Hi had my 1st chemo EC 19 th February. Cold capped which was ok once your head goes numb. My symptoms were moderate Wednesday was chemo, just felt tired wit’s bad headaches and eye strain till Friday afternoon. Really tired,emotional, hungry achy, runny nose,slight nausea,palpitations dizziness and a slight temperature 37.2 at one point. This lasted 8days and I’m feeling much like myself today (10 days after chemo)
Due to have next cycle Wednesday 5th March and hoping my side effects don’t get any worse.
wondering also what will happen when I start paxidoxcel for the last 4 cycles.
Any shared experiences gratefully received xx
Hi Csf and I'm glad to read you're now feeling better after your first EC.
I had 3 cycles of EC followed by 12 weeks of paclitaxel. I didn't cold cap, so lost my hair, but it had begun to grow back towards the end of my paclitaxel treatment.
While on EC I didn't feel as energetic as normal for the first 10 days but was then back to normal for the remaining time before I had my next EC. I also lost my sense of taste after the first one but it wasn't as bad after the next two. Each time I felt exactly the same, no better and no worse.
With paclitaxel I had no side effects at all.
"Never regret a day in your life, good days give you happiness, bad days give you experience"
Hi Csf
It’s great to hear you have got round one done and have recovered in the last few days.
I am on the same chemo regimen as you. I’m now 7 days post my first of the Paclitaxel infusions.
i found the first two EC cycles pretty manageable - a few days that felt like a mild hangover, all the symptoms you list above. Rounds 3&4 were the same side effects but they hit me harder, especially headaches, nausea and dizziness/fatigue. I’m not saying this to make you anxious, more thst it’s good to be prepared - stock up on painkillers, get food in that you know you fancy even when nauseaous. I didn’t make any plans for the first 7 days after infusion and accepted these were going to be spent recovering snd sleeping. Then I would makd tentative plans for week 2, in which I’ve always started to feel much better pretty quickly.
if your nausea gets worse with any round call your chemo team and ask for better anti sickness meds, they usually start you on the mildest ones and if they stop working there are lots of further options available- I think it’s a bit of a sliding scale.
i was glad to finish EC but I can honestly say it felt like a short period of time (relative to my whole year!) that I felt rough. Keep your eye on the end of the tunnel and you’ll be there before you know it.
paclitaxel side effects have been much easier so far. Main thing is bone pain, but that can be eased with painkillers and moving your body.
I am also using thr cold cap and so far I’m glad I’ve stuck with it. My hair is thinning but it’s barely noticeable to others. Taking paracetamol 30 mins before you put it on helps make it more manageable.
if you have any other specific EC questions feel free to ask - I’m fresh off the line with it 
wishing you all the best with the rest of your chemo
x
