FEC-T cycle 5 day 3
It is so nice to see posts from everyone. It is good to see we are all enduring through this nightmare (thanks Suzy, that is such a great description of which we are going through). I’m just so sorry that so many of us have had such a hard time lately.
Nipinuk – I can feel your increased energy in your writing! How wonderful your family are! I trust the birds’ nests are living up to expectation and build you up well before your rads start.
Dianne – you have been through the mill! I am so sorry you had such a hard time with your first Tax, and hope the future reduce dosage helps with the SEs. It always amazes me how differently we all seem to react to the treatments. How lovely to have a big celebration to look forward to, just make sure you have lots of help organising such an event!
NoraBatty – glad you escaped incarceration! Best of luck with your first tax next week, the best suggestion I have is to rest lots as exhaustion really kicks in, and to keep painkillers at hand.
Cocobutterfly – Fantastic that you are dealing so well with your tax cycle. I’m with you on being irritated by facebook! I have kept facebook cancer free, but to have people wingeing about a hangover headache makes me have to sit on my hands to prevent a spleen venting diatribe!
Pammy - I have put on loads of weight with the steroids, and have had to put half my wardrobe away. I have come to the conclusion that I need to get through treatment before I start trying to get back to my pre diagnosis state. Finding food I want to eat is hard enough without restricting it! I’m now loosing eyelashes and eyebrows on Tax, but live in hope regarding hair!
Suzy – so good you seem to have bounced back after your hospital stay. Please don’t boast too much about losing weight, most of us are going in the other direction!! 
Angela – I hope you had your tea party yesterday, and enjoyed it. Xx
After managing a trip for manure, I faded out this afternoon and spent most of it laid out on the sofa. I wanted to get the tomatoes in, but this might have to wait until tomorrow… Lovely end to the day when YS decided to treat the family to dinner at PE using the charge card he was given for Christmas.
Best wishes all, xx
FEC 75 / 5 Day 5
Suzy - sorry to here that you have been back in hospital again. Hope you perk up now that you are back at home. Re: your question on the portacath, still fairly new, having had only two chemos and one mid cycle bloods. The nurses apparently continue to use the hand vein where possible for the day before chemo blood check, to avoid accessing the port two days running. The second chemo did leave me feeling a little bruised whereas no reaction for the first or the mid-cycle bloods so it will be interesting to see as I go along.
all of you on Tax really seem to be taking a hammering, at least we are all enduring and approaching the end of this phase at least!! Take it easy.
Jude
FEC 75 Cycle 4 Day 19 (radiotherapy IMPORT HIGH trial treatment 1 begins on 17 June)
How wonderful to read updates from so many of you lovely strong ladies.
I’ve started doing sit ups, gentle arches, bottom up whilst lying on back and stretching yesterday. I remember building this up to 100 sit ups twice a day along with the other exercises and loving my tummy and bum then (20 years ago so results now will be a bit different but I’m hoping to persevere long enough to see a change). Anyone want to join me? I started with 20 repetitions last night. I’m hoping to start karate soon if I want to achieve a black belt by the time I’m 50!
Sorry Jude , I just realised I’d written a one liner in my earlier post. I do get interrupted a few times writing it. Anyway, I wanted to say I’m sorry I’m not doing tax, rads and tamoxifen at the same time. That’s a lot for the body to take. Might be worth asking onc how you would find out the cause of a particular SE at that time. It’d be impossible to say if a particular SE was due to a specific treatment when you’re having all three. That would be my main concern.
Onc is expecting me to do rads and tamoxifen at the same time. I’ve got my prescription for tamoxifen and I’m supposed to start it this Thursday, 3 weeks after final chemo, daily for 5 years. I’m not going to do this as I’m still unsure about tamoxifen So im delaying taking it. I’m planning to go ahead with rads on 17th.
It is really difficult deciding what’s best and I’m trying to make an informed decision. There is a lot of conflicting information and sometimes I just have to go with what I feel is best for me. I did try to wriggle out of rads but onc was adamant I should go ahead with it. he must think I’m a bit nuts 
I’ve come to mentally accept it now.
Dianne - it’s great to hear from you though I’m sorry to hear about the nightmare time you had. How awful! Were your baseline neuts low? Mine was 1.4 before I started chemo. I had Lenograstim instead of Filgrastim Injections after cycle 2 (5 injections), 3(only did 4 as my back was throbbing) and 4 (Onc said I only needed 3). My neuts go up to between 4-5 which was fine for chemo. Like you, I didn’t want any delays in chemo as it’s hard enough psyching myself for treatment and don’t think I could cope with any delay!
