Breast Cancer Now Forum

Thanks Alex2016, the peanuts were scrummy. At least I could begin to taste them, I'm back to everything tasting of nothing since I had my second docetaxel yesterday. No side effects yet. Still full of steroids. One of the nurses recommended that I take co-codamol from day three to combat the bone pain and the loose stools, and get piriton for the itchy hands and to help me sleep. Oncewild, Go girl! I hope you enjoy the party tonight. X ... View more

Hello everyone, I've been a bit quiet of late. My latest chemo round ( my first on docetaxel) has been the worst for SE's. Sore mouth, thrush, diarrhoea, bone pain and itchy rash on hands. They have mostly gone during this third week. I get another lot tomorrow. My oncologist is reducing the dose to 90%. Let's hope it makes a difference. I was given a mouthwash containing glycerin at the start of the chemo and that has been good for relieving the dry mouth. Nyastin got rid of the white tongue whilst daktacort cream, (which I was prescribed on a Monday after a horribly uncomfortable weekend of sore and itching down below), finally soothed my ladybits. My tastebuds were really getting me down. I am a notorious comfort eater and became frustrated that I couldn't get my fix. Thankfully my taste has returned a little so I've quite enjoyed my bag of chocolate peanuts just now. Don't think I'll sleep to well tonight despite the amitriptyline. I'm full of dexamethasone. Take care everyone. It's all in a good cause.     ... View more

Hi Alex2016, yes, the unit gave me antihistamine as standard. I would definitely try to talk to the unit before hand if you're considering taking extra. Only for the fact that you could be zonked out on both.  ... View more

Thanks Bookworm, I'm relieved to have got back home with no adverse reactions to the docetaxel. I had read on the inter web that Taxotere contained alcohol but that now there were alcohol free preparations available. My nurse wasn't able to tell me which one I had been sent up from pharmacy but by then I wasn't about to stop the treatment. I've been on the wagon for 5 years and didn't want anything to trigger me back to the horrors of active alcohol abuse. I feel a bit spaced but that is probably the antihistamine . ... View more

My, this has become a very quiet forum. I am feeling apprehensive today. It's my first T this afternoon and I only had three hours sleep, probably due to the 8x 2mg dexamethasone  I took yesterday. I'm hoping I don't get any horrendous reaction to the drug. I'm confident that the nurses will be straight on it if I do but I can't help feeling nervous. I saw the oncologist last week and it's their duty to spell out all the potential side effects and this stuff certainly seems pretty hardcore. Also, I've been reading the posts on the June thread from the ladies who have gone through it already. I'll try to be positive. ... View more

Hello again, I am resurfacing again after a rotten couple of weeks. It was wonderful not to feel sick thanks to the Emend tablets following my second FEC but I then became so fatigued that I missed my grandson's second birthday. I was so washed out that I was convinced I must be anaemic. My blood test showed otherwise and while I was there I had another dizzy episode. The doctors wanted to rule out a clot on the lungs so I had to have a scan. The dye that needed to be injected had to be delivered quickly and the PICC line is too narrow so I had to have a green cannula ( big needle!) . Trouble was, my veins wouldn't co-operate and it took 5 attempts..ouch! Scan turned out to be fine. While all this was going on my elderly mother was in A&E with a fractured collar bone after a fall at home. I was too ill to drive so had to rely on lifts to visit mum, who is still in hospital. Thankfully I feel a lot better now and am able to drive Yay! I've been staying with my dad to keep him company. Hopefully I will get one good week before the next onslaught .   ... View more

Thanks Sue, I'll keep that in mind. ... View more

Hello everyone, Hope you are all doing ok. You're absolutely right Pookie1, we're not being good role models for PICC lines! I can understand your anxiety about having the port, especially if the surgeon has had misgivings but sounds to me that the medics have had a good discussion about your case so fingers crossed for you that it goes well. My news is good. The Emend has been fantastic! No nausea or vomiting! I'm having a much better time for my first weekend. I may have overdone it yesterday though, I took my granddaughter to the park, watched the town carnival procession etc. but today I'm feeling washed out. I think the chemo is attacking my red blood cells so that would explain it. I was boarder line for a transfusion before the chemo. Will ring the unit if it gets worse. Am watching the Olympics on the couch.  ... View more

The saga of my PICC line continues. The original line was removed and a new one put in. They used a vein next to the first one. I was ecstatic when it went in all the way! No apparent blockage or refusal to go round the corner this time...or so we thought. X-ray showed a different story. It had looped back on itself when it got to the blockage. They fiddled about with it, another X-ray , no luck, it was still looped. So in the end they pulled it back a few centimetres and left it very much like the first one had been, more like a midline than a PICC. Apparently, the vascular team will have a con flab and let me know what they decide next week. I may end up with a central line or a portacath. The chemo went in a lot slower this time. I told the nurse about my awful pain when I had dexamethasone so she put it in a 100ml bag of saline and I didn't feel a thing. No nausea yet. Fingers crossed that Emend will work it's magic. Sending lots of positive thoughts to all you lovely ladies. ... View more

