but was told I couldn’t participate as my estrogen and progesterone levels were too high! Hope everyone is having a good day…X
Aley,
I’ve not heard of that trial. I will google it now but no I’m not on it. At the hospital I attend they give you an MRI after every 2 rounds of chemo to keep a track of it.
Hi all, I’m on the ROSCO trial. I think they scan (ultrasound or MRI) after the 4th chemo, and then I think they operate, and if necessary, more chemo afterwards. My tumour is easy to feel, and I can feel its shrunk a bit, but as they operate whatever, I dont think the size matters really.
I’ve been feeling very sorry for myself recently as I’ve been so tired and unable to do anything, and then I got a cold/sore throat too. But I think yesterday was the low point and now I’m on the up (fingers crossed). I was feeling so ill yesterday I phoned the hospital for advice. I was continually checking my temp, wishing it would go up so I could go into hospital to get checked over/have blood tests - does that sound silly? I was just so worried I had an infection brewing as I felt so ill. I’m hoping it was just the low point in my immune system (11 days after chemo) and now its improving. Hoping to get away for the weekend with the family before the next chemo starts.
Hi Pulapula,
No it doesn’t sound silly at all-I was like that on my first cycle…my mind was just all over the place…I was ringing the hospital everyday at one point! I was on LGFB with a ROSCO trial lady who seemed to be saying that they were going to continue with all the chemo before operating… but yes I was under the impression they operated after 4. Did you get the injections? You have them from day 2 for 5 days… I had them this cycle as my white count had dropped…so far ok! Hope you feel better soon xx
Hello ladies, sorry to drop in again but j though of something else the nurses suggested to try for nasty tongue and tastelessness… Try getting the fizzy vitamin c tablets (ones in a tube which you should put in water) and let half of ine dissolve on your tongue… You can have a whole ine butntheh are quite sharp. They do cut through the thick coating and help for a while.
Hi Pat, I’ve had a picc line for several weeks now and do Pilates three times a week, carry bags etc, without any problems at all. Week 1 was a bit tender, but it’s totally fine now. But yeah, don’t do too much cleaning!! Gxx
I’ve now had 3 FECs … half way ?? whoo hoo. Now I’m starting to stress about the unknown of the Ts. Are the SE similar to FEC and follow the same pattern? Double dosage of steroids for 3 days is a little bit scary too!
My veins have not liked FEC at all - they are bruised, tight and painful in my left arm (they can’t use my right arm as I’ve already had surgery). My nurse has said Ts are a bit kinder on the veins and will try a cannula for my first T. Has anyone else found they are easier on the veins? They will give me a central line for the last two Ts if not … they’ve not mentioned picc line!
Hi Lisa, can’t comment on the veins as I had a Picc Line. The steroids for T are to prevent an allergic reaction, and they give you Piriton as an infusion which sends some ladies to sleep during the treatment! It probably means you shouldn’t drive afterwards too!! I found that T didn’t give any nausea and I felt fine for the few days following treatment. Personally I felt a bit worse mid cycle than I did with FEC. Feel free to ask anything else. Oh, btw, your hair starts to grow back!!!?Kx
I think we are at the same point with 3 chemos down??
I have had 2 FEC and because my tumour hadn’t changed they swapped me into T early so I have had 1 T.
The SE’s have been fine, not much nausea but tiredness and issues with oral thrush which I have found to be the worst. Now have an antibiotic for that so hopefully will clear up? My vein has not been sore. Was apprehensive about the T chemo but so far ?
Hi everyone!
My veins in my left arm are also very painful, feel bruised and tight Lisa-T. I have a picc line, so I mentioned it to my chemo nurse and she said it could be the FEC (due my 3rd on Mon) or it could be my picc line resting on nerves. TBH, it does feel like nerve pain sometimes as it’s so blooming painful. I’m gonna mention it to the Oncologist nurse as well.
I’m dreading this 3rd round and then I start on the T and Herceptin. It’s all very nerve-wracking not knowing what the new SEs will be like.
