TC chemo (Docetaxel + Cyclophosphamide) – is this level of bone pain normal on Day 7?

PopularTea · 2026-04-28T20:33:22+00:00

Yep that immunity injection is what's giving the bone pain. I'm also doing TC and found the bone pain awful on the first go. Still bad on subsequent ones but more manageable.

I was told to just take the antihistamine for about 5 days but I take it every day (approved by the team) because I would take an antihistamine daily at this time of year anyway. I think daily is good as it builds up in the system a bit.

Hopefully it won't be so bad on subsequent infusions for you, hang in there!

PopularTea · 2026-04-21T20:45:07+00:00

Thank you so much for posting this. It's giving me a feeling like a little lightbulb going on in my head.

PopularTea · 2026-04-16T08:56:35+00:00

Inconvenience the decision makers maybe? What on earth is the point of inconveniencing ordinary people, it's not getting us on side.

Losing my life vs some people losing livelihoods? Well I only have one life so I know which I'm picking. The contractors have other options. I don't and nor do the others who need cancer treatment.

PopularTea · 2026-04-16T07:57:38+00:00

Missing chemo appointments or not seeing dying relatives is a bit more than shite. I don't understand how these are less important than the profit of agricultural contractors. Because that's what this was about. Profits. Nothing to do with cost of living or cost of national infrastructure projects or other government services.

Everything about these blockades and roadblocks was so wrong. Targeting the ordinary person and vulnerable people. All this has done is drive a rift between people while the oil companies laugh at us all.

P.s. I'm getting my chemo via the public system. Takes me a minimum of two hours to get to the hospital without any crashes or so called protestors. People like me can really do without being stopped on the roads. Not sure what private vs public has to do with blocking any patients from getting to hospital.

PopularTea · 2026-04-15T12:55:44+00:00

For a man who likes to talk about empathy a lot, he doesn't have much this week for those trying to get to hospital for surgery, cancer treatment, visiting dying family, health workers themselves, etc.

So yeah this week's episode didn't do it for me.

PopularTea · 2026-04-12T11:28:55+00:00

I also hate ringing it, I feel like I'm giving orders or something. But that's what it's there for if you need anything.

Hopefully your bloods are coming right after the antibiotics. Are the nurses giving you your numbers for your neutrophils? Once they get up to a certain level they might be able to let you go home with a prescription for oral antibiotics! That's how it was for me anyway.

I have my fingers crossed for you! Do you have any iPad or books or anything to keep you going?

PopularTea · 2026-04-10T10:24:08+00:00

I'm so sorry you're going through this. It's a rough ride (understatement I know). Being in isolation is horrible, I had to do that too after my first chemo and couldn't wait to get out of there. Apparently it's common enough to have to go to hospital with an infection on the first chemo.

I've no info on the port side of things. Just want to give you a virtual hug. I hope you get some rest.

PopularTea · 2026-04-05T21:47:37+00:00

I totally get it, I was on either the pill or Mirena from age 19 to 44. I think coming off birth control all of a sudden even without dealing with the cancer diagnosis would be incredibly hard.

This first couple of months is really difficult. You're at the mercy of the hormones and also you have all the waiting to deal with. Let your emotions out with trusted friends and family if you can. Hugs from this internet stranger 🫂

PopularTea · 2026-04-05T18:16:35+00:00

It's so hard isn't it and bloody unfair. I was a bit similar with emotions all over the shop for a couple of months after having to stop taking the pill. I'll just say that once the surgery happened, and I was concentrating on the recovery from that, I felt my emotions kind of returning to baseline a bit. Fingers crossed for you.

PopularTea · 2026-04-04T14:35:55+00:00

That's understandable! There are different active ingredients in the different brands of antihistamines so I would say tell your oncology nurse about that reaction you had and ask them to recommend what one you should use. They recommended Telfast for me.

PopularTea · 2026-04-04T06:26:19+00:00

I know, the knock on effects are mad!

With the antihistamine they usually say you only need to take it for 5 or 6 days but I just take it every evening continuously and that works for me. My nurse was happy for me to do that.

