Breast Cancer Now Forum

I don't think whether you're skinny/bony or not has much effect on how easy (or otherwise) it is to find a vein or how well they hold out with chemo. Some people to managage with very little problem while others struggle from the start. My oncologist decided I should have a portacath fitted before I started chemo so I don't know how I'd have got on but when I had the op to fit the portacath it took them 3 attempts to find a vein to administer the sedation so I'm glad I went along with his advice (I was rather reluctant at the time!). There are several different types of permanent line and it's certainly worth discussing with your medical team. My portacath is great and I'd highly recommend them but they are the least common type as I believe they are the most costly to fit. Portacaths sit under the skin of the chest so there is no exposed line and therefore less risk of infection, a special type of needle is then inserted through the skin into the port to give infusions and take blood samples so a small needle prick each time but much easier tnan fitting a cannula. HTH ... View more

I has this too with my first 2 cycles of FEC. I had a bit of constipation for the first few days which triggered piles - very painful esp as I love curry (one of the few things that is so strong it still tastes the same!) and that can cause a bit of pain the next day anyway but piles plus 'ring of fire' = OMG!!!! Anyhow I finally got my dose of Movicol sorted with my 3rd FEC last week so no contipation and no piles- yipee!!! Linda xx ... View more

It depends very much on the type and size of the tumour. If the tumour is large it may be necessary to shrink it with chemo before surgery. That's the case with me, I'm having chemo and my tumour has so far gone from 15cm to 4cm, I will have surgery to remove it once the chemo is complete. This way of doing things is less common than surgery first but by no means unusual. HTH ... View more

Hi grace59 As I mentioned earlier in this thread I'm using the type of cap that is kept in the freezer. From what I've read it does seem that it might be less effective than the wired in type but I'd also say that it's potentially more bareable to use so less chance of giving up on it. When I go for chemo I have infusions of steroids and anti-sickness meds before the actual chemo drugs and I put the first cap on at the same time as the first infusion is started so that by the time the chemo starts I've been wearing the cap for about 20-30 mins. The chemo itself takes about another hour and then I wear the cap for a further 30-60 mins. The cap is changed every 30 mins so I get through 5 in total. I'm now 4 days since my 3rd FEC and still have a full head covering of hair, I don't need scarves and don't own a wig. I wear a hat when out walking but only because it's cold. My hair has thinned, especially towards the back on top but if you didn't know what my hair looked like normally you wouldn't see anything odd about it. I have no underarm hair left though (all departed very suddenly overnight a few days before 2nd FEC) and I'm quite happy to do without that - a small bonus to this treatment! Give the freezer caps a go, they can work and you've nothing to lose by trying!! Linda xxxx ... View more

Hi Finty, I had my third FEC on thursday and my SE's have followed the same pattern each time so far, if anything the first cycle was the worst maybe because I didn't know what to expect and didn't take anything for the constipation I got from the anti-nausea meds. I'm also using the cold cap and my hair has thinned but not enough to require me to cover my head. It started to thin around the time of my second FEC and I'm still losing hair but very gradually. My underarm hair all came out overnight at around day 18 after 1st FEC but is now showing signs of growing back a little! Good luck for Tuesday, let us know how you get on. Linda xx ... View more

I've just had FEC3 and have asked both chemo nurse and onc if it's ok to take ibuprofen and they both ok'd it. ... View more

I wasn't given any advice about foods to avoid during chemo but I did some research myself and found: - there is an increased risk of food poisoning if your immune system is compromised so you should avoid undercooked meat, fish and eggs and unpasteurised milk and cheese. - probiotic drinks and yoghurs contain live bacteria and are sometimes recommended to be avoided - these foods only need to be avoided if you are neutropenic (low neutrophils) but the problem is knowing that you are as you may show no symptoms! - Grapefruit and grapefruit juice can interact with medication so avoid them. I'm having Neulasta injections after each chemo and my blood counts have been normal throughout so far (3rd FEC yesterday) so I've been eating whatever I fancy, including pate and sushi! I've also read one (admittedly small) study that suggests that probiotic drinks (specifically Yakult) may improve bowel health and reduce the risk of infections during chemo, it needs more follow up to confirm though. I was suffering badly with heartburn and that'brick in your stomach' feeling so I decided to risk having a Yakult each day and I do feel much better for it and haven't needed the gaviscon since - has to be a personal choice though. HTH ... View more

