Hi Ann
Thank you for your good wishes.
Congrats on making it through your 3 FEC.
I did not get any of the ractions on the day that they talk about from the Taxotere so that was a bonus :-) I did take the Dex as instructed (probably earlier in the day than I was told because I knew how it affected me. It obviously helped.
All I can say is be prepared for the reaction and speak up in the chemo ward if feeling a big different (even in the slightest bit). Be prepared for bone and nerve pain and have pain killers on hand at home. Make sure you start Panadol every four hours the morning of your chemo and continue it the whole time you need it. Add in extra pain killers if you need on top of the Panadol. Don't let the pain set in because then it takes ages for the medications to relieve the pain.
Neulasta injections don't help with the pain either that is for sure. I give myself the injection in the afternoon and by night you can feel the pain moving through your body, it is so wierd.
I am on pain patches which the doctor reviews regularly and I also take Panadol and Endone every four hours to keep on top of pain which isn't always possible and it does flare up sometimes.
I also have very sore mouth and no taste buds (except for chocolate - I am serious hee hee) I rinse my mouth every four hours but it is still yukky.
I have other side effects but they are miniscule in the big picture.
I just keep telling myself everything is temporary but I am so worried I won't be on top of things before the holiday. Trying to pack and get organised for the holiday is also a chore at present. When I return from the holiday I will go straight in to my 7 weeks of radiotherapy down in Perth. I am hoping like crazy I will be feeling better next week and have less of a chemo brain because I can't think on things to plan and organise. I am sure it will be a wonderful holiday once I get there and I am so looking forward to it. Sometimes it is good not to plan and just let it happen.
I am defnitely getting accliamatised with the weather we are having at present in W.A.
Congrats again, well done, I hope you have a smooth journey ahead of you.
LOL
Mich xo