Breast Cancer Now Forum

Ah, I see. Thank you!  I have a few but I’ll get some more ready!  Cream in the fridge is a great tip too, thanks! ... View more

Thank you @Shi! I suffer with my skin anyway and have un scented oat creams so hopefully they will be good.  I thought I’d have suggestions of loose fitting clothes because of sore skin. When you say vest top, is that for after the radiotherapy? Does that not make it worse? ... View more

Yeah just 1 more after this. But will still be on herceptin injections every 3 weeks for a year, radiotherapy after chemo and hormone blockers for 10 years, (I’m her2+ and er+) but will be soooooo glad to get chemo done so I can come out of hiding and start living). Not sure of your age but I have been told by my consultant and nurses that as I’m under 40 I’m more likely to get more side effects. Apparently the younger you are the worse it is so they tend to adjust the type of anti sickness/increase steroids/decrease dosage where needed.  Either way, regardless of age, they are on the ball as long as you are honest about how you are suffering with the effects so just ring your help number!   Good luck for Wednesday next week. It’s so much easier on T as you don’t have the constant monitoring with the constant change over of meds, it’s just in one bag and you’re pretty much left to it so take a book or music to help the time pass.  my top tip from the last 2 is buying Capri suns and putting them in the freezer an hour or so before going so you have a cold drink!  Hope it goes well for you x ... View more

@Angelgal  well had a bit of a nightmare as I had the chemo moved a lot as tested positive for Covid 2 weeks ago and although I’ve been negative for 4 days I’ve started testing positive again (apparently it’s a “thing”.  Relapsing after recovering when you’ve taken antivirals). but had the chemo as I’m over 10 days since original positive.  thank goodness! this is the second docetaxel for me and I’m feeling ok. I felt like this on the last one too and then the pains in my legs started day 2 so I’ve brought a load of snack up stairs for tomorrow 🙈 I have managed to get away without a picc for 5 cycles but I can use both arms as only one node was removed during surgery so I’m hoping the veins play ball on the last cycle! I had a nasty rash on my hands last time so I’m gonna keep a close eye on that to get on the cream they gave me ASAP if happens again.  I also had exhaustion on FEC but I’ll be honest, I found it so much worse on T. Again, give in to it and nap. mine was worse day 8 ish when the diarrhoea kicked in 🙈 I was given a help sheet by my consultant with what to expect mind doing hopefully you will too. If not message me I’m happy to take a pic and share x ... View more

Hi @Angelgal,   My treatment plan is 3 FEC and 3 T three weeks apart. Had the FEC and one treatment of the T and my next is today. Had a 2 week gap because I got Covid so I’m looking forward to be back to it. One one after today! 🙌🏻   I have had quite a fair few side effects. FEC, I was very sick on the first but the 24 hour help line was great as was consultant and my meds were changed. T (docetacel) was totally different for me. More fatigue, no sickness or nausea. Aches and leg pains day 2-5, rash on hands and sore mouth. But again, the hospital and Drs have been great. Got a gel mouth wash and steroid cream and they are reducing my dose so hopefully today’s dose won’t be so bad.  Are you starting this treatment? If you are I really didn’t mean to make you nervous! Just be prepared.  Drink lots of water, it really does help. My skin dried out all over and unscented cream helped. Factor in that you will likely need at least a week to rest and don’t beat yourself up for it. Give in to the day napping!  ... View more

Hi, sorry you have tested positive! Hope you are feeling ok.  I can’t advise with the chemo and dex but I am currently taking paxlovid. I tested positive Tuesday and been taking paxlovid since Thursday. Was due chemo Wednesday so it’s postponed   Other than a really unpleasant taste and slight nausea it’s been ok. 111 said I could take my antisickness for chemo if needed but sucking sweets have helped.  Covid for me was a cold with a cough and I’m not sure how much the antivirals prevented it from becoming worse but I’m glad I took them. My sister and her husband had Covid the same time and had a worse time. I honestly felt worse post chemo.  I hope you are ok and not suffering too much with it x ... View more

Fingers crossed.  I live on my own and dunno how I would get to the hospital if it’s IV as everyone is now avoiding my, understandably! No ones going to want me in their car now I’m positive 😬   Hoping for some luck with it! ... View more