Well done Lilythepink, now you can start counting down 'til you're finished! I had FEC no3 this morning, just one more to go then I start weekly Taxol. I've been lucky and not had any bad side effects, feel a bit rough for a couple of days then tired for a few more after the steroids finish, the last two weeks of each cycle I've felt fine so far let's hope it's the same this time. The best tips I've had for minimising SE's have been to drink lots to flush the toxins through, eat regularly (I find I feel more nauseous if I don't have a regular snack/chocolate intake!) and if you get the nasty post-chemo taste in your mouth then fruit pastilles still taste ok and are refreshing. Linda xx ... View more

Hi Richo, Sorry you've had to join us here but you'll find lots of advice and support. I'm currently having chemo before surgery and will be having my third cycle of FEC tomorrow (providing the roads are passable!). Do you know which chemo you will be having? If it's FEC then you might find the thread at http://www.breastcancercare.org.uk/forum/1st-chemo-17th-dec-doing-okay-so-far-t24642.html useful as there's a few of us there who have been talking about how the first few cycles have been for us. I've been using the cold cap and it seems to be working, my hair has thinned a lot but I still have enough not to need to cover up in any way. I had my hair cut shorter but not short before my second chemo - went from just below shoulder length to 'mid neck', needed a cut to tidy it up and thought it might help to reduce the weight on the roots. Good luck with your treatment, it's daunting but do-able, just take it one step at a time. Linda xxx ... View more

My onc was very vague on the subject too. I had my first swine flu jab 4 days before my 1st chemo and the second one 3 weeks later on the advice of the nurse practitioner at my GP's surgery. My onc was keen for me to have the first dose but unsure if I needed the second! I looked into it and found conflicting advice but the debate seemed mainly to centre around whether the vaccine would be effective rather than whether it was harmful in any way. That being the case I decided to go ahead with both doses on the basis that it might not give me immunity but if I didn't have it there was even more chance of not being immune. My hubby, kids and parents have all had the vaccine to minimise the risk of my being exposed to the virus so all I can do now is cross my fingers and hope for the best. Linda xx ... View more

Well the last three weeks have flown by and I'm gearing up for FEC no 3 on thursday - really hope that the promised snow doesn't make the roads impassable, I so do NOT want any delays! I've been feeling great for the last couple of weeks, so far it's been that I've felt a bit rough for a couple of days after chemo and then tired for the rest of the first week, after that I've been pretty much back to normal and I'd say the second cycle was actually a little easier than the first. I feel very lucky and really hope it continues the same way this time around. I think the cold cap is working as I still have hair! It's thinned quite a bit, especially on top but unless you're looking at my head from above you wouldn't notice and very few people will do that unless I'm sitting and they're standing so it doesn't bother me. I can't see it myself just looking in the mirror so I'm pretending it hasn't happened 😉 Good luck everyone with your next cycle, and well done Rosie for making it through!! Linda xx ... View more

I was diagnose on Nov 9th and like joshina I'm having chemo before surgery. This seems to be the less common route but I had no choice as my tumour at diagnosis was too large to be easily removable with surgery. I'm having 4xFEC followed by 12x weekly Taxol. Surgery will either be between the two types of chemo or after it's all finished depending on the advice of my breast surgeon. I'd find it hard to make the decision myself as to whether to have chemo or surgery first so I'm glad it was out of my hands. I have two children and no plans for more so fertility wasn't an issue for me (in any case I'm 43 so a bit long in the tooth to go through that again!). The advantage of chemo first is that it is possible to actually see a response to the chemo which you can't do if the tumour has already been removed. I'm due my 3rd FEC on thursday (7th Jan) and there has already been "significant shrinkage" in the tumour - I was able to feel this for myself even before the 2nd FEC, which was very reassuring. The obvious disadvantage is that the tumour is in your body for longer with the increased risk of the cancer spreading esp if it doesn't respond to chemo. Given that my tumour was very large then chemo first also has the advantage for me that there is still a slight chance that I may escape a full mastectomy if there is sufficient shrinkage, I'm trying not to get my hopes up as my surgeon was pretty sure that a mastectomy would be needed but it would cetainly be a bonus. I suspect that if surgery first had been an option for me and fertility was an issue I would probably have gone for surgery first to buy myself more time but it's hard to say for sure. I hope the fertility people can give you some help with your decision as it must be an extremely hard one to make. My other thought, and I realise that this may be easier to say as someone who already has children, is that I wouldn't want to put myself at any extra risk in order to increase my chance of having children in the future. I say this because, for me, the hardest thing about having bc is the fear that my children (currently age 4 and 2) may have to grow up without their mother. The effect of my diagnosis on them is of far more concern to me than any effect on myself and I will do absolutely anything, no matter how hard, to give the greatest chance of seeing them grow up. Good luck with your decision and please let us know how you get on. Linda xx ... View more

