Spring into chemo in March

Public Archive
1261

FEC-T, Cycle 5, Day 1 Tax), Herceptin 1

Afternoon ladies!

How good does that feel - cycle 5 done and dusted, just one to go - woohoo! :slight_smile:

I hope everyone who was in the chair today is faring well - Christine, I hope you didn’t have another allergic reaction?

Karen/Daffodil - yes, I’m still on the list for LGFB, as I definitely want to do it. It’s just unfortunate they were able to offer me a place so soon!

Daffodil - I completely understand about walking around bald in front of children. My son is at uni so hasn’t seen mine, and will be fine with it I’m sure, but my Dad didn’t want to see me bald. My niece (9) asked if she could see my bald head and then blushed, bless her, when I took my scarf off and the next day I was wearing my wig and she said “oh good, I see you’re wearing your wig today!” Hope today went well for you - have you decided what to do about clipping your hair?

Jess - hope all went well yesterday and that SEs are minimal for you.

Jlr - gad you’re feeling better and coming out the other side of Tax SE’s. Just one more :slight_smile:

Karen - it sounds idyllic where you live! Glad you enjoyed your picnic and hope today went ahead for you?

Nipinuk - yes, was a long day! Got there at 9 and left at 4.45! There was a delay because there was a query about my last echo which was finally resolved and was given all clear to start herceptin, so first of those out of the way! Thanks for offer re rads - I expect hubby will come with me to first appt - he’d better ;), and will let you know from there. Waiting for my appointments to come through.

Saw onco yesterday and she confirmed that I’m to have 15 sessions, to breast only, not nodes (presumably because I had full node clearance). She also said that the rads will affect part of my lung and that part will never recover, but I won’t notice it! Also said there’s a risk of rib fractures (!) but in all the years she’s been doing it, it’s never happened. Both are side effects she had to tell me about though. No need to worry about heart as it’s the other side. I asked about clips and I have them too! She doesn’t know what they’re made off but they are to help help with radiotherapy.

I was asked yesterday if I would be prepared to take part in a herceptin trial (PERSEPHONE), the aim of which is to see if herceptin is as effective over 6 months as it is 12. There is no way of knowing whether I would be allocated to the 6 month group or 12 month group. I’ve read the notes and thought about it but don’t think I’m going to do it. When I started this journey I always said I would take anything they were prepared to throw at me to give myself the best chance. If I only have herceptin for 6 months and it comes back I will always be wondering if it was because I didn’t have the full 12 months. I know research is importantant but in this instance I’m inclined to be selfish!

Also asked what I can do to prevent becoming neutropenic again. So, I’ve got 10 days worth of GCS-F injectons and I have to start them 1 day earlier. It’s not unusual to become neutropenic when changing from FEC to Tax apparently because you’ve still got FEC in your system and then it’s hit again with Tax. If it happens again, she may reduce the Tax dose for the final cycle. My white cell count was 6 and neuts 3.84, both higher than ever before so fingers crossed!

And, finally, the good news is that my last treatment will be delayed to the Monday so I’ll get see Robbie :smiley:

Have a lovely evening everyone! We’re off to the pub with some friends who are back in Basingstoke for the weekend, but fizzy water for me after my cocktail today!

Carol xx

1262

FEC-T Cycle 5 day 1
Just a quick message today. Nipinuk glad you had a good day yesterday, No washing up was an added bonus! I’m afraid I have to correct you on my pathology - technically our lumps were the same, I was grade 2 invasice IDC with 3 nodes involved, but I had the full ANC because I had each type of positive nodes, micromets in one, macromets in another and one had encapsulation which means the cancer had spread outside the node wall. However, all the other nodes in the tree were clear, which is a good. Although I don’t think I was given a stage officially, I think I was classed as stage 2b. I believe I only had the full ANC because of the encapsulation. As I had the MX and full ANC, I do not qualify for RADS. Has I not had the full ANC I would have had RADS to the armpit. The full MX (given as I not only did I have IDC, but DCIS and a large area with calcifications, or as the surgeon put it " a large amount of unstable tissue"!) with clear margins negates the need for RADS. However, pathalogically, I think we are the same! Sso another round all regular trips to the hospital are finished! just tamoxifen for five years
After an apprehensive start to the day, I needn’t have worried as the nurses pre treated any reaction with antihistamines and more steriods so I slept for the treatment and was home by 2. Result!
Take care marchies, hope the sunshine is restoring all our strength! xx

