Starting chemo FECT

Hi yes you can go to the toilet . They told me it takes about 2 1/2 hours. Mine starts next week I'm prettified X 

Jayne 

Good luck with your treatment

X

Hello,

I hope all goes well tomorrow.  FECT was the treatment most people had for BC in 2016 when I had it. Nowadays there are other variations but most are a combination of some or all of the above.

As you can see it worked well for me and my cancer is still clear. 

Unfortunately every unit is different. My chemo took about four hours. I didn't cold cap which makes it longer. I had a port which makes connection quicker. 

So I suggest you take a notebook tomorrow to jot down things you are told then if you have further questions you can ask again on this group. Hopefully your unit will prepare you for possible side effects. Mine gave me anti sickness pills to take the day before chemo started. They also gave me laxatives, immodium, paracetamol and mouthwash to start from Day1 and continue throughout to prevent ulcers. I used all of the prescription at different times throughout the five months so if your clinic doesn't give you them, I recommend you have some in the cupboard on stand by. 

You will find the monthly chemo thread useful. There will be others there just starting chemo like yourself and probably using a cold cap too.

Hope all goes well. Love Karen

Hello,

Don't be petrified. I know it is unknown but it doesn't hurt during the actual session. Side effects are individual. I can't tell you what will happen there. Just in case I would recommend light food on the day and if you've been given anti sickness, take it anyway before you go.....Also start a mouthwash....non alcoholic.....on Day 1 and continue twive daily minimum throughout. Mouth problems are common and I have frequently read posts on here of extreme difficulties but I didn't  get any. I used the mouthwash until after radiotherapy so for about nine months in total. It may have been coincidence but I had a lot of other side effects so I like to think it helped.

Hopefully you have found the monthly chemo thread or Awake. You will get lots of support on those . Take care. 

Hi Libbyk, & Rhiwbina,  I hope you read this before your appt tomorrow, take a bag as you will probably be given a load of pills, sharps bin etc to take home, also a notepad so you can write down any bits of info, chemo can take a whole morning, if you are having a cold cap there will be a delay at the start. Make sure you are hydrated so the nurses can easily find your veins for the infusion, the chemo itself is a bit of an anticlimax, you can move around, go to the loo, read a book, its boring and I sat there for me first infusion wondering what I was so worried about.  It hit me soon after I got home!!!!!!.  Chemo is not as bad as its press, you can do this, love Ann

Thanks farmerann 

I feel a bit better after your post ,  its all I think about at

 the moment  cancer cancer cancer! I wish I could get my old life back my pre cancer life. I will just have to  see I suppose how I go 

Thank you 

Jayne x 

Thank u and good luck with your treatment - it is such a maze of confusion and feeling out of control isn’t it xxx

thank u so much Karen and so pleased u still cancer free

thanks for the advice xx

Yes this disease takes so much from us and the pandemic has made that worse. Well at least I managed to sleep all night last night. I'm normally up in the night about 3am thinking things over! 

Have a good day Libby K 

Jayne x 

Thank will top up cupboards x