starting chemo in July

[lisha]

Hi Everyone ,Andrea you made me lol with your tranny eyelashes! Mine are still hanging on in there at the top but not at the bottom .Eyebrows all in tact .
Shingles gone down ,only had a few though been taking ten tablets a day!!
I took senokot for constipation the emend seems to make it much worse.Didnt go for 4 days then went 7 times the next day .Now got piles (nice)!
Really dont want the last one but really do if you know what i mean just want no6 to be over.
Slendablenda yeah haaaa not long now and you are the first of us ,tell us all how it feels when you have that last one mixed emotions im sure due to a week of SE afterwards.
Ive got my rads app through ,if chemo goes ahead next thur then my rads start on nov 21 everyday at 1.30 then the 5 boosters (due to me being TN and there being nothing else)early morning i think .Should be all finished by Dec 16th hoorayyyyy!!
Will be a bit scary though as then i wont feel covered and will be real scared of it coming back.I suppose they are just normal feelings though.
One bit of good news this week though ,my son passed his driving test .On the other hand more to panick me as he has to drive to citroen colledge in Coventry(140 miles away and nearly all motorway)in two weeks .
Hope everyone who is feeling really bad soon feels better and for anyone being zapped this week hope your neuts behave .We are nearly there and we should all be so proud .
Love Sharon xx

[Guest user]

hi squirrel nice to hear from you.hope your neuts are ok for two wks time.eye brows stilling hanging on eye lashes top lids ok bottom gone go figuer.do you have to have rads ?
hope you
take care
queeniex

[squirrel45]

Hi Everyone, Gosh finding it hard to function this week on all levels! I think I could fall out with my own shadow too. Hi Queenie, I am cold too - where are those hot flushes when u need 'em? Hope the Movicol helps - I hate the stuff but mixed it with fresh orange and managed to get it down.
I tried false eye lashes today as my own have disappeared. I can't decide if I look like a tranny !!! They are quite long. Waiting to see if my friend notices, she's coming over later.
Slenderbenda, hope all goes according to plan for you tomorrow.Think you are the first of us to have the last of the chemo. It has been such an endurance test. My last one 2 weeks tomorrow, neuts permitting. Hears to energy returning and taste buds and hair, eyelashes, eyebrows, LIFE !

[Guest user]

hi slendablenda nice to haer from you thought i was on my own,don`t feel to great to day constipated have tryed movicol just waiting for it to kick in.last fec nov 2 nd.cant seem to keep warm temp 36.0 so think it`s ok feel fine in myself if only only could go !!!!slight feeling of sickness but that might be the movicol
hope all goes well for monday
are you able to work?
queenie xx

[Slendablenda]

Thanks Queenie
Seems like we are all in a similar boat! It's not fun I know, but somehow it feels better to know you're not the only one.
I hope my blood test tomorrow and appt. with the Onc will confirm that my last chemo can go ahead on Monday. Have to say I'm feeling much better today, even my brain seems to be working and I'm not so tired.
Have been looking at my nails - looks like I'm going to lose 3 or 4 toenails and bot my index fingernails and probably a few more - not pretty, but they don't hurt at the moment,just look horrid.
Roll on rads.............

[Guest user]

Hi all, day 5, 2nd tax and not too bad. NEED ENERGY BACK - brain nearly functioning successfully! I can feel the tax blurr lifting, I just want to be back to normal (what ever that is!).
Sorry ducky - I haven't had a bad headache with Tax. I hope you are feeling better now.
Take care of yourselves xxx

[Guest user]

morning all( if anybody out there) hope you are all well
ducky cant be of much help sorry i am haveing fec ony but hopefully someone might reply.
cherry tom hope you are feeling better today wrap up warm.
slender goodluck for thursday hope it all goes well
andrea how you diong fellow fec`er not a lot of us here,so hope you are ok.do younow when your last fec is mine nov2 with any luck.
good luck everyone
hope to hear from you all soon xxx

[Guest user]

Hi Girls

Sorry to but in on your thread but wanted to ask a quick question anyone experience bad headache with TAX. Woke up in the night with it and can't seem to shift it today.

