Oh hello Kess, , your post has just popped up as I was replying to the others lol. I too started FEC on Feb 14th (Happy Valentine Day eh?), next one a week tomorrow then? I decided to give the cold cap a go and am struggling !! Sunday my husband blurted out all in one breath " I have to tell you,! Because if it was me, I would want to know ! But you are going thin on top !, but dont worry you have your wig to fall back on havnt you ?!"
? Really ! Your kidding right ? Lol Did he really think I add an extra 2.5 hrs to Chemo time,and not bother to check how my hair is ?? Lol men eh ?
Anyway welcome, Im sure you will find lots of really good information on here, I know I certainly have xxx
Oh hailey how stressed and awful must you feel right now, I just can’t imagine I have been thinking about you and hoping your little one will be well very soon. It’s good for you to come here and off load, and it’s good for us to be able to feel able to help even if it is just to read and send positive and caring messages. My thoughts are with you and your family, I hope you continue to find the inner strength that you quite obviously posses to help you get through this difficult time.
Marie x
Hi all
My next chemo this morning TAC number 3. I know it’s half way but it just isn’t making it feel better. I’m dreading it! I just don’t feel like I’ve fully got over the last lot. For 2 days of the last cycle I really thought I was going to die, in fact if I’m honest I wanted to die! I just can’t get those 2 days out of my head. I keep telling myself it’s only 2 days but the oncologist keeps stressing that each cycle will get worse, it’s the nature of TAC! He has said I can reduce it to FEC if I am finding it too much, but then says if I do how would I feel if they don’t get rid of it or it comes back in the future and I didn’t take the extra 2% the TAC offers! I couldn’t bare for my children to think I didn’t give it my best shot if anything did happen. this chemo rubbish doesn’t half mess with your brain and emotions. My head is a complete mess! Oh well, I shall go along as scheduled, do what I have to do and face what I have to face…what is it they say? What doesn’t kill you makes you stronger…here’s hoping.
Love to you all, hope you are feeling ok as can be jaffacakes.
Marie x
Good luck today Marie, I will be thinking of you, sending you positive thoughts x x try not to overthink things (tricky not to I know xx), take it one day ar a time. Remember halfway through may only be a small comfort but it will benefit you in the long run xxxx
Marie I wish I could make you feel better. I think the mental toll is just as bad as the physical toll. When you’re low it’s really hard to feel positive but it will pass I promise. I don’t know whether your oncologist would consider it (it depends in individual circumstances) but maybe you could discuss making this cycle 4 weeks instead of 3? My first round side effects were really bad so I was delayed a week for round 2. The onc said it wouldn’t make any difference in the effectiveness of the chemo but would make me stronger. That extra week to recover was undoubtedly a success. I felt stronger in my body and mind and it done me the absolute world of good. I was ready to face round 2 and it’s been a much easier time for me.
It’s not for everyone but maybe worth having a discussion about.
Hazel x
Ps welcome Kess! I should have said that sooner sorry! ?
Just found this site and thought I would join. I have a grade 3, 4mm HER2+ lump diagnosed on 9th Jan and had a SNB on 28th Jan. The 5 nodes were all clear. I started chemo - AC-T on 4th Feb - am having them 3 weeks apart for 4 weeks and then go on to Taxol for the next four. I have had 3 lots now and so far I am being lucky. I had horrid headaches for round 1 - but then they changed something and I haven’t had headaches any since. I take Onasatron (sp?) for 3 days post chemo and this has prevented sickness, but given me hellish constipation. Balancing my bowels is tricky and Laxido (from my GP) is my faithful friend. It can work a bit too well - if you get my meaning.
2 weeks after my first chemo about 90% of my hair came out and I found it so tickly and unpleasant that my lovely partner Jane clippered it off. Two days later my sister carefully and calmly shaved my head using ordinary Bic disposable razors. This worked well and she has done it once since then. The bristles that work like velcro on the pillow and stop me turning over in bed need to be kept away. I guess it must still be growing back a bit or I wouldn’t have these bristles.
