Breast Cancer Now Forum

Hi there everyone, Day 8 of 2nd FEC cycle today. I was absolutely wiped out yesterday and hardly moved all day. Feeling much more tired on this cycle so far but today has been much better. Jude on round 1 I had ondansetron for 2 days, metoclopramide for 5 days, also had dexamethasone for 3 days following chemo. This time I also had emend aprepitant to take an hour before treatment due to start and then for 2 days after along with all the same drugs as before. I had no vomiting this time and much less nausea and didn't need to take the full course of metoclopramide. Chrissy I found the Hickman was quite sore for the first couple of days at the entry site at the neck but paracetamol was enough to take the edge off. I need to use extra pillows at night - it's only now 2 days after the top stitches have been taken out that I feel I can turn a bit on my side. Hopefully when you get the line cleaning done the nurses can advise on extra pain relief. Mine isn't sore now exactly but it's a bit tender. The dressing is also a bit itchy. I've bought some soft bra tops to make it easier to stow away the lines, but they don't give the old girls much support 😂 As if we didn't have enough to cope with! Hope everyone is coping. At least the sun has come out a bit today and the daffodils are beginning to come up. Onwards and upwards! Hugs all round x ... View more

Hi Chrissy yes I had to go back to the day medicine unit yesterday to have the dressing changed. There was a fair bit of dried blood to be cleaned up. The chemo nurses had flushed it. I have appointments set up now for the next couple of weeks at the health centre for cleaning and flushing and will carry on after that on Mondays to fit in with the oncology appointments. It's still slightly tender at the neck but improving. ... View more

Chrissy that is great. I was fine getting it done - local anaesthetic and some sedation. The entry site at the neck is a bit sore but I've been told that will ease off when the stitches come out. I could feel pressure on my chest as they were doing it - feels quite weird but so far I would say it's definitely the best choice. ... View more

Good morning all. Happy to report that yesterday morning I got a Hickman line successfully inserted in my chest and then round 2 of FEC went ahead in the afternoon and was an absolute breeze in comparison to round 1 with the cannula and so much less traumatic than the failed attempts 2 weeks ago. My anti sickness meds have been tweaked and so far I have only been feeling vaguely nauseous and not totally wiped out like last time. Today's new challenge is to remember what they told me about the bits of the line to protect when I'm showering! Moijan I was dismayed by the list of foods to avoid as so many of them were the only things I could stomach the last time round so I asked the oncology pharmacist about it. Her advice was that normal dietary amounts of these foods would be unlikely to interfere with the chemo drugs and it would need really large quantities to make a difference. However if I was concerned then avoiding those things on the day of the treatment would be ok. Everything in moderation was her advice so maybe you don't need to give up pineapple entirely Green Damsel! Hope everyone is coping and feeling strong. Chrissy hope your arm is improving or you've been given some help to cope with it. Mine was feeling a bit sore and I was told keeping it warm and gentle massage would help but apparently sometimes people get physiotherapy to help with this problem. Keep asking! Have a good day everyone x ... View more

Hi Chrissy I am in Scotland and parking is free at my local hospital. It makes a huge difference to patients and staff. The Scottish government abolished hospital parking charges at the end of 2008 after huge outcry about the costs. There are only 3 hospitals here with charges and that's because they were locked into long term PFI contracts so couldn't be changed. It might be worth starting a petition - get 100000 signatures and the Parliament has to debate it. When you think of how many cancer patients there must be across the country paying extortionate prices to park for treatment and then add all the families visiting patients in hospital there must be millions affected. It just seems so unfair when people are coping with life changing illnesses to give them additional costs to worry about. ... View more

Morning all, Well I am about to start back on the merry go round again. I didn't get the Hickman line in last week as they couldn't fit me in. So the plan now is to get it done on Wednesday morning. I have to go to the practice nurse today to have bloods taken from my arm which is looking normal again and all the bruising has gone. Tomorrow I have oncology appointment and hopefully the bloods are still ok. If so I will get round 2 on Wednesday after the line has gone in. I have been feeling frustrated at the delay but otherwise ok. Chrissy sorry to hear you're feeling so ill. I found Twinings ginger green tea was good when my tummy felt bad and everything tasted yucky. Doesn't sound right that your arm is so sore - maybe phone your chemo ward for advice? ... View more