xxx Ducky

[Guest user]

morning were are all the july`ers?? hope you are all well and not having to much trouble with neuts.we all seem to be in the same boat we will get through this we only have to ge through 1 more it will be so good i hope to say we are on the last one!!!!!!!.am day 6 post 5 fec only.have a onc appoiment on thursday.will be just starting my low period am worried that i will pick up somebug from hospital but will just have to wait and see.my rads start hopefully 2-3 wks after no 5 .maybe the onc on thursday will give me a clearer picture,have had no scans so just hope and pray this was all worth it.flushes still coming but a funny thing have a cold nose for some reason started around fecd 3 will say something to onc.
good luck
queenie

[Guest user]

Hi all July starters. I'm day 3, 2nd Tax today. Not feeling too bad, apart from feeling very low. Same old mouth s/e's, some leg stabbing, but generally just wiped out of energy.
Keep going folks, we're nearly there xxx

[Guest user]

morning all hope all fec`ers and tax`ers had a good wkend.day 5 post 5 same old s/e kicking in.cant wait for all this to be over!!!!!!!!!!.and we have all come a long way.last one 2`nd nov newts have been low for the past 2 but they picked up in time for the next one.hot flushes still going strong wonder what they will be like when i start taking tomoxfien for the next 5 years!!!!!!!!!!!.will just have to wait and see.
hope all s/e are doable

[Slendablenda]

Hello Ladies
We all seem to be in a similar stage at the moment. I'm feeling very disappointed. Ended up in hosp again this week due to horrid SEs and high temps. Not neutropenic, but some infection. Am on anti-biotics for a week, appt with Onc next Thursday who will decide whether to go ahead with last TAX or reduce dose. I just want to get it over with. It's already been postponed twice.
Good luck everybody, hope we all pick up soon.

[Guest user]

Hi All

Well I am on day 8 post 2nd Tax session and just about feeling normal again. Immune system dropped on Tuesday and Wednesday and I thought I would be ending up in hospital again. Thankfully I woke up yesterday morning and felt much better, so the injections must have kicked in.

My mouth was like a sand pit on a wet day, whatever I ate stuck to my gums, teeth and tonge, but now gone past that thank goodness.

My feet are still peeling and my fingers are still red and sore.

Last session on 28th, looking forward to it in some respects but not in others.

Have a good week-end everyone

Anne xx

[squirrel45]

The reluctant FECer has had the 5th dose ! Unit running an hour and half late today but they got vein first time. They were on staff training for the cold cap treatment - too late for me but I am pleased for those that come after me that they will have the choice to try it. Sharon, can't believe you have shingles ! You poor thing, I bet its sore! You take care of yourself ! My radiotherapy starts 3 weeks after last chemo - no date as yet.
Cherrytom, hope the Tax truck doesn't stay long!Queenie I am now having hot flushes so coming out in sympathy with u ! I am normally such a cold person, can't understand why I have to strip off in the night !!
Feels good to say one dose left, even better to say finished. May all neuts stay replenished, may all S/E be minimal and no one has to be admitted !! Andrea xx

[Guest user]

Keep going girls - we're nearly there!
Tax number 5 tomorrow, roll on Christmas!
xxx

[Guest user]

morning fec`ers and tax`ers,well no 5 went ahead my neuts on monday was 8 so was a bit worried chemo would not goahead went to the hospital yesday more blood test neuts now 1.5 so ok to go with no5.toffeelumpybumpy we must be at ths same time what is you next step is it rads?my periods have stopped m 47 so don`t now if i`am starting the menopose or just the affects of the chemo.am getting hot flushes at night.squirrel sorry to hear your news but welcome backthe onc nows what is best fot you.mt last chemo on november the 2 cant belive it hope all goes well this time .waiting for the s/e to kick in,started already very red in face ,next connstipation followered by rash but know only have one more.
come on ladies we have come such a long way we can do this
lol may all our s/e be small
queenie x

[lisha]