1263

AC cycle 5 day 1
Hi everyone
Another sunny day here, I’m getting used to this glorious weather. My treatment went ahead today so thats me one stop nearer the end of the chemo train. I’m feeling a bit queasy, achy and tired. I managed to eat dinner - cod with a sundried tomato and herb crust, puy lentils, runner beans and baby sweetcorn.
Janey glad you’re feeling more human again, long may it continue
Mungoes Mum I hope your treatment was less stressful today? Thats great news about your mobility and I’m sure you’re feeling much fitter as a result. Did the hospital run the classes or Maggie centre? I haven’t heard of this locally but will ask the question when the time comes. Have a lovely time with your parents, hopefully you’ll let them help you and take it easy rather than dashing around being hostess with the mostess. Be good to yourself xx
Nipinuk your posts always make me smile. No lace you should change your profile name to the Racy Lacy Lady hehe! Glad you and OH had a nice time for his Birthday. I’m intrigued to hear more about the birds nest your Mum sent, I’m sure you shed a tear when it arrived? I am keen to see that film, I’m a Euan MacGregor fan it looks like a good story and impressive scenery.
Choccy thanks I feel lucky to live here by the sea. This is certainly a good time of year to be off work. In Winter it gets dark at 4pm here, dark and cold. Glad your treatment went smoothly. Fab news about Robbie, he puts on a great show, I saw him in concert about 6 years ago and he’s brilliant. Enjoy! I hope your SEs are minimal. Just 3 more weeks, hopefully time will fly in.
My best friends little boy will be one on the same day and I’m hoping to go to his party and celebrate. My friend asked me to be his God Mother this week, I’m so pleased and honoured. One more reason to kick cancer’s butt! Thinking of those other ladies who had treatment today and wishing you s good nights sleep
Karen xx

1264

Mungoes Mum just saw your post great news it went well today, you must be so relieved that this horrific journey is coming to an end and you can get back to normality? Have a great weekend xx

1265

FEC 75 /5 Day 2
feeling better so far than with round 4. One more to go, looking forward to the. End of June.
Herceptin - is there any other Marchie starting Herceptin after completion of chemo or are you all having FEC-T and therefore starting alongside the T? My onc is keen to start alongside rads,and Tamoxifen, once FEC is completed and the three weeks passed. Anyone else Doing all three?
Rads- interesting posts by Nipinuk and MungosMum. I had a MX - grade 2 ILC, no node involvement, but I have been told that I will be having 15 sessions of rads. Recollection is that it is due to size of tumour (5cm) and some DCIS in the same breast, but Iwill be querying based onyour comments and also the NICE guidance on aduvant rads.
Hope everyone who had treatment today are feeling ok. Nearly there now.
Great that youare able to enjoy thesun, now that it has finally arrived.
Choccy - great news about Robbie. A friend and I went to see his concert at Knebworth years ago and due to the awful traffic, ended up only seeing the last half an hour and that was with abandoning the car on a roundabout, but it was worth the effort! So hope that have a fab time
Angela - hope ypu are OK and have your teeth under pain control for the remainder of the chemo.
Daffodil - I had a tissue expander fitted and so far it has been fine. It was two thirds filled with saline during the MX and I haven’t had any further filling since. It will be interesting to see what happens when / if I have the rads. I am also due to have reduction surgery to the other side and can decide at that point what if anything to have done to the MX side.

1266

Fec-t Cycle 5 tax day 5

Hi Ladies, good to hear no 5 is out the way. I followed Lola’s advice on taking paracetomol after the neulastra & it has worked :). No pains just a bit weary so can plan our weekend now!

Cassowary - I’m hoping that I can have some sort off temporary implant if mx is needed as will need anc & rads. I find it so confusing that all our treatment is so different, but its useful & gives us ideas.

Choccy - Hope you had a lovely meal & didn’t fall asleep at the table!

