First chemo date

Hi Leila, I am on a different regime to what you will be having but just want to stress if you are having problems with it get straight onto your care team. They want to make it as easy as possible for you and will go above and beyond to make this happen. Hang onto God, he'll see you through, love Kester xx 

Oh that's great news, thank you :)

I too am in Herceptin and have a port.  I am so pleased I had a port put in.  It is so much easier and when you are having chemo you are so more mobile.  You won't need to have Herceptin by IV after chemo is finished as Herceptin via needle in your thigh has now been put on PBS.  It's 5 mins vs 30 mins IV.  My oncologist is going to organise this for me at end of chemo.  So much easier.  I am not on your regime so can't comment about chemo.  Good luck with your treatment.  Big hugs Lyn X 

Hi Leila - just wanted to come on and wish you well with your treatment.  We all react differently to treatment so hopefully yours will be better than some. 

Whenever you're feeling down and wondering who the, what the, how did I get into this predicament, who's dumb idea was this!  Just try and focus on the crappy feeling is all about getting rid of BC and any stray cells and there is a better you coming from it all!  One that is rid of BC!

Take care, sending you a virtual hug from Christine xx

Leila,

That makes complete sense now of the Port. I have friends that are Her2+ also did the same and currently on Herceptin. Im ER+ and oh yes the poor veins, I have severe cording in my right arm from FEC but to be honest doesnt even bother me :) looks terrible though ha! 

My Oncologist told me I'd feel bad for the first say week then start to pick up and that Id be able to work the 3rd week leading into the next infusion. So I planned my work accordingly. Unfortunately it didnt work that way, I was really ill on the FEC and in hospital each time for 2 days, in total took 8-10 days for me to recover. by the time I got to Taxol, whilst not as hardhitting, I still didnt cope with the drugs and had to completely stop working end of September. It wasnt in the plan at all and it was a tough decision as I am a single parent with 2 children, and I had minimal support. Ive always been a workaholic and would push through, I learnt to let go and put me first. I also learnt through it, to not have a plan that way I was more gentle on myself with expectation. day at a time, Im sure you will as many do manage to work through no problem. Everyone is so different just listen to your body, and honor yourself and forget the rest! :) 

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

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...

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.

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 ??

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