Hi Everyone, Shingles mmmmmm!!! Well called doc 4 0 clock this morn with high temp flu like symptoms and what looked suspiciousy like shingles .Three docs later, temp down and neuts a 6.1!! (apparenty due to them fighting whatever it is)i end up with anti viral tabs ,anti thrush tabs and antibiotics (sure ive got wrong ones as doc took off me the first ones that were for suspected chest infection and gave me some for skin infections!!) i am home.
Seems really confusing as docs dont communicate and i forgot to tell them the first doc thought i had beginnings of a chest infection,im confused now bet you are too.
Anyway i will keep taking the tablets and hope something is doing some good and i have to keep an eye on the rash as i go into my infectious period ,oh the joys.
Andrea sorry you had to stop your tax but im sure they will cover you ,have you got anything afterwards or are you TN like me ,sorry cant remember?Hope all goes well tomorrow and not too many SE and i hope them neuts dont do a dissappearing act!!Another one done and dusted will be thinking of you.
To all the other girls FECing AND TAXing this week good luck and take care .Love Sharon xx

[squirrel45]

Hi everyone, well I got my answer today from the onc- no more Tax for me. I was admitted after Tax 1 with a temp and no neuts despite Filgrastim injections. She is not prepared to risk it again so I become a FEC er once more. Half of me relieved half of me worried that I am not having full whack. I have to accept it and move on. Bloods are good Sharon so back tomorrow. Having Filigrastim to boost the neuts too as they dived with FEC as well. Seems like the last of the treatment is dragging us all down but we'll pick up again as there will be nice things on our calendars instead of hosp appts soon. Onwards and upwards! Xx

[Guest user]

hi june , my fingers r ok now apart from my weddin finger its turned weird ! when u squeeze it its hollow like all skin underneath been eaten away 😞 bit worried about it ! my oh said it mite fall off lol ..... yeh like all of u ladies fed up now roll on 10 nov for last one xxxxx

[Guest user]

Shapb.

I had Tax 1 on 29th Sept.

My nailbeds started aching last week, but they've settled down this week. Have 1 index fingertip that has split and is sore. The others are all dry.

Am having nose bleeds, tho'. No reason for them. Have phoned the Unit, my platelets are OK so no sense in bleeds, Neuts are still down at 0.7 tho'.

The Tax Truck has taken a lot of my oomph with it. Just no energy.

We'll get through this, it is just a passing phase.......

Love and Hugs
June

[lisha]

Hi Everyone ,Day 6 post EC no5 .Thought id got away lightly this time but it hit me yes instead .ToffeeLumpyBumpy know exactly what you mean .I dont want to play anymore either the thought of another one makes me feel sick!!!
Like you i still have all my bodily hair .Eyebrows a bit thin. Funnily enough a bit of GREY!!! how dare it...hair is growing but not sure if it will falls out again.Really bad tummy.Emend gives me constipation for 4 days and senekot has given me the runs all day(and piles not nice AGAIN)cant win and the spaced out feeling and no taste and too much smell are the pits .
Squirrell hope your bloods are fine and you get the go ahead for no 5 .I am there tom for my rads planning have u heard anything yet as we started the same day i think .Ive got 20 .
Hope all the girls on tax are coping it seems to have its own little set of SE and dont sound very nice either 😞 .
Roll on christmas hey girls.Sorry to be so negative think we all really feeling it now.
Good luck to all the girls being zapped this week and may SE be few .
Take care all .Love Sharon xx

[Guest user]

Hi All,

5 out of 6 FEC tomorrow...I don't want to play this game any more!

I'm drained, I hate the thought of feeling ill for another week. I'm tired, all of my bodily hair is still growing, i'm still having periods, 2 people laughed at me in the street in the past week (different days), i've hurt my shoulder, and I really want to eat a Kebab but my over cautious OH won't let me!

I don't know whether to scream or cry.

I know it's going to end soon but I just can't find the positives anymore.

[Guest user]

Hi All

Day four post 5th Tax for me today. Trying different painkillers from ONC but they make me so spaced out. I have just spoken to my friend who is a nurse and she suggested keeping the dose at the lowest the ONC prescribed for me rather than increasing as he suggested. A few aches and pains at present but managing. Feet and hands still peeling, I too found that bathing them in warm water helps, then rubbing E45 cream in.

Just had the injection and now taking it easy for the evening.

Mouth feels a little different but tounge still pink so far :0).

Hope everything goes alright for you all.

