Chemo

Hi Alibongo1402

I had my chemo on a 21 day cycle. 

I would think that it would depend a lot on the chemotherapy drugs and also the dosage. Also for me I found the days long- I would be there all day for my regime. A long day every week would have been harder to cope with but if the weekly regime meant a shorter day each week, it may have been easier. 

If the dosage I had was split into 3 so having less each week than having a big dose every 21 days- I would expect there to be less side effects. 

For me the first week after chemo each time was the hardest and when I had most effects but that was likely due to dose. 

The only other thing that I found was that having the treatment once every 3 weeks was easier because I had more time to recover and didn't have the travelling back and forward to hospital. Also emotionally it gave some time to rest. 

Jane

I have been having Cisplatin weekly. I’ve had 4 so far with another 2 to go.
The reason for weekly is because they wanted to give me a bigger overall dose.  So assuming that means what I get each Wednesday is less than what I would have gotten if they’d stuck to the original plan of doses on day 1 and day 21 only I’m coping really well. 
Yes as Jane says the days are long with me usually there from 8.30am to about 4pm. That’s because they give me several infusions including 2 bags of hydration, the chemo, steroids and a diuretic.

I have radiotherapy every day so I actually start my radiotherapy prep in the chemo ward and go for my radiotherapy session when the final hydration bag is still connected. Means I don’t have to hang around for another hour after the chemo session is finished.

I find the main side effects are:

- headache from the fluids - paracetamol fixes that

- endless peeing usually in the middle of the night for several night

- some nausea - they give me drugs for that too

To be honest I had more unpleasant side effects from the brachytherapy but I only had 2 of them and that’s all ok now.

Once this chemo/radiotherapy finishes on 26th March I’ll have a 3-4 week break before starting Carboplatin/Paclitaxel and that will be given every 21 days for 4 cycles. I’m expecting that to be a bit more difficult.

Pamela

Hi I am having the same chemo as you but they are giving  both at the same time start tomorrow absolutely petrified as I had chemo for breast cancer in the past and ended up in hospital everytime i had a treatment . Hoping it's better weekly this time 

Fingers crossed for you that it’s not as hard on you as last time

Pamela