Some advice again please

Hi

Sorry to hear that you're having a rough time with the EC at the moment. You should have an emergency number for out of hours and weekends, so if you feel really rough, then please ring it - that's what they're there for!

Unfortunately, the side effects from chemistry can be cumulative, so you can end up feeling more poorly after every dose. The tiredness and emotional lability can come from anaemia or just from the fact that your body is fighting hard - there's nothing you can do about it unless you need iron supplements, and the team would be the best people to go to before starting those on your own. Other than that, rest when you need to, cry when you need to and if you can, go for a short walk and get some fresh air as that can make you feel a little better. 

Cyclophosphamide is well known for irritating the bladder, so you need to drink as much water as possible, especially  in the few days after the treatment. Easier said than done with the nausea I know! Again, tell your team as the bladder and kidney side effects from the cyclo. can become quite severe if you're unlucky.

Are you taking a PPI such as Omeprazole to protect your stomach? They're often given with chemo as well as the antisickness to ward off the acid reflux. It's a horrid feeling - maybe they've not found the right antisickness tablets yet. Ginger tea or ginger biscuits might help a bit, and some people find arrowroot biscuits helpful. You might well find more tips in the monthly chemo thread - there are links on the first post I think! 

If the chemo has taken a toll on you arm this time and you have three cycles left,  you might want to ask if you can have a PICC line or port to help minimise the issues for the rest of the treatment - they can make things a LOT easier! Again, make sure you tell your team asap as they are often fitted in the x-ray dept so will need a specific appointment.

I hope some of this helps, but it definitely sounds as though you need to ring them first thing Monday if not before on the out of hours number if you're feeling rough it have a temperature. 

Wishing you all the best -hope you get some sleep!

Sending big hugs! 

Yiu need Omeprazole!!! Its amazing and will get rid of the acid reflux. It's awful isn't it? It will work.. it saved me a lit of upset xxxxxxxx

Hi , I've been having a similar problem "down there" on and off. Im going to mention on Tuesday when I see oncologist.  I guess chemo drys out everything! Also maybe because suppressing ovaries causes dryness as well. Keep an eye on your temperature and if it starts hurting in bladder or stinging when you wee. And remember you aren't crying over nothing your having a crap time and sometimes a good cry gets it out of your system for a bit and you can get your more positive head on. I'll post Tuesdsy if I get any good advice xxxx

Thank you  for your reply

hubby went out and got me some ginger biscuits and ginger tea today the tea has settled my stomach down a little and it’s encouraged me to sip more fluids ( thank you for your suggestion to I will ask about it for the reflux) 

I will be ringing the chemo centre tomorrow morning to ask about my problem “below” ( I’ll let you know Cheeboe what they say too) also to mention my arm as it doesn’t seem to be getting any easier 

I’m still feeling very tired and exhausted which is taking its toll and so making me emotional and I’ll speak to them about that too 

a friend has suggested today about anti depressants but I’m not keen on take anymore tablets then I have too (she also mentioned CBD saying “I’ve googled it it’s good for cancer sufferers” good old Dr google) 

once again thank you so much for your replies xxx

Hi just a quick one but be very careful if taking anything at all ( even herbal supplements) unless it's been ok'd by your oncologist. CBD oil can be good for some but in others can cause an increase in oestrogen so can be bad for your treatment. Ask your medical team and they will advise!! Xxx

CBD oil in the UK is fine for ER+ breast cancer,  as it contains (more or less) no THC which is the issue. In the US those with other types of BC mix CBD and THC at a ratio of up to 4:1. It was a maximum of 0.3% until last summer which made it full spectrum and the CBD work better,  and was also fine.  That was changed to less than 0.2% last summer,  then less again in November so most are THC free or broad spectrum.  A lot of people find it good for the anxiety felt in the early weeks after diagnosis (me included!),  but it needs to be at least 1000 on the bottle,  as the CBD amount won't be strong enough under that amount.  I had the 2500 full spectrum and it really helped me in the weeks when having staging scans after I'd a positive sentinel node.

Londonmumof2

Interesting info and good to know, but it is still always worth running things past the oncology team before starting anything new, especially if you are on chemo already!  Some oncologists are happy for people to take supplements etc, whilst others aren't. 

I wanted to take quinine sulphate for cramp, and it is available quite easily. I ran it past my oncologist and it turned out that it has a major interaction with the chemo drug I was on at the time - leading to heart arrhythmia and heart attacks. Needless to say, I stuck to the cramp... 

Better safe than sorry... 

Hi all there’s no way I’m even going to try CBD I’m a bit old fashioned and I do realise a lot of people ( even those who don’t have cancer) take it but it’s not something I would consider unless it was prescribed by a doctor

Thanks for the info though  

I rang the oncologist help line today they have said about my “down there” problem to get some cansteen  cream to ease it if it’s bad 

and as for my arm cold compressions every 4 hours if it’s still swollen but definitely mention it when I next see the oncologist team before my next chemo appointment so they can consider another access point for the chemo treatment 

once again thanks everyone for your help and for being here xx