**OCTOBER CHEMOTHERAPY CHAT 2019**

P.S. 

I agree Sam you don't need to spend money on expensive things.....I only had the cheapest underarm thermometer ......it did what was needed and I don't live in the UK so I had different follow up instructions anyway.....

But I do think you've been very lucky with your mouth and I believe...just in case you're not going to respond as well....starting the mouth wash from beginning isn't really a chore as you clean teeth anyway!

All the best for future sessions.

Love Karen

Hi I'm in a similar boat, 5 weeks post surgery, finally feeling a bit normal now, but due to start FEC-t for 18 weeks in 2 weeks, I've booked in a chemotherapy induction the macmillan centre at my hospital runs, so it's worth seeing if there's anything similar. 

Was feeling ok until my oncology appointment yesturday and had to sign all the consent forms outlining all the side effects, now a bit apprehensive.

Try and keep busy and good luck with dressing clinic and chemo. 

Hi Yorkshire_defector good to hear your doing well, I was convinced I was on some sort of secret trial and wasn’t being given any drugs at the start of ec, def feel the docetaxel tho!

the Macmillan centre nearest to me won’t let me take part as I’m not being treated there, however I did find one further away so I’m going to try and get over there at some point. I rang them about the look good feel better course and they were so lovely I cried!

Giuliellaothers have said, don’t go mad getting stuff you might not need, I got sennakot extra which I used, Imodium which I didn’t, daktarin for oral thrush which I used, and shed loads of Zovirax and cold and flu remedy. That’s all. I found akynzeo before ec chemo and cyclizine after to be the best for anti sickness and I got given those at the hospital after I asked for something stronger. I did buy loads of scarves and hats in case cold capping didnt work bit have only worn the hats on way ho e from chemo as it’s freezing, but I have hair! Albeit thin and patchy and very short.

Everyone else as I’m rubbish at names and can only remember 2, wishing you good vibes and minimal side effects whether your just starting or nearly done xxx

Hi All, I’m not sure if I’m doing this correctly but here goes. After a really optimistic meeting with my oncologist I was not expecting chemo but a “let’s just check the Oncotype score to confirm our thoughts” resulted in a score of 32 and chemo now a definite. Waiting for the dates to roll in but hopefully getting started soon. 

So after talking with the oncologist yesterday she’s is planning 4 cycles of EC and nothing else?? I’m now paranoid that this won’t be enough and she’s just being kind to me !!anyone with any experience of this ? 

I had multicentric disease which was initially thought to be DCIS. So 5 tumours in all from 1.8cm to 2mm all grade 2 and ER positive Her 2 negative . Sentinel node was clear. 

Hi claire1974

I'm a nurse but also about to start my chemo. While I'm sure your doctors being nice they wouldn't recommend treatment unless it was the right thing for you.

Before I started this journey i didn't realise there were so many chemo regimes but after talking to colleagues who've worked with chemo they assured me the doctors will prescribe the right regime for your cancer and number of tumors. Everyone is different and each treatment is individualized to you, never compare what you have to everyone else, but draw from everyone's experience and tips to get through.

Good luck 

Hi Claire1974 I have a similar profile to you apart from age, I had fewer tumours but one node positive out of all 3 levels. My chemo gain is 4% over 10 years, and I was put forward for Optima trial, but as 50% are randomised chemo anyway and most tested avoid it I'm working with randomised into chemo as I had clear margins and no LVI (which I'd definitely want chemo with!)

I've just completed my 4 x EC, which is equivalent to the old 6 x EC at a different dose (second generation on the Breast Predict calculator). I'm going to try Paclitaxel, but weekly rather than fortnightly. My onco. said 4 x 2 weeks, but it's easier to cope with at the weekly lower dose.  I have a statistical gain of only 1,4% over 10 years from it, and I said I would try it but I'm worried about the peripheral neuropathy risk. She said that the EC was the important one for me (I'm ER 8/8, PR 8/8 HER2-)  and I'd completed that, so whilst she recommended the Paclitaxel it wasn't the end of the world if I didn't complete it.

I'm sure that your doctor knows what they are doing, but if you are concerned then speak to them about it:)

Thankyou, I’m a nurse too and I think I’m driving myself slightly mad by reading too much into everything, currently panicking about the fact that I’ve already started tamoxifen and I’m afraid the bad cells have now been put to sleep!!.

its reassuring to hear the 4 x cycles of EC are equivalent to the old 6 cycles though . I’ll make a long list of questions for my appointment on Monday and then hopefully will be able to just get on with it . 

@HockeyNut, hi there.  I don't have any dates for starting chemo yet, just hoping that all my other appointments for next week can be kept, though I doubt that I'll be that lucky.  Still, here's hoping.  Oh how I wish my hubby could drive me to and from, but he can't drive since he had a very bad motorcycle accident back in 2010 and was forced to leave work, unable to ever work again, nor drive, but at least he's still here with me for moral support.

i tried driving today, it was a bit painful under my arm, so will only drive again when absolutely necessary, but this morning, I had a wonderful reflexology session, free courtesy of the MacMillan Centre at my hospital.  Dark clouds are threatening rain right now, so am glad I'm back home in the dry and we're on top of a hill, so can't get flooded out, thank goodness.  Another headscarf arrived yesterday with a lovely flower decoration on the back, so I'm keeping that one.  Have thrown it into the carrier bag (from Mabboo, the bamboo shop) where I'm amassing all the stuff I'll need shortly during my chemo journey.

Claire1974 Are you coming off the Tamoxifen now? I thought that there was usually a 2 week gap between treatments?

She didn’t tell me to stop and we did talk about it, I’ve got to sign the consent forms on Monday so I wonder if she will tell me to stop then? I think I’ll call the nurse tomorrow just to confirm. She only started me on it because she was so convinced I wouldn’t need chemo but the Oncotype obviously proved otherwise .