Anyone starting chemo 31st March?

[DPD]

Hi Munchkin - sorry for delay in reply but have not been on here for a bit- Have had 2 cycles with my third next Thursday -has not been to bad first 5 days or so feel tired & in my terms generally yucky with a foggy brain which clear by day 7 I am wishing the time away as want it all over with I have not used the cold cap Consultant & nurses don't think it's good to do so I got hair cut very short -hair started to thin around day 8-9 after first cycle and by day 14 had very sore painful head with hair coming out a lot! I got it shaved &I the pain all went ! Have been into work for the second week after chemo until the next one Hope it is not to bad for you &a you are managing it all ok ??

[Mocot]

Hi AnnieT sorry I did not reply earlier but I don't log on to this very often as I have joined an April starters group on Facebook. I am having 3 rounds of Epirubisum and Cyclophosphamide fOllowed by 3 rounds of Docetaxil. I will also be taking a bisphosphonate although I haven't started that yet, probably next round. xx

[Chris1975]

Hi Munchkin, hope all is going well..how was your first cycle? Any side effects? my partner starts on Epirubicin and cyclophosphamide tomorrow for 3 treatments then followed by 3 treatments of Docetaxel, then 1 year of Herceptin and tamoxifen, I have to inject her for 2 weeks also...! she finishes on 14th August so she's 1 month behind you. She's decided not to have the cold cap and has already cut most of her hair off. x

[Anniej]

Hi Mocot, just dipped in here and saw your post. Can I just check that you are having EC-T, without the F part? I've just been recommended this but feel a bit confused about it. My oncologist said he didn't think I would tolerate the full monty , so to speak. Would love your input. Thanks. 

[meash67mosh]

Hi Munchkin

How are you doing now, it's my 2nd FEC on Monday so your 2nd one must be next week too?  I must admit the first week was not nice but bearable, I had red face and the taste buds went which was so frustrating.  At the moment my head is very sore and tender due to my hair falling out thick and fast, I am having it cut very short tomorrow.  I go to walsgrave hospital in Coventry where do you live???  How are you and how have you found the first 3 weeks. Thinking of you xx

[Breastmummy]

Hi how is everyone getting on ? I had my first FEC LAST TUESDAY with cold cap ? Just over a week in and feeling ok , was really sick 😷 for the few days afterwards , by Saturday was feeling good , now indigestion has started with everything I eat !

[OldDawn63]

Mocot - the March 2017 thread is up and running, you'll find the other March starters on there.

And no you are not a wimp for feeling like that after your first EC. Most people feel sick for the first few days, it's only the lucky ones that escape this effect.

If the nausea and sickness are very severe or last a long time, it's important to tell the hospital before the next treatment, as they may be able​ to give you some more effective anti-sickness medication next time.

[Mocot]

Hi sorry it has taken so long to reply. My treatment plan is 3x EC, 3x T then lymph node clearance, then radiotherapy. Also having hormone treatment as I was borderline For the E receptor. You will have started now so I hope you are feeling ok and not having too many side effects. I feel a bit of a wimp saying this but the first few days for me were not good, nausea, little sleep and feeling like I had a bad dose of flu etc. I am now on day 5 and I slept much better last night and look better for it. I'm going out with friends for lunch today and feel up for it. It will be good to take my mind off how I feel and focus on what is going on in other people's lives. Let me know how your first few days have gone xx

[Munchkin]

Hi mocot, I'm sure you'll be fine, it's the waiting I think that's the worst, most people who I have spoken to that have been through chemo have said its not as bad as you think, like you though, I'm also a little nervous about it all, which is perfectly normal when you think of all we're going through, it almost seems never ending! I had a lumpectomy, then had to go back in again for a mastectomy and immediate reconstruction, I've coped mentally with that okay, I hope I feel just the same with chemo. What is your first treatment.😊xxx

[Mocot]

Hi all, I start chemo tomorrow and admit to feeling more apprehensive about this than I did about having the mastectomy. The side effects sound awful but I keep in mind that hopefully I won't get all of them. I have decided against the cold cap purely on the grounds that I don't see any point in putting myself through any more suffering than I have to. Yes I admit to being a wimp especially where being cold is concerned. Also not looking forward to having to inject myself for 5 days either, ( funny thing is I am quite happy to stick needles in others!) It would be good if we could all post regularly as we are all starting around the same time.

[Munchkin]

Hi Dpd, I'm having the same treatment as you the following day, good luck!! Let me know how it goes, are you trying the cold cap?Xx

[DPD]

Hi I am starting 30 March 4EC & 4 Doceletaxel Very anxious but like most of you just want to start & get it over with!

[Lucy Lu]

I started chemo on 29th March last year and am just popping by to see how you all are.  I know how you feel, I am not going to lie, it isn't easy but I bet its not as hard as you are thinking it will be.  You will get through it and at the end you will be wondering where that strength came from.  One year on, I have a full head of really thick curly hair, my eyebrows are back and my eyelashes but luckily enough the bits we shave off anyway haven't reappeared.  I cold capped and probably lost about 60% of my hair.  It was really thick to begin with so just thined out quite a bit.  I did have to wear a wig in the last three months but my hair grew quickly once treatment stopped.  Apart from hair loss I had hardly any side effects.  Be positive and go for walks you will soon be through it.  Good luck.

[Munchkin]

Hi meash, all the best for tomorrow, I know what u mean about waiting, I just want to get the first one under my belt, i know I'll probably hardly sleep a wink on Thursday night! I've been taking lots of tips from various other women, I hope like you the side effects won't be too bad, let me know how you do after first one, if you feel up to it. Where do you live? Which hospital? All the best, lots of love.Xx

[meash67mosh]

Hi Munchkin

I start mine this Monday!! 3x FEC then 3 x Doc like you every 3 weeks.  I'm not looking forward to it I must say but to be honest I just want to get started now.  It's been a long journey already and waiting is a nightmare.  I no it's going to be hard, we don't know what side effects we will encounter.  I think the hardest part will be losing my hair I am dreading that but I no it is going to happen so have not opted for cold cap.  It takes 1-2 hours longer and is not nice to go through.  Keep thinking positive thoughts that's what I'm doing. Good luck with Friday and let me know how it goes xx

[Munchkin]

Hi everyone, I'm starting chemo next Friday at Leighton hospital, my first 3 treatments once every 3 weeks is EC Epirubicin and Cyclophosphamide, the next lot are Docetaxel (Taxotere), 6 rounds in total, I have already circled in my last treatment..14th July, I have been told no radiotherapy needed, will be on tamoxifen later. I will be trying the cold cap, will see how it goes. Obviously slightly worried about all the side effects during the treatment, would be good to hear if anyone else is going through the same course.😌Xxx