Hi everyone,
OK if I join in?
I’m on FEC too. Had 3rd cycle last week and have Plebitis (sic?) in my chemo arm. Obviously, can’t have chemo in my other arm because of the lumph node biopsy. I’m worried already about where they’ll put it in next time. Anyone had any experience of this?
JO
Hi andi
You never know you might be fine now your having emend. Im not having 6 fec so heres hoping the tax and the onc said it isnt meant to make you feel sick but has other se’s, oh the joys!
Take Care
Love and hugs kim x
I had Emend for cycle 3 and I didn’t throw up at all. I didn’t feel too sick either, as long as I stayed laying down.
It’s a pain that we’ll be peaking with the worst around Christmas. I’m meant to be driving 300 miles home 6 days after chemo. Not sure that will happen at this rate as I’ll be up to cycle 5 by then.
Jo
Welcome aboard Lavender Lassie and Jo. Mind you it would be nicer if you didn’t have to get on this sick chemo merry-go-round.
Knowing that other ladies are going through the exact same sure lightens the load somehow!
Andi, the cheeky beggars! That’s why the nausea is getting worse! It is meant to. Damn! Heard good things about this Emend drug. Might ask my onc too if you reckon it does the trick. Let me know.
Good luck for FEC 4!
Take care
Lulu XX
Hi all,ive been to see onc today as starting first of 3 tax on thurs.Armed with more steriods,8 a day for 3 days,starting the day before chemo. Im starting the white cell booster jabs with this treatment as my white cells have struggled all along. Im not so sure each cycle gets worse because i found the third fec the best,onc said maybe body getting used to it…Im positive drinking gallons of water helped mind. Not looking forward SE with Tax or white cell jabs,said bones will ache with tax and will have sore joints from jabs,mainly in my back and sternum as this is where most of our bone marrow is,oh the joys! My friend found tax harder but then everyone reacts differently so will wait and see.
Love and good health to you all
Claire x
hi
i am with you Fitz, FEC 3 has been fine and I have had lots more energy this cycle. However, I am due Tax soon and am a bit nervy about it to be honest. I can’t believe I will escape with mild Se’s. Achy joints are supposed to be the main side effect so I have heard. Still, the sooner we begin the sooner it will be finished. That’s my theory anyway.
I have had white cell boosters from the start, they are ok and the main thing is to take em out of the fridge half hour before they are needed
x sarah
Hi Fitz, I’ve also had the white cell booster jabs (Neulasta) from the start (three so far) and haven’t noticed any side effects.
Hope you’re the same.
Hi
I will be having my 3rd fec on monday and im glad to hear it has been fine for some. With regards to tiredness and energy has anyone been advised any tips from onc etc as to helping with it? Im day 16 and its just starting to lift.
Love and hugs kim x
hi Kimmie
A friend of mine who has gone through chemo advises a walk each day as it builds up stamina. Also, try to drink loads of water etc as it flushes out the toxins.
x sarah
Hi sarah
Thanks for the advice will try drinking more dont feel up to a walk though get breathless just changing the bed.lol.
Love and hugs
Kim x
I have been walking too Sarah every day with my little jack russell Woody (with the odd bad off) havent always felt like it but just seeing his eager little face is the push i need. Thanks for the reassurance Sarah & tarragon with regards to white cell booster jabs,hope im the same,guess they have to warn you just in case.Just want to get on with it now
Has any of you read the book by Lisa Lynch,The C-Word? Im reading it at the moment,its brilliant and funny in a dark sense of humour way and i can relate to how she feels in so many ways. Makes me feel ok to feel the way i do about what we have to go through and all the different emotions we go through while dealing with “The Bullshit” as Lisa calls her BC 
Claire x
Yes I’ve read that book. It’s very funny and sad too. A great read!
HI
Well so far so good, don’t feel quite so sick and not thrown up so maybe Emend doing its thing. The chemo nurses said that they are prescribing it more and more for FEC and it appears to do the trick. So anyone on FEC and sick DEMAND it!!!
JO- They will have to find a vein and the next place appears to be the foot so don’t panic! They may also put a shunt thing into your chest which they can put chemo in and take bloods out of.
4 down 2 to go.Makes me laugh when people say oh well at least it will be over by Xmas. The chemo may be but as for the last three cycles I have felt sick for 21/21 days, I cannot see me feeling “normal” whatever that may be til mid Jan just in toime for the radio!!
