Hi Guys, Just want to get in contact with people who are having/ have had the same chemo as me hit me back :o) xx

Hi Elisha I am to start chemo late April. As of yet I'm in the dark as to what potions lie ahead for me. Sorry I can't assist you but I'm sure there is someone out there!!!XLeonie

hi Elisha, l to was diagnosied in july 2010 lve have partical removal of right breast and 16 nodes 1 node positive , have just finished chemo fec treatment,at xmas now waiting to go to melb repat in heidlberg , not looking forward to this as home will be 5hours away this will be for 5weeks , and have started tamoxifin tablets for the next 5 years, the nurses are fantastic, and dont be scared to ask question or tell them if something is wrong, they will help. make sure you have a positive mind , stay strong but most of all listen to youre body if you need to rest do it , good luck

Elisha, hope youre doing ok , withh my chemos the first nervious, felt ok whilst having it but after not to good vey tired, vomitting, when we finally got home the trip is 5 hours , vomitted all night , no energy, didnt want to eat drink etc, l felt really yuk for bout 1 week then 2nd round bit better not so sick tell them if you are they will give you medicine for this, just tired no energy, and didnt have it in me to drive the kids to school my 3rd was much better on top of the sicky stuff .but seem to flatten me for bout a good week my hubby had picked up that on my 2nd 3rd day that l was really no good he would stay home to make sure l was ok and drinking etc. then comes the 4 round l seemed to pull up much better very little vomit, but just tired very tired noe energy and very sore bones. all.over 5th chemo much the same but bone pain ouch big time , the 6th thank god well that was 22nd dec 2010 so xmas wise not good this year, feeling really yuk , dont want to eat drink etc. is an effort to move and it hurts but insaying this I MADE IT THROUGH AND YOU WILL TO just listen to youre body and rest and if you want icecream or what ever eat it , forgot to say by the 2nd my haair started to fall out , during the 2nd to 3rd round l went and got a wig . just after 3rd hair gone ,wig on my mind seemed different, , not thinking clearly and cant stand noise, even still now head no right and dont like noise, my left arm hurts from chemo as l didnt h,ave a port but everyone is different and you might have different things happen but most of all tell the nurses doctor if something is wrong even if you think its silly its not , l live in the south western district of vic ,l speak to a breast care nurse bout 2to 3 weeks and if lm not sure l ring them . l found also that by using to toothpaste mouthwash and gel that you get works and by riinsing mouth with warm salty water works , l tryed fruit tingles to stop the metallic but no good. l do hope this helps you and would like to stay in contact with you . take care and be postive

FEC Chemo - 6 sessions | BCNA Online Network

13 Replies

sen
Member
15 years ago
Hi Milo,

good luck with your treatmkent of FEC, hair loss usually happens in the 3rd week and lasts about 7 days.

the soreness is the start of it unfortunantly. im on my last cycle which is on monday next week , thank god its nearly over. everyone reacts differently i ended up getting a picc line inserted on my 4th cycle my arms were so damaged by the chemo. i know how u feel exactly , in 33 and my world was turned upside down and i feel like i cant get out , but please keep being positive even if its hard. At the end of this your family will proud and so will you at fighting this.... please feel free to contact me if you require a chat .

cheers

Sen
Milo
Member
15 years ago
Hi Elisha,

I am currently having chemo FEC.I have had one treatment on March 1st and due for next on the 22nd so sounds like you are just ahead of me. I am having 6 treatments 3 weeks apart. How did you go with your 2nd treatment? I am day 16 and no hair loss yet although my head is feeling sore. I was very wiped out for nearly a week. I had bad chest and abdominal pain particularly the first night and next day. Did anyone else have this? Went to hospital and heart and all was fine.Terrible heartburn nausea and I have lost my taste buds.Must admit I am not looking forward to going back for the next treatment. I am getting a port on Monday as my veins are terrible.Anyway I'd love to keep in contact with how you are going with it all. It's nice to be able to chat with someone who is going through the same thing. I am 32 with 4 girls and life has been turned upside down with all of this but I have to keep positive. I hope you are going ok. Milo
sen
Member
15 years ago
Im at Brighton (melbourne), Staying overnight they pump me full of fluids.... and the fact i have 2 small kids at home as well.

keep the onc informed as i said aout the nausea and any other side effects... if one anti nausea doesnt do anything they will try others.... i find that all the steroid medications they give for the first few days make it all worse the dexa and kytril and emend... then when the body goes off it it goes into a dump... then the nausea kicks in....

what really works for me with the nausea is eat something even if its a icypole... even though the taste in your mouth is feral....

the picc line im actually getting used to now... i actually wish i had it earlier . its easy access for the blood tests and chemo meds... my arm is so bad its not funny .... the veins are so so painful, and it could take up to a year for them to recover although ive been advised some main ones are completely dead and could now have thrombosis... if you notice a burning sensation in your arms the next time around or in future cycles tell them asap... thats why the lovely onco nurses watch you when they administer the Epirubicin ( red one) this is the one that makes the hair fall out and is most damaging!!

each cycle has been different for me.... hopefully you will start to feel better by the mid of second week and by the end of the third great and then back again for some more.....
TonyaM
Member
15 years ago
Hi Elisha,

Inside of my mouth felt like it was covered in fur.I never threw up but did lose my appetite.Important to drink lots of fluids.I lived off lemonade iceblocks, lemon cordial and vegetable soup.I had joint and muscle pains and a bad headache-stayed mostly in bed for about 4days.I ended up in hosp.with no white cells and a high temp.Yes,chemo is a barrel of laughs! I really hope it goes better for you-we are all different.

Tonya xx
Elisha85
Member
15 years ago
Oh they wanted to put a picc in for me from the start buy i said no i dont think i could stand it...

I vomitted more last night then last time but im wearing anti nausea band that i got from the chemist and think they are working as i didnt feel terrible just kept vomitting...

Im at Nepean (Penrith) how about you?

How do they help you by staying over night ? More fluids?
sen
Member
15 years ago
Hi elisha,

im 33 and have just had my 4th cycle of fec , 4 down 2 to go... i stay in overnight because i feel shocking. it makes me feel crap for about 8 days, then i pick up... unfortunantly each cycle has been different with me, shocking skin pain after the neulasta injection 2 days after ive had nausea and the food cravings like im pregnant ,then the stomach pain,

the fec affects my teeth pretty bad .... the taste in my mouth is disgusting...

my first cycle was average, second not bad, third crappy, and this one same... i found i got weaker and weaker each cycle. cant sleep after the first week make sure you tell the onc what happens each cycle.... there is meds for everything.... which hosp are u having the chemo.

hope it travels ok for you..... the red devil ( the E part of the fec red cytotoxic) is nasty it damaged my veins i had a picc inserted last week....

keep in touch
robsue
Member
15 years ago
hi elisha hope you ok after youre chemos take care
robsue
Member
15 years ago
hi elisha hope you ok after youre chemos take care