Hi all,im day 7 from 3rd FEC and i have to say this has been the best cycle for me,bit of the usual queasiness and tiredness but felt ok.Typical as im starting Taxotere next but nice to feel strong for new drug. Im still waiting to hear about my LGFB session it was booked up till Nov so got that to look forward to.
Keep drinking plenty Booncy im sure thats whats helpled me this time,drank loads of water day of chemo & day after! 
Hugs to everyone
Claire x
Itās absolutely true that everyone reacts differently. Iām on day 4 of 3rd FEC and itās definitely the worst one so far! Much more tired and much more nauseous (without actually being sick, thank goodness), and much less sleep. How can you be so tired and yet not sleep?
Iām so envious of your trip Lulu - I absoutely love Mallorca. I hope you have a great time. Iāve just booked two weeks there in April/May - something to look forward to, although Iāll be in full-blown Tamoxifen/Herceptin mode by then. Ho, hum.
Hair hanging in, but barely. Very patchy, especially on crown, and always covered when I go out now either with hats, or bandeau-style scarf to keep the comb-over in place Still using the cold cap, and it was _ever_so_ cold this week with so little hair. Getting the wig trimmed next week. Iāve worn it a few times and although I like it, itās not quite āmeā yet. Iām hoping the trim will help.
And brows and lashes are still present and correct - hurrah!
Leg and underarm hair also still present - boo!
Pubic hair (or should I say ālady gardenā?) on the way out - feels weird. TMI?
Keep smiling
*(too much information)
Tarragon I understand where you are at the mo. FEC3 for me was the worst for tiredness, spent so many days going from bed to sofa and back again, began to feel I would never have any energy again. Ended up having bloods taken to check for anaemia but thankfully ok. One good thing YD has had plenty of practise for cooking for when she starts uni next year! This time FEC4 tiredness lifted on day 9 and all other seās very mild, best one so far.
Hereās hoping it lifts for you soon
Buzzy - day 12 on FEC4 and eyelashes falling out, have gaps in the middle.
Ali.
x
Oh no I was really hoping to hang onto my eyelashes. I had FEC4 on Thursday. Felt like I had aged 30 years in one day yesterday. No energy at all so stayed in bed all day. Feeling marginally better today. Managed a walk to the shops but very slowly!
Looking forward to a weekend away with my girl friends on 12th Nov. Might have to buy some false eyelashes just incase of fallout!
Hello girls
back from Mallorca and all in one piece! No trips to hospitals or to the doctorās. Yippee! Had a really good time, helped by the fab weather (I was out in my teeshirt!) and boy, did I need it! Had to cancel all my holidays in the summer because of the diagnosis, ops, etc.
Mind you: chemo brain struck BIG time while I was there. I left an entire drawer full of clothes in the B&B (didnāt even realize until I came home and found a message from the owner) plus a cardigan in the hired car. Anymore days spent there and Iād come back naked! 
My hubby is saying that life with me at the moment is never boring. Not sure itās a compliment thoughā¦
Still worse things happen in life, as we know. Might be able to get them sent back provided itās not ridiculously expensive.
Will now enjoy my last few days feeling well before cycle 3 hits town on Wednesday. Feeling nauseous already just thinking about it.
As for my body hairā¦
eyebrows and lashes: all still there
underarms and legsā¦well I think they have stopped growing as I havenāt needed shaving lately
Lady garden looking very scraggy: only weeds and no flowersā¦
Enjoy the rest of the weekend
Lulu X
Hi girls
I thought i would join this thread if its ok. I know lulu from the north east thread but am undergoing chemo like all you girls. I am 38 and had mastectomy in August.
I had 2nd fec on monday and im struggling with the tiredness too.
Lulu have you introduced the girls to your multiple personalities ha ha.
My hair is shaved off stubbly and patchy, arms and legs still hairyish eyelashes and eyebrows still hanging in on in there.
Glad you enjoyed your break lulu despite losing half your wardrobe
Love and hugs kim x
Hello everyone
I thought I would join your thread - hope this is OK
I am to start chemo on Monday - FEC over the normal 18 weeks (in 3 week cycles). I have looked at all your experiences and can say that I am not looking forward to this - although I want to start so I can get the first one out of the way.
I donāt normally cope well with any medication so I am worried.
But your experiences have helped me to understand what I may face - thank you
Lulu - your holiday sounds lovely - I could do with a holiday. Had to cancel mine due to diagnosis in Aug.
Jan
A warm welcome to Kim and Jan on the thread! The more the merrierā¦
Itās good to know that people are going through the exact same thing, isnāt it? Loss of eyelashes and all.
Try not to panic Jan. We were all terrified at the prospect of starting chemo. Hopefully reality wonāt be as bad. Youāll see.
LOve
Lulu X
Hi Jan
Try not to be to anxious about monday. Everybodys experiences of fec are different and you may cope with it better than you think.