I believe there are a couple of different types of cold cap and that the the length of time you wear it depends on the type of cap and also the chemo regime you are having. I'm currently having FEC and use a cold cap that is basically a cap shaped freezer pack. I wear it for about 30 mins before treatment, during chemo and for another 30 mins or so after the infusion has finished. The cap is changed for a new one out of the freezer as soon as it starts to warm up from my body heat. It is uncomfortable, especially when first out of the freezer, like a bad 'ice cream headache' but I don't find it unbearable. The type of cap I'm using doesn't require your hair to be wetted so I don't look a state after it comes off! From what my chemo nurse says I believe this type of cap is less 'severe' than others, I guess that means it could be potenitally less effective but I still think it's worth trying. I am due my 3rd FEC in a weeks time and I still have a full head of hair. It has thinned considerably but is not noticable to anyone but myself and the rate of hair loss seems to have slowed down over the last few days. Since it seems that many people loose most, if not all, of their hair around the time of the second FEC I'm hoping that it's a sign that the cap is working for me and I may get to keep my hair throughout, or at least enough to avoid it being noticable if I wear hats and scarves. So far I've only needed a hat to deal with the winter cold which is more noticable with thinner hair! I would definitely recommend at least trying the cold cap if it's available - nothing ventured, nothing gained. I should mention that I had quite thick hair prior to chemo so that may be helping. Linda xx ... View more

Glad you got no4 out of the way with no problems Sarah. Hope hubby wasn't too viscious with the Neulasta. I have Neulasta after each chemo and my blood counts were excellent last time (Rosie Jo - it's given to boost white blood cell levels), I haven't had any bone pain from it so far thank goodness! Due to the forcast of snow last week I brought my Neulasta home with me and had instructions how to inject myself but I chickened out on Friday and as the roads were passable we went back to the hospital for the nurse to do it. I took more notice of what she did so maybe next time I can pluck up my courage and save a trip out! Hubby is needle phobic so no way I'd get him to do it. Re periods, I'm 43 and our family is complete. I've been on the mini-pill since my youngest was born (nearly 3 years ago) and had no periods while on it so hadn't had a period for nearly 4 years in total. Came off the pill when I got my diagnosis in case my tumour is hormone sensitive and actually had my first proper period last week despite the chemo! While I'd be quite happy to see the back of periods permanently, I really hope that they continue as normal for you Rosie Jo. I'm still doing ok after FEC no 2, have been a little washed out the last couple of days but that might be due to trying to do too much - perhaps shopping, baking Mince Pies and wrapping a ton of presents was too much to attempt in one day! Linda xx ... View more

Rosie Jo - You asked how far I was into treatment and the answer is not very far! I have Inflammatory / Invasive Ductal BC, Grade 3 with lymph node involvement, not sure how many nodes but at least 4. My lump at diagnosis was too large for immediate surgery so I'm having chemo first to shrink it prior to surgery and rads. The plan is to have 4 x FEC followed by 12 x weekly Taxol. I had my second FEC on thursday so only just at the beginning of the journey but I'm taking it one step at a time and enjoying the fact that I'm actually feeling pretty good most of the time so far! The good news is that I've just got home from an appointment with my oncologist and he's had a good grope and pronounced that there is already 'significant shrinkage' so things are going well and there's good response to treatment. Couldn't ask for much better news at this stage so now I'm planning to enjoy Christmas and New Year (hectic as I have 2 sons ages 4 and 2!) before facing FEC3 on 7th Jan. It makes it a bit easier to know that the chemo is definitely doing some good!! Linda xx ... View more

Well done on making it to number 5, it's good to hear they've fixed your meds to make it easier. Sorry to hear that you're struggling with your veins, lots of sympathy but no advice I'm afraid as I had a portacath fitted before my first chemo so it's not an issue I've had to deal with. I do have a friend who had chemo (though not for BC) and suffered with her veins and they did recover after treatment finished so hopefully you'll be the same. Is the 6th cycle your last one? ... View more

I had my 2nd FEC yesterday. My head started to itch and tingle about a week after the first dose and I lost all my underarm hair overnight on day which was interesting! I am using the cold cap and my hair started to thin on day 20 (so 2 days ago) but as my hair was very thick anyway I still have a lot left so it doesn't show as yet. My chemo nurse said it will continue to thin over the next week but if I'm lucky it may slow down after that and hopefully I'll keep some. We'll see - it'd be nice to still have hair for Christmas! ... View more

Sorry last post submitted before I'd finished!!! I was given a Portacath to proctect my veins before my 1st chemo rather than after a problem developed, also I have an injection of Neulasta after each chemo to boost my white cell count, again this has been from the 1st chemo so not a reaction to a previous problem. I'm certainly saving the NHS some money as bills so far, from first appointment on Nov 9th are now over £7k! ... View more