Really happy to hear they’ve reduced your dosage. Can’t have you so neutropenic and fainting again. I really hope you’re recovering better than last cycle.
Yes, I remember getting irritated when a friend was happily saying that I was already halfway through and had 2 more treatments to do. I remember thinking, “Am I supposed to be happy about that?!” It is such a bugger that if I’d known what I knew I’d never have done it as I was given a choice about chemo. Eek, hope Marion’s not reading this!
Daffodil - fantastic to hear that Linda’s advice has worked for you and that you’re finding it easier to cope with the pain.
Nora - phew, I’m glad you didn’t have to stay in hospital. Hope your temp behaves from now on. Did you have Sorry the cldon’t are titanium and don’t set off metal detectors all the best for this Friday. Have you got your black nail polish ready?
coco - really happy to hear that it’s been easier this cycle. What nice plans have you made to enjoy your good days? I’m trying to sort house a bit more but it’s an uphill task! I’d love to sort out a bit of the garden so we can sit out with friends. I did over an hur of gardening yesterday and transplanted my primroses, pricked out tomatoes (hubby says to chuck them as they’re so small but want to give em a chance!), planted some lettuce and purple broccoli in pots as I’ve run out of space on my little veg bed.
Hi Pammy! How are your hair and nails? My hair has started growing again but I’m getting lots of weak, wispy bits on my head so I used hubby’s clippers yesterday. I’ll keep doing that until strong hair come thru. Hair elsewhere are shedding and growing which is weird! As for feeling bloated, I think most of us experience that! Try not to worry too much about weight gain - Easier said thn done. Important that you eat properly to give your cells the best chance to regenerate. If you can, a bit of walking might help with circulation to reduce water retention.
Suzy , great to hear you’re feeling better! My taste is improving too so green tea doesn’t taste as salty. I must remember not to take it in the evenings as I can’t sleep! Forgot that it’s got some caffeine in it. Hubby very light sleeper so he didn’t sleep well.
About the birds nest, it’s a bit of a palaver preparing it. It needs to be soaked for about 8 hurs in cool boiled water, then “double boiled” for abut 2 hours! if you google double boil, you might see a ceramic/porcelain Chinese style container with 2 lids that you’re supposed to put in a pan with water. Chinese medicine man said you can’t use low cooker as you’ll lose nutritional content. This method has been used for the longest time in China so guess that’s the way to do it.
You can add dried longan (which I love), red dates and rock sugar to improve the taste.
Good to hear you don’t need rads. Do share with us your experience later as I find it really interesting comparing French UK treatments. Are you pre- menopausal?
How was hubby’s attempt at his fav pasta dish? What was it? Pray tell!
hope you feel well enough to make some ice cream today. I’ve got all sorts of berries in my freezer and I’m toying with the idea of trying out a summer fruit this weekend. It’s only Monday and I’m thinking about the weekend already!
Angela , Suzy’s pain experience with tooth problems just reminded me of the neuralgia I had in my jaw all the way up to one side of my head. Thought it was toothache. Pain was so intense you can’t think of anything else. Eyes watery from pain… ugh! Hope you both never have that kind of pain ever again!
Christine - I need manure! Hope you have the energy to pubyoure our tomatoes today. I’d like to tackle the big straggly bamboo plant we’ve got so have been watering it a lot to try and soften the soil before I try taking it out. Oh, I’ll need some pots too before I do that! I’d love some tall rectangular pots but they’re so expensive for plastic!
Like Suzy, I’ve lost weight too from chemo. It’s cutting out dairy and chocolates that did it I think!
Your ys is such a darling! Bet you were really touched and proud of him. Kids these days (haha, just what my parents used to say) generally don’t realise how lucky they are. My boys tend to be a bit self-centred too so it’s lovely when they show glimpses of kindness and consideration for others!
have a lovely day all xx
Your posts have given me so much to think about. Astounded by how everyone is dealing with this what I said to a friend yesterday is on one level yes we will get through and try to remain positive but on the other it is actually like the stuff Mungos_mum got to put on her garden! don’t think swear words would be allowed on here!
Feeling less robust this cycle but so glad I am not on FEC-T as you guys seem to be having it really rough. My thoughts are with you all. What lies ahead before we reach the end of this road?
Got all dressed up to go to a mini wedding reception on Saturday afternoon(even had a pedicure and my legs spray tanned never had that done before but it was a bit of a boost) only to have a ‘bit of a funny turn’ and came home shortly after getting there. Had a bit of a lie down and felt better to return and pick up the OH. Teach me to be blase about how things were going.
