Well day 2 after tax and feeling o.k apart from the most disgusting taste in my mouth, and a bit tired. Hope all you ladies that started chemo this week are coping and the side effects are minimal! Michelle xxxx
Hi girls,
Glad michelle you feel not too bad and kate and NM 76!.. ( and anyone I have forgotton) I keep having to scroll back to see who is having treatment.
Quinny we’ve not heard from you! Hope things are ok, thinking of you.
Michelle have you been to a headstrong session? Its a good idea so you can try on some of the scarves etc, yes some are very old fashioned, but at least you can try a bit before you buy. I do have a list of stockists, will post them when I manage to find the sheet of paper.
Stocked up on ginger biscuits like they were going out of fashion, I hope they work!
xox Claire
Hi all you July group. Been looking around the site and found it encouraging to find posts from people in the middle of treatment and at the end. All coping and just getting on with it - not much else for it really. Good days and bad I guess. I am just off to see my BCN to discuss my 6xfec starting on 24th then home to pack for a family week away! I am apprehensive but pretty keen to get on with it really, and get it over with.
I was also struck with how ‘normal’ it has become to be discussing different surgery, drugs and side effects. I read a newbie post and realised how quickly we settle into this and accept.
God Bless you all.
Hi Girls, I start chemo on Friday 13th, FEC-T for 6 cycles. I have a lump 4cm and it has gone to one node. Im 41 with two children aged 7 and 9yrs. Any advice gratefully received. I’m scared and so emotional at present. I just want to get the first one out the way so I know what to expect.
Lots of love to you all
x
Had my first FEC today, no problems and feel fine at the moment, but obviously a bit too soon for any SEs to kick in. Everyone really nice and helpful at the clinic and answered all my silly questions.
See how it goes over the next couple of days!!
Maggie
Hi All
Hope everyone is doing ok. Got my date at last, Tuesday 17th July, glad to get started but wish I could have seen the end of term to say goodbye to the children moving up to ‘big’ school’.
Donna xx
I just wondered if anyone had taxotere last week and if so how they are coping? I had first tax last Friday and literally feel as if i’ve been run over by a bus, I knew chemo wasn’t going to be a walk in the park but I really didn’t think I’d feel this bad, terrible bone pain, headache, upset tummy…grrrr my chemo nurse says i will start to feel better on day7 -10. Any advice or experience would be gratefully received…Michelle xx
Mandymoo - I am also 41 with 2 children (age 5 and 10). I have already had an mx (had to have two operations as implant one didn’t heal so now flat mx) with lymph node removal. I have also had a Portacath put in as my veins are rubbish. So 3x General Anaesthetic in 5 weeks, getting there though! I am going to Devon for a week with my hubby, kids, parents and a friend tomorrow and start on 24th. I will be thinking of you tomorrow - it is all pretty scary and understand the desire to get the first one out of the way but feel the week away was worth the slight delay for me. I had a lovely long chat with my BCN on Tuesday and feel as prepared as possible. There is a thread in the Chemo treatment area with loads of hints and tips on what to do to help with the possible side effects. Keep us informed honey.
Maggie - Glad it went well. How is it progressing?
Michelle - Sorry to hear you are feeling so rubbish. Is it getting any better? I haven’t got anything but good wishes to send! Hope you find some advice - Don’t be afraid to call your BCN or Onc to chat through the symptoms etc.
Hi all
Day 3 after chemo still no SEs but taking the anti-emetics and they’re obviously working as I feel fine. Maybe felt a tad tired yesterday but I’m putting that down to less stress now that the first one is over.
Just playing the waiting game to see if anything happens - when my sister had chemo (albeit for lung cancer) she had absolutely no problems with SEs, apart from the obligatory hair loss, she just carried on as normal, so I’m hoping it’s in the genes!!
Good luck to all.
Maggie
HI
I have popped in from the June thread. I started Chemo on 29th June so only just before you lot so have been catching up with your posts too.
Michelle - I am trying to reply to your message but there seems to be a problem with my private messaging. I have emailed the moderators who have contacted the technical team and I will message you when I can. I found the first day after tax I had a headache and for the next 3 days didn’t feel too bad because they gave me so many steroids and anti-sickness drugs. But on the 5th, 6th and 7th day after Chemo I felt awful. I could hardly get out of bed. Things have improved since and I am now nearly two weeks after 1st Chemo and feeling a lot better. I spoke to my oncologist yesterday who is going to try and change the drugs to even out how I feel. I don’t think you should have to put up with feeling like you do. Do you see someone before next chemo? I am sure they should be able to adjust your anti sickness drugs/steroids.
Take care all
KarenX
hi madjock im 6 day after fec and like u waited for side effects the only ones i had was a bit of consiptation which i have helped with lactose a sore mouth so have been swilling with difflam and bought some igloo 4 mouth alcer and thats all to b honest …my dad had non hodgkins lymphoma and he was on a strong chemo also and never had no side affects so heres hoping i following me dad …r.i.p dad love you …i did all the rite things took all me tabs and drank loads and i mean loads of water day b4 and still am .glad your se are minima to and hope they stay xxx
Hi girls, I’m just popping into your thread quickly to wish you all the best with your treatment. This time last year I found my lump and I was diagnosed with grade 3 breast cancer on 5th August (I was 32), it hardly seems like it really happened now! I had 2xFEC and 4xTax followed by mastectomy with an immediate reconstruction (which looks amazing!) and 5 weeks of rads which finished in May. You’re in the best place for asking questions and getting advice from other people in the same situation and trust me the time you’re getting treatment will fly by. I’ve just had my first year all clear and I hope and wish that this tiume next year you all do too. I’m not on here much these days but feel free to private mail me if you want to ask anything.
