Docetaxel Side Effects FEC-D

Hi @Kellee  There is not much I can add to what these lovely ladies have said.  We are all here for you and know what you are feeling.   You mentioned about "Not helping your side effects",  just remember also that if you are having some shitty side effects from the chemo a lot of these can be looked at by your team and changed if need be. ( as was mine for the 3rd and 4th and made a huge difference)  Please do not suffer in silence and talk to your GP or oncologist about your anxiety. You will honestly look back on this and know you gave yourself the best chance possible and give yourself a pat on the back that you got through it.  You got this. Hugs  xoxox

I had Ativan too, though as a matter of course for me it seemed. Maybe my oncologist sensed my anxiety. I loved it.

As everyone has said, it's no walk in the park but a hard slog.  Try to focus on the fact that you're halfway through and when you have the next one, you'll be three quarters of the way.  I had AC-T and I found it easiest to count up for the AC and down for the Taxol.  Do talk to your oncologist about it - I'm sure he/she can give you something to help.  I had bad nausea and was prescribed Ativan, which is also an anti-anxiety drug, so it's certainly possible to take something.  (Be aware that it makes you drowsy which in itself is not a bad thing.)  And maybe try to access counselling.

@Kellee Are you having counselling? Are you on any drugs for anxiety? I agree with @primek, the steroids can wind you up at a time when you're already pretty wired... I get horrible anxiety & panic attacks, and BC and the treatment made it way worse. I wasn't being treated for it but during my third cycle of chemo I completely fell apart. After 10 days straight of weeping and despair, my GP, counsellor and breast care nurse all helped me to see I needed to take something for it, to help me. I did and continue to do so still. It's not something I want to do forever, but needs must for now and I don't regret it.

Have a chat with your GP. See what he/she reckons. Chemo is a bloody awful slog, but for now it's the best we've got for killing the cancer cells. You can do it. You can dig deep and do it. And when it's done you can be so proud of yourself. You will look back at yourself with such admiration.

We'll help you here. Keep chatting to us. Hang in there. The biggest of hugs, K xox

Perhaps a Drs appointment to talk over the feelings of panic may be in order. The dexamethasone they give you to reduce side effects heightens the anxiety. Maybe something calmative day before and day of might help. Alternatively soeak with treating team as they might irder something. You're almost there. You can do this. Kath x

Hi @Kellee  I was ready to pack it in after week one on my first round and I still had another three of that chemo then twelve rounds of a different chemo. It wasn't fun but with the help of the lovely ladies on this forum I was able to make it to the end. I have just had a mastectomy which I also nearly backed out of. This forum is made up of sisters uniting with and supporting each other. As a member you are embraced so hang in there cause we are all wanting you to make it through. Imagine the multitude of hugs coming your way because I can assure you there are a lot of them.

Hugs to you @Kellee....Chemo really is hard, very hard, but it is something you can do. If this crook old chook could drag her sorry arse back, again and again, so can you too. The fact of the matter is, if you stop, and the nightmare returns, you will have to live with the "What If"? What if I had completed the chemo, would I still be in this position? Completing the course doesn't guarantee no recurrence or spread, but it does remove the possibility of you regretting that decision. Unfortunately we only get one bite of the apple and there is no rewind button if things go pear shaped. Hang in there...Ally.

Hi guys, just reaching out cause I’m not coping. Panic attacks and anxiety are not helping the side effects. I really want to stop, I don’t think I can do this 2 more times. I feel like the second half of my treatment is worse than the first.

That's great news @Kellee  The first one is always daunting with the unknown.  You can count down now. Crikey your bruise came up really quickly.   Wishing you well and hopefully not too many issues or side effects with the chemo.   katie xox

Well done @Kellee! Light at the end of the tunnel is wonderful. Gee that's a nasty bruise. I had some doozies during chemo but nothing like that. Fingers crossed there's no trouble. K xox