well I have my cocktail
Hi Ladies,
Well I met my oncologist today and I now have my gameplan. I am having FEC and Taxotare. Any advice suggestions etc would be great.
Not sure if this is a silly question but will ask an...
Forum Discussion
That's the Cocktail that I have been having (althought I also have Herceptin now with my taxotere) - I am 2/3 through now.
I stayed overnight for my FEC treatments but not all Oncologists do this. You can take your laptop, listen to music, read, talk to a friend (I think it is worth taking a friend or partner with you) - I don't think you will want to be driving home. It might take about 3 hours to put in but you will likely be there longer with pre-medications and all the administrative stuff that goes on.
With my first taxotere, I was there for 5 hours.
If you search some of the blogs - maybe use FEC as a search tag you will come up with some good tips.
Since you are starting with FEC:
- Nausea - you might just want to eat small meals to keep nausea at bay - I liked vege and chicken soup, toast with citrus jams and marmelade
- your taste sensation may be altered - lime cordial in water, soda water, mineral water, ginger bear, lemon and ginger in hot water, mints, mint chewing gum may help
- rest - listen to your body and rest up. I found having a nice warm bath everyday really relaxed me and helped with the muscle aches.
- I got hold of the Spooks tv shows and am now halfway through series 3 - I just chill out when I can in a recliner and watch these. Short enough for me to concentrate but (for me) more entertaining and engaging than daytime TV.
I'm not sure how old your kids are but having a little extra help for about 10 days has worked for me - a friend has organised a meals roster so I don't have to cook on chemo weeks, we have others that help with pick up and drop offs at school.
Taxotere so far is a little different to the FEC.
When do you start? It isn't nice but it is doable and you have periods of feeling almost normal. I can't believe that I only have 2 to go. For me I have managed the chemo really well - it's not all horror stories. One of the best things the ladies on here told me is to think of the chemo as gold coursing through your veins :-) - works for me.
Good Luck
Amanda xx