Thank you all for your kind words and hugs, they mean alot!!! Eliis has been woken up today and had his breathing tube out but is still very sleepy and still being fed by tube, hopefully if he has a good night I get to cuddle him tomorrow. I just want all my babies at home where they should be cuz noah keeps asking when ‘his woody’ is coming home
Xxx
Hayley I am so pleased to hear about Ellis xx Roll on tomorrow when you can give him all the cuddles he needs. Big kiss and hugs to you both xxx
Welcome also to Jilly, I am sure you will find lots of helpful information here, I know I have. Im desperately trying to shake off a cold I seem to have caught off my hubby. Not that Im looking forward to it but its Fec 3 Friday and I dont really want it deylayed !! Eating lots of garlic and drinking lots of oranje juice xxxx
Hi everyone. So glad little Ellis is on the mend, Hayley. Sorry I haven’t posted sooner. I had my EC on wed and back in hospital yesterday. Home today. I was numb on my hip and my right arm and leg were weak. As I had a clear head ct 4 weeks ago they don’t seem worried but bunged me on the stroke ward for a day. I have to go back for an mri just to check. Some consultants say its due to chemo, another said its not so who knows? Sick of feeling sick even 5 days on! Really hope you are all coping. I’ve been really flat with feeling so unwell. I just can’t see out the other end of this. I agree this all messes with your head! Just want my little ones to have their mum back and me get my life back. Was just watching people go about normal stuff on way home from hospital today - walking about, going to pub for lunch, buying papers. I’d give anything to get that normality back. It just seems such a long time away xxx
Sorry you’re having such a tough time of it Sue. I had gastric flu once and also had an ‘accident’ so I totally sympathise with how you feel. I had 5 days of diarrhoea with FEC1 and the doctor gave me loperamide tablets. They sorted me out in a day so maybe ask for those. Really sorry you’re missing your partner too on top of all of this. It must be very difficult for you and I hope the pain lessens for you over time.
After the severe nausea I had with FEC1, I was given Nozinan from the hospital. The BCC told me these were the strongest anti sickness meds I could get and are usually only given to terminally ill patients and to treat schizophrenia so heavy duty stuff. Anyway, I just wanted to let you all know that apart from the first couple of days after FEC2, I have had NO nausea at all. The tablets have worked wonders and I feel almost like my old self. The tablets can make you a bit sleepy but the steroids seemed to offset that. For any off you struggling with nausea, I would recommend speaking to your oncologist about Nozinan because I honestly feel like FEC2 has been a walk in the park compared to FEC1.
Very Best of luck today Alice x x Im with you on the constipation, (however I do get the Ondansetron). I get constipated for a couple of days but try to use diet to improve matters.
Hayley I hope you get some good news today x x thinking about you and your littles one xx
Thinking of everyone who is feeling down, we all have our days dont we ? I missed my little pumpkins first official party invitation yesterday. He had an absolute ball there with his Daddy but it broke my heart I wasnt there too. Then we spent some time looking at last year’s Holiday photos (this years May Holiday cancelled) Looking at a happy smiling me- all I could think was, how big was the lump then ? If only I’d know, pity Women arnt offered Mammograms earlier, Feels like its put a big black cloud over all my happy memories, hopefully this will change as time goes by xxxx
Had 2nd Fec on Friday, addtional anti sickness given this time as it was quite bad first time round. Still struggling with eating and drinking everything tatsed of metal last time this time my mouth just seems to taste of grease. Feeling pretty sorry for myself this time round just before I had the second dose I felt fantastic really dont like feeling like this. Everyone keeps telling how brave and insperational I am being so feel i have alot to live up to but really dont feel like it today
Hey up me ducks
Me and andy have swapped places today, hes with ellis and im home with the other 3, we made the decision that I need to have chemo tomorrow and not defer for another week, ellis’s oxygen levels kept dropping yesterday after having his breathing tube out so he was on oxygen mask, hes off that now (fingers crossed) and can have his feeding tube out tomorrow or Wednesday, hate not being with him but need get this chemo crap out the way so I can still be ‘an awesome mum’ (as freya and meg say :-/ )
Bring on fec 3
Xxx
Its really great to hear some lovely good news stories.
Hayley I am so pleased to hear about Ellis xx good luck with the Chemo, that will be another one done and dusted !!! Well done !!
Nice one Alice, its always good to know what’s going in !! I have an appt tomorrow ahead of Fec 3 on Friday, I shall have a list of questions and will not be so trusting this time.!!
Really glad you have had a break away Rowan, sounds like you had an amazing time.
Im getting over my cold, pre Chemo bloods etc tomorrow- my knees are knocking ready for Friday !! Xxx
Hope everyone suffers a little less with side effects and big hugs to you if you are having a miserable time xxxx
Just wanted to share some really positive news. I saw the oncologist yesterday and he examined me and in his words “what was a 4cm golf ball is now just a thickening that is really hard to find”. It’s amazing! I do still have 5 treatments to go, but this horrible chemo, that makes you feel so **bleep**, works.
I know that some of you are having a really tough time - and I hope this doesn’t seem like me gloating.
Hi Marie and everyone else too! Yep me too Marie. Raw tummy. I had my treatment last wed and have been sooo ill. Still very nauseous. Dizzy too. So sorry you are suffering too. My onc is making noises about stopping the treatment. Not sure how I feel about that. All I seem to eat is white food - rice crispies, bananas, white pasta, white toast. It’s all I can stomach. Really hope you feel better soon xxx
I have been thinking about you and hoping your little one will be well very soon. It’s good for you to come here and off load, and it’s good for us to be able to feel able to help even if it is just to read and send positive and caring messages. My thoughts are with you and your family, I hope you continue to find the inner strength that you quite obviously posses to help you get through this difficult time.