Hi everybody
I’ve reached about day 11 and am feeling almost human again. Still a bit sinusy, but that might not even be down to the chemo, who knows?? This site is brilliant, and its good to read that out of all of us chatting on here, we are all finding this doable. Starting building myself up again now over the next ten days ready for the next dose of poison. A friend of mine who has had this chemo has told me that the first is worst re. the pains, so I live in hope!!
Cheers Anne x
Hi
It was great to hear from everybody. It was good to read that I am not the only one suffering (in a ‘I dont want to be the only one’ kind of way) with ‘swelling’. So thanks for reassuring me!
It is day 7 for me today and I am feeling sooo much better. My neck back and sinus areas are still a bit swollen and painful but no where near as the pain I was experiencing on day 5 and 6!! My tongue is almost back to normal and taste buds are coming back. And yes, I will wait a while before starting on my modelling career! My bald head just sets the whole look off!
Thinking of you all and yes it is definately one step towards the end of chemo!
xx
I’ve finished! Chemo over, now rads to look forward to!
Had last Tax week ago today and as usual it’s wiped me out but the pain has been nowhere near as bad this time - I only had to take pain killers at night for 2 days. I’m on antibiotics as my temperature keeps going up, but I am not feeling ill, just no energy.
We have booked a holiday to fit in before my rads and am really looking forward to it.
Good luck everyone xx
Brilliant news - well done you!!
I am so envious, you must be so pleased. Just relax through this last bit, then have a lovely holiday - where you going?? and don’t worry about rads - that’s the easy bit.
Keep in touch
Cheers Anne x
hello everyone,
glad everyone seems to be feeling so well. Im day 8 now and guess what - this bi*ch has bitten back! Ive spent most of the day in bed feeling sorry for myself, before today I was definitely feeling better. Never mind, am up now and looking forward to dinner, got to keep an eye on my temp though which is hovering too close to 37.5! At my hosp we have to report to the triage nurse if it goes above this!
Just ticking off every day to my next chemo now - only 13 days left!
Pauline x
Hi all,
Good for you Anita! Hope you have a fab holiday-I’ve booked for me n my mum to go away in November after my rads are finished-can’t wait!!
Day 14 for me, I’ve been for some Reiki today which usually wakes me up a bit but I’m still so tired, reckon I might just start to feel ok when its time for my next drugfest! My nose is constantly dripping at the minute-is anyone elses the same? And my eyes are very sore and swollen and watery thought it might’ve been hayfever but my spray hasn’t worked so can’t be! To top it all off my nana’s been rushed into hospital today with severe chest infection and I feel terrible cos I can’t go to see her for risk of getting it myself, bless her, I’m sure she won’t mind.
Well, just 1 week to go before my final session, I’m sure this week will fly by,
Take care all
Tracy xx
Hi Pauline sorry you seem to be a bit under the weather - it is all so unpredictable. Hope you’re better soon. Just take it easy and remember your body may just need a bit of rest.
Tracy I know what you mean about a runny nose. I have had a tissue as a constant companion for the last week and thought it was hay fever which hasn’t bothered me for years.
I feel a bit tired today - day 14 after Taxotere and thought i was in top form but I think the secret is when you feel well -do nothing. I mede the mistake of business as usual - went shopping, driving to hairdresser (that’s another story).
I find driving quite hard on my recon. boob. - when I change gear I feel i rub on the side and it feels a bit red and sore.
Can’t win!
Hang in there
MuddyXX
Hey everyone
Would have liked to have posted before now but I have been in hospital since last Monday until yesterday. Turned out I had some kind of infection in my blood that they didn’t detect when I got my 1st Tax on 25th July. This the same day as you pollym?
Anyhoo, last Monday I couldn’t move with the pains, suffered cold sweats and my temp rose to 38.6 so it was striaght into the hospital. I have to say though I was so impressed at them as they moved so fast with me, unlike when I got an infection when on FEC a year and a half ago, thank goodness. So it was serious amounts of IV antibiotics over 5 nights, constant temp and blood pressure checks and I’m ok again. So glad too I got the Picc line as it meant they weren’t poking me with needles and cannulas every 2 minutes. Only problem is I have taken a bit of a reaction to 1 of the dressings and my arm is starting to blister which hurts like heck, but the district nurse is due Tuesday and I’ll see if she can do anything with it.
