EC/Red Devil Side effects

In my experience, having gone through several cycles of chemotherapy now, including EC, there are some side effects which can be successfully managed and others which can’t. Other people may feel differently or have different tips.

For things like mouth ulcers, heartburn, constipation or diarrhoea, nausea etc there are medications which can be taken to help alleviate and manage those effects.  Some people have these prescribed by their oncologists, but many can be bought over-the-counter and the Phone line to the chemotherapy team is a good source of advice of what you can take for what. For example, when I had diarrhoea, I knew I had to phone that in, but they triaged me over the phone and advised me to take Imodium which I would not have dared take without their say so. 
However, for the general feeling of feeling unwell, fatigued and really grotty, I found it was just being patient and waiting for those effects to pass as your body metabolises the drugs which have been circulated in your body. I found that doing anything to make the time pass as comfortably as possible was all I could do eg Example, enjoying a box set on TV. It’s hard, feels rubbish, and can be frightening, but it passes xx

I try to console myself by telling myself that if it’s making me feel bad, it must be having an effect on the cancer. X

Hi EC knocked me flat out.

I just got lots of rest and sleep as felt so rubbish.

 Oncologist gave me anti sickness meds just before my sessions and of course, lots to take home.

 My main issue was sickness but I started to feel better after a few days. Make sure you keep hydrated too xx

After my first cycle felt like I had a hangover for a couple of days. Got a huge bag of meds to counter some effects - laxatives anti thrush drops and meds anti sickness meds. Managed to cope pretty well. I found lack of sleep worst

Hi

I had 4 cycles.  Had nausea and vomiting after the first so they gave me aprepitant for the second which was great - just mild nausea after that.  I had heartburn/indigestion so they gave me omeprazole which, within a few hours, made a huge difference.  So do flag your issues to the medics, don’t suffer in silence.

I went for a long walk nearly every day which really helped.  I found that I felt pretty rough during week 1, a lot better in week 2, and perfectly normal during week 3.  Nothing tasted right for the entire time, but apart from that I found the first 3 days the worst, the rest pretty tolerable or even normal.  Best of luck!