Hi All,
I was diagnosed on Jan 5th and had lumpectomy on 7th Jan.
Is there anyone had AC chemotherapy(doxorubicin + cyclophosphamide)? I would like to hear from you. I may require this treatment but waiting for HER2 results.I am worried about the side effects of this treatment and I would like to know how you got through this .
Elenamae
Hello Elenamae, I had AC chemotherapy followed by Taxol. I was warned that the AC would be worse than the Taxol and that turned out to be true. I think the pattern tended to be: first night after chemo was awful although I never threw up - just felt utterly poisoned. Next two or three days were pretty horrendous, like really bad morning sickness or motion sickness - and I either lay on the sofa or didn’t even get out of bed. Then things began to improve a bit, but really the first 10 days of my three week cycle I felt a bit rough, and the second 10 were ok. In the second 10 days I was able to go cycling, shopping etc. My top tips would be: drink loads of water - keep a bottle next to your bed, and have a bottle when you go into the hospital. Get a wig (you’ll lose your hair)and something to wear on your head at night eg a towelling turban. If you haven’t got one already, get an eyebrow pencil. Experiment with the anti-nausea medication they give you. I hated everything they gave me except domperidone, whereas my friend took everything they gave her. Put slices of lemon or ice in your water - you’ll be fed up with drinking water, but in my case, everything else made me feel sick. Try and gently exercise on your “good” days eg walking or cycling. I think the chemo is cumulative but if you’re having taxol I thought it wasn’t half as bad as the AC. Best of luck! I finished AC a year ago and, like childbirth, the memory of its awfulness has faded! (((( big hug )))
Hi Elenamae
I had AC too. The nausea was the worst part of it for me. The evening of treatment day and the following 2 days I felt nausea and was wretching a bit. I found it came in waves and for the first two treatments I didn’t eat those days but found on the third and fourth treatments that if I ate just a little when the wave had gone then I had far fewer waves of nausea, so if you get this eating a little might make it less bad.
By the fourth day of each treatment cycle I felt reasonably well. Apart from my hair coming out, anemia and a very dry mouth, I had no other significant problems. I had my AC every two weeks. I didn’t get any fatigue. A little bone pain from the neulasta injection for the immune system, which you may not need.
I then had Taxotere and altho I didn’t have the nausea the side effects I did have are longer term. Neuropathy in my fingers and toes, nails flaking. Very watery eyes. For me I’m not sure that AC was the worse of the two. I hated the nausea but then it was gone much quicker that the effects of the Taxotere.
Definately take the anti nausea meds. Drink at least 2L of water a day. I found flavoured water better than plain. I wish you well with your treatment.
Macc