On a really scary note though, 1 of the docs who saw me was literally only out of uni 2 days and he saw unusual signs in my liver function tests they did on my bloods so he sent me for an ulltra sound to see if the cancer had spread to my liver. Talk about a nightmare nerve wrecking 24 hours!! It hasn’t thank God and the figures were just off because of the infection. Also when I was admitted my white blood count was 0.05. Normal rates are between 6 and 11 (I’m now 12) but the docs said that if I hadn’t have come in when I did I could have gone into toxic shock and developed Septicaemia. Unbelieveable!
Feel almost back to normal now and it’s funny as it seems the last week happened to some one else and I was only looking in. Bizarre. Next sessions due 15th Aug. Not looking forward to it but my ONC says he is his to reduce it by a few % to be on the safe side, so I am confident enough to have it and be a lot better next time.
Well done to everyone who is doing so well and for those who have finished.
Moira
xx
Hi I am Jools (Julie)
I am 35 live in North Hampshire with Hubby and 7 yr old son. Diagnosed with breast cancer beg may had WLE and sentinal node removal 1st May 2007). Then had bone scan and ct scan. Found out on the day that I had my first chemo (ONE MONTH AFTER MY OP) that the cancer has spread to my bones so no cure for me. Bit of a shock to me that this crappy thing can spread SO fast . Am scared I just want to be around to see my little boy grow up.
Have had three lots of FEC and will be having three lots of taxotere. Followed by RADS. Am her negative so don’t need herceptin but am oestragen pos so will be having tamoxifen. I am also having pamidronate once a month for the bone cancer
Day four for me on taxotere -Joint pains in my legs are agonising. Have been taking pain killers but not doing much good at the moment. Apart from that just had some diarrohea (can’t spell) yesterday which was a bit upsetting
Just resting as I have to go out this evening -not sure if i am going to make it yet but need to try
Glad everyone is doing ok
Jools
well hello everybody!
I did tell you the Tax had bitten back - well not just bitten but a severe mauling.
Day I last posted temp went up to 37.7 (theres another story here regarding temps by the way!) so I was told by chemo nurse to get down to the A & E. Got down there, temp now 38.7, had blood counts done, found out I was severely neutropenic with 0.1 neutrophils!
So, Moira, rather spookily, not only did I have my Tax on the same day as you but I also ended up in hospital but only for 4 days in my case on IV antibiotics and all kinds of other potions! Got out today but it was a struggle as one doctor wanted to keep me in - I thought I was doing really well with neuts of 0.8! Still got to take lots of antibiotics and stuff.
My oncology team are based at a different hospital to where I was but do clinic visits there so when he came to see me on Friday he said they will probably give me something next time to keep my blood count higher, Moira, have they offered you anything like this?
Anyhow, I survived, it wasnt that bad, I just felt tired and run down, so sat around for 4 days doing nothing, reading glossy magazines and eating chocolates!
So, now day 12 and feeling okay, the only way has got to be up now I think!
I cant believe that some of us are nearly ready for our next Tax - the time seems to be going so quickly in some ways.
Take care,
Pauline x
Hi everyone
Welcome Jools - hope you got your evening out - hang on in there. Moira and Pauline, sorry to hear about your hospital visits and hope you’re both feeling better now. Saw your post re. thermometers (definitely buy a new one before next chemo!)
I know our medication differs from one onc to another, but I have to take granocyte injections to help my white blood count for ten days and also two weeks of two lots of antibiotics. I have my second tax on Friday, fingers and toes crossed, this one is ok.
My side effects have now almost gone (feel like I’m tempting fate), except for the taste thing and my nails are going very strange - bit like the rest of me according to OH!
Cheers
Anne x
Hi everybody
Welcome from me too, Jools. Sorry to hear of what you are going through and hope you can keep the faith thru this. I will definately be rootin for you x
I am on day 12 and apart from feeling very tired after doing small chores, I am fine. Bones are still hurting a little bit and my hands feel constantly swollen - nails hurt a bit too. I have my next TAX a week from tomorrow and feel it is too soon - well better to get it over and done with.
Tracy, I am also experiencing runny nose and weepy eyes so must be another symptom. Hope your nan is better now. Anne I also received granocyte injections but for six days and I believe this is going to happen for the last two TAX sessions.
