Third FEC - don't want to go..

[Guest user]

Right with you girls. Having been absolutely fine through the first four FEC, I suddenly started to completely dread number 5. Managed to spend the entire treatment day in tears (told a very unconvincing fib to the nurse that I had a cold and that was why my eyes were streaming!!) The emotional side effects are so much less predictable than the physical ones and seem to sneak up on you when you least expect them.
Lisa x

[marli]

Hi et - I had my 5th EC last Wed. and like you I found myself really dreading it. I had coped with the previous 4 but for some reason thisone really worried me. Eventually listened t some relaxation tapes and took some rescue remedy and told myself it was for my own good and really on the day it was not so bad. Last one on 3rd March and am trying to keep calm although the few side effects I have had have been worse this time. You can do it!!! You have come this far. read lots of posts about more than 4 chemo being "belt and braces" as most of the good work has been done but I want velcro as well, so lets do it girl. Lots of hugs and good wishes for tomorrow. Will be thinking of you. Love Marli. x

[et1]

Fith FEC tommorrow, realy don't want to go. OH keeps saying I don't need to go if I don't want to, I know he is trying to be helpful but it's so not helpful. He knows as well as I do that I have to go if I want the best chance of beating BC, we both know I will go, I just like to have a rant and tell him I don't want to go.
I treat myself to a little present after each treatment is over, it's costing me a bit but it helps. Would be better if someone else bought me a present though!

[katinthemiddle]

Hi Ruth

I too got Movicol from docs and it certainly worked. I'm going regularly now (fingers crossed). I might do what you suggest. I go for 2nd FEC next Wed (24th) so might take some a day or so before.

Take Care

Krissy xx

[Guest user]

Hi all
Movicol does what it says on the tin for me. 1 sachet not enough but 2 worked within 2 hours and have been fine ever since. Due for 2nd fec on Friday and will think about taking Movicol a lot earlier maybe 2nd day.BTW - I found I was burping for England until I took a different indigestion tablet (omberzole sp?)
Ruthx

[marli]

Hi all - re. the dreaded constipation Which for my first surgery and first 3 chemos set of attacks of diverticulitis I now seem to have it sussed. I am having EC which thankfully does not seem to have the awful SE's of FEC so my onc suggested halving the dose of Ondansetron and taking lactalose. What helped more was cutting out meat from the day before chemo and for the next 4 days. Relief!
Flora - pleased that I am not the only one polluting the air! Hope I get back to normal after chemo. Marli. x

[Guest user]

Re the constipation. I've had major probs in this department and have evey laxative under the sun. The only one that works for me is Bisacodyl. I know we are all different but its worth a try.
The other thing that work for me is a few glasses wine at night. Not to be recommended as a daily happening, but when you're going through this crap, who cares.
Cheers
Jane

[Guest user]

Hello

Yes I too will be having radiotherapy, I had mastectomy in early October with immed recon (implant), I have my last and hopefully for ever final chemo on the 24th feb.

Before then I have appointment on the the 17th Feb, to discuss Radiotherapy treatment, my surgeon want's to see me then on the 19th to complete tissue expansion, prior to the radiotherapy, which my BC nurse send will start approx 2 weekd after chat.

good luck Ann

[NAZ]

Hi guys
How are you all?
It's freezing here in Cheshire, glad i have my wig now!

Got first TAX next Thursday, then just two more after that!
Had a letter from the hospital asking me to come and discuss radiotherapy. I was told by my breast surgeon that i would not need it, plus i have an implant in place too? Anyone else had a mastectomy with implant and had to have rads?

Anyway, off to get some lunch..

bye for now.
Naz x

[katinthemiddle]

Hi Flora

Thanks very much for your advice. I ended up ill on Saturday morning with constipation and went to Boots but the pharmacist was reluctant to give me anything stronger than Fibogel. Luckily it did the trick (luck I think more than anything). However I'm going to mention about Movicol at the unit when I go, or maybe I should contact them by phone beforehand or just make an appt at the docs, probably just as easy.

Its day 7 now and although the queasiness has eased, its this horrible fuzzy head feeling, like a permanent hangover which bugs me. My appetite is brill, I'm really eating like a pig, something I've never done before. I had chicken curry and rice at 4pm and just had mince, dumplings and potatoes with veg about 5 minutes ago, how greedy is that 😞

Hope everyone is okay and thanks again Flora

Love

Krissy xx

[fairyem]

Hi,

I'm onto my 4th FEC next Monday, dreading it but also keen to get another one out of the way and then just 2 more to go.

