September 2024 chemo starters

They told me my periods would most likely stop. I’m not sure yet as I actually had it on the day of my first cycle so it wouldn’t be due for another week, but I’m expecting it not to come. I’ll be disappointed if it does :joy:

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Ha I bet she offered you the daily one! :pound::moneybag:glad to hear you’ve not taken them up on it!
Sorry to hear about all your breathing issues though.
Do you know: do these injections mean that we aren’t so vunerable in terms of immune system? I know there is the nadir phase where we are at our most vulnerable but surely the whole point of the injections is to counteract this? I am basically shielding but have worked out my little persons first ever nativity play will fall in a period where my immune system will be v low. I just wonder what the point is of the injections if they don’t protect us?

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I’m so confused about so many things…I thought I’d have a better understanding of it all by now. I feel like I could do with an hour face to face with a chemo nurse and/or oncologist with all the questions I have which will obviously never happen!

I went right through the same treatment with no sickness, just an itchy sore scalp and fatigue. I still have a full pack of anti sickness meds. The Zometa infusion made me feel a bit fluey for one day and the Letrozole makes me a little achey. Bloods always good. One day I panicked and asked to see the oncologist as I thought the treatment couldn’t have been working as I felt fine. He reassured me that it affects patients differently

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Hi @sunshineandunicorns

I’m so sorry you feel confused and have a lot of answers. Would it be helpful to speak to one of the BCN nurses on 0808 800 6000 they have a lot more time than a breast care nurse in clinic.

:smiling_face_with_three_hearts:

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I’ve been told to stop taking Letrozole. The Breast Clinic put me on it but the Oncologist didn’t know I was on it till I mentioned it last Friday. She said taking Letrozole at same time as chemo can cause blood clots.

Contact your childs school and ask them to seat you as far way as possible from others. I’m sure they will be amenable and sensitive. Mask up, lots of schools record it, but dont miss the 1st Nativity if you can. :christmas_tree:

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Mine have yet to appear since my first cycle. It has been discovered since my treatment started that I have a large ovarian cyst so that has to be dealt with too (more surgery, oh joy! :unamused::roll_eyes:).
I have had some aches and pains I thought could be periods or cramps but they came to nothing and I’ve had dodgy bowels since I started treatment (constipation and squits). I would call the hotline, but then I have called them a fair but towards the beginning (not so much lately). I find them so helpful and happy to offer advice (not sure if that’s the same everywhere though).

The filgrastim/pegfilgrastrim is to get our white blood cells up (my brain slightly works today and retained some information) to help with our immune suppression.

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I had to wait until chemo finished before I could start Letrozole

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What is the Nadir stage? I’ve not heard this mentioned by any of the nurses or the onc? I thought the filgristem was to boost immunity and as that’s done in the first week when I feel pants and hibernate anyway I’m kinda thinking that’s the nadir stage you’re talking about, is that what you mean?

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Hi, i think tha the nadir stage us when the white cells are at their lowest. I read this information:

When the number of neutrophils is reduced, a condition called neutropenia occurs and your risk for getting an infection is increased. Between 7-12 days after you finish each chemotherapy dose—and possibly lasting for 5-7 days, your white blood cells are at their lowest numbers. This period of time is often called your nadir, meaning “lowest point”. This is when you are more likely to develop neutropenia. This period varies slightly depending upon the chemotherapy drug, or combination of drugs, used. Your doctor and/or nurse will let you know exactly when your white blood cell count is likely to be at its lowest.

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I hadn’t heard the term nadir, but I was told my immunity would be lowest from day 7-14. Although the oncologist did say this phase could start at day 5 or could go on til day 16 so 7-14 was just a guide. I’m on EC if that makes a difference. I get the pegfilgrastim the day after chemo and I believe this is to stimulate the bone marrow to produce more white cells in order to decrease the severity and duration of neutropenia (the period when the cells are low). During day 7-14 after my first cycle I didn’t stay in the house, I felt fine and got on with life. However, around day 18 I developed a head cold so I’m not sure if I should’ve been more careful. I went for my second cycle yesterday but didn’t get it as my liver function tests were off :face_with_diagonal_mouth:

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Yes I’d never heard of Nadir until mentioned in here. I was just being extra careful in week 1, a bit more brave in week 2, and then back to normal in week 3 !

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I’ll be starting it again when I’ve finished. I’m half way through now. I’ve started counting down.

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@millyk i am the same as you super careful week one but braver week two and almost (but not quite) normal in week 3
My husband and I are booking an airbnb every second weekend so I have something to look forward to but is still away from crowds of people

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Sorry yes I meant the point at which your white blood cells the lowest & immunity lowest. I’d only heard it termed nadir in here. Mine is day 10, so I’m effectively just being mindful of day 10, making sure I’m not out & about too much then, the couple days before & after. I did actually feel really rotten around it last time but can’t rule out it being psychological as I knew.
But I guess what I was getting at was, isn’t the Filgastrim or whatever injection we having meant to counteract this? So am I worrying myself unnecessarily!? What I do know is that sat in the waiting room to get my PICC flushed & changed this morning it seemed like EVERY single person around me was coughing & spluttering & I thought I was going to have a panic attack!

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I’ve learnt more on this forum and been more prepared than I have from oncologist and surgeons !
I didnt go out first 2 weeks much at all - then went out loads in the 3 rd week before my next chemo . I think the nadir phase is day 7-14 which is why we take those lovely injections every day but my oncologist said last week I can have the pelgfilstrim the one injection if I can’t cope anymore with the 7 - she said it’s a cost thing which is why they don’t give it to everyone automatically - me being me said - I’ll give it one more go - my husband was like why ?? :rofl::rofl:

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That’s a nice idea having something to look forward to. I’m actually having a weekend away this weekend before round 3 on Wed 23rd.

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That’s me too, exactly the same.

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