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EC chemo side effects

Anon89
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Hi, my mum had 12 rounds of taxol and carboplatin for breast cancer and was ok but tired and a little bit breathless at the end. She had her first dose of EC (three to go) two weeks ago and is still exhausted and breathless, with loss of appetite. She’s had heart scans and all hopefully ok, blood test to come. Does anyone have any advice on how to keep her strength and spirits up and how normal or not this is? And how much I should push her to keep trying to walk around even when she says she is breathless. She’s in her early seventies. Thanks  

  • Hi, Anon89,

    Thanks for getting in touch and welcome back I see that you are on other groups. I hope you are finding them helpful. I’m Kate one of the Cancer Information Nurses Specialists here on the Macmillan Support Line.

    I am sorry to hear that your mum is struggling with feeling tired and breathlessness. Chemotherapy side effects can effect mum day to day. This can be normal whilst having treatment and for a period of time after treatment finishes.

    With any new or worsening symptoms it is always important to contact the hospital / chemotherapy team and get these checked.

    I am glad mum is having investigations for her heart and had her bloods checked. Chemotherapy can reduce the number of red blood cells in your blood. Red blood cells carry the oxygen around the body. If the number of red cells is low this is called anaemia. You can experience symptoms such as pale skin, lack of energy, feeling breathlessness, feeling dizzy and lightheaded.

    Whilst having treatment it is important to eat well and stay active with balancing of resting when your body needs too. With mum she may not be able to do what she was able to do but encouraging to get out for little walks may help.

    It can be an emotional time when you’re diagnosed with cancer and receiving treatment. Through BUPA Macmillan are offering up to 4 remotely-delivered counselling sessions for people struggling emotionally because they are living with cancer your mum may qualify for this service.

    It can be a difficult time when your loved one is going through a diagnosis and treatment. Looking after yourself is also important.

    I hope this information is useful. Please don’t hesitate to get back in contact by email, webchat or phone, if you need further information or support.

    The Macmillan Support Line offers practical, clinical, financial and emotional support. You can call us free from landlines and from most mobile phone networks* on 0808 808 00 00, 7 days a week, 8am – 8pm.

     Best wishes

    Kate,

    Cancer Information Nurse Specialist 

    Ref KE/LD

     

     

  • in reply to Kate - Macmillan

    Thanks a lot Kate, this is reassuring!

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