Christine - sorry you’ve been having a rough time but glad to hear that the nausea has reduced.
Lola - sure you are relieved to have a start date. You mentioned on another post that you may be having a Portacath fitted; is this still happening? I’m seeing the oncologist today so everything should be a bit clearer and I’ll have a better idea when I’m joining the Awesome April Angels!
Take care, one and all
Wendy x
FEC 75 Starting Thursday 21 Mar
Roadshow , you’re itsy bitty teeny weeny! I’m about 4 inches taller (n 3 stones heavier!!) n hubby calls me ‘shortie’! I was reading about Gerson therapy n it’s proper 'ard gal! Had to look up coffee edema as I didn’t know what it is. I couldn’t maintain that to be honest. Bet the compost bin is overflowing with all the fruit n veg 
You must try to drink some boiled water to keep yourself hydrated as juice is a diuretic. my dentist friend is concerned about my teeth with the juice I’m drinking so she’s advised to take it with meals. My teeth are nowhere as lovely as yours so you don’t have to worry.
lol, halva sounds really yummy! Have u got anyone to help u whilst hubby is away today?
a friend gave me a bell to use on hubby n kids n I can’t wait to use it!
Featherbird lovely of you to drop by. Thank you so much for the useful advice. I love ginger! Buyinlo loads today.
take care all!
Sorry about all the identical posts. Contacted moderator to remove the extra ones.
March muppet!
Lola I am so pleased you finally have a start date. It must be a relief to have a an end date too.
WAC - good to hear from you. Wishing you all the best with the April Angels!
FEC-T Round 1 day 5
It feels a little like three steps forward one back. I technically finished the anti nausea drugs last night, but had to dip into my metaclopramide this morning, but it did the trick. I still have a fuzzy head and wierd vision, but even that improves as long as I don’t try to focus too hard on something.
I have just realised we have very little food in the house, and OH is out all day! will have to stock up on the power foods (blueberries, melon, strawberries etc). I checked on the folate foods, but they just listed the usual suspects, purple sprouting broccoli, pulses, reinforced breakfast cereals (!) brussels sprouts, chicken livers, lambs livers asparagus and baby sweetcorn. not too inspiring! Melon is much more preferable!
Have a good day everyone,
Best wishes,
MM xx
EC Cycle 1 Day 5
Hi Nipinuk. My EC chemo is a combination of two drugs. epirubicin and cyclophosphamide. I did notice in earlier posts that many women are having a thrid chemo drug the FEC, I dont know why mine is different. Hoever after three cycles of this I move onto docetaxel for my remaining three. My cancer was grade 2 with no spread to the lymph nodes. I had an MX in feb.
It;s really uplifting to read how everyone is getting on. We all are feeling the affects but our shared determination is fab. Good on us girls!!
SE’s not so back so far. Tiredness and lack of appertite being the main, but getting better each day. I am drinking loads of fizzy water and find it really refreshing. M
My top tip is text your friends to come and see you as often they think you dont eant visitors but actually a bit of gossip is fab for taking your mind of the SE’s
Bonjour!
Trying to type with 2 cats on my knee both vying for attention.
Nipinuk glad the link was of use re FEC 75- handy to have a GP in the family, even from a distance.
Linda great to hear you have a date for treatment, my port is settling in nicely now and hope if you have one fitted it will be a breeze. I does save allot of veinal damage later for those of us will challenging veins.
MM hope the fuzziness is short lived.
Angela the African matching headscarves sound awesome, as for the black nail polish - back in the days of punk it was my only colour but now I’m not so sure!
Roadshow your dietry regime sounds too sacry for me - it would definately be looked on with great suspicion in my part of rural France! But diet and nutrition are very personal and if it works for you that’s great.
The advice from my onco dept is NO to shellfish, unpasturized cheese - dairy, foods high in acidity. Moderation with coffee, and take only a little wine ( well it is France!) Drink water 2 1/2 L at least a day. they are also keen on a low salt diet.
On a personal note, I have suffered from a Hiatus Hernia for many years, which for the most time I control through diet. I take a proton pump inhibitor, called lansoprazole, simialr to omneprazole when needed. I have found eating protein followed by fruit causes reflux - also sadly chocolate after a meal causes havoc. I only cook with olive oil and use flora type spread not butter. Red wine sits better than white. Avoiding these combos may help your reflux - its worth a go.
I’m very intersed in cooking and will share what works for me as I go along. I start my 1st FEC on Friday. One of my best friends is s chef here, and she is up for the challenge too!
