I'm just about to start FEC soon and would love to know any women who are having the same and what side effects they had. I don't have a high tolerance for drugs so I'm crapping myself over it thinking it will hit me hard.

Yes, it is scarey having Chemo, especially that first dose. So sorry that you are facing this too! I have had 3 x FEC and am 2 weeks away from last of 3 Docetaxels. As you have probably heard everyone is different with side effects. My experience with FEC was not too bad. Never vomited but felt various degrees of nausea. I found it helped to eat small amounts regularly. Sometimes salty foods are more appealing. I also found cold food easier than hot food. I also felt pretty tired for a couple of days. Generally I felt better after day 5 or so. I started to lose my hair about 2 weeks after first dose of FEC, although it took ages to actually lose it all. I had it shaved to minimize discomfort and mess. Remember it does grow back! Make sure you look after your mouth care to avoid ulcers! I used a 1/2 teaspoon of salt in glass of warm water to rinse and gargle with. Do this after you eat and use a soft toothbrush to brush with. There is a blog on here called 'things that helped you through Chemo' or something like that which had lots of info on what people have found useful. Just type chemo or things that help into the search bar at the top of this page and you should be able to find it. Wishing you all the best for first Chemo. If you have questions as you go just come on here and ask for help. We are all here to make the journey easier if we can. xxxDeanne

Hi Kys, I had AC which is similar to FEC I believe and my experience was also similar to Deanne's. Believe it or not, you do get into a kind of routine as you go. After the first one when you begin to know what to expect, it's not so scary. Not that it helps to know what to expect, mind you, but the 'unknown' is gone. Keep your chin up Kys and be kind to yourself. It's okay to cry too. Take it one day at a time. Sending you bigs hugs. Love Janey xxx PS What a great family photo. You'll have to adopt the name Kys 'The Lionheart'. X

I had FEC for three cycles and my experience wasn't too bad. The first few days were good because of the anti-nausea drugs then I felt a bit off for the second week but no vomiting and the third week I felt fantastic. Funny that I felt fantastic and very energetic but actually had very low neutrophils so ended up having to have Nulasta shots for the rest of the treatment. The Nulasta had its own side-effects; aching bones as my body tried to generate more neutrophils but all in all, it wasn't a bad experience for me. Most of the side effects were minor and I even went on holidays for two weeks to the Gold Coast and did a couple of theme parks. I wish you all the best and hope that your experience is not awful. Just remember that it is killing all those cancer cells and will ultimately make you better. Best wishes xx

Deanne Thank you for letting me know how you handled FEC. I'm one of those people who wants to know everything about a subject.. I reckon I'll end up doing what you did and shave my hair when it starts to fall out. I don't think my husband and kids will want to see my hair everywhere. The tips about the mouth ulcers and the blog will help. Take care xoxo Kys

Hi Janey Thanks for letting me know how you handled your chemo. You said that it becomes a kind of routine which wil help me with young kids. I'm trying not to let this change their routine too much but in the end I cannot do anything about this. I never would have thought to look at my photo like that. I'll have to keep telling my self that on my crappy days. Take care xoxo Kys

FEC | BCNA Online Network

15 Replies

Janey235
Member
12 years ago
Wishing you sunshine today. Love Janey xxx
Deanne
Member
12 years ago
You poor thing, I'm glad that you managed to get some different meds to help. The first treatment is sometimes the worst. You know what to expect and how to help the side effects a bit better each time. My nausea used to be really bad the day of FEC chemo but settled after that. Hopefully the different meds will help next time and you will not have the nausea so bad. Don't forget to look after your mouth care as I developed ulcers about day 7 of first chemo. Never had them after first chemo though. Take care and you will feel better soon. Deanne xx
AlisonMew
Member
12 years ago
It is now Day 5 from my first FEC infusion and I fell like one of those dolls with lead in her feet, just coming back slowly from a sucker punch!! Having gone through a bilateral mastectomy 5 weeks ago, I thought I knew about discomfort. I didn't count on the debilitating effects of nausea . It hit me 4 hours after the infusion stopped and the next few days were horrible!! The first day was manageable with the DMSO (steroid tablets) and the Pramin, but the next day and the following were absolutely shocking!! I doubled the dose of Pramin but by Day 3 had to call the hospital for different and stronger drugs. Fortunately, my 17 yr old son was around to drive me the 20 mins to get them because I wasn't in any state to drive. Day 4 improved a little by the evening, ready for a teenage party we were hosting (I know, why did I think that would be OK?? But organised before the diagnosis and really didn't want to cancel). It is now Day 5 and while I am not 100%, I would be close to 80%! I can't even think what little tips and tricks helped - just strong drugs!! Mastectomy pain has nothing on debilitating nausea!!

