Starting chemotherapy

Hello Audrey

Ive just finished my chemo,  3 fec and 3 docetaxel and herceptin and perjeta. I'm her2 positive with lymph node involvement. I'm having surgery in 2 weeks time. I'm 55 and have found the diagnosis very difficult to handle. The chemo is your friend,  its going to clear up any stray cells. Keep up your fluid levels before during and after treatment. The first 2 treatments I used to watch others in the chemo suite drinking tea and eating their lunch and wonder how they can be so relaxed as I was a crying mess. After my fec had finished and I was on docetaxel I was doing the same. Taking my sandwiches and a magazine and chatting to others. It gets easier. Any questions,  just ask me. You can private message me if you want. 

Julie x

Morning 

My right hand lady J had chemo  for HER2+ BC. Her chemo cocktail was also FEC-T  (T is doectaxel aka taxotere) the same as Charlieandlola.  Most oncology units are gradually dropping the F (fluorouricil) part of FEC as the side effect risks outweigh the advantage gained.

Don't read too much into the huge list of side effects, most only have a few issues with the more common ones and nobody posts messages when they sail through it, so you only get to see a one sided opinion of it all.

This way way back in May 2012 so be reassured this is do'able and even better, for the vast majority it works. Herceptin is a targeted biological therapy (so not a chemo drug as such) and is game changer for HER2+.

We are well out of the treatment tunnel and living the new normal. All I can say is on the tough days don't take your eyes off the prize 

Do check out and post to the regular May Chemo Club discussion for further info and support from those having, or have already had BC chemotherapy.

Hope this helps, if only a bit, G n' J

Hi Julie

Thank you for your reply, I'm quite calm at the moment as I think the sooner I start the sooner I finish. As we can't take anyone with us in these strange days of covid 19 I will take a book and a magazine ( in case I can't concentrate on book) . I'm meeting the chemotherapy staff on Monday and have to watch the video, that you would normally watch with them, online. I'm just making a list now from the chemo tips page of things I need.

Do you have to continue Herceptin for a year or 6 months? I will be doing that also as I am Her2 positive. 

Thanks Audrey

Hello

I'm having herceptin and perjeta infusion once more then I will be having herceptin injections for a year. You will chat to others in the chemo suite, it makes it a social occasion as you often see the same people each time. I took sherbet lemons to suck. Some people take iPads and watch a film but I usually just have a magazine and chat to people.

Julie xx

Hi thank you so much it is so good being able to discuss or sometimes just read how people have coped in the same situations and that there is an end to treatment, a new "normal" and lots of relief and happiness.

It helps a great deal, thank you

Audrey

Hello

I was petrified at first. It's something you never expect to happen to you. I've managed to do my jobs and gardening etc. Usually have a couple of days where I slept alot. We can be normal again, we have to or else it will consume the rest of our lives.

Julie x

Too true Julie,

"Don't miss today's sunshine worrying about tomorrow's rain"

G n' J