Please don’t be apprehensive.
I’m on weekly pacitaxel and I have coped so far.
I have 3 kids and haven’t been in bed one day so far.
Am doing school runs etc, the side effects I’m getting are hot flushes and aches and pains but is all manageable and doable.
When I was on FEC I was bed bound for weeks and so so ill. So much so they actually cancelled my last FEC as felt it was making me too ill.
Sending you positive thoughts
Kath xxx
Thank you so much Kath. I’m so pleased you’ve managed much better on the Paclitaxel. I was very much like you on the FEC and after this horrid T, I was really anxious about having something weekly.
Hope everyone is OK. Sending lots of love xxx
Please keep in touch with me and let me know how you get on.
Kath xx
Hi Jacqs
Thanks. Feeling a bit rough tbh…vomited about an hour ago and bit of a headache. Rang chemo unit for advice…they said ring us or 111 if you need to…sailed through the last one so this has caught me by surprise…didn’t help that the chemo nurse was from another ward and didn’t really know how to use the machine!
Sorry random question anyone had intra-mammary nodes involved?
Morning everyone
Thanks Jacqs, that’s really helpful to know. I’m not sure yet if I’ll be on both drugs. I was wondering what they do re the steroids so that was really helpful, thanks. As to the eyebrows/lashes, my right side is bonkers. I think I have 5 hairs left on the right side and a full brow on the left ?
Aley - I hope today is better for you and you’re feeling more human. Really hope the SEs ease for you quickly x
Morning Alittlepixie
I’m not on both drugs just the pacitaxel and I am only given steroids iv as a pre med before chemo.
With the fec I had so many tablets to take which I hated, anti sickness and steroids but with pacitaxel it is all done IV.
Hope that does help.
Kath xx
Hope you are feeling better today Aley ??
My right eyebrow is worse too ALittlePixie - although it’s not gone completely yet. Are you pencilling it on … I’m not sure what I’m going to do when they do go ? Finally seeing some sign my head hair is coming back whoo hoo … although it is coming through white ??
Hope everyone has a lovely weekend Xx
I usually wear contact lenses with glasses as a back up but prior to chemo I went and got a new pair of glasses that were big enough to cover my brows. Although I have no brows now you can’t even tell!! Two months after last chemo I am just getting some regrowth…everywhere!!! Kx
Hello!
Thanks Kath, that’s good to know. I was the same on FEC with all the drugs. The anti sickness ones actually made me feel worse so I used to go cold turkey and risk feeling sick than take the drugs half the time!
Lisa - isn’t it weird that it’s just the right eyebrow for now?!?! I’m not pencilling them in yet. My eyebrows are quite fair anyway so unless people are really up close, they probably wouldn’t notice too much. Plus, my glasses help matters. To be fair, they’re too busy staring at my bald head ? I am getting some white fluff on top of my head tho which is quite amusing.
Ktk - I’ve not been able to wear my lenses since chemo cos my eyes hurt too much. I’ve two pairs of glasses so I wear my bigger ones to disguise my weird eyebrows ?
We really do need a sense of humour having chemo and all it entails don’t we xxx
Thanks ALittlePixie,
Feel a bit better but bloated, had some toast, coffee now tea…so far ok…this has totally caught me off guard as last cycle was so good! I’m anxiously checking my left eyebrow as I’m sure it’s thinning…hope you lovely ladies have a good weekend ???
Evening everyone,
It’s my left eyelashes and bits of my right eyebrow that seem to be going! Still got a few bits of hair on my head sticking out at odd angles, so yes, I’ll also be a bit of a stunnner for Christmas :smileylol:
I’ve been quite lucky with Paclitaxel this week: virtually no side effects except for feeling a bit tired and breathless, so I’ve taken advantage and had a couple of fairly busy days - meeting friends for tea, wrapping presents, and attending a university open day with my lovely daughter. It’s been nice.
I also started doing some creative writing this week, just gathering up thoughts and ideas that have been floating through my mind over the last few months, and combining these with a bit of family history which I have been dabbling with. I’ve really enjoyed this - something to keep my mind busy, without any particular aim. I don’t know how long I will keep it up for, but for now it’s something to focus on and to stave off boredom. :smileywink:
Aley: Sorry you’ve had such a rotten couple of days. I really hope you’re starting to feel a bit better.
Have a lovely Sunday, everyone.
Gx
Thanks GabyF. Sounds like you’ve had a lovely couple of days and the creative writing sounds amazing…done most of my Christmas shopping online this year-such a godsend! Feeling a bit better now thanks. Thankfully last FEC! T just before Christmas so I hope it doesn’t wreak too much havoc!! Going for an easy one this year-M&S goodies! I treated myself to a kitchenaid which was delivered today, so I’m looking forward to making bread and treats tomorrow ? enjoy the rest of your weekend all x
Hi everyone,
Here’s my first middle of the night post - I simply can’t sleep!! As soon as I got in to bed, my legs started twitching and since then I’ve had several hot flushes, but basically I’m just wide awake ?. I can’t even blame the steroids tonight. Had a good snooze after lunch yesterday, maybe that was a mistake? I am a bit worried that my sleep has generally become so disrupted and irregular, that even once I come off the chemo drugs, I might continue to have problems. Can’t remember when I last had a night when I didn’t wake up at least once. Anyway, I shall now try to lie down again and see what happens ? ?.
Hope no one is reading this right now and that you are all fast asleep!
Gxx
Morning everyone!!!
So sorry to hear you’re not sleeping Gaby. I’m hoping in time our bodies will settle down and our sleep patterns return. I use music to help me drift off and I use meditation apps as well…Insight Timer is a good one that I use in the middle of the night.
Galligirl, I really hope those SEs ease quickly. I really feel for you cos it’s so horrid. I used my heat blanket and baths to help ease the pain.
Jacqs - a cinema trip sounds heavenly, do enjoy! We’re hoping to take Eve to see Fantastic Beasts soon. The cinema is an hour away tho so I need to build up a bit more energy first.
Aley - hope the sickness has calmed down now.
My sister and mum are coming to visit from Leeds for 2 days today, so I’ll be celebrating Christmas early. I’m really looking forward to seeing them as I’ve not seen them since my chemo started. I’m hoping my mum doesn’t cry when she sees me with no hair. She’s 83 and very forgetful so I keep reminding her I’ve lost my hair so she doesn’t get a shock.
Wishing everyone a lovely week ahead and hope those pesky SEs don’t cause too much trouble for you. Lots of love xxxx
Morning everyone.
I’m having a nightmare, cracked half a molar on Friday eating a subway as well as dealing with side effects.
Been to dentist this morning and can’t do anything temporary. Needs a big filling.
Has anyone had any dental work while on chemo?
Am waiting for my oncologist to phone me back.
Hope you are all managing these horrid side effects and stay in the warm.
Love to you all
Kath xx
Morning everyone,
I did eventually drift off and have just treated myself to a lovely facial, so not feeling too bad now. I’m relieved that so many of us seem to have this problem. Our poor bodies and minds are having to put up with so much rubbish, I suppose it’s not surprising we can’t sleep properly.
LittlePixie: we’re hoping to see Fantastic Beasts this weekend. I just hope I stay awake! ?
Kath1977: what miserable luck! How many chemo sessions do you have left? Can you keep the temporary filling until you’re done?
Have a good day, lovelies! ?
Gx
Hi kath - hope you can get your molar fixed and that it’s not causing too much pain.
Sorry to hear some of you are not sleeping well. I tend to sleep ok once I’ve drifted off but sometimes find the drifting off bit hard.
Alittlepixie- hope you enjoy your family time. My mum was upset about my hair at first but soon got used to it.
Bit of a mixed day for me. I had my post chemo mri on fri and get the results weds so I’m all geared up for the surgery discussion. As my lump had shrunk I was feeling good. But I’ve just had a shower and found a new lump in the other breast! Trying not to worry and at least we’ll have the scan results on weds so will know what’s going on. But it was a shock to find it! Trying to convince myself it’s a cyst or hormonal response to having my mirena coil removed on Friday.
On a positive note, my genetic testing results came today - they were negative so that is a big relief in terms of worrying about my 13 year old daughter and my sister.
Hi pulapula,
Definitely not an easy day for you - I really hope that lump you found turns out to be nothing to worry about. However, the result of your genetic test is fantastic, you must be so relieved. I’m still waiting for mine to come through. How long did you have to wait?
Gx
Hi Gaby, I think someone on this group had something similar with a new lump in other breast and it turned out to be a cyst (I’ll have a read back shortly). I think I’ll call my BCN tomorrow just to make her aware and see if my MRI results are back yet.
I am relieved about the genetic test result. Whilst it would have given a reason why, it’s good to know as I have a 13 year old daughter. I had the test done on 10 Oct and they tried to ring me last week but sent a letter instead so that was 7 weeks?
Evening everyone,
Pulapula - Ahh so sorry to hear you’ve found another lump … try not to panic (I know that’s hard) … it could be anything. Doesn’t stop the worry, and you will, but stay positive
ALittlePixie - I hope your Mum didn’t get too much of a shock with your new look. Enjoy your early Christmas celebrations ?
Galligirl - hope your leg pains ease soon ??
GabyF - Hope you get a better nights sleep tonight - I’ve always liked my sleep so I struggle when I wake up too early ? Although it is quite handy for a bit of online Christmas shopping ?
Kath - what rubbish timing for your cracked molar - hope you get it sorted soon
Got my 2nd T on Wednesday ? at least I know what to expect this time. I’m hopefully going to see Wicked on Saturday. Booked it nearly 2 years ago so determined to go ??? … just hope I don’t fall asleep ? ?
Keep going lovely ladies … hope you all have a good week xx