The constipation thing has been a nightmare for me. They gave me ducosate sodium last time but it had no effect at all and by the end of the week I was over the other chemo side effects but in such a grump cos I was so bunged up. The doc then prescribed me Movicol which I took Friday. On Saturday I was a changed girl. Went from not wanting to move to the sofa to insisting we take the dog on a muddy walk and eating for England. I am def planning on taking it from the day before my next chemo.

Em x

[Flora29]

Krissy
I notice no-one had come back to you about the constipation problem. I initially used Lactulose, and then moved on to Movicol which seems to work better. Next time, take it the day before, the day of and a for a few days after your chemo and it should keep things moving. I found, to my regret, that it was worse 2-3 days after chemo but by keeping things flowing it helped.

You will find you will fart for England (or the Welsh-English border in my case) during chemo. Mmm. Most attractive!
Hope you are doing OK a few days along from your first shot!
Flora xx

[katinthemiddle]

Hi everyone

Well I had my first chemo on Wednesday. It felt strange sitting in the seat watching the nurse put the poison in. It felt like I should be running away. They are lovely and really put your mind at ease. I've got a foot massage booked in for the next cycle. I had mine at 9.30 and felt fine until about 2pm when I got this awful fuzzy head like a hangover and queasy feeling. I took the anti-sickness tablet straight away and it took it away. My sleep patterns are a bit shot and I definitely suffer from the tiredness and queasy stomach. My taste buds are all over the place. I fancy all sorts of stuff I wouldn't normally eat, especially sweet stuff, yum yum.

I'm suffering with constipation and not really sure what is best to take having not normally suffered with this type of thing before. Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

Good look to you all and my thoughts are with you

Love and hugs

Krissy

[NAZ]

Good luck for today Kris, i am sure it will go fine.

Let us know how you get on!

Naz x

[katinthemiddle]

Hiya everyone. I'm fairly new to this site and have found it really helpful, especially with information on chemo and side effects. I start my chemo tomorrow at 9am on FEC for three sessions and then Taxotere for three. I've read so much about the side effects and although the breast nurses and oncology team have been brilliant, I'm still dreading it. I suppose what I'm dreading is the waiting for something to start happening. Good luck and hugs to everyone. Speak soon, Kris xxx

[Flora29]

I'm good, thanks for asking. Had first Tax just over a week ago - it knocked me a bit for a week, but I feel full of bounce again now.

It feels great to know you are half way (more than, for me now: I've had 5 of 8 now!) Yay!

[finty]

Well done Naz - hope the bug clears up soon. I'm off for my third FEC in about half an hours, as longs as bloods ok. Can't wait to be able to say - half way there!

[NAZ]

Hi Guys
How are you all today?

Had third and last FEC last Thursday..
On that very night, my 22mth old son was violently sick with a bug, OH, my son and myself came down with it Saturday night..SO am feeling a tad wiped out to say the least.
My onc. prescribed a different anti sickness med (frm the same family as the ondens (can't remember how to spell it!). It did help a bit with the constipation, but wasn't so effective with the nausea.

Anyway, got the first of TAX in the 18th, and then the coundown begins!
Been feeling pretty sorry for myself these last few days, mainly due to feeling tired and bald!

Okay, time to get the day rocking and rolling i guess..

Cleesy, hope your liver sorts itself out for you, good thing that your cells etc are all okay though..take it easy!

Hi to you Flora - How are you doing?

Bye for now
Naz x

[Flora29]

Hey Leigh
Sorry to read that the chemo and your liver are not getting along. I do hope they find out why and that the Epi does the trick for you.

Naz, hope you are OK since your treatment last week.

Just wanna let you know I'm thinking of you, and anyone else having a low week.
Flora xxx

[Guest user]

Hi eva-nicole

Hope all goes well for you tomorrow.

Not been so bad since 3rd chemo last Thursday - very tired still but in comparison to No. 2 where I couldn't get my head off the pillow or open my eyes this 3rd chemo has been blissful (rather tongue in cheek but you know what I mean). Sure this will improve over next few days though as well. Oncologist will review chemo regime before 4th I've been told by chemo nurse so I'm hoping my liver pays attention and gets its act together!!:)

Hope everyone is okay - let us know how you get on eva.

cyber hugs all

Leigh xx

[Guest user]

thinking of you. i have my 4th fec next Wed, if my blood are ok tues.

[Guest user]

Sorry things aren't going to plan for you, Leigh. Let's hope the epi is doing the job for you. Good that your white cells and neuts are ok though, at least that's one less thing to worry about.

