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Leolady56
Life is like a boxing match, defeat is declared not when you fall .....But when you refuse to stand up again .......So, I get knocked down but I get up again. x
Well, I lost about 80% of my hair REALLY quickly - day 8 of the first cycle. I looked like Gollum, so I shaved it off! Now I'm on a 50% dosage, it's growing back really quickly. The chemo nurse said that total hair loss is quite rare, but it does happen so she always warns people just in case. Some people get away with none, others with some thinning.
For me, the main side effects have been severe neutropenia and infection - I was hospitalised for 9 days on the first cycle, which was 100% dosage. It would have been less than that, but I had a PE whilst I was in hospital, which the oncologist felt was chemo induced. I'm now on anticoagulant injections indefinitely to stop it happening again.
We moved to 75% dosage for the next two cycles and I was in hospital for 5 days on each of those as well. Now I'm on 50% dosage, and although I've had to go to A&E every time, I've got away with being checked out and sent home with antibiotics rather than being kept in. I'm hoping that I might avoid even that this time - fingers crossed!
Other than the neutropenia, the side effects have been minimal - I do have quite a lot of heartburn but have meds for that. The oncologist prescribes antisickness for me although he doesn't normally. I don't do sickness and nausea, so he agrees to do that whatever drug I'm on! I also have a bit of a sore mouth a few days after the chemo and some loss of taste, but not a major issue. Some fatigue, but that goes with the neutropenia I think!
My eyesight has changed (deteriorated) quite markedly since I've been on the drug. I made the mistake of getting really expensive new glasses before I started 4 months ago and I've just had to get a new pair for driving and watching TV. I'm hoping that they won't change too much as I don't want to have to buy new ones every three months or so!
Good thing is, the drug appears to be working on keeping my cancer (lungs and bones) stable at the moment, so the side effects must be worth it!
Hi thanks for your reply. I read your bio and you sound like you've had a long road of treatment xx I'm 18 months in to treatment, I've got triple negative breast cancer and it has not really responded to any treatment yet. I've had fec-t 3 surgeries, capecitabine and 5 weeks radio, gem/carbo and now eribulin xxx
Sounds like you've been on the roller coaster a bit yourself!
As you can see by my bio, I've had most of the chemos you've had. Gem/carbo is POSSIBLY the one after this although my oncologist is not keen due to the possibility of worsening my tinnitus. After that, I'm in the lap of the gods!!!
Hopefully you won't get the neutrophil thing - it's been a complete pain in the bum, especially as I generally feel okay - wasting days in isolation in hospital is NOT the way to go!
When do you start on Eribulin?
Fingers crossed that it is effective for you. Whereabouts are you?
Onto my third cycle of eribulin now. Consultant reluctant as I have significant peripheral neuropathy from previous paclitaxol. However no major side effects yet.................would be interested to hear how others have been affected.
I just completed my third cycle of Eribulin. No major side effects, though I do feel very fatigued after the second treatment of each cycle. However, I'm stage 4 TNBC, with breathing problems from lung mets, and I'm oxygen-dependant, so I tire easily.
The good news is that it seems to be working. My staging scan after cycle 2 showed shrinkage in most of my tumours. (There was growth in 2, one in each lung,) No other chemo had any effect at all.