Hoping I continue to be ok as we have now been told OH has to go TWICE a day for RADs good news is he will be finished earlier. I have said I can only do what I can do and if that fails we’ll send for the cavalry. Thank goodness for the van! He is really starting to feel the affects of the treatment now.
I have an appointment with plastic surgeon on Friday and have lots of questions for him. Was reading some posts on reconstruction thread which scared some more of that brown stuff out of me. Plus appt with oncologist on 24th to plan radiotherapy and have read your posts with interest on that matter also. I do not want RADs to make the recon worse. Am i expecting too much it is only just over 4 months since the op?
good luck to everyone who had their treatment last week and to those having theirs this.
Hi Woolfie,
I love your mention of us Marchies on your profile pic! Thank you!
You made smile with your fabulous attempts in avoiding to swear
You have valid concerns so make sure onc and surgeon give you satisfactory answers. Don’t be afraid to ask them to clarify anything you dont understand as they do this so often that they sometimes forget. It’s important for you to be happy with treatment plans as this will minimise worry and stress. you’ve got enough on your plate! Not sure but I read somewhere on the forum that it’s better to have surgery before rads as tissues take longer to heal after rads.
Did you have mx? If so, was the tumour near your chest wall which is why rads was recommended?
Just curious, what SEs are hubby experiencing with rads?
Sorry about all the questions!
Fec-t cycle 5 tax day 7
Hi ladies, I hope you are all doing ok after the last blast. It seems like getting painkillers into your system early with the tax does help but you still get hit by the extreme exhaustion. I’m at that stage where I don’t want to do this anymore & finding it hard to be positive. My head hair seems to be growing & still falling out too? Have gained half stone, feels like 3 as so flabby but as you all say, worry about that after chemo.
Nipinuk-Sounds like you have lots of energy, so good to hear that your body does recover after all this!
Porta caths-I always get the nurse to leave the needle in after pre chemo bloods as very tender the next day.
Take care everyone xxx
Hi Daffodil, it is so hard to carry on and I feel for you. After the second cycle, I just couldn’t see chemo as medicine as it was more like poison. It got me really down. I think we just ride the river of rant, rave, reflection and wretchedness and endure it all.
I hear that it takes about 2 months to get the drugs out of one’s system. It’s been nearly 3 weeks and my fingers are slowly returning to their normal colour - they were very dark during chemo, taste getting better (tongue still not the right colour) and energy levels getting better. I’m trying to remember to massage my surgery scar before rads start. My eyes are still teary at times especially when the wind is blowing in my face and i wear glasses! My nose runs all the time.
I hope you feel better soon. Big hugs xx Are you getting good support from family or friends? Hubby’s spport made a huge difference and I’ve recovered faster but still need to be careful about pushing myself. I do all the cooking now!
Any regulars on this forum with a smartphone please pm me and I’ll add you to Marchies group on Whatsapp. I find it really easy to just send out a one liner (me, one liners?!) or share pictures.
It’s a bit quiet here and I hope everyone’s alright and enjoying a bit of sunshine.
take care xx
Fec-T cycle 5, Tax & Herceptin 2, day 15 (one week until last chemo!)
Been very tired recently – like many of us it seems. The blood transfusion perked me up for a few days and I’ve been trying to eat iron-rich foods since but so tired… Will have my pre-chemo blood test next Monday so will have to see if I need another transfusion or not – really hoping not. I don’t want any delays to my last one.
I was going to reply to individual posts but I’m not sure I feel up to that today, but wanted to wish everyone well as we endure. xx
honeymonster…that’s great news we’re nearly there. i’m feeling a bit more alive today, so later will definately respond to ALL the posts that i need to. hope everyone has an amazing day. love angela xx
Hi Ladies, happy tears for a change today as just been for an ultrasound & she couldn’t find anything, she said that everything looked normal & you wouldn’t know I had bc! But she did say I will still need surgery & the mri that I’m having later today will tell them more. Of course my question is, where’s it gone?
Good luck to all the other girls having chemo zapping scans soon, we all need that boost at the moment xxx
Daffodil big congratulations! I’m thrilled for you, thats the best news you could have. Yes its a mystery. Can you elaborate why you’ll an op, is it to remove the marker?
Hope the MRI Iis stress free time to celebrate tonight lots of love
Karen xxx
Thanks Karen, I can only guess that it’s probably disintegrated so much that the ultrasound couldn’t find it but she told me to be positve & she seemed happy with the result so im happier now. I’m seeing my cosultant on the 27th so he will let me know the next plan of action. They didn’t do markers, bet they wished they had now! Bcn told me that if it disintegrates will need an mx anyway I think? Just nice to know chemos worth it xxx
Daffodil, what positive news. Hopefully the MRI continues in the same way. It does seem a mystery that you are told that you will still require surgery though!