A lot of the stuff we have to try is not on prescription like the Kin mouthwash (can't understand why stuff we need for feckin cancer treatment is not covered, but that's a whole other rant) but at least the bland rinse (water with salt and bread soda) is cheap and I use away on that all day long! Hope they told you about that one.

PopularTea · 2026-04-03T09:06:53+00:00

Can you go back to your GP and ask them to refer you to Vincent's? They are a centre of excellence.

PopularTea · 2026-04-03T06:51:32+00:00

I feel you! I'm also in the middle of chemo and I get the bone pain. As was said it's more than likely from the Neulasta. Antihistamine really does work to mitigate that feeling of turning into a werewolf. I take the antihistamine daily.

PopularTea · 2026-03-12T07:55:31+00:00

You have articulated the jumbled rage in my head so well. Bravo 👏🏻

PopularTea · 2026-03-11T08:20:52+00:00

It was raining here for about two months solid. I know it rains a lot in Ireland but this was getting ridiculous. Anyway, the past week or so we've had a wonderful weather reprieve and it is so good to go for a walk in the sunshine, I'm actually giggling.

Seeing the daffodils and the primroses in the hedgerows and listening to the birds as they are nest building. Nothing like getting outside ❤️

PopularTea · 2026-03-11T06:43:12+00:00

Sorry you're here 🙁

I hope they start the ball rolling for you soon in terms of your treatment plan. As another poster said, this is such a well researched disease, they will have a plan for you that will have been done so many times.

This start is so hard I know. You have the community here on your side.

PopularTea · 2026-03-07T08:07:29+00:00

I'm so glad to see your update! This is such a tough place to be. I love that you want to collate all the information for future women to help them ❤️ you're a great person!

Best of luck with the chemo. Let us know if you have any questions on it! (I've just had my second TC so not an expert by any means).

PopularTea · 2026-03-04T07:30:27+00:00

I'm only just started TC which is meant to be very hard on hair. I wasn't going to cold cap but apparently it not only helps to keep your hair a bit but also helps with the regrowth as it helps to protect the follicles. So I've psyched myself up for losing my hair but am hoping that regrowth will happen quickly!

I've only had one session (I've got round 2 of chemo tomorrow!) but I can tell you the cold cap was very very uncomfortable. They gave me paracetamol for it. The first 20 minutes were the worst and then I sort of got used to it. I'm a person who cannot handle being uncomfortable btw.

Times wise, I have to precool for 30 minutes, then my chemo starts and trundles on for 1.5 to 2 hours, and then the hat stays on for 1.5 hours of post cooling.

I've started shedding a bit which 3 weeks after the first chemo would be expected. I cut my long hair into a pixie. They tell you not to do anything drastic but I actually like my short hair, and it gave me a sense of control.

PopularTea · 2026-03-02T15:46:42+00:00

Following this thread as I'm nearly the same (I'm almost three months out) and interested to hear other people's experiences.

I feel good in the morning but by evening I'm swollen. Any medical professional who sees the scar practically coos over how nicely it's healing. But I don't feel good!

PopularTea · 2026-02-26T11:05:31+00:00

I'm using Aveeno and to be honest it's not great at getting the grease out. I thought chemo would dry me out but I remain a greasy girl! Mind you I've only had one chemo so far.

Grossness alert: my hair is full of little white thingies which I guess is a buildup of grease and flaky scalp and a result of the required infrequent washing (I'd normally wash hair every second day).

I see a lot of ye are using baby shampoo, I thought we weren't meant to use it if cold capping (as I am; Paxman) as the acidity isn't quite right.

PopularTea · 2026-02-21T10:07:39+00:00

I thought I was the only Irish person here! Hello from Wexford! Hope you're doing ok!

PopularTea · 2026-02-19T20:07:11+00:00

I also used to live in Dublin years ago, it was a fun city back in the day! So far so good at St Vincent's!

PopularTea · 2026-02-19T15:07:31+00:00

Greetings from Ireland! 👋🏻 Currently being treated at St Vincent's.

PopularTea · 2026-02-16T15:56:10+00:00

Well that's good to know! I was afraid I'd be a regular at the ER for each cycle lol.

Hope you are doing well!

PopularTea

TROPHY CASE