Hello, still new to site so not sure if I'm doing his right but just needed to speak to someone. I had my first chemo session last Thursday. All went well until I went to the toilet before I left. Suddenly I couldn't swallow or breathe and it was very scary. I managed with my husband to get back to the chemo suite where staff were great, gave me oxygen and sorted me out. Unfortunately this is one of the less common side effects but as you can imagine I am scared to go back, has anyone else experienced this? I had oxiplatin intraveneously and I am now taking Cap....... orally. I still feel very spaced out, quite jittery but exhausted too. Sorry to sound so moany but is this 'normal'? I am taking part in the SCOT trial and have been 'randomised' into the 8 cycle group. It would be good to hear from anyone else who is currently undergoing chemo or has completed it. Thanks for listening.
FormerMember
Hi Karen, my partner has bowel cancer and liver mets and he is also on oaliplatin drip and capecetabine tablets. He had his first oxy drip two weeks ago and also had a bad reaction to it, we were in the cancer unit for 8 hours they wouldnt let us come home until things had settled down. My partners hands went numb and his eyes started to twitch uncontrollably! However we were told by the chemo nurse that this is a really powerful drug and you would be very lucky not to have any side effects from it, also my partner had the tingly fingers and is still unable to touch or drink anything c
old as it sends his throat into spasm.
As regard to the capecetabine tablets he has had very few side effects apart from extreme tiredness but i think it is cumulative so we are expecting more side effects when he starts cycle 2 next week-all good fun as long as its doing its magic thats all we care about :)
Please don't worry too much about your next cycle. Quite often each cycle has different side effects. I've replied to your PM. I think quite a few people here are on this same combination of chemo although they may not be on the trial and have not had too bad a time. My husband has started cycle 4 today and has, as they say, tolerated it well. The oxaliplatin is known to have this side effect in some circumstances. Our nurses always make sure my husband is wrapped up warm before leaving the ward, even on a day like today. They let me pick him up from the rear of the ward and remind me to put the car heater on to try to ensure as little change in temperature as possible. During the first week of the cycle we are careful about opening the fridge, no shopping in the cold aisles, no deep inhalations as he opens the outside doors in the morning, that sort of thing. I do hope you feel a lot better by the end of this week. Just take things easy, get as much rest as you can and no need to be sorry. Keep posting.
Thank you all for your comments, just hearing from you makes me feel better. i think you are right about going with it, I have been getting cross with feeling like this, not being able to do stuff with the children etc. I felt so well before the chemo and now I feel so rough. I just have to remind myself it is doing it's stuff for the right reasons. As you say 'positivelady' it is a powerful drug, I probably underestimated it's effects, I also had twitchy eyes and funny fingers and trying to be awake at least some of the day! Thansk fro your pm Mrs T, I think the change of temp/atmosphere did make a difference, I will make sure I take gloves etc, seems so bizarre in this heatwave. Thanks gain to you all and I wish you and your partners a good journey. Karen x