I did manage to have date night last night tho, so my hubby took me to Manchester for dinner and a music gig. I’m still smiling and know it’s given me the strength to get through Monday.
Love to everyone x
I’m new to posting here despite starting chemo on 26th September…I finally have only just had some time and space to sit down and do this but have been reading some of this thread and wanted to say that your shared experiences have been a godsend to me! :smileyhappy:
I’ve had two hospital stays already (first one was due to a combined anxiety attack / body not handling the first chemo too well), then 4 days after my second FEC I somehow got a UTI and ended up in hospital for 3 nights. Bizarrely I didn’t actually feel all that ill the second time round, I thought I had come down with a bit of a cold or something but the high temp flagged up the infection.
In between the hospital stays however, I have been very lucky to not feel too ill - most of my problems seem to be gastric / stomach ache or discomfort and my asthma seems to be a bit worse, so never sure if I’m short of breath or if its just the asthma! I do find myself very tired sometimes and I’ve noticed if I over exert myself in that first week after chemo, I tend to get the shakes and my heart feels like its racing.
All my hair is practically gone now so I’m embracing the bald look, its a bit upsetting at times but on the whole I found I actually enjoyed having really fast showers (who knew hair washing took so long!). Supposed to be getting a wig on the NHS but I’ve heard they are appalling so I might not bother, so long as my head is warm I’m happy to keep wearing scarves and hats.
Hope you are all doing ok with your respective treatments, look forward to going through this experience with you from here on :smileyhappy:
Thanks ktk - that’s good hear that you managed ok on Ts ? Can’t wait to see some tufts of hair - still get a shock when I see the bald version of me in the mirror ?
MamaTony - pleased your first T went ok. It’s always the unknown that’s the worst so I hope I cope as well as you are doing. We are getting there … 3 down ??
Good luck for tomorrow ALittlePixie … you’ve got this ? and you’ll be half way ? Sorry to hear you are struggling with your veins too … hope your oncology nurse will have a solution. My girls are off school next week so I’m hoping to get away to my Mums (mustn’t be far from you … Chorley ?) for a few days as it’s my good week. It’s good to feel ‘normal’ again … if only for a short time!
You can put your NHS voucher (amount varies for different areas) towards the cost of a wig … which is what I did (although I didn’t need to put much towards it - £5). I was really surprised by the quality of what I could get with the voucher so I would give it a try. Everyone is different tho and wigs aren’t for everyone … some prefer scarves. It’s whatever you feel most comfortable with
I’m loving having my hair done with no effort every day … saves loads of time ?
Hi all! I haven’t posted for a while (think it was couple weeks after my first ec) im now halfway had 3rd round week and half ago. After the second i felt pretty rough day 4,5,6 nauseous, dizzy and blurred vision. Ive not been feeling to bad after the 3rd, armpit hairs have gone which is great!! Bottom eyelashes gone. I find i go off certain food and drinks for the first week then it goes back to normal?? I found my 3rd round pretty tough due to the fact i lost my dad the day before ? i was called at 2am go and see him and by 5.30 he was gone. I was by hes bedside. Then having to go to chemo the next day was horrendous, it took 5 attempts to put cannula aswell. It just really gets me that my dad went before he got the chance to see me get through chemo and hes last image of me is all hairless! He died from metastatic cancer of the liver. So when i was diagnosed it was a massive blow to the family as my dad was then receiving hes final rounds of chemo So emotional its been tough.
Hi all! Not posted for a while as was sailing through 2 FECs! Then had a local recurrance on my recon scary week checking hadnt gone elsewhere but scan came up good, anyway resulted in having to change to the T for my 3rd cycle, fully hyper on steroids then day 3 and 4 terrible crash never felt so bad every bone in my body aching, hot and cold sweats. Onco says will reduce steroids next time as too much for me. Must be driving chemo nurses mad worrying about infection!! I also keep checking temperature like a loony.? Hoping will be better next time…is it ok to take paracetamol for aching bones? Much love to all xxx???
Gxx
Lisa xx