Hi Alice
I’m glad this time seems to be a bit better. I’m pretty sure the chemo dosage is dependant on your weight so if you’ve lost quite a bit they need to drive the dose and it should make the effectiveness any less. I hope you manage to get to the Easter service.
Kess I’ve not had the taste you mention at the end of a cycle. I usually just get the metallic taste from days 3-10 and then it goes away.
Hazel x
Hi Kess, yes I have had that nasty taste/smell that is similar to when the drugs are being administered. I have experienced it a few times now and knew that I couldnt be imagining it !! I am in week 3 also, trouble is, it just makes me feel queasy all over again 
On a brighter note we are going to spend Easter in West Wales where there is a beautiful tiny church in Mwnt that overlooks the bay that I am hoping to visit.
Also I saw the Oncologist yesterday who has now come to the conclusion that the strength of Chemo is too strong (FEC 100) and is reducing the dose of TAX by 15 percent . Will this help ? Who knows ? Will have to wait snd see I suppose xxxx
Glad you are feeling a little better this time Alice x
Hi Alice and everyone. Glad to see we are all working through this and some nice normal things happening as well as all this rubbish! We had a big birthday party for my 3 yr old a week ago. Bouncy castles, slides, magicians and we used some of our ponies for pony rides ( have a riding school) It was a lovely day and I almost forgot all this.
I had an extra weeks break before this cycle. I had a horrible cough and I just wasn’t mentally ready. I was just stressing about 5 days before and feeling guilty about the kids being off school. After a meeting with oncologist we decided, like you Alice, to reduce dose (15%) and change sickness meds again. Well I had number 3 yesterday and so far I feel great. Now I’m just stressing its not working lol. Always the worrier! I have an MRI next week as I have a numb hip, tingling feet ( which ec doesnt do) and pain in lower back. X rays clear but checking for spinal cord I think with MRI. So worried.
Hope we all manage to have a lovely Easter weekend whatever our plans and we enjoy out eggs whether chocolate or boiled Alice 
xxx
Thank you Jaffa cakes. I hope the tax truck hasn’t hot you too hard x
I hope you don’t mind me gate crashing your thread. I finished fec-t Xmas Eve, 3 of each. I have picked up your concerns re nails on tax, as everyone will tell you we are all different, I wore navy blue shellac on my nails having it changed at the salon a day or two before next chemo. My onc said the belief is that the drug reacts will ultra violet light coming through the nail so any solid colour will do, there is no medical evidence he said but he said it does seem to work for most, you should be pretty safe having 3 doses but the more tax you have the more likely you will lose your nails. As it was winter my toes were always in socks, shoes, slippers etc I’m pleased to say they were fine.
I was fastidious about wearing gloves during daylight hours if I went outside even if it was just to the dustbin and back and thankfully mine are fine. They have some white lines and are a little weak.
One of our girls had 6 doses of tax she didn’t lose any nails but a couple of them went a bit nasty looking with one ousing goo but it did settle eventually.
Another girl had one dose of tax had a severe reaction to it, ended up in hospital and lost all toe & finger nails I believe. They switched her back to fec.
I would say it’s a 50 50 split some losing nails others like me having no problem.
I found the fec much harder than tax, aches and pains come in about day 5 for 3 days and other than oral thrush every bloomin cycle of tax it was a doddle (ish)
Good luck xx
Enough is enough, bloody husbands xxx
Jaffacakes and kess you can have andy if you want him, hed taken the lads out who work for him to say thanks for keeping the business running smooth while hes been off taking me for chemo and appointments, he arrived home with a bloody bearded dragon hed named frank, hes been put on a sex ban until its gone back to where it came from!!!
Hope everyones well
Love and hugs
Hayley
Xxx
Hey kess
No, no cat, freya has a chihuahua called rocky and meg has a tortoise called fluffy!
Andy couldnt even remember who hed had ‘frank’ off so hes going back the pub tomorrow to find out, hes been in no fit state today but the thought of no sex is freaking him out ?xxx
Hey Sue, it is lovely to hear from you. Sorry to hear you are going through so much at the moment. Sometimes it is really hard to stay positive but Im sure you will see the end of all this soon xxx I am going to see the Psychologist for some “coping strategies” I have my first Tac tomorrow and I am so scared, I have suffered really badly with sickness and Im not convinced it will improve, even with the reduced dose , any slight thing can set me off at the moment. I have been given Lorazepam to take when I get up in the morning and to be honest they did help last time ( I only have 5, so no going overboard there !)