Good luck
Love and hugs Kim x
Hi all
Have 2nd FEC tomorrow hoping all goes well. Felt okay today so went on big dog walk. Getting used to no hair now donāt mind going without head gear think I look like an alien, just put full slap on and I think it looks ok. Laughed at comments re lady garden mines very patchy.
Itās all part of Lifes rich tapestry I am enjoying not being at work, on duvet days always have something taped to watch in bed making bad tired days special.
Well another one down tomorrow. Sending positive thoughts to you all In our elite club.
Maggienic xx
Hi Maggienic,
Positive vibes coming your way for tomorrow,
Ali.
Best wishes for tomorrow maggienic
Love and hugs Kim x
Hi Warm welcome to Kim and Jan.
I agree with Tarragon Itās absolutely true that everyone reacts differently. Iām now on day 5 of 3rd EC and itās definitely the worst one so far for the tiredness although for me not sickness. As I was hospitalised on cycle 2 they gave me some different tablets (Aprepitant) this time one to take 1hr before treatment and then one a day for 2 days. Seem to have done the trick, I have been a bit nauseous but not sick at all thank goodness.
I am just absolutely tired, could hardly get out of bed this morning which is just not me and is horrible. Hope it wonāt last too long. Keep reminding myself that no 3 is halfway there and wonāt be too long till back to something like normal.
Good luck to all
Carolj
Hi girls
Hope everyone is well.
Does anyone have any tips on diet.
Im losing weight but dont have much of an appetite so trying to eat little and often. Any ideas on foods that could help me gain weight.
Love and hugs Kim x
Hi Carol
Im on day seven of second fec and i suffer with tiredness too and isnt me either at 38 i can hardly be bothered to get dressed!
I dont know if my lack of appetite hinders me or whether its just part of the treatment. Just keep fliting from sofa to bed.
Im sure it will pass soon for both of us.
Love and hugs Kim x
Hi
You have my full sympathy and understanding with the tiredness. Mine was much worse with FEC3 as it didnāt lift until day before FEC4, but last week, day 9 of 4th one I woke up from afternoon nap and the tiredness had lifted. My energy has been getting more each day. I even managed today to run back up the driveway to get something I had left in the car without getting out of breath or my heart pounding away. Only now can I appreciate how lowering that underlying tiredness is and how much it can grind you down which for me seemed to have been there for months no matter how much I rested, slept, went for walks, drank loads of water, avoided alcohol or did all those other things people suggested would help. If this is how it is for you then I hope like me you wake up one day and find it gone or easing at least.
Makes me wonder if the chemo has now done itās job and thatās why I feel so much better.
Sending you huge cyber hugs and hope
Ali.
x
Hi Ali
Thank you for your post. I must admit im not drinking a lot of water, maybe I should start to see if that helps.
Glad your feeling well. Love and hugs Kim x
Went to my pre-chemo session with the onc yesterday. Fingers crossed everything is ok for tomorrow and the third EC can go ahead. Listen to me: it sounds as if Iām looking forward to it! Sad, sad, sad. But I really want it to end as soon as possible, without any delays.
Speaking of my hospital visitā¦I donāt why but as well as taking my blood and weighing me they also measure my height. Every time! Surely Iām not going to shrink or grow, am I? Does anybody else get measured? I am baffledā¦
As to the weightā¦well, I seem to be piling it on. Every time I get weighed I seem to be a few pounds heavier. Iāll be like the Michelin woman by the end. BUT WHY? I donāt get it. My diet hasnāt really changed, I donāt think. I am trying to justify it by saying the clothes I am wearing are heavier, my intestines are full (they are! ), etc. I have come to the conclusion that the most likely explanation is that the scales are faultyā¦ha ha
Seriously: have other experience weight gain/loss during chemo? Iām curious.
Have a good day. Looks very blustery out there
LuluXXX
Hi lulu
Glad your on schedule for tomorrow.
As to the weight issue. Are they giving you any steroids as I know they can make you gain weight?
I am losing weight unfortunately
I never get my height checked, you have to be special dont you ha ha. I can only summise its to do with your chemo.
Love and hugs Kim x
Hi Lulu,
Iāve only had one FEC so far (next due on Thursday.
I lost 6lb the first week. I was only sick once - the first evening. Canāt say I felt exactly nauseous after that, but had absolutely no appetite and had to make myself eat - the third day I sat at the dinner table with OH and two adult sons. The sight of all their large platefuls made me feel ill and I had to go and work my way through my small plateful away from them. However appetite back to normal after a few days and Iāve managed to put 4lb back on.
Iāve been going for walks every day except the second day and even managed to go to dancing practice on Saturday, although I sat out some of the time.
Maybe we all react differently to the steroids or something.
When you consider all the different poisons they pump into you plus all the tablets, itās not surprising our bodies get all out of kilter, but affects us all differently.
Not fair to have to fight the battle of the bulge as well as everything else.
Bizarre that they measure your height too - will see if they do mine tomorrow when I see the onc.
Stella x