Starting Chemo in February 2013: February Valentines

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I started FEC-T chemo mid Feb and yesterday had my second cycle.
Overview of symptoms first cycle:

  • Queasy first night and feeling tired and unwell day 2
  • Started with dry mouth & odd taste, constipation and the runs but these were only in the first week and a half
  • Throbbing lower back pain after Lenograstim injection but only lasted couple of days and manageable with paracetamol
  • Sleeplessness on and off and variable lack of energy
  • Hair started coming out week 3, scalp now sore
    Not so bad this first one although a friend of mine wasn’t so lucky, ended up in hospital with an infection.
    The consultant said the sleeplessness was normal and said they didn’t like to medicate. It is so annoying though when you are desperately tired but can’t actually sleep.
    Love my wig and staying positive. Exercising when I can but resting when I need to.
    Good luck to all the Valentines
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FEC 2 day 2

Morning valentines - I see from some of the posts this morning that some of us had a bad nights sleep and the sleep fairy eluded us! Me too - think I got about 4 hours in total - then when I was able to sleep (after OH went to work at 7am) the district nurse arrived at 10am to administer my Pegfilgrastim! Glad I got the injection this time - hopefully keep me hospital free!

Featherbird - I see you have lots of injections - 5 in total - what mg are they - I’m only getting the one 6mg.

Kath - thank you so so much for the poem about Cushendall - I absolutely loved it! Keep them coming - you are defo one talented lady!

Karen - bit if a nightmare for you yesterday - the vein issue - I had something similar but not quite as terrible as yours - nurse found a vein (was the vein they used to administer chemo no 1) she put the cannula in and the vein promptly blew!! I thought - o no - bet I’m gonna have to have a PICC line - but she then located a vein on side of wrist and chemo no 2 went swimmingly! Not even a bruise this morning - nurse put in pink stuff (3 large syringes) very very slowly and I think this helped me a lot. Only side effects yesterday was a very slight headache - chemo 1 was pounding headache and nose running the whole night.

No nausea yet so I am hoping they have sorted my anti sickness meds this time around - I am on Ondansetron & Levomepromazine - any one else had these and did they work for you? Cycle 1 nothing seemed to work for me at all so I am keeping my fingers crossed that these do :slight_smile:

I’ve decided to do what a lot of you have started to do - write post in note and paste! Lol :wink:

Hope you all have a good day and hopefully SE’s are minimal for all us valentines - Kim xxoo

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Sarah, thanks for that, hospital just rang and confirmed same and because of neutrpenia started early, just not looking forward to side effects of them, as they were really bad trough my pelvis ribs and chest when they gave them in hospital. Ive read the same about the hoey being good on the white cells but dont remeber where i read it, probably on some cncer nutrition site when i put in boosting white blod cells. Manuka honey is another one wit claims. Otherwise feel ok just fatigue, no nausea yet and very red face, will start injection tonight before bed, maybe it wil help with the ses. Take care of you too, hugs xx

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Alison, I have cut out alot of milk also as it was exasberating the the thrush and sore mouth, but I eat alot of other foods that are calcium rich like broccolli spinach kale celery and flax seeds, dried herbs in lots of homemade veg soups and broths, chicken, cheese with potatoes, sardines,herrings, almond and brail nuts fruit juices etc and i`m sure there are alot more. x
M, thanks, hospital answered question, by the way it is nivestim, filgrastim, thanks for the info hun. hope it does the trick.
Kim, box says 30mu/.5ml whatever tht means,. lets hope no hospital this time. xx

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Hi All

Alison- thanks for your offer, I read the guardian article when doing my own research, I don’t view the honey as a cure as obviously the oncs would be giving it out by the shed load, but just want to try and boost my cells as much as poss to refrain from being admitted again this time. Whilst I’ve read and heard negative stories about the honey I’ve also read and heard positive so im giving it ago, wont bother if it doesnt do anything but worth a try for me. Poor lady next to you but ive read something about a link between dairy and cancer although not concrete - people must drive themselves mad, I couldn’t do without my full fat milk!! There is definately something said about pampering- Cancer is the vulnerable one here not us!! Thanks anyway x

Diane- hi, how many cycles are you having? Have you found each one easier, worse or the same? The fatigue is like nothing I’ve known!

Karen- I had the same problem years ago with vein, i have a red scar now which shows up when Im cold. How’s your little girl doing?

Featherbird - Glad you managed to speak to someone, I think I’m dreading the side effects from the jabs the most- my legs were the worst. Good luck Hun xx
Sarah xx

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Thanks Sarah for asking about my little girl , she is like me a tough cookie but with the occasional wobble ! She stays at my parents overnight on day one of my chemos &mam said she confided in her this morning that she doesn’t understand why mam is poorly for so long & had a few tears but I think she thinks im better & its all finished on my good days & then it gets pear shaped again . I just keep reassuring her . I’m pleased in a way she doesn’t know fully what BC can entail , I lost one of my bf to ovarian cancer & altho Scarlett remembers my friend she hasn’t made any references or I’ve reassured her enough that I’m not going anywhere !
hope your little one is coping too x

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Hello everyone just joining as started my chemo in February. I live in france so my experiences have been somewhat interesting but very positive and very thorough. Due to have my last Fec next Wednesday and hope blood tests allow me to finish having the horrid red poision pushed into me! Then start 3 cycles of Taxotere so god knows what symptoms that will bring. I have a portacath inserted so no problems with veins. It seems to be standard procedure here and I chose to have it put in during surgery. Anyone on here live in France?

