AUGUST '17 Chemo Starters

[Sue58]

Butterfly and Sib...big hugs to you both right now..so sorry to hear your both having a few problems , I hope its not too serious and you get all the help and support you deserve..xx good luck

[Cathysid]

Big hugs and strength to you butterfly- hope there is some good news for you soon. Xxx

Sib, goodness, not another bad reaction! Let’s hope next week they take it super slow and spare you some of he trauma. Hoping no side effects and an ok week ahead of you xxx

[Sib]

Butterfly sending a huge hug and some virtual strength to get through this. I hope you get some positive news soon and start to feel better.
I had my first of 6 weekly paclitaxoel today and took allergic reaction, went purple, chest pains, couldnt breathe! Nurses and doctors brilliant and had me sorted very quickly but a very scary experience. Ended up staying in hospital all day but got home at teatime. To go back next week to try again but with much slower infusion and will be in all day again. The joys.
Love to.you all, hope SEs are kind to us. Xx

[HelenP]

Hi Meesh!
I’m having 6 x FEC cycles. Had cycle 5 on Monday. I’ve found that the side effects have remained the same throughout but I’ve made little changes each time to cope better. During cycle 3 it took me a good two weeks to recover and for cycle 4 I found that I felt lot less nauseous and bloated by cutting out bread/toast, and rested every afternoon during the first week and recovered to nearly normal from day 7! I find that my mouth gets sore from day 5 so am using the mouthwash from day 4 every few hours as advised by the chemo nurse and for cycle 4 had no soreness. For sore hands and arms from vein pain I put heat pads on for 20 mins a few times a day and it helped massively during cycle 4.
Now you’ve had a couple of cycles you may see a pattern too, I understand now how helpful it is to keep a journal of side effects so I can anticipate things now!! Best advice ever.
One day at a time remember x

[Ali S]

Butterfly, I'm so sorry to hear about the spread to your sternum. I hope that your doctor can give you some positive news about treatment tomorrow which you can then share with your daughter. You certainly seem to be having some problems at the moment and I really feel for you with double injections, ouch. I hope your symptoms improve over the next few days. You still have a way to go on your chemo journey but we will be here for you even when our journeys end. Sending a big hug xx

[fairy]

day 2 of chemo no 5.. now awaitin the se!! so glad this is nearly over.. last one 27th nov!! hope all u ladies are doing well.. im countin down the 19 days until my last one xx

[Mishy18]

Don't worry about posting positive things too that's what's this forum is for, when you need to get things offloaded you can do it here take care xxx

[Mishy18]

Oh butterfly sending you big virtual hugs you need them atm keeping everything crossed for you that you have an easier time on you next lot of treatments be kind to yourself and take it easy hoping everything goes well with your daughter 💖

[Butterflyflyfree]

Hi ladies. Glad you all seem to be doing ok, very jealous of those ending their chemo journey. I had the first of 4 THP last week, so still a way to go. Loads of aches and pains from day 4 - now on day 7, and pains easing but extremely fatigued. Everything such an effort. 

A blow today in that bloods aren’t good enough to have Port done tomorrow. Suppose I shouldn’t be surprised as nothing seems to go right! Double injections this week, my poor tummy, GCSF and blood thinners for the clot I’ve got. 

Meeting with doctor tomorrow as repeat CT showed up spread to my sternum..think that’s just about the worse news. Dreading telling my 21year old daughter. 

Wish I could post something positive for once 🙄 

Hugs to all. Xx

[Mishy18]

Sib good luck fingers crossed you will be fine on this one x your onc sounds fab glad they have a back up plan for you too! It's good to know isn't it!
Sue I'm on to rads next just waiting for planning scan date then they need to sort everything out before I start probably in around 4 or so weeks x
We are All strong ladies too we have all had to face some 💩 during this in one way or another keep going ladies you can do it 💪

[Sue58]

Thanks Michelle...its a good feeling when theres only one chemo left to go.. !!!!

glad you've got to the end of your chemo journey , you've had a tough one but well done for being strong and getting there with all you have been through in these last months..your a very strong lady...good luck, do you have rads next or operation ?
My radiotherapy is in January, then hopefully get back to work end of Feb beginning of march, all being well...

