Chemo side effects

Hi Tessa B

I hope it is ok to reply as I had a different type of cancer to your husband but I did have chemo last year.

I also became anaemic and was given a blood transfusion which helped. I also had issues with magnesium levels and became neutropenic at one stage. I had 2 different chemo drugs and one of them seemed to be known to cause more side effects. Because the side effects after the first cycle were severe the consultant reduced the dose for the second cycle. This made a bit of a difference to the tummy effects but didn't do a lot for anything else. My chemo was reduced by 50% for the final cycle as I was developing neuropathy. 

I thought that would make a big difference to how I felt but as the effects of chemo seemed to accumulate for me I still had quite bad effects that continued for a couple of weeks. I think in my experience you get a bit weaker each cycle and that your body has to do more to counteract that, if that makes sense. I was definitely a lot weaker and had more nausea etc. 

Hope this helps a bit. Maybe have a chat with your husbands doctors and mention his side effects and see if there is anything they can suggest that helps. Although I did seem to react worse to each cycle, they were able to give me medication for the side effects that did help.

Jane

Thanks Jane for responding. We will defo discuss with the Oncologist. Looking back he also had radiotherapy about a month ago on his spine and I’m thinking maybe this is causing a lot of the worsened side effects. It’s getting worse each day whereas after previous cycles of chemo the side effects practically disappeared after a week. That’s why this has been quite a shock to him   Yes speak will defo discuss it with Dr. Btw he has also developed anaemia but he’s been given iron tablets. He has an appointment with Dr a week on Monday to discuss the results of another MRI which he is having today fingers crossed the results will be ok. Thank you so much for responding it’s much appreciated x

I had 5 weeks of pelvic radiotherapy-external beam- after the chemo had finished. About 3 weeks after the last chemo. I do think that all the treatments have a cumulative effect. Looking back, although it was safe to do the radiotherapy, I know I wasn't recovered from the chemo- I am nearly a year since my final chemo and no where near completely recovered. Then the radiotherapy has its own effects. I hope his appointment goes well on Monday.

Jane

Thanks Jane your support is very useful and welcome. Big hugs x