Hope you don't suffer too badly with the tiredness this time around.

Linda
xxx

[Guest user]

Hi All

Linda - glad No 4 went okay today and hope it stays that way for you.

Had chemo this morning but again my liver results were naff so they could only give me the epirubicin - same as last time. What is in teh F and C of FEC my bod does not like?!! Oncologist wants to review me in 2 weeks as there is concern about what chemo is doing to my liver - it appears my liver cannot cope.... greattttt!! other than that my white sells and neuts are fine!! Hey Ho 🙂

Hope everyone else having chemo today, tomorrow or in last few days are coping and that those SE's are few. Will wait and see if the Epi knocks me for 6 again this time - not complaining though - whats a bout of tiredness in comparison to how some SE's are.

Love and Big Hugs Leigh xx

[Guest user]

Hi guys
I hope everything has gone well for you today - been thinking about you
monica xx

[Guest user]

Well I made it to the hosp for my 4th FEC today, blood counts were good so all done and dusted.

That's the last FEC for me, I start weekly Taxol in 3 weeks time - another step into the unknown but at least I can now say I'm halfway through chemo.

Naz, Leigh and anyone else having chemo today - hope it all went well for you too.

Linda
xxxxx

[sarssquatty]

Hi Em

Hold on in there, it does go quick when you look back, it's just at the time, I know how you feel, when your'e well it is awful to think that you are going to be ill again in a few days for a week or so, but hold the thought that you will feel betteragain. TAX is different to FEC, you have the steroids to help you, but after about 3/4c days you may then start to feel ill.

Good luck
x

[Guest user]

Hi Naz and everyone else who has posted on this; like most of you I have had enough of this! - just as you start to feel better; week three comes around again! doesn't it happen quick? - Tues blood, Wed consultant; then tomoz chemo. It only seems like yesterday that I was last there. I have had four lots of FEC now, and yes it has made me prity ill, lost all my hair, the sickness & that horrid taste, but tomorrow I am due to start the "T" - Am hoping that the side effects are not so bad? - only this & 1 other to go - then the op in March - so hopefully there is light at the end of the tunnel - not too long to go now - Luv to all you ladies & good luck to all - lots of Luv xxxx Em

[Guest user]

Hi Naz

Been a while since I posted anything purely because 2nd chemo had me floored and at an all time low - got my 3rd one tomorrow (Thursday) and all I can say is Uurghh - not again and so quickly .....but gotta go.

We're half way there chemo bud - hang in there

Thinking of you and anyone else experiencing the same.

Hugs and regards Leigh xxx

[sarssquatty]

Hi Naz

Good luck tomorrow, as others have said think what its doing to the B********, you are half way there. Yes do something nice when you feel well I also used to do something nice the day before as well to keep me going. I used to think of a time or place when I was happy before BC and visualise that and where I was going to be again,that also kept me going.

They also told me at the chemo unit that people who were ill on FEC and I was ill, were better on TAX, and I was, it was not a walk in the park, but I did not feel as ill as I did on FEC. My hair started to grow again after the second one too, so that is something to look forward to. Keep going it is worth it and we all think of you and suppotrt you on here.
x

[Guest user]

Think of the chemo as like the old PacMan video game .....just gobbling up all those horrid, nasty cancer cells! And yes, if it makes us feel so bad, think what its doing to those bad cells :-))

[NAZ]

Thanks Anna, that is a good way of thinking ..x

[Guest user]

Hi Naz, good luck tomorrow, i found that by thinking, if it makes me feel this bad, imagine how bad the cancer feels.
take care
anna

[NAZ]

Thanks Elinda for your post...sometimes i don't feel like i am doing well, but keep I persevering with it.
FEC is horrid, makes me nauseous, and like you, i told myself that last time that i was not going to have any more, and as for TAX forget it! However, here i am psyching myself up for tomorrow, prepared for the wait and armed with sweets and ginger ale..!

I think tomorrow i will sit down at write a plan of action for what i want to achieve this year..and how i am going to get there..that will definitely take a while!

Bye for now.
Naz x

[elinda45]

You're doing well and it is very hard. I was so sick on FEC that I lost 2 stone in 9 weeks and I kept wanting to say no more. I just kept reminding myself why I was having it and that I was lucky to have the treatment.
I've also experienced the waiting. We lived an hour from the hospital and at worst had to wait 4 hours for treatment. Normally though the wait was always 1 to 2 hours. I started to fill this time more productively by taking things to do such as updating my CV, dealing with correspondence etc. May sound odd but the time past much quicker than sitting reading mags.

