Hi,
I’m about to have my 4th and final round of EC before commencing 12 weeks of paclataxal. My EC didn’t start well, I ended up passing out and sent to A&E in an ambulance the first time. I almost passed out the second time too. It turns out the cold cap was the cause. My hair all fell out anyway, so ditched that. I’m 43, have a 7 year old and am usually fighting fit, energetic and positive. I’m finding chemo harder than I expected, there’s days when I can’t put my daughter to bed. I’m so tired and sore I’m grumpy. I’m starting to feel like there will be nothing of me left at the end of chemo and if it’s worth it. Logical me knows it is, I’m just finding it so hard not being me. Has anyone else gone through this patch?
Hello MartiniA
I hope you do not mind me replying as my cancer was endometrial. By doing so it will bump your post and hopefully someone on the same chemo regime will see it and respond.
I did however have chemo myself and one of the drugs was paclitaxel. I also did scalp cooling.
I am sorry to hear that you had a reaction to the chemo and that you are finding the chemo hard. I think however much you are told about the chemo before hand and however positive and fit you normally are, it can still be a real shock to feel how unwell it can sometimes make you feel. Tired, sore and grumpy does ring a lot of bells for me.
Chemo is hard and the only thing I would say is to go with the flow and accept that some days are going to be rubbish but there can also be some better days. Rest on the rubbish days and make the most of the better ones. When you do have side effects or feel generally unwell, give your team a call and they can often give medication that can help. Sometimes I found just calling them and them saying it was a normal side effect and that it would pass- helped.
If talking things through would help, then please do consider giving the Support Line a call. I used the online chat feature a few times and found that helpful.
I hope that your last EC goes better and that the paclitaxel is better for you.
Jane
Hi MartiniA and a very warm welcome to the online community which I hope you'll find is both an informative and supportive place to be.
I'm sorry to read how much you've struggled with EC. I was very lucky in that other than feeling tired for about 10 days after each cycle and also losing my hair, I didn't really have any other side effects.
Hopefully you'll find paclitaxel a lot easier. I had no side effects while on that chemo and my hair even started to grow back towards the end.
I know I haven't had the same experience as you but responding to you will 'bump' your post back to the top of the discussion list again for others to see more easily and hopefully reply. You might also want to join and post in the main breast cancer forum as that's a busier forum than this one. Clicking on the link I've created will take you there if that's something you'd like to do.
While you're waiting for results, it would be great if you could put something about your diagnosis and treatment to date into your profile as it really helps others when replying to you and also when looking for someone on a similar pathway. It also means that you don't have to keep repeating yourself. To do this click on your username and then select 'Profile'. You can amend it at any time and if you're not sure what to write you can take a look at mine by clicking on my username.
"Never regret a day in your life, good days give you happiness, bad days give you experience"
Thank you, it’s so hard at times. I was at a real low with the pain and discomfort. I made it through the final EC and now had 2 paclataxal which is much more manageable. I’m half way through which has boosted my determination to see this through. I hope you’re feeling better and having good days with your boys 
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