Into my 2nd week of 2nd cycle of chemo . Feeling dreadful can barley function . I get breathless trying to do anything . Anyone else suffered this . Please help
Just wondered if you have phoned your team ? I think they would want to know you are having a rough time . Cycle 2 was awful for my mum too . I can only encourage you to talk to your oncologist. We did not the first year of my mum’s treatment. What a year . The second year we were better at feedback and communication. They reduced her dose slightly and what a difference. I also wondered if you are managing to drink anything ? Dehydration can have a big impact on how you are feeling on chemo . They actually took my mum in and gave her some IV fluids and sorted out her potassium which had been knocked off . It really is best to give them a call and let them support you . We also have the helpline staff 0808 808 0000 who can chat the best approach through with you too if that’s any help .
I felt exactly the same as you . I practically stayed in bed for 2 weeks for the first 2 cycles . I had chest pain and everything . I went to a&e twice , both times they found nothing wrong . When oncology phoned I told them I was struggling and they lowered my dose for 3rd round . I still felt awful but I managed to stay out of bed in the day . Thankfully only had 4 rounds but definatley helped . Sending a gentle hug and know you are not alone XX
My husband became breathless today walking. It’s the first time he has ever done that. He is on the same chemo as you and started cycle 2 on Monday. I’d be happy to keep in touch and perhaps we can bounce ideas off each other should any symptoms occur. Good Luck xxx
I had 8 sessions of IV OXY and cap tabs. I struggled with nausea and feeling dreadful.
I slept a lot. Didn’t do much exercise for first 2 weeks, then in third week started to feel much better......then it started again.
I struggled drinking anything......was taken into hospital to be rehydrated. it is not an easy process.
speak to McMillan nurses re: nausea. Speak to oncologist re: symptoms you are having. They will help with the dose you are given, reducing it where necessary.
good luck, keep going. Life is worth fighting for.
Sorry to hear you are feeling awful. My husband has just started his chemo on 2nd March. He is on Cycle 1 Day 11 of his tablets & he has had a pretty rubbish week. He hasn't had any breathlessness but is really suffering in other ways.
After the IV he had tingling & cold sensitivity for 5/6 days but apart from being a bit lethargic & feeling like he needed a good sleep (he wasn't sleeping well at night) he was generally OK. He was working from home, he was taking our daughter to school each day & he was able to eat small amounts of food.
Last Saturday he was feeling the best he'd felt since before Chemo however the following day he was awful & it has been bad since. He has no appetite & is forcing himself to eat & drink. He hadn't been taking morphine but had to start due to pain. He hasn't been able to get up with us in the morning before school & he has only managed a few hours working at his desk (although he is still doing a little work from his phone).
He is receiving these chemo drugs but we don't know if they are even going to work. He has secondary cancer of unknown primary. The oncologist has said that there are other drugs to try but she thinks these are the best to start with.
Has anyone else found eating a problem on these drugs? He has lost 3kgs since starting the chemo. He can't do this for 6 rounds. The way he is feeling is making me think if these are the right drugs for him?
I am hoping he will feel a bit more 'normal' next week when he has his tablet free week.
Welcome to the forum if I have not done so before .
Hope the chemo is broad based enough to cover the unknown primary aspect . I have seen a few people come through the forum in the past and it still amazes me that it can be completely untraceable. In terms of the weight aspect . My mum lost three stones in weight during chemo . She did put it back on but much slower and took a long time .
Chemo can just kick in hard but I am delighted to say it also did a great job on my mum’s secondary spread . Does your husband have a raised CEA level ?
You might want to ask for a dietitian to get get involved. Our helpline staff would be able to give you some information too 0808 808 0000. We had to work hard on making every mouthful count in terms of calories. A complete departure from our normal . Calorie loaded milk shakes she could gently sip . A tiny mouthful at a time over hours as too much fluid intake at once made her sick . We also used a buildup soup to make sure she was getting nutrients in . But honestly don’t struggle on your own with it . The GP and hospital can assist to get the right advice in to help . We should have reached out sooner .
I hope he has a better week .It’s not easy to watch either so must be so hard on the person going through it .
He’s has scans, endoscopy, colonoscopy & chest X-ray with nothing coming back as significant. All his blood tests have been normal.
He has lost 10kg now since last April. He only has about 7kg to go before he is classed as underweight. Yes I have studied nutrition myself from a sport perspective & know that it’s just as hard to gain weight as it is for people to lose it. Unfortunately our diet is very healthy & high in fibre, he’s been told to follow a low fibre diet which he is finding hard as he’s not allowed things which he was actually enjoying. He’s got fortisip drinks to take but they keep giving him banana when he has requested vanilla!! He can’t face anything too sweet at the moment but he is able to eat rice puddings & custard which is something. The first appointment he was offered with the dietician was 22nd March which is actually good timing as it’s just before his 2nd cycle starts.
Nobody has mentioned anything about his CEA level.
I’ve just started round 2 myself yesterday!. During round 1 I was really struggling. Even trying to do a 5min walk on the treadmill or walking down the driveway to go to the bin was dreadful! I spoke to the oncologist (reading this thread definitely gave me the courage to do so & I don’t know if I would have otherwise so thanks everyone for that advice!) & she has adjusted the steroids slightly. She said she was happy to do this because I was only having four rounds. I’m really hoping it helps, even with the brain fog as it was AWFUL too! The thing I’ve noticed about round 2 so far is the reaction to any cold has really gotten stronger! The cold air hit me yesterday on the way to the car after treatment & I really struggled to breathe, it was VERY scary! But I remembered the nurse warning me this could happen (before I started round 1) & not to panic, that it would come back to normal. Drinks now have to be hot as even room temperature is now stabbing my throat! Hopefully this calms down as the days go on... (The 2nd week calmed down a bit last time, 1st week was the worst) I really hope you’re feeling a little more ease as the time goes on & I’ll be thinking about you,
Good to hear you contacted someone, hope this has helped. My husband has been suffering but he has always been saying 'this is just what I have to go through' however after reading posts from other people I realised the pain he was describing wasn't right. He gave in & took morphine at the weekend which allowed him to sleep. He spent the whole of Sunday in bed which is the first time he has done this. The nurses called him back this morning & they took him in for an X-ray. It turns out that the chemo medicine was keeping his bowels regular & since he stopped the chemo tablet he has become constipated (despite the fact that he has also had diarrhoea). They have given him a different laxative as well as changing a couple of his other medications. He is still able to go ahead with his chemo tomorrow.
It was a relief that it wasn't the tumors causing the problems. I am hoping that with the new medication this next round will be a bit easier for him.
