Fewer side effects with second chemo cycle than the first

Hi Anna

Well done on getting through your second cycle of chemo; I know from experience that this is a tough combo.  Don't fight the fatigue as it will catch up with you in the long run; listen to your body and take a nap or just put your feet up and rest whenever you need to. 

My hair went after my second cycle; started to come out on the Friday night and all gone by Monday morning. I knew I would lose it so planned for it; had my hair cut short, got the wig and had it cut by my hairdresser plus I bought a number of woolly hats to get me through the cold weather on the days I didn't want to wear the wig.  

You make sure that you look after yourself!

Kegsy x

This fills me with hope, just recovered from first round of chemo, cisplatin and vinorelbine! I'm dreading the next cycle

Hi,

My husband had his first cycle of carboplatin with another chemo drug, plus Tenctriq and Avastin on Friday (sorry if I’ve got the names wrong but I’m sure it’s the same regime). He wasn’t too bad over the weekend and on Monday, but went downhill on Monday night and has been really suffering since. It seems to come in waves, but he’s not been able to do anything for the last two days and is really struggling. His doc has said days 7-10 can be the worst...is your experience the same? Any advice would be really appreciated. Thank you.

The pattern of my first two cycles has been that I feel worst about two days after the last dose of chemo.  A combination of extreme fatigue and nausea. The anti nausea meds work brilliantly and I just give in to the fatigue and lie down and nap. Yesterday that nap meant that I spent almost the whole day sleeping, but I feel much better (though not 100%) today. I felt really grim after the first cycle and called the chemo helpline so i would advise doing that if things get really bad.  I also found that drinking a lot of water, soft drinks and camomile/mint tea helped a lot. 

I hope things get better for you both

Anna

Thanks Kegsy!  My hair seems to be quite tough... it’s been falling out for a week now and still looks like a terrible comb over.  I’ve always had very short hair so It’s not too traumatic insofar as (like you) I was warned it would all fall out. I have a wig consultation tomorrow and have acquired quite a collection of soft beanies and berets. This is the new normal 

Hi Anna,

Thanks for taking the time to respond. It’s been a tough few days but today he’s up, showered, has walked a little way and is eating without too much difficulty. This is his second lot of chemo, the first was four years ago and was Cisplatin with Permatrexed and that was tough too, but I’ve been expecting this to be worse as it’s combined with the immunotherapy.  The effects so far are different, in that he’s had really bad stomach cramps this week plus all sorts of other aches and pains whereas the last lot was more nausea.  Anyway, thanks again and hope you continue to do well x

Hello everyone

i hope you don’t mind that I join in with this thread but I was going to post a request for info/ advice, and this thread sort of asks and answers the same question.  My mum is due to start her first round of treatment Cisplatin, permatrexed and Keytruda on Tuesday 14th.  We’ve never had any experience of what to expect, this is all brand new and a little bit anxiety making for us, although mum is raring to get going.  We are expecting her to feel unwell, but I just want to do everything I can to to make sure we are prepared and can be responsive to the side effects.  She’s always been really healthy so drinks lots of water, and I’ve made her have a green smoothie every morning for the last week or so.  She’s also very active.  Tonight we are having a “B****r off Cancer” supper so am feeding her up on her favourite foods. But is there anything else we can do/ should do?  We always have an annual Burns night supper, that’s 2 weeks away now.  Should I expect that she’ll be ok for this, or do I need to stop planning and pre-empting?.  Any help and advice would be greatly received.  I just want to do the best for my mum and can’t bear that she will feel so very poorly, but know that to get better we have to go through this.

nicola 

hi nicola its tough to answer your question as we all react different to treatment. just over 3 yr ago when i first started i sailed through chemo no issues. chap that started with me ended in AndE at the weekend with bad pains.plus treatments are changing all the time. TC

Hi Nicola, I’m glad some of my post was helpful. Before I had my first chemo session, I had exactly the same anxieties. It’s absolutely true that everyone responds differently and no one  can predict how your mum will feel. From my (limited) experience the most important thing you can do is to be there for your mum. I’m 62 and have lived alone through choice most of my adult life and have always been incredibly independent. I was working until the day before my diagnosis and have had to make a lot of adjustments to my life.I  have been humbled by the way my friends and family have rallied round and scooped me up. I live in London, and my sisters who live in Germany and Devon take it in turns to come and stay with me during the three days of active chemo. I’m  almost fighting off my neighbours and friends who are always offering to do stuff for me!  

i am quite fortunate insofar as My advanced sclc was discovered during investigations for a urinary tract problem and with the exception of some weight loss, I haven’t had any symptoms of the cancer  and the only time I feel unwell is for a couple of days after the chemo sessions  

Before I started chemo, I stocked up on stuff - so that I wouldn’t have to shop while I was feeling lousy, I stocked up the freezer with stuff I cooked in advance, like soups and pasta sauces. Because my first chemo session was on 11 December, I used some of my freezer stash as Xmas dinner for my family and friends who always come to me at Xmas  This is a big thing for us as my mum is Polish and we have one celebration on Xmas eve (13 dishes!) and ‘English’ Xmas on 25 December  

as far as the chemo sessions themselves are concerned, I wear loose comfortable clothes, I take a light warm blanket, an eye shade and camomile tea bags as well as some snacks as my first session of the cycle is around 4 hours  I drive there and back now, but I took a cab the first time as I didn’t know how it would affect me   After the session I would advise just to go with the flow  (and take all the anti nausea meds)  if your mum is tired she should just rest  I would advise drinking as much as possible - tea, coffee, pop, water, whatever makes mum happy! and mum should  eat whatever she wants whenever she wants!  In many ways I think it’s  harder supporting someone with cancer than being the patient  Havibg been in both positions (and now having cancer for the second time in three years) watching someone you’re for going through all this is very hard  

You might want to look at the chemotherapy forum which has lots of info too  

I hope you get something of value out of this stream of consciousness, and the very best to you and your mum

Thank you so much for your thoughtful reply.  It really has helped and I will pass this advice on to my mum.  It just all seems so surreal at the moment, and I know mum is still having a hard time processing everything.  I’m hoping that when the treatment starts there will be some sense of routine, which has been absent for the last 10 weeks following her first referral.  She like you has had no symptoms apart from a small cough, and a small showing of blood in phlegm which was actually the reason my dad took her to a&e in the middle of the night.  I thank god that he did because my mum was inclined to wait to see if it happened again, which of course it hasn’t, and we may have ended up in a very different place in another 6 months/ years time.

thank you again, and I wish you all of the very best for your own treatment.