Day 20 Fec 3
hi all x hope you had a lovely Easter , I went to my parents & had a lovely lamb dinner , my mam is such a good cook !
Im off to chemo ward to give my blood for tomorrows TAX !!! AAarrgghh I’ve taken my 4 morning steroids &can honestly say I’m
sh*** ing myself ,not sure why but its the fear of unknown plus I don’t want to feel rubbish again
Grrr half post again haven’t got time to rewrite so just hope everyone is ok
take care valentines xx
Millymolly - predictive txt wanted to change it to mildly moly! It’s strange how chemo affecte hour diet. I used to love soups but could not bear the thought of soup until yesterday. Had lots frozen too! I seem to like really salty n spicy food. So spicy that it makes my head itch even more! The senior dietician attached to the breast care team said that about 60% of BC patients gain weight!
Annabelle - great to hear tumour shrinking! May it shrink lots more. Regarding your sore arm, have you got a line fitted? It might be worth asking. I don’t know how tax affects the veins but epirubicin is notorious for hardening the veins. I had one usable vein at my first cycle n my arm ached n was very cold (had heat pad) that the nurse highly recommended a PICC line. Funkilala had one fitted and assured me that it doesn’t increase SEs even though it is administered faster than a cannula. I’m having mine fitted a day before chemo round 2.
Karen - my friend had FEC-T and she says it was fine. She had to cope with divorce and getting her own place which must have been absolutely hideous. The unknown is always terrifying though so I hope that everything goes well for you tomorrow. Oh, have you painted your nails black? Taxotere affects the nails n I heard that someone’s onc recommended black, not dark red or purple.
i lost a post few days ago n was really upset as I’d spent over an hour responding to different members comments. So i totally understand. its annoying as others miss your kind encouraging thoughts that u take the time to write! Try to cut n paste from note (which screws up font) or notepad if on pc. What i also do is select all n copy before submitting my post.
No sun today over here in Hampshire 
my mouth feels dry and I keep having to drink which is not great as I’m waking up 2-3 times a night!
hope you all have a good day.
Hi Nipinuk
Thank you for the lovely message the other day, very sweet of you. I hope you got my reply. Just wanted to add one thing re the PICC line… I am not aware that your Chemo is administered any faster by the PICC line (over a cannula) the syringe driver controls the rate at which it is administered via the nurse. I believe it’s put in at a set rate for both PICC and Cannula.
Hope all goes well having your PICC line in today. You will forget it’s there after a while and your Chemo and blood sessions will be so much better. X
Morning Valentines,
Hope you don’t mind me popping in from the Awsome Aprils.
Just had a nurse in to take bloods before my 1st Fec-t cycle tomorrow, she wanted to take bloods from my right arm but as I’ve had ANC wouldn’t let her. She said it’s ok to take bloods out but not put anything in. My info on preventing Lymphoedema states no blood pressure or bloods. The reason she gave me was because the chemo could not be administered into the same vein within 24hrs. I have problem with veins on my left arm but there are plenty on my hand and wrist. Was I right not to let her take the bloods from my affected arm xx
FEC2 day 11
Damn right Amber! I have two affected arms, although my left is SNB only and I have been letting them use it. As far as my right arm ( ANC) is concerned it’s a nogo zone and heheh should all know it. Unfortunately some of them don’t. Stand your ground and ask for a more experienced nurse.
I have bloods taken from left (SNB) arm the day before then have chemo in same arm next day.
BTW I think I’m going to ask for a Hickman line before next round as my SNB arm is feeling sore and it’s scaring me in case it turns to Lymphodema.
Mandy
Hello Amber D - you are absolutely right to insist on no intervention to your affected arm.
The BCC leaflet on reducing the risk of lymphoedema says:
“Small breaks in or trauma to the skin, or some skin conditions which cause the skin to become red and sore, can become a site for infection and may lead to swelling, therefore:
-
if possible, try to avoid having your blood pressure or blood samples taken from your ‘at risk’ arm. If both your arms are affected then your blood pressure measurements or blood samples may be taken from your legs or feet
-
avoid having acupuncture into your ‘at risk’ arm
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try to avoid having injections into your ‘at risk’ arm, though this may not always be possible.
Some of the healthcare professionals you come into contact with may not be aware of avoiding your ‘at risk’ arm so you may have to tell them….”
And MacMillan suggests the following:
- If possible, avoid having needles put into your hand/arm or foot/leg when you have blood taken, injections, a drip (infusion), or acupuncture. Although there’s no strong medical evidence to suggest this may help, most lymphoedema experts think it’s a wise precaution to take. Don’t get a tattoo on the affected/at risk limb
It’s a shame that the word hasn’t spread throughout the medical profession! Some of the Valentines have acquired medi-alert bands or bracelets to help with this. I’m sure they’ll point you in the right direction if interested.
All best wishes,
Gill
Morning Valentines. April already!
Amber - YES you were right. The nurse was VERY wrong. Well done for standing up to her. There is a post somewhere further back where one lady had blood taken from her bad arm and I think the same reason was given if I remember rightly. She ended up with Lymphodema because of it, and she only had 2 nodes removed…
Nipinuk - the reason that PICC lines and portacaths etc. appear to be faster isn’t because they are faster. The syringe driver controls the speed as Funki says. It is because they go in to a central vein in the chest above the heart rather than the arm. These central veins are much bigger and wider, and much faster flowing. The drugs go in and get dispersed round the body quicker, hence fewer vein problems. Or so I believe.
