Breast Cancer Now Forum

Hi to all Jems, you are all in my thoughts, thanks Lee for asking how I'm doing, feeling quite good, but always do the last week, before next round, coming up for round 4, not looking forward to new chemo next Wed, Dexataxol which I think is same as Tax. But not sure? Lee I also have to take all the steroids with next treatment, starting the day before & bring home the stomach injection for next day, they said I have to wear frozen gloves while having that chemo to try to save my fingernails, 😞 so far still have eyebrows & lashes, but they say this next one will take them out, not looking forward to losing them 😞 still hate looking in the mirror at my bald head, and have the odd meltdown over this. This week ive been enjoying a wine or 2, feel almost human. Been very busy at work this week, but always checking each day to see how everyone is going. Big hugs to you all we are so strong & brave, we will all get through this & will enjoy life again when it's all over! Love Rhonda xoxo ... View more

Happy Birthday Morwenna, hope you were feeling good enough to tnjoy your Birthday! Irenee I know what you mean about being no company for hubby I feel the same, I've become boring & on bad days just don't want to do anything, I'm not very social anymore ! Feeling very good today 2 weeks since FEC. Not looking forward to going back next week. Hugs to all Rhonda ... View more

Hi Lynne, so sorry you have had a rough 10 days of Nausea, this should not happen my ONC said! have they given you something to take for the Nausea I was given Pramin but have not needed it, first 10 days after FEC is always the worst for me, I hope you find out what is wrong with your little boy too. I have round 4 on Wed they are changing to Dexataxol for 3 rounds instead of FEC don't know if this will be better or worse, just learning how to deal with FEC. (Not really) seeing Phsio on Mon about cording, this is so draining, mentally, emotionally & physically. They call this a journey, I call it a FEC'N nightmare! Hugs to all Jems. Rhonda xoxo ... View more

Hi Yvonne, sorry you are suffering depression, I've had 3 FECS now going on to Dexetaxol which is same as Taxotere, next round, for 3 rounds. my vein is very sore too but will carry on & hope it can last 3 more. Morweena so sorry you had so much trouble with your port. 9 days since Fec and still have the spaced out feeling but getting better each day! Have appt. with a physio next week as my axillary cording seems to be getting tighter even though I'm stretching heaps. Hugs to all this is certainly the hardest challenge I've ever had to do! We are all so brave. FEC FEC FEC wish I could say what id really like to say but will settle for this. LOL love Rhonda xoxo ... View more

Jan so glad you have only 1 FEC to go, I can't wait o say that, & no it's not the drugs talking I feel a 100 have no energy what so ever, simple tasks are so tiring! I also have had a personality transport, missing my happy bubbly self, I feel for hubby as I am a grumpy cow, that just wants to sit on the lounge every night after work, don't even feel like having a wine with him, geeze I must be crook! Hugs Rhonda xx ... View more

FEC FEC FEC love it! Day 6 since 3rd FEC felt down today had a bit of a cry to my daughter, so over feeling light headed and weak, seem to have blurred vision & watery eyes too, so over all these side-effects seems to be new one all the time! Seeing BCN tomorrow about the cording in my under arm whicis it seems to be pulling towards my re-construction breast! Which by the way is extremely uncomfortable. Yes Morwenna we will get through this but it's a long hard struggle, & we all will have our down days. BIG HUGS TO ALL! Rhonda ... View more

How exciting for you Morwenna, I had planned for Hawaii this year, but have put it off now until next year, but I am looking forward to 2 weeks in Bali Indonesia our favourite holiday destination in July, Bali is very close to us only 3 & 1/2 hour flight from West Aust. & is a tropical paradise! Can't wait. 🙂 Glad your feeling a lot better. I'm 5 days since Fec & still feel very spaced out. I hate this feeling. cheers Rhonda x ... View more

I'm in for HAWAII too. dreaming of cocktails by the pool. Better than these damn poisonous cocktails we are getting now! Sorry Morwenna you are going through a rough time. We will all deserve a trip to Hawaii when we get over this crap! Hugs Rhonda xx ... View more

Jenny if you go on EBay look up fringe bangs there are lots there! It is hard Jenny & I think we are all trying to stay positive, but we all know this is a shocking nightmare we are living! After 3 Fecs I still have eyebrows & lashes! But next treatment is Doxetaxol & they say that definitely takes them out & maybe even fingernails, they will put my hands in frozen gloves , so hope I don't lose them too! I've had enough! Irenee the sleep pills I take are called Restavit only need 1/2 they are in Aust. So don't know if you can get them. But they must have something similar. Hugs to everyone! Love Rhonda x ... View more

Flutterby thats OK I know how your feeling, I absolutely hate this bald head of mine & also feel & look horrid & feel 100 too.Sarah I find my wig quite comfy and not itchy or hot, we have a heat wave here over 100f every day and it the wig has felt fine, I did try lots to make sure I found one I was happy with. I also got a fringe bang which looks good with caps. Irenee I do take sleeping pills every night or I'd be laying awake stressing, just a over the counter one from pharmacy. I have now got axillary cording,which is very uncomfortable & making my reconstruction breast ache too. Another to add to the list! Is anyone going on Femara after chemo for 5 yrs, I have researched this drug & it doesn't sound good, lots of bad side effects, I want my old self back after chemo, not be on a drug that makes you feel like crap for 5 yrs. I suppose I will have to try it & see how I go! Hugs to all of you! Rhonda xoxo ... View more

