Chemo side effects recovery pack

Hi Kerry1970

I am sorry to hear of your cancer diagnosis. I hope that you are recovering well from your surgery.

I had chemo May-August 2022. I think with chemo the main thing is to go with the flow. Although they give you a long list of potential side effects, in my experience I didn't have many of them and the ones I did were managed with medication. You normally have a 24 hour help line to call and I would recommend that you call it if you do experience some side effects. Everyone is different in their experiences and there are many different chemo regimes and cycles. One important thing is to try to avoid infections and if at any point you don't feel right- then to call your helpline. Any infections can develop quickly and potentially become serious.

Re bonjela/mouthwashes- I was prescribed a mouthwash to help from the oncologist

Eyelashes- I did have some irritation when they went but it only lasted a couple of days- I did however have dry eyes for most of the time and was prescribed some eye drops

Tummy effects- I did have diarrhoea, cramps, nausea etc but was given specific medications to control these. 

Ginger biscuits were good, flat lemonade, moisturiser and hand creams. Barley sugar sweets. I also had a metallic taste and things did not taste as they normally would- sharp tastes were better for me- lemon squash etc. 

Anything that you are taking it is best to let them know in case of interactions etc. So I recommend waiting to see how it effects you and then speak to your doctors about any issues. Generally I made sure I had plenty of different snacky foods in, different drinks and pampering things like mild bubble baths etc. Also comfy clothes for lounging, nothing to tight. I am not sure if your regime will cause hair loss but if it does then I found my scalp quite tender and used a silky pillow case. 

Hope this helps a bit.

I wish you the best for your treatment. If there is anything else you need then please do ask.

Jane

Hi Kerry1970

Welcome to the forum and I am sorry to hear that you have been diagnosed with breast cancer.  When I was having treatment for breast cancer I used to make up a solution of salt and warm water and rinsed my mouth three times a day with it and I didn't have any mouth issues.  I didn't have any issues with diarrhoea but if you do they can prescribe some medications to control it.

Wishing you the best of luck with your chemo and hopefully you won't have to many side effects.

Best wishes

Daisy53

I asked the same question and the answers were mostly don't spend too much.

Your team will give you meds for sickness, constipation, diarrhoea - IF you need them.  Remember not everyone gets all side effects.

They will also give eye drops and mouthwash.

Although I did buy eye drops, I could have asked for them at my next appointment but I didn't want to wait.  

I bought, eye drops, Rennie and Paracetomol.

Your team MAY advise against Actimel so do check first - it's a live culture.

I was helpfully directed to  Irishgirl16's blog.  It comes up a lot! 

Thanks  Irishgirl16      :-)

Here's the post.... 

Chemo Side Effects - Hints & Tips - Macmillan Online Community

Really useful. Thank you  

They usually advise you not to have live yogurts,as everyone has said try to go with flow & they provide you with most of the meds.I am on paclitaxol & have been ok on it,fingers crossed half way through my 12 weekly infusions.best of luck.big hugs.x

Of course, re the live culture- it makes complete sense! 
thank you 

Hi the only thing I had to buy was imodium and a soft toothbrush. Everything else my oncologist prescribed without me asking. Huge bag of goodies when I ended first chemo - steroids anti thrush drops and anti thrush meds for halfway through cycle mouthwash anti sickness meds and laxatives. Used mouthwash after every meal and didn't get any thrush and didn't need the imodium but the laxatives were very useful

Hi Kerry

I am post lumpectomy and lymph node removal, post chemo and post radiotherapy.  Still having 3 weekly injection of Phesgo (my tumour was both HER2 positive and HER2 negative so needed two types of treatment), ongoing 6 monthly infusions for bone health and daily Letrazole hormone suppressor. 

I would strongly recommend an urgent appointment with a dentist before your chemo starts as you won't be able to have any dental work done for several months after the chemo ends.  Toothache you can do without!

The hospital provided prescription meds for expected side effects.  I just had extra issues with gastric pain and needed Omeprazole prescribed too.

I found elderflower cordial a life saver as you need to drink loads of water and it was lovely and calming for my tummy.  Lemon sherbet sweets were great too.  Don't forget lip balm.

I have to have injections into my thigh on chemo days so think about shorts/skirt/dress for ease as taking down trousers whilst having a cannula in the back of your hand is painful!  

I wish I had had my eyebrows microbladed before the chemo as losing my eyebrows bothered me a lot, more than losing my hair!  Again, can't have them done till 6 months after end of chemo due to risk of possibly infection (the practitioner is not covered by their insurance etc).  The Look Good Feel Better zoom workshops are fab, well worth signing up for, I have done the hair one and the makeup one.

Best of luck fighting this awful disease, BexF

Thanks BexF,

Thank you so much for these tips.

luckily I had my 6/12 dental check up at the end of October and my biannual xray and all good there  

I happen to already take omeprazole for a hiatus hernia so think I’ll just buy more gaviscon for days when even doubling up my omeprazole won’t cut it. 

I’m ER +be but HER -ve. It’ll be good to know what they decide I’m having on Tuesday