So I have been given a start date for my first chemo session! Next Friday 12th August. found out yesterday it will be 3 x FEC and 12 x T instead of 4 x AC & 12 x T. Any feedback on the FEC side effects? Everything I read was about AC. Feeling a little scatterbrained since I found out, hearts racing a bit. Silly because I knew it was coming!!! I cant get port put in until day before my 2nd cycle so IV it is for this go. Cant believe its really happening, still feels surreal. Leila xx

Hey Leila! Well it's 1yr yesterday that I started my Chemo. I had 4 FEC and 8 Taxol. Is your FEC 3 weeks apart? I remember my nurse telling me how I handled the side effects after my first infusion is how it would dictate the rest, so I was mindful of that. The actual infusion is no fuss at all, I never was asked about a Port not sure how that works, so didnt really matter to be honest. You are given anti nausea meds prior to the infusion and an anti histimine as well. I remember after every infusion feeling quite yuk, sort of like dazed and just unwell. Id always crash a few hours later. Youd be on steroids for the first 2 days. Id be quite unwell for about 8 days,unfortunately I didnt tolerate drugs very well, so 2nd infusion the plan was to be admitted for a few days and hydrated. I did that for the remainder of those infusions and it did help somewhat. Taxol was weekly and was less hard hitting as I felt ok first few days, 3rd day it would hit. Fatigue is quite bad, together with constipation. Coloxyl tablets were the best thing, rinsing your mouth with salt water everyday too to help mouth ulcers. There are lots of ways around everything and the Staff are wonderful at keeping ahead of everything and keeping you comfortable. So honestly, step at a time, you'll be absolutely fine. Remember, everyone is different, I know so many ladies who managed to work through Chemo. Unfortunately after 2 months I was quite ill and unable to work. The Up side?? I lost every hair on my body LOL...of course your hair is hard, but I found buzzing it as it started to fall gave me some control. Its amazing how you just adapt to each step. Im now 6 months post chemo, my hair is full and lovely eyelashes again. Still recovering a little physically but am back at work 3 days not quite full time yet. You'll absolutely be fine, and make sure you ask anything of your Staff big or small!!! deep breath, you can do it! Hugs Melinda

Hi Leila, so sorry that you have to have chemo. I had FEC in 2007 and my body didnt handle it at all for two reasons 1. I was being cared for by my 80yo parents and i didn't take the anti nausea medication as directed. Make sure you take it before you start feeling sick 2. I have had trouble with throwing up from birth. If you have a wobbly stomach be extra vigilent with how much you eat while its being administered 3 i have tiny veins - if you do too, maybe try to talk them into putting in the port before your first FEC because it can hurt 4 my darling husband had died so i didnt have as much to fight for. All the best Leila, take your partner's hand and think of all the great times youre going to have next year when its all behind you ??

I had 3 rounds of FEC at the start of my breast cancer journey, just over 12 months ago, unfortunately for me I was Stage 4. I found the beginning to be information overload and confusion amongst the realisation and shock. Just try and stay calm and remember that this treatment will be doing what you need it to do. How you handle it may be different to others but I will say to follow the medication list they give you. The pre meds and anti nausea meds are very important. I completely got it all muddled up my first time and i was quite sick and nauseous. The next 2 times I was on top of the meds, took the anti nausea regularly. If you wait until you feel nauseous and take it, it will take longer for it to be effective. That's what I was told and for me, it worked and made a huge difference to how I felt. Hope that makes sense, if you want any help just message me :) It's a long day when you have your infusion so just take it slowly and I'd recommend just sipping water and have something light to see how you feel. I had mine every 3 weeks, day 3 is when I started feeling it, I recommend taking it very easy the first week and a bit, after that you will hopefully be starting to feel somewhat human again hehe I wish you all the best, you'll be fine. I've not bothered at this stage with a port, I've been having treatment every 3 weeks (not all chemo) it is purely up to you as everyones different.

Thanks for all your advice ladies, its just good to get some reassurance :) Yes, FEC is 3 week cycle then weekly Taxol. I am HER+ so will be having 12 months of Herceptin, hence the port (and crap veins). I currently work 4 days/week, I'm hoping I can still do some, maybe at least in that last week before the next infusion, but i'll just have to wait and see...