Thanks Alex2016, I have to have my PICC line replaced before the chemo today. Aaaah! It refused to give blood on Wednesday and has not been in the right place since it was put in. Let's hope it all goes without a hitch. I know what you mean about it feeling wrong to have to go through it all again.  Hello to all the other ladies too, my foggy brain won't retain all your names and individual circumstances the moment I leave the page to write this reply ( must get a pen and paper and write it all down) I may be on my own today at the chemo unit. My husband is helping my daughter and partner move house. I feel a bit guilty that I haven't been a help. My granddaughter has been a joy. I lifted her out of the bath the other evening and she told me off! " Nana, you are naughty to lift me! You have a bad arm and a sick booby " She has got over her shock at my cropped head.  My wig is too hot to wear in this weather. ... View more

Thanks Bellaboo. That has given me hope. I'll certainly mention it to the nurse. They were in a bit of a rush last time so I had it all done very quickly.  ... View more

Hello ladies, I have my second FEC on Friday and I'm hoping I won't have as much nausea and vomiting this time. My onc has given me Emend to take an hour before and another two for the following two days. This may sound like I'm being a wimp but the thing that is worrying me most is the dexamethasone infusion. The so called prickly bum sensation lasted a lot longer than just the 30 seconds I was warned about..and it really hurt! I hope that this time , if the meds are given slowly, it won't be so bad. ... View more

Well, what a difference a week makes. From having my head in a bucket to scoffing M&S apple pie and ice cream. 😋 . I hope all you ladies with nausea problems are feeling better by the day.  I know I'm immunosupressed this week but have been unable to keep away from potential sources of infection. Took my elderly dad to his eye clinic appointment and although I didn't sit with him like I would normally do, I did take him up to the desk etc. It's my parents 68th anniversary tomorrow so I'll be taking them to a restaurant. Also, I have seen my grandchildren although didn't attend Flo's last day presentation at pre school in case I picked up any bugs from the little angels. My scalp has started to tingle so I think the great shedding will begin soon. I had my hair cut short in preparation and have liked my new style 😏 ... View more

Thanks Nellie for you encouragement. I had a bad night but am feeling a lot better. Could'nt keep any fluids down at all and started to obsess about the need to flush the chemo through. Would have gladly been attached to a drip. Sue, I am in awe! As well as slightly concerned for you. Please don't overdo things. X ... View more

Hello everyone, I had my first FEC today. It took ages to actually have the drugs coz the nurse couldn't find the results of the CT scan I had on Sunday .It was written in the notes somewhere all along ( it was clear of metastatic disease! Yay!) It put everything behind and the unit was really busy. I have a sneaking feeling the drugs were administered quicker than usual coz he said I would find it would take longer next time. Anyhow, despite my meds I have had awful nausea and been sick twice. Am on a respite between the waves at the mo. I feel half human again. Hat's ( or scarfs or wigs) off to you ladies for going through this so stoically. All in a good cause.. ☹️ 😁 ... View more

Hi Nellie55, sorry you have been having a rough time. Hope the new meds do the trick and you don't have such a hard time of it with the next cycle. I have no idea yet how I will react. The chemo nurse I saw yesterday said everyone is individual and they can't predict what combination of side effects we will get. She said some people sail through with mild ones whilst others get everything possible. They do seem to have lots of drugs to throw at us so I guess it's a matter of letting them know and not suffering in silence.  ... View more

Thanks Bellaboo. The PICC line isn't sore this morning. I have had fun online at Hats 4 Heads. The lovely man helping with the insertion of the PICC line told me about how his mum had got some head coverings from there. I have ordered a sleep cap, a wig liner and a turban. Am hoping to get my hair cropped today. I hope the hairdresser ( she is a neighbour and is doing it for free ) doesn't find any nit's as my gorgeous granddaughter as come back from pre school with them and I can't see the point in wasting nit lotion on myself 😳   ... View more

Hello lovely ladies, I am learning a lot from reading all your comments. I had a tour of the chemo unit today with a view to starting FEC on Friday . My PICC line gave them a few problems. It was supposed to go in to 46cm but refused to budge after 31cm. Apparently there is a bend where the jugular vein joins and the line refused to go round it. They left it as it is but did have trouble getting bloods from it later. The X-Ray must have shown it to be ok because they let me go home. Has anyone else had this happen? On the way home I got too warm ( hot flush) and tried to take off my cardi but it was tangled in the bung on the end of my PICC line and got a bit pulled so I popped into a local hospitals minor injuries unit so someone could check it for me. They have redressed it but now I'm concerned that I may get an infection because the nurse didn't use sterile gloves! What a faff! 😄 ... View more

Hi AJ Silver. I am having a tour of the chemo unit on wed and having a Picc line put in. My treatment plan is to have 3 X FEC and 3 X T starting this Friday too. However, the oncologist mentioned that this is providing that my CT scan is clear 😱 . I had the scan today and presume the results will be known by Wednesday . I never thought that I would be hoping and praying to be starting chemo! ... View more