FECD chemo starting Friday Jan 28/2011

Hi Emily - My chemo ended 2 yrs ago. At that time it was 6 rounds of FEC - no D (or T). so i can only talk about the FEC. which was totally doable. Never barfed but did feel 'queasy" but you get lots of help with antinausea drugs. Also steroids after each infusion, which I loved. Nurses treat you like gold. I did not have a port, so my only apprehension was the last 2 infusions as my veins did not like being poked at all! So they'd give me an atavan (tranquillizer) soon as I came in. If you are anxious, ask for one anyway.

I had digestive upsets - eating too much at one time made me feel like leadbelly, and lots of truly obnoxious gas. And I never knew what would taste good as the taste buds are like freshly created and something may taste great (such as PC frozen blueberry cheesecake) going down but 10 minutes later mouth like a garbage can. so i brushed my teeth & flossed about 6 times a day, so that when I finally did see a dentist my gums had hugely improved. silver lining.

I work for myself - so would work from early mornnig till maybe noon or so then crash wherever and whenever my body said so.

OInly had the dry heaves twice - once when I took garbage to the dump (???duh) and once when I tried getting into my over-heated car and it smelled. I did barf a bit into a snowbank.

Could not stand the taste of water, so learned to eat cold watermelon and cantaloupe for their high water content, to stay hydrated. someone here suggested frfozen pineapple cubes.

Ate like a pig oink oink as it always seemed to feel better to have food in my stomach than not.

One of them - f or E or c - gives you pink pee for a few days. and after 2 weeks all your hair does fall out. I just wore berets, it being winter. Gorgeous curly hair was what grew in - another silver lining.

I found i was progressively more tired toward the end and was glad I ended it all in 6 rounds.

These days they give you things to bring up your white blood cell counts etc. - I never had them.

it's very nice to take someone along with you, to chat, and hold your hand - but some people i know took laptops.

when I'd get up I'd feel exactly the same as when i came in - nothing weird takes over, like Dr. jekyll & Mr. Hyde. You could just go off to Tim's, if so inclined. But coffee did taste awful after a while.

others here may have some things to say about D - i've no idea about comparisons between the 2, but the oncs must feel it's a better protocol.

All the best - you can do it!

Arlene

Emily -- The MOST important thing to remember about preventing nausea which is a definite SE of FEC, is to take the pills BEFORE you start feeling nauseous.  They don't work to stop nausea, they work to prevent it. You'll get two types probably -- they may be Kytril and Stemetil.  Take them for the first 4 days exactly as directed.  Other than losing hair, that's the most worrisome SE of chemo.  And if you find those anti-nausea meds aren't working, call your onc immediately and ask for an alternative.

We'll be thinking of you Friday and I hope you'll think of us too -- we made it through and so will you!  Please stay in touch.  If you have what you think is an unusual SE, tell us about it.  I guarantee at least one or more of us experienced it too!.

Many hugs,    Linda

How do they determine who gets FEC-D vs FEC?

Yes, I am TN and am on 6 FEC, do you think this is okay

I had 3 rounds of fec and then 3 round of taxotere ( I think that is the D?)

I found the fec easy Except day 3-5. but the taxotere was really hard for me and I ended up in the hospital. this was 4years ago when they did not give the neulesta shot. So it seems they are giving it now so that is a really good thing. Just remember to take it easy and this is the time in your life to ask for help! Good luck and you are in my prayers.

Starting fec d chemo on mar 6/12, I supposed to check with manulife who is my ext benefits to see if they cover neulasta.

Invasive ductual carcinoma 1.6 tumor at 1 o'clock, situ calcifications at 5 o'clock. 9 nodes removed and clear. Triple negative. Bi lateral masectomy on jan 23/12. With direct implants.

I'm still so very sore from the surgery, I would like a break before chemo but at the same time just want to push forward.

I'm 43, thankfully my children are grown and I have a benefit plan. Many hoops to jump through but at lest being paid a little bit. I'm single as well so income is a concern. I have an axcellenrt support circle of friends and my daughter has been awesome. Just trying to stay in the moment and let each day come.

Hi Girls,

 I am in Montreal. I will start my Fec D on 22 feb. very scared now. your posts help me calm down a little.

Thanks

I started the FECD in Januaray and I have had my 4th round now. I started with Taxotere first, at my request. Many seem to be afraid of Taxotere but it went quite well. I had no nausea and I was able to eat and excercise throughout all 3 rounds. I had pain from the Neulasta injections though ( days 4-6). Last week I started the FEC part and I had some nausea but not too bad . The antiemetic medication ( Apo- Prochlorazine- orange pill every 4 hours) made me very sleepy and drowsy. I am off all meds now but my energy level is less than with Taxotere. I was only able to exercise 15 minutes on the eliptical, with taxotere I was able to do at least 30 minutes, easily. It could be from the diffrent regimen or maybe from the cummulative effect . In any case, I can't wait for all 6 rounds to be over .

I can't wait for me to strat rejuvenating my body rather than wating for another two atomic bombs  

I did FEC-D last year....the FEC was hard on me because of how I metabolized the drugs, ended up in the hospital like clockwork, day 7 every time.  Even had to have a blood transfusion...ick.  Neulasta didn't work for me so I did Neupogen which worked but was just slow to do so.  For as sick as I was on the FEC, I didn't feel that bad although my oncologist kept referring to me as "critically ill".  I started taxotere (docetaxol) and I felt like I'd been hit by a Mack truck....but medically, my onc thought I had vastly improved and I didn't need to be hospitalized anymore.

It's so different how everyone reacts to chemo - I know a young lady who continued to work all the way through and although I know she had bad days, I know for a fact there was no way I would have been able to!

Veronica - are you HER2 negative?  That is likely why you were able to switch the order around and do taxotere first.  I am HER2+ and had herceptin as well (18 x) ...they can't give herceptin with the FEC, it's way too heart toxic.