Have a lovely day everyone xxx

1267

FEC75 CYCLE 5 DAY 2!!!
well here beginneth a new cycle, and after a truly awful 7 days prior to chemo day, i am looking forward to better days (please God). it all started last friday with raging tooth ache, and i went to dentist. he offered to extract it there and then, but i said i wanted to speak to onco for advice 1st. Glad I did. they told me to go to dental college at Kings where they would be nearby if necessary. Sunday went to AnE as face was swollen. they took bloods and i was neutropenic so couldn’t do anything. went to dental col on monday and waited most of day.
booked in for emergency surgery when onco gave go ahead. tues went to clinic (oh i forgot… also terrible pain in left buttoch and down leg meaning i couldn’t walk much more than snail pace) so dragged in to see once who ordered lumber x-ray, and also filgristin(?) jabs to bring bloods up and an ok for extraction on thurs. spent next 2 hours in x-ray dept. then up for more blood tests think i’m confused cos had already had 1 jab by then courtesy of D. was due in hosp for the next 3 days, but onco kindly gave me weds off!! thurs dentist…who had agreed to use PICC line…then at 11th hour said “we have a dr who is a wizz at finding veins for canula, will you let him try?” i kind of felt pressurised so said yes. he tried 3 times, lastly in my wrist when i was in such agony he gave up! (this what i wanted to avoid as enough stress!). then they had to call chemo ward to find out how to use PICC!!!
once it was done i was out of it. came to & tooth gone and leg much relieved too! asked for some sedative to take home for leg…but they weren’t having that!! chemo yesterday, and feeling quite good at last…PHEW
i will read & reply to any posts later on, am hope to go to a girlfriens for girly old fashioned tea party later this afternoon. after nap of course!
speak soon
love Angela xxx

1268

Angela it sounds like you’ve been through hell and back this week, hang in there, only one more to endure. Have a wonderful time at the tea party, a lovely distraction to take your mind off things. Have a cupcake for me xxx
Daffodil thats great Lola’s advice helped, she’s a fountain of knowledge and support. Have a great SE free weekend
Cassowary from memory my oncologist said if your tumour is 5cm or more you still need rads after a mx.
Suzy ca va bien j’espere? Hope you are fairing well and seeing light at the end of the tunnel? The chemo tunnel not the Channel tunnel hehe!
OH and I are going out for dinner with friends, not sureif I’ll be great company. I’ll be eyeing up my friends bottle of prosecco with envy!
Karen xx

1269

Note-book balanced on cat, who insists on claiming me after my long abscence! Hello one and all, I feel like Lazarus, which must be good? Got home from another spell in hospital, this time on the infection ward! Cooked up a good one this time! viral (cold) and bacterial (skin/eyes), the docs went into hyper drive as they are very concerned about portacath safety so wouldn’t let me out till it was under control. I can’t believe what a rough shout this cycle has been, I can’t say that I’m full of vim and vigour for number 5 on Friday
Sorry to hear tales of pain and bad goings on, thrilled to hear some of us seem to be thriving! Eyes are really sore so will write more tomorrow, Thanks for your good wishes, xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx Enduring …just

1270

6 Cycles TC 18 Cycles Herceptin 1 st Cycle Day 15

Hi Everyone, Just popped in from June Jewels,
Looking for some advice as you are all further along with treatment Has anyone had nose bleeds?
Well Day 15 today. Hoped I was done with nasties, but no… I had a really bad nose bleed last night, started about 9 p.m… When it hadn’t stopped by 11 p.m. my OH phoned cancer centre and the best they could suggest was going to A & E. As the hospital is an hours drive away and sitting for a couple of hours in A & E amongst people who had lord knows what infections seems like a mad thing to do, I didn’t find this very helpful. They had no suggestions as to what was causing it or how to stop it. Not impressed. So I sat with a cold pack from the freezer on my nose and pinched it hard and it eventually stopped at abot 12.30… Anyone else come across nose bleeds following chemo? It can’t be good to lose a lot of bloood at this time. I don’t suffer from nose bleeds, can’t remember when I last had one so find this worrying.
Nose still feeling a bit iffy, just hoping it doesn’t start again.
I’m feeling really kranky and down today. I was hoping to have some time SE free before the next lot next Thursday.

If anyone else has had nose bleeds, what did you do and did they stop. This is is my second nose bleed had small one one Day 7.
I would be so grateful for any advice .

