Just started chemo

Hello again Acme70,

You're on the way then, one down and 5 to go.

When I had chemo I remained as active as possible throughout.  I started early July and continued to cut our lawns weekly as well as doing the same for elderly relatives who live nearby, plus walking as much as possible and going on my exercise bike. Just listen to your body and adjust to what is doable without exhausting yourself.

I slowed down as treatment progressed which is to be expected and exercise did reduce significantly. I think it's useful to be as active as you can, and was never told not to be. 

I tried to keep my distance from people as much as possible to reduce the risk of picking something up (immune system suffers on chemo) and would make myself scarce if someone near me was coughing and/or sneezing.

Keep it up and let us know how you get on. Feel free to PM me if you'd like to chat, click on the messages box in the green area top right of the screen and send me a message to start off.

All the best, Derek.

Hi Acme70

Great response from Excavator...

I have just had my fifth dose (day 7) - so only one more to go - yippee!!!  I was only saying this week that when we started all this the end seemed so far away.....

The 21 day cycle has taken me over a bit, but there are predictable sections  - first couple of days OK nothing out of the ordinary, then onto feeling very tired and then I get lots of pain in my limbs for a couple of days. Then gradually feeling better.  I too try to exercise daily, but this had to be tempered by when/where you are along the cycle I find.  But although it can be difficult I have really felt the benefits of increasing the walk, doing more exercise with weights and resistance bands and on the indoor bike.

I tend to try and stay away from folk for the first 10 days if I can, if not I have a face mask in the pocket of most jackets/fleeces - a lowered immune system is the issue here. I tend to adopt the old two-metre rule from Covid days!!

Not that I am paranoid but I also check my temperature in the morning and evening - and especially if I am having the pains and want to take paracetamol. If I am in the target zone (36.0 - 37.5 C) then OK to take.  I have had a couple of temperature spikes in the first week of the cycle and have ended up in A&E (in an isolation room) in the middle of the night before being transferred to a ward for observation and drips. I got off lightly, no issues just a mysterious spike.

It is important to follow the information given and to call your hospital hotline as necessary.  I have found that the Cancer Research UK Treatment Record Booklet I was given to be a fantastic way of recording daily progress and symptoms.

The meds can be a bit of a nightmare, especially remembering what to take when, with or without food and how many hours before something.  I have programmed my iPhone with Alarms which go off at the appropriate times and have added what each alarm is for, really helps when you are stuck into something else and have totally forgotten about the meds!

I wish you well with it all

Best wishes

KrisPy

Spot on KrisPy.

Hi, thanks for the info, sorry for the late reply. so the 1st week was the worst  ended up the hospital for a day after 4 day as wasnt feeling to good came back 8 hrs later will more pills. The anxiety of going out and doing normal things, went after about 12 days. After that i was able to walk further and exercise alot more, even enjoy my food more. Still have a strange buttery taste in my mouth but but the that metallic taste  first had. Started to loss some body hair near the end of the 1 cycle. Just stared cycle 2, same symptoms as the first time but no hospital. its not as bad as I imagined but early day yet. one thing is the strange dreams when I do sleep which for fhe first 5 day is very hard at night. onwards and upwards 

raising awareness  

Hi Acme70

well done for getting through the first cycle! I too ended up at A&E and then onto the ward overnight my first cycle, so I know how worrying that can be, hence the constant temperature monitoring.

Everyone reacts differently, but do watch out for the tingles in the fingers and toes (peripheral neuropathy) make sure you call the helpline about this if it occurs and speak to your Oncologist, I had it and my dose was reduced to 80% for cycle 4 onwards ( but my PSA was undetectable at this stage so it was a good call).

The good news is that there is an end in sight now, I know I have just had my last one (now on day 10)! It is strange to think that I can break out of the 3 week cycle now and get back to “normal”…

Not  sure about the dreams - although I have been getting some strange ones myself, and before this all started I actually didn't dream a lot.  Could be the largest does of steroids working through your system- that was the worst bit for me being “tired and wired” for a few days.

i have noticed that my recovery period got shorter as the cycles went on, so my last infusion was after only feeling good for about three days beforehand- some to watch out for but I hope it doesn’t happen to you!!!

Just got back from a long walk - keep up the exercise!!!

All the best

KrisPy

Hi KrisPy,

Thanks for the advice regarding fingers and toes. Glad to hear you near the end and I hope normality comes quickly for you. As for the steroids I've never been so hungry . Tired and weired feeling that's where I am at the moment but should be ok in a few days. Always nice to talk to people going through the same thing.  Thanks for the support to you all. stay strong. 

Acne