All the best

Anne x

[Guest user]

Hi all,
Had FEC no. 4 today after another hold-up due to my neuts. Becoming a pattern this so I refuse to believe i'm going to get my chemo on any alloted day. Only two more to go so I am happy.
Queenie, I am having night sweats too but like you don't know if it is age related, never had them before though so maybe FEC. IT makes the already sleepless nights even more uncomfortable doesn't it?
Anyway I hope everyone's SE are tolerable this week and the weeks fly in til the end of the treatment.
Carol x

[squirrel45]

Hi Everyone, hope everyones s/e are managable and life is bearable. Lisha I so hope this round of chemo isn't as bad as previous ! I was thinking about you last week ! June I had to confess I had a smile about your MUFF scan, the mind boggles !!
I am feeling so much better. Even my food has started to taste a bit like food! I am dreading Tax no 2 so much. It took me about 9 days to pull round after the last one. Don't know how much of the grottiness was S/E and how much was the infection I was brewing though. Wondering if the onc will change anything as the neuts plummeted....Seeing her Wed and chemo Thurs if bloods permit. Trying to be positive and visualise a life without chemo and imagining what it will be like to have hair !! All things considered, although it was horrible losing my hair, the chemo itself is much more horrid I think! Best wishes to all Andrea xx

[Guest user]

Thanks girls for advice and good wishes

Pain a tiny tiny bit easier this afternoon.

Splendablenda onwards towards last chem you go girl!!!!!

xxx Ducky

[Slendablenda]

Hello Ducky,
Sorry you are suffering too. What you describe sounds very familiar. For me the pattern seems to be a 4 "good" days after chemo then I have the injections for 8 days. During that time the feet,nails,hands and bone ache symptoms build up as well as horrible mouth taste and fatigue.
When the injections end my symptoms subside.
I've got my last chemo next Monday so the end is in sight.
Hope you feel better soon.

[Guest user]

Hi all, and Hi Ducky - really sorry to hear you are having such a bad time with your legs after Tax, particularly as I told you my 1st Tax was better for me than FEC. I know my se's were not as severe as yours, but i found the pains had diminished at around a week. I hope yours start to ease soon. I've my next Tax on Friday, that will be number 5, then only 1 more! I'm beginning to see the light at the end of the tunnel.
Best wishes to all xxx

[Guest user]

morning ladies a fec`er here,so sorry to hear you problems on tax hope you all feel better soon.bloods today number 5 on wednesday if bloods are ok,god i hope so was low last time but they picked up by weds.has anybody heard from silver as i think she is having fec only.angel i think you might be having fec as well
take care
hope the s/e fade soon
queenie xx

[supertrouper]

Hello Ducky

I have Tax #2 on Wednesday (12th). So sorry to hear that you are suffering from the leg and feet pains that I had with Tax #1. For me everything started to ease off around day 9 (day one being the day you have chemo) I found that putting my feet in cold water helped as did taking painkillers. On my worst days I could barely walk because of the pain. But it does pass. What I am left with now is skin peeling off the soles of my feet and the tips of my fingers and a deep achey pain in my left leg around the knee and below. I had problems with my knee before bc but nothing showed up on any of the scans so I am not too worried about that. Only advice I can offer is to take it easy, take as many painkillers as you can to keep on top of the pain. Soak your feet in cold water oar wrap them in wet towels. Watch out for constipation from the painkillers too! You will start to feel better soon. Until then be kind to yourself and have a very gentle hug fro me. ((((((HUG))))))

[Guest user]

Hi July ladies

Sorry to but in on your thread just wanted to ask I am having lots of nerve end pain from knees down through feet. Also when walking feel like bottoms of feet have been beaten with a stick and feels like some one is sticking knitting needles in my feet. (dont know if that makes any sense) Everywhere else just feels tight. Sorry having a moan but at the moment think I prefer the FEC.

From reading some of your posts think this is just part fo TAX which I had last Thursday. Pains started on Saturday just wondered if anyone could tell me roughly how long this pain will last.

xxx Ducky

[Guest user]

evenin
anyone on tax got really sore fingers ! my weddin ring finger is swollen
and so sore to the touch ! any ideas of help girls xxxx

[Guest user]

Thank you Sharon

I just self-discharged and promised to lock myself up at home instead.

Also promised to have a blood test tomorrow just to check neuts have started coming up again, but my hand is so sore and bruised from last week that I'm reluctant to say the least.

