Struggling with FEC

It is hard Vic.......and I'm so sorry to read the side effects you are suffering.  I was only posting on the chemo thread earlier today that if you react badly, as you have, you can feel really unwell for most of the cycle. I'm pleased the 10% reduction helped a bit with the sickness. I think as a drop in white cells caused delays for my chemo, I continued with the full dose and the sickness got progressively worse. I can't help you with information about the Herceptin because I was triple negative so can't have hormone inhibitors.

You may find that the Taxotere is better.....some people do.....but you may not. People tend not to be so nauseous but you do need to watch for numbness and/ or burning in your feet and hands and tell someone like your BCN if you feel it. It's not over reacting or making a fuss in this situation.

I can't promise you an easy ride through the next four cycles as you have already shown that they effect you but I can say it's actually only another twelve weeks and it will pass.....at the end of which you will be well on the way to recovery. Suddenly , like me, you will find yourself waiting for your four year mammogram.  Yes, it is hard sometimes, no matter how much support you get( and I had plenty too), but this is a difficult disease we are fighting and the fact is, we are fighting it and will hopefully win in the end.

I wish you all the best for the rest of your treatments.

Love Karen

Hi Vicsoflu

I too have had FEC although my symptoms were not as bad as yours, I did suffer with nausea, heartburn, extreme tiredness, headaches, dizziness, dry mouth and pains. I have just had 2nd FEC today and they administered it very slow. I feel ok at the moment and hoping side effects will be minimal. I am also curious if the following treatment will continue or bring more side effects but like others have said we are all different and will react different so only time will tell. I hope you won't suffer as bad but take one day at a time and remember how far you have come . You are doing great. 

BB

I had EC. (No F). I also reacted badly. Had every side effect going and hospital admissions after first 2 doses. I had reduced dose for remaining 2. It was just awful for me. But the reason I am posting is that I then went on to have 12x paclitaxel weekly, with herceptin and perjeta every 3rd week. I had a dose reduction again due to side effects, but it was nowhere near as bad as EC. I was tiered and had lots of other side effects, but it was not in the same league as the EC. So hopefully you will be the same and paclitaxel will not be so bad. Good luck. xxx

Hi,

I’m sorry that you’re unwell. I remember the feelings well. I had FEC-T chemo (finished at the start of March) and I’m having herceptin injections every three weeks.

The first week of the first cycle of FEC, I felt dreadful so I asked my oncologist for better anti-sickness medicines and he prescribed them. I also found that my GP couldn’t do enough to help. I struggled to sleep with the huge steroid dose and the taxol did make me ache (although I had paclitaxol every 3 weeks) and he was happy to prescribe to make me more comfortable. I think it’s worth preparing for the next cycle. My chemo unit gave me tablets for constipation and some for diarrhoea, just in case. They were strong! Don’t suffer in silence and at least the prescriptions are free at the moment.

After chemo, I have had herceptin in my thigh. The needle has to be in for a couple of minutes, but there is a local anaesthetic in the liquid and so after the initial little sting,I can’t feel anything. It’s worth telling the staff in you’re worried and they can help to put you at ease.

I hope the next cycle is kinder to you.

Sarah

I've had my second FEC and not been too bad apart from chills and sweats all night on worst days. Other we are minor. I'm going onto Paclitaxel next too with Herceptin and Perjeta, both by IV. My nurse said the side effects are usually much less than FEC so I'm hoping she's right. 

Take care,

Babs x

Hi Babs

so are you having Herceptin intravenously & not injection in thigh?  I really hope I can have it like that too as I have a Picc line which has really taken away a lot of the stress for me with needles.

fingers crossed we both do better on the next drug

big hugs

xx