Hi everyone
Decided to go on the tact 2 trial yesterday and scored with Arm 4
4 cycles epirubicen every 2 weeks with gcsf white cell accelerator on day 2 - followed by 4 cycles of capecitabine (tablets). Course takes 24 weeks.
Very tired yesterday but not too bad today but awful heartburn. Seeing doctor tomorrow to see if he can give me something.
It would be great if anyone else is on the same trial and we can compare notes
Best wishes
liz
Hi Liz
I’m also on the Tact 2 trial - arm 4 but am ahead of you. I had my 3rd Epi last Friday so the last one next week. Yipeeeee
Like you I was over the moon that I was allocated arm 4 and the time has just flown. The only down side to it is the fact that you don’t get a good week only a better week. You will also find that the effects are cumulative, especially the tiredness. I must admit I’ve found the Epi hard but do-able with the side effects kicking in round about day 4. From what I read on here the Xeloda tablets (Cap) have fewer side effects so am looking forward to that.
I was diagnosed in May, surgery in June and started chemo the 25th of July.
Let me know how you get on.
Good luck
Mal
Hi
Im on Tact 2 Arm 3 so its the same streatment just spread out a bit more. I started on the 5 Aug so I have jsut had my second Epi. I have lost my hair (Gave up and shaved it of this week) and Im tired. The worst part has been the bad taste in my mouth and the hearburn but Im gettin by…
Hope it all goes well for you
Angela
Hi Mal and Angela
Am on day three and heartburn, burping and horrid mouth with me since yesterday. Got Gaviskon and Omaprozole from my doc today but had call from my cancer nurse this afternoon and she said she will addit to hosp prescrip next time so no charge thats good anyhow but tokk out 4mths prepay this morning _ typical. I was dead tired on day 1 but not too bad now. i can imagine that it will al stockpile with treatments so close.
I got my wig on Tuesday, not too bad I must say but a bit longer than my norm. My usual hairdresser says she will trim it for me when I start wearing it.
Best weishes to you both
liz
Hi girls
Yep - the bad mouth! I’ve actually got used to it now as it’s only clear for a couple of days before the next onslaught. Feeling pretty good (it’s all relative) now a week after my 3rd and went in work for 4 hours this morning, then hit a brick wall and had to go home to bed for a couple of hours. Work have been really brilliant and I can go in as and when I’m up to it, and I feel it helps to give me a sense of normality.
The side effects have been different after each chemo. Be careful what you have to drink and eat though. I had a drink of apple juice which tasted really good, but I was glued to the toilet for 24 hours afterwards.
My hair started coming out in handfuls on day 5 after my 2nd, so I took the clippers to it. Made me feel so much better.
It’s amazing how you cope with everything that’s chucked at you. People say ‘you are brave’, but there’s no alternative. You just get on with it.
Anyway, hang in there. The time really does fly and I can’t wait for my last Epi next Friday.
Take it easy and keep in touch.
Mal
Hi Mal
Yeah the brave thing always makes me laugh… like we have a choice. Its a case of get on with it or break down and let it take over. Only one choice as far as im concerned…
The worst think about the hair coming off is the fact that I always have a cold head. I can wear the wig all the time because it makees my head itch and I feel daft wearing the head scarfs… Im sure I will get used to them too 
Oh well!!
Angela
I know what you mean about the cold head. Just hope I get some bum fluff before winter sets in. Was talking to a woman at the hospital last week who was on the trial and was half way thro’ her Xeloda and her hair was growing again! Brilliant.
Wear my wig when I go out but really can’t get used to it. It feels like a clamp on my head. Bought a truban but it’s not really me and it’s still sitting on top of the wardrobe.
Anyway make the most of your week-end girls. Hope you breeze thro’ the week-end Liz.
Mal
Hi everyone I am on arm 3 of the trial and get my last dose of xeloda next week…can’t wait! Must say that I have actually had more bad days on xeloda than I had on epi. At least on epi
there seemed to be some pattern…days 1 to 3 was wide awake with the steroids…days 4 onwards very tired then got sore mouth loss of taste etc …from day 10 picked up and felt ok by the time my next injection was due. On Xeloda I ache all over (have been told this is because I have been propelled into the menopause and ‘become an old woman overnight’ (oncs desc not mine)
and some days I find it difficult to walk due to pain in feet though I don’t have the hand/foot syndrome. Know I shouldn’t moan as I have had no sickness etc but the aches are really getting me down…oh and forgot to mention the hot flushes that wake me up every hour during the night. Must say that others on this leg don’t seem to have had as many aches as me…or maybe they just don’t moan about them. Ah well have a good weekend everyone.
XX
Hi everyone
Tabs and Gaviscom seem to be working only left with bad taste - ugh and slight burping all time.
Have been in and out of work since day 2 - like you Mal can come and go as I please, very fortunate. It does make you feel normal excpet for the arn’t you being brave. I suppose we all react differently but I’m only getting on with my life. Nothing brave about that.
Take care all
Liz
Hi all
The burping !! I sooo wasn’t ready for that. Mine is uncontrolable and acidic, making my gut really sore. Found nibbling ginger biscuits helps but appetite seems to be increased so constantly eating. Had first of 6 FEC 9 days ago and just beginning to feel I can get through a whole day without falling asleep at the dop of a hat.
Wishing everyone well x x
Hi all
Hope you’re week-ends have been OK (as far as they can be). We all seem to suffer from the foul mouth and it’s affected my appetite so much that I’ve lost weight (there has to be a bonus to all this). Went out for a meal last night but it was a waste of money, it tasted disgusting! It was nice to get out though as next week-end I’ll be glued to the bed for a few days again.
OMG Holly. I’m sorry that Xeloda has affected you that way but also know that everyone is different (I hope) and overall it does have fewer side effects for most people.
Mal