Good luck with the bloods and the next round Bibi. I know exactly what you mean about sea air - it feels so good and is a real pick-me-up. Rest up and gather your strength and fingers crossed that the side effects are kept to the minimum. Chrissy and Macneech hope the nausea and exhaustion is wearing off now and you're beginning to get back on the upswing. Good luck everyone with the next stage. ... View more

Hi All, hope you're all well today. My spirits are being lifted by some sunshine and blue skies although still feeling scunnered (as we say in Scotland). I can't get the line in this week so round 2 has been postponed again until next week when I should get the line in and get the chemo on Wednesday. In some ways the waiting is worse than the treatment! Still, it means I should be able to catch up with a couple of friends before the next round starts although we will now have to cancel a short hotel break that we had booked on impulse thinking that it would be in my "good" week. Hey ho - I suppose these are the ups and downs of cancer treatment. Keep well everyone. Big hugs all round x ... View more

Feeling a bit down today. I was expecting to have a letter from the hospital about getting the line in tomorrow but all I got was a letter giving me another oncology appointment in 2 weeks. Have phoned to find out what's happening and waiting for a phone call from the breast care nurses. Feeling as if I just have to hang about and wait instead of getting on with my day. It doesn't help that my hair is now coming out. No actual bald patches yet but it feels much thinner than usual. Moijan I had sensitive skin around my jaw line and across my shoulders during week 1/2 of my first FEC but I don't think paclitaxel is one of those drugs. Keep well everyone. Be good to yourselves. ... View more

Suggs - jealous! What a wonderful pick-me-up. And great you're feeling so well. I'm hoping my legs start shedding soon although it's been really useful having that extra layer of fur during all the cold weather 😁 ... View more

Flora great news that you are back on track and without the allergic reactions. You must be feeling really relieved. Hope the next week or so isn't too rough. Be kind to yourself. I have been having the same guilty feeling about work and the fact I'm not there on days when I am feeling fine. However I know that if I went in I would start getting involved in things and start to get stressed and I can't cope mentally with stress just now. Fortunately my bosses have been really understanding about it all. I am going to see my manager tomorrow for a wee catch up so I don't feel too far out of the loop. Today's treatment didn't go ahead. My bloods were up and I was cannulated on the second attempt and went through the whole cold cap pre-cooling and intravenous anti sickness stuff but when the nurse started giving me the epirubicin it started to feel nippy and she stopped it at 1 ml because of the risk of extravasation. We had one more go at a cannula but my veins just were shutting down as soon as the needle went in. I asked yesterday about getting a line and they had already made the request so I should be getting a Hickman line put in and will go back next Wednesday for another shot at round 2. It was quite depressing to have a delay but at the same time it's a relief that I won't be having needles stuck in me every three weeks! Macneech I hope yours went better than mine and side effects are not too bad. My hair now seems to be starting to come out - noticed a few strands in the sink after rinsing my hair after the cold cap, however it seems to be holding on pretty well so far. The upside of today's adventure was that I wasn't feeling sick so we went down to Glasgow and had lovely dinner out with my student son. And I realised that of the 3 of us I have the shortest hair 🤣 Take care everyone. Hugs all round x ... View more

Well as anticipated more blood was needed today although it wasn't because yesterday's sample was too small but because the numbers were slightly too low. Just waiting for a phone call to say whether it's a go for round two tomorrow. At the moment they're looking to keep using veins and have been told to stay warm and hydrated. It took 3 goes today to get the blood but at least I didn't faint this time. Onwards and upwards. Miss Green no one is ever too old to benefit from mum cuddles or too old to give them. Hope you are feeling a bit better now. Xx ... View more

Oh Chrissy, so sorry it didn't go ahead. You feel as if your whole life is on hold and just want to get through it. Bear up, chin up, you will make it through and even if you don't get away for your birthday I am sure you and your family will manage to have a treat of some kind. I'm off now to see what kind of pincushion I will be today. And it's snowing again so fingers crossed that the road stays open! Have a good day everyone x ... View more

Thanks everyone for the advice and hugs - sounds like it might be a good option if there are going to be problems in getting blood out. ... View more

