**JANUARY BREAST CANCER CHEMO**

Morning All,

I think it’s one of ‘those’ cycles this time. All a bit fed up! I am fed up with the complete opposite toilet issues. No amount of stool softener, senna or prune juice is helping so have been struggling with piles and it’s all a bit unpleasant down there.  Perhaps I can take some of your side effects and you can have a sprinkle of mine and our toilet will return to normal! Have you spoken to your team about the nosebleeds? 
Bridgerton sounds good, that’s on my watchlist! 
Kelstar9hello, that’s an intense treatment plan, although nice to get it finished quickly. Have you tried co-codamol for the pain? I don’t take it due to the aforementioned constipation but I know some on this thread do. Your chemo nurses should be able to advise you, have you got a number to contact them? Sorry to hear you had a nasty infection. 
PatsyP2hope you have woken up feeling brighter today and with more energy. Each cycle I think ‘I don’t remember feeling this wiped out’ and then I look over my notes from last time and turns out I was! Try not to get disheartened with the hair. It’s also one of my main upsets which seems silly considering, but I’ve never been much into make-up etc and my regular cut & colour was my little luxury. As I mentioned before my hair is still just  holding on even though I stopped capping so I kind of wish I’d stuck with it. As always personal choice

General question; my sleep is disturbed by multiple hot flushes. Does anyone else experience this? I’m ‘post’ menopausal so not sure if it’s a menopause/hormone thing or treatment in general. 

Hope everyone who I haven’t mentioned in person is doing ok. Thinking of you all

xx

Hi just to try and lighten that down chemo mood . Finished EC x6 in Dec 2019 no hair ..into lockdown shielding March 2020  with a fuzz came out in July needed cut . Now getting cut every 4 weeks 

Yay! Thanks Northerner we can always rely on you to cheer us up and that is a lovely head of hair. Very encouraging   And you are obviously a lady with good taste as  you’re glasses are similar to mine! Lovely photos xx

Hi Daydreamer

Thanku for getting back to me. To be honest I did start taking co-codamol as the pain got quite intense, but I only took it when I needed too and only a small dose. Luckily I’m just getting ready to see my consultant (first time since chemo started) so hoping to get a bit more advise. Fingers crossed it seemed to have eased.

Yes my treatment plan is intense, but my consultant thought I could handle it. I’m 44 with no other health issues, so it’s 4xEC & 4xPaclitaxol every 2 weeks! (Although I had a week off due to infection)

To be honest, I have been following the monthly chemo thread from afar. Apart from my Christmas infection, I doing very well, so I’ve not really said anything as I feel guilty that I’m doing so well, when some people are going through a very tough time. Cold capping has worked, SE are very minimal until this bone pain, and my surgery went amazingly. Joining in and saying I’m doing well, doesn’t seem the right thing to do. But I am wishing you all well.

And if anyone does have any questions about cold capping, 2 weekly EC or surgery, of course I will give any tips I’ve picked up!

wishing everyone well & Thanku xxx

Hi Kelstar9

Please don’t feel you can’t pop up on here & say how well you are doing. I think it is actually really useful for people starting on this path to hear about those who get through easily. And great news on the cold cap! Again, as long as those having EC go into it being realistic about the fairly low chances of good success, it is encouraging to hear that there are some success stories. 
I do have to confess to being slightly envious about your accelerated treatments. I will have Paclitaxol 2-weekly & I asked more than once about EC being accelerated. You are right that they do have to be sure that you are fit & healthy & my onco nurse also mentioned that age is important-as I am over 60, EC generally wouldn’t be accelerated despite them considering me very fit & otherwise healthy, but they were happy to accelerate Paclitaxol. 
Hope that you get the pain sorted & that the rest of your treatment continues to go really well. x

Hi PatsyP2 I was considered a very fit 70 when I started chemo ,because I couldn't have docetaxel they planned EC x6 . Usually max given is 4 because SE are very cumulative with EC . With me although  manageable they lasted longer each cycle .

So your right age is taken into account mine was given on a three weekly cycle which I coped with until no 5 Se were still running in week three of cycle so week delay before no 6 . 

Have to say was all manageable but I made sure that listening to my body was a priority . But all doable just finished herceptin x18 . So on last phase of treatment now ..whoopie !!  Bisphosonate infusions every six month til 2022

I might even ring bell when that done lol  

Hi Northerner Yes, we certainly do have to be aware that we are not as young as we were, however fit we are I did have a very long chat with my oncologist and she explained - in layman's terms! - the reasoning behind the local decision on 2-weekly EC. Basically, it all seemed to come down to the very slightly increased risk of the more serious and unusual side effects. This very small risk is of more concern in older patients.

I am only having 3 x EC, so only one to go. Fingers crossed that cycle 3 isn't much worse than this one.Although I have felt more tired I have - so far! - managed ok & nothing unexpected so far.  I am currently having the bisphosonate infusions with every other chemo cycle and then like you every 6 months for 3 years. April will bring radiotherapy and the start of 10 years of hormone tablets. I suppose I should be very grateful that they are looking 10 years ahead!!

I am definitely feeling less wiped out today and hoping for a walk now, despite the rain and wind. And fingers crossed that I can get back to online yoga and ballet this week after far too many weeks' absence. I certainly won't be up to my usual fitness levels but just being able to do something will be a huge mental boost!

Kelstar9it’s definitely good to hear about people getting on ok with minimal to no side effects! I agree with PatsyP2 that it’s useful for people starting out on the path. I’m the same age bracket and I expect similar fitness to yourself but was completely unaware that an accelerated course was an option and just agreed to what was recommended. In hindsight I was likely too much in denial to question. I’m halfway through chemo now though so getting there! And I am now much more prepared for asking questions and exploring all possible surgical options!

Hope your consult appointment went well! xx 

NorthernerHair looking lovely.  Thanks for the encouragement!i

Judith

Thank you  I have always  had thick hair even at my age .I followed my hairdressers advice and had my mid bob cut to pixie length before starting chemo . After being told wounded lose it onEC . From that point I stopped using hairdryer etc and only finger dried . I used a specialist shampoo nioxin for thinning hair . Still using it now . 

Its hilarious when it comes back as most  people get chemo curls ..I had a head full . I've made decision to keep it short and still only wash when needed and leave to dry naturally . It's doing its own thing ..it is tending to part on opposite side to where I parted it . Still wants to be thick so hairdresser having to thin at th back til top catches up lol

God knows what it will look like after this  lockdown .

I also lost toe nails from big toes after chemo was finished I asked for referral to podiatrist because nails were raised from beds . She cut them right down and now coming up to a year later they're nearly back but all nails are still brittle .

i also suffered from very dry skin on fingers and hands with brittle nails . Chemo unit were able to prescribe me a cancer specialist cream for the dry skin . It is brilliant . If you want the name of it ...let me know and I'll post it 

hope you've let your unit know about nosebleeds I only ever had spots .