Good luck with it and hang in there.
A big hug to you
Elinda x

[NAZ]

Thanks guys!
Not feeling too bad at the mo.
I think one of the difficulties i have is the waiting at the hospital. They are frequently running two or more hours behind every time and i hate the wait as it makes me want to run before my name is called!

Anyway, get this one out the way and i am halfway there..wahoo!

Recs,you are so right, i keep telling myself that i have to do this as i too do (as all of us feel)not want to be doing this again in the future, no way..

Love to you all.

Naz x

[Guest user]

We're all there will you I can assure you - I have my 2nd Tax and 6th overall dose of Chemo on Monday coming and frankly ................ I really really really really don't want to do it but I must cause I DO NOT want to be here again in 5 or 10 years with BC again so on we go.

I know just how hard this is - think of the positives you know already that you do recover and you will so chin up and shoulders squared and off we go - try to do what Janey suggests and plan good times with pals and loved ones for the time when you feel up to it - a good old laugh makes all the difference 🙂

Luv and a Hug R xx

[Guest user]

Hang on in there girls, it will soon be a distant memory. I did what Jan did and planned things for my "good weeks" to look forward to. The worst part for me was knowing I was going to be ill again........ it is a horrid feeling, but a small price to pay in beating this disease. Keep goin, it's tough at times, but you can do it!
x

[Guest user]

Having second FEC tomorrow so no where you are, i am not an emotional person, but i am confused as to why i feel this way.

I dont want to give you the normal positive talk, but will be with you in spirit, maybe that will help

[NAZ]

Thanks so much for all your lovely supportive comments, i feel loads better having read them.
You are all right, each one completed is a stop closer to getting it all over and done with..!
Planning nice things to do on my good days is a really good idea..i need to do more of that i think!

Okay, deep breath, I can do this..WE can do this..

All the best to those having treatment on Thursday..i will be thinking of you!

Naz xxx

[Guest user]

I know it doesn't feel like it now but take heart. When they are all done you very quickly forget the pain and discomfort. I found it helped to give me courage to do it if I had planned something positive to look forward to on my good days. Often it was somenthing simple like great coffee and a huge scone at my favourite cafe with a good mate. Doesn't sound like much but looking forward to it helped me over the worst.

Jan xx

[Guest user]

((((hugs)))) I understand exactly how you feel. I'm going for my 4th FEC on Thursday so perhaps we can hold each other's virtual hand!

It's a very strange feeling to feel perfectly well but know that on thursday we will have to voluntarily submit to something that we know will make us feel lousy - in my case the effects last for about a week. Although I've been lucky and SE's have been pretty mild I still feel vaguely nauseous just thinking about it.

I hope it all goes well for you on Thursday and I'll be thinking of you and willing you on!

Linda
xxx

[Guest user]

Oh Naz, I know how you feel, but hang in there girl...every treatment is a step nearer your goal.
sometimes you have to gather your courage and your strength and decide that it won't beat you.
I hope its not too bad - you will get there in the end, honey
lots of love to you
monica xx

[Guest user]

Hi Naz

You have got this far and you didn't think you could do it. Keep going it will soon be over. I have my first Tax on thursday so will be thinking of you.
Love Elle

[Guest user]

Hi Naz

I know just how you feel - I am due my 6th one on Monday and I am now dreading doing it all again! No matter how much people tell me its nearly over its still hard work to summon up the will to go and do it! It is hard and I think gets harder because you know now what to expect and it does seem to go on for ever!

We can do this - It will soon be over and we will look back and think we are glad that we have had it.

Sending you hugs 🙂

Dena xx

[Guest user]

I dreaded going in for my chemo - just when you start to feel ok again they make you ill again 🙂 Try not to worry (says she who had a panic attack in chemo unit on #2 session!) they can give you something to help calm you down. Eash session is different and you know you can do it and pick yourself back up - you've already proved that.
Thinking of you - soon be Spring 🙂

S

[Guest user]

NAZ Hang on in there, take a deep breath and see it as a step towards fighting this damn BC.

Sending you lots of strength

xx

[NAZ]

Hi all
Due my third FEC on Thursday, really do not want to go...
I feel fine, all my SE's cleared up and the thought of having to go through it all again makes me feel yuk.
I know that the SE's will pass soon enough and treatment will be over by the spring, but it is taking so long!

Okay rant over, time to get on with the day!

Naz x