Had 1st cycle of EC, feeling so horrible

Hi Tito2 the nausea should only last 3-4 days so hopefully that is already passing, the fatigue also will lift after a 6-7 days and then you should real as near normal as it is possible to be on chemo untill your next dose and so it goes on.  Try to eat little and often, you are doing fine, it seems to stretch endlessly before you at the start but time will soon pass and you will be having our final infusion.  Well done you, keep going, you can do this.  Love Ann

Yes the side effects are not good but it is doable and it does get better.  I try to think of the cycles as steps on the road to recovery.  I too wondered if I can do it but I do want to give myself the best chance of it not coming back, so I am going to hang on in there.  Do tell your oncologist about your side effects and he/she can adjust the drugs and make it easier.  I had the lump in my chest/throat and used Gaviscon advanced which was really good.  Sadly chemotherapy is cumulative so side effects may get worse.  I have slept a lot and just taken one day at a time.  You are doing well and you only have two more cycles.  I actually have a list on the 'fridge and tick them off.  I have had two and have one more to go.  Good luck with it and I hope that your side effects will decrease.  I get about 10 days when I feel my usual self. Take care and remember you can and will do this.  Sending you a virtual hug.  Keep going it will pass and you will be well again.

I'm on day 5 of my second EC cycle. Your side effects are the same as mine, I've had that lump/sore throat thing and the dr prescribed me omeprazole which I've started this morning  but can't say I've noticed it working yet.

The steroids also make me hungry and the usual fruit I'd choose as a snack just doesn't appeal so I'm eating a lot of carbs - not great. 

The fatigue is the killer, I just feel like a zombie. I kept  a diary during cycle one of my side effects and I have one more day of feeling crap, by Monday I should begin to feel better.

I have one more EC on the 16th November & then I move onto weekly paclitaxel with Herceptin- I'm hoping that's easier.

Youre doing great, I've learnt to just ride out the chemo days, do nothing and count down to the 2 weeks you'll feel human.

Ive got a blog if you want to check it out - Cancer messed with the wrong boobs

Lou x

Chemo is tough for most people, there is no getting around it. I found that keeping a diary of symptoms really helped me through the cycles.

I found that with EC, I was pretty awful for 4 days, better on day 5 then able to work on day 6 (from home). My nausea lasted a full week and that first cycle I did vomit so I was put on stronger anti-sickness meds after that. Each cycle was slightly different, but a definite pattern. So when you're feeling rubbish on Day 8 then you can see that last cycle you were feeling rubbish on Day 8 but managed a mile walk on day 9 - or something like that! It keeps you going to know when to expect to improve.

What you're doing sounds perfect - eating little and often. Get plenty of rest and if you can, try and go for a short walk outside at some point. After my first cycle when I was really ill, I allowed myself a full 4 days of not doing much at all after each cycle and giving my body a chance to process everything.

The lump in your throat sounds like indigestion/heartburn so you could try Gaviscon for that.

If you take a note of your side effects then you can talk them through with your oncologist before the next cycle and they may be able to suggest things or give you something to ease everything.

The sleepless nights also go hand in hand with chemo which is why it is a good idea to have a few sleeps during the day too. I was on EC then docetaxal and the first dose of docetaxel really knocked me over but I couldn't sleep at all. My GP gave me sleeping tablets which I only took for a day or 2 after each cycle - and once I was over the first few days of the cycle as I wasn't keen on taking sleeping tablets at the same time my body was trying to process everything else. It did help to get the odd night's sleep.

Chemo feels like it goes on forever, but you will get through it and out the other side and enjoy life again.

I had my 1st dose of Ec on Thursday and it's made me have no energy and not sleeping well at night. Night sweats etc I'm hoping it gets better soon x

I've managed 3 cycles of EC and felt like you but after the first you know what to expect and the relief when you start to feel better is great. Each one was slightly different .I wrote a diary so that I could remember ......it's surprising how you forget! I'm starting 3 cycles of docetaxol on thursday. Hoping that the side effects are no worse but I'm getting nervous.

time does pass and the week when your digestive system is back to normal and you don't feel like a zombie is such a relief.

Try to relax...get comfy on the sofa...have regular short walks even when you feel ugggghhhh....have warm baths and drink plenty of fluids.....you can get through it xxx

hi i have my first EC this thursday im nervous but thinking positive i have stage 2 lymph and breast sending hugs

Hugs to you......I'm half way....4th cycle on thursday.

Thanks for the kind encouragement Ann. I am feeling a lot better today being day 4 after the first cycle like you said. One day at a time . . .

Hello Thirds, I’d try the Gaviscon advanced out, though my SEs seem to be easing out now. I’d discuss with my oncologist at the next appointment and see what adjustments can be made to make things a bit easier for me. Thanks a lot and hugs from here too.