Sib. Good luck today, thinking of you..I'm sure all will go well..x

Hows all other August ladies doing ? We are all very quiet.... I'm day 3 today and so far feeling ok..it's my son's 24th birthday tomorrow so I'm hoping the side effects hang off till Friday..lol..I want to eat and taste cake before my taste buds and mouth goes yuk.....!!!

Hugs to all you lovely ladies..keep strong. Xxxx

[Sib]

Morning ladies, thank you all fot good wishes. Chemo 9 30am today weekly for 6 sessions. Had a lovely chat with my oncologist yesterday and they have a further back up chemo plan on standby in case i dont tolerate the new chemo (its still part of taxol family and i suffered really bad neuropathy) she even had worked out the different percentages for 10 year of each treatment for me.
I know our NHS is not perfect but i thank god every day for the wonderful staff who are treating me and the life saving treatment i am getting. Hugs. Xxx

[Mishy18]

Sue that's great that you have had a dose reduction you should manage much better now!! Get these SE out of they way and before you know it you'll be Don! I did a count down once I got up round 5 I'm day 7 since last one not feeling 100% but feeling OK and taking good care of myself so I can get through this cycle hiccup free fingers crossed xx
Sib hope tomorrow goes well for you and your weekly chemos are kind to x you xx

[Sue58]

Hi August ladies...
Well chemo number 5 went well yesterday. Monday....feeling good today ( steroids are helping big time!!) And a 20% reduction in dose..so hopefully that may help me with side effects..cross fingers..!!
Helen and Fairy hope yours went well yesterday also and Sib..good luck for new regime tomorrow..I'm sure you will be fine on this one...
Ali and Mary Kate hope your doing well and Butterfly, CK and Cathysid and Mishy and meesh73. And Xena ..
Big hugs ladies. We're getting there...xxxx

[Ali S]

Good luck to all of you ladies having treatments this week. I hope your side effects are minimal.

CK, you sound very well prepared. Although I've had some SE on the T so far it has not been as bad as I had feared. I hate having my nails painted but fir now it's working and they are staying put. I found the arm pain a little better with the T but that could be because I'm treating it straight away with heat and exercise.

I hope all you other ladies are doing well xx

[Cathysid]

A big good luck with the weekly chemo, Sib. Hope it is kind to you. X

[Mishy18]

God luck for Wed Sib I would ring your chemo unit or ask I'm not sure about the weekly regimes and immune system it's rubbish having to avoid everyone and everywhere isn't it x

[Sib]

Good Morning August ladies, hope we are all coping and counting the days till the end of our treatments.
Hope everyone undergping treatment finds the SEs are kind to them.
My first of 6 weekly chemo starts Wednesday and really hoping I tolerate this better with fewer SEs. Not sure how weekly chemo effects me being immuno supressed? Does anyone know? Am i likely to gave to stay home for 6 weeks? Hope not, my husband 2 sons and I all.have birthdays in next 4 weeks plus eldest son gets his keys to his first purchased house.
Sending hugs ladies ♥️♥️xx

[Mishy18]

Good luck any of you starting your new chemo regimes thiz week remember to drink plenty of water and take it easy!!!

[Meesh73]

Good luck CK and to all you August ladies starting your different regimes of chemo sending 🦄🦄🦄🦄hugs and sparkles 🌟✨🌟✨🌟💫✨🌟✨💫⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️from the all of us ladies on the October thread.