C8 I had an ECHO, but the scanner couldn't get a good enough picture past my ribs so I'm down for a MUFF scan (where they inject a blue dye) sounds gruesome doesn't it?

Love
June

[lisha]

Oh June im sorry you have had it so hard .It must be rotten to keep being admitted .
Are you having 3 of each? After my forth one i felt on a real downer .It was by far the worst one and i wasnt going back for anymore(just me having a rant and feeling really sorry for myself)had to go to docs for antibiotics but knew if i rang hospital they would have admitted me .Ended up ringing up to chec antibiotics were ok and got a bit of a telling off lol but they seemed to do the job.
Ihope they let you go home soon i think it must make you feel even more down when you are away from family .Good luck .
Last chemo my newts were 1.8 and have been going down 1 each time (yet my platelets have been going up) so i thought yesterdays would be cancelled.Howerer they had climbed to 2.15 and for the first time my platelets had gone down.Although i wasnt ever going back again(in my words)i told my sister i would stamp if bloods were down as i wanted to get another one over with.
No5 for me was a lot calmer im almost worried to write down that i feel a bit better than last time,its early days i know but just expected it to get worst.Also im sure anybody whos had no5 will tell you it feels more satisfying to get to the stage (if you hare only having 6) as you can now think only 1 more to go !!!
So you will get there June even if you feel really down now .All i can do is send big hugs and hope you get home soon xx
For any other ladies in hospital i truly hope you are home soon and to any ladies getting zapped today or have been zapped recentlu may your SE be few .Be kind to yourselves .WE ARE GETTING THERE!!!
Take care all,Love Sharon xxx

[Guest user]

Hi,

Had 1st Tax last Thursday, and didn't get the flu aches and pains like with the FEC.

There again I was admitted and put on anti biotics due to the infection in the Hickman.

But I've ranted on about that in the Dark Dark Woods so I'm not repeating it here.

Anyway, got myself still locked up as now the neuts are 0.5. But I'm going to talk about self-discharge today.

I havent been on the site for a while and feel reassured that all you other ladies are 'getting on with it'.

It's really ridiculous and they cannot really locked me away every time the neuts hit rock bottom.

Love and HUGS to all
June

[Guest user]

Hi

Chemo day today and as you can see from the time not sleeping....
I am not looking forward to the session today afer the events of the last three weeks, a few says ago I was feeling physically sick at the thought of it, now I feel emotional about going in.

oh well it is making me better... and only one more session go after this

All the best

Anne xx

[Guest user]

hi c8 , nice to hear from u im
day 7 past tax and gettin bearable now still sore feet and woke up with a massive bruise on side of foot which is sore 😞
i was given gabapentin and they have taken bits of pain away so maybe u could ask about them !!
been in bed since sat and bored now but cant walk far 😞
oh the joys
take care all xxx

[Slendablenda]

Hi queenie,yes for me I have one more tax then a break of about 4 weeks before RADS.
Can't wait for the chemo to be finished. 4 x AC was bearable, but the Paclitaxol every 2 weeks has been hard. Toe nails are starting to change colour and feel sore now, looks like someone's stamped on my feet.Last tax now scheduled for October 17th. since overnight stay in hosp last week.

[Childno8]

Hi Shapb

i haven't posted a comment for some time now but I'm now on day 9 of my first tax following 3 FEC and I've also had the most horrendous pain all over, its just started to become manageable with Ibuprofen and paracetamol. on top of that everything that I eat comes out the other end. I was due to start Herceptin at the same time but it was postponed as I hadn't had an ECHO so the pain is down to the tax. I've spoken to my BCN and she has advised asking for stronger painkillers with the next cycle and I'm definitely taking her advice.

Really, really hope you're feeling better and hopefully the next cycle will be more manageable.

C8

[Guest user]

anne thats the tablets i have im only allowed 2 a day for 5 days , pain is slowly gettin better its now my back , everyday somethin different x

[Guest user]

Hi Shapb

The ONC has given me Gabapentin 100mg capsules, which I start taking on Saturday, one three times a day, Sunday two three times a day, then Monday three capsules three times a day for five days.

He hopes that will help me, so do I.