Hi to all here. Flutterby I know how you feel bad enough losing our breast then hair. I try not to look to much in the Mirror, quickly put on make-up each morn & then wig, this makes me feel a lit better, but I work everyday so have to do this anyway. Not happy with new Doxetaxol drug they say now fingernails may fall off, what next do they want. Injecting myself yesterday went fine no probs. haha Caroline thinking I was from Wales a long way off from OZ land.LOL Thinking of everyone here we are all going through so much,too much to deal with at times, it is a crap journey we are all on! Hugs to all Rhonda x ... View more

Lee, can't imagine that cold, we have been having a heat wave over 105F for the last week, we live on the coast so get a nice sea breeze Most day's. amazing how many different places we are all from but found this sight! I will be able to let you know how I go on the Doxetaxol as I'm just ahead of you, they told me that they will supply me with frozen gloves to wear while having it as it can make your fingernails fall off, GREAT! I still have eyebrows & lashes but they say they will come out! Not looking forward to this as I'm just learning how to deal with FEC. hugs Rhonda 🙂 keep smiling! ... View more

Hi Lee, yes Dexetaxol & Taxotere are same, I am having 3 of each so next one is Doxetaxol, how many of each are you having ? enough stomach fat for injection it was easy! Haha Got a new wig from Uk today same as one I got here, so much cheaper than Australia. HUGS to all Rhonda xoxo ... View more

Thanks for that advice Caroline I will do it your way! It was a good score in Rugby. But I'm not into it , we are more into our AFL football as I'm in Australia not Uk. My daughter found this sight for me much better that the Aussie one hugs to all Jems Rhonda ... View more

Thanks Caroline , did you put it in slow or a quick jab. I used to inject my dog, so think I should be able to do this! Cheers Rhonda xoxo ... View more

Flutterbybutterfly you will know when it's time day 15 after my first FEC chemo my scalp got sore and I could pull it out in big bits and noticed in the wind I could see it blowing away lol my daughter did a No 1 on it & it felt so much better! I was ok that day, but next morning when I looked in mirror I cried heaps.... Yvonne glad you posted this as I've been to scared to wash my wig, worry it will not look the same, but now I'll give it a go, thanks.... Today had 3rd Fec half way YAY next 3 will be DOCETAXEL has anyone had this chemo! Not sure if it will better or worse than FEC. Then after chemo finishes ONC wants me to take FEMARA for 5 years don't like what I've read about the side effects of this! Couldn't handle feeling crap for 5 yrs! Oh & they have given me a injection to bring home to do myself tomorrow in the stomach , hope i can do it 🙂 so I don't get Neutropenia again from infection caused by drop in white blood cells, which put me in hospital for a week last round! hugs & smiles to all Jems. Rhonda xoxo ... View more

Hi all Jems, way too many of us now to mention, hope everyone is doing well! I am up to round 3 on Tuseday, JENNY I still have eyebrows & eyelashes, hope the last a bit longer! Coming to terms now with wearing my wig, have had some people that know me ask when is your hair going to fall out, & they are surprised when i tell them I'm wearing a wig, so that gives me more confidence, it is short like my old hair, style & colour very similar. JAN good luck with No 3 too we are both at the same stage. Last 10 days have had some nasty side effects a lump in my throat that makes it hard to swallow & pure pain coming out the other end, very sore butt! I think the mild diarrhoea has caused this! Otherwise feel good in myself! Can't wait to say YAY 1/2 way on Tuesday. hugs to you all, keep smiling. Rhonda xoxo ... View more

Hi GBC sorry you are here! I've had 2 Fecs now first time I was shattered, so ONC upped the Steroids they help with the Fatigue giving you more energy and appetite! I am on Emend, one tab on day of Chemo & then 1 tab for next 2 days, I have been lucky with the nausea side of things, day 8 today since last Fec & starting to feel a lot better, dry mouth, and just light headed dizzy feeling. Also having trouble sleeping, just too much going on in the brain! Still coming to terms with no hair, but I suppose this is the least of our worries! Hugs to all, hope you are all coping! love Rhonda ... View more

Thinking of you Rubydoo & pray I everything is Ok it's normal to have the chest pain from the anxiety, I have Valium for such days, & take one before chemo just to relax me to go in, I don't need them often but it's good to have on hand for the rough days. ask for something, as it is too much to deal with. Hugs Rhonda. ... View more

Hi all Gems, Rubydoo I hope you are feeling much better, thanks yes I'm home feeling so much better this 2nd round, first round we are guinea pigs, the Dr doesn't really know how your body will react to it! So 2nd round I have been so much better, higher dose of Dexamethasone and Nexium for the terrible burning stomach & heartburn, I am not a zombie this time, feeling good a little fatigue but no nausea at all. well done Airlinelady sounds like your 1st round has gone well! Pat I locked myself in the bathroom & cried lots too when I first looked in the mirror and seen my bald head, i am starting to accept what is, but still not happy with it, I am wearing my wig daily now everyone says it looks good! At home just wearing a beanie type cap. Good luck Suziepuzie with your treatment next week. you are all in my thoughts, sorry for not mentioning all but know i am thinking of all the Gems on here.We are all very brave women & we will get through this crap time. Cheers Rhonda ... View more