Would like to hear from anybody that has been through EC-T chemotherapy.

Also like to hear from anyone who has had a port rather than a PICC line.

Hi Pippin.  I have just had my 3rd round of EC chemo.  I have found it far less traumatic than the Paclitaxel and Carbo that I was on previously.  A bit more nausea but it’s managed with anti sickness drugs.  I don’t know if it’s the same everywhere, but mine is given manually by a nurse. There are 5 syringes in total and takes about half hour.  There are two red ones that make your pee red for a couple of days but it’s not painful.  I quite like having it administered by a nurse as you can have a chat and it takes your mind off it.  

just ask if you want to know anything else.  I’m here if you need to chat xx

Hi Carol, thank you so much for your response. I have been told the EC bit will be administered by a nurse just like yourself. A bit worried about the docetaxel which is the last 4 cycles. This seems to have more side effects from what I've read so far. So much information to take in. Hope your treatment is going well. Xx

Hi Pippin.  Unfortunately I did have a bit of a rough ride on the taxel journey.  I had a very severe reaction to the Paclitaxel so they swapped me to docetaxel which was better but I did have a number of infections on that one.  Do you have a rapid response team to call? They are excellent and get on top of any infections really quickly, bypassing A&E.  

i only have one more EC to go.  I have also been on Pembro for immunotherapy and that will continue for a further 6 months, but thankfully only every 6 weeks.  There will be a repeat MRI followed by surgery some time in April.  I guess the results of the MRI will determine the type of surgery required.  

I do feel there is light at the end of the tunnel now but still a long road ahead. I try to focus on one milestone at a time otherwise it all just gets a bit overwhelming!  End of chemo is milestone 1 for me.  

You can do this.  Cry if you want to. Get angry if you need to.  It’s hard to stay positive all the time but so try to battle through.  It will be worth it in the end and you will be amazed how support will come from the most unexpected places!  And take that support.  Don’t do what I did and try to do it all by yourself.  There’s no shame in asking for help. Xx

Sounds like you've had a bit of a rough ride through chemo. I've only had first oncology appointment and am still trying to digest all the info. At next meeting they're going to give me a number which will enable me to contact someone 24 hours a day, which is reassuring. I'm having a mastectomy following the chemo, radiotherapy, then hormone blockers for 5-10 years. Had to also come off hrt, so back to hot flushes unfortunately. Great that you've nearly completed your chemo, hope your surgery goes well in April. Please let me know how you get on. Xx

Also just wondered Carol, if you had a PICC line or port fitted, or got treatment through a canula each time.

Ah yes.  I had to come off HRT too but thankfully I didn’t suffer too much! Yes the 24 hour “hotline” is really comforting. Just to know someone is there helps.  They haven’t discussed post op care for me as yet except for the continued immunotherapy, but as mine was non-hormonal there may not be anything more needed.  

I have had my treatment through canula each time.  The PICC was offered but other than one or two occasions they’ve found my veins ok and I just chose not to have something else visi to remind me of what I was going through.  The loss of hair, eyebrows and lashes was enough to contend with and having a puppy at home too, I didn’t want to risk her bouncing up and catching the portals (although clearly they are bandaged up for protection.  They also put me off a bit by saying the dressing had to be changed weekly and I got the impression thar I’d have to go to the hospital to have this done, which is a fair drive away and feeling as poorly as I did, I didn’t want anything else to worry about.  I did find out later that they would have arranged a district nurse to come to me, but by then it was too late!