Starting chemo in March 2023

Hello, thought I’d post some good-ish news. Had an ultrasound today -after the 3rd cycle of EC- and the tumour has shrunk to almost half the size. Was happy cause up to now I’ve had no idea if the treatment was having an effect. 

Best wishes to everyone. We got this :) 

That's amazing news! Well done you.

Hiws everyone feeling? I'm in 7 day of round 2 fec, woken up with the slight shakes, similar pattern to last time lasted half a day, not sure if it's due to steroids stopping. All in all have felt good again though so hope it continues for rounds 3 and 4! Then on to doxetaxal. Anyone currently on doexetacal that can share some positive stories? 

I start my chemo regime which willthe the same as you are having EC and then doxetaxel in a week or so.  How were you after lst round, and isthere anything in particular I should take into the hospital with me.  My hospital does not have cold caps, should I buy one myself?

Hi. Had 2 Docetaxel and no real side effects. Hair has been growing back since EC ended. Steroids keep me awake before and after treatment. Otherwise totally manageable - good luck  

Re cold cap - the cold cap is hooked up to a machine to do the freezing. If the hospital don't have it then I don’t think buying a cold cap would work as it needs to be connected to this machine. It’s a shame they don't have one, seems to be a post code lottery .

I found EC really tolerable, bit spaced out and tired at times but overall ok. Hope its ok for you too.

Take a friend with you if you can - it’s good to have someone beside you. Also snacks, a book, some music, anything that you enjoy and give yourself over to the sofa in the evening x

That's fantastic  

My top to take with is audiobooks -YouTube free audiobooks but well. You quite some time of sitting around and I find pulling back the chair, covering myself with a blanket and closing my eyes while I listen to… yet another book of Agatha Christie quite relaxing. I’ve seen people knit, browse on their phones or read books but seems like too much energy for me. I just try to be half asleep through it. Nurse doesn’t seem to mind :)

Last cycle though I think the nurse was new-ish and was constantly poking me to ‘Look at me! Stay awake! Keep your eyes open!’

Edit: Wish I could knit… lol. Seems like such a fun thing to do to pass time. Unfortunately my knitting has always been on the unidentifiable objects side.

Hi there, 

sorry to hear your joining the EC club! It’s not as bad as expected I’d say. I’m finding the tiredness a bit depressing as I can’t manage things as well as normal, but I have 15month old son and he’d be exhausting if someone wasn’t injecting me every other week! Generally it’s okay, if you just try and not do too much. I found mouth ulcers the second week after treatment to be really bad, so I would get Peroxyl mouthwash and some soluble paracetamol and gargle both several times a day if you get any as that helped with the pain a lot. 

on the day, I find it hard to concentrate on anything whilst I sit there, so I like an audiobook of a very familiar story (for me, Harry Potter!) I’m so familiar from past readings that I just fall asleep. But I always take a pillow and warm blanket too cosy. 

This is so nice to hear about doxetacxel, thanks for sharing :) 

EC seems to be the real tricky one, so hope you’re feeling buoyed to have that over with and on to a less aggressive time :) 

I’m similar. Day 7 of week 2, and mostly just tired. Otherwise managing okay, just have had to nap a lot!  Pleased to hear you’re coping well :) 

I’ve found it hard to sleep at night with all the steroids, hoping the second week might be more successful without all the extra drugs.