I managed to speak to the oncology team and had my bloods done yesterday and have a review with a nurse because I was testing negative.  however, today I’m testing positive and I’m gutted. waiting to hear to be assessed for antivirals and apparently they are either tablets or IV infusions so I’m crossing everything that it’s tablets because I really dont want to be going in to hospital 😭 ... View more

Thank you @Jaybro, think I was was having a moment of stress and paranoia! I have found the hair I have lost has been patchy (head and pubic) but the hair I plucked or shaved before chemo hasn’t grown back (haven’t had to pluck my eyebrows since before chemo and my leg hair hasn’t grown back but the patch I missed on my knee is still holding strong 🙈) Strangely though, my under arm hair grows back. There’s no rhyme to it all! Chemo #3 today, so let’s see what this one brings 😭 ... View more

It was a week yesterday that I had the first FEC and I’ll be honest, still feeling light headed at times and I’m still not eating normally (although no longer really nauseous, just not much appetite and still turned off by dairy and hot food).  I haven’t been able to walk my dog yet, he pulls and I don’t trust that I wouldn’t feel dizzy. At times im feeling exhausted by very little and if I’m not napping in the afternoon I’m having a lay down to read/listen to music. It took me nearly a week to focus to read.  I think it’s great that you want to still be active! But FEC is intense and the first one tends to be hard for the first week at least (according to others experience too in some Facebook groups and a lovely lady that’s a week ahead of me giving me sound advice).  Plan for walks and anything over that will be a bonus!  I did go for a walk on day 4 but the steroids were still kicking in and I dipped in energy day 5 and 6. If like me and some of the others I’ve talked to, energy wise you will feel pepper by the steroids for 3/4 days so although you may be able to do more on those days, be kind to yourself when your energy dips when the steroids end.  Our body’s are different but all working so hard through the chemo. Rest when needed, listen to your body and take advantage of the good times and peaks in energy xx ... View more

Just to add, I haven’t cold capped. But if you do just be prepared to be there longer as you will need to cold cap specific time before and after chemo as well as during.  I was there about 1.5-2 hours without the cap.  ... View more

Hi, hope you are ok and coping with the wait, it’s seems to take forever doesn’t it!   my experience has been similar to Jules in the comment below and they have given some great advice!   I was really nervous going in to hospital but with fec you have a nurse with you for a lot of the time as it’s a mix of three that they have to do individually in the iv so the sit with you pretty much throughout (nice as we can’t take people in with us).   You will be given anti sickness meds and steroids to take home, my advice is to take them as prescribed even if not sick because it will save you from nausea.  I was ok leaving the hospital, ate a bit in the evening fine but was very nauseated all night and was sick. If this happens to you make sure you call the 24 line as you shouldn’t have to “ride it out” (a nurse told me to take antisickness meds differently and it worked fit me).  my chemo was Wednesday and it took me till Monday to eat normalish (still off hot/smelly food, living off sandwiches and plain veg at the mo).  Get some biscuits in so you can graze through the first days till you work out what you fancy.  Ice lollies are great too, icy orange juice was great for days that I can’t face food as it hydrating and seems to pick my appetite up.  good luck, hope all goes well for you! Not everyone gets every side effect, so try not to stress! Just get some dry foods and juices in for the first few days abd work it out as you go along x   (and drink lots of water the day before, day of and days following chemo. 2L if you can) ... View more

Thank you both so much!  I have anti sickness stuff but it advises only for 6 days so I haven’t taken any today and so far so good (ish). I had a really rough first night and was sick a lot but the 24hr advice line was good and told me to take meds earlier than planned but since then I have had little to no appetite.  today I have eaten more normally but it’s only because I’m making myself try anything that doesn’t turn me which isn’t a lot 🙈 (Just ate a crumpet and I’m thrilled 😂)   Talking of textures, I’m over whelmed by noises and smells. Staying with my mother and I’ve already had her bin flowers, avoid all hot foods and I can only listen to her if the tv is off. Sensory over load which is something I’ve never suffered with.    thank you for your advice! I’ll keep an eye and call the advice line if needed x ... View more