On a brighter note had the LGFB session- BRILLIANT! Cannot praise this enough. Came away with cosmetics and skincare worth over £200- not samples real size bottles.If you haven’t got your name down DO IT. I was lucky as they do a monthly session at The Marsden so didn’t have to travel- actually had chemo, then lunch at hospital then make over.
Keep well
Andi xx
Andi LGFB is great isn’t it? My skin has never looked so good since I’ve started using all the products religiously. Takes me ages to get ready in the morning now even without having any hair to do!
Well had my first Tax yesterday and wasnt a good experience,had a bad reaction almost as soon as the drug was in my system. My nurse was keeping an eye on me and i started to feel flushed,nurse asks you ok? “Yep just feel flushed” Next thing chest went all tight and heart was fluttering all over the place,nurse jumped up because my face,neck,chest and arms had gone bright red.Next thing there’s 8 of them there all swarming round me! Turned machine off straight away,had oxygen and injection of piriton and antihistamine.Was all very scary but they phoned onc who said to leave me for 15mins then in there words "re-challenge,which they did And all went ok,phew!
But don’t want to frighten anyone whose guna be starting this drug because it doesn’t happen to everyone but it is still quite common to get a rection first time. Im terrible for not saying soon enough,thought it would pass when i stared to feel odd,bit nurse said i must even if i just don’t feel right,so take advice any ladies starting.
Im feeling ok at the mo,got white booster injections to start today and had a bad nights sleep,been wide awake sincs 4.0,guess thats all the streiods,been on 8 day since day before Tax as they are suppsosed to help with bad reactions…
Got my date for LGFB,24th Jan,ill be finished by then,bit im still going!!!
On a happy positive note,hope you all have a good weekend!
Claire x
Blooming heck Claire, that sounds SCARY! All of a sudden my constipation problems (have to use Anusol suppositories as well as glycerine ones now. How unlady like!) pale into insignificance. I DO hope you feel better today!!
I had a look at the book you recommended on Amazon and it sounds intriguing. I have ordered myself a copy. I’ll let you have my thoughts. I also ordered another one on the C subject called Even the Eyebrows? by Sharon Morrison. The reviews were good so I went for it. Has anybody read it?
I am so looking forward to the LGFB workshop now. Mine is on Monday. I really can’t wait, having heard all the good stories from other ladies.
Have a nice day girls and hang in there!
Lulu XX
Hi Lulu,im ok now thanks! Bless ya,ive been struggling with constipation too…One thing after another eh.
I haven’t read Even the Eyebrows but guna take a look on Amazon as ive almost finished The C Word.
Let us know how you on on Mon,ive gota wait till end of Jan.
Claire x
Wow Claire scary stuff!!!
At least they managed to get the poison in eventually!!
My friend had her first Tax on Monday her main problem is aching EVERYWHERE! And the inevitable fatigue. Diff chemo diff ses!
Spoke too soon about my house of boys. Nat the 5 year old sent home yesterday with a temp, threw up in a shopping bag on the doorstep and took to his bed. He slept with Daddy as I just can’t risk getting too close. Took him to gp- ear inf prob just viral but as I have zero white blood cells two days after fec he has been prescribed anti bs as a precaution.
Thats a full house now. They have all had a turn. Hopefully that will be all…
Keep well
Andi xx
Hi girls
Lulu - let me know re the book. On the grim topic of constipation were you advised anything from the hospital for eg senna etc? Im starting to suffer now 
Claire - glad your feeling better now. I had a hot flush with my first fec but no temperature, weird but scary.
Andi - hope things with the kids start looking up it seems like if its not one thing for you its another. Hope your well.
Hi to everyone else. Keep well
Love and hugs Kim x
Hi everyone
I had awful constipation which I never realised coud make life so miserable LOTS of sympathy to you.
Got given a sort it out plan by bc team
take 2 senna every night from day of chemo
have porridge for breakfast with golden syrup (a laxative)from 2 days before chemo till about day 10
Eat some dried fruit every day, luckily I love mince pies but will probably be sick of them by xmas
Had some salad for lunch usually with carrot sticks, lots of veg like cabbage, swede, peppers and 2 pieces of fruit.
Swapped to high fibre cream crackers as a snack thing
Started this from fec 3 and athough things still move slower they do move.
Hope this helps
ali.
x