chemo has been cancelled for good due to side effects
2 minute read time.
FormerMember
hi every one , like to share my horrible day . as most of you know i have not had they best of times with my chemotherapy sessions & have had a lot of the side effects the ec was a nightmare with my white cells in my boots most of the time. i managed to get through my four cycles by the skin of my teeth i thought the pacitaxol would be a lot better wrong first cycle made me ill with the most intense pain in every part of my body i couldnt function so the strength was reduced & i was put on strong pain killers this helped then last week within an hour of having my fourth taxol my feet started to burn like they were on fire i went for a bath & noticed that the skin was peeling off them like bad sunburn this has contuined all week & my feet & hands are now raw then both hands & feet started to go numb but the pain in my left toes has left me unable to walk properly [combined with the raw feet i was suposed to have my fifth cycle of taxol to day but when i arrived they sent me straight down to clinic to see my oncologist who imformed me that they will have to stop the chemo because if they carry on it could kill me .i just broke down i feel so low at the moment i feel like i have let my kids down by not being able to have these next 8 cycles its seems like to many to miss out on & im scared like all of us i want to beat this cancer my only other treatment left is three weeks of radiotherapy is it going to be enough ? the dr couldnt answer that no one can . even if i had managed all the chemo i know it still can come back but at least i would have known i had given it my best shot this just feels unfair i know there is nothing i can do about it & that its not my fault but i still feel as though i have failed .has anyone else had this happen ? . i know in some ways im lucky because as far as i know the cancer has gone its the rogue cells the chemo has been looking for & hopefully its got them . at the moment i feeling a little helpless & a bit sorry for my self also im angry i will over the next few days think about things & dust myself down & get on with getting myself well thank you for listening take care love n hugs theresa xxxx
FormerMember
Hi Treeze you are sooo hard on yourself!! Stop it!! Look this chemo has damaged your body and that is not your fault. This may not be the end of your chemo - they may just wait a while to allow the chemicals to be processed by your liver then re assess and offer a different type. It sounds as though your side effects were pretty horrible - at least you avaoided hospital this time. Try to accept that this is not your fault. Some people dont make a chemical/enzyme which breaks down certain types of chemo - that is unfortunate but not anyones fault. You have had tons more treatment than I was offered 5 years ago!! (think i got 4 cycles after surgery only). Try to relax you really have been through the mill hun. Now allow yourself to recover a bit - and stop blaming yourself! Love and hugs, Jools x x
I think it was best for them to stop with the chemo. Doctors don't really know exactly how many cycles of chemo are enough.
They decide on the number of cycles according to statistics and the onc's personal decision.
They usually give more cycles of chemo than is needed just to be on the safe side.
In your case I think 4 cycles was enough. Your body reacted much stronger to the treatment and probably it means it also reacted faster than most. You're a champion! you beat cancer! keep a positive attitude and believe that cancer is behind you
Chemo is always deadly poison. It is only worth doing if it doesn't damage you irreparably. I am sorry the Taxol wasn't right for you. It is very good if you can take it,
Now, rest and get as well as you can. Your strength should start to come back after a few weeks. I don't doubt they will have another look at you and try something else if you are well enough to start.