Good luck, Caroline xx
Hi all,
Had my first ec yesterday, took 6 attempts to find a vein, so felt queasy before I even started the infusion! Only minor nausea and vomiting so far, keeping up with the antisickness tabs, fingers crossed for next few days! Hope all you girls are hanging in there, I guess the first is always the worst, at least next time they can get symptoms more in control if necessary.
Xox claire
Hi karen, thanks for your message, hopefully then if i’m like you, I will feel better at the weekend,.I will also speak to my oncologist to see what meds need adjusting before next zapping …agh, I hate chemo!! Would love to feel normal and enjoy a nice glass of wine!! Hope everyone else is coping o.k and having minimal side effects. Michelle xx p.s sorry to moan so much x
sorry i don’t know why my message posted three times, won’t let me delete. Michelle x
Hi Mickey,
I start my chemo tomorrow hence started my steriods and have been wide awake since 2am lol. I have managed to get some very reasonable bandanas from annabandana.co.uk. I have started wearing them at the school I work at and have had really some positive commments.
Hope all goes well, keep smiling!
x
CoachK - thanks for you lovely message it is so lovely to have this website and the opportunity to be helped and help others going through this tough time. Good idea to have a week away before you start treatment, enjoy, hope the weather cheers up for you, but hey it will be lovely to spend quality time with the family either way. I will try and get on here later today to give you an update on how my treatment goes today.
Quinny, Madjok, Mickey 24, - sending hugs your way.
I have my first chemo at 9.30am today Im doing FEC-T and a trial drug Avastin. Just want to get the first one out of the way to know how I will react. Please feel free to befriend me I would love the additional support and happy to give as much support back.
lots of love to you all + your families, stay strong + keep smiling ladies!
Amanda
xxxxx
Michelle + Linda - really feeling for you both right now, as you say we never know how our bodies will react to the drugs. ITs nice to know that the support from the chemo unit is good. I’ve been given advice from previous bc patients that if your given anything for side affects just take it - so thats my plan precaution opposed to cure lol. I have my first chemo later today so will get back on here asap to let you know my experience.
Lots of love love to you both, Keep strong and Keep smiling!
Amanda
xxx
Hi Michelle just wanted to send you huge hugs and say that i hope you start to feel better very soon, i started with the Tax/Carbo/Herceptin on the 2nd July and like you got hit by the Tax truck 3 days later when i came off the steriods, i feel as though ive been to hell and back this week and its realy only today that im starting to feel better though im still not normal, my main problems have been chronic constpation for 7 days dispite being told to up the Movical to 8 sachets a day in 1 and a half liters of water over 6 hrs, extream acid indijestion for over 72 hrs caused by the acid backing up from my tummy, bleeding piles,oral and vaginal thrush, bone pain and a sore throat/mouth! infact by sunday morning my hubby had to call the out of hrs Dr out as i was looseing so much blood down the loo due to all my dijestive probs,Its been realy horrible ( this is my second time around with chemo over the last 5 yrs so am not new to chemo or the possible SEs ) but the Tax is proveing very tough for me. so i realy know how your feeling ((((((0)))))). My bathroom now represents a pharmacy, am taking loads of Movicol, 2x Omeprozole, 3 x the top up anti sickness meds as my chemo unit has told me they will help with the acid,proctosedly to numb the piles, canesten for the thrush,windeze for the bloating and trapped wind,Galviston for the acid indigestion too, and Glycerol suppositories as and when required if the Movicol doesnt get things under control, also difflam for my mouth. My stomache feels as though its been ripped out and thrown back together again, and my throat and gullet feel as though its been burnt by the acid ughhhhhhhhh.
The chemo unit has told me that the high dose steriods that we have to take with Tax (8 a day for 3 days because of a possible reaction to Tax ) plus all the strong anti emedics we all take are what has caused the chronic constipation and so consequently all my other digestive probs , ive also since learned form another lady on here who has had simular probs that she was told by her chemo nurse that constipation can be serious as we need to get rid of all the chemo toxins as quickly as possible as the toxins can get reabsorbed by the colon which makes the SEs so much worse. Have also just been advised to start with the Movicol 2 days prior to my next chemo to help aviod these problems before they start with all my future chemo cycles, and shall be seeing my onc the friday before for bloods to get a med plan in place as am realy dreading my next dose at the minute. realy dont think i could go through another 8 days like that!
Sorry my expierence hasnt been more positive, Tax can be quite a tough chemo it seems reading all the differnt threads on here, but its a thrid generation chemo and exelent at doing its job ,so hang in there pet now you know how the first cycle has affected you your onc should be able to load you up with lots of meds in advance for any SEs you have had which should hopefully make any future cycles much more managable, always let your chemo unit know of any SEs you have as they realy can help ,they are there 24 hrs a day so never suffer in silence.
Sending you lots of gentle hugs ,and never apologise for moaning , chemo can be hard sometimes and all the different chemos affect everyone differently , massive big hugs to you, realy feel for you.
Linda xx
Hi Linda
Thanks for your message, it sounds like you’ve had a nightmare time on taxotere. I have to say I am feeling a tiny bit better today so heres hoping and praying that things will start improving. Thankyou for your thoughts and hugs, it makes such a difference to know you are not alone. Michelle xx