I so hope I continue to improve, because I really just felt like curling up into the foetal position - that is if my stomach wasn't so sore!!

Had my vent now - sorry if I have put the wind up others facing this treatment! Everyone is so different that the hardest part is getting some indication on how it will affect you!! You just have to go through it...

Love Alison
AlisonMew
Member
12 years ago
It is now Day 5 from my first FEC infusion and I fell like one of those dolls with lead in her feet, just coming back slowly from a sucker punch!! Having gone through a bilateral mastectomy 5 weeks ago, I thought I knew about discomfort. I didn't count on the debilitating effects of nausea . It hit me 4 hours after the infusion stopped and the next few days were horrible!! The first day was manageable with the DMSO (steroid tablets) and the Pramin, but the next day and the following were absolutely shocking!! I doubled the dose of Pramin but by Day 3 had to call the hospital for different and stronger drugs. Fortunately, my 17 yr old son was around to drive me the 20 mins to get them because I wasn't in any state to drive. Day 4 improved a little by the evening, ready for a teenage party we were hosting (I know, why did I think that would be OK?? But organised before the diagnosis and really didn't want to cancel). It is now Day 5 and while I am not 100%, I would be close to 80%! I can't even think what little tips and tricks helped - just strong drugs!! Mastectomy pain has nothing on debilitating nausea!!

I so hope I continue to improve, because I really just felt like curling up into the foetal position - that is if my stomach wasn't so sore!!

Had my vent now - sorry if I have put the wind up others facing this treatment! Everyone is so different that the hardest part is getting some indication on how it will affect you!! You just have to go through it...

Love Alison
Deanne
Member
12 years ago
Thanks for letting us know how you are going. Chemo is so unpredictable with what side effects you get, but I'm glad it was not too bad for you. It is great when you start to feel better. I have finished my 6th and final (yay) chemo almost 3 weeks ago now. The time between doses goes quite fast and soon you will be through it too! I am interested to see how my hair grows back now. Started radiation today, 1 down 24 to go. I think the worst thing about this will be the monotony of having to go 5 days a week. Good luck with the next chemo and take care. Deanne xxx
Kys82
Member
12 years ago
My courage is yours as you need. I hope you have a speedy recovery from your surgery. I glad your getting out of the doldrums. I find this Breast Cancer journey hard a times too. I'm here anytime if you need to vent.

Take care

xoxo Kys
Janey235
Member
12 years ago
Great to hear from you and so glad you are doing well. The Lionheart came through :) I must admit I needed some of your Lionheart courage in the last couple of weeks. I was miserable and feeling sore with my surgery but I am getting up out of the doldrums again. Lots of love and hugs Janey xxx
Kys82
Member
12 years ago
Hi Deanne,Janey,Nellie

Thanks once again for giving me some advice on FEC. As it turns out I did have some of the crappy side effects but by day 6 all I had was mild symptoms. I took the advice and shaved my head yesterday. Anyway I just wanted to say a big thank you. It's so nice knowing that there is wonderful strong women out there who are helping others with all their questions and giving them hope.

Take care

Kys xoxo
Nellie0810
Member
12 years ago
Technical glitch
Kys82
Member
12 years ago
Hi Nellie

I'm booked in for 4 cycles then either rads or mastectomy depending on what my gene test says in a few weeks. I'm happy for you that you had minor side effects. Fingers crossed mine are the same. Thats awesome that your side effects were minor that you could go on holidays. In the end all I can do is take the best out of all this and move forward. Your right about trying tell your self that chemo is a good thing.

Take Care

xoxo Kys