All the best

Anne x

[Guest user]

oh anne its crap eh ive been in pain last 4 days just about now a bit
better but can hardly walk :; im like 90 !
no hot flushes , hope all goes well
on frid xxx

[Guest user]

Hi All

I have been getting the nights sweats since the Tax started. I sleep on top of bed with little bed clothing on which seems to help control it and a towel on my pillow to stop my head getting sore.

Saw the ONC today, my bloods are ok for Friday's session but he reckons I was allergic to the Tax itself. So he is reducing the strength of it for Friday. He has also given me stronger pain killers to help with the joint pain on Sunday and Monday. Also have to have the injections to boost immune system.

Only two more to go..... :0)

All the best

Anne x

[squirrel45]

Hi Queenie, I haven't had any hot flushes, and up until the Tax, my periods have appeared more or less on time. Now I am late but guess I can blame the chemo, no chance of any little squirrels making an appearance ! Hope the flushes settle soon, maybe worth a mention to your doc. They can do a blood test (yeayy another blood test) to check if you are menopausal. Hope the nights get better soon too.

[Guest user]

morning all.is anybody haning hot flushes at night.have maybe 1 to 3 per night.don`t last very long but are a pain when you can`t sleep anyway.might be the stsrt of the menopose hope tou are all well.
queenie

[Guest user]

ty for all ur wishes , i got some pain relief tablets from hospital today only had 1 so far but feet still achin about to take another for hopefully a sleep ! no sleep last 2 nites and only dozin inbetween pain today 😞
hope all well and we r gettin there roll on 10 nov last one yipppeee 🙂 xxx

[squirrel45]

Hi all, I have escaped from hospital and feeling much better for getting a bit of sun on my face and fresh air ! So lovely to go to bed without being attatched to a wheezing machine and just sleep next to one instead ! (sorry OH, but u do snore! )Yes, the hospital experience wasn't great, the nurses work extremely hard and were overstretched at times. But I am very grateful to one and all. I think the important thing is to keep taking the temp. I put all my aches/tiredness down to the Tax and didn't realise I had something brewing. I don't think I have ever felt as ill but pushed myself to keep going and not give in. I am looking forward to the next lot like a hole in the head ! I am wondering if the onc will change anything next time? I am seeing her next week, the day before i am due the next poxy,toxy Tax !!
Hope my co Taxers are surviving the SEs.Has anyone tried cooling their fingers during treatment? I stuck mine in frozen peas and touch wood, no numbness or nail changes yet - but won't count my chickens! Hope the FECers (think you have the best name!) not suffering too much too. Lisha best of luck for Thursday. I think when u walk out of there it will be such a positive feeling - just one more to go...... x

[Guest user]

Hello everyone, i've not posted for a while, but thought I'd say Hi and update about my chemo so far. For me the FEC got worse and the 3rd one was bl***y awful - felt sickly and brain really mushy - I can't really describe it. I just had to take to my bed and was depressed. So Tax 1 has been ok in comparison. Loads of aches and pains and sore nails, but pararcetamol was able to control that. I'm now day 11 and mouth has just about returned to normal, still off certain foods, but overall a much better experience so far on Tax than FEC. No feeling sick!!! I also started herceptin with the Tax, so not really sure if any se's were for that.
Best wishes to everyone, us July starters haven't got too many left to go now xxx

[Guest user]

morning ladies.sorry to all the ladies in july who are having tax. does`nt sound very nice ,all i can do is send lots of hugs as i`am only having fec only 2 more to go.number 5 next week.ladies are you having hot flushes at night.am 46 so it could be the signs of the menopose.took a temazepam last night and had the best nights sleep i had in a long time.all you ladies on tax do you have to have rads next?mine i hope to start in november with any luck.
hope to hear from you soon
queenie xx

[Slendablenda]

Hi ladies
I'm having Paclitaxol which is a bit different, but it is one of the TAX drugs. I've had 2 so far. I get pains especially in my feet and sore hands including back of the hands and tender nails, back ache too as well as major fatigue from about Day 4 after the steroids have finished and the injections start. The first time it lasted about 7 days, this time it's been longer,about 10 days.
I've been taking Paracetamol and Ibuprofen for the pain and the occasional Zopiclone for when I really need a good night's sleep.
Good luck for the coming week ladies.