Marion
XXX

1271

FEC-T cycle 5 day 2
What a difference a few antihistamines make! I did feel tired, but still managed to pop into a friend’s birthday BBQ last night for an hour and catch up with some friends. I went (chauffeured by my dad!) to watch ES have some training, first outing after his op. after plodding around the garden, I now feel pooped, and ready for a sleep!
Marion I noticed that you are on a Tax regime; sadly tax is very hard on the blood counts and can cause nosebleeds due to a low platelet (involved in blood clotting) count. It also doesn’t help that the hairs inside the nose often disappear, just when we could do with aliens and pathogens being kept out! I have had some nose bleeds, all of which gushed at first but stopped after a bout 10 to fifteen minutes The longest has lasted an hour. The good news is that they stopped ocuring after about 4 days. These are fairly normal, so don’t worry too much, but if you keep getting them I would chase up. Good luck!
Karen - enjoy your meal tonight, just make sure you have a similarly sparkling dring in your glass. The weather is just right for an elderflower presse! Bottoms up!!
Suzy and Angela - I am so sorry you have both had a dreadful week, but hope you are both on the mend and feeling better. Your pearls of wisdom, and not to mention your humour, has been missed!
Shelley - we miss you! how are you doing?
Hope everyone is well or on the mend. Love to all, xx

1272

Thanks Mungos_mum
I hadn’t seen mention of nose bleeds before so thought it was just me… In a nice way, I am glad its not just me. We all learn far more than we ever thought we would want to know about this process. I guess you ladies nearing the end of treatment know pretty much all there is to know. Don’t disappear when you finish. Us newbies still need you.

Marion
XXX

1273

Hi Marion, I’ve suffered with nose bleeds too, especially on Tax when occur nearly daily, but worst the first and second werk. They sound similar to Mungo’s mums. Always got a tissue to hand! I needed a blood transfusion last weekend as haemoglobin levels below 9 for a couple of cycles but not sure if related to nosebleeds, they will check you though before your next cycle.

1274

Thanks Honeymonster. Blood transfusion hmmmm. I know I need to do this but you do wonder what state your body will be in at the end. With 5 to go it seems a long way off. Sorry to sound such a misery, I was really up yesterday, thought I was over SE’s for a bit and the nose bleed has made me so down. I’ll stop wingeing now and hope for a better day tomorrow.

Have a good night everyone.

Marion
XXX

1275

FEC 75 Cycle 4 Day 18 (radiotherapy IMPORT HIGH trial treatment 1 begins on 17 June)

Hello my enduring Marchies! I had a lovely lacy, I mean lazy morning :slight_smile: Karen , I bet it’s the quiet ones on the forum that are racy lacy :wink: I had a good last two evenings at friends house and only got back about 11.30pm last night. I even managed an hour nap after dinner! Lol, never done that before but I couldn’t keep my eyes opened :wink: they’re good friends so very understanding.
ive had one birds nest. Didn’t taste of much but younger sis said she had heard about it being bad for cancer. I read something about it containing hormonand so have stopped until I do a bit more reading up! Yes, I was so touched that mum spent so much of her savings to get them for me. I just hope that I can eat them all! It’s really good quality genuine ones and cleaned really well as my aunt harvested them and had them cleaned in Penang.
how lovely to be asked to be godmother! Congratulations! Extra birthday to remember though!
Jude - lovely to hear from you.
Christine , thanks so much for the correction. It makes sense now. I’d misunderstood your profile notes. Mind you, mine needs updating! I asked my surgeon what stage my tumour was and it was 1b.
great to hear that Es has recovered well enough from op to play. I’halos happy to hear that antihistamines have made your SEs more manageable that you can go out so soon - fab!
Guess what? Next door have bought a motor home! saw it when we got home last night. They told us earlier that they were viewing a couple and that we could borrow it :wink: hope they mean it. Don’t know what make, etc but will have a nose sometime soon I expect.
Welcome Marion , lovely to hear from you though very sorry to hear about the nose bleeds. Be kind to yourself and please feel free to “winge”. You’re only at the start of your journey and we feel for you as we’ve just been there!
Angela and Suzy , what a horrendous time you’ve both had! Angela, that was awful, being poked with a needle till you were in so much pain. Did you manage tea party at girlfriends yesterday? Hope u did!
Suzy, how r u today? It’s so hard mentally to face another round with the hospital stays that you’ve had. Endure my dear, you’re very nearly there!
take care all xx

