EC chemo ..... What are your experiences with the side effects

Hi Basket 

I had 3 cycles of EC and my main side effects were loss of hair and taste. I did feel a bit tired for about 10 days after each infusion but would then feel normal for the remainder of the time until my next infusion. However, I went out for gentle walks each day which I felt helped combat the tiredness. 

To cover my hair loss I wore various head coverings when I went out but otherwise went bald around the house. As I had my chemo at this time of year, it was nice and cool to have no hair!

My sense of taste gradually came back each time but I found that eating spicy food was good, as I could taste that, and pineapple always tasted like pineapple.

When do you have your first infusion?

On a 21 day cycle, I found I was largely back to normal by about day 11 or 12. Before that, the main issues from the treatment itself were not being able to taste food properly for the first week, and wind, constipation and sometimes diarrhoea. They give you steroids at the beginning of the cycle, these made it difficult to sleep. Then Filgrastim injections to boost your white blood cells, these made my bones hurt. I lost all my hair despite trying cold cap on the first cycle. I never felt sick and didn’t use the anti sickness tablets they provide particularly as I already had constipation from time to time. I had 4 cycles. 

I had 4 cycles of it. I found I was really tired from 2/3 days following treatment. This only lasted at most 4 days. I was still able to get up shower etc but if I felt tired I went back to bed. I didn’t do anything else though just rested (I did go food shopping after the 1st treatment and honestly thought I was going to faint, lesson learnt). 
I never felt sick and food did taste different but it was only a short term effect. I had already lost my hair as I had EC following another weekly chemotherapy treatment. My hair actually started to grow back before I finished EC. Just rest up loads xx

Thank you everyone for your replies.

I have been fairly lucky so far, only having had a bad reaction to paclitaxel during the 3rd infusion ... Was changed to Abraxane and all was ok 

Tomorrow is my MRI half way mark, fingers crossed it's good results.

Next Thursday will be the start of EC for 4 cycles, if everything goes to plan.

I hope I can get through it with no major issues.

Allison xxx

Hi WhatNext Coddfish latchbrook 

Did you drive yourself to your chemo appointments? I'm driving during my first cycle but it's Paclitaxel etc and weekly so not too strong. I'm wondering if I can manage the same during EC...

Thanks! 

I didn’t drive for EC as I thought it would flake me out and indeed it did. I didn’t drive for Paclitaxel because they give you antihistamine with it which makes you sleepy but it probably would have been ok. The following year I had NAB-Paclitaxel, along with Pembrolizumab and drove for that. 

Hi Devon62 

I didn't drive as I wasn't sure how I'd feel afterwards. I always felt quite tired so don't think I would have been alert enough to drive.

Thank you both. I'll fund someone to drive me. I've got until October to sort it! 

Xx