Waiting to start chemotherapy!

Once you know which chemo you are having Im sure people will be along with their experiances and if you click on user names you can read their stories.

Also there is a very good thread about tips for coping with side effects

All the best

Kath

Hi @Cmck. I’ve attached the link to the post that Kath mentions. As everyone reacts differently to chemo it’s hard to say what to expect. Yes there is a lot of side effects but you’re unlikely to get all of them and a lot of them can be managed by your chemo team. I think the one that most people experience is the ‘cold touch’ so wear gloves when experiencing anything cold which includes outside air - cover your face with a scarf- and getting things out of the fridge - wear gloves. 
CHEMO TOP TIPS UPDATED 

You could discuss returning to work with your oncologist? It may depend on what you do as chemo lowers your immunity so working in a school where there’s lots of bugs flying about may not be recommended but working in a small office might be ok? 
I worked part-time in an office through mine and found it a great distraction and made things start to feel a bit more normal again.

Please update us when you have a plan and feel free to ask anything that you’re worried about?

Take care

Karen x

Hi - try not to be anxious - I've just completed 3 months Chemotherapy (tablet only) after surgery on 31st May.. My lymph nodes were 11 out of 27 affected. I had minimal side effects from the chemo (lucky to avoid intra venous I think)  and am planning to return to work on 6th November. Not bad for a 71 year old!

A word of  caution about under reporting your neuropathic side effects to your nurses and oncologists.The cold hands reaction is very common and  may only last for  a few minutes each time you are exposed to a cold source and is descibed under the possible side effects in the information sheets and books.You may just accept it as I did and make light of it.But it may indicate that you will suffer from Peripheral Neuropathy later on for many months after your Chemo is completed.It also may not but if it does I would tell your oncologist the severity of it each time that it happens...keep a log of these reactions.I have suffered with it for 3 months now.It started 3 months after my last Chemo session.I had FOLFOX and I believe that it is the Oxaliplatin drug which is the cause.There are drugs for bowel cancer which do not result in PN.This drug is very effective but also very toxic and can damage your nerves, sometimes permanently in your feet and hands.Please read up on patients individual stories on other cancer support forums to get a broad view of Peripheral Neuropathic side effects so you will be aware .I wish I had done so because I would not now be having such a very stressful time with my feet.I am grateful that I had no evidence of disease in May 23 but  I wish I did not have to suffer from these painful feet every minute of the day...It can impact the quality of your life.Good luck and I hope your treatment is successful.

Thanks Karen for the information.

• Thanks for sharing your post, I bet your glad your chemo has finished, great to hear you had minimal side affects. 
  Wishing you all the best.