1276

Tax no.2 Cycle 5 Day 3
Hi ladies

Sorry been away for so long. Cycle 4 was not a good one for me and and the docetaxel seems to have been a shocker for a few of us. All went well for first 3 days, but aches and pains started on the Monday. By tuesday could not move at all. Every bone literally from head to toe ached and was like the ‘tin man’. I had to make numious calls to the hospital to get some sound painrelief advice, and ended up on codeine, paracetamol and ibuprofen cocktail. Anyway temp then started to go up and I fainted at home. So I spent a sunny 5 days in hospital being pumped with anti-biotics. My neuts dropped to 0.06!! However was shocked when one suggestion was to stop the filgrastim injections as they were adding to my pain. I said that I would carry on with the injections if they sorted out my painrelief. I’m thinking of the long game and want every chemo to go ahead on time. So I carried on and my neuts went up to 4.35 in time for this next cycle.

I think all this really left me worn out physically and emotionally, and I only really had one goodish week. Fatigue is definitely building. However I was relieved on friday when they said that they had reduced my TAX dosage by 25% in the hope to reduce the side effects I experienced. I’m also taking painkillers to build them up in my system. And yes, am carrying on with the Filgrastim injections. My husband celebates his 40th birthday at the end of July and we have a big party planned. So whatever it takes to get to my last chemo I will do.

I know that whilst we can see the end of the road it is getting no easier. I got really fed up with people saying ‘oh only two more to go’ as if the chemo is just one day or that somehow it gets easier. I certainly do not going skipping to the hospital at each appointment. Each cycle is a battle which we get through ready for the next.

Anyway, am hoping with new approach cycle 5 of the dreaded TAX goes better, as I do for all of you. I read with interest all your posts. We are all ploughing our way through such difficult times with everything with have to keep going.

Chin up ladies, the sun is shining and we are all bloody amazing!!!
Take care
dianne

1277

FEC 3 Day 17

Hope you are all doing OK. I seem to have been a bit more wiped out this time round. Had a trip to A&E last Thursday at midnight as temperature was 38 degrees but they checked me out and sent me home with oral antibiotics. Anyway my temperature is normal now. Due to have first TAX of 3 next Friday so have been reading everyone’s experiences with interest.

AngelaG So sorry to hear of your dental problems – you really don’t need those now. Take care and hope you get some rest. Any luck on the house sale?

Cassowary Good to hear that you are now on number 5 – one more to go?

Choccy61 Our cat is a pretty laid back character! Your cat sounds similar… I have tried a wig liner – have decided I may ask hairdresser to trim wig as it is just too tidy and too full in some places.Great to hear that you have only one more chemo to go

Daffodil66 Glad to hear that you are feeling better

Honeymonster great that you are 5/6 way through and the finishing line is in sight although I know you have the surgery ahead like Scottydog1974

Jlr – you are nearly there – well done you. So sorry to hear about your best friend Sharon

Mrs B Hope you have better time with the second round of TAX – you hav really been through the mill with number 1

Pammyx – hope Tax going OK

Maryland thanks for advice about Tax –

Mungos_mum Really glad to hear that the tax SEs have lessened. Cat being mistaken for a ballerina really made me laugh! Mind you I can’t talk as I have managed to drop and step on driving glasses getting out of car when it was dark so have had to fork out for new ones…

Nipinuk Glad CT scan went OK I had a reaction to iodine and took loads of Piriton but luckily red face and trunk calmed down quickly. Didn’t realised that might have clips in… Hope they don’t cause prblems with airport security!

Scottydog1974 Great that you had such a good time with your family.

Suzy52 Sorry to hear you were banged up in hospital hope all goes well when you go back on FEC. Must try to get around to posting a demented pirate picture…!

Twinnumber1 Glad to hear that the Emend did the trick – nausea is the pits

Woolfie Well done for dong Race for Life. Things sound very complicated what with you and your other half having treatment on the same day.

