Chemo fears

Hi PollyS

I have just had my second cycle of EC on Wednesday. I have them 3 weeks apart. After the first one I tried to just carry on as normal but that made me tired so this time I've taken it easy and don't feel as tired.

After neither cycle have I felt sick although my stomach just feels a little unsettled, which calmed right down last time by day 5. I generally just feel a bit under the weather, similar to how I feel when I've had a flu or covid jab, but that feeling went last time after a few days. From day 12 I felt completely normal again.

I decided not to try and cold cap and started to loose my hair from about day 12.

I hope this helps and all the best with your treatment.

x

Thank you. So encouraging to hear. I was in tears this morning. You’ve given me hope.

Hi I was terrified when they said I had to have chemo it is fear of the unknown.

A lot depends on type and how many you are having. I had x6 The first 3 were tolerable as long as you pace yourself and be prepared to have a few days maybe not sleeping (Steroids) and feeling unwell. I still managed a dog walk in the afternoon most days but left me exhausted.

Had a change of chemo type at number 4 lots of side effects some severe. Rang in about it sent photos of skin reactions and ongologist rang and said no go so went back to first kind for last two 

I was worried I hadn't had what I ment to but apparently the margin is minimal as I still had my 6. Plus 15 radiotherapy sessions afterwards. 

They won't let you be really ill can reduce dose or change type. My hair now returning too. 

Good luck it is doable and you will do it. I never thought I would but I did x

Hi Polly

i was the opposite to Jane, found EC very hard and then docetaxal pretty easy. Only saying this so you don’t dread the drug change if you find the first one hard. EC I was so tired that I couldn’t get up much and it made me really low. Looking back, I think a lot was mum guilt and I was trying to hide everything from my young children. My partner doesn’t really Manage household tasks, I was getting stressed and upset. If this hadn’t been an issue, I could have just been in bed. The sickness was quite bad witg that one but the drugs managed it really well, so as long as you remember to take them then it really wasn’t an issue. 

I never felt so bad that I had to go to the hospital, or even the doctor. 

docetaxal I just had a couple of days feeling very tired but could get up and a sore mouth, nasty chemical taste etc. 

I don’t think it will be as bad as you think but it seems a long uphill journey at the start. Once you get halfway, it doesn’t seem as bad. If you just think one round at a time rather than 4/5 left.  

x

Yes I agree just tick off as you go I started mine in Dec13th so not great timing but by end of Jan was half way. Just keep reminding yourself it is killing any cells that may be about and will makeyou well in the long term. Bless you once treatment starts you are on the road.

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My advice is, everyone is so different 

Everyone is so different, take each day as it comes. The first cycle was hard, fearful of side effects,  hair loss etc. To be honest after 2nd cycle it seemed my body got used to it and I knew what to expect. It was the injections that left me feeling rough ( morning sickness feeling) but NEVER  suffer in silence, your nurses will help you, they are amazing! Good luck  

Thank you.