I have to start Chemo on the 18th Sept but won’t find out what type till my meeting with onc on the 17th.
What I am trying to find out is how this chemo thing works (no not the phisical bit,lol).
Do you go once a week for 3 weeks then a week off?
Do you go once a month?
Once every 3 weeks?
I am so confused as I have been told I will have 18 weeks of chemo.
What I am hoping is for feedback like say FEC = once a week for 3 then week off etc… Tac/Tec etc = once a month.
Do you get what I mean? if so please help me so I am able to understand how long the treatment will be for the chemo.
After that I have 5 weeks Rads which I beleive is every day apart from weekends, correct me if I am wrong on this one please.
It depends on the treatment you’re having but if it’s a three week cycle you normally have it administered all in one go and then go back three weeks later and so on.
I was on a trial a while back to see whether there was more benefit having my type of chemo once a week for the same amount of sessions as opposed to three weekly.
Hope things go okay for you Lisa. They should also give you a factsheet at that time about the type of chemo you’ll be on.
Hi Lisa
I had 6 FEC. One FEC every 3 weeks. So if I started on the 1st of the month my next was on the 21st of the month. I think that for FEC this is normal.
Following this I had 15 rads. Every weekday for three weeks.
Margaret
I would add - be prepared for a long day at hospital when you have your chemo, there is always a lot of hanging around. There may well be drinks & sandwiches available, you can find out on 17th, but if not you may wish to take a packed lunch.
Hi Lisa
I think that as you have been quoted 18 weeks, this does mean six cycles of three week chemos.
The first day the chemo will be administered, and then again 21 days later and so on.
My FEC chemo was administed whilst a drip was in my arm, and the nurse then sat with me for 1 1/2 hours and gradually using syringes administered the chemo drugs. If you are on FEC the first few syringes will be red! but that is nothing to worry about.
Something you might like to think about is the cold cap, it may help save your hair if the drug you are having is FEC. It does increase your stay by about 2 hours, but inmy opinion it is worth a go.
I’m on Epi-CMF or E-CMF which is split into two parts: a dose of Epirubicin one week then two weeks off … four times; then a dose of CMF (three different drugs) one week, another the next, then two weeks off … four times. That’s 28 weeks of treatment, so probably not what you’re going to be on! Whichever one be prepared for extreme tiredness, as well as the expected nausea/sickness. Also be prepared to extend the length of time being treated depending on whether your blood recovers enough for the next dose: my white blood cell count was too low for my last treatment so is being delayed a week.
I’m half way through the above, expected to have last chemo in third week of December. Then I’ve got 4 weeks of radiotherapy to look forward to in the new year - one a day Mon-Fri - oh joy!
Hope it goes well. Keep telling yourself t’s all for the good!
Thank you all for you advices and tips.
It is most appriciated.
I have long wavy hair and I have decided not to use the cold cap as I am not at all bothered about losing it (so long as it grows back eventually,lol).
I had FECx4 then Taxotere x4 I went every 3 weeks and expected to be in chemo unit about 2-3 hours.Its a good idea to take some ice lollies in a widenecked flask.If you suck them during chemo it prevents a lot of bother with mouth ulcers etc.Also drink lots of cold water[if you have epi or fec your wee will be red for a while it starts immediately and lasts a short time-a day or so].All the best,Vxx
Thanks horace, I have just checked my flask holds ice poles and it does
Oh my… not red pee !!! it will make a change from the blue pee I had last month. Hehehehehe.
I still have the blue nip to remind me