Sure does. Who knows how they decide on which chemo regime. I was on ACT-H so not much help...but just wanted to wish you well Kath x

First chemo date | BCNA Online Network

20 Replies

melclarity
Member
9 years ago
Scorpion queen is right, you can't flush chemicals...but the hydration is so incredibly important. I wasnt able to remain hydrated at all, thats why I ended up in hospital for the first 4 rounds of FEC. I couldnt eat either, just snacked when I could, and sadly gained 5kg, 6 months later, watching my diet and exercising only got rid of 1kg uuugh. Annoying!! but chemo threw me into early menopause so I feel thats the reason I cant shift the weight moreso and have put it on.

Hope it all went well Leila xo
primek
Member
9 years ago
I ate continuously on steroid days and gained over 10kg. I just ate little and often and because of lack of movement had quite a over calorie balance. Even though foid tadted bkah...I still ate hoping the next thing would taste better. When not eating the gastritis and feeling sick got worse. Funny how diff we all are.
ScorpionQueen
Member
9 years ago
Yes agreed about the water......you can't really flush all of the chemicals out of your body....but staying hydrated is of upmost importance! I could barely eat through chemo (you lose your tastebuds!) and i actually lost 9 kilos.....but i drank heaps of water....and still do.....

Hoping you got through your first round today without to much fuss.....
Leila34
Member
9 years ago
Thanks Melinda, appreciate your feedback xx
Leila34
Member
9 years ago
Thanks lovely xx
melclarity
Member
9 years ago
Leila,

I have to say Scorpion queen did describe unfortunately how it was for me also, but I cannot stress how everyone is different. You have a pre med infused first then the red one. Generally you are there for quite a few hours. Id take on average 4hrs depending how busy they were. Though I found I only peed red just that day only. Its not painful or anything, so nothing to be alarmed about. The actual process is all fine, its the side effects that can be very difficult and it takes them a while to get on top of how to handle things specifically for you. So its very important to stay in touch with them.

There is a thought that people have that drinking lots of water flushes it out??? just want to clear that up, that is purely for hydration. My medical team made it very clear, there is no flushing the chemicals out of your body, it doesnt work that way. I unfortunately was not able to stay hydrated, I couldnt really eat through it all, and any liquid was too hard too.

Take it from your first infusion. That will tell you how you will travel with it. Day at a time. You'll do more than OK!

Melinda xo
Leila34
Member
9 years ago
How long did each transfusion last?
Leila34
Member
9 years ago
Thank you, I would much rather know, so I can be prepared! Hope you're healing up well xx
ScorpionQueen
Member
9 years ago
Forgot about the dry mouth.....rinsing with bi carb mouth wash helped and kept ulcers at bay....and Movicol for the constipation....
ScorpionQueen
Member
9 years ago
Hi Leila...

I wasn;t going to post regarding the side effects of FEC, but you know what? here goes.....

But please note that these may or may not happen to you! Just letting you know how it was for me....MY chemo regime was FEC-D 6 rounds, 3 weeks apart.....It's now been two months since my last chemo and i have since had a bilateral mastectomy (24/6) and am recovering from that and having expander fills

Now onto the side effects.....The FEC part.....While you are given steroids and anti nausea meds at the time (and before) your round.....Withing hours of having my first dose I was literally knocked off my feet I couldn't even get my head off the pillow!.....I peed red for a few days (part of FEC is known as the red devil.....it's actually red and you pee it out immediately and for a few days) , I walked around like a zombie, felt faint, couldn't think straight, was nauseous (I lived on weet bix and toast if at all), had a hell fire in my tummy, and a mega headache....I could not be bothered to be bothered!

Now, things did get better about day 10 (after dose) so I had a few days of feeling "human" again.....only for it to be time for the next round :/

I lost EVERY hair on my body, eyelashes and eyerows included! I just kept in mind the money I was saving on waxing and hair care products! I still have no hair anywhere!

I'll also add that ALL of these side effects are treatable with various medications...and once I had them on board it made the experience a bit more easier.....Please be sure to take note of any side effect no matter how small and tell your team! Get on top of them straight away!

My motto going into this was "expect the unexpected and if that doesn't happen, BONUS!!" ......now you may get all or none of these side effects, but just remember take one day at a time....hour by hour if need be....rest and drink PLENTY of water to flush those chemicals out!

Remember to breathe....really breathe....you've got this!

Tracy