FEC T and surgery

floss b.......I am so sorry you have had such a difficult time sheilding on your own while battling the  effects  of the FEC and having all the worry about your husband who presumably you can't visit. But let me stress , you are not alone.

Please know that anytime you need to chat through your feelings, cry, rant or just chat, someone will be browsing and chat back to you.

I am not much help with answering your questions from personal experience as my lump was small and I had my lumpectomy first. However, I have read posts from numerous people in a similar situation to yourself whose treatment has been successful and now no longer need this site and I can tell you a few things I have learnt.

You are right when you suggest surgery might come after chemo to allow the chemo to shrink the lump. I have read several people whose lump went completely and others who were told they would have a mastectomy but only needed a lumpectomy after the chemo which is a much less intrusive operation . I was talking to one of those recently. Four years on, she is still clear of further cancer. I remember her lump reacted particularly well to the Taxotere so don't despair yet. 

Did your treatment continue in lockdown? If it was paused this might also account for the lump feeling the same. 

The difference in sizes can probably be explained by the accuracy of the scans. The MRI is obviously the more accurate.....I think a TEP scan is probably the gold star. But don't  worry......once you read this site regularly you will discover that variations in the results showing tumour size are quite common. I know I have often read comments like yours where people thought they were dealing with one size tumour and a scan reveals another. It's more common than you might imagine. Even my small tumour resulted in a different protocol once it was analyzed after the op. The analysis revealed triple negative so suddenly I was needing chemo and radiotherapy and no after drugs whereas originally based on the biopsy, it was to be a lumpectomy and Tamoxifen......a very different outcome. But that was almost five years ago and I have had no cancer since it was removed in Oct 2015. 

I hope you will feel able to join us now you have started. You might enjoy the chattiness of the Awake posts and later Walking Back to Happiness shares life after treatment.  The photos posted there are usually beautiful and the humour on Awake will make you laugh even on a down day.

Goid luck with your Taxotere. You are half way now. It will pass sooner than you think and you are on the way to recovery.

Love Karen

Thank you for responding!! I've had a telephone consultation this morning. Yes I am going through chemo under lockdown - hard for us all!! My tumour is triple negative which is why the surgeon didn't do surgery first. We were told it was because of the size by keyworkers, but not so. The surgeon told me that triple negative tumours respond excellently to chemo and often hopefully lead to less extensive surgery - as you said. Bless you.

I start the T bit of my chemo in two weeks docetaxel. Have been warned about numb fingers and toes. Hope not as I do a lot of crafting and need my fingers!!! Hey ho. Where there is a will there is a way!

Thank you Karen.

Hello Karen,

Me again. I have been reading up on triple negative cancer and am not quite as up beat as I was when I came off the phone from my consultant surgeon. It doesn't sound as positive and straight forward as he said. I was a stage 2+ and grade 3. That's aggressive isn't it? I haven't told my son or husband that I'm just a little concerned. I'm 61. Trying to stay positive and one day at a time. Focusing on my next chemo except I have spotty Monday to contend with first!!! I come out in spots all over my face on the second Monday of each cycle. They are like chicken pox spots but measles size and itch like crazy. Did you have these?

Thanks for listening, xx

Re:  Rash / Spots during chemo floss b

There are quite few here who have had this and most have found Piriton or other anti-histamines can help.  If you haven't tried this it may be worth giving it a go to see if it helps.

Hopefully someone who has had this will get back to you with what worked for them, it's a common problem :-/

You could mention this at your next session they can give you something prior to starting the infusion.

G n' J

Hi! Don’t know if I can help as my journey is a little different.
At 56 in nov 19  I was diagnosed with triple negative grade 3 17mm. I had a lumpectomy and my nipple removed, a month later further Surgry as cells were found in the healthy median margin.

Once healed I started 4 cycles for EC 3wkly (which I believe is similar to FEC) my bloods showed a liver concern so my first cycle was reduced, second bloods better so had full does but ended up in A+E 18hrs after with Fever and Rash. (Very scary as at peak of Coronavirus, had to do it alone and was nearly admitted to Covid ward but luckily chest X-ray clear and fever lessened once on intravenous anti bots, ITU was diagnosed and reaction to chemo so discharged after 7hrs) so the Next 2 cycles were reduced too. The usual  symptoms of nausea, tiredness,  feeling weak, bad headache and neck pain, and very emotional followed but  got better After wk1 and I felt mostly ok by wk3 to start again. I hope the The head and neck are tension and emotional is more to do with lockdown and shielding.
I live with my husband and my daughter and 3yr granddaughter who had to move in with us just before due to A unexpected marriage breakdown and then my daughter has made been redundant during covid so understandably my daughter has suffered a lot of stress. This added to my treatment, shielding, my husband managing a very large food distribution So still working, You can imagine the tension on many occasions but we hold it together and help each other on our bad days. 
I started Paclitaxel on thurs and was told allergic reaction usually happens during infusion and was worried due to my experience but I was fine thank god. The pins and needles is a concern too so this must be similar to your T.
I can assure in my experience since thurs I have felt better than I have since starting treatment. I came home chatty and Laughing at things when before I needed a nap. Fri was the same very chirpy. Last night I slept 11:30pm till 5:30am Which is amazing for me. I start my injections today which I think causes the chemo truck to strike so I’m expecting the tiredness etc to start but I loved these last 2 days and feel More positive this course of 4 cycles 2wkly Will suit me better. Then I have radiotherapy, another journey to complete. 
thank you for reading, I hope it helps a bit.

good luck and be kind to yourself xx

Bless you. What a journey for you and your family.

My tumour was found to be 56mm at the MRI scan and at least one lymph node. I had an allergic reaction to the antibiotics they gave me. I'm allergic to sulphonamides. So I sympathise with your reactions. Your mind just automatically goes into over drive as you take a new drug. I'm pleased you have had a bit of respite, long may it continue.

Take care and thank you for replying. xx

Thank you, I'll have a look to see how people have coped with it. I have an antihistamine but sit on my hands a lot!! I've mentioned it several times and even took photos to show at my chemo session. Most nurses are amazed! My oncologist said its just my personal side effect!! LOL!!!!

xx