Starting Chemo Next Week EC and Paclitaxel + zoldrolic Acid.

Hey!   Sorry you have to go through this. There’s a March chemo thread you can join where people who just started are posting. Gotta agree that the ‘strong’ bit is weird, felt the same when someone told me that. To the point, though!

It’s scarier that it really is. Won’t repeat stuff you may read on the other thread but though there’s ups and downs it’s been ok up to this point for me. Mostly fatigue and side effects that I didn’t have an issue managing like my hand hurt mildly for a day if I moved it, one evening I had back pain that lasted a few hours then it stopped and been ok since. Try not to worry yourself over that list of side effects till you get there. You will probably not get most of them and if you do they are not necessarily going to be severe.

I am using the cold cold cap, but it’s very difficult to understand if it works or not. Most people lose hair even when using the cap -I am losing quite a bit- but you really have nothing to compare to. I’d suggest you give it a shot, since you got nothing to lose by trying. There’s a thread on cold cap use somewhere in the forum too, it’s quite active.

Best of luck. 

️Linked a couple of threads you may wanna follow:

https://community.macmillan.org.uk/cancer_types/breast-cancer-forum/f/questions-about-diagnosis-and-treatment/256217/cold-cap-is-it-worth-a-try

https://community.macmillan.org.uk/cancer_types/breast-cancer-forum/f/new-here-say-hello/255549/starting-chemo-in-march-2023

Thanks for the heads up on the March Chemo thread and for sharing your experience. I  know everyone is probably going to be different, but the advice and tips I see people sharing is really helpful. It's a club none if us want to be members of, but a problem shared is a problem halved...

Hope the rest of your treatment goes easy on you ️

Thanks, hope all goes well for you too :) Others told me it gets easier and even though it may not seem so right now it really does. At least mentally once you’ve started you’ll feel better hopefully cause you’ll be on your way. I feel so much better today thinking… 2 EC cycles down, 6 to go. Time passes faster than you’d expect and you’ll get there soon.

People on the forum are very helpful and supportive. Doggy can be a help too, some people walk their dogs to exercise and relax.

Ah, and some last bit of good advice I got: it’s ok to feel like crap too. Had a cathartic evening pity session for myself yesterday, complained about everything under the sun and the injustice of it all. We deserve it if we feel like it and it helps let out some steam. 

Hi Natty,  I had the same chemo as you are about to have and it wasn’t nearly as bad as I was expecting.  I kept a diary which you may find useful - here’s the link:   https://community.macmillan.org.uk/cancer-blogs/b/ec_pac_chemo_diary .  

Good luck with it all - once it starts the time flies by! xx

Not gonna lie I've already done a fair bit of crying already. This horrible time will pass and we will go on to live our lives with a totally new perspective

Hi Natty, I’ve been using the scalp cooling cap since my chemo started and I have one more cycle to go. I started on EC and yes unfortunately I did loose my hair. I now look like Gollum. I’m on docetaxel now and still using the scalp cooling cap and my hair has started to grow back already. I’m pleased I carried on and also it apparently helps with the regrowth too. There is no harm in trying it. If you don’t use it on your first session you won’t be able to use it on future sessions. The first 10mins are the hardest but having paracetamol a bit in advance helps. Snuggling under a warm blanket is comforting too and helps to take your mind off the cap. 
Wishing you all the best on your journey.

Hugs from cuffcake x x x x x

Hi Natty,

I'm two EC cycles in (although mine are 3 weekly, so a different protocol to yours) and found it helpful to know what to expect in the second one. I have kept a record of how I felt each day.  The two cycles have been almost identical in terms of how I have felt when and looking back at my grid of side effects, it was reassuring to see that I've had more days in the cycle where I have felt normal than days when I haven't.

I have used the cold cap and although it's not pleasant, it's bearable. I've lost quite a lot of hair, fairly evenly, no weird patches, and was going to give up, but someone else on here replied to me to say 'don't give up, it can really help with regrowth even if you lose most of your hair now'. As a result, I've decided to have my hair cut short, so it looks a bit fuller and not so straggly, and persevere with the cold cap. 

I hope your first cycle of EC goes okay, be patient with yourself, rest when you need to as it really will make a difference. 

Lots of love. BlueRose xxx

Hi there,

You may be strong but it’s also ok not to feel strong too. Those early days of diagnosis are terrifying - I was diagnosed 2 days before christmas and i remember so so well! But you will feel more in control once you get going with your treatment. Try not to overthink the side effects - I have had in fact very few so far - people do really respond very differently.

I have had three rounds of EC so far and used the cold cap - I have a bald patch under my ear where the cap didn’t fit snug - but can’t see it as hair covers it. Apart from that have retained my hair so far for which I am grateful actually.

My doggy is my best buddy at the moment - unconditional love - although yes, a dog walker for when you cant face it is ideal. However, its true to say I have always felt better for taking her out even when I didn’t feel like it - that fresh air blast has always lifted my spirits.

You have got this and we are here alongside you,

Jan x x

Hi Cuffcake

Been meaning to reach out again. We appear to be on pretty identical paths at the moment. Had 3 x EC, used cold cap but lost a lot of hair 2-3 weeks after first EC.

Now on Docetaxel and one more session left. Still using cold cap and I feel my hair is starting to sprout on the top and I don’t notice any fall out now. So hearing you say the same thing is positive. I never wanted to shave my scalp. Hopefully persevering with cold cap for all 6 treatments has paid off. It will be a while before my hair is back to what it was but at least we are not starting totally from nothing! 

I’m finding the Docetaxel very manageable. I’ve worked full time throughout my entire chemo. Will be so glad to finish in 2 weeks time! 

All the best

Hi RugbyFan, yes same for me 1 more session next Thursday and then I move on to radiotherapy. I seem to have just over a week of feeling really tired after my docetaxel and Phesgo and then I start to perk up. I do go to work on my up days but on my really tired days I just rest and potter at home. It was the same on EC although I think I got on better with EC. 
Yes I found it so nice that my hair is growing too. It’s so soft as well but also can get a bit itchy too. Hopefully once it gets a little bit longer that will pass. I just didn’t have the heart to give in and shave what few strands I had left. Instead I have plaited it so it doesn’t get knotty and then I think I would have to cut it as I couldn’t put up with the pulling when combing.

Good luck with your last cycle in 2 weeks. Do you have radiotherapy after that ? I have 15 days 

Hugs from cuffcake x x x x x