October 2017 Chemo Starters

[SueW]

Hi reboot hope you have a good day
Patchwork good luck for tomorrow
I feel like life is whizzing by in a whirl of appointments but all means to an end x
Morning to marg, ali, chaffinch and Sue too (hope I haven’t missed anyone) have a great day ladies xxx

[Patchworkgirl]

Hi Reboot, glad your first chemo went okay.  Your mum on board will be a brilliant help for you.  Hope today the effects aren't too bad for you.  I can understand them telling you to get the flu jab as early as you can, my injection site (the derrière) is so sore at the moment and my first chemo is tomorrow morning.  

[Patchworkgirl]

Hi SueW.  We may have the same bc, it is highly oestrogen and progesterone positive but my HER status is under review, it initially was tested as negative but on retest came back borderline so was sent for a FISH test, they tried 3 times but the sample wasn't good enough so another sample has been sent off, if positive I will need herceptin alongside the last 3 chemo sessions.  

I havent looked for an outfit yet, I have lost over 2 stone since diagnosis (I needed to) and would like to lose some more if facing more operations but the steroids during chemo may not help.  

[Reboot]

Thank you for the welcome everyone x

My first cycle went smoothly thanks, all as planned, I got home around 2pm and just flaked out on the sofa then went to bed, I just kind of felt spacey and whooshy. I felt normal when I woke up on day 2, but then it hit again around 2.30pm and although it lasted into the evening, it wasn't as persistent. We'll just see how tomorrow goes 🙂 My nurse said this is quite a normal side effect of the C part of the FEC.

I think my husband has felt it more with running around after 3 of us to be honest (we had a complete childcare disaster on Monday, literally everyone who was lined up to help came down with the sickness bug!), but my mum's back today so that will help immensely.

Flu jab - I was told to have mine as early as possible and my GP surgery were amazing and called me as soon as they had them in (about 10 days before starting chemo)

Hello Chaffinch and Marg! And best wishes for today Ali x

We'll ride this out together ladies xx

[SueW]

I was peri menopausal at 47 but had a mirena cool which was removed in July but no period since removal they have said they will do blood tests to see if I have gone through menopause also been told I need hormone blockers as I am oestrogen and progesterone positive but HER negative.how excitingly a wedding to look forward too have you been looking at outfits yet? X

[Patchworkgirl]

Lol SueW, we are similar ages, I am 51.  Because I am not classed as menopausal having not gone a full 12 months without a period I am down  for ovary removal surgery after chemo and radiation therapy.  I am mother of the groom in August 2018 so not sure I will be completely out of treatment by then before then starting 10 years of hormone therapy.  

[SueW]

You are right patchwork my oncologisy said these are possible side effects then told me what they do to try and prevent them. He did warn me not to get pregnant but my response was if I got pregnant at 50 I would be needing a psych ward not chemo x

[Patchworkgirl]

Enjoy your son's birthday meal SueW.  We went for a meal for my eldest son's 27th last weekend. 

[Patchworkgirl]

Welcome Marg.  You may find you get a flu letter sent through the post, I did.  I went to the surgery nurse who refused to do it until I had spoken to my oncologist.  She did write down which flu jab they use at my doctors.  My oncologist said I could have it before chemo started.  Best to check with your own hospital though.  Good luck at your appointments.  You will get a chemo pack at one of your appointments with information on all the drugs you are being given and told the side effects that CAN happen.  No you are definitely not alone, we can all support one another.  Xx 

[SueW]

My bc nurse she told me it was called FEC and I started laughing all I could picture was father ted or mrs brown saying FEK in an Irish accent x

[Marg]

Hi Sue

Good to know that I’m not the only newby struggling; Wish it was  woo woos on 13/10 but like you say that’s not gonna do the F off bit to the bc- : taking one step at a time xxx

[Patchworkgirl]

Yes that will be a big help SueC, thank you very much.  Glad to read your chemo is finished.  

[Patchworkgirl]

Welcome Chaffinch14.  Good luck to you too on the 4th.  

[SueW]

Hi marg I too will be having 3 FEC it’s just the cocktail name personally I prefer a woo woo but that won’t cure bc lol x I got appointment on 10th with chemo nurses so I expect I will know more then then 1st chemo on Friday the 13th but like you until I meet them have not really got much insider knowledge xx

[Marg]

Hi Ali 

Thanks for your advice on flu jab and agreed, the lingo is a lot to get to grips with : .will follow your advice & seek out flu jab tomorrow; best of luck for your chemo start date tomorrow will be thinking of you & sending lots of positive thoughts xxxx

[Ali49]

Sorry Marg not Margy xx

[Ali49]

Hi margy and welcome to the group. I am starting chemo tomorrow. My first 3 sessions are FEC. The 3 letters stand for 3 different drugs - i cant remember the names! After that i will have 4 more chemos - docetaxol with herceptin and permuzetab - as my cancer is her2+. You will soon get to know the lingo. Yes get your flu jab now. My doctors dont have them in yet so i got mine in my local chemist. The support found on thos forum is invaluable so please stick around xx

[Marg]

Hi all

I too am new to the group ..have recently been diagnosed due to start chemo on 13/10. Have been feeling so overwhelmed by the enormity of it all but reading your posts has given me strength & made me realise that i'm not alone. So thank you for that .You all sound so knowledgeable about your treatment , i'm not as yet ..have a pre drug thing on 9th ....Can someone tell me what the FEC drugs are you all talk about and if i'm a started on 13/10 should i get a flu jab ? XXx

[Sue C]

Hi Chaffinch

Just wanted to say welcome to the group.