When I read about PICC lines before starting they seemed scary and difficult but after that first treatment and today's experience I'm thinking it seems a lot less scary than possibly fainting every time I get a needle in my hand, or having treatment delayed because they can't get a decent vein.  My friend's son is going through chemo just now and had a line put in and seems to be getting on no problem with it.  And a trip to the nurse every week to get the dressing changed and line cleaned will give me something else to do! I will ask tomorrow at the oncology clinic - especially as I suspect they are going to have to take more blood.  If they could go to the other arm it might be better, but the nurse today said she can't use it because of the risk of lymphoedema after the sentinel node was removed at that side.  At the moment I'm feeling a bit like a pincushion! ... View more

Not a great start to the week - went to the GP practice nurse today to have blood taken but after Friday's escapade at the hospital there was so much bruising around the veins in my arm that she couldn't get enough of a sample.  She then tried the back of my hand and I ended up feeling dizzy and faint again ( as per 1st chemo cycle when the cannula went in).  She got enough there for one of the samples and a bit more for the second, but probably not enough.  By that time she wasn't going to try any more, so I have to hope that it was just enough to be tested properly.  I have an oncology appointment tomorrow to find out if Wednesday's treatment will go ahead.  The thought of having more blood taken tomorrow is not a happy one.  Neither is the thought of the treatment being delayed - just want to get it over with now.   Hope everyone else is having a better day.  The snow here is gradually melting, and it's now gone that horrible wet cold slushy way. An afternoon cuddled up on the couch with the dog beckons!  Keep cosy everyone! ... View more

Hello all, now on day 18 of my first FEC cycle and beginning to dread next week and going through the process of blood test and oncology appointment to find out if I'm ready for the next cycle. It was difficult last time not knowing what to expect but in some ways it's worse this time knowing what is ahead. I have been feeling pretty good and managing to get out for walks, even with all the snow however had a scare last night with chest pains. Initially thought I had pulled a muscle however it got worse instead of easing off. Consulted the symptoms check list in my chemotherapy record booklet and ended up phoning 999 as per advice. Ended up in hospital overnight being checked out for various heart issues and possibly tiny blood clots but thankfully all clear. I was advised to take aspirin while waiting for the ambulance. All we had was alka seltzer and I had to chew a tablet without dissolving it in water. It was vile but seemed to do the trick. So I spent the night feeling very guilty for taking up medical time on investigating me for something that might have been a dose of wind ☹ Feeling really tired now after all the excitement. Time for bed and fingers crossed for next week going to plan. It was a first though - never been in an ambulance before. As ever all the paramedics, doctors and nurses and even the hospital porters were marvellous. Keep well everyone. PS feeling my scalp itching as if I have dandruff. Is this the start of the hair coming out? ... View more

Flora sounds awful experience again - fingers crossed for you that the next time it's okay. It must be scary and frustrating at the same time. Chrissy you don't have to be brave to get your hair cut - I found it immensely empowering to take back control about one thing and also liberating not to worry about having to spend so much time looking after it. Having said that I don't know how I will feel when it does start coming out but just go for it. If you can rid yourself of one of the unpleasant symptoms you might have more energy left to deal with the rest. Hope this hasn't come across as cheeky- it's meant with the best of supportive intentions. ... View more

Hi Lady H my 4th to 6th cycles will be T and herceptin but I can't remember if pertumazab will be in there too. I have already had lumpectomy and sentinel node biopsy back in December. I will be having radiotherapy after the chemo and tamoxifen after that. I had the cold cap on first cycle and found it was okay. Who knew that swimming in the Moray Firth on summer holidays would get me in training for chemo! I am going to try it again although since I have had my hair cut really short since the last time I might find it too cold next time! Going to get my wig tomorrow. Still not sure if I will wear it but if my hair does start really coming out at least I will have the option. ... View more

Lady H what a scare!  Hope you are feeling more back to normal.  I have taken your advice and have taken my temperature today, just so that I know where I'm starting from.  Also to make sure I know how to use the thermometer if I need to!   I am just a day ahead of you as had my first FEC on 14 Feb and due my next one on 7 March.  Trying to keep clear of any infection risk meantime. ... View more