**JUNE JULY AUG 2021 BREAST CANCER CHEMO**

Good news about the omeprazole too. What constitutes a cycle? I'm not in the UK (I live and work/ed near Seville) and everything is similar but different here. I had the 5th of 12 weekly paclitaxol yesterday – another 12 hours in the hospital (starting with bloods). I'm tempted to push for a switch to larger 3-weekly doses because I'm really struggling with these sessions – I know for lots of people it's easier than the epirubicin, but not me! – and I find the idea of 7 more very daunting, though my oncologist is warning that the side effects can be quite strong. I do have plans yes! I'd love to visit friends and family too but that will have to wait until the whole travel in the age of the pandemic thing settles, so I'm thinking about a few days on the coast not so very far away. I have surgery 6-8 weeks after I finish in early September, so I'm eyeing that gap. Radiotherapy after that. Good luck tomorrow, hope you get some sleep - it's lovely to tick another one off.

I had three cycles/rounds of EC every 3 weeks then 3 of Docetaxel every 3weeks so I count a a cycle is your chemo day plus recovery days before next chemo. 
The 3weekly dose is higher than the weekly, it wasn’t pleasant but I think I might have found 12weeks of weekly daunting too. Such a hard call to make, weigh up the pros and cons with your team before you decide. Would you only need 2 more if you switch? Good luck whatever you decide BelleStar

denise x

Thanks Denise,

That's really interesting. And it seems that's how most people on here are getting treatments. Do you have the heart monitor attached? I'm generally fit and active and I haven't had unusually bad SEs with either types of chemo so far touch wood. I feel I'm prepared and able to manage more SEs at home and that my struggle is with the actual chemo process which this time is making me claustrophobic and agitated. 12 cycles is normal procedure here.

I'm a ashamed of myself for feeling such a wimp about them when other people sail though. And for anyone reading this who is about to start Paclitaxel / Docetaxel - everyone is different and there are women on my unit who feel good 30 minutes afterwards and have no SEs at all.

I have very little face to face time with my oncologist but I think I'll try to get an appointment and talk over the options. I would need one more before switching, though even 4 more and a finale of a 3-weekly dose would help make it seem less daunting. Thanks for the advice x

Bellestar, you are not a wimp and do NOT feel ashamed for struggling. Chemo is incredibly difficult and everybody reacts differently. Struggling with chemo most certainly does not make you a wimp!!! 

I had the same as Denise and really struggled at times. Rounds 3 and 4 were really difficult and each cycle I had days when I really didn't think I would be able to continue with it.

As Denise said I would consider a cycle from day of treatment to the day before the next one.

Do whatever it takes to get you through and don't apologise for asking for help.

This is a great place to vent to people who "get it"

Lynne xx

Thanks Lynne,

I honestly don't know what I'd do without this forum. Not only the firsthand advice, but seeing people get to the end of the different steps of treatment is really cheering and massively inspiring x

Hi Belle star, I've just finished chemo .. hallelujah. Struggle with SE but get through. However know what you mean about feeling a wimp. Struggled to step over the threshold going in for each session. Often felt desperately worried, frightened, apprehensive. I've said before on this chat... Each time was an anti climax and all went smoothly, but even so the next time... Scared. So, embrace the whimp. It's ok. The only one I really wanted to go in for was the last one... Just wanted it over! I talk to anyone who gets close enough and stands still long enough staff or patients. It distracts me, but difficult as social distancing and busy staff. Always have something to read... Again to distract. Remember whimp is ok. Join the club. Hang on in there you'll get through! Take care

Hello, no wimps in this group, just a whole range of women trying to get through.

I start tomorrow 4xAC three weekly & 4x docetaxel same cycle. I’m on extra antibiotics as an unusual lung condition which I’m unusually stable with, could spring back if I get too neutropenic. Anyone else had the 5 injections to take home? The nurse says they do work but you can get excruciating pain so had to get a stock of tramadol yesterday which I now realise I haven’t checked is at the pharmacy. Is it just me or is there a lot to do to get ready? ECG Friday, PICC and pre assessment Tues, yesterday dentist ahead of zoledronic acid, back for check of PICC. Today wild goose chase, don’t get me started, to see breast surgeon but nurse forgot she had insisted I go, so waste of precious time.

on a really practical note, I usually only eat bio yoghurts - could anyone give me some brands and types other than petit filous which it’s safe to eat? No problem with petit filous but forever associated with my kids being small. Thank you and best wishes

Fran 

Hi History women, wow, yes appointments come thick and fast but then settle down. I have the injections. Not experienced anything like bad pain although some do. Just paracetamol and hot water bottles give me necessary relief, but don't delay on pain killers if needed. On food front, I have checked what you can and can't eat with oncologist, Breast cancer nurse and staff at Maggies Cancer centre. All say nothing is off limits food wise. Just healthy eating as far as taste allows. So I don't put anything off limit. Good luck, it feels daunting but it's do able. Take care.

Hi Historywoman

I managed injection pains with paracetamol and naproxen and s hot water bottle plus putting my feet up when legs ached, pain is variable so just wait and see but take pain relief ASAP and don’t suffer. 
The only foods that are possibly a problem are yoghurts containing probiotics as our gut changes with chemo, takeaway rice which is not piping hot or takeaway food not piping hot due to risk of bacteria from potential unhygienic practices or food being kept warm. Apart from that and blue cheese or unpasteurised cheeses you should be ok. These are just precautions to prevent gut infections which could be unpleasant.

I stuck with this guidance from my chemo nurse and didn’t have any infections throughout my chemo so I guess you just decide what’s right for you. 
I am now happily munching take away food and goats cheese as I’m 9weeks post chemo.
I did try reintroducing my normal probiotic 3 weeks post chemo and had stomachs cramps and diahorrhea. 
All units seem to give varying advice so we have to decide what’s right for us. 
denise x

this will probably post 20times as the link doesn’t seem to be working! 

Thank you dcelm4 and lblodwin 

that’s so helpful and a bit reassuring. So id better get a hot water bottle… take care, lovely image of munching on goat’s cheese