Please ask if you have any questions and I'll do my best!

Sue xx

[SueW]

My son is 21 on Friday we going to Frankie and Bennys (his choice) I will be hitting the cocktails 🍸🍹🥂🍾x

[SueW]

Hi chaffinch haven’t worked out how to add photos on phone or tablet can only do it on my laptop XX
On the laptop it has little icons and one is to add s photo x

[Chaffinch17]

PS. I am having my flu jab on Saturday morning. I checked with onc department yesterday and they said it was fine. We had an awful bout of flu last year that knocked us out for about 3 weeks over Christmas so even if I didn't qualify for a free one I would have had one this year!

[Sue C]

Hi Patchwork

I had my chemo last year, so I can tell you my experiences and hopefully help along the way.

Sue xx

[Sue C]

Hi Reboot

Welcome to the group.

How are you feeling after yesterday?

Do you have help with the children at all? It must be so difficult to deal with everything. You may find fatigue hits over the next few days, but then hopefully you will feel ok.

Best wishes

Sue xx

[Chaffinch17]

I wouldn't worry about the Friday 13th thing SueW. I had a baby on a Friday 13th so after that I decided that I could no longer be superstitious about it!
I am joining this group too, my chemo starts next Wednesday 4th. I haven't been told which drugs yet. I gave a pre chemo talk and tour on Monday, Oncologist on Tuesday then treatment on Wednesday. Having my just above shoulder length hair but short on Thursday morning. Not at work for next two days so going to blitz the house and the washing. Going to have date night out with nice food and wine on Friday then no more drinking. I will miss my glasses of red 😞
Best of luck to everyone, let's just take one day at a time and keep each other's spirits up x
Any tips on how to share photos? I was going to go before and after hair pictures.

[SueW]

Thank you I will check tomorrow and book in for my jab x

[Patchworkgirl]

Hi Reboot, welcome! yes I was the same with the September thread I wasn't sure where to join, so decided to join the October thread.  How did your first chemo go?  Hope you are feeling okay...I have a few sickness tablets given to me already to take before and after so am presuming that is one of the major side effects with FEC.  Hope you get childcare sorted out.  My youngest is 16 so I don't have to keep up with small children and go through treatment, that must be doubly difficult.  Hope you get childcare sorted, and everyone else does with small children and have lots of help.  

I had had a flu letter arrive Sue, so asked my oncologist.  She said to have it if it could be arranged before chemo starts or it would be a waste of time...wondered with how close chemo is if it is still a waste of time but had it anyway.  That is just my experience not sure what others have  been told. Re the PICC line I was told the hospital try to avoid putting FEC into the veins of the hand as it is cruel to the veins but the blood clot factor does concern me with the PICC line. 

[SueW]

Don’t know about picc meeting nurses on 10th for my assessment
Reboot welcome to the place we don’t want to be x
Do they advise everyone has a flu jab ? If so I will call my doctors get it over and done with xx
Hope you get lots of support with little ones ladies x

[Reboot]

Hello ladies, is it OK for me to join this group? I started my chemo yesterday (25th) but the September group seems so far ahead, I've struggled to catch up.
I'm having FEC-T too, 3 cycles of FEC and 3 Docetaxel.
Cw - I have a 4 year old and a 4 week old too so childcare is top of my list to sort out 🙂

[Patchworkgirl]

Thanks for all your support Sue C, are you still undergoing chemotherapy yourself? 

[Patchworkgirl]

Your hair looks really fabulous Sue, I love pink....my dad is buying my wig too when they come into the salon!  It's a club none of us ever wanted to join isn't it but we do have to adapt and not let the worry and fear take over.  I went for my flu jab yesterday and the nurse avoided both arms so my derrière is a bit sore today.  Are you having a PICC line put in, I was dreading that but it went ok, I just have to inject blood thinners now again as well  due to a clotting condition I have.  I am having 3 cycles of FEC and 3 of docetaxal.  

[SueW]

my current hair sorry dnt know how to turn it round ha ha

[SueW]

Thanks ladies I am fortunate that my hubby bought me 1 wig and my mom bought the other x I will get a free one when I meet chemo nurses too my hubby said it will be like getting a new wife with each one I wear lol xxx at the moment my hair is bright pink for bc awareness before the shave x just me kicking back this crappy disease might have knocked me sideways but I refuse to let it knock me down xx

[Sue C]

Hi Sue and welcome.

