Hi all, my mum’s on her 4th day after her 4th round of chemo. I don’t know the exact chemo, she had stage 3 breast cancer removed (clear margin, no spread) She’s had the first 3 lots of chemo, now the 1st lot of the next type.
She managed her side effects really, really well the first 3 time but it got harder for her each time.
And today she is so upset. She has agonising pain in her legs. She won’t take anything more than paracetamol.
Any advice from those who have been through it? Struggling to get her to leave her bed at the moment. She can’t stand drinking anything, she says it’s slimey. She doesn’t want to eat anything. I’m doing some house work for her but I feel helpless, all I can think to say is ask them to reduce the dose next time. But I would love to be able to give her a suggestion that will help now xx
Hi Toni
It’s not something that I had, but what I suggest you do is ring the chemo team. I know all hospitals are different. Mine gave me a red book with various contact numbers on. Do you have anything like that?
She really needs to drink, to wash the drugs through her system…so try various things. Maybe a herbal tea?
Best wishes.
Sue xx
Thank you Sue. She will drink fizzy water but I doubt it’s enough. I’m hoping that tomorrow she will be up a bit more & won’t be such a dark day for her. X
Toni86 - chemo is extremely tough and having been though it myself, sympathise with anyone going though the side effects.
What day is your mum on from her last treatment? Day 1 being chemo day.
Where in the leg is the pain? I would check for swelling and redness especially lower leg just to rule out a clot. If it’s general bone pain I would recommend something a little stronger than paracetamol - some ladies swear by an antihistimmine drug which seems to work for bone pains - I myself was fortunate to be able to deal with the general aches with paracetamol.
As for drinking - avoid usual tea and coffee when the mouth feels like this. Water, fizzy water, lemonade, ginger tea, peppermint tea - all good. Fruit pastille lollypops are excellent. Rice pudding also good.
Hope your Mum gets through the next few days without too much discomfort - she will be in to some good days pretty soon x