Fabbie to hear most of you had a good Easter Day.
Kath - I have also PM’d you.
Take care and lots of love, Linda xxx
Hi Mandy,
Go for it girl! From everything I have researched (and you know what I’m like for researching!) a line is a far better option. It will save your veins. Good luck with getting one.
Linda xxx
I’ve just had blood taken from my chemo arm for tomorrow & never heard of that 24 hour rule before & I defo think u were right on not letting her use your bad arm !
Just been to m& s to get my chemo food in for the week ahead & easy meals , I have NEVER bought so many cakes & chocolates in my life !! I’m a savoury girl ( or was ) Scarlett’s one happy little girl !!
Got my nail varnish on & fully steroid up !! Was watching oh doing the garden & just thought how much I love him & next thing I’m crying !! God theses drugs do mess us up I’m having a good day … Mind u oh was drunk the other night & thought he was funny by putting my sleep hat on his head as he got into bed … Lights out & I grabbed it back off him & put it on without realising he had quickly swapped if for his underpants !! Not pleasant but did cause a laugh !!
Karen xx
Are the gremlins at it again?
I have had 3 emails telling me there are new posts from Kath, Sandra, and Lisa. I replied to Lisa’s post. None of these are showing at all.
Linda xxx
Lola and Kath… God knows where this sickness is coming from… even the nurse said I had it bad…maybe Ive just got off lightly last 2 sessions…all I know I dont want it!!!..I dont even want to share it withh anyone 
… managed a cuppa tea… hate it when I cant drink my tea…Got my medic alert bracelet through yesterday…very impressed… lets hope It works without me constantly reminding people not to touch that arm…
Time to find the sofa and any decent films on… all these channels we have and all repeats! x
Linda do you get emails to alert you of new posts?
Yes , Lisa , I do. You can subscribe to the thread if you go back to the very first post and press the link.
I asked you in my post that disappeared if you are on Taxotere/Carboplatin/Herceptin.
Sandra - fingers crossed the injection works. I can hardly imagine anything worse. I have a real phobia about sickness.
Ah just subscribed to the thread!!! I did wonder how I missed out on a lot of the posts. I’m on the TC but the ‘c’ is Cyclophospamide not sure if that’s the same as you, but not herceptin I will have to have tamoxifen for 5 years. My ONC has dropped one of the drugs not sure which one it was because of my heart problem I have, I’ll ask again on Friday when I go back. How is your cold now? x
Hi Lisa,
No, mine is different from yours. Its definitely Carboplatin. Another lady being treated at the same hospital as me with the same oncologist is on the same regime as me. It’s hard to find anyone else! Not sure I fancy 6 sessions of Tax, but not a lot I can do!
My cold is a bit better, thanks for asking. No temperature but still got the headache, although nose is behaving better today.
I was a bit worried I was changed from the FEC-T at the 11th hour but was assured the regime I am on is equally good for me. I’m on the same ‘T’ as your but the ‘C’ is different. Has the other lady started her cycle yet? If she has do you know how she has got on? I do feel I have gotten off lightly with the SE’s compared to some of the ladies posted on here, the tiredness is the one, it’s a little blighter he is lol I’ve also found a lot of people say ‘oh you look so well’ when I actually feel really rubbish!! xx
Hi Millymolly,
I am the same about eating! The first FEC I was really sick and didn’t eat much for three days but I got the drug Emend for my second and although I had a little nausea, I wasn’t actually sick at all and was eating almost normally by the second day. Then, for the next few days I was constantly nibbling at something as it seemed that was the only way to get rid of that awful taste and yucky feeling in mouth! And now that I’m in my “good weeks” I am eating loads!! Have managed to go for a few walks and even done some gentle stretches and exercises - I actually don’t feel ill at all now, maybe a little more tired than usual but that’s it…and then there’s that feeling of dread, knowing that number three is next week and then it all starts again!
Hope you are ok and that all the other ladies on here are doing well too. XX
Hi Lisa,
The other lady starts the same morning that I do, so I am looking forward to meeting her.
I was on FEC x 6 initially, as prescribed by the Registrar. The consultant Onco changed it to TCH, apparently because Tax is less harsh on the heart than the E in FEC, and as Herceptin is also harsh on the heart, it wouldn’t be wise for me to have E followed by 18 sessions of Herceptin. I was told this is because of my age (65) and nothing to do with the health of my heart, which is normal. I suppose our hearts do deteriorate the older we get.
The best thing about Tax is that any nausea is mild. Nothing like the FEC regime. The worst thing is that the low immunity period is longer because of the extra steroids, which also suppress the immune system. I haven’t been offered any blood boosting injections. I will only get them if I have a problem on cycle one.
Dear Valentines – just got a call from the hospital – which surprised me no end as it is a bank holiday. Seems that despite my bad side effects this cycle, I am responding so well to my treatment that I have been selected for a special experimental programme. The remainder of my chemo has been cancelled and in its place I will be sent to a luxury spa in the South Pacific where the treatment will be limited to massage, sun-bathing and dipping in azure blue waters. So far the treatment has proven to have a 100% success rate, but due to the expense to the NHS is limited to one patient per year from the hospital – chosen on the morning of April 1st. Can’t believe my luck. Will post again as soon as I get back.
With love, Louise