You've raised a fantastic amount for MacMillan! Well done you!

Glad you're feeling so positive. Let me know if you have any questions.

Sue xx

[Patchworkgirl]

And by the way how brilliant raising that amount of money! 

[Patchworkgirl]

Hi SueW, good luck with your own treatment.  You are winning me on the wig stakes, the wig salon attached to the hospital is a charity and they only had one longer hair wig in when I went for a fitting having sold the others so some more have been ordered for me to try.  Love your positive attitude, mine is on the whole positive, nerves are jangling a little bit now it's closer to.  

[SueW]

That should have said head held high 😄

[SueW]

I have been offered cold cap but declined it as my sister and myself doing brave the shave on 9th October and so far we have raised £1200 for Macmillan’s x I have 2 wigs ready and will wear them with my hair held high and a positive smile x good luck to all getting ready to start x

[SueW]

Hi all I will be starting chemo on ...,,, Friday 13th October good job I’m not superstitious lol xx

[Patchworkgirl]

Hi Cw1895, first off sending you a virtual hug as not surprised you are anxious, it's a horrid time.  I hope your side effects aren't too debilitating  with you having such a young family.  I was given a list of side effects today at my pre assessment, I felt less stressed after the appointment as the nurse explained what they could do to help me with them.   All the best to you with your own treatment.  

[Patchworkgirl]

Thank you very much Sue, been to my pre assessment today and have been given anti sickness tablets and mouth wash.  My hospital won't give me the cold cap I did ask.  I am having my hair cut short in preparation.  Will check out the September thread for the list, thank you! 

[Patchworkgirl]

Thank you for the info Angela.  I did ask about it but apparently my hospital doesn't use cold capping.  

[Sue C]

Hi Patchworkgirl and Cw

Welcome to the thread. Sorry that you've found yourself here, but hopefully we can all help each other through it.

My chemo was slightly different to yours, but there does seem to be common side effects throughout. The first week is the hardest, when fatigue is certainty a challenge. Sickness and nausea can also occur, but this can be treated, so let your team know if this a problem.

I didn't get neuropathy and it is not mentioned much on this site, so I would assume that it is quite rare, so hopefully you will be fine.

Hair loss happens at about 3 weeks after treatment starts. Its a good idea to think about how you are going to deal with it. Wig or scarf? Have you considered cold capping? It's not something I did, but there are other threads on here that specifically deal with that. If you have long hair, it may be worth getting it cut short, because when it starts to shed, it does make a mess. It is upsetting, but there is no getting round that I'm afraid. Its just dealing with it as best you can.

Try to prepare for the first week as much as possible. Eg, stock up the fridge, get the washing done and make sure you've got all the meds at hand that you may need. If you can get child care at all, I would advise it for that week. If anyone offers help, then accept it! This is the time to let others help!

On the Sept thread, some ladies have put on there a list of things that you may need, so its worth a read ( its right at the start so you will need to keep scrolling down!) .

Hope this helps and let me know if you have any questions.

Sue xx

[feelthefear]

Hi patchworkgirl. I’m popping over from the July starters thread. Just want to ask if you’ve considered cold capping? You basically wear an ice cap on your head during chemo to protect your scalp from the treatment.
I’m due my 5 th chemo tomorrow and haven’t lost any hair. And I’m not alone, there are others who’ve also kept all of their hair. Ask your bcn or chemo ward about it. If you decide to go ahead, have your hair cut short so it carries less weight and also have it layered so it’s thin, this will help you to achieve a good fit with the cold cap. If you have any questions, just ask. There’s also a thread on here with lots of info; just search ‘cold cap’.
Angela x

[Cw1805]

Hello. I'm starting fec-t on 2nd October. Feeling pretty anxious as I have a 10 month old and 3 year old to look after so hope I can mange the side affects.

[Patchworkgirl]

Hi Sue, I am starting on Thursday, I go for my pre assessment tomorrow.  Had PICC line fitted last Wednesday.  Already injecting blood thinners because of a clotting condition so hoping I can keep dvt free throughout my chemo treatment.    Having 3 FEC and 3 docetaxal and possibly herceptin (awaiting FISH results).  My main worry is the docetaxal  as I sew and crochet and would hate to get neuropathy really bad where making things becomes difficult.  Losing my hair is going to be upsetting.  Thank you for starting this thread.  Any tips would be appreciated.  

[Sue C]

Hi Ladies

This thread is for anyone who is about to start chemo next week.

Hopefully you can all help and support each other as you go through your treatment.

I had chemo last year, so I will try and help as much as possible. If you have any questions please ask and if I don't know, I can at least point you in the right direction of who to ask!

Best wishes

Sue xx