Starting chemo

Hi Technical guru

First of all may I say “hello” and welcomed to the forum.

I had same op as you in 2011.  I had a lot of discomfort and pain on the right side (just above my waist)  it does take a little while for everything  to get back to normal, but if the pain continues do mention it to your Cancer Specialist Nurse or Consultant.

I was also on the Capecitabine tablets, combined an iv chemo at first but I stopped the iv after three cycles.  The main problem I had was increasing tiredness and peripheral neuropathy.  I also had problems with my diet and found that I had got avoid high fibre and spicy food.

The tiredness increased with each session of chemo, but I had chemo for six months whereas the standard treatment is now three months - although this does depend on what your team decide you need.  You  will have days when you are extremely tired and others when you have more energy.  I found it was best to rest when I was very tired and do more on the days I had more energy.  But we are all different and chemo affect us all in different ways.  A little light exercise helps and I found going for short walks each day, increasing the distance a little day by day, helped me although this is more difficult now that we are in the midst of this Covid crisis.  

Neuropathy affect some people - but not everyone gets it - and hopefully it won’t affect you.

With regard to diet I found it best to make a note of what food affected me and I removed that from my diet at first.  I was gradually able to add most foods back into my diet but I cannot digest red meat, high fibre veg such as beetroot, and spicy food.  A low fibre diet helps, and if you don’t feel like eating much have small amounts of food throughout the day rather than three big meals.

When you start chemo, report any worrying symptoms to your team.  The thought of chemo really frightened me and I thought I would have every symptom that was mentioned to me, but I didn’t, I had a few but on the whole coped well with the tablets.

I also found that I would go from diarrhoea to constipation - which again is quite normal - and I had medication for both.  

Hopefully you won’t have too many problems with the chemo tablets, but keep posting on here to let us know how you are doing as this is a very friendly and supportive group.

Macmillan have an excellent help and support line, the number is 0808 808 0000 and it is available seven days a week from 8:00 am to 8:00 pm and you can speak to them for support and advice on any aspect of cancer.

Take care,

VickiLynne

Hi Vicki,

Many thanks for your reply, i will try and report the good and bad points of the treatment so that others may benefit should they find the information,

Many thanks

TG

I had similar surgery to you but had to have open surgery. I then had 6 months capecitabine 2000mg twice a day. I didn’t follow any special diets but did avoid dietary foods ( low fat / low sugar. I ate small meals and usually had a couple of snacks in the day toast or a biscuit. I found the small pots of rice pudding and custard as well as yogurts handy. Although they give you anti sickness medication which I took for a couple of days I found I did not need them. Just eat when you feel hungry.

Moisturise your feet twice a day maybe put cotton socks on to lessen the dry skin effect and moisturise your hands the skin can be dry and nails brittle. Buy a soft tooth brush or a child’s brush it helps if your mouth is sore . 

 I had my chemotherapy during the cold months so had a fleece throw on my chair as you tend to feel the old more.The upside being you don’t feel your missing out on much because you tend to stay in more anyway.

 I felt more weary than ill and was not unusual for me to fall asleep in the afternoon usually halfway through a tv program.

Have some books, magazines, crossword and puzzle books to hand. Your concentration level not too good for a while so it’s best to have things you can keep going back to.

 I wasn’t sure what to expect but it wasn’t so bad, you just have to accept you’re not your usual self for a while. Accept help from family and friends as you need it. 

Take care