[CK]

Hi Sue 58 and everyone else! Ive been busy fitting in as much as I can in the past 2 weeks as after reading the threads I'm preparing for some serious resting and SE as I start Doxataxol and Herceptin this week! All we can do it wait and see how we are affected and take every day as it comes.
We all react differently to treatments but its best to be prepared, so have my chemo basket ready from dry mouth sprays and all kinds of sweets to suck on to Magnesium flakes, pain relief and dark nail varnishes! So annoying as even when it slightly chips it looks awful.
Freezer is also loaded as not sure what appetite this time.
Arm pain from treatment has been better since I got my hand and arm reliever which I frequently squeeze on.
Skin has been good and no rash but have accumulated dark circles under my eyes, so been wearing concealer!
Thin layer of hair still hanging in there and eyelashes but I guess they may come out next round!
Will see me more on here in a couple of days as will be at home resting up.
Hope it gets easier for all. Lots of love.xxx

[Ali S]

Thanks for your kind words Cathysid. I am feeling a little better about things now. I've got some things planned with friends next week which will definitely help as I think I was feeling very isolated.

I'm glad you have found something that is helping you to look forward positively. I think making some lifestyle changes is something I need to look at myself xx

[Cathysid]

Hi Ali S,
Hoping you feel a bit better now. Mentally this chemo rollercoaster can be a challenge. I’ve just started reading a book called “anti cancer, a new way of life”. There was an interesting chapter on the relationship of genetics to cancer development and how even with genetic predisposition to development of cancer you can really decrease your chance of developing it by making your bodies terrain inhospitable to cancer cells through diet and lifestyle. I find by focusing on this approach I can look ahead much more positively.
Look after yourself, try to enjoy a little chemo moon if have a window of feeling ok before the next round - just a change of scene or a visit to some friends, a relaxation/spa day, some sea air, might help to recharge the batteries and reward you for getting this far!
Lots of love cx

[Meesh73]

Silverlady, nice to hear you've finished your treatment, I hope you're beginning to recover. I've also been working on weeks 2&3 of my cycle. So far my SEs have been fairly minimal, did you experience more SEs as you went along or did they remain consistent? Also did you completely lose lashes and brows? It's something we've been talking about in our thread today!

Thank you so much for responding and sharing your valuable advice, tips and experiences, it really means a lot 🌟✨🌟🦄🦄💃🏻🕺🏻🌟🦄💃🏻⭐️💫⭐️💫

[Silverlady]

Hi Meesh73,

I finished my chemo in June and I had FEC x 6 and I worked through most of it. I did have the magic Emend sickness tablet, so that helped a lot. I lost my tastebuds early on and everything tasted foul for the whole way through. I use to have mine on a Thursday and on the first two, I was back to work on the Monday. The next two I was back on the Tuesday, the fifth was a Wednesday and the sixth chemo I got back on the Thursday. I had all the SE's, bleeding gums, thrush, achey bones etc, but by the 9th day I was pretty much back to normal. I did find that on the last few I had a constant feeling of nausea, but it was manageable.

My biggest advice, which is what I was advised to do by the ladies on here was get a PICC line.

Good luck, you will soon be finished. I can't believe mine was 4 months ago.

[Meesh73]

Meant to say that my 2 cycles of chemo have gone ok so far and I've been lucky not to experience too many bad SE's mainly just some nausea (bit worse this time), dizziness (had a really bad day yesterday) and anxiety/ jittery feeling (worse first time round). I'm just wondering if it'll continue like that, I hope so!

[Meesh73]

Thanks AliS, there don't seem to be many in earlier threads that are on fecx6 (there are 4 of us on October thread that are fecx6). Those that are seem to disappear not sure if that's good or not 😕I'm hoping that's a good sign that they're coping and don't feel the need to post!

I hope the chemo is treating you kindly and that you're doing ok! ☺️

[Sue58]

Hello ladies...hope we are all well..or as well as can be expected.!!!

Well I'm day 20 today and feeling so much better and have done since day 16.. food is nearly tasting normal , so is a cup of tea, so I will enjoy them while I can or until end of next week when the mouth goes yuk..!!

