Chemotherapy and dxr scan

Hi Lisa.  Your team will have worked out the best treatment for you, but I'm sorry you can't get hold of your BCN.  I can put your mind at rest over the Dexa scan; it's not a big scary machine at all and I've said on this site before when someone else was worried about the procedure that I felt I was being photocopied, and no after effects from that at all.  

Best wishes.

Hello Lisa,  Dexa scan is a breeze.  Lie down and a machine goes up and down and then technician puts your leg a little outward.  Very easy leash.  Take care.

Barbara

Relax, Dexa scans are completely painless. You get on a hard bed, nothing touches or squeezes any part of you. I have one every couple of years to check my bones are not developing osteoporosis. I have osteoarthritis and am on exemestane hence the need to check.

Good luck with your treatment and journey xx

Lisa I expect the dexa scan is to check the state of your bones before they put you on Hormone Therapy. Quite a few women get prescribed biophosphates to counteract the HT on your bones.   It is a very easy and painless procedure.  I know how daunting it must be to start chemo, I would be exactly like you. Just think of the chemo as an ally, not the enemy as its coming in like the army, to zap those intrusive cancer cells. Maybe start thinking about what you can treat yourself to at the end of chemo. Good luck and take care.

Evajean x

Hi there i had this had radio active dye injected in canular first and I am so claustrophobic I was dreading all scans   But results showed for my age bones good so well worth it. I have had op, chemo, radiotherapy and now on CalciD (calcium and vit D) Letrozole (hormone) and biophosphnates (for bones) . You can do this and as said it is all helping and sometimes things get worse to get better and they will.. Scan is a doddle if I can do it you can too bless you x

Hello....

Don't worry about your chemo plan. Almost everyone who has chemo for BC has the same plan. It seems a lot because since I had chemo in 2016, oncologists have realised that giving it more frequently with lessened doses can be less traumatic for your body to deal with and the side effects lessen. So whereas in the past it was 3 + 3 every 3 weeks, now particularly the Taxotere is given weekly over 12 weeks in many units.

I hope it all goes well for you. I had my treatments almost 7 years ago and although it wasn't always pleasant and I have been left with a few permanent discomforts, the cancer has not returned. 

Take care. Love Karen

It sounds like you are being given 4 rounds of EC then weekly Paclitaxel. It’s a standard chemo regime many of us are on including me. The reason for having 2 different treatments is they work on the cancer in slightly different ways. I haven’t had a bone density scan but I am having 6 monthly infusions of bisphosphonates which strengthen your bones and help them ward off recurrence. As for side effects, you are unlikely to suffer from everything they list. I found it helpful to keep a symptom diary so I could see how each cycle compared and also be prepared for the harder bits. The chemo unit are very good at altering the support package of drugs to try to make the experience as comfortable as possible.