Ec side effects.

Hi

Sorry to see you haven't had a reply as yet

Think most of those undergoing chemo are on the Main Breast Groups January Chemo Club discussion (link)

You would probably get some replies regarding your side effects from some of the ladies there who have had EC and gone onto Paclitaxel if you posted this message there ?

If your injections are for keeping your white cell counts up, there are other types of G-CSF meds that can do this so maybe you should ask your onco unit if another would better suit you ?

Good luck with the Paclitaxel, G n' J

Hi  when I was on Taxol I was given only one injection after each treatment. It didn’t make me breathless or cough but it gave me very bad bone pain. You should ask your nurse next time to find out if that’s normal. I did feel bloated and I had problem with constipations a few times, the nurse told me to take the tablets that help with the constipation before I was constipated so it doesn’t get bad. I also gained weights during my chemo treatment but I’m not sure what caused it.

I found chemo was a lot worse than the surgery. I also experienced a lot of ups and downs. Try not to spend your days by yourself and get company or do gentle and relaxing activities with other people which can help take your mind off things. I must say winter is harder on my state of mind than Spring/Summer when the days are long and lots of things to do outdoor. 

Thank you for replying. I’ve not started taxol yet I’m due to start that next Thursday. I will ask the nurses about the side effects of the injections as I’m finding that worse than the actual chemo. I’m so nervous about taxol as I’ve kind of got into a routine with the ec and know how I’m going to feel and when my worst days are. How did you find it? I know everyone is different and it effects people in different ways. I’ve also put on weight and just feel generally rubbish since starting the ec, steroids don’t help!! I have my dreaded half way ct scan in 2 weeks and I’ve got in such a state over it already as I’m worried about my spine, I can feel the lump in my breast has shrunk hugely which is reassuring and makes me see all this is worth it. 

The bone pain after the injection was really bad at first. They gave me Naproxen for it. I couldn't get out of bed but then I found that simply ibuprofen was enough to get me through it. I found my mood was more unstable and by that time I already gone through 4 cycles of AC so my fingers and toes were more numb and tingly, I had trouble with buttons and opening cans/jars etc and I felt really really tired. I would go out for lunch and had to go home and rest straight away. I still vomited a few times but not nearly as bad as when I was on AC. I was lucky as I had my scans and surgery at the beginning and my second nodes clearance surgery came back clear so I didn't have to deal with more worries on top of chemo. I really really hope you receive good news from your scan. I know it's really hard but try to think of the finish line. 

I finished my last Taxol 13th of Dec but then I've been having sinus blockage since then. I'm convinced it's related to my chemo but my oncologist insisted that it's not a side effect. Went to see an ENT who couldn't find anything wrong with my nose, even did a CT scan of it. So I've been clogged up and unable to sleep this past 4 weeks. Honestly, this is the worst out of all my experience during chemo. I don't know what it is though so don't think about it, I don't think anyone else has this problem. 

Hi , I also had problems with the injections. They made me feel very muzzy headed and my bones and joints would literally throb! I took daily loratidine and it definitely helped, this wAs ok’d by the onc pharmacist, it’s worth a try . And I truly believe   The injections saved me from getting some nasty bugs over the Christmas period!!! 
I also took movicol to prevent constipation and they worked a treat without the tummy pain others can cause. All this I started after my first cycle and it made the chemo so much more bearable. 
I don’t know if you’ve got these but you can get little covers for your picc line , on the internet . They come in loads of different colours . I forgot I had mine most of the time by the end. 
good luck with the rest of your treatment.

Clairexx

Hi lollipops84, 

Like yourself I have lobular breast cancer however I'm recovering from a mascetomy and awaiting treatment plan as tissue been sent off for onco dx test. 

We all have bad days and good. I've had three close family members with cancer and its a total roller-coaster, some days can feel very isolated. Take solace from the people here on this site and know that even though we don't know each other we are all kind and caring women who wish you love light and strength and find comfort in that. 

Best wishes xx

Ladymel