**AUGUST CHEMOTHERAPY CHAT 2019**

I'm in!!! 

Started cycle 16 of this chemo yesterday, and the oncologist told me the other day that I am his longest ever patient on this drug! My body/cancer obviously responds well to it, even though I'm on 50% of the proper dose due to severe side effects at higher doses. 

Fingers crossed that I can push the boundaries for another few months at least!!! 

Good luck to everybody continuing or starting chemo this month - may the gods of side effects and efficacy be kind to you all! 

I'm in too.

Day 18 of first round of EC, with 4xEC (3 left) and 4xT planned.

Started shedding hair on day 16, and more each day despite cold capping, though not sure hair was wet enough,  and realistic about how EC is ther one with worst success rate for it. 

Off to get a PICC line this afternoon which I'm dreading.  More radiation  as is in their fluoroscopy room (6 months background on top of the 10 years background from staging scans). It's ironic that treatment for cancer involves procedures and drugs that can cause it:/)  I'm not sure how I'll cope with it,  but the nurse struggled to insert the catheter for my first chemo with three attempts, so with that every three weeks as well as the blood tests etc. I know that it's to help me. 

How is everyone else doing?

I’m in! 2 x EC done and first (of 4)  Docetaxel (Taxotere) completed yesterday. Just 7 days of injecting myself now to officially be able to claim half way through

good luck to all, I hope the side affects are manageable for you all and you have more good days than bad.

Ruby X

Hi Ruby,

Congratulations on being half way through! I hope that you don't mind,  but can i ask why you had 2 rounds of EC instead of 3 or 4? I'm thinking of only doing the EC, and there seem so many combinations of cycles and drugs! X

Hi Londonmumof2

Interesting question and one I’ve been asking myself, everyone I meet or talk to seems to be on a different regime to me. I genuinely have no idea, I am positive for EC and HER, I dont know if that’s the reason or if it’s because I was borderline for surgery first then chemo.  They decided chemo first, appears to be the right call, after 2 x EC tumour is down from 4 cm and hard to 3 cm and soft, it makes it almost worth the challenges! 

Surgery is planned for Nov then radiotherapy

Hope this helps 

Ruby x

London......you'll be so pleased you agreed to the PICC and if anyone else having chemo this month or waiting to start is offered a port( take this if available) or a PICC take it! Don't  be afraid of the fitting. Mine ( a port) was inserted under general anaesthetic but removed with a local at the end. It makes having the chemo drugs so simple and painless.

Last year I had to have  intravenous antibiotics to deal with sepsis and like chemo drugs these can block your veins. I had eight sites in 2 days because my veins are visibly non existent and the nurses couldn't find one which would support the drug.So I do know exactly how painful chemo can be for some of you and can compare it to my chemo through the port with no discomfort. Eventually I was given a picc line for the antibiotics by an anesthetist....What a difference.

Hope your picc goes in easily this afternoon.

Love Karen

I'm in for August and due 3rd FEC tomorrow....neutrophils were down again on Tuesday night (on my 3rd admission to hospital this cycle!)..and had my bloods done again this morning. I've had oncology nurses phone me yesterday and today, and an oncology doc just off the phone to discuss what's been going on this cycle...fainted, constant lightheadedness and shakes, legs like jelly...probable anxiety element to how I'm feeling now and not coping well at all....Ms. Strong, Brave and Independent is no longer! Sorry this sounds so negative x

Oh Fee!

No wonder you're feeling anxious when your bloods are down and you're so dizzy:(

Are they going to delay thr chemo this week? It doesn't sound like your body is ready for ther next one yet.  Did your oncologist mention doing ther dose? A lot of hospitals don't give the "F' part anymore due to side effects and consider ther EC fine.  Could you ask about that? It might help,  and at least reduce the worry about having exactly the same drugs as made you ill. X

Thank you Lacomtekp, it doesn't feel good on my way now for the 3pm appointment,  but hopefully it will be 

Feeling a bit negative this afternoon as I head off for it.  On the6r plus side I had a bath and washed my hair today, and chunks of hair didn't fall out (this time!) 

Hi 

I am so glad that I had a PICC line from the start. It has made it so much easier for bloods and treatment. I hardly notice its there. I got some PICC line covers online so it's not as noticeable.

I am on D14 after my second EC. Despite cold capping, my hair is coming out and is noticeably thinner. I am glad I had it cut short at the start of my journey. Not ready for a buzz cut yet.  I will carry on with the cold cap in the hope that it can be saved. 

Lets hope that August is kind to us all x