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Fec T
Fec 2, day 14

Chris, all those lovely birds. We hardly get any where I live, although If I could get my a**e into gear and walk up the hill, there’s a lovely view over the surrounding fields and I know I would see Tree creepers etc. My daughter lives on a lane outside a small town, with fields at the bottom of the garden and she sees pheasants as well as other birds. I used to love walking, but now I have RA, it’s not so pleasant.

Mandy, glad you are sleeping better, your body needs all that rest. And thanks for the link, my injections are Nivestim. I wonder if that’s why I have them for 7 days?

Tup, the only poem I’ve written recently is the one for the Valentines, I’m recycling old ones (new audience you see) that I think you might enjoy. But I don’t think I have enough to last until the end of chemo, so I SHOULD start writing new ones.

Funki, glad you are feeling better this cycle, hope that continues.

Featherbird, hope you get correct info on injections. Sore bottom not so bad today, it comes and goes. I have E45, Sudocrem, and Re-gen oil which is like bio oil but cheaper.

Paula, I’ve seen some lovely hats on Amazon, fairly cheap too, if you don’t mind waiting a few days for delivery.

Alison, I read that article, £37.50 FOR A JAR OF HONEY!! It wouldn’t matter if it did work, cheapskate that I am, I’d never pay that much. And as for the lady cutting out milk - she’s bonkers! If anyone is lactose sensitive, I apologise, but there are so many different kinds of milk now. Goats, soya, hazlenut, almond, I’ve tried the all and they’re very tasty.

Karen, I’ve heard that tax doesn’t make you so sick, but I’ve had no sickness with Fec, so being an awkward sod, I probably will feel/be sick when I start that. Did they give you steroids after last Fec, and how often and how many do you have to take day before? Too many questions? It serves you right for being the first one.

Diane, I wasn’t even a healthy weight before chemo, and I definitely won’t be after as I’m still eating like a horse (as opposed to eating a horse).

SS, I too had those throbbing pains in back after first lot of injections, onco told me to take pain killers (after checking temperature of course) so when they threatened this time, I first had 2 paracetamols, then later 2 Ibuprofen. Kept them at bay

Kim, I hope you keep out of hospital too.

I no longer trust the digital thermometers. Took my temperature this morning. 35c! Switched it off, then on again and took it again - 36.2c!! How can it have gone up just over a full degree in about 2 minutes. Weird.

Take care Valentines, will post another poem separately.
Big hugs
Kath xxx

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This one is rather sad, so I hope you don’t think I’m being too morbid. I hesitated to put it on - bearing in mind the subject matter. You’ll have to tell me what you think (be kind please).

Did You Know We’d Had Snow?

Did you know we’d had snow?
And your curtains were still closed
when I looked out at eight o’ clock.
Their dull, beige lining reflected the sun
as it shone upon the white, glistening path
which leads to your back door.

Did you know we’d had snow?
And the early Primroses peeped from their leaves
when I looked out at nine o’ clock.
Their petals closed against the cold, still air
which made my breath form a mist
as I carefully crossed the frozen lawn.

Did you know we’d had snow?
And the Dunnocks scrabbled beneath the Hydrangea
where I’d tossed crumbs at ten o’ clock.
Their brown, ruffled feathers kept them warm
as they picked their way between Snowdrops,
that hid beneath the snow laden Oak.

Did you know we’d had snow?
And the Co-op was empty that frozen morning
when I went to buy Hovis at eleven o’ clock.
The misted windows showed the remains
of Christmas tinsel, and the closing times
obscured by an advert for Lotto.

Did you know we’d had snow?
And I watched clouds gather outside my window
as I ate my cheese sandwich at twelve o’ clock.
They hung overhead and blocked the sun’s rays,
as the Primroses shrank into their leaves again
and the Dunnocks fled to find shelter elsewhere.

Did you know we’d had snow?
And I saw the ambulance outside your door
as I watched fresh snow falling at one o’ clock.
You lay on a stretcher, in blankets and foil,
your face hidden among the swathes
as with worried eyes, they took you away.

Did you know we’d had snow?
And we stand by your grave with its mound of soil
while Father Thomas says prayers at two o’ clock.
We call ourselves neighbours, though we hardly speak
as we go about our lives, not interfering.
What more can we say? How could we know?

Did you know we’d had snow?

