Shaz-I felt rotten on day 21 of Fec. Turns out my white blood count was down and chemo was delayed. Now I’m not sure if the 2 things were related because apparently you don’t feel it when your count is low. Anyway, suffice to say I started feeling better quickly afterwards. Remember the ‘drink lots of water’ advice and try to get a good sleep tonight. Good luck for tomorrow.
Lisalou I’m on day 13 post TC and I’m feeling great. I was so ill at the beginning- started to pick up on day 6, had a few low points after that and then really perked up on day 10. So hold on to that thought.
Oh, wee question. My arms beginning to feel a little uncomfortable-it’s obviously my veins. Any idea what they do about this? I’ve about 8 days before next treatment. (Treatment? Did I really say that???)
Marie - (chemo buddy!!!)
My arm also sore - think it is the demise of the chemo vein! so pretty normal…
xx
Lisalouw
we sound very similar except I am chemo first then surgery. Mine is 4.8mm inv ductal grade 3 TN no node involvement on the underside of breast. 4 TC as no nodes involved providing scan after TC 2 shows shrinkage. Have requested MX and need to discuss bilateral as had BC other side 14 years ago. Assume your nodes were involved to have 6 TC
My day 5 was the worst wondered what was going on as had been ok upto then felt like I had flu but was lots better next day And so far so good . Do you know if it gets worse with each cycle ?
Wendy
Hi Marie and Mandyp,
i am haveing FEC not sure if it has the same effects as what you are having but have you heard of a picc Line, they wouldnt have to go into the vain in the arm to adminster the Drugs it goes in the Picc Line much easyer, and dosent hurt each time you have to have Chemo, they just plug you in and away you go, maybe you should ask you Onc about it, it is quite a quick procedure and last for the whole of your treatment.
lolly
I’ve heard of it Lolly but feel a bit squeamish about having something ‘in’ me. I think after 2 more chemos and loads of herceptin I might end up with one but am hoping to ‘wait and see’ with the old veins.
Evening ladies. I thought I would share a funny moment with you . The district nurse came to flush my picc line. The bung was not moving. She tried all sorts of strategies but it was stubbornly refusing to move. She considered 'phoning the doctors surgery or the hospital for advice. In the end I asked my neighbour - who is a big brawny builder to help. Two pairs of pliers and a strong mans hands and it shifted! Rekief all round!
Hi Cybele
Completely with you on your blog, I had recall from mamogramme so went alone believing that I would be among the 19 out of 20 who are ok. No such luck, I knew I wason to a loser when 5 people came in to the ultrasound including a junior (I imagined them calling him and saying ‘hurry on down, we have one for you’!). He fumbled around for a bit then the other doctor, female and at a guess mid-thrities (I’m 52) carried out the ultrasound and took lots of measurements - I said at that point ‘you seem to have found something, what is is?’ Her exact words ‘it is cancer, it is in your lymph nodes, you will need an operation and you will need chemo - well you did ask’!
I was stunned and asked if there was any chance it was benign - she said ‘if it comes back negative I will send you for a retest’.
Never been so scared in my life - on my own and she was brutal to a point. she was wrong about the lymph nodes, the fine needle biopsy of the lymph node was clear and so was the ultimate SNB. I chose chemo for other reasons.
She didn’t have the excuse of being trained many years ogo when the approach was different. I did tell the BCN and she was horrifed and said there is no way of knowing whether it was in the nodes from a scan. I hope she was tackled about it but I will never know.
Loving the blog and have told lots of others about it
Jayne x
Morning everyone!
Am on day 13!!! And am absolutely shattered. Have no energy whatsoever - Marie - you’re same place as me, how are you feeling?
Xxxx
Getting bloods done today and am gonna ask for picc line as when they did ct scan yesterday it took 2 veins to get liquid in! My arm is bruised and quite painful and do not want to get all prepped for fec3 and then get turned away. Dint need the stress!
Xxxxxx
Morning Crackers - just read back and sorry to hear lots of you having a hard time - Cybele, Shaz, Lisalouw and others. This whole thing really is rubbish. And there is no “model” so we all have different horrible stuff at different times. I just wanted to say F*ck off to cancer and chemo.
Shaz - and anyone else - good luck for chemo today.
Mandy & Maire - can’t believe you are approaching no 3. I feel a bit left behind. I want to be half way through.
Mandy - Re: Scanxiety - I remember looking at my “good” breast on the MRI pics and being horrified by all the white blobby bits - the Onc just waved her hand and dismissed them all as “calcifications”
Queen drama - Hello? pop back in and tell us about yourself. You might have done so before but we all have Chemo Brian here.
Cybele - you have worse sickness than me but I find the thing is not to get upright before taking a pill. Keep them and water by the bed.
As for me I am trying to keep the panic demon under control as I have to go back for my repeat blood test today to see if am fit to be piosoned tomorrow. Feel like I have spent a few days in the land of the well and I really don’t want to go back to chemo land. I feel like a child who might just throw a strop if they make me do this again. The only way I get through the day without sitting bawling is by pretending none of it is happening. Hard to do that when it actually is. Oh, well, I still have most of today to be “well”. Fingers crossed for the nice nurse at the phlebotomy centre who can get blood from a stone. Anyone else noticed that it is the middle aged women who are bursting out of their uniforms who are the best at it? I always feel better when I see a plump woman who is at least 10 years older than me. I hope it is not just me, or you all now thinking I am very strange.
Keep on keeping on, xxx
Oh, and in case anyone was wondering, the definition of “middle aged” is always someone at least 10 years older than me (or you).
Mandy- Same day but diff chemo. I’m feeling great at the moment. Think on Tc you crash earlier but I certainly feel much better now than I did on day 13 of FEC. I’m almost euphoric with happiness!
Cressida-When I had my funny tongue I told my husband there was no way I was taking any more chemo if it didn’t resolve. He was not a bit happy. So I understand how you feel. Having to subject ourselves to this torture is bloody hard.
Queendrama-maybe we all need a burly builder to sort us out!
Maire - as you had painful mouth before I’m afraid you will likely get it again but if you use corsodyl from the day of chemo it does really help. Don’t wait for it to break out. You still have time to get some Difflam prescribed as well - many nights I was able to sleep just cos I swilled a bit of Difflam. I think my sore, slimy mouth was one of the worst bits - don’t endure it - beat it off before it arrives. I don’t let it set up shop anymore - prevention is better than cure. xxx
hiya
very very weak now, since yesterday. huge effort to do anything, even type. am on day 8 now, is that why? is your blood weak then?
would appreciate reassurance - will this pass? is it normal?
Jayne - thank you x what happened to yuo sounds beyond brutal. strewth.
Cress - you always make me laugh xx
mandy - my picc line is GREAT. it makes everything easy. it’s no trouble, not painful, hardly even know mine is there.
when I say weak, right onw I can barely stand up. it is OVERWHELMING
Cybele - I don’t know if your blood is weak on day 8 but everything else is likely to be. It does pass. Watch some rubbish on TV with Chemo Brian and wait for it to go. xxx
Oh Cybele really feel for you not a nice feeling being so out of control but there is a means to an end and it is to kick ass of this bloody cancer. It is a aggressive disease and unfortunately aggressive treatment to match but you will through it just tick off the days. How many Fec are you going to have ?
Christmas crackers that are well at theminute send Cybele a little of our energy if will all spare a little for her she will soon feel better.
Hugs
Wendy x x
And if Chemo Muse is more demanding than Chemo Brian then get on with getting your blog into the BCC blog competition. You can win a copy of Gok Wan’s book apparently! 