FEC Anyone?

TXBadboob

  I am currently on Abraxane weekly until Nov 15.  Then I will go on FEC every three weeks for another 3 months.  I'm getting nervous because I haven't seen a lot of info on FEC and would appreciate any info or advice on this one.  I haven't had too many bad SEs with the Abraxane compared to what I read about some other chemos.  I am currently working and hope to continue throughout.  Thanks.

sam52

Hi! I had FEC as part of my tx back in 2001 (also 4x taxotere to follow). It is still the standard chemo here in UK for early bc.

I found it very easy compared with taxotere.

I had 4 lots of FEC, every 3 weeks. There was some nausea, but I never vomited; The  anti-nausea meds were domperidone,and dexamethazone (the latter a steroid), which were very effective.This was only the day after each tx....after that, no nausea at all. I felt tired and evertything tasted of metal for about a week, then I had 2 weeks of feeling virtually 'normal'One side effect I remember was teary eyes, i think from the 5FU.

Other than that, the only downside is the actual day of chemo itself, when it seemed to take hours for the shots - no infusion as for other chemos.I had very sore veins from this..they rarely use ports here.

I really found FEC ok..hope you will to.

Sam 

BMac

I too did FEC.   Every three weeks for three cycles followed by Taxotere every three weeks for three cycles.  Like Sam I found I was nauseated after, maybe a bit worse than Sam describes but like her no vomiting.  After the first one, the nurse suggested I take the anti-nausea (the as needed one...there was also one you took whether you needed it or not) before I felt nauseated as it's easier to prevent the nausea than to treat it once it's started.  By the third treatment they also gave me decadron as it's a stronger ani-nausea.

I was tired and had the metal taste and found that for two weeks out of three I was okay.  I remember after my second FEC I came home and went for a 45 minute walk so it couldn't have been that bad.  Now Taxotere, that's a different story....

jembs

Hi, I did 6 rounds of FEC, didn't find the nausea too bad but the dexamethasone kicked me hard.  I did all my cooking in glass/pyrex and that seemed to solve the metal taste.  Also, I didn't eat any citrus or tomatoes for that first week.  My problem was that the second week, everything tasted like sawdust, but I choked it down.and maintained my blood levels.  Good luck with it, I am glad that I had it.  Are you doing 50 or 100?  That might make a difference. 

Gentle hugs, HB

TXBadboob

Thanks for the info!  It really helps me to know a little about it.:)