Chemo number 5 on Monday all being well, I want to get this one out the way, but not looking forward to SEs although dose has been reduced, so hoping for slightly reduced SEs..!!! Still got tickly cough although doctor yesterday said no sign of chest infection , temperature was fine and she just thought it was something to do with acid reflux getting up to throat, as I had a bad episode 3 weeks ago even though I was taking lansoprazole.!!

Sib, glad to hear your improving and hope all goes well for Wednesday, Mary Kate, Butterfly, Ali, Fairy, Cathysid. CK and anyone else I've forgotten, good luck for next chemo....mishy, hope your doing ok now..
Its interesting to see we have all struggled with Docetaxel apparenty a lady on July thread was told Fec T was one of the toughest regimes..I totally agree with that..!!!!!! But then I think all chemo regimes are tough....
Big hugs ladies were getting there...xxxx

[Ali S]

Hi Meesh73. I can't help I'm afraid as I'm FEC-T. We did have a lady on here who was EC x6 but we haven't heard from her in a while. I think the rest of us have moved on from FEC now. I hope you are doing well following your second treatment x

[Meesh73]

Hello August ladies! I'm from the October thread. Sorry to hear you're all suffering a bit with your treatments, I hope you start to feel better soon. Are any of you having fec all the way through? I'm having fecx6 (just had 2nd one) and I'm wondering what to expect on the later treatments. 🙂

[Mary-Kate]

Afternoon August Ladies, how is everyone today? 

I'm just about resurfacing after a rough few days after the first dose of docetaxel, thankfully no more delays this time as my neutrophils were just over the threshold.  I don't want to scare anyone either but I've found it quite brutal too and it's wiped me out, now Day 11 and only just starting to feel vaguely human again.  Woke up on Day 4 feeling like I could hardly move, those joint and bones pains, headaches and exhaustion have been horrible and made me feel very low.  Epsom salt baths and wheat pads are the only things that have helped - paracetamol and ibuprofen haven't seemed to make any difference.  Don't know how I'm going to get through 3 more treatments of this...  Made me realise I've had it comparatively 'easy' with the first 3 cycles of EC.  But it could have been worse - haven't had any of the mouth, taste or hands & feet problems that some of you have had so that's been a bonus. 

Hope all you August Ladies are doing OK  and treatment has gone well this week.  Sib, sorry that you've been so poorly and your treatment has been delayed, hopefully you'll be able tolerate the new drug better than docetaxel.  So many of us seem to be struggling with the side effects of this drug.  Butterfly, sorry to hear about the blood clot on your PICC line, glad it's all sorted now and you're doing better.  Hope you're feeling better now Sue58, Fairy and AliS and everyone else.  Good luck, CK, for your treatment next week, hope any side effects are kind to you.

Big hugs, thinking of you all xxx 

[Ali S]

Hi ladies, how are we all doing? I'm day 9 from second T and I'm doing ok. SE have been manageable so far and I'm hoping it stays that way. I've been struggling more mentally this time as just feel fed up with it all. I've also been told I'm going to have genetic testing and I'm now worrying about the results of that (although I won't get them till next year).

Sib, glad you are finally feeling better. I hope you avoid your son's cold. I'm sorry that you are having to go through a second operation after all this.

Mishy, Butterfly hope you are doing ok after your latest rounds and that all other August ladies are doing well xx

[Cathysid]

Hi Sib,

Sorry you need further surgery. Hoping all goes smoothly so you are finished chemo by Xmas. You could ask your son to wear a surgical mask to prevent spread of his cold, also tissues should be used once and thrown away, lots of anti bacterial hand sanitizer for him, maybe echinacea and vitC supplement will help him get well quicker too!

hoping you manage to avoid the lurgi,

cath x

[Sib]

Hope we are all doing well on our journey and the ses are been kind.
Im now day 30 after 1st docetaxol and definitely on the mend ! Still problems with taste and nasty sore peeling hands with sore nails but definitely getting there. Fot my 1st paclitaxel on Wednesday, all being g well. Unfortunately my son has terrible head cold and im terrified i get it as i have been told to avoid infection at all costs. Really dont need any further hold ups , so want chemo part over by Christmas.
Saw surgeon re my further mastectomy and reconstruction (fue to brca2 diagnosis). Seeing plastic surgeons before Christmas and when im well surgery will take place. Such alot to take in.
Sending hugs to you all. Xx

