Chemotherapy/ Radiotherapy

Hi Lorna

I am pleased that your recovery from the surgery is going well.

I had to have chemo and radiotherapy after my surgery also for adjuvant purposes. 

I think the thing with chemo is that everyone is different and the regimes can be different. I had carboplatin and paclitaxel on a 21 day cycle. So one day in hospital and 20 at home. Mine started at around 6 weeks post surgery as you need to be healed from it and chemo can effect healing. 

I found hospital days it helped to be in loose, comfy clothing and to wear layers. I found I could feel warm one minute and a bit chilly the next. My CNS advised me to take a blanket from home and I am glad I did. Just a bit of comfort. I took a book, magazines and i pad but didn't really use any of them. Take your phone charger. I found that I slept on and off for most of the day.

I took some squash and some snacks, as they are nice to have to hand, but they did bring round plenty of hot drinks, sandwiches, biscuits, yoghurt, jellies and rice puddings. 

I found slip on shoes best as you don't need to bend down to put on and off. 

I found the first few days of each cycle the worst. By the second week I was over the worst. By the 3rd week I was able to see people and do a bit more. I was told to take time off work and I am glad I did. There is no way I would have been able to carry on working during the treatment. It was actually better for work to know I was definitely off rather than to try to go in and then be off here and there. There is also a risk of infections and if you do pick up one it can turn serious quickly. I would recommend that you buy a thermometer and use it regularly. Any change in temperature can then be reported- sometimes this can be the first sign of infection- that could lead to sepsis. So it is important to react quickly.

At my hospital there were no beds, but reclining chairs, organised into bays. The ward was calm and light and I felt well cared for. 

I was really scared when I was told I needed chemo but once the first one was done, I knew more what to expect and that makes it easier. My symptoms tended to follow a pattern and it is a good idea to write these down in the book they will give you as it helps you to know what to expect on what day and also for when you have the reviews each cycle.

Side effects can vary according to the chemo drugs and doses. For me they were hair loss (I used scalp cooling so kept a lot) , nausea, vomiting, upset stomach, fatigue, some pain (mainly around my back). I also suffered some neuropathy. I would recommend going with the flow and taking lots of rest and to report any side effects to your hospitals 24 hour phone line. A lot of the side effects can be managed with medication and changes in doses. Don't suffer in silence- tell them and they can help.

Chemo was not easy but it is doable. During chemo I found it hard to focus on much else and it is a time to listen to your body and get support where you can. I found effects accumulated with each cycle. It takes time to get over chemo and I probably felt a lot better about 12 months after it finished. I am now at the stage where I still have some lingering effects but these are manageable. 

You will have regular blood tests throughout so they can keep an eye on you. I had a few issues with some blood levels (magnesium, haemoglobin etc) but these were treated. 

Hope this helps a bit. if there is anything you want to ask please do so. It is not easy but I tried to focus on the fact that I was doing everything I possibly could to prevent recurrence. 

Good Luck

Jane

Hi, I had my hysterectomy on 26th April and have recovered well. I too have seen my oncologist and he has given me the same chemo treatment. 6 cycles, 18 doses all together 1 each week for 18 weeks. I start my chemo journey next week on 3rd June. Today I have been for my bloods taken and an interview with my chemo nurse. I can honestly say I was really apprehensive before I went but she has given me so much information I felt quite relaxed when I left the unit. She said to take a bag with me, and put in things that I felt would be of help like my own ginger tea bags, kindle, mobile ph, I am taking my battery pack as I dont know how long I will be there. She also advised me to bring a small blanket just in case I feel cold and some snacks. The unit was full of patients having chemo and seeing them made me feel I am not alone on this journey. I am retired so I cant say how work/chemo would balance out. Everyone is different so I think it will be a case of trial and error. Wishing you all the luck in the world on your chemo journey. After the chemo, I will be on my radio journey.... all these hurdles. Good Luck x 

Hi Lorna1974,

I was diagnosed in March 2022 with Serous Endometrial Cancer, which is also a more aggressive Type 2 cancer. Like you I had 6 cycles of chemo (carboplatin and paclitaxel) followed by 4 sessions of brachytherapy. The chemo cycles were 3 weeks apart, allowing time between each cycle to recover.  For the final two sessions I had to have the strength of the chemo reduced to 80% as I started to suffer from tingling and pain in my legs and numbness in the tips of my fingers and toes. Like Jane2511 I felt unwell for the first few days but better by the 2nd week and back to normal by the 3rd week. Fortunately I did not suffer from nausea and vomiting at all although I was given medication to take if I did.  My final session had to be postponed for a week as I had covid!  I finished chemo in October 2022 and still get a little pain and tingling in my left leg but this doesn’t happen to everyone. Hopefully this will pass with time.

For the chemo sessions I took a newspaper, book, a chocolate bar and my phone, plus a very small vacuum flask filled with iced water, which I found very refreshing. I was offered a cooked meal at lunchtime but I didn’t fancy that so had a sandwich instead. Tea, coffee and soft drinks were available all day. I found that talking to the other patients very comforting and kept my spirits up.

i have to say that the brachytherapy after chemo, for me was absolutely fine with no major side effects at all. 

I also cannot comment on balancing work with chemo as I have retired but knowing how I felt  whilst having chemo, I would not have been able to return to work between sessions, it would have been too much to cope with.

Wishing you the very best with the next stage of your treatment.

Seems like I'm going to be on a similar journey soon, as I have been told I'll have chemo and radiotherapy. 

Oncology appointment soon then I'll get the plan.

The unknown is very scary and I had a proper meltdown the other day but really think that I needed it.

It gets a bit much sometimes being brave or coping well.

Good luck with your treatment. I hope that it isn't too onerous.

Hi, my chemo is every week for 18 weeks. Its not something that I expected after my surgery and to be told I would need this and then 25 external beam radio therapy followed by 4 lots of brachytherapy sent me into a total meltdown (but only while I was on my own walking) I have put on a brave face to my hubby and my family but really I was devastated. On Thursday 30th May, I went to the chemo unit for a look around and a chat and then the day after I decided I was sourcing a wig for when my hair dropped out. I have also taken some dietary advice for before during and after chemo and am hoping that this will help me through the 18 weeks. I will keep you posted of how this dietary advice works, and any side effects I encounter along the way.  I feel its worth a try but who knows. Good Luck with your appt on 4th June, please let us know how you get on x

Hope you are ok after your chemo and not feeling too bad.

I have my appointment next week with oncology and like you am a bit apprehensive. 

We just have to go with the flow, I suppose and as I'm retired too, I don't have to worry about work.

Sending good wishes.x

I went for my first chemo yesterday which didnt go as planned. On arrival, the nurses were lovely and very understanding, they made me feel at ease and I felt good. I had the premeds which took about an hour then they hooked up the chemo drug. Unfortunately I had an allergic reaction to it (this dosnt happen to everyone so dont be scared about it) The nurses were on me instantly, they put some antihistamine into me which immediately brought me back to normality. After about an hour, I was sent home with an appointment to see my Oncologist this morning. He has now given me a new treatment plan and a different chemo which starts next week 12th June and instead of weekly sessions, I will have 21 one day  ones so fingers crossed this one is ok. I am confident it will be and I will let you know how i get on. Please let me know how you get on at your treatment plan meeting and which drug you will be having. It would be good to share side effects etc if we are on the same. 

I'm sorry it didn't go as planned but glad they were on your reaction quickly. It must have been quite scary.

I hope that you have a wee rest now and look after yourself until the 12th when I hope things go a lot more smoothly. 

I will let you know what my plan is once I have been for my consultation. 

All the best. X