First week of chemo - anyone else in the same boat?

Hi , I had my first FEC treatment exactly one week ago today! Didn’t know what to expect obviously but think I’ve coped ok! Feel a bit seedy with a furry mouth and had one entire day where I couldn’t lift my head off the pillow. It has been nowhere near as bad as I had imagined!

I’m looking on it as one down on road to recovery ...a friend who has arrived to help me!!

Hi Bramble22 glad you found each other for support .

There is an interesting list of possible things you may want on a link that is on front  page of October chemo Thread . Lots of conversation about SEffects as well .

One of the main things I would suggest is make sure you drink bout 2litres a day it helps to flush your system out also to rehydrate which will help with any possible constipation .

Also mouthwash (alchohol free) to help wth furry mouth and possible mouth ulcers . 

Listen to your body and rest when needed . I find keeping a diary useful as a memory jogger for SE to tell Onco but also a pattern could appear so you know when you start to feel a bit better .

For me it is around day 14/15 but we're all different .

Take care 

margaret x

Hey Bramble22,

thank you so much for your reply.  It means such a lot to hear back from someone going through something similar.  When’s your next session?  I’m doing mine every other week .. crikey, I do feel like we’re in for quite a run of it.

yes, def have a furry mouth and a heavy head, just a persistent headache but not bad enough to take medication for.  Could be something to do with wearing the cold cap perhaps which wasn’t too bad really.

I really like your analogy of ‘a friend that has come to save me’... I’m going to embrace this and totally go for it with the same thought in mind.  Hopefully stay in touch. Just shout anytime if you fancy a moan!  Xxxxx

Hi I also started my first chemo session this tues. Picc line went in monday and now have FEC every 3 weeks for three sessions. Then the T part every 3 weeks after. 

I learnt pretty quick it's about pacing myself when I had the lumpectomy and lymph nodes removed. So take each day at a time, I feel a bit flu'y this week for want of a better word but not too bad. Managing to get out for short periods. My steroids finish today so expecting a bit of a dip over the weekend. Make sure you keep a diary of symptoms and then you'll have an idea when you'll have good and bad days.

Good luck with your chemo, dont push yourself and listen to your body. 

Ahh, thank you so much for your advice.  Gosh it seems like you have already gone through such a lot before you even started your chemo.  I hope you feel ok today and are getting through it.  It seems like a really good idea to keep a record of how I’m feeling .. I’m not used to feeling so odd and have very little energy today - though, at the same time I don’t feel ill.  
It would be lovely to keep in touch if you like to see how you’re getting on.  Wishing you all the best x

Hi, I had first EC chemo 3 days ago. I had my mastectomy and lymph removal 6 weeks ago. I feel ok but the steroids made me manic! I was worried about my husband injecting me with the filigrastim but it was fine  Are you having that??  I know that symptoms can get worse as time goes on so I'm trying to take each day as it comes and make sure I get out walking each day. I'm having chemo every two weeks for 8 rounds..  4 of EC  first. How are you coping now? You're a bit ahead of me! X

Hi Bramble22 how are you doing? And hi to everyone else who started this week!! I’m on day 10 today and so far so good! Felt a bit sicky and wobbly the first night but put my travel bands on and they worked a treat, didn’t sleep  with steroid mania but apart from that just h a strange feeling of not quite being in the room! On another planet really . Tried to get out most days for a good walk which has been great. The injections started on Monday and made me feel quite strange, to the point today I can feel my heart pulsing in my bones  But generally feeling much more like myself .

Does anyone know when we are most at risk of infection ? Not sure of the timings because of the injections? Feel the need to get out and about but don’t want to risk getting any bugs. Xxx

Hi Claire1974,

From what I've read, your neutrophil count will be at its lowest somewhere between days 7-14 after chemo is given. What injections are you having?

My wife is given Pegfilgrastim 24hrs after the last chemo goes in, and only needs this injection once per cycle.

She's just had her second cycle, but wasn't too bad on the first. Her main complaint was chemo-brain and not feeling herself.

Cheers,

BC

Hi BoobyCancer, thanks ,yes the injection is  same drug Filgrastim,  but given daily for 5 days from day 5 rather than a single dose ( the single dose is more expensive I think so not used in my trust) I was just wondering if the injections to boost the immune system affected the time frames at all? 
I hope your wife’s  second cycle goes well

Sounds exactly how I feel! Steroid mania and then feeling 'not quite in the room'... made me laugh as I feel like I'm floating about a bit zombie ish but ok.