I started high dose Paclitaxel and Carboplatin on 10th July (6 three weekly cycles for Stage 4 endometrial cancer). I’ve been very lucky as I’ve had few side effects; no nausea or fatigue - just a “hangover” feeling and a bit of acid reflux and leg pain. By day 5 I’ve felt perfectly normal and have been able to continue to work. I’m retiring at Christmas and didn’t want to spoil my last few months of a career that I love. I tried the cold cap, but lost a large amount of hair. I just had it cropped and wore wigs as soon as it started to shed. No one has noticed! The wig from the hospital is amazing, and my hairdresser arranged to have others made for me which he cut and coloured. Once I got used to it, it’s so convenient! Saves me half an hour in the morning! So, all was going well until last weekend- we went away for the weekend and I developed neutropenic sepsis and a large and very unpleasant abscess in my bottom - ouch! The result was emergency hospital admission and surgery early this week. I’m well again thankfully but so frustrated as I cannot continue chemotherapy until the (deep) wound has fully healed. I should have had chemotherapy today, and am obviously concerned about missing my sessions for a few weeks. I’ve a CT scan next week and a consultant appointment early in September but I’m so frustrated by this setback!
Rant over!
Hi Hendj
I am pleased that you have been doing ok with your treatment until now.
I had the same chemo and did become neutropenic and went in on sepsis alert however I managed to get in to the hospital in time and was treated before anything had the chance to develop. it was a scary time though and things can develop really quickly.
I am sorry to hear about the abscess, it sounds really painful. The thing with chemo is that it reduces your immunity, you have already been neutropenic and it can also affect healing. Therefore the safest thing is to postpone the chemo until you have healed. I know it is frustrating and worrying but hopefully by the time you have your CT and appointment with the consultant in September- you should be healed or at least well on the way.
Although you may have gone off schedule for 2 of the treatments hopefully the chemo you have already had will already be having an effect and you will be back on track soon. It is not uncommon for people having chemo to sometimes have to miss/postpone treatment and normally this is due to being neutropenic or being unwell. In a way delaying the treatment will give your body a longer chance to get your bloods etc back into a better range and help you continue to deal well with the treatment when it restarts.
I wish you well with your appointment in September and in the meantime do get in touch if we can help in anyway.
Jane
