What do you think about your current treatment?

Hi I am undergoing chemo at the moment. I had my 1st FEC 10 days ago. Apart from nausea and loss of appetite that’s the only problem I’ve had with it. I am waiting for my hair to fall out and am ready for that. The worst thing is feeling so cold. I look like I’m dressed for the depths of winter just to go to bed. I’ve never been one to feel the cold. Not a very sexy look for my husband! I am taking one day at a time and one treatment at a time. I’ve done 1 only 5 more to go. It is scary but the oncology staff are incredible and I have only one aim in life now to get to the end. After radiotherapy I should be all done by spring next year. That will be a good year. Good luck everyone stay positive it’s a means to an end, a life without cancer xx

Hi

Thanks everybody I'm kind of doing ok. The side effects hit me day 3 and I had 7 days of Filgrastim injections which brought stomach and chest /breathing issues put me in hospital for one night. My taste buds are gone everything taste of metal and I loss weight week 1. I'm trying to rest as much as I can but still moving round. Went to fireworks on sat at my brothers but I had no energy on Sunday but after a rest I was ok. I'v had the worst chemo face nose and mouth rash whuch went inside my nose.... painful so bad. I have the runs everytime I eat. I have chemo cycle 2 on 17th so I've an idea of what to expect. My hair has thinned out not too bad on cycle 1 and I plan to use cooling cap on next one however painful it is. I'e got a wig and some trendy little hats from Christine online good website I bought the Edith hats scarfs were not for me. My partin line has been tender and slightly itchy so god knows if cooling cap has done anything or my hair will still fall out. I take life a day at a time as it' important to me for me body to stay as healthy as it can. I've had all the usal stuff and I don' know if cycle 2 is worse than cycle 1 but I've not been sick just felt it after chemo. Trying to keep on top of fluids and eating small and often.

Thanks for your support xx❤

What I forgot to mention was I can hardly feel the initial lump in my brest I have another scan 2 weeks after cycle 2 and then see my oncologist on 5th December for review to see if treatment of herceptin and TC chemo is working and I'm assuming I have filgrastim after each chemo. I think the Filgrastim side effects are awful but it' there to stimulate bone marrow to produce white cells and if theh stop infections then it' a small price to pay for 7 days. I get my hubby to inject me..

Port is working ok no issues. I suppose I just it over but I know 29th Dec is scheduled last chemo providing all ok then hopefully op in Jan and I know I have herceptin will be for 12mths afterwards.

I've had a few emotional meltdowns but I'm normally positive. Xx

Good luck with all this - my case is different I had a lumpectomy followed by chemotherapy then radiotherapy. My first chemo was the worse- gradually mine were better because I think I then knew what to expect and could mentally prepare for it. The first chemo I thought I was dieing - I had strange sensations deep inside me and as I live alone I just lay on the bed expecting them to find me dead the following morning. When I told the hospital they said these feelings were normal! I also had the cold cap and lost  some hair but not all of it. You will be pleased to know my hair has grown back to how it was.  Just get through all this treatment and side effects- then you can start to get better. Just read this-when you find yourself cocooned in isolation, and cannot find your way out of the darkness, remember that is similar to the place where butterflies grow their wings. - you will get through! 

Just wanted to say good luck to you all that are on Chemo treatments.  I feel very lucky that I only had to have a lumpectomy followed by radiotherapy.  I am thankful that the cancer was found early and only a low grade and size, but still not happy with the way doctors talk to you as though you have just had a bad dose of the flu and nothing to worry about!  There is nothing anyone can say not make you worry that either the treatment doesn't work and the cancer may come back.  It will always be on your mind!  You just have to hope that the mind will calm and let you get on with life.  Take care of yourself and try to eliminate any negativity in your life as it doesn't help the healing process. Sending hugs xx

I had two lumpectomies and thought i was going to see the doctor about my starting date for radiotherapy the Tuesday before christmas only to be told i needed a mastectomy as i had dcis. It was the first i heard of it and to say i was in shock would be an understatement. When i asked when they planned to operate they said Thursday so no time to plan anything or get used to the idea of no boob. So now nearly a year later i cant look at myself still cant believe what happened. I am now taking Anastrozle for the next five years and am finding this very hard i think i have every side effect of this drug because of other health issues and my weight i have to be on this drug. The one thing i cant seem to either ask properly is how do i know if i have or get dcis in the other boob worries the life out of me.

@sanlewis OMG - I cannot understand why you had to have a mastectomy with DCIS you usually just have the lumpectomy, but I suppose it depends on the grade etc.  Did they not offer you a reconstruction?  I couldn't take the Aromatase Inhibitors as I had so many side effects.  When I told the surgeon he did some number crunching and advised that the medication would only give me 0.7% benefit so I decided not to take it anymore and eat more foods that contain the relevant things that you need(broccoli, cauliflower, kale, brussel sprouts, and so on, are all natural aromatase inhibitors) Have you had a follow up mammogram on the other breast?  I know you must be feeling like hell, but you need to talk to someone to help your situation.  Do you have a MacMillan centre near you?  They have been very supportive to me.  Keep well and take care xx Here if you want to talk.  Sue xx

Surgery side of my treatment was exceptional - Consultant and nurses were lovely and explained everything that applied to me having a mastectomy and a few years later a full reconstruction.

The oncology department was a different experience - Consultant was brilliant but people skills was not a strong point, information was limited and I was told what I was having as he thought this was the best course for a good outcome. Felt like I was on a conveyor belt of people and was just another subject passing through. When side effects were brought up these were minimised as being almost non-existent and I was made to feel as if I was over reacting. It was only by researching on the internet that I found information and later that many others were having the same side effects as me.

Had chemotherapy which made me very ill for 6 months then went on to radium which I sailed through with very little side effects for 12 weeks.

Then put onto Tamoxifen initially to be for 5 years but only on it for 4 years when I was changed to Anastrozole until 2020. However side effects pretty severe but again oncologist denies it's the medication and that I'm not to stop taking it. 

I feel patients and their concerns often ignored by the professionals but this could also be impacted by the heavy work load that most of the cancer departments have. Calls get ignored and no one rings back when their is a problem unless you persevere. Then you are made to feel as if you are a nuisance unless you get a good nurse/doctor who returns your call. I have managed to get most of my information from cancer sites and sites like Carenity which has made me realise it's not just me but a whole bunch of us going through similar experiences.

@Dee237 Hi - Just wanted to say that I agree with your comments about being ignored and as though you are overreacting.  I still keep having breast pain and was just given a leaflet, but it only covers breast pain during your period!  How stupid are these professionals that they think you haven't got a brain!!  Rant over.  Good luck to everyone and keep asking questions.  Sue

@Dee237 i live an hour away from any cancer centre and i dont drive so that is a bit of a problem. no was not offered reconstruction so my modeling days are over lol. I have had a mammogram and a scan but really dont feel much better about it. I first went to my doctor in january of 2016 with discolouered nipples and a pain in my boob but no lump and i waited ten months to be seen and even then they thought nothing was wrong. Only when i got the mammogram that this took a turn. This time the other bood went the same but they said it was ok but im not so sure but what can i do i have to put my trust in these people they know more than me (hopefully)