Look forward to your daughter’s wedding, it gives you something good to focus on.
I hope things improve for you
Cathx
Hi everyone. It sounds like everyone is having difficult times at the moment even though we are all trying to convince ourselves and each other we are ok. So sorry sue you are struggling. Coping with the death of your partner as well as all this rubbish must be so difficult. Sending a hug and thinking of you. Maybe try the anti depressants like everyone else said, its worth a try? I too have been offered a psychologist. I was convinced its because my oncologist just thinks I’m hysterical but if you ladies have been offered one too perhaps my reactions to this are more ‘normal’ than I thought. It’s way out of my comfort zone too kess but perhaps I should give it a go.
Good luck for tomorrow Bigpumpkin. I agree the nausea is a killer. I’m 8 days post EC with reduced dose and still feel sick. Everything makes me feel sick - anything that reminds me of treatment- food, my bedroom, my wig, clothes, smells… Life in general. I also have that horrible medicinal smell/taste in my nose still that I think you talked about kess.
We have to keep going though. As horrible and stressful as it is. This treatment messes with your head and sends you so far down but we’ll get there and we’ll be so glad it’s done. I had an MRI today. Really sore back, tingling legs/feet. Pretty stressed about the results to be honest. I can’t stop thinking about it. It’s hard to keep going through all of this with additional worries so I really do understand sue. Sending you all thoughts and positive vibes … Honestly 
xxx
Hi everyone,
Sorry a lot of you are having such a rubbish time just now. I’ve fared pretty well with side effects from my last FEC, it’s emotionally I’m struggling. I’ve asked to be referred to a counsellor because I think if I can empty my head of all my fears I will feel better. I don’t feel right telling my husband, mum and dad and sisters because I’d just be passing the worry onto them ?.
I’m off for my first docetaxol tomorrow and can’t say I’m looking forward to it. The district nurse will also come in on Friday to give me an injection to boost my white cells and I’ve read that can cause pain too. Anyone else had this?
The good news is that the oncologist yesterday wasn’t able to measure my tumour because the edges are now too I’ll defined to tell the difference between what’s breast tissue and what’s tumour. The FEC has essentially melted a lot of it and the tax can make it hopefully disappear all together. For all you ladies who are post surgery and struggling with chemo side effects, I hope this gives you a boost. Chemo is horrible, evil stuff but it’s got a tough but winnable (is that even a word?!) job to do.
Love to you all
Hazel x
Not arsed anymore xxx
Hi jaffackes
Thank you for your congratulations! I gave me a real boost to her the chemo is working. Its good to hear your experience of the injections. From what I’ve read you either get them in smaller doses over a few days or one big dose the day after and it seems like that’s why I’m getting. The ladies on other threads have said taking a piriton before it can help ease aches and pains so I’ll try that. I will get co-codomol today to so I have those on hand if I need them.
I’m also pro counselling. I’ve only had it once before when I was 25 when my fiancé at the time was killed in a motorbike accident. I just couldn’t cope and found the bereavement counselling invaluable to help me start to process it properly. I some ways I feel this diagnosis is also like a bereavement because the old me is no longer there. I am looking forward to getting the help I need to better cope and understand how to get past this in my head and be more positive in dealing with the emotional side of my diagnosis.
Sue I am so glad you feel better after hearing that we are all there for you. From what you can see, I do in some ways understand how you feel about losing your partner. Maybe you should give the counselling a try too if you are up to it. I also took anti depressants at the time for around two years and found them to really help me. Good luck today at the dress fitting. You have such a happy time coming up and that is just great.
Hayley, I hope things are ok. Hope frank gets a new home!
Love to you all.
Hazel x
Thank you, Sue. Wise words jaffacakes and Kess. When expectations are high it’s so easy to feel the pressure and worries for the future.