Love to all xxx Suzy
FEC75 CYCLE ! DAY 15
heart echo today took ages as there was a trainee Dr doing it under supervision. i was in there around an hour. Then a clinic app where i asked about the cumulative effects on SE’s. She told me that the only thing which would get worse would be the fatigue, not the sickness or any other SE. That’s a relief then. On the subject of food and diet, on Suzy’s suggestion, i started a new thread for recipes that tickle the taste buds during those days when little tastes so good. It would be great if you have any foody suggestions/ recipes to share with us. I tend to favour mediterranean type foods, and Suzy of course the french style, so between all of us it could be an interesting thread.
suzy, thank you for the link, it was very useful.
Lola, so happy for you that finally you have a date, that’s the date of my dental work (day before chemo 2) so i’ll remember to think of you that day.
Mrs B i agree with you, friends do take your mind off ourselves for a while, which is very healthy, and also we can have a good laugh which is very healing. Another tip is to watch as much comedy as you can for the same reason.
Oh bother, who was it that said about developing a web site for our fashion headgear? i bet it was on the previous page, and if i go back i’ll lose what i have written so far… i think that’s a wonderful idea if you had the time and inclination to do it. What do the rest of you think?
i’ll post this and then have a look to see who you are
do you know, i was a teacher, and the first thing i ever notice when reading is the spelling errors, and know if someone is dyslexic… i think i have got a bit of chemo brain, cos as i look over some of what i have written here and in emails, i sometimes have the right letters but in the wrong order, typical of someone with dyslexia
have a good afternoon all
angela xx
Hi everyone. I thought I would be starting chemo in March but it looks like it might be April now but have found all your comments interesting and useful. I have not had meeting with chemo nurse yet.
AngelaG I see you are to have dental treatment. I hope it goes well. I had a tooth extracted today because of risk of infection. I saw in an earlier post that you have been looking at the 2 day fasting diet. I had made a start as I am seriously overweight and also want to eat as healthily as possible in the future. I mentioned it to one of the oncologists but he did not seem to know anything about it and suggested I did not got on ‘any diets’. So I am not sure what to do now but it seems from reading everyone’s posts that it will be very much what I am able to eat once I have started chemo.
Mrs B similar scenario I had a mastectomy at the end of Jan sentinel node was affected so had axillary clearance 14th Feb tho rest of nodes were clear. I was told the cancer was grade 2 also my cancer was lobular, I shall be having FEC in 3 weekly cycles over 18 weeks, then some radio then medication. Good to hear you are feeling better each day.
good luck everyone
Hi Angela,
Just a quickie to say the misplaced letters are common symptoms of the brain working faster than the fingers! Or that’s how I describe my dreadful typos when messaging etc. Hope that makes you feel a bit better!
I hope the dental work goes well, with no lurking infections! I still have a gap where my tooth was extracted a few weeks ago as I daren’t either wear the temporary denture or have any bridge work done until this is all over. Or maybe I’m just putting off the next dental appointment because I don’t want to go!
Thanks Suzy - my appointment for the port fitting is a week after my first chemo when my immunity will be low. I am a bit worried to say the least.
Take care everyone xxx
hi wolfie, as far as the dentist is concerned, it is advised against during chemo, and advised to have the teeth checked in advance of treatment. I did this, but the dentist has, so far, taken 4 appointments on 1 (yes one) tooth, and it still isn’t finished. I was anxious to say the least when he said i needed yet another appointment, as it took me into the 1st chemo cycle. I explained that to him and he poo pood it. SO, i got the oncologist and him together on the phone to discuss safe options. and they agreed on what should happen. So now I’m relaxed about it.
Regarding dieting, I spoke to the registrar today at my appointment, and she said I shouldn’t try to lose weight whilst on chemo, because they would worry that any weight loss was cancer related, or that I wasn’t eating enough (FAT chance of that !!!). I too am overweight by about 4 stone. We were actually starting this week, and today was a fast day. ho hum. I think i might just do it for a couple of weeks and see what happens, but not try to lose too much, so then they won’t worry about me.
I seem to be having the same treatment as you, after lumpectomy which took more than they thought previously necessary. They said at one point that it was almost the equivalent of a mastectomy. Now the swelling is gone i can see that I have 1 1/2 boobs, it’s quite noticable naked, but fortunately i don’t get seen by my public like that! my bra masks it fortunately. I wasn’t so buxom, with c cup bras.
Lola, thank you for that encouragement on both topics
have a good evening everyone
Angela xx
Jess I’m a day behind you and boy do I know where you’re coming from with bone pain. its kept me awake its awful, I hope yours is easing off. My scalp was also very tender and I think its a sign its about to leave home. I’m due into work tomorrow morning so I’ve just got oh to clip it…I look bloody awful! lol oh well.
I hope you lovely ladies are coping as well as expected.
Lisa
Hi everyone
I want to comment on everyone’s posts but as I’ve missed a few days there are too many and if I try and go back and read them I lose the post I’m in the middle of.
Mrs B - sleep/lying in bed is all I can do. After days 3, 4 and 5 being pretty horrid with nausea, joint pains etc, I woke on day 6 (Monday) feeling pretty good. Really felt I was turning the corner - went for a walk, had some good food etc. Then, I woke at 3am on Day 7 (yesterday) with almost unbearable joint pain, back pain and jaw pain. As the day progressed my jaw started to swell too. After speaking to my Onc, I was told to see the dentist to check there wasn’t an abscess. No abscess, just inflammation of jaw joints and was to take take anti inflammatories. Kept taking my temp during the evening and although it wasn’t 38 it was rising and the swelling was getting bigger. Ended up in hospital for 2 hours whilst they gave me more antibiotics, blood tests, chest x-ray. End result - no infection and they think it is just the joint/bone pain SE from the Neulasta jab. Woke this morning and think there is a slight improvement - fingers crossed. It was so awful I’m dreading going through this each month.
The Roadshow - to answer a previous query, yes, I am on the Neulasta jabs on the NHS. I see that you h ave been told to take Clarityn for the SE of Neulasta - is this just normal over the counter Clarytin? I’ll mention this to the Onc when I see him on Friday. Also, regarding your twin not being scanned, one of the first things my breast surgeon did was write to my twin’s GP recommending a mammogram - as he said, for his peace of mind as well as our’s - and we aren’t as young as you, we are 49.
Lisag - I am so impressed you are working during the joint pain, I know I couldn’t do it. Let me know how you get on. I left it with work that I would see how I got on and go in when I could/wanted to. They have been really great.
Well, I 'm going to get some more sleep now.
love to all
Jess x
Hi everyone, FEC-D cycle 1 day 13.
So sorry there seems to be so many of us now, I do wish I could remember everyone’s names!
Last week was pretty rubbish but nothing that couldn’t be dealt with all pretty minor really so I feel lucky. Cystitis, constipation, dry eyes, blurred vision and a general spaced out feeling, headaches and tired, tired, tired!
Having a much better week this week and I still have my hair! Any idea when it’s due to fall out???
I was going to try and work throughout chemo but my doctor has signed me off and I have decided to take the time and concentrate on me and on getting well!
Hope you are all doing well, take care, janey x
FEC 75 Starting Thursday 21 Mar
My dear Magnificent Marchies,
I’m so sorry to hear what SEs some of you are going through. I’m in a headless chicken mode as starting chemo first thing tomorrow. 9am bloods and ECG and then chemo. Been on the cold capping thread and think I’d give it a miss. It was a difficult decision but I think we’d all cope as a family. The unknown is so so scary though. Felt empowered when I worked out my dasages the other day.
Changed the sheets, still got loads to do!! Want a really clean bathroom - only one in the house as doing building work so don’t think it’ll stay that way long.
There’s someone starting chemo tomorrow and I tried going back to check but can’t find out who. All the very best!
Jess , I was reading somewhere else that Neulasta is normally available privately so great that you’re getting it on NHS. Sorry that the SEs suck big time. It seems quite a few people have had to go to hospital due to low blood count. Get very well very soon.
Woolfie - I’ve lost nearly 10 pounds since I was first diagnosed as I changed my diet (nearly vegan now. organic salmon once a week with selenium, iodine and D3 supplements). A lower weight means my chemo doses are lower too. I plan to just eat healthily during chemo and drinking lots. Good to plan but don’t mind if it goes pear shape.
Angela - how wonderful you’ve got an expert to help you with the scarf. I offered to try (note try!) and sort a private photo gallery or something on the internet - not sure when though.
Roadshow - how r u feeling? Did you cope alright yesterday? Had a lovely long chat with the senior dietician here which really reassured me.
Christine - saw organic chicken livers in Waitrose but can’t bring myself to get them. Mum used to make us eat chicken liver soup when we were little - yuck! Melons million time better! Been eating about half a day on average.
Mrs B - So glad to hear you’re feeling better and better. My cancer is grade 2. WLE - 14mm with at least 4mm margin. 1 node positive. How big was your tumour? Thanks for the tip about friends. Good kick up the backside to update my family and friends last night. Received 9 lovely replies which warmed me cockles (lol, I’m not English and not sure if I’ve said that right)!
Suzy - how r u? Hubby looking after you well? I’ve got a bell to use! The sun is trying to come out here.
Wendy - how did oncologist meeting go?
Chin up and hang in there everyone!! We must all try and meet up when this is over! I fancy a day out in London When are you due to finish Angela? I finish sometime towards the end of July I think. We can show off our headgear
Lots of love, Linda B (yes another Linda)
Hello ladies, how are you all doing? I didn’t sleep much last night. The nausea is abating but I seem to have a tooth infection beneath my front tooth and have had to make a provisional appointment for it to be extracted tomorrow. I had all my teeth checked by a holistic dentist before chemo and we did discuss an extraction later in the year (the tooth is crowned but cracked beneath the gum line) but the £3k price tag for eventual implant put me off. Didn’t realise I’d be going back to see him so soon. I’m keeping an eye on my temperature in the meantime, nothing really to report there. Just difficult to eat/drink/sleep when the tooth is constantly throbbing.
Re Neulasta - the chemo nurses advised paracetamol but I noticed everyone on the US forums takes Clarityn as a matter of course so figured I’d give that a try. One a day standard over the counter stuff. It’s a bit early for me to draw any conclusions from it as I had chemo last Friday but I haven’t had any bone pain yet.
Got a kitchen full of lovely healthy food and no appetite to eat it - such a shame.
Hi Roadshow,
Have you checked with your oncologist about the tooth extraction? If not it is essential that you do. especially as you are approaching your low immunity period!
Nipinuk - all the best for today. I hope you have minimal SEs and your family keep your bathroom nice and clean for you. Where are you from then? Glad the messages you received warmed your cockles, ha ha.
Hi Lola, I’ve been trying to reach my oncologist but he’s currently on holiday - due back tomorrow am. That’s why the appointment is provisional. Not going to do anything without his prior approval but I think they’ll probably agree to extract it tomorrow and give me antibiotics. I hate antibiotics. How are you?
FEC75 CYCLE 1 DAY 16
hello everyone again. All’s well here thank God 
Lisag & Jess , my scalp is a little tender today too, so maybe mine is on it’s way too… my brush did seem more hairy than usual. I’m so sorry you are both suffering with bone pain, it sounds awful. I really hope it goes soon, and doesn’t come back. 
xx
Janey , from what i have read on other threads, it seems that the from 3rd week of 1st chemo is the time for hair to start migrating onto the pillw or into the brush. I think it would be different timings depending on the treatments we each have though. 
Linda B , well, if you have the time and are feeling up to the challenge, i’m sure we’ll all be right behind you! Let us know how it goes, IF it goes! Your mention of a bell reminded me of my childhood… my mother brought a cow bell back from a holiday in Austria, and proceeded to use it to call us to dinner. I rebelled, saying I wasn’t a cow… my mother may have thought differently!!! If you’re coming to London, i’d love to meet you… where do you live? I think I finish sometime around the end of June beginning of July, then a few weeks break before rads 
Roadshow , Yes i agree with linda, definately check with your onco, even get them to talk on phone with your dentist, that’s what i had to do the week before last. 
here’s wishing you all well with low SE’s, and also with 1st chemo’s tomorrow. May it go well with you
Angela xx
Hi Everyone
FEC-T cycle 1 day 6
After what turned out to be a good day yesterday (appetite returned, energy climbing, and a newly discovered way to drink fluid – dilute fruit juice so much nicer than plain water) I went to bed and discovered oral thrush. 
I managed to get an emergency appointment with the GP today, who prescribed Fluonazole tabs for seven days. I just can’t get used to the amount of drugs we are having to take just to manage side effects. I hated taking even paracetamol before. But, I am taking more care over what I eat, which means more yummy food, and the boys are eating better too!
Lisa – I am in awe of you working, I just wouldn’t have the energy!
Jess – I am so sorry your joint pain is causing such complications, but I am glad you didn’t have an infection – it might have resulted in a longer than 2 hours stay
Janey – Glad you feel better 
I have heard that hair starts to fall out about day 14 plus, but everyone is different. I chopped all mine off the day before chemo started, and still can’t get used to the new shape (or the grey!!!)
Linda B – did I read it right that you are having building work done?! I will be thinking of you tomorrow, hope it all goes smoothly and your SEs are small.
Roadshow -Sorry about your dental troubles. I hope it all gets sorted easily with little impact on you.
Apologies to all those I have not personally mentioned; I’m trying to work through the posts, but I am thinking of everyone.
I’m gearing up to clean the house before the low immunity kicks in, leaving bottles of hand sanitiser everywhere, making everyone take their shoes off when they come in, and disinfecting the floor wherever the dog goes.
Love to everyone,
Christine xx