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 anyway....what do you do while your having chemo? My oncologist said I would be there for 3 hours. Thanks, Cath xx

I take my ipod and just try to zone out, listening to music. Lots of people read; some ppl take a friend and just read mags and chat. At my treatment centre (RAH) it's a relaxed, open environment so you can do pretty much anything you want to (sitting down) -- knit, read, nap, do a crossword, write a letter -- whatever. Good luck with your treatment. My 'cocktail' is different from yours, but so far it hasn't been as awful as I thought it might be. Go well!Heather

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

Thanks for the suggestions Heather, might have to borrow my daughters ipod. I'm glad your treatment isn't as awful as you thought it was going to be, I hope I'm as lucky as you. Cath xx

Wow thanks for all the info Amanda. It's great to hear from someone having the same cocktail as me. My girls are 10 and 12 so old enough to help out and do some stuff for themsleves. I start on the 22nd, not long to go now. The nerves are starting to kick in and I'm really worried about how I will handle it. Are there any things I should buy before I start? How long does it take to feel normalish after each round? Glad you are nearly finished your chemo. Cath xx

well I have my cocktail | BCNA Online Network

16 Replies

susieFA
Member
15 years ago
I hope your first session of chemo was okay and you are recovering well. I found that as treatment progressed I would sleep through most of it. I would take earplugs with me in case I wanted to relax - I found music a bit annoying for some reason. If anything should happen during or following your treatment that you are not happy about, don't hesitate to tell your doctor because there is every liklihood that it's completely normal and can be treated. I tend not to say anything and had to learn to talk to the nurses and doctor - it's not whinging or complaining. They can't do anything unless they are told. I wish you every best luck and hope your experience goes as well as mine did.
Cath_C
Member
15 years ago
Hey Viv, yep saw the radiation oncologist yesterday. Will be starting about 4 weeks after chemo finishes and having it for 5 weeks. Hope all is going well for you.

Cath xx
Never_Give_Up
Member
15 years ago
Lovely to hear such positive advise - thankyou
Di_BCNA
Member
15 years ago
Hi Julia, and welcome! :) I saw your comment, and thought I'd give you this link in case you want to read a bit about how to leave replies. It's one of the 'tips' posts that we make now and then in the 'Getting Started' group: http://www.bcna.org.au/network/groups/538/blog/11145.

Hope that helps a bit but you're very welcome to ask if you need a hand with anything relating to using the network.

Di
Julia44
Member
15 years ago
i dont know how to reply properly to posts yet, so I hope this is right. I am having my mastectomy tomorrow. so one step forward.... Julia
hippyviv
Member
15 years ago
Hya Cath. I believe today is the day you see the radiation oncologist. Good luck with it and I will be sending good vibes your way!!! XX
MandaMoo
Member
15 years ago
Cath - you will probably see a mantra around here about things - everyone is different. For me each of the FECs were pretty similar. I would say I felt pretty ordinary for 3 days and then gradually improved. Over the course of the three weeks I would say 1 week out - feeling tired, sick, fatigued,"brain foggy". 1 week feeling OK just a bit more fatigued than usual and 1 week of feeling normal. Each FEC was slightly different and a little harder (I guess it catches up with you but each time I had a third week of feeling good and energetic. Taxotere is completely different.

As for things you should buy/organise - for me it was the following - lime cordial to add to water, lemons and ginger for drinking in hot water, ginger beer. A good supply of chicken and vegetable soups. Have you sorted things out Hairloss wise? It is good to have this in place beforehand if you can. Maybe a little supply of hand cream - it is great if someone can give you a foot /hand massage - also feels nice to pamper yourself a little.

You girls are a little older than mine but don't underestimate that first week. If you can get some help with laundry and cooking it is definitely worth it (hard as it is to accept). I have my Mum come and stay for 10 days (she lives interstate) - to help with meals, laundry, pick ups and drop offs. I didn't feel like I could drive fore about a week as I didn't feel safe to drive (my brain was truly foggy).

Its normal to feel a little nervous - I was a little teary the first time - that's one of the other things. Once the drugs kick in I felt quite low and teary each time. All in all though, now 2/3 way through, it is not as bad as I imagined.

I have a neulasta injection after each chemo which keeps my white blood cells nice and high so I have had no problems with neutropenia - not all oncologists do this - not sure why? It is expensive but on the PBS so I am unsure of what the protocol is for using it.

Good Luck Cath.

Amanda xx
Cath_C
Member
15 years ago
Hey Viv, good luck with the oncologist on friday, I will be thinking of you. Let me know how you go. I see the radiation oncologist on wed as I am having radiation after the chemo. xx
hippyviv
Member
15 years ago
Hey Cath. I see my oncologist next Friday and will get my cocktail. I intend to take a good book and get back into that old fashioned thing called letter writing and I am going to write to my family in NZ and my partners family in Ireland. I wish you good luck with your chemo and I sincerely hope it goes well for you and that you dont get too many side effects. Keep in touch and let me know how you are going. I am thinking of you and wish you well with it Cath.