Moira & Pauline, fingers crossed for your next session that it goes smoothly
Lil
xx
Three weeks on…
since I started this thread, and am off for second session tomorrow. Must say, so far, that this has been a bit easier than my last chemo, but then I absolutely hate being sick, and touch wood, haven’t had that side effect with this one.
Best wishes to everyone and here’s hoping they find a vein willing to play ball tomorrow.
Cheers
Anne x
Anne,
its amazing how quick it comes round isnt it? good luck tomorrow, im with you about the feeling sick!
Jools, welcome to the rest of the Taxoterers! Hope you’re in less pain now. Sorry to hear about your bone diagnosis, as you’ll see from other forums on here there are so many different treatments now. Im thinking of you.
hello go everybody else, hope you’re all doing well.
Pauline x
Day 17 and almost back to normal!
I get an injection called Neulasta I think it is, which I take myself the day after chemo. It didn’t work the last time because of the infection I had but when it did kick in it helped me to recover fairly quickly.
You’re right pollym, it does come around so fast but apart from the tiredness all is ok at the mo thankfully. My hair started to go on Tuesday and by Wednesday I lost my patience with it and my family took it in turns to shave it *lol* Wearing my baker boy hats and got a new wee short bruntte wig which my hairdresser styled for me today. Itches like heck but I’ll get used to it again.
Hope everyones keeping their spirits up! When you’re feeling up to it go and do some of yor favourite things like a spot of retail therapy. Sorts me out 
Moira
xxx
Hi Everybody
Survived my second tax. 2 more to go!. Thankfully they found the vein first time on this one, so not so bad. My face is all bright red again and am now definitely putting that down to the steriods. At my blood check the nurses recommended the chillow pillow for the hot flushes and after ebaying mine arrived yesterday and I used it (plenty of times!) last night, and can recommend it - it certainly helped.
Today still hyper and will no doubt start to lose energy over the next few days so taping a few programmes ready to chill out to. Hope everyone else is going good and have a lovely weekend - enjoy this sunshine.
Cheers
Anne xx
hello Anne,
Glad you’re hanging in there, I think Im going to order a chillow pillow too, these hot flushes are amazing especially at night! I havent had a period now for about 7-8 weeks so am hoping this is it! Knowing my luck I’ll have one tomorrow!
Hair has started growing back, a kind of soft fuzz and some more bristly stuff, my eyebrows and eyelashes started to thin but have also started growing back now which is great! I cant wait to have enough hair to ditch the wig and hats and scarves! Driving me mad!
Julie, Muddy, Tracy,
Have you had your next Taxotere yet? ive got mine tomorrow so long as my blood counts are good enough!
Moira, I know you have yours too tomorrow, lets hope were both okay!
Also got my rads planning meeting appointment for Friday so looking forward to crossing something else of my to do list! Anyone else had theirs yet?
Take care everyone,
Pauline x
Hiya everybodoy
Muddy - did you have your second dose on Friday?? I’ve now hit the “do nothing” wall, and can’t even sit out in the garden, soooooo bored.
Good luck for tomorrow Pauline, just a word of warning, my hair fell out again two days after second tax!! - sorry - but nurses reckon that could be the last time (hopefully), am sure its going to come back completely grey.
I think I’m a bit better on second tax than first, but then I don’t want to tempt fate, only day 4 so trouble could be looming, but looking forward to the weekend when I should be almost human again.
Hang in there everyone.
Cheers
Anne x
Hi all - feeling better -apart from permanent runny nose. Still a bit achy but nowhere near as bad as the other week. Fatigue is still bad but spending lots of time resting -good job its the school hols
Got my second taxotere next thursday so going away for a long weekend this weekend as I will be out of it over bank holiday. Not looking forward to next week but at least after that i will only have one more dose to go-yay!
Hope everyone else is managing ok
Jools
Good to hear all these tales as I have just had my first lot of Tax and herceptin after 6 FEC and recent mastectomy.
I am finding it much harder than the FEC, or it could be that my mind has forgotten how bad that was!
The aches in my joints, headaches and general fatigue is countered by the fact I do not feel anywhere near as sick - think I preferred the sickness though!
I currently have a skinhead as my hair grew in between FEC - OP - TAX, but it will no doubt all fall out again soon - I have been quite pleasently suprised by the shape of my head - sounds weird, but I always wondered what it would look like to be bald - now I know - something between Dr Spock and Winston Churchill… but my husband still loves me…
Anyway hope all goes well with those of you having more treatment this week - my thoughts are with you!