[Butterflyflyfree]

Thank you for all your good wishes ladies. Had a long day weds with H and P and monitoring...no adverse reaction 👏👏 Shorter day today for T and again all was fine. Thank goodness for that..with my track record I thought I’d blow up like a balloon and come out in red spots 😂 not a known reaction I know!

Had cramps and diarrhoea as soon as I went to bed last night, but loperamide sorted it and have been fine today. Long may it continue! 

Wishing you all a better round this time and lots of positive thoughts. Xx

[Mishy18]

Yeah all done just resting and waiting for SE to kick in over next few days!!!

[Sue58]

Thanks Michelle. I'm finding potatoes good..!!!
How did you get on today? Are you all done ? Xx

[Mishy18]

Good I'm glad you have had dose reduced it should make things more bearable for you x
Potatoes are the best foods for chemo! Bland but tasty

[Sue58]

Thanks Cathysid....I saw oncologist Monday and my dose has been reduced by 20% for monday and also extra steroids to help also..
I'm having a fairly good week now although food still dosnt taste right, its better than last week but still not right..I've got a cough which I've had nearly 4 weeks !! and pain in my liver most of the time... I did mention them to oncologist she said a cough can be a side effect.....and liver is coping with lots of toxicity... but to ring if they get much worse.....
Hope everyone is OK ? Hugs to all xx

[Cathysid]

Hi everyone,
I’m sorry so many of you are struggling with T.
Sib - hope the new drug treats you better.
Mishy - sorry you’ve had such side effects too.

Fairy - are you taking loperamide for the diarrhoea? I take 2 on the first sign of it then 1 more if it hasn’t worked in an hour. I also eat bland food like rice, potato, scrambled egg(fruit and veg, especially tomato, fatty food and dairy tend to set me off).

Sue - hope you get ina good week before the next round. Do report all you problems to your Oncologist- they might reduce the dose or give you more steroids to counteract it.
Butterfly- gosh you’ve had a hard time too! Hope T treats you better. Good luck this week.

Ali - glad your second round was less awful than the first.
I can’t believe strawberry tastes ok for you - I can’t face anything sweet or any fruits - strawberries especially start to taste like salty metal after my chemo!
Melly - sort to hear your flu vac made you so ill. Hoping you are starting to pick up now after the chemo. Remember daily Epsom salt baths and a short walk if you can manage it. Sip sparkling water, potato is my favourite chemo food(isually tastes ok even after chemo) rest lots, nap lots. Try to drink lots to flush it through. Moisturise daily. Soft toothbrush, fennel toothpaste is good, mouthwash with alcohol free biotene or aloe Vera mouth wash twice a day, doctors can give pain reilief mouth wash - diflamm, too. It works well.

Ck - try not to worry. Remember your positive affirmations when the chemo is going in. I’m on my 4th T (with carboplatin c perjeta and herceptin) this week and apart from intermittent diarrhoea, nausea(but that’s the carboplatin), and week long hangover feeling, as long as I rest and take my baths it is bearable. It has also got slightly better each time as my side effects have been managed better and I know what to expect,

Good luck this week everyone,
Cath x

[CK]

Mishy! That made me chuckle 'Food luck' you typed! Luckily not the other way round🤣🤣🤣

Had a lovely relaxing day at the local cancer care centre today. One to one with nurse, reflexology, lunch, mindfulnesszzzzz and a talk from a Macmillan lady and came home with a load of books!!!
I advise you to see of there are any local centres near you like this. Im on an 8 week course!

Ali S
Glad to see T is treating you ok apart from dry mouth. I will just need to see what happens with Herceptin and T.xx

Sib, Fairy & Sue
Sorry to hear its been difficult for you but it will soon be done. Hope it gets better soon. Long relaxing baths and plenty of rest.xxx

Roght, going to raid rhe fridhe now.

