EC chemo side effects

Hi,

I am 36 and nearly finished 4 cycles of EC. 
I’ve had loss of appetite, taste and sore throat. Also experienced infections. Plus other things. 

I am currently on my ‘peak’ week of the last cycle and my legs won’t take me anywhere. They are sore and I get breathe less. I also have an injection which produces more white blood cells and this gives me bone pain. 

I am resting when necessary. I am not sure how to keep her spirits up but follow her lead. 

Good luck x

I found EC really tricky. I was sick for the first 3 days and didn't feel better until about day 10.
Ginger ale helped to reduce the feeling of nausea.
Small meals or snacks - crackers and soup hit the spot.
Lots of sleep.

I lost a lot of weight and had to have my chemo dose reduced to coincide with my lower weight.
I had to have injections too to help increase the white blood cells - these jabs caused a lot of bone pain - antihistamine helped with the pain more than paracetamol.

Sending hugs xx

Thank you! Sounds rough, I’m sorry. Good luck with your last cycle x

I’m so sorry to hear. Thank you for sharing your experience and tips - I’ll pass them on. All the best to you x

1. That’s awful to hear. I have to start EC after the Taxol and I’ve only had my 1st one of that yesterday. So I’m really not looking forward to the EC. Hope your symptoms improve. 

Keep going and take one day at a time. You will be okay  

EC is a strong chemo but aren’t they all in their own little way. 

I am coming out of it and hopefully by weekend I will be firing on all cylinders again. As much as EC has been hard, I have found I’ve had more good days on EC than on pac/carbo.

Have you been diagnosed with triple negative breast cancer?xx

Yes it’s triple negative. I have to have 9 rounds of T followed by the EC bit sure if 3/6 if that then radiotherapy. It really feels like a long road. It’s good to get other people’s experiences and to be honest I expected the EC to be tough. Have you had hair loss ? Thanks for your reply I really appreciate it

I had 12 rounds of pac and 4 of carbo. Then onto 4 rounds of EC. 
the 12 weeks I really thought dragged but when I got on to EC, it seemed to get a bit better. 

Yes I had hair loss from cycle 2. I did cold cap which it kept some of it. Have you done the cold cap? 

You can ask anything and I’ll be as honest as I can but remember - this is your journey and everyone’s journey is different. 

I am awaiting surgery. Looking like a mastectomy at the mo but anything to get rid of the pesky thing!xx

Thank you and good luck - take it one day at a time. Everyone seems to react differently. Sending best wishes 

Yes I did the cold cap but if I start to get patches then I will stop. Not feeling too bad apart from bright red face from the steroids.

I’ve already had lumpectomy and sentinel node biopsy so my chemo is my next step.

Thanks for sharing your story with me and hope your surgery goes well. xx