My first round of chemo will be starting this Wednesday. I have to be honest in saying that I'm a little nervous, but trying to be brave. Don't like the sight of needles or canulas at all. I sound like such a whimp!!! :'( Reading some of the posts on BCNA I've noticed that treatment seems to be somewhat different, maybe even depending on the state where you live.I live in Sydney. I'll be on FEC 90 6 times, (hopefully all goes well) for triple negative. I haven't come across anyone whose done the FEC 90 X6 yet even though I was told that it's the standard chemo for triple negative. Any useful tips would be appreciated.

triple negative? I have an idea of what it is but really would appreciate knowing for sure... obviously I was not this....LOL Your nervousness is completely understandable, we all have these feelings as we try to get our heads around the unknown. I hate needles too, so I must be a wimp also. By the end of tests, surgery & treatment I really felt like a pin cushion, even my veins ran for cover, making it difficult to find them. If I never see another needle it would be too soon - like that is going to happen. LOL Good Luck on your treatment Wednesday & of course remaining treatments. I have completed all my treatments as of early Feb this year but need to take Femara for the next 5 years now. Keep positive, I have found the ladies on here to be very supportive & friendly in the short while I have been here, so if u need to vent or whatever we are only a few keystrokes away. I just wish I had availed myself of this site much earlier in my journey. Cheryl

Hi Cheryl Will be thinking of you today. Know how you feel - spent more time than I'd realised 'preparing' myself for my first dose on Monday!! Although not in sydney I'm sure those oncoly people will be as lovely as they are here so just let them look after you as well as you being selfish!! Take care, Dette xxx

Hi Josie and Dette, Nice to hear from both of you! Just to save a bit of confusion, I'm Liz the person who posted the message about FEC 90 chemo. Then Cheryl made a comment, so that may have been the reason for the name confusion. It's nothing though. It's very easy to confuse lots of lovely ladies :) After my first chemo yesterday, I did get a gradual tension headache, sore eyes and sinusy feeling. I though it was a headache and took a panadol, which didn't help. After taking anti nauseus medications it seems to help a lot before bedtime. So I wonder whether it was nausea, even though it didn't really present itself that way to me. Today I feel ok, just slight nausea after breakfast, even though I did take meds beforehand. It seems fine after a bit of a lie down. Josie, I also heard that which each cycle people can get a bulit up reaction. Hopefully it won't be so bad. We all hope for a smooth ride. I also like to count down. I 've been telling myself 1 down 5 to go. Still seems a few to get through. Dette, all the best on Monday. I was given a nausea/sleep tablet (Ativan) to start the night before chemo and continue for next 5 nights. I really think it helped me relax and fall asleep. They could possibly give you something similar. Now I just wait it out for the rest of the treatment and cross my fingers for the best. x

Oh Liz I am so sorry! What a sausage I am! any way you know I posted the comment to you - I am just over a week out of my last chemo and each day gets better and better. Next step radiotherapy - will cross that bridge when I come to it. In the meantime I hope you do ok and remember just chat any time, we are here - Oh, ginger is good for nausea, and Ginger beer (I have a soda-stream and buy the ginger beer cordial) and if you get chemo-mouth (no this doesn't apply to the bit where you want to swear heaps!) try some Tic Tacs (the stonger the better) x x x Josie

Hi Liz, I was double positive but no HER2 and i was also on FEC x 6... Everyone is different... Where are you being treated... I found FEC was rare also and i only found one or 2 others to have the 6 courses of FEC like us... Im not going to lie to you they get harder well they did for me... I firstly suffered with diahrea and then the next session constipation i had the lot... I suffered with insomnia really badly from the anti nausea meds and this part drove me insane... Send me a message if you have any further questions im happy to tell you everything i experience... BUT there is hope my 6th session was a dream compared to the rest... Hang in there you can do it its so hard but you will get there xx

FEC 90 X6 starts very soon | BCNA Online Network

15 Replies

Liz24
Member
15 years ago
Hi Elisha,

Chemo 2 is next week.

I'm 34 but the 24 in liz24 is to do with my date of birth. I probably should have made it liz77 or something like that.

Hope you're doing well.
Liz24
Member
15 years ago
Hi Elisha,

Chemo 2 is next week.

I'm 34 but the 24 in liz24 is to do with my date of birth. I probably should have made it liz77 or something like that.

Hope you're doing well.
Liz24
Member
15 years ago
Hi Elisha,

Good to hear that the chemo is all over with and without too many dramas for you.

It's less than a week for me since my first session. I'm feeling ok generally, but am trying to keep on top of the regular bowl movement business lol. That's my uncomfortable issue at the moment. As long as it's nothing much more than that, it would be great.

I'll see how I go with the other sessions. Definitely trying to keep away from the hosp.

I'm not far from Parramatta.

The Wedding was lovely! I just sat and ate, which was fine by me. :)
Elisha85
Member
15 years ago
Hi Liz,

I finished chemo on May 16th...

Yeah i live near penrith where do you live?

Insomnia went on for days but i didnt start this until about my 3rd session and then i had to balance anti nausea carefully so i wasnt putting too much into my body because the more drugs i had the worse it got...

I got through it with no hospital visits :o) i wish you luck with this thats one extra thing i didnt want to have to do also.

Hope you had a nice time at the wedding

x
Liz24
Member
15 years ago
Hi Dette,

It's nothing at all! I've been pretty confused and forgetful even before chemo started too. I guess it's all the nerves and anticipation leading up to the unknown of it all.

After all we're both going through this about the same time and there will be plenty of stories to share along the way.

xx
Liz24
Member
15 years ago
Hi Elisha,

Good to hear from you. I haven't met anyone else besides yourself who is on FEC x6. Did you just finish it recently? Are you in Sydney too?

Today I feel better and hopefully will continue that way, but I see what you mean about the bowel movement. I feel an onset of that. The insomnia would be quite frustrating and very tiring the next day.

What I hope to avoid though is getting any infections. That's what scares me at this stage. Hopefully won't need to make any visits to the ER. You know how the saying goes "Hope for the best, but expect the worst".

Having said this I hope for the best and will be able to feel fine for a friends wedding tomorrow.

xx
Liz24
Member
15 years ago
Not to worry about the name mix up, I knew exactly who you were referring to. :) It's ok I work with little kids and they always mispronounce names or just make them up to suit them. It's quite funny!

Thanks I will try the ginger beer and even the Tic Tacs for the possible chemo mouth he he ...

Elizabeth x
w_w_w_dette
Member
15 years ago
Good gracious Liz, i'm sorry about the name mix up. If I'd started chemo I could perhaps blame it on chemo brain but haven't got that excuse!

Just know that I was thinking of you and am pleased that reactions have been mild so far.

Take care xx
w_w_w_dette
Member
15 years ago
Good gracious Liz, i'm sorry about the name mix up. If I'd started chemo I could perhaps blame it on chemo brain but haven't got that excuse!

Just know that I was thinking of you and am pleased that reactions have been mild so far.

Take care xx
w_w_w_dette
Member
15 years ago
Good gracious Liz, i'm sorry about the name mix up. If I'd started chemo I could perhaps blame it on chemo brain but haven't got that excuse!

Just know that I was thinking of you and am pleased that reactions have been mild so far.

Take care xx