Hope you all have a good night.xxx

[fairy]

i too find docetaxol really hard, ive jad bad diarhea the twice ive had it bit am also on perjetta which i think is contributin.. 27 days left until my last one

[Mishy18]

Don't be nervous as I said I think most people really are fine on it x food luck x

[Sib]

Thsnks Mishy its great to get positive outcomes from people who have completed their journey. X

[CK]

Mishy
Thank you for that reassuring post even though you found Doxataxol tough! Im glad to hear your new drug is manageable and hope they treat you well. I stsrt Doxataxol next week and am getting nervous.xx

[Mishy18]

Hi girls a positive thought for you all!! I live near a lass who is post bc and all of her treatment is done and dusted op chemo rads and herceptin was talking to her tonight and she had a relatively good experience with a her chemo Inc Doxetaxal no infections high temp terrible SE just the normal which most get she says rads are fine a bit of a chore going back and forward to hospital herceptin injections again coped really well with and her hair is looking great lovely and thick a bit curly but a good covering and she is 13 month since first diagnosed I wanted to share that as I know when you are facing new drug on chemo it is easy to panic when you here of other peoples bad experiences, but there seems to be plenty of people who get through it without being too badly affected with SE 😊
Keep going ladies you are all coping really well and before you know it it will all be finished 🌟🌟

[Sue58]

Sib and Mishy..you two have been very unlucky to get these extreme side effects..I feel for you both with what you both have gone through...hope you get through the next chemo treatments ok... xx
Butterfly, sorry to hear about your blood clot hope your OK....I hope I havnt frightened you all off from your docetaxel..I seem to have had a stronger reaction to most. And luckily my dose has been reduced by 20% and also extra steroids (one a day after the 8 for 3 extra days to try and help me) which I am grateful for...
Ali, my taste is still odd but less metalic now... but still find it hard to eat food with no taste..lol..hope it returns soon ..I have found sucking on Aldi butterscotch sugar free sweets help with the lack of saliva in the mouth and strawberry flavours are ok with me too...
Big hugs to August ladies with treatment this week.. xxx

[Mishy18]

Just to also point out for you other ladies these kind of reactions I have been told are quite rare and are not what most people go through on the Doxetaxal Sib we have just been that unlucky % of people xx

[Mishy18]

Sib you are not alone I was very poorly after my first Doxetaxal I also ended up neutropenic sepsis 2nd time I had a very severe anphalactic reaction during infusion mine had to be stopped too had a delay in treatment to help me recover and now on a new drug called abraxane so I could continue my onc said is is quite unusual to have such a bad time in Doxetaxal but I obviously am allergic so no more for me!
It's really just to reassure you that on my new drug I have been good yes there are SE but I don't feel like I am deaths door like I did on that!! Hope you go well on your new drug I'm sure you will be fine x

[Ali S]

Hi ladies

Sib, sorry to hear that you have had such a bad time. Sounds like you had a really severe reaction. Glad you hear that you are slowly improving. I hope your new drugs are kinder to you. Please don't worry about posting here, we are all here to support each other, especially when you are having such an awful time. We need each other to get through this.

Butterfly, sorry to hear that you had issues with your PICC line. Not what you need on top of everything else. I've read that other ladies breeze through T having had issues on FEC so you may be better than you expect. Hope it goes well for you this week.

Sue58, glad you are starting to feel better. I hope they manage to reduce your dose this time. I'm struggling with lack of tastebuds but I don't get the metallic taste. Strawberry is the only flavour i can really taste. Not that it's stopped me from eating at all!

I'm day 5 today and feeling ok. I'm tired and a little achy, can't taste and seem to be either hot or cold. Although this is round 2 I'm still unsure what to expect as I don't have the horrible chest infection making things worse this time thankfully. Have a good day ladies. Hugs to you all xx