Struggling during chemo!

Hi there you could’ve written exactly how I feel. I had my first EC on Tuesday and been bed bound since, went to 24/7 oncologist centre yesterday where I was so weak. I’ve never known weakness like it. I also got oral thrush. The surgery was a breeze up to this. Like you said some people are still living and loving life and yet I feel so weak. I’m 49 and pretty fit and I’ve only just been able to walk to the bathroom and back. So I really know how you feel. I emailed my oncologist and they will reduce the dose for the next cycle. Message me if you want to chat.  

Sending you hugs. My worst days have been 5/6 so far. I wonder if it’s also the come down from steroids for me. We will get thru this. It’s really hard though. 

Thankyou. It is definitely tough, but you are right, we will get through this! ️ xx

I keep thinking why has it hit me so badly up to other people. Not that I want other people to suffer but it’s been bloody awful. We will get through this and we’ve got to keep telling the oncologists how we feel. My oncologist said I’d have a couple of off days watching Netflix. I’ve been in bed for 7 days and never known weakness like it. I knew it would be hard but not this hard. Here’s to an easier cycle 2 x

Hi NicW & Tulip22

I had 3 x ECs followed by 3 x Docetaxel then radiotherapy. The chemos knocked me like a ton of bricks. Never felt fatigue like it, exhausting. Felt light headed & spaced out, struggled to walk for about 5-7 days although it didn’t start til a day or two after I’d have infusion. I did pick up quite quickly in the third week which was great but each infusion I felt same fatigue. Was fortunate not to have nausea but did have the ‘not being able to taste hardly anything’, constipation, nose bleeds, bad discomfort pressure in top of intestine area making it hard to swallow food. Had tingling in legs & arms at times too amongst other things. Side effects can be endless! 

I think it’s normal to feel so bad & not many have a lot of energy & feel well during treatment. It’s quite brutal really. I did find I got more resilient as it went on as you knew it would all pass eventually & that helped. Also each one I had I thought that’s one less I need to have!

Good luck both of you xx

Same here....I feel like i'm a bit of a let down, as I'd naively thought I'd be ok after 2/3 days. Instead, I went into full hibernation mode and didn't want to see or talk to anyone.

Thanks for sharing how you have been feeling and I'm sorry you have been suffering.

I'm hoping that, now I know what to expect, I will handle the 2nd better and have more in place based on my learnings from the 1st one -  regularly nibbling to help the sickness, just accepting I need to stay in bed and starting constipation relief sooner, to name a few!

My oncologist has also said that, if I'm still struggling after the 2nd, he'll consider reducing the dose for the 3rd. I know less about the side effects of the 9 weekly infusions of Paclitaxel I'll be having afterwards, but my oncologist assures me it won't be as bad .

Take care and please let me know how you get on xx

Thanks for your reply. It's a good way to look at it - each one is one less; I will definitely try to hang on to that motto xx

Hi NicW

i felt exactly the same on Ec, I had 3 cycles of doxatxel and paxlitacel and had all the side effects, worst was the constant nausea that did not go even after changing up the anti sickness meds, but the Ec I found much worse, not sure if it was because that was my 4th cycle and so was already pretty fatigued but the weakness was definitely worse on EC, I’m 42 and it was a struggle for 2 weeks after each chemo and couldnt leave the house let alone go for walks, pretty much just in bed and would barely make it to the living room for the last two cycles.  Getting to the last session was rough, I think you are doing great, it’s the most awful thing to go through but I was just trying to take each couple of hours as they came and reminding myself that the feeling would pass eventually and tried to sleep.  I found drinking water difficult so just sip as much as you can, eating watermelon was a help and pineapple sweets? My oncologist also said to take the heartburn tablets early before symptoms start which helped.  Definitely had some very low feelings and was very teary so the dread is very real, all I can say is that I felt the same and I came through it and so will you.  One step at a time and please don’t feel bad for not being as able as some others, the drugs and each of us seem to vary so much.   I had my last cycle at the beginning of Feb and am now 4 weeks post surgery so thankfully it does pass although it feels like forever when your in it xx

Thanks for messaging, and glad to hear you are now out the other side...its really helped hearing from everyone xx