**APRIL & MAY 2021 BREAST CANCER CHEMO**

Congratulations on your second round Ruby, and hope your SE’s are minimal. I have my last EC today and the chemo ward gave me Laxido sachets to help me with the dreaded constipation which seems to have got worse each time.  Thankful this is the last one of these.  

Hi Lynne

according to the cancer reach website they are used for these 

What steroids do

Steroids help control many body functions including:

• how your body uses food to produce energy (metabolism)
• keeping the balance of salt and water in your body
• regulating blood pressure
• reducing allergies and inflammation
• controlling mood and behaviour

Why are steroids used in cancer treatment?

There are a number of reasons you might have steroids as part of your cancer treatment.

They can:

• treat the cancer itself
• reduce inflammation
• reduce your body’s immune response, for example after a bone marrow transplant
• help reduce sickness when having chemotherapy
• improve your appetite

You might have them:

• when you are first diagnosed
• before and after surgery
• before and after radiotherapy
• before, during and after chemotherapy treatment
• for an advanced cancer

hope this helps 

Anne Xx

Hi Anne,

Good luck with your chemo today. 

I had my first Docetaxel (with Herceptins) last week. I was tired for the first 4 or 5 days. Bowels didn’t know what they were going to do but, to be fair, it wasn’t too bad as I was only ‘loose’ a couple of times. I turned the corner a few days ago.

Hope all goes well for you with minimal SE.

Bluebell xx

Hi Gwenniepennie

I hope today goes really well for you. I’ve had a reasonably good night. I took a laxido sachet late afternoon when I got back and then my senna around 9pm and actually had to go to the toilet late last night! I know things will likely slow down but that was definitely a surprise after last time.

Im going to take Laxido this morning and then again this evening and my senna again later. My chemo nurse says you can take up to eight sachets a day if needed. 

I have everything crossed that you have a smother run. I had a patchy nights sleep but did get some good sleep. They gave me extra nausea meds too but I still felt a bit green until I got to sleep. I’ve been wearing ‘Sea bands’ which helped. My steroids are also being spread out a little longer so I have a half dose for days four and five to see if it stops the big crash on day 3 and 4.

Take care, I’m thinking of you.

Ruby xx

Hope all goes well today Gwenniepennie and your SE are far less than you've had previously,  you been on such a journey. Hope your SE are minimal as well .

My picc line is still having issues, still lots of fluid coming out of the insertion site, what I've tried to research it may be lymph fluid? Unit didn't seem concerned and said should settle. It's just a hassle at the min as my car is off the road and I'm relying on friends/family to take me there.  The dreaded white spots are back in my throat but took them a while to decide whether to give me antibiotics...I was there 5 hours for a dressing change and for a decision about antibiotics.  My poor niece was sat in the carpark the whole time as they couldn't tell me how long as I was going to be!!!!! Oh well!!

Take care everybody

An no Fifitrix that sounds frustrating. I have the same issue with my car so having to have my husband ferry me around, which is actually a pain! That does seem a long time to wait to get a decision though.

I’m sure you’re using mouth washes & warm salty water rinses and all the stuff. There’s a throat spray too, but I can’t remember the name of it now. Did they give you antibiotics in the end. I hope it gets clears up quickly.

Hugs

Ruby xx

Hi 

Yeah I'm using corsodyl and difflam, will ask about the throat spray though. They gave me 10 days worth of antibiotics again.....I'm guessing this is gonna be my 'thing! Xxx

RWell round four of EC done!  Another change in my drugs and now got 2x Steroids for three days so half my previous dose, which I am more than happy about. They have a,so decided that the cause of my cough is gastric irritation, so are changing my Omeprazole to LanSaprozole to see I feel that works better for me as the cough started five days after I started taking the Omeprazole.  Got some laxido sachets as well to help with the constipation and have taken some already to ensure I don’t get too bunged up!  I also find copious glugs of Lactulose a great help.  Supposed to start Paclitaxel in two weeks but talked them into giving me a three and a half week break, subject to change by Oncology when I see them next week and make final decisions about continuing.  As I feel okay at the moment I think I could do it, but I know in a week that will all change and so will my decisions.  

Fifitrixsorry about your mouth.  I have some sachets of gel that the hospital gave me to put on the sore spots to numb them, and a spray and difflam and Cordosyl.  Difflam was the best but sounds like you AB’s will do the trick!

happy Friday to you all and a good weekend to follow x  Gwennie 

Really hope the drug changes improve side effects for you Gwenniepennie wishing you all the best for minimal side effects this round 

that sounds painful Fifitrix mouth issues are awful as they impact quality of life, hope antibiotics sort it out soon and difflam spray  helps throat pain

Hope everyone has the best weekend possible

denise x

Hi everyone 

thanks for all the good luck wishes for today everything went smoothly home now taken second set of steroids don’t feel too bad but know I’ll probably crash later on. I have come home with injections that I start on Monday for 7 days thought I’d got away with the injections but hay ho it is what it is. Hope your doing ok Bluebell,redruby and declem4 and everyone else who has treatment in the coming week.

take care all

Anne x