1278

Fec-t cycle 5 day 7 (2nd tax cycle)

so far so good with this cycle of tax - I fully expected to feel awful like the first time around but have managed to escape a lot of the se’s I had with my first tax - thank god! Having said that I have felt very tired and have been pacing myself with jobs interspaced with naps! I have had a few aches/pains, diarrhoea, heartburn, headaches but nothing unmanageable. When I say it like that it makes me wonder what I ever moaned about before when I was unwell. Nothing now (hopefully) will compare to how I felt when going through chemo! I find myself being irritated looking through Facebook posts of people moaning about being tired or having a headache haha. I’m sure I did and will do the same before long. I’m hoping I aren’t going to be hit by the tax truck in the 2nd week and that my luckiness with this cycle continues. I hope that everyone else who’ve just had their own round of treatment are escaping with minimal se’s this time too.
xoxox

1279

Hello everyone seems as though we are all surviving best wishes to those who have had severe side effects. I receive my 5th tax this coming weds, the first tax was not too bad sore feet and tiredness but not as bad the fec although you can ever predict the next cycle. I don’t know about everyone else but I have put a load of weight on during this cycle trying to eat sensibly but I suspect this may be a side effect of chemo has anyone else foundthis? Also has anyone begun to experience any hair regrowth or is it too soon? Best wishes for everyone next week we are nearly there!

1280

FECT-T cycle 4 TAX day 17

And breath…! I feel sooo much better today, guts are back to near normal and food tasted pretty good, but then after hospital food not too suprising, only good thing about these periods of incarceration is I loose weight!

Angela sorry to read you’ve been having such a battle with your tooth and veins. The greatest pain I have ever endured came from an abscess under a molar, I rocked back and forth like a lunatic trying to find comfort, so I understand where you’ve been. And as for veins!!! well, as I was put onto the infectious disease wards, thay had little knowlegde of portachaths so every vein on my right side has been probed and drained, and I thought I was going to escape all that! You sound perky after you 5th round though, so long may it last :slight_smile:
Nipinuk so what do you do with your birds nest? make a broth then poach the nest? hope it makes a difference and its not contra indicated. I looked at allot of stuff that was supposed to be high in estrogen, like lavander oil and I worked out the amount in products and even using the essential oil, had such a minute hormone content it would have zero effect on my estrogen levels.
Good to hear you had a (lacy or lazy) morning - it was so comfortable being back in my own bed we did’nt get up till 10 am :slight_smile: I was intersted to learn about the titanium makers for radiotherapy. I have no idea whether I had them put in or not. My Surgeon certainaly expected me to have radio therapy, but I have since discussed it with 3 clinical oncos (2 english 1 french) and researched it for myself and have decided against it. My tumor was small, only 2.5 cm but it was spiculated, or had legs. These legs made the clear margin for surgery around 6/7 cm, so I had an elective mx as there would be virtually nothing left after a WLE. I had one encapsulated node found at SNB so had ANC too. So it seems Christine and I are in the same boat so to speak :slight_smile: I will have 5 years of hormone therapy too.
So happy to hear you had a good holiday, and you’ve been bitten by the camper van bug, its quite addictive!
Christine TAX sucks! happy to learn they got your adverse reaction under conrol with the anti-hists, frightening :frowning:
Have you made any icecream lately? I think I’ll treat myself tomorrow :wink:
Dianne I empathise re the ‘only 2 more to go’ comment - I want to shout, well you bloody have them then!
Jude no herceptin for me, but I was wondering how the portacath is working out for you? I’m always amazed by the difference in nurses needle technique - I have one who deffinately has celestial status, don’t feel a thing!
Twinnumber1 Happy to hear your pooch recovered from the seaweed incident, he/she must have scoffed allot to cause a blockage! Benson only chews sticks but he was partial to stones when he was a puppy!

Karen Merci beaucoup, ca va bien aujourd’hui! One thing I’ve learned more french being in hospital sooooo much!
To anyone I’ve not mentioned by name sorry but I’ve run out of steam, none the less wishing everyone a pain free stress free Sunday evening. Off to instruct OH on how to cook one of his favorite pasta dishes - being that he’s a stranger to the kitchen he’s doing remarkably well :smiley:
We all Endure xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx