Hi Frazzled, thank you for the Picc update. Hope it becomes more comfortable over the next day or so for you. Like the mantra that if the chemo is killing the hair, it must be killing the cancer. We are all doing the best we can.
Cami, really hope your cough resolved soon too
Xxx
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Are you on Ec next @daffodil1 ? Itās been okā¦ very cyclical. First few days I feel dazed/like Iāve been hit on head w rubber mallet (like a character from a Disney cartoon!). Then grubby, as if the drugs are slowly leaving and I canāt get clean (if that makes sense). Day 8 is always hard going. Then week 2 I start to feel better, and by week 3 Iām almost normal ready to start again. Had a few grotty things (uti, cold sores etc) but no hospital stays yetā¦ been lucky on that front.
Iāve found that at all stages of the cycle walking has made me feel better, even when Iāve had fatigue, no sleep and felt awful. Iām quite passionate about walking now, it feels like my wonder drug and makes everything better! But everyone is different in how they respond. Xxxx
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Thanks Donna thatās good to know there could be an alternative (are you triple negative too?)
Cause that was my other thought I didnāt want to stop treatment! I am trying to be positive. I live on my own so the spiral of negative thoughts can be dangerous if I left myself go down that way (I was there waiting for the biopsy results and it was not good! ) the only way is up and I will try to go out later see the horses, apparently a storm is brewing!
Yes @daffodil1 they said some have reaction first time and some half way through. No back pain, heart/lungs pain related, and red and massive headache, gone now. Have a lovely dayx
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Oh wow look at that beautiful dramatic sky!
You are right! I want to travel and get on w itā:blush: Screw cancer indeed!! Horses are my therapy as will go out late, next week is my 3 infusion week plus gcsf injection it knocked me down for 6 the first week. My partner is taking a day off the following day tg 
I hope all goes well for you on EC. Not having docexatel (maybe cause am triple negative).
Iāll be in EC 3 weekly like just after Christmas so itās good to know about the side effects. Think the quicker we eliminate the poison and oxygen our blood the better we feel (when weāre able to move that is) keep your walking it does wonder for you, you look great! 
Much love Gwen xxx
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Thank you! Hopefully I am next time too š©· xx
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Hi Ladies,
Hope you are all hanging in there. Fourth and final EC for me today - had a bit of a rough week with bad cough and antibiotics. Thatās over but has left my reconstructed breast very sore- probably inflammation in the pectoral muscle underneath from coughing so much.
I noticed today that my CA 15-3 marker has doubled (!!) since I started chemo which is freaking me out. Anyone else has that experience? I read that during treatment it might not be correlated to cancer growth but stillā¦
Anyway onto weekly taxol next- anyone having issues with sensitive fingers and toes? Hoping that when people say Taxol is easier than EC- it is true for me too.
Good luck everyone for the next chemo visits - and thanks for the great film/series suggestions- will definitely be looking those up this week 
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Best of luck with final EC @Louise07
Iām being treated at the Christie in Manchester where they donāt share blood test results. If Iām honest thatās ok with me, means I can relax and put my trust in them.
Itās worth speaking to your oncologist if results have been shared without explanation. Thereās nothing worse than not knowing, and Dr Google can drive you mad in my experience. Xxxx
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Thanks @annemanc! Yes true about Dr Google - hardly ever reassuring. Will report back on what oncologist says. I always bring my blood work results to the meeting before the chemo and usually donāt look at them too much. This one really jumped out at me though - so hope oncologist can shed some light on it. Even though she has terrible bed side manners (ie makes me feel like jumping out a window everytime 
I do trust her judgement.
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I was Triple negative and out the other side if treatment. I completed chemo, lumpectomy and radiotherapy by the end if September 2022. I am now more or less back to full fitness, but it did take its toll. I tried to stay active by walking at least and that really helped my mind and recovery. Keep going, youāre doing great!! X
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The back ache was the worst if it. They were all over it when it happened, they are brilliant. I went to St James in Leeds. Good luck everyone, youāre doing really well. Xx
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Thank you! š©· They said I can exercise as much as I want so when I feel like it I ride and do short session of weight training. Iāve lost some fitness, especially my core, but anything I can do itās like itās in the bank and makes up for the week I canāt do anything. Amazing that youāre on the other side. Motivates me even more. Amazing you 
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I used to walk during the downward slide and run from about day 12ish on my way back up. I know it sounds odd, but it really helped my energy levels. I did hate the fact that I couldnāt taste anything except dark chocolate ginger biscuits until a few days before my next treatment.
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Did your taste buds came back to normal once you beat cancer?
Mine are all over the place at moment. Straight after paclitaxel it tastes metallic and muddy, but only last for 24h. I am liking things I didnāt like before like ketchup. Next week the 3infusions and gscsf injection is the worst for me, 2nd time I get it so hoping my body gets used a bit to it and not such a shock to system. The nauseas are the worst but got cyclise now and hope it works better than previous ones 
š©·
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I had a reaction to Paclitaxel on week 3, felt sick, warm, flushed then vomited. Unfortunately I was in an outreach centre with nurses only. Piriton and Hydrocortisone then eventually anti sickness. Couldnāt restart as no doctor. Now have drugs to take the day before, the day off and day after chemo to prevent it happening again. Iām also back at the main centre with doctors nearby. Luckily the drugs have prevented another reaction.
Infusion 6/12 tomorrow. Half way. Yay.
Had a rough weekend into Monday. Felt better yesterday managed more walks and even drove to next town to shop. Got a jigsaw from the charity shop to keep me busy. Woke up Tuesday with an alright sore throat, no temperature. Called helpline they said to get GP to assess, went at 4:30pm to find I have oral thrush, given Nystatin. I automatically thought it was an infection as thrush was never mentioned by my team, GP said really common.
@Camy_Radika hope you had your infusion today. 
@annemanc looks wonderful where you were walking. Look forward to play list!
@Louise07 glad youāre on your last EC, Iām having weekly Paclitaxel, it manageable but Iām lucky to get 2 days good, one of which Iām back in the chair for next infusion. Iāve suffered tingling and numbness in fingers and toes but it goes away if I wiggle them. Worst at night. Team are only concerned if it doesnāt go away.
@frazzledmcsazza glad the PICC went well, mine took two weeks to settle. I also had an allergy to the dressing, have very sensitive skin to sticky things. Use barrier cream Cavilon under the dressing now. You never forget you have it but you get used to it being there. It makes the blood tests and infusions easier.
My team donāt share my bloods with me, weekly tests and I just assume all ok if I donāt hear from them to I get the next infusion. Sometimes too much information causes more anxiety.
I joined a caring for scars zoom meeting with a charity Penny Brohn, Iām 3 months post surgery and using bio oil but it feels lumpy the skin. They described it as fibrosis, thickening of the connective tissues. Then encourages us to use Rosehip oil for massage and be guided by our own bodies. They also mentioned scarring and issues after radiotherapy that I had not even thought about. Itās a free course via their website for all U.K., they are based in Bristol.
Thinking of you all. Youāre all brave and strong. 
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Your taste buds should come back about 3 weeks after your last chemo session.
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Thanks for the info very reassuring that there are options IF it happened again.
@frazzledmcsazza @naughty_boob for scar I swear by silicone scar gel and cicacare sheet currently using Murasaki found on Amazon for the gel. I wait at least 2/3 weeks. Iāve had many hands/fingerw and feet op, carpel tunnel, one joint replacement on thumbs just before my breast cancer, kinda how I discovered the lump, as I was using my hands in different way. Anyway. I swear by this. Physio also recommended a small hand massager to use on scar to avoid any tethering , I use it with aveeno or dermatitis cream/oil for 5 min post two weeks post op. Before that I just try to move the scar by hand and slightly massage it around it to get my skin used to the sensation of being touch, even under the plaster. (Each to their own you may think am crazy 
). I also swear by silicone scar sheet " cicacare". I sadly had a really bad scar following a bunion op, it was butchered but the sheet which you cut in small pieces acted as a nice soft cushion against the shoe and āmeltedā any lumps bumps (again Amazon). They kinda sticky so no need for plaster or tape. I have sensitive skin too. The products are expensive but they worked. Every time I tried something else or something cheaper I was disappointed. All the best š©·
Amazon.co.uk cica care sheet
Amazon.co.uk silicone gel . Hope this helps! š©·
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Hi dear, I developed a bad cough with EC infusion, mild from the first chemo and bad after 3 one.
I have full masectomie with no construction, but after a cough so much I feel my muscles very stressed 
too,
Today I had my 4 session of EC and last one, from next 4 will be Paclitaxel , hopefully we will be fine with sides effects.
The oncologie team couldnāt find a reason for the cough, did XRay and blood test, results all clear so they think is a alergic reaction .
Take care and good luck with your treatment 
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Oh I never thought about the hand massager. I had one for a tight calf muscle. I might give it a go later.
Will look up the silicone scar gel. Thank you.
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So glad you were able to get your infusion today.
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Thank you @naughty_boob , I had a few emotions but finally I am home, more tired than usual,I fell asleep instantly I had a discussion with the nurse about next infusion Paclitaxel, I am a bit scared of the side effects and allergy but she told me that she will be by my side to do what is necessary in case something happens.
Happy me I have you all here, means a lot to read all experience and find lots of support here
Thank you to all sharing their experience.
All my best wishes dearest
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