Sorry if you don’t like it. Kath xx

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Sad yes, but still lovely Kath.
XXXXX Louise

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FEC1 Day 27
Hooray!!! Chemo unit phoned,got a slot for friday 10:00,will have to get bloods done tomorrow and pray count is up
Been to nature reserve with daughter to walk Stanley the Beagle,was lovely and sunny,saw a beautiful big fluffy dog fox sitting in the Gorge sunning himself.
Today was the day I got my wig out,figured best get used to wearing it as hair is thin now,with bald patch on top,and soon looks scruffy especially when I have had woolly hat on it.Daughter gave me a needlecord cap,rusty colour,so put that on over wig ready for walk,hubby wouldn’t beleive it wasn’t my own hair showing under the hat.Found it very comfortable to wear and daughter and hubby said it looked nice.Am wearing it indoors too,keeps head warm.
I am planning to have another go with cold cap as on the site on here,girls said to persevere and keep as much as possible,one said she lost about 80% but rest soon grew after treatment.I will see how it goes.
Hope you all get some sleep tonight and se’s manageable.Keep taking the tablets Love Chris xxxx<3

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Summer Storm is that your horse’s name? All my family have horses,even my mum used to ride. Love Chris xx

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Kath I did like the poem,was like reading a short story.
Shame you can’t enjoy lovely walks,you have quite a lot of health problems,it’s a shame.Glad you can lose yourself in writing for others enjoyment.
Did you all get the paper throw away thermometers,very clever invention.Although when I had to take temp last week the one from Boots digital differed from the hospital disposables too.
Love Chris xxxx

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Evening Ladies,

Welcome on board Wattie in France. We do have another lady in France - her name is Fightingit but she hasn’t posted for a while. I hope she is OK. I’m having a portacath fitted (I haven’t started my chemo yet. Long story but there were surgery delays) I hope to start next week. My hospital fits portacaths to everyone having Herceptin because of the 12 month period involved. Everyone else gets PICC lines automatically. The portacaths do seem to be the best option.

Well the side effect of the week seems to be a sore bum. I wonder what will be next? LOL. Keep slapping on the cream.

As for thermometers, I asked my GP what to buy. She said the ear ones are the most accurate and reliable. I looked at the various reviews and noticed that GP’s seem to favour the Braun ear therm. so that’s what I got and it seems to be OK. Body temps do vary depending on the time of day apparently.

Excellent news Chris!! Good luck with your bloods tomorrow.

Careful with those chickens Paula. Don’t go getting any germs/bacteria. Keep away from the grain if thats what you feed them.

Sorry your veins and arm are in a mess Karen. I hope you can sort something out.

Good luck one and all with your injections and side effects. Not nice - but doable and better than being in hospital. Glad lots of you are enjoying your wigs. So much easier than real hair! LOL

Sleep tight you lovely ladies and lots of hugs from me

Linda xxx

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FEC1 Day14

Evening ladies,

I showered after I posted this morning and when I dried my hair the brush was full of it. It starts… Feeas a bit scary now. Although I have my hats and scarves at the ready and am having my wig trimmed tomorrow I think the cancer reality is attacking me again 'cos I feel quite tearful tonight.

Welcome Wattie. Sorry you’re having to join us but I do hope you find as much support and friendship here as I have.

Kath, I thought your poem was very moving and so true of life. We all see and think things but don’t like to interfere. BC has made me think a bit differently about life. I’m now much more likely to say something or take some direct action rather than to worry or moan about things. Something to do with the ‘wake up and smell the roses’ effect of BC.

I hope you get a date for your port fitting soon Linda.

Sleep tight ladies.

X

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Day 9 FEC round 2
Yay the sleep fairy found me …managed 4 hours :-)…hope all valentines have a good day…first time since started this journey I have a meeting with work this morning… quite looking forward to it… so glad that we work from home and our amazing link worker is coming to the home instead of us going to the office…
MillyMolly…
my OH and I were talking last night and he told me that since DX and treatment he has noticed a change in me…Im usually a pretty upbeat person but even he says that things dont seem to bother me anymore…my aunt and uncle visited me yesterday and the first thing she said Oh you will be alright!!!.. I replied I know I will be alright but I dont just feel it at the moment… and thats all I hear off people…grrr… when I feel alright I will let you know…
Anyways to ladies having treatment today… big hugs and have an OK day xx

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morning valentines,
i hope the sleep fairies visited you all last night and feel fairly rested. Todays the day i start and feeling a little shakey, not as calm ad when i had my op just the unknown i think. I’m sure all be well.
Big hugs to you all
Lisa xxx

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Hi Karen,
my little girl is the same, its so hard for her seeing me poorly then ok for a while then poorly again, she was staring at me yesterday and i asked her why, she replied “I’m just looking at how pretty you are” bless her little heart, I’m sure she was looking at how awful I looked as i had chemo the day before! But they will get through it as we will, and they will be stronger for it aswell even though it breaks my heart sometimes!!
Sarah xx

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Good Luck Lisa and anyone else having chemo today!
Sarah xx

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Good luck to all having chemo today.I had my appointment yesterday with oncologist and he said that the tumor has got flatter.He also wants me to see the surgeon in a couple of weeks to get his thoughts . So I am guessing that things are going in the right direction or I guess he would of changed my chemo. I had so many questions to ask him but I just went brain dead! He also sent me for a scan on my fat legs and ankles to make sure that there were no clots and thankfully they were clear so another se I guess. Of to have bloods done ready for round 3 tomorrow.
Hope everyone not feeling to bad today
Annabelle x