Hi i had my first session of chemo & immuno 2 weeks ago and had thrush as a side effect (both external below & oral) GP put me on cream & tablets it's only just starting to get better (oral fine now) is this Lickey to return again after my next session due next week? And if it is should i just carry on with meds regardless if it goes completely in next few days! I do have consultation with consultant day before session but that's a week away!
Thanks for any advise
Dave
Dave
Hi carpfishing,
My name is Keith and I’m one of the Cancer Information Nurse Specialist.
I hope you are finding the support and information on the online community helpful.
Everyone can be affected by any diagnosis and its treatment in so many ways. It’s difficult on this platform to discuss and advise on individual situations for this reason.
However with chemotherapy and immunotherapy they do increase the risk of many different types of infections including thrush.
With any cancer treatment side effects are common but usually can be managed with the support of your treatment team .
In some situations, drugs are given to prevent the side effect before it occurs. This may be something that may be looked at by your treatment team regarding preventing any further issues with thrush during your treatment
You should have access to 24hr support to manage any side effects during your treatment. This will be given in different ways depending on the trust, your treatment team should be able to tell you their protocol for doing this.
Usually during the week, you should have access to your specialist nurse /treatment team/ unit and if unable to contact them in this way a back up of a 24hr support line number is usually given.
During active treatment especially with chemotherapy and immunotherapy if you have any new worsening or worrying symptom you should always contact your treatment team in the ways I have suggested.
This is so you can be assessed as soon as possible to have any symptoms assessed and managed accordingly as soon as possible.
You mentioned going to your GP which is OK but it’s important to let your treatment team know about any symptoms you may have during your treatment team also, as they would have the greatest understanding of how you are being affected by your diagnosis and treatment.
We would advise you to contact your treatment team today to have this situation assessed and they would advise how to manage this situation moving forward.
You’re right a week is a long time. We would advise contacting your team in the ways we have suggested as soon as possible /today.
If you’d like further explanation or have any other questions, please feel free to recontact us, either on this platform or give one of our cancer information nurses a call on our help line.
take care
Keith, Cancer Information Nurse Specialist
You can also speak with the Macmillan Support Line team of experts. Phone free on 0808 808 0000 (7 days a week, 8am-8pm) or send us an email.
Ref KM/Lrob