Angela and Honeymonster - good to hear that you are both feeling a little brighter. Looking forward to the end of the month and the completion of chemo, but for me, increasing thoughts about the amount of other therapies which my onc seems intent on heaping on altogether which is a concern given what my body will already have taken with the chemo!
take care Marchies
Jude
Hi Cassowary, I’ve just seen my bcn & you are right, if it’s dispersed they won’t need to do surgery. I will need a lymph node clearance, rads & then tamoxifen. What else are you having as yours is a lobular too?
I hope everyone is ok today xxx
Hello Ladies
Sorry i havent been online in a while, been stuck in hospital for 18 days since the 25th may, so thats why i havent replied to any of your messages, just got released today. been 18 days of hell!
First went in on the friday 24th of may, because i couldnt stop being sick, then got discharged from the hospital, but then on the 25th may i was back in again due to having a high temperature and feeling really ill.
I was then told i was neutropenia with sepsis again, and that i had no platelets and a reduced amount of red and white cells below safety amounts. i had to have 2 blood transfusions and was put into a isolation room plus given a variety of antibotics. but yet the doctors couldnt find no infections or nothing in my blood, but my temperature kept spiking between 37.5-38.9 degrees. i had so many cultures and everything, i had countless meetings with the doctors and my chemo doctors and they dont think my body can handle another dose of FEC on the same level, so they have 2 options they are speaking about, either having reduced chemo FEC at 50% or if its not benefical then having the surgery early but wont know nothing till they meet up and discuss it. i should hear in the next couple of weeks so hopefully the worst is over!
On the other hand i had a C/T scan while in there and the lump is now 2.5cm so thats really good news 
Again sorry for not reply to your messages, and i would like to thank everyone for there kind words.
Shelley x
First up Shelley, poor you, sounds like you’ve been to hell and back 
Great to hear the tumor has shrunk though, that s the best news.
Likewise Daffodil, amazing results from chemo! hope the docs work out the best way forward for you soon.
Jude, are you having more than chemo/herceptin at once? I can understand your concerns about overload. Glad the portacath is behaving
Christine , what I loose on the swings I gain on the round-abouts, so no bragging on my part re weight loss
Woofie, sorry you got all dolled up and had to quit the party before it started - here’s to the time you be the last to leave the party!
Angela here’s to brighter days.
Nipinuk I’m postmeno, and not sure what hormone therapy I’ll be on. I like your endurance with the sit ups - but your on your own there girlfriend! I was so determined to keep up the excerise when I started out on the chemo trip, but all these bouts of hospitalization have made me pretty feeble, and the docs have said just do a little and listen to your body. OH is black belt karate, though not practiced for many years, sometimes he kicks out at me in his sleep, its like lightening but I seem to be able to tell when he’s dreaming in karate mode now, thank goodnes!
Just 2 more days till number 5 for me - this round has been a stinker hope the next one is kinder, bit nervous about going back to FEC.
xxxx
TAC 5/6 - Day 6
Hi all
Just a quick post to say I’ve been suffering a bit with my usual nausea but will post at length tomorrow but I am thinking of everyone, while we “endure”. Shelley, you sound like you’ve had more than your fair share of “enduring”!
Lots of best wishes
Jess xxxxx
Hi Shelley, welcome back. So sorry to hear you’ve been inside all this time, fingers crossed for you that you won’t have to go through that again now. Great news about the lump shrinking loads too & enjoy the next couple of weeks before decision time xxx
Shelley, what an awful time youhave had, pleased to hear that you are out now and continuing to endure.
Suzy, Daffodil - because I am on FEC, I am not able to start Herceptin until completion of the chemo. Once completed though, my onc is keen to both start the herceptin and the rads. I see him again on 20th to discsuss planning, but at my last meeting I queried when Tamoxifen would be started and his response was ‘well it is only a tablet’! the inference being nothing too it. I would like to think that my body could have more than the three week rest post chemo before a triple treatment onslaught! I will probably push him to check whether I am now post meno before starting hormone therapy so that I am put on the most appropriate drug. Time will tell.
Jude x
Daffodil, forget to say. I had Mx before chemo, because ofthe size (5cm) and additional DCIS in the other part of the breast. ILC but with no lymphnode involvement. BS is already taking about reduction surgery to other side but I am conscious that rads may cause skin/tissue issues and was not expecting further surgery until beginning of next year.
Jude