Is anybody else trying to cram a lot in at the moment both short and long term? I try and fit in so much before my next treatment and also trying to plan so much for the future that would have waited before. An extension to the house?? I hadn’t even considered it before now! I think it’s my way of keeping my brain active. Is anyone planning a holiday post treatment? Just feel I need something, feeling restless somehow. Maybe it’s just my brain telling me to plan for the future because there is going to be one.
Hope everyone’s side effects have settled. My nose is still getting waves of that medicinal taste 10 days after but apart from that feeling ok.
Hope you are ok Hayley. Anyone heard from Rowan? Xxx
Ps scan was clear - a bulging disc
I know what you mean about scans very anxious time getting results ! I had letter for planning appointment for radio therapy it includes that they want to do a 3D ct scan and I will be able to see the scan part of a trial they are doing but I am of a mind at the moment that I would rather not know !! Don’t want to see it !! Not sure why
Hi Sue
I’m exactly the same as you. Every ache and pain worries me these days! I’m not on the same chemo as you but wanted to wish you luck for your next dose. I hope the side effects are kind to you.
I’m day 5 after my first docetaxol. Had lots of sore bones and joints but can ease those with painkillers and hot baths. The very worst se for me with tax is the horrible mouth. Everything, and I mean everything, tastes slimy. It’s making me feel sick and I’m hoping it passes soon. I have an appointment with the breast surgeon tomorrow because I’ve found a lump in my other breast. I am hoping its just a cyst because I know I have a few. I’ve been having shoulder and arm pain on that side for a few weeks now and I’ve also discovered a lump on my collarbone. My mind has gone into overdrive and I’m praying its all ok. I hate feeling constantly worried. Oh what I would give to feel like old self just for a day.
Hope everyone is well.
Hazel x
And im back, gave me head a wobble after a few rubbish days and IM BACK ?, took noah n ellis to just kidding (indoor play thing) yesterday and went on the spiral slide with noah to be told by some woman to act my age, my reply was a simple ‘I dont know how to act my age, ive never been this age before’ she soon shut up and me and noah had a ball fight in the ball pit ??
Hope everyones ok
Love and hugs
Hayley
Xxx
Thank you for that Hayley, first giggle in a good few days !! That lady would have a field day if she saw my husband- he’s always up and down those slides lol Tax 1 done and dusted, thankfully no sickness but lots of indigestion and bone pain- however I will take anything that dosnt make me feel sick 24/7 . Got my boss visiting tomorrow (oh joy) at least I really do look suitably wrung out!! I usually get bad forearm pain after treatment the nurse told me it was the F in Fec -ugh , Im trying to avoid a line and hope to muddle on with the Cannula. Hope everyone is coping, I like Alice’s advice of taking it one day at a time x x x love to all. Oh finally we are hoping to arrange a family Holiday in October, we would have been going this Saturday anyway I agree that we will deserve a Holiday at the end of all this. We have arranged travel insurance for husband and little pumpkin but will get mine after treatment.
Love to all xxxx
Why oh why does the hubby decide he wants to talk when ive just got ellis to sleep and I want go sleep, im seriously going to invent a husband off switch xxx
Hi everyone,
All is well with my extra lumps! The lump in my other breast is a large cyst and it will be aspirated when I finish chemo. The lump on my collarbone is a bone nodule and I have to stop worrying because I’ve had a clear bone scan.
The surgeon examined me for the first time since I was diagnosed and his eyebrows nearly shot off the top of his head in surprise at how much it has collapsed with chemo and I’ve still two rounds to go. There was a student in with him who also examined what the surgeon called ‘the remnants of the tumour’. That made me feel great hearing it being referred to as remnants. My surgery is booked for 17th July but I’ll see him again in June once I’ve finished chemo to discuss whether its to be a mx or wle.
The only not so great bit of yesterday is the yucky mouth I’ve got is from oral thrush from the Tax. He wanted to look in the back of my throat and the only light the nurse could find was a Lego man whose feet lit up when you pressed his belly ? it was very surreal having your throat looked at by an experienced breast surgeon using a Lego man torch ?. Anyway, I have tablets and it’s starting to clear up.
One final thing from me, I have a peace lily that despite me looking after it faithfully for about six years, it’s never flowered. Today I noticed a single flower about to burst from it. I’m taking that as a sign of hope